Home DIY

It's not that hard to get into most houses. Between the keys hidden under mats, the shoddy locks and the soul-baring social network statuses on vacation plans, it's pretty easy to find a home's weak spot. How should you protect yours?

By Julia Layton

If your air conditioner is causing your energy bills to rise, you might want to consider an alternative — a swamp cooler. That's if you live in a dry environment like the southwestern U.S. So, how do swamp coolers help you beat the heat?

By Chris Landers & Francisco Guzman

When you think of cork, your first thought may be popping a nice bottle of champagne or wine. But if you're into the latest decorating trends, you may think of a cork floor.

By Jessica Brown

Look almost anywhere, and you'll see things made from wood. Harvesting that much wood can have devastating effects on forests and environments. Fortunately, some of the hardwoods that are most popular can be sustained in your own backyard.

By Heather Kolich

Owning a home can be a dream come true, but it's more than just relaxing weekends on the deck and intimate evenings in front of the fireplace. That's right; you have to work at it to keep it running smoothly.

By Sara Elliott

Whether you're frightened or fascinated by insects, you can probably agree they don't belong in your home. But how can you keep something so small from worming its way into your walls?

By Bambi Turner

There's something about wallpaper removal that frustrates even the most enthusiastic home improvement hobbyists. Luckily, you can find fast and effective ways to remove wallpaper in this article.

By Echo Surina

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

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

Incandescent lights can help illuminate an area to make a task easier. Learn how to replace these essential lights with these six easy steps.

Find out how to install a fluorescent light in this article.

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

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

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

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

Lipstick-stained carpet. Orange shag carpet. Carpet that's seen one too many instances of puppy incontinence. It seems a shame to toss it out, but can you recycle it?

By Cristen Conger