About Mark: Home Improvement and Tool Expert

I’m Mark. And I’m a home improvement expert and a get-it-done guy.

I’m a licensed contractor, tool expert, wood and outdoor enthusiast, and former elite Spartan Race competitor. And I have been reviewing residential construction tools in print, online, on TV, and in video for professionals and DIYers for more than 20 years.As a single-operator remodeler with services ranging from basements, kitchens, and baths to exteriors such as landscape upgrades and snow removal, my sweet spot is designing and building decks. 

As a content creator and home improvement expert, I’m the author of The Carpenter’s Notebook, a novel and how-to mash-up that seeks Truth and Love in the rules that carpenter’s must learn and live with. I’ve written hundreds of magazine articles and been a magazine editor.

As a co-principle in the MyFixitUpLife brand with my wife, I’ve produced 1,000s of blogs and 100s of videos in the DIY and shelter space. I have participated in the production of various television shows on a variety of networks. The one thing that ties it all together is a desire to leave a space better than I found it, whether that’s with a tractor and chainsaw or coping saw and pinner. 

Book your helpful home design assessment session today!

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  Tool Review: Best Tape Measure is the 25-Foot Stanley FatMax
  I’ve tried many tape measures over the years, and the Stanley FatMax 25-foot tape measure is not just the best tape measure, it’s the best by a hundred miles. 
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  How to Build a Slip Board Fence with Pro Fence Tips
  A slip board fence is a smart idea for a large yard. Here’s what you need to know about how to build a slip board fence. And find out a few pro fence tips.
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  How to Stain a Pressure Treated Wood Deck
  Stain a pressure treated wood deck to protect the wood and amp-up the aesthetics. Here’s how to stain a deck using Cabot’s Solid Color Acrylic Stain + Sealer.
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  Skil PWRCore 20V Impact Driver Tool Review: What You Need to Know
  The Skil PWRCore 20V Impact Driver is a pro tool hidden in DIY marketing. A versatile impact driver, it’s a smart choice. Check out the tool review.
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  Install LVP Flooring With Our Tips & Tricks
  LVP is a smart choice in basements, especially budget-friendly basement remodels. Here are tips and tricks that will help you install LVP flooring.
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  Book Review: The Bathroom––A Social History of Cleanliness
  Curious about bathroom history? We often wonder about the origin story of home parts. Here’s what you need to know about this book on history of cleanliness.
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  How to Detail a Curved Deck Railing Top Cap
  We posted a short video of the curved deck railing top cap detail on social media, and got a blow-up. So here’s why a curved top cap works and how we made it.
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  How to Glue a Wood Plank Feature Wall Like a Pro
  For this project, we installed a wood plank feature wall using adhesive. Here’s what you need to know before you attempt this kind of project.
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  What’s the Best Nail Gun Hose? The Lay-Flat Ridgid
  There’s more than just performance testing when it comes to the best nail gun hose. This lay-flat from Ridgid is the best air hose I’ve used. Here’s why.
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  Skil Recip Saw: What You Need to Know Before You Buy
  We tested the Skil recip saw in our remodeling work. Here’s what you should know before you decide if the Skil PWRCORE 20 reciprocating saw is right for you.
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  Best Framing Nailer is the Metabo HPT Pneumatic Framing Nailer (NR83A5(Y))
  The best framing nailer? Metabo HPT NR83A(Y). It’s almost identical to Excalibur aluminum-bodied Hitachi NR83A that went to work on 1980s American job sites. 
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  What You Need to Know: Skil Impact Driver –- PWRCore 20V
  We’ve used the SKIL PWRCore 20V Impact Driver for about a year on a variety of projects. Here’s what we found out about the SKIL Impact Driver.
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  What You Need to Know: Georgia Boots Durablend Hiker Boots
  I wore the Georgia Boots Durablend Hiker boots for 5 months while finishing a basement, mowing my lawn, installing a porch season. Here’s what I discovered.
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  Can Water Quickly Cause Wood Deck Posts to Rot?
  We get it. It makes sense that water rots wood, but it doesn’t. Let’s talk about what causes wood deck posts to rot. (Plus the new Post-Protector cap!)
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  How to Build a Handy Winter Jobsite Office Carport
  We’re using an Abba Patio Carport from Amazon as a winter jobsite office to make working outside a little bit more comfortable. Watch the video, learn tips.
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  Reliable Work Pants That Can Easily Handle Hard Work
  Brunt Workwear’s Martin pants are reliable work pants that aren’t gimmicky. Comfortable, they bend, flex, and breathe. And they aren’t a million dollars.
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  How to Install a Wood Plank Porch Ceiling Like a Pro
  A wood plank porch ceiling warms up the vibe and creates a perfect transition to the outdoors. Find out how to install this WoodPlank tongue-and-groove ceiling.
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  How to build a no-tile shower surround like a pro
  We created a modern no-tile shower surround for a young family’s bathroom basement and they’re so happy with the results. Here’s how and why we chose this look.
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  How to Pump Poop in a Basement Bathroom
  Figuring out how to pump poop in a basement bathroom is a hurdle that needs to be cleared. Let’s dive under the hood of how and why we use a grinder pump.
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  How to Plan a Basement Bathroom Like a Pro
  Need a basement bathroom? We’ll help you with the fixtures and finishes–rain shower, toilet, robe hooks, etc–but we need to get ugly before we can get pretty. 
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  How to Install a Plank Ceiling in a Basement
  Install a plank ceiling? We use Armstrong Ceilings in our basement renos. Here’s what you need to know before you begin your basement ceiling project.
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  Basement Remodeling: What You Need to Know Before You Start
  Basement remodeling projects can be worthwhile endeavors that create life-changing square footage in a home. However, a basement renovation project can also be time-consuming, expensive, and frustrating–at times. Our goal as licensed contractors and home improvement content creators is to minimize the time, money, and stress involved in updating your basement so you can enjoy…
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  Best Insulation Tools and Materials: What You Need to Know
  Whether you are insulating an unfinished basement or insulating your porch ceiling, it’s essential to start with the best insulation tools and materials.
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  Folding Sawhorses: How to Build Easy Lightweight Sawhorses
  A foldