That’s a fair point. I always figure it’s cheaper to over-engineer up front than pay for repairs or replacements later—especially if you’re footing th...

That’s been my experience too—building up can be a lot less disruptive to the yard, but the costs add up fast. Structural reinforcement, extra stairs,...

I’ve definitely run into compatibility headaches, especially with smart switches. One brand’s “works with everything” claim turned out to mean “works ...

That's actually a pretty clever workaround. Inspectors often respond positively when they see you've done your homework—even if it's not strictly offi...

I've had mixed results with baking soda, honestly. It works okay for smaller patches, but for larger areas, it can get messy and tedious pretty quickl...

Totally agree about the foam gaskets—small investment, noticeable payoff. Another overlooked area is the gap around plumbing pipes under sinks, especi...

Reclaimed wood definitely helps stretch the budget. I did something similar—found some old pallets, carefully dismantled them (watch for hidden nails!...

I switched from a chain-drive to a belt-drive opener about two years ago, and honestly, reliability-wise, it's been pretty solid. I was hesitant too b...

Definitely second the mulch and compost suggestion—worked wonders for me too. One additional thing I've found helpful is planting native shrubs or gra...

You're definitely not imagining things—prices have noticeably jumped in the past year or two. Part of it is supply chain disruptions and material shor...