How To Guides

Roof shingles containing tar are a bad idea for hot regions. The heat from the sun will melt the tar out of the shingles and can be disastrous for the roofing. In fact if you carefully look at the building rules and codes you will note that all type of organic and tar roof shingles are barred for regions which have hot weather. These type of shingles also can't handle the wide variations of temperatures normally seen in deserts between day and night time temperature.

Choosing the right...

Today as I was in the process of staging tools to drop into my crawlspace, I decided to take on a relatively small task of recaulking the tub. We've lived in the house a year, and the caulk job done was bad, but when you have fire hazards, leaky roofs and a 93 year old house sitting on cement blocks instead of a foundation, caulk seems low priority.

I've suspected the house of contributing to minor but frequent colds and coughs, but I've been focussed on bigger things like having ducts...

Deck refinishing and staining is a very popular service, but it is not done properly in most situations. The most important factor in deck staining is surface preparation. Great surface preparation is the KEY to outstanding results. Prep right, and the deck will turn out great. Rush through prep, skip a step (or two) and the deck won’t look nearly as good.

A major source of problems and complaints for all wood finishes is over-application of the coating. Many do-it-your self believe...

Spring will soon be here and it will be time for home maintenance after a winter of neglect. Your home is probably the largest investment you will ever make. You should be doing seasonal preventative maintenance on your home. Routine, preventive maintenance will keep
your property looking good, functioning well, will save you time and money in the long haul and keeps the value of your property. The following are tips to extend the life and value of your property.

• Inspect your

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When is a painting contractor in NYS suppose to charge sales and use tax? A legitimate painting company working in New York will be licensed, have a tax i.d number, have a federal employee i.d number, and have insurance. Ask your potential house painter if he can show you valid proof of all of these. If the painting company can not show you documentation that they are a legal company to work in NY, then do not hire them, as there can be problems down the road.

If you are a non profit...