Did you know we maintain an up-to-date Sears Coupons list all year long? Sears releases updated coupons about once per week, and sometimes releases short-notification specials just before the weekend, so the page changes often.
The Sears Coupons list is part of our [...]
Now that the spray foam insulation is complete in the basement, we’re again turning our attention to finishing the space.
Our original layout for the basement included 1/4 of the space used as a TV area. But after visiting a number of home theater stores in [...]
For the last two years we’ve been working hard to improve the looks of our lawn, and with some decent successes. We’ve become big fans of Scott’s DIY Annual Lawn Care Program and particularly of their Turf Builder with Weed Control (which did great last [...]
Every now and then a truly innovative technology comes along and makes life better. You know… like the remote control, or the dishwasher, or stain-resistant carpet.
Delta Faucet is hoping their latest ToucH20 technology (official site) improves your kitchen faucet experience. But does it really [...]
Looking for a creative gift idea for the home improver in your life? Last week, Ethan came up with a list of handyman gifts that are easy to purchase online and will ship in time for the holiday. Here’s another idea we think many handymen (and handywomen!) might enjoy [...]
A compressor and finishing nailer are practically a must-have for home improvers. Pneumatic nailers speed along many jobs, like baseboard and shoe molding installation, crown molding installation, and most all woodworking jobs (including the very common DIY hardwood flooring install where a finish nailer is a great option [...]
Reader question: I just picked up a new Trane programmable thermostat for our air conditioner/heat pump system. When I took the front off the current honeywell thermostat, it looks like there are quite a few more wires than what the new thermostat will accept. The thermostat has seven wires connected [...]
When it comes to recessed can lighting, “IC” means “insulation contact”. IC-rated cans (usually labeled as “IC-rated” or simply “IC”) are appropriate for attic installations and anywhere else you plan to have insulation touching the can’s housing. Non-IC cans (almost always labeled “Non-IC”) must have an [...]
Traditional manual screwdrivers aren’t the sexiest of home improvement tools, but they are essential… A good screwdriver can speed along simple and complex home improvement projects alike. While there’s a myriad of combination screwdriver options on the market competing for your hard-earned cash, there’s one version [...]
Keeping hand tools organized and accessible on the go is tough. The lionshare of portable toolboxes on the market come with a deep bottom storage bin and one or two removable shelves (like the one shown at the right). These solutions aren’t bad per se, but we [...]
If revolvers were the great equalizer that tamed the lawless west, the 18V impact driver is the modern-day DIY equivalent. Back in the 1800s, the enemies were unruly types who plundered, poached, and pilfered from innocents. Today’s DIY enemies: bolts tightened beyond the loosening force of traditional drill-drivers, and [...]
In our prior house, we had an awkward nook in the corner of our small 10′ x 10′ rectangular kitchen — a 2′ x 3.5′ space that was completely empty. The area was in the corner opposite the cabinets (which were laid out in an ‘L’ shape on the other [...]
I’m playing with the Excel mortgage calculator I wrote about this morning.
I’ve always heard that with a 30 year mortgage, you don’t own that much of your home after 15 years of steady payments… You’d think after shelling out half of all the payments, you’d own [...]
I was playing with amortization schedules in Excel 2007 and created this nifty (and pretty simple) tool for calculating home loan amortization schedules for up to a 40 year loan…
I figured it might come in handy for others, so I cleaned it up. You can download it below.
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We decided on recessed can lighting for our new basement game room. Not only do can lights reduce the visibility of ceiling defects, they eliminate light fixtures hanging down into the room. Since our ceiling is low (only 7′8″ without [...]
On most decks, the decking boards run parallel to the house and across the joists (either perpendicular or at a 45 degree angle). But what if you want to run the decking boards perpendicular to the house, going straight out from a back door? While uncommon and a bit more [...]
In September and October we told you about Ryobi’s Durashot Tek4 digital camera and Tek4 Professional Multimeter, two of ten tools that comprise Ryobi’s latest line of 4V Li-Ion gadgets.
As I wrote in the digital camera review, the concept behind Ryobi’s latest tool line [...]
Happy Saturday! As you read this, we’re up and at ‘em getting started on our basement insulation project. Here’s some weekend reading to get you started while we’re busy.
TipNut headlines this round up with 10 ways to make your own laundry detergent. It’s an [...]
We’re just about ready to have closed cell spray foam installed (our choice for basement wall insulation). We’ve lined up a great contractor in the Baltimore area who’s going to let us follow him around the basement with our video gear so we can share the whole experience with [...]
Ceilings have a way of really showing defects when the drywall is not installed properly. While the visibility of ceiling defects can be reduced (e.g., through recessed lighting, flat paint, and other methods), the goal of every ceiling drywall installation should be to reduce or eliminate [...]
Alright, got your coffee in hand? Here’s a few things going on around the Home Improvement Blogosphere we’d thought you be interested in this fine Saturday morning.
Kate @ Centsational Girl headlines this DIY Round-up with detailed instructions for making pillows from suit fabrics. She found the [...]
Well, Fall is upon us in full force here in the Free State. About a week ago we passed the peak fall foliage mark, and recent storms have already started to blow leaves down from the trees. We’ll be firing up our mulching mower to [...]
Between six and twelve months ago, we poured four separate 250 sq. ft. quadrants of self-leveling cement (a.k.a. self-leveling mortar, or self-leveling underlayment) onto our basement concrete slab. We selected LevelQuik ES for the job and followed the instructions to the letter… Or so we thought…
Much to my dismay, [...]
Just getting your weekend started? Here’s a few good reads with your morning coffee:
Green Gardenista headlines this DIY round-up with another cute fall container garden (pictured right!) Better hurry and follow her instructions. Fall will be a passing memory in [...]
