ArcaMax

You probably give little thought to the stairs you go up or down to reach different levels of your home, deck or patio. I’ll wager that if I handed you a measuring tape, a framing square, a pencil and a level, you’d scratch your head and not know where to start the layout required to build a safe set of code-compliant stairs.

The good news ...Read more

Ceramic floor tile has a rich legacy as a durable flooring material. You’ve undoubtedly walked across it in countless public buildings. Hotel lobbies, commercial buildings and even my own previous parish church sported this artificial stone product. The tile in my church was over 100 years old and it looked perfect. Do you recall ever seeing a...Read more

I’m guessing you log onto the internet each day. I travel the information superhighway all day long as part of my business. Fiber optic cables have now been extended throughout my small town in New Hampshire, and I’m ecstatic about their arrival. I remember using a 300-baud modem back in the 1980s. It would transmit text via telephone lines ...Read more

Do you get frustrated when the expensive exterior paint you use peels, flakes or cracks in just a few years? You’re not alone. I’m about to survey my thousands of newsletter subscribers. I’m willing to bet you a two-step mocha-chip ice cream sundae that a majority of them suffer as you do.

I’m convinced your disappointment can be traced...Read more

Have you ever struggled attaching some heavy object to a wall or a ceiling? You may use a stud finder, hunting and hoping wall studs are exactly where you need them to be. Some just throw in the towel and count on hollow wall anchors to do the job. You don’t ever have to use those when building a new home or doing remodeling.

The most recent ...Read more

Is your home noisy? Do you wish you didn’t hear things going on in other parts of your house? How about exterior noise? Do you hear sirens, motorcycles, cars, trucks, etc., even when your doors and windows are closed? Believe it or not, there’s quite a bit you can do with an existing home to make it quiet. You can make a new home ultra quiet...Read more

I’ve shared in a few recent columns how I’m helping my son finish his basement. I’m having a great time building memories for the both of us. I made a sign from a scrap piece of drywall a few months ago: "Will Work for Food (Good Food)." I signed and dated it. I intend to have the sign framed and hope it hangs on the side wall of the ...Read more

Have you ever used a stain to change the appearance of a piece of bare wood in your home? Did the job turn out like the finish you see on high-end stained cabinets or other furniture? My guess is that you didn't even come close.

I had the same poor results for at least 10 years until I learned how to stain interior woodwork like a professional....Read more

I’ve got two different stories to share with you this week. Are you a homeowner that hires contractors of all types to do work? If so, the first one will resonate with you.

Are you a contractor that’s tired of the rat race of bids that never turn into jobs, and do you hate to chase after money for work you performed? You’ll not want to ...Read more

Flowers and vegetables pop up out of the ground in the spring. So too deck support posts. You may be a homeowner who wishes to create a wonderful outdoor room, or expand that small deck cobbled together by the builder of your home. Allow me to share some deck construction tips that can save you time and prevent expensive leaks into your home.

I...Read more

Building materials made in factories can contain latent defects. These are hidden time bombs that can explode, causing mayhem in your life. It’s not easy to spot them, but there are some things you can do to prevent both physical and financial harm. I’ve dodged the bullet several times in my career and lifetime.

Several decades ago, I built...Read more

Wood is such a magnificent building material, in my opinion. It’s strong, it’s beautiful, it’s easy to cut and shape, and it can be used to create delicious eye candy both inside and outside your home.

My lovely wife enjoys outdoor gardening. She inherited this love and skill from her mother. My family was the exact opposite. I grew up in...Read more

I’ve shared in past columns the wonderful time I'm having helping my son with projects around his house. For several weekends now we have spent hours of quality time together while finishing his basement.

I’m fanatical about having access to wires, pipes, ducts and so forth that you often find in a basement ceiling. A good way to maintain ...Read more