Search engine visitors - click here to access entire "$ensible Home" web site

Remodeling Project Topics

Click on the column headlines below to read the entire unedited columns and view the related illustrations. Most of my columns that you read in your newspaper or magazine have been edited due to space constraints.

Homeowner Benefits? - These are the potential benefits that a typical homeowner will realize by following the tips or by installing the home-related products that are discussed in this column.

422 - Conservatories are attractive, many kits are easy to build
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 14 manufacturers of conservatories and a supplier for easy to follow plans and instructions to build a Victorian style conservatory, styles available, frame materials, glazing options, features, factors to consider when building a conservatory, recommended conservatory plants and tips, illustrations of typical conservatory designs.
Homeowner Benefits: Very attractive living space, solar heat gain in winter, grow plants in winter.

457 - New decorative screen/storm doors for saving, comfort, security
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of the nine best, most secure screen/storm doors listing styles available, construction type and materials used, core/insulation levels, standard colors and hardware (locks, handles, hinges, etc.) available, unique features including type of glass used, prices and illustrations of many styles, guide to measuring for a storm door.
Homeowner Benefits: Protect primary door, greater security, ventilation, lower utility bills

462 - New hardwood flooring is attractive, warm, easy to install
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of solid and engineered hardwood flooring manufacturers, types of wood species, sizes, patterns, prices, prefinished or unfinished availability, hardness/stability guides, descriptions of wood flooring choices, wood flooring styles (strip, plank, parquet), description of surface finished, description of type of cut and wood flooring grades, and floating floor installation details.
Homeowner Benefits:Attractive flooring, easy to install yourself, natural material

482 - Cork floor tiles are beautiful and durable, provide warmth
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of nine cork floor tile ans panel manufacturers listing tile sizes, colors, finishes, thicknesses, features, typical patterns, installation instructions and maintenance recommendations, and general information on how cork bark is stripped from trees.
Homeowner Benefits: Attractive and quiet flooring, earth-friendly product, low-cost for do-it-yourselfers.

484 - Add extra storage to make home more comfortable
Update Bulletin Description - Listing of 8 manufacturers of do-it-yourself storage systems, do-it-yourself instructions, illustrations and required materials for understair storage, kitchen pantry cabinet and laundry room shelves, listing of wall insulation products, tips on organizing your closet, illustrations with descriptions of several different storage products available.
Homeowner Benefits: Additional storage area, warmer walls and better comfort

544 - No-maintenance wood-alternative deck materials and kits are beautiful
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 18 wood-alternative and recycled material decking/railing kit manufacturers showing plank sizes and designs, standard colors, warranty periods, attachment methods to deck framing, special features, prices and diagrams of several of the various designs.
Homeowner Benefits: No-maintenance, long lasting attractive appearance, lower overall lifetime costs

552 - Pocket door kits save floor space, are easy to install
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of pocket door kits, maximum door weights, madimum door heights, door thicknesses, door widths, features; and a buyer's guide of selected, high-quality decorative wood interior doors, construction type (engineered wood, hardwood veneers, solid hardwood), wood species, door thickness, door width and height and features, illustrations throughout.
Homeowner Benefits: Save floor space, easy to install, attractive

594 - Remodel your bathroom with stylish, efficient, comfortable products
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 14 manufacturers of efficient/comfort bathroom remodeling products: electric warm floor radiant heating, wall/ceiling radiant heat panels, hinge-mounted towel warmers, unique shower surrounds, chlorine-removing showerheads, whirlpools (describing jets, controls, comfort features), water-saving toilets, decorative quiet vent fans, tubular skylights/vents, and ceramic tile.
Homeowner Benefits:Attractive bathroom, lower energy and water costs, more comfort

691 - Soundproof your existing and new walls by several methods
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of soundproofing product manufacturers, 18 soundproof wall designs describing basic construction (single stud or double stud walls) and absorptive materials, STC (sound transimission class) ratings, fire ratings, recommended room-to-room STC's, and soundproofing tips for homes.
Homeowner Benefits: Quieter house, better acoustics for home theater

700 - New super-efficient, no-maintenance, insulated vinyl replacement windows
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of the 15 highest quality, most efficient vinyl window manufacturers listing frame insulation, new glass options, styles with illustrations (awning, bay, bow, double hung, casement, French casement, tilt turn, single hung,, fixed), colors, features, charts showing insulating R-values, visible transmittance, and solar heat coefficient of different types of glass.
Homeowner Benefits: Low-cost windows, no-maintenance, eliminate sweating, easy to clean

712 - Durable insulating house, wall, roof paint improves comfort
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 11 energy-saving ceramic and low-emissivity wall, house and roof paints, particle types, coverages, colors, features/uses, warranties, prices, typical application instructions, cleaning and maintenance, painting tips and chart showing the temperature of coatings and other materials in sunlight.
Homeowner Benefits:Paint contains insulation, improves appearance - indoors and outdoors