We’re just about finished the electrical rough-in of our basement game room. One of the final steps is to remove the original lighting circuit that powers four ceramic keyless overhead fixtures that the builder installed in the original unfinished basement. We’ve run Romex drops for [...]
Dimmer switches are one of those great modern marvels that make life better… They can set the mood for a romantic evening, or keep you from squinting when you’re waking up in the morning. We’re installing four dimmer switches that will control the overhead lighting in our [...]
On Monday, I explained how to run a new circuit from a breaker panel. But what happens if your panel is already full and can’t accept a new breaker? In many homes, builders don’t leave free slots in the breaker panel. Why? Larger breaker panels cost money, and that [...]
We’re just about ready to insulate our basement game room and have been exploring a number of options for achieving maximum efficiency. I thought our research might help a few of you out there who are looking to tackle this job on your own. [...]
Running a new electric circuit is a pretty simple task that can be accomplished with a little bit of effort, care, and the right tools.
This article is focused on running a new circuit for light fixtures or outlets. The same principals apply to all 110V circuits, and [...]
Last June, Ryobi entered the market of small, lithium ion-powered tools with their Tek4 offering. And a big step it was… Ryobi’s latest collection of tools goes beyond the usual home improvement suspects, bringing 4-volt lithium ion technology and rugged, easy-on-the-hands feel to a range of interesting little gadgets. [...]
Two years ago, we waterproofed over 1000 square feet of cinder block wall in our mostly-underground basement. We applied Super Thoroseal to 500 sq. ft., and SunnyDry Foundation Waterproofer to the other 500 sq. ft. (Follow that SunnyDry link for our initial review of their product, [...]
Our family vacation this year took us to a house in the Sandbridge community of Virginia Beach. The neighborhood is full of beautiful homes with great appointments, many of which lie beachside on the Atlantic Ocean (ours didn’t).
We stayed in a relatively modest four bedroom reverse floorplan with an updated [...]
Baseboard heat and electric radiant floor heat each offer pros and cons based on installation goals, budget, and floor covering options. Here’s a few things to consider before selecting either option for your room.
Electric Baseboard Heating SystemsElectric baseboard heating systems generate heat resistively, by heating up wire [...]
We’re huge fans of deck designs that integrate with their natural surroundings. We’ve all seen pictures of decks built around trees (if you haven’t click there for an ok example). This deck, built off the back of a cabin in the woods sports a bridge to a nearby cluster [...]
Good fences make good neighbors… isn’t that what they say? Well, we’ve found that in our suburban neighborhood, we actually prefer open yards… It makes us all feel like we have a little more property.
Even though we don’t prefer them, fences have their place… They are a very functional design [...]
Remember that trip to the Poconos that brought you four great lakehouse design homes? The cabin we stayed in there–for free, courtesy of two friends–was built in the late 60s, and the wall covering of choice back then: 8 foot high paneling broken up every now and again [...]
One way to maximize the available seating space on your deck is to build in perimeter benches connected to the deck’s railings. These simple benches add dozens of seats and are especially useful for parties and events where traditional table seating is limited. Also, since the benches don’t have any [...]
Deck benches are a great way to add a lot of seating space on a relatively small deck. But, they can be dangerous for kids. Take a look at this photograph of some fabulous deck benches that run the full length of the outside of the deck:
The [...]
Back in August, Kim, the boys and I took a trip up to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, to a little resort town called Split Rock. Most of the community was built in the late 1960s… It’s named for a giant split rock geological feature at the top of a [...]
Reader Question: I am considering putting hardwood floors in my living room and dining room. The kitchen sits next to both rooms and I’m wondering if I should lay hardwoods in the kitchen as well? I’ve seen hardwoods in some high kitchens, but at least two of [...]
Here’s an interesting intersection between construction and technology from Chris @ Software Advice. It’s the rough concept for an iPhone-based punch list application.
All four of us here at One Project Closer are iPhone junkies (and Kim actually did punch outs at a retirement community)… We think this application [...]
We recently called in the professionals for a low water pressure issue at our rental property. While on the phone with the customer service representative, she asked me if I was interested in having their technician provide us a low-cost plumbing inspection.
Plumbing Inspection PricingThe price for [...]
Pressure washing is one of the fastest ways to improve the look of your property and add value at the same time! Pressure washers are great for cleaning siding, restoring hard surfaces to their original luster, stripping decks and fences, and more.
High-PSI & GPM Power WashersIf you’re [...]
Reader Question: I read your post about sealing an asphalt driveway and was wondering, how often should I seal a driveway and how long should I wait before I seal it the first time? Thanks, Ed.
Ed, excellent question. Sealing an asphalt driveway will keep [...]
Low water pressure is a real downer. There’s nothing quite like looking forward to a hot shower and finding out that instead of 20 minutes of relaxation, you’ll spend 10 miserable minutes trying to squeeze yourself up against the wall under a dribbling shower head (tell us [...]
Warning, I’m plugging my friend’s blog
We’ve been looking into how to get a little better interest rate on our savings while maintaining FDIC insurance. I’m a frequent reader over at Bargaineering and my buddy Jim keeps a list of the [...]
If you’ve got a big open space in your kitchen’s floor plan, it’s probably screaming for a better use. Kitchen islands provide great storage options and additional countertop space without disrupting the flow of the room. An island allows you to add work space opposite key appliances [...]
Sealing your driveway is an excellent way to add curb appeal to your home for a relatively low price - a fraction of the cost of repaving. Over time, asphalt greys and forms pits as the softer tar wears away on the surface [...]
