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About Me:

I'm a carpenter/remodeler-turned-writer (lo, those many years ago...). I got an English degree before working in the trades, so perhaps the writing thing was inevitable. I've written 16 books and edited many others in the house and home category, covering everything from green remodeling to period architecture to building treehouses. Amid my publishing work, writing for networx.com helps me stay current with the latest products and techniques for everything in and around the home.

Favorite area of home improvement:

Architecture and design-from houses and landscapes to trimwork and light fixtures. I love poring over floor plans of new homes or before-and-after layouts of remodels to see how the designer created custom spaces or solved problems with old plans. I also love designing and building things with basic materials, such as a living room "set" that I made with birch plywood and all-thread rod (my wife actually likes it).

Recent Activity

Window Insulations

What's the most economical way to insulate windows from the cold.

Commented on Feb 02, 2011
Shrink film effectively stops drafts and thus loss of heat through airflow. To insulate ...»
against heat lost through conduction--the heat and cold passing through the glass--insulated shades and drapes are likely your cheapest option, aside from a tight-fitting piece of rigid insulation board.

Outside grass

When it rains, we get so much of our neighbors rain water running into our backyard. I'm thinking of replacing the grass with fake grass. Would this help hold the water.

Commented on Feb 02, 2011
Nothing other than a catchment system, as suggested by Steve, will actually hold the water. ...»
And there's no effective way to block the water; a wall will cause it to pool, ultimately undermining the wall's soil and gravel base. Catchment might be ideal, if you're up for that. Otherwise, consider a natural drainage path, like a swale--a small channel in the ground surface that captures and directs water to a drainage point. The swale may or may not include a buried perforated drain pipe to facilitate drainage. Talk to a landscape architect or experienced landscaping contractor (or even a civil engineer if you happen to know one). Good luck.

Had a driveway that was sinking, and my garage floor dipped in the middle and had huge cracks after years of settling.

I used the following contractor, who drilled holes in the cement and pumped in a filler that COMPLETELY leveled the drive and the garage floor.. It was simply amazing. would reccomend ...»

Commented on Feb 01, 2011
This process is called mud jacking (or slab jacking). Essentially, it's replacing a failed ...»
subbase with a special mixture of concrete. Some companies use a polymer filler, which costs more than concrete. Often, the repair is permanent, and at about half the cost of slab replacement. When it doesn't last, it's usually because the soil deep below the gravel base (and concrete filler) has serious stability problems.

Windows & Doors: Our single pain windows get drafty, any suggestions?

Commented on Feb 01, 2011
The best, and really only, thing you can do the window itself is to air seal it with ...»
weatherstripping or replacement seals (if you can find them). You can seal where sashes meet each other and the tracks they travel along. If you suspect cold air is coming through the outside of the window frame, it might be worth popping off the casing (decorative trim that spans over the frame and wall surface) to make sure there's adequate insulation between the window jambs and the wall framing. If not, fill these spaces with low-expansion spray foam. Don't use high-expansion foam, because it can push the jambs out and bind the sash. Fiberglass in these spaces is much less effective than foam, and it's essentially worthless if it has gaps or, conversely, is packed tightly. There's really nothing you can do to improve the insulation value of the glass itself.

Design & Décor: How can I find a gold single handle shower faucet cover?

Commented on Feb 01, 2011
Ask the manufacturer of your faucet, too. Some of the bigger ones keep extensive back ...»
inventories of replacement parts and older models.

Outdoor Living: I want to take out the carpet in my "garden room".

What is the best type of flooring to put down: bamboo, cork, or hardwood? The room has french doors that open to outside. That is why I want to take up the carpet. Thanks!

Commented on Feb 01, 2011
I'm guessing your garden room is somewhat like a sunroom...lots of windows (and plants), ...»
perhaps with an indoor/outdoor feel. If so, tile might be your best option. It's the most durable and water-resistant flooring, and it's perfect for a casual space leading to the outdoors. Cork is nice, but it's not as durable as hardwood or bamboo. However, hardwood and bamboo are relatively high-maintenance, because they're vulnerable to water damage, and you'll abrade their finish quickly if you're not strict about sweeping up dirt and grit brought in from outside. Tile's main weakness is staining of the grout, which you can minimize with grout sealer. Otherwise, a good tile installation is virtually indestructible.

I am getting ready to purchase a home to live in and would like to know about doing some renovations.

I want to open up the area between the kitchen and the dining room. How difficult is it to remove the top half of a wall?

Commented on Feb 01, 2011
Any carpenter or builder can determine whether the wall is load-bearing, so finding this out ...»
shouldn't cost you anything. If it is load-bearing, you'll just need a pro to tear out the wall (or portion) and install a beam or header. If not, you can probably do the job yourself, if you're up for that. Often, a beam or header can be installed so it doesn't protrude from the ceiling, with the use of joist hangers.

New Home

I am thinking of building a 'green' home sometime in the next year. Where does one go to find out what kinds of products are available, and what is the best 'green' insulation, roofing material, etc.

Commented on Feb 01, 2011
Another good source for ongoing discussion and new product info is GreenBuildingAdvisor.com.

What energy saving projects give you the most bang for your buck

Commented on Feb 01, 2011
The most scientific and definitive way to answer your question is to have an energy audit done ...»
on your house. A good auditor will test the house for energy fitness and review your energy usage (bills and habits) to estimate what savings you can expect from various upgrades.

Outdoor Living: What is the best floor covering for an interior porch room with concete flooring?

Commented on Feb 01, 2011
Check out modular carpet tiles (such as FLOR; flor.com). They're hip, durable, washable, and ...»
are simply laid in place.

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