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Install a New Fireplace Surround and Gas Logs Feb. 23, 2017
Dear James: It's a mess carrying firewood indoors, so I want to modernize my old brick fireplace wit... Read More
Select Room Wall Colors to Impact Room Size Feb. 09, 2017
Dear James: We are downsizing to a new house. We are trying to determine the best colors to paint th... Read More
Build a Shower Seat for Convenience, Safety Dec. 15, 2016
Dear James: My balance is worse than when I was younger so I want to build a seat for my shower stal... Read More
Repair an Unsightly Concrete Sidewalk Yourself Oct. 20, 2016
Dear James: The surface of our concrete sidewalk from the driveway is in bad condition, but the base... Read More
Make Your Own Copper Cleaner, Aluminum Cleaner and Dishwasher Detergent Oct. 10, 2016
Dear Mary: The copper post tops on my deck are becoming tarnished. Do you know of a natural (cheap) ... Read More
Use Urethane Trim to Jazz Up your Home Sep. 29, 2016
Dear James: A neighbor recently added some ornamental wood trim to her house and it looks great. I w... Read More
Surprising Ways to Use a Slow Cooker That Have Nothing to Do With Food Sep. 01, 2016
They're bulky and take up precious cabinet space, but we'll never get rid of our slow cookers. They ... Read More
Build a Simple Brick Barbecue Without Mortar Aug. 04, 2016
Dear James: I grill on the propane barbecue for quick meals. For entertaining, I would like an attra... Read More
Repair Rotting Decking and Support Lumber Jul. 21, 2016
Dear James: The wood on my deck needs some repairs. It is four feet off the ground and made of press... Read More
Simple, Effective Method to Caulk Windows Jul. 14, 2016
Dear James: I noticed a draft coming in through a few of my windows, even though I recently had the ... Read More
10 Things to Know About Lestoil Jul. 12, 2016
Have you ever found something and wondered, "Where has this been all my life?" That was my reactio... Read More
Readers Share Secrets Jul. 07, 2016
Here are some more tips from my readers on ways to make everyday chores a bit simpler and easier. R... Read More
Replace a Shower Curtain With a Door Jul. 07, 2016
Dear James: My girls never completely close the shower curtain and the floor gets wet. There are wal... Read More
How Can We Get a Good Hot Cup of Coffee? Jun. 22, 2016
So, you like coffee — a lot. Me, too. I like it so much that I'm a home roaster and an importe... Read More
These Bugs Detect Water Leaks You Cannot See Jun. 16, 2016
My readers often come up with their own great tips, tricks and ideas for how to save time and money.... Read More
Got a Carpet Stain? Twist it Out Jun. 09, 2016
DEAR MARY: Is there anything that will take a Crystal Light fruit-punch stain out of beige carpet? T... Read More
The High Cost of Clutter Jun. 08, 2016
OK, I'll confess right upfront. I'm a clutterbug. However, unlike other clutterbugs, I don't hang on... Read More
Would You Haul a $750 Sofa to the Dump or Spend $50 to Fix it? Jun. 06, 2016
Try to imagine this scenario: You spend $750 on a new sofa and chair — not on a whim, but afte... Read More
Low-and-Slow Bacon and 7 More Useful Tips May. 31, 2016
FOOLPROOF BACON. What's the easiest — and mess-free — way to cook bacon and get the leas... Read More
3 Free Life-Improving Resources May. 26, 2016
If you are generally wary of free stuff, I'm right there with you. Most of the time, I've found that... Read More
