One reason vinyl fences are so popular is because they’re essentially maintenance-free after they’re installed. However, there are still simple steps you can take to ensure your vinyl fence maintains its appearance and efficiency for many years:

Clean the fence regularly. Mix a bit of non-abrasive household detergent with water, gently sponge away any grime and spray the fence down with a hose. Most greasy or oily stains can be easily wiped away with mineral spirits and a soft cloth.

Check the fence’s stability. No matter how securely your vinyl fence has been installed, sometimes freeze, thaw cycles and other natural forces can loosen its posts. It’s a good idea to periodically walk the fence line and make sure everything is still firm and straight. Read more

Many things can affect the functionality of your house’s gutters, but the most common issue is a buildup of fallen leaves. When gutters are full of debris, they can no longer effectively divert rainwater and instead start to overflow, which can cause them to corrode and bow under the weight of the water. Keeping your gutters free of debris typically involves getting on a ladder and removing leaves and twigs, either by hand-scooping them or flushing them out with a hose. You can hire a roof maintenance professional to do this for you, but there’s another option that will prevent debris buildup from happening in the first place. Read more

Watch this video to learn how to become your own dry rot detective. Read more

Even the most reputable contractors can find themselves in financial trouble without warning. I knew of one who lost everything when his son died unexpectedly. His son’s hospital bills and funeral/burial costs became too much, and while he had every intention of maintaining high standards for his clients, he eventually lost the liquidity necessary to keep their projects running ahead of their payments. That’s why it’s such a bad idea to allow payments to get ahead of progress…no matter what. To determine if your project is in trouble, look for the following warning signs:

• The contractor starts asking for progress payments ahead of progress, saying things like, “I need you to pay x amount of money so I can order something.” While this may be common for securing pre-fab orders like kitchen cabinets,

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When taking on a major remodel, think about how to bring in the natural light and color from the outside and increase your living space. Consider creating a natural and relaxed feeling in your home, inside and out. Some of the possibilities include patio additions, sun rooms, glass doors, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, skylights and even water features.

If you live in a tight space without a yard (like a condo or small house), you can add skylights, atrium rooms or a bay window. Another idea for the kitchen is to pop out the window behind your sink and add shelves for potted herbs. In addition to improved lighting, you’ll have fresh herbs for dinner! Read more

Good general contractors are good managers of not only their talent, but also their money and their clients’ priorities and expectations. The best don’t mind an opportunity to set upfront expectations with serious customers. Here are three questions you can ask that will give you some insight on your prospective contractor:

1. Can you give me an example of a conflict that came up on a recent job and describe how you resolved it? Murphy’s Law works on building projects just as well as anywhere else. You can tell a lot about a person by how fair-minded they are when they retell a conflict resolution story.

2. Will you work until my project is finished, Read more

Do you ever approach a large home improvement project or a major purchase with fear and trepidation? Right now, my husband and I are making some changes around the house—buying new appliances, a TV for the bedroom, drapes for the living room. We both dread the prospect of spending precious weekends at the mall or at appliance showrooms, and that’s after you invest time in figuring out what you want.

If you’re a savvy consumer like me, I do my homework, but streamline the process. For starters, I only go to trusted sources for information on products. Consumer Reports magazine is always my first choice when it comes to finding objective and independent ratings for most items. Read more