Category: improvement

Start enjoying your deck after one day’s work

(ARA) - Most deck owners know that one of the keys to keeping their decks looking good is staining it every few years. However, while deck staining is a process that most homeowners are capable of doing themselves, finding the time to do it can be diff...

Extend, don’t move

Does it ever feel as if your house has shrunk? Mine has definitely got smaller in recent years. I suppose this has something to do with the fact that my babies aren’t babies anymore, and that our puppy Max is now a fully-grown black Labrador. We moved into our three-bed semi in south-west London five years …

Don’t let pesky ants put a damper on your summer

(ARA) - Ants, though often small, are the biggest pests of the summer for homeowners. They can enter homes through tiny cracks, looking for water and food - mainly sweets, meats or greasy foods - in the kitchen or pantry area. Ants may also be forced i...

Signs that termites might be invading your house

(ARA) - Termites live to eat. Their hunger causes $5 billion worth of damage each year in the U.S., damage most homeowner's insurance doesn't cover. In fact, a colony can devour a foot of 2-by-4 wood in only six months. And since termites are masters a...

The good health advice you can easily follow

(ARA) - Some things we're supposed to do for our health may seem obviously difficult to accomplish: eating less fast food no matter how yummy it tastes, fitting an hour of vigorous exercise into every day, or giving up bad habits like smoking. You may ...

Simple tips to avoid calling your house insurance

Have you ever accidentally left a candle burning unattended? Or left home without turning on the security system? You probably made a mental note to yourself to not do it again, but otherwise didn’t think much about it. But next time, you might not get so lucky. A simple “uh oh” could lead to thousands of …

Easy kitchen updates that won’t break the bank

(ARA) - It goes without saying that the kitchen is one of the hardest-working rooms in the home. For most, it's the heart of family life and usually the one room where everyone gathers together. With so much hustle and bustle, it's no wonder that the k...

The heat is on outside, keep cool inside

(ARA) - As summer heats up, air conditioning bills can rapidly rise. As homeowners feel the heat, many are looking for ways to save and stay cool. Many U.S. consumers strive to conserve energy at home. Forty-seven percent of Americans say they try to ...

Top kitchen upgrades that blend beauty and value

(ARA) - Nowhere else in the home must design and function marry as harmoniously as in the kitchen. The most-used room in the house is also the one where we spend the most work and leisure time, the one that gets the most scrutiny from potential buyers ...

Practical Home Improvement Tips

Owning a home can sometimes feel like a never-ending struggle to keep things running smoothly and in good shape. Especially with summer coming up, you’re probably thinking about taking some time to work on things in and around your house. While these tips won’t substitute for assistance from a qualified professional if necessary, you can still …

Remodeling your home? Start from the outside in

(ARA) - The kitchen and bathroom are at the top of most home remodeling project lists. But homeowners intent on remodeling should also consider investing in the exterior of their homes - maybe even start there. That's the advice of Sarah Susanka, one ...

Creating curb appeal on a budget

(ARA) - The arrival of summer has many homeowners outside planting, preparing the patio for cookouts, and taking evening strolls through the neighborhood. Often, this extended outdoor time brings on a desire to improve a home's curb appeal. But home i...

America’s history etched in hardwood

(ARA) - Wood is one of the oldest building materials we know, and one of the most beloved. It's a love affair that has lasted - like hardwood itself - through the centuries, from the log cabins of earliest America into the early 21st century. The stor...