Honestly, the “add-on” vibe is real if you’re not careful. I’ve seen bump-outs that scream “I’m new here!”—usually when the floors don’t match or ther...
Dry wells are like the IKEA furniture of yard drainage—looks simple on paper, but you’ll be sweating halfway through and wondering where you went wron...
I once tried to “upgrade” a client’s patio bench with marine strapping and, honestly, it felt like sitting on a trampoline for the first month. Not my...
That’s a good point about vinegar on old enamel—learned that the hard way with a 50s fridge door. The shine just never came back. I’m always torn betw...
Ha, I feel that deep in my soul. Those old frames have seen things… but 3-inch screws are a game changer for security. I’ve done it in a few clients’ ...
Right there with you—my “permit folder” is basically my security blanket at this point. I swear, the one time I didn’t have a random paint VOC certifi...
Haha, recessed LEDs are definitely a solid choice, but honestly, after dealing with plaster walls myself, I'd probably avoid cutting into them again a...
You're spot-on about the exhaust fan, but honestly, sometimes even upgrading it doesn't fully solve the issue. I had a client who installed one of tho...
Haha, been there—nothing like a warped floor to make you question your life choices. I'd also say budget extra for waterproofing and sealing...humidit...
Composite definitely saves headaches, but I gotta say, real wood has its charms too. We redid our beach house porch with cedar—yeah, it's more upkeep,...
French drain sounds smart, but does it hold up well over time? I've seen some gravel setups get clogged after a few seasons... did you add any kind of...
I admit, I'm guilty of the "wait till it looks rough" approach myself... preventive maintenance sounds great in theory, but somehow Netflix always win...
Twenty years? You're basically the HVAC whisperer at this point. Seriously though, that's impressive. I've had clients whose units barely made it past...
Totally agree—keeping original woodwork is like holding onto your favorite vintage sweater. Sure, it might itch a bit or need some patching up, but no...
True, but sometimes setting aside too much can tempt you into unnecessary upgrades. Heated floors are great, but I've seen clients splurge on fancy fi...