Purchasing

These premium products offer time-tested longevity, so your choice depends on price, appearance, and installation requirements by Harrison McCampbell

Copper- and borate-based preservative treatments have proven effectiveness, but structural plastics are more durable by Scott Gibson

It's better-looking and more affordable than ever by Justin Fink

Cross-linked polyethylene tubing is cheaper to buy, is faster to install, and won't corrode or explode by Andy Engel

How much time, trouble, and money does it take to install deck planks? It all depends on the fasteners you use. by Justin Fink

These plastic-based barriers help to keep wind and water at bay, but only if you choose the right product and install it correctly by Fernando Pagés Ruiz

Today's handsaws cut all kinds of material with renewed comfort, control, and durability by Brian Pontolilo

We help you sort through the choices with reliability, style, and function in mind by Nena Donovan Levine

Alternative trim may not be cost-effective when you buy it, but it becomes cost-effective after you've saved money on maintenance or replacement by Gary M. Katz

It's the hottest thing on the market, but the installation is trickier than with ceramic tile by Tom Meehan

A look at the pros and cons of vinyl siding and polyvinyl chloride by Alex Wilson

From tropical hardwoods to man-made plastic composites, the choices are more varied than ever by Scott Gibson

Available as single-shot, semiautomatic or full automatic, these low-velocity tools are the ones carpenters choose when driving fasteners into concrete or steel by Bruce Greenlaw

If you think the choice is as simple as gas vs. electric, you could end up with a great-looking stove that takes forever to boil water and even longer to clean by Roe A. Osborn