Quick Tips

Retrofitting an Existing Deck It’s estimated that of the approximately 40 million existing decks, only half are code compliant. Experts believe that many of these decks are potentially unsafe. In situations where it’s not feasible to rebuild an existing deck, it may...

YOU MIGHT HAVE A CASE OF STACK EFFECT. Fireplaces, wood stoves, and inserts sometimes experience back drafting. This is generally blamed on the wind or the chimney not being high enough. To really solve the problem, first it has to be correctly defined. If smoke or...

Before performing any maintenance on your sump pump unplug anything electrical on the unit. Then you can check for some of these common problems and fix them before any further water damage incurs. Check some of these common problems that may lead to a malfunctioning...

Many homeowners are all too familiar with ice dams. These are thick accumulations of ice that form over the eaves of a house. Water then collects behind the dam and gradually works its way beneath roof shingles through a cycle of freezing and thawing. The result can...

All types of siding eventually accumulate dirt and grime, maybe even some mildew. It might make you think you need to paint the siding. But that’s not so. Often, it’s easy to wash dirt from the surface if the underlying finish is in good shape. Some professionals use...

Maintaining the filter on your air conditioning and heating equipment isn’t fun or glamorous. So why bother? Because a clean filter allows for proper air flow, and that makes the equipment run efficiently, saving you money. Also, a clean filter helps your system...