724 - New patio and screened room kits can be used year-round
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of the 12 best patio room/screen porch kit manufacturers describing the roof/wall design details, window/door designs and options, glass options, special features, material construction details and illustrations of wall and window panels.
Homeowner Benefits: Low-cost additional living space, no insects, easy do-it-yourself project

732 - Build an efficient deck or a DIY screened gazebo kit
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 11 screening/frame and gazebo kit manufacturers listing sizes, materials (wood or vinyl), features, illustrations, detailed instructions with diagrams, dimensions and required materials list for building a solar deck and a solar positioning chart for 58 cities.
Homeowner Benefits: More comfortable deck, help cool house, low air-conditioning costs

735 - New decorative, no-maintenance siding adds insulation value
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 15 new decorative and standard types of no/low-maintenance exterior siding materials and insulation kits (cultured stone, insulated vinyl, thin brick, plastic simulated cedar/stone/brick, fiber-cement, engineered wood), surface textures, profiles, warranties, features, installation details, illustrations and descriptions of various types of siding.
Homeowner Benefits: Improve appearance of house, add insulation, low maintenance lower utility bills

737 - New attractive high-mass kitchen countertops for comfort, savings
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 14 attractive, high-mass countertop and sink manufacturers listing material descriptions (concrete, granite, quartz composite, slate, ceramic tile, heavy wood, colors, features, and a material/pricing selector guide listing weight, repairability, features and drawbacks.
Homeowner Benefits: Even room temperatures, attractive appearance, durable surface

748 - Convert garage or basement to room with wall insulation systems
Update Bulletin Description - List of 12 manufacturers of materials for insulating and/or finishing a basement or garage with a product description of each system, do-it-yourself instructions for insulating basement walls and do-it-yourself instructions for making a movable insulating wall with diagrams, dimensions and required material list, recommended total R-value chart, adding wall insulation savings chart.
Homeowner Benefits:Increase living area inexpensively, improve comfort or existing rooms, lower utility bills

776 - Many alternative roofing materials are attractive, last a lifetime
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 20 roofing material manufacturers showing material types, various styles for each material, warranties (up to lifetime), features, chart showing prices, fire rating, estimated life, weights and colors and many illustrations of the various types.
Homeowner Benefits:Select the best roofing materials, long warranties, better appearance

809 - Attractive vinyl and fiberglass fencing, gate openers for homes
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 12 vinyl fence manufacturers showing styles (full privacy, semi privacy, privacy with lattice, picket, concave picket, closed rail picket, post and rail, crossbuck, basket weave), illustrations of some styles, colors, warranties, features, suggested installation and building fence guide; gate opener manufacturers showing types (swing, slide), travel speed, cycles per hours, maximum gate weight/length, features.
Homeowner Benefits: Improve security, privacy and appearance of yard, create energy-saving windbreak

858 - Add exterior insulation and synthetic stucco
Update Bulletin Description - Listing of 11 manufacturers of exterior insulation finish systems (EIFS), colors and textures (swirl, smooth, sand, stone), features, descriptions of fastening systems and complete do-it-yourself instructions for adding external insulation and stucco; manufacturers of high-efficiency insulation.
Homeowner Benefits: Add insulation on the exterior of house, better appearance

881 - Tight-sealing insulated garage doors are attractive, safe
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 11 highest-quality garage doors, method of insulation, insulation thickness, R-value, colors, glass options, seals, panel contours (flush, raised, ranch), section seals with illustration (shiplap, tongue and groove, compression type, polyurethane material), features and illustrations.
Homeowner Benefits: More attractive house appearance, warmer garage, glass windows

926 - Fiberglass replacement windows are efficient, maintenance-free
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 11 high-quality and efficient fiberglass window manufacturers listing styles shown with illustrations (awning, bow, double hung, casement, slider, picture, single hung), glass options, frame colors, features, double-hung window installation instructions and illustrations with descriptions of several products.
Homeowner Benefits: Better appearance, greater security, no maintenance, lower utility bills

992 - New sunrooms are bright, energy efficient, inexpensive living space
Update Bulletin Description - Buyer's guide of 12 efficient sunroom/kit manufacturers listing designs (curved eave, straight eave, conservatory), frame materials, glazing options, ventilation options, shading systems, features and passive solar heat producing tips. Diagram and helpful suggestions on how to turn your sunroom into a heat-producing space to reduce overall heating bills.
Homeowner Benefits: Low-cost additional year-round living space, do-it-yourself project, start plants

Do-It-Yourself Weekend/Fix-it Projects - This DIY Homeowner Guide section lists 17 different do-it-yourself projects for around your home. Some projects relate to fixing things and others are just interesting weekend projects. This list is constantly growing.

Common Painting Troubleshooting Guide - This DIY Homeower Guide section lists 22 common indoor and 22 common exterior paint problems, their causes and how to correct or avoid the same problem in the future.