I’ve actually tried a couple of those commercial polishes—Bona and one of the cheaper hardware store brands. Honestly, they’re not all created equal. ...

Can’t argue with you on the cleaning front—epoxy grout’s been a game changer in my experience too. I used to dread scrubbing those old cement grout li...

It’s wild how much red tape there is for even the simplest backyard projects these days. I remember when I put up a pergola a couple years back—had to...

Keeping corners sharp without tape is a pain, I hear you. Those blue tools are handy in theory, but I’ve had the same issue—too much flex and you’re c...

Twenty years is impressive, but I wouldn’t count on much more. I’ve seen units limp along past 25, but efficiency drops off a cliff and repairs get pr...

Had a similar situation a few years back—kitchen was half demo'd, tools everywhere, and the inspector showed up early. I just calmly explained the sit...

Totally agree about framing your project around their priorities—inspectors usually respond better when they see you're taking their concerns seriousl...

Had a similar issue a couple years back—closet on an exterior wall, mold kept popping up no matter how often I cleaned it. Ended up insulating the wal...

Good points overall, but honestly, sometimes checking shut-off valves beforehand isn't enough. I've had valves that seemed perfectly fine until I actu...