QUESTION: Got any ideas? I’ve done a bit of Googling, but can’t find an easy answer – STATIC! I live in California and this extra dry winter static is killing us. We’re zapping each other, the cats, even the baby! Any ideas on reducing static electricity in our home? Static is worse downstairs for sure. [...]
Choosing and Installing Vinyl Replacement Windows
March 21, 2012 By 15 Comments
As a home improvement contractor, I have installed just about everything there is to install in a house. Floors and doors, shingles and shoe molding, cabinets and crown among many other combinations of building materials and surfaces that I can rhyme or alliterate (feel free to add to my list.) What I’ve seen while working [...]
Finger painting turned into jewelry
March 19, 2012 By 4 Comments
Turning kids’ finger painting into jewelry sounds like it could be challenging. How can you create something you could proudly wear beyond school pick-up or a family get-together… to dinner with your husband or a night out with the girls, right? Well, that’s why I love this idea I saw from VisibleBlue. Let your kids [...]
Backsplash: It Costs HOW Much?
March 16, 2012 By 23 Comments
Question: What’s the average labor cost of installing 17 sq ft of kitchen tile backsplash? Each tile is on 1 square foot mesh backing. Answer: This is a great question, because it means I get to give TWO answers. Who’s excited? First, the short one which is just a number, then longer one where (can [...]
Mark & Theresa share fixes for repairing basement cracks + staining wood on NBC’s The 10! Show
March 2, 2012 By 157 Comments
Mark and Theresa shared a quick fix for repairing basement cracks and how to get started staining wood on NBC’s The 10! Show. View more videos at: http://nbcphiladelphia.com.
Making a Grand Entrance on a 100-year-old home
February 23, 2012 By 10 Comments
Mark & Theresa replace the original door on their 100+ year-old American Foursquare. Theresa had been holding on to the original door, as it has charmed her with the original mail slot, but when Mark pointed out that they could see outside when the door was closed, she finally agreed it was time to make [...]
Video: The right roof for a 120-year-old Georgian home
February 2, 2012 By 4 Comments
Mark and Theresa make a roof replacement happen on a 120-year-old Georgian-style home, with smart historic charm and on-budget peace of mind for young homeowners living in an historic town in Pennsylvania. They chose a synthetic slate from DaVinci Roofscapes to blend in with the neighborhood, but without busting the homeowners’ budget.
Remove Baseboard and Shoe Molding
February 2, 2012 By 2 Comments
This is me jumping up on my soapbox again: Here it comes—my fury (fury is probably a strong word) at demolition done wrong. Whether it’s a roof or interior trim, a house comes apart best in the reverse order it was assembled. To wit: I’ve seen many a carpenter and DIYer removing baseboard by trying [...]
Fortunately: Valentine’s card with a little fortune mixed in
February 1, 2012 By 3 Comments
Sometimes a favorite craft can go a long way. And here’s my current favorite paper craft. It’s a fortune cookie that works well as a Valentine’s Day note, but it can be used for place settings at dinner parties or gifty bags. It’s even a fun way to leave a little special message in a [...]
Video: NBC The 10! Show…Crafty Valentines
January 31, 2012 By 6 Comments
Mark & Theresa share adorable Valentine craft ideas you can make at home with the kids and they answers a viewer’s DIY question on the NBC The 10! Show. Mark answers a viewer’s questions after a segment on the NBC 10! Show. The viewer has a 60-year-old home with plaster walls that have cracks. She [...]
