Practical reviews, comparisons and buying guides covering tools, building materials, decking, kitchens, bathrooms and home improvement.
Best Decking for Shade and Damp Areas: What to Look For
A shaded deck has different priorities than a deck baking in full sun. When the surface stays damp longer, water…
Joist Tape Under Composite Decking: Where and How to Use It
Composite and PVC deck boards can last a long time, which makes protecting the wood framing underneath worth thinking about.…
Deck Fascia Installation: Common Problems and How to Plan It Right
Fascia is one of the details homeowners notice immediately because it finishes the outside edge of the deck. It is…
Composite Decking Expansion Gaps: What Installers Need to Plan For
Composite and PVC deck boards move as temperatures change. The amount and direction of movement vary by product, board length,…
Shower Tile Installation: What Pros Do Differently
By Jason Cubero — Tile is in nearly every kitchen and bathroom I remodel, and showers are where tile work…
Crown Molding, Wainscoting & Coffered Ceilings: A Carpenter’s Guide to Trim That Transforms Rooms
By Jason Cubero — Carpentry is in my company name for a reason. I’ve been running trim since 2003, and…
How to Finish a Basement: A Contractor’s Guide to Doing It Right
By Jason Cubero — I’ve been remodeling homes in New Jersey since 2003, and finished basements are some of my…
Deck Picture Framing and Breaker Boards: When They Are Worth It
Picture framing and breaker boards can make a composite or PVC deck look much more finished, but they also change…
Best Decking for Bare Feet: Heat, Texture and Comfort Explained
A deck can look great and still be uncomfortable to walk on barefoot. If your family uses the deck around…
Best Decking for Dogs: Composite vs. PVC for Paws, Scratches and Easy Cleanup
If you have dogs, choosing decking is about more than color. Paw comfort, traction, scratches, heat, cleanup and moisture all…
Small Bathroom Remodel: How to Make It Feel Bigger
Most of the bathrooms I remodel are small. Hall baths, powder rooms, the guest bath nobody talks about. And the…
Best Decking for Rooftop Decks: What Works on a Roof
A rooftop deck is a different animal from a backyard deck. The structure below is a roof, not the ground.…
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