Home Improvement

Furniture restorers all have one thing in common - the desire to pluck a piece of furniture off the side of the road and restore it to its former glory. But you don't have to be a pro to get the job done.

By Emilie Sennebogen & Jill Jaracz

Have some paint around your house you just love, but aren't sure how to match paint color effectively? When paint chips fall short, a spectrophotometer can save the day! Read on to match colors without error.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Mold smells, and if you have it in your home, your nose is one of the most inexpensive devises you can use to detect it. The struggle is in understanding when mold is dangerous to your family or home.

By Sara Elliott

Each year, American homeowners throw out 64 million gallons of unused paint. But your color doesn't have to turn to trash. There are many options for your old paint.

By Heather Kolich & Austin Henderson

These days, houses are getting bigger and bigger and yards are getting smaller and smaller. But there is a way to keep the integrity of your yard, while still utilizing the living space: a patio. So what should you build it with?

By Jessica Brown

Some home dangers aren't as obvious as others. Asbestos, lead and even urea-formaldehyde used as a resin could be in your home right now. Gas mask, anyone?

By Marie Bobel

Many homeowners love the look of wallpaper. But if you're not one of them, wallpaper can prove to be a total pain to remove. It would be so easy to just paint over it - or would it?

By Bambi Turner

When building a home or remodeling, people usually think about the granite countertops, the extensive square footage or the number of windows in the new space. But what about the walls?

By Jessica Brown

If you own a home, or contemplate owning one, just the mention of termites probably sends chills down your spine. Because of this, builders are getting creative with ways to keep them out.

By Sara Elliott

During the housing boom of the early 2000s, drywall manufacturers couldn't keep up, so builders turned to China. And while there was plenty of cheap drywall, it also could be toxic.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Shotgun houses are modestly built and constructed in very close proximity to one another. Despite their simplicity, they are ornately decorated -- and culturally significant.

By Josh Clark

It's easy to take carpeting for granted -- how often do you look down at the floor? Carpet production, however, is an interesting and complex process.

By Josh Clark

Millions of Americans live in apartments or townhomes where they share at least one wall with their neighbors. And in most cases, that wall doesn't drown out the noise. But there are things you can do to get some peace and quiet.

By Bambi Turner

Clean furnace filters save energy and money, plain and simple. Routinely changing or cleaning the furnace filters from your home's heating and air conditioning system helps the units run more efficiently and enjoy a longer lifespan.

By Heather Kolich & Austin Henderson

The tool guide gives important information about choosing and using the right tool for the job. Find the tool guide at HowStuffWorks.

Dry cleaning is a way to clean clothes without using water, but do your clothes really stay dry after you hand them to the dry cleaner?

By Patrick J. Kiger

You may be sitting in your house this very second, but do you have any idea what it took to build it? From foundation to framing, these home construction pictures will show you the stages of building a house.

Heat pumps use a small amount of energy to move heat from one place to another. But is one right for your home?

By Laura Cowan & Talon Homer

Nobody ever expects accidents to happen, but a slip down the stairs or a kitchen grease fire can occur in the blink of an eye -- even with careful homeowners. So where are you most likely to get hurt?

By Emilie Sennebogen

Wouldn't you love to know the secrets of how your house came to be? What did the original owners do for a living? How much the house cost to build in 1932? It only takes a little research to find out.

By Emilie Sennebogen

The act of restoring an old home to its former grandeur is a rewarding experience, and getting a great deal is the icing on the cake. But if you don't know what you're doing, the job can turn sour quickly.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Off-peak cooling is a new innovation that uses electricity to produce blocks of ice at night when demand is low. But how does the air stay cool enough to provide relief at the hottest time of day?

By Sara Elliott

If you'd like to change the look of your kitchen, but the price tag is too high to contemplate, there may be a less expensive solution. Now, you can cover your appliances completely, or even paint them for a new look.

By Sara Elliott

Almost all Americans come into contact with household cleaners, some several times a day. And most of those cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can be dangerous for your health and your home.

By Echo Surina

A few years ago, the construction market was at an all-time high. But the recession brought with it a huge downturn in the real estate market. So if you're stuck in your house, how about sprucing it up?

By Emilie Sennebogen