ArcaMax

Anyone who uses a whiteboard at work or school knows how easy it is to write, edit, erase and redo on the markable, writeable and erasable surface of a whiteboard. You can create your own “whiteboard” on a wall in your house using a dry-erase coating on a clean surface. Add a calendar in the kitchen or a family message center on the back of ...Read more

If you’re planning to replace an old and rotted window sill with a glass block unit, it’s a good idea. If it’s the window above a bathtub in an older home, it often succumbs to exposure to moisture, and the sill and wooden frame rot away. Replacing the window with a glass block unit is a good solution because it allows light in from the ...Read more

Since a sliding door often leads to a patio or deck it gets a rigorous workout. If yours needs replacing, you'll be glad to know manufacturers have improved the design and construction of these doors. You'll find a good selection, in various sizes and configurations, at window replacement companies, home centers and lumberyards. And don’t go ...Read more

To brighten decks, patios, walkways and garden paths, use a low-voltage lighting system, and provide safety and security while it focuses on your landscape and illuminates the dark areas. Use it to highlight an ornamental tree or other feature in your yard so you double the effect of the lighting.

Low-voltage exterior lighting systems, ...Read more

Want to replace a wired doorbell that no longer works? The project involves some basic electrical work that will continue the convenience and safety a working doorbell ensures. Admittedly, a doorbell is not a feature of your home you notice, but when it stops working you’ll realize how much you depend on it.

An electrician will charge $357, ...Read more

Today you’ll find a variety of materials that can make up a retaining wall designed to hold back the soil and plantings in a landscape. If soil erosion is an issue, consider consulting with an expert at a garden center or hiring a landscaper who has experience with erosion in your area. For a basic retaining wall to contain a flower or ...Read more

Built on property, a gazebo is a small roofed building that often becomes a focal point of the yard. While it offers a place to sit in the shade, its open and often intricate lines bring an old-fashioned charm and design element that enhances its surroundings. Because of that it often becomes a place kids love to play and adults like to sit and ...Read more

Planning to plant a tree in your yard? A good resource is www.arborday.org, the website of the Arbor Day Foundation. You’ll find anything and everything you want to know about planting trees and can find and identify trees to plant on your property. As a tree grows and thrives it provides a shady spot in warm weather; during the colder months,...Read more

Redwood is considered a premium natural deck material due to its good looks and, even under the worst conditions, the wood resists decay, insects and weathering. Redwood is a long-term investment in your enjoyment and value of your home.

A contractor will charge $7,476, which includes labor and material, to build a small, one-level, 300-square-...Read more

A gated fence encloses a home and yard, creating a sense of privacy and security. But there’s nothing more unattractive and annoying to use than a fence gate that droops and won’t open or close properly. After continued use and weather abuse a gate can become a nuisance when it sags on its hinges or pulls away from its support post, making ...Read more

The board and batten fence in our townhouse community conceals a large dumpster used by the homeowners, while creating an attractive screen in the landscape. Surrounding a home, this type of fence also creates privacy from neighbors along a property line or as a patio barrier in close quarters.

All in all, a board and batten fence can be a ...Read more

Is a wall in your home in a tight spot where light is needed? The small eight-sided window, with a strong resemblance to a stop sign, is a specialty unit that can solve that problem because it’s ideal in a wall where a ray of daylight is needed to brighten a dark space. You’ll see it frequently used to add light in an entry foyer, at the top...Read more

Rain water provides a nice soaking for a growing lawn and garden, but when it puddles around the foundation of a house bad things can happen. The gutter system of a house is rarely appreciated or even noticed until it stops doing its job — directing water away from the foundation or lower level — and when that happens, it's time to take ...Read more