ArcaMax

You can’t help but notice a well-painted house finished in stucco. The handsome appeal and architectural interest can make it stand out. Stucco is a porous substance, so use paint like Behr’s masonry, stucco and brick paint designed for the job. The paint allows the surface to breathe so moisture doesn't get trapped and cause cracking and ...Read more

Removing paint from wood is not a fun job. It’s time intensive and messy, very messy. But the end result is worth it because whether it’s a piece of furniture or window molding, the natural beauty of the wood is revealed.

You have the choice of having wood commercially stripped with harsh chemicals, which can damage the wood, but if you’...Read more

Moisture and water are the culprits that damage a well-used family bathtub and eat away the surrounding walls. You’ll recognize water damage if there’s mildew and the walls feel spongy to the touch, not solid. Ripping out the walls and replacing them with a tub surround kit, sold in three or five pieces, is easier and quicker than building ...Read more

Seeding a lawn takes time, but it’s considerably less expensive than laying sod. It’s a good choice if you want to grow grass in a not-so-sunny area where a shade-loving seed will grow the best. In fact, you’ll get the best results by choosing seed suited to the soil and other site conditions, and preparing it before you start. For advice,...Read more

A window sill, also called a stool, is a ledge at the bottom of a window inside a house. In an older home it can be damaged by moisture caused by condensation, so it may need to be replaced. If a house is built without that ledge, installing a new one provides protection and adds a stylish detail to the window. That addition can be a nice ...Read more

We go to hair stylists to groom our hair with shaping and styling, and the same idea applies to trees and shrubbery that need pruning to enhance their size and shape. Plus, pruning and thinning improves the overall health and appearance of trees and shrubs. It has been our experience that you’ll get the best advice about when and how to prune ...Read more

Until you’ve lived in an old house with a basement cellar door, you don’t know what you’re missing. That direct entrance is easy access to the lower level, which is particularly useful when you have an old furnace or appliance to remove and replace. To manhandle the old monster up the stairs and through the house to the outside is not easy...Read more

There’s not a more traditional type of fence than wooden pickets, because it has long been the way to enclose property and add the eye-catching appeal of charm and warmth. Today’s variety of pickets range from those typically sold with pointed tips and others with wide straight-cut tops or scalloped top pickets. The more contemporary pickets...Read more

Most decks are typically built with cement footings buried into the ground, but an alternative and easier system is a ground-level pier deck that is designed for do-it-yourselfers. It uses solid concrete blocks that float on top of the soil and distribute the weight evenly. Since it is ground-level, it eliminates the need to dig holes and mix ...Read more

Come springtime, many of us take a look in our garage jam-packed with a hodgepodge of bicycles, lawn furniture, garden tools and implements and kid’s play equipment. The obvious solution is a storage shed, and a steel shed is a good choice. It’s not going to win a beauty contest, but its usefulness will conquer the clutter and provide much ...Read more

A tubular skylight is like a conventional roof skylight that allows daylight into a dark area. And thanks to its small size, the light is especially useful in a tight space such as a narrow hallway where a larger roof unit may not be practical.

A tubular skylight is installed much the same way as a roof skylight is, but the job is easier. The ...Read more

Do you have something to hide in your yard? A nice way to conceal bulky garbage cans or a not-so-attractive HVAC unit is with a lattice divider. Vinyl lattice panels provide a good-looking cover-up and create an attractive backdrop for any landscape. Even an eyesore in your neighbor’s yard can be shielded from view. These are versatile panels ...Read more

Years ago drapery hardware was rarely seen and certainly not a design feature of a window treatment. Today the hardware hanging a window dressing can be a big part of the design scheme and very visible. The hardware and fabric of the drapery work together to achieve the look you want.

For a primer on hardware styles take a look at www.kirsch....Read more