That’s a pretty solid approach—tech is great until it isn’t, and nothing beats a good neighbor backup. I’ve retrofitted plenty of old doors and honest...

Honestly, the permits and inspections were almost more stressful than the remodel itself. The paperwork, waiting for approvals, and scheduling city in...

I’ve had a different experience with composites, honestly. Some of the higher-end lines (like TimberTech or Fiberon) seem to hold their color a lot be...

EARTHQUAKE-PROOFING: THE REALITY CHECK That line about “assume nothing is up to code” is way too real, especially when you’re dealing with anything b...

Vinyl windows can be decent, but honestly, in salty coastal air, aluminum-clad wood windows have held up better for me. Bit pricier upfront, but fewer...

I've had mixed luck with indoor solar stuff myself...tried setting up a solar-powered sensor near a window once, but it never really got enough sunlig...

We ran into similar electrical headaches during our remodel. Found some ancient knob-and-tube wiring tucked behind the vanity wall—definitely wasn't e...

I've tried the clear nail polish trick myself—honestly, didn't hold up as well as I'd hoped. Eventually swapped mine out for a backlit keypad. Not exa...

Couldn't agree more. One thing I'd add—try using a bright work light at an angle. It highlights imperfections you might miss otherwise... saved me fro...