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How to Live Comfortably Off the Grid
2 commentsA builder in British Columbia will soon be building an off-the-grid house for an island couple. Although the house will be heated primarily with wood, it will still need a backup system, and he looks for advice on the best approach.
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Inswing or Outswing Doors?
12 commentsHinged entry doors can swing in or swing out. Which style is best for sealing out weather and thwarting would be thieves?
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Snapshots of Low-Risk Housing Markets
Using the PMI Risk Index, SmartMoney.com highlights five locations that present the lowest risk of a price drop over the next two years
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How to Drum Up More Remodeling Business -- Should I Pay to Estimate?
13 commentsEven in the best of times, getting new business isn't easy. When buying newspaper ads or relying on word-of-mouth referrals isn't getting it done, what are some off-beat approaches to reeling in new paying customers?
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As Lenders Begin to Stir
Commercial lending is showing signs of growth for the first time in two years, and steady, if incremental, growth is expected for 2011
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Rube Goldberg's Return: Creative Accessories for Accessory Dwelling Units
Inventive, multi-tasking furniture and appliances can help make the most of small-space dwellings.
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How to Make a 1930s Bungalow Cozy
A bungalow in northern Massachusetts has been renovated twice in the last 10 years but still has a major weakness when it comes to energy efficiency: an uninsulated field stone basement and a furnace and air handler located in an unconditioned attic.
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Replacing a Kitchen Sink - Part 1: How to Install Faucets and Drains
See how to prepare an opening in a counter top, and learn how to seal and fasten all the fixtures, before you drop your new sink into place.
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Electrical Subpanel Safety Tips: What You Can and Can't Touch When Installing Circuit Breakers
13 commentsElectrician Brian Walo gives a quick but important tour of a typical subpanel.
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How to Make Your Kitchen Look Better and Work Harder on a Budget
5 commentsGet the most out of your cabinets and counter tops without spending an arm and a leg. Download this free book chapter on smart kitchen planning.
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Deadline Nears for NGBS Consensus Committee Applications
The update of NAHB’s National Green Building Standard will include member participation in the standard’s Consensus Committee and a variety of Task Groups
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Designing Patrick's Barn: Adding Window Components
1 commentWith the roof configuration approved, the next step is to create a window component to add to the studio model. Using Silverline brand window schematic dimension as a guide, a realistic window model is created. This provides an opportunity to decide what, where and how many windows to use.
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Weighing the Confidence Factor
1 commentWith the second stimulus package approved, corporations flush with cash, and spending up, economists and consumers are feeling better about prospects for economic growth. Will it help housing?
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Multigenerational Living in Paradise
1 commentWith scarce land, extended families and a culture that values kindness and cooperation, the Balinese have long favored family compounds.
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How To Clean a Small Paint Roller Without Clogging Your Sink
3 commentsAn improvised spinner and a bucket of water work wonders when cleaning these handy little rollers.
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What's Worse: Air Leaks or Not Enough Insulation
3 commentsAl Cobb's goal is simple: Build better houses and help consumers make better choices. To do that more effectively, he wants to understand the root causes of heat loss a little better. Are air leaks or low insulation levels the real culprit?
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NAHB Analysis: It's (Still) a Small-Builder World
Amid the downturn, small builders have gained single-family market share while big builders acquired land and reduced production
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Can McMansions Help Solve Our Housing Crisis?
27 commentsWith almost 19 million homes standing empty in a time of high housing costs and widespread homelessness, we should consider all our options--including the unthinkable ones.
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Tax Credit Extended for Builders of Energy Efficient Homes
The new tax package extends, through 2011, the $2,000 credit for newly built homes that use no more than half the energy of those conforming to the 2003 national model energy code. Consumers get breaks too
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Garage Progress
We're making good progress on the garage shop at the project house. Drywall is hung, carriage doors are installed and the new front facade has been painted. read more
