Q: I plan to install radially cut spruce clapboards on a new house and want to stain them with a white semitransparent or opaque stain. What type of finish appearance should I expect, and how often will the finish need to be renewed? Although stained siding looks better to me than painted siding, I know that some people say that stain is "just thinned paint." More
A painter shows how to use a nontoxic chemical stripper to safely remove old... More
Q: Is it a good idea to install vinyl siding over OSB sheathing without putting up any housewrap or felt? I see this more and more often, and wonder whether the OSB should be protected since vinyl is fairly leaky. Apparently there is nothing in the codes against this practice. More
Installed correctly, ground-source heat pumps can provide comfortable, efficient heating in many climates. Here’s an overview of the available options. More
To reduce your chances of callbacks, follow this wood expert's guide to choosing... More
Q: How can I straighten a wood door that has warped? In this case, the bottom rail bows out from the frame. More
Here’s a step-by-step guide to stripping, pressure-washing, and repainting wood siding, by a Texas restoration contractor. More
A concrete contractor and consultant explains how proper finish grading and... More
Locknut wrench for electrical boxes, touch-up drywall mud in a tube, light-weight portable compressor, new hidden deck fastener More
Q: Is there any way to remove mildew and water stains on redwood and cedar siding? More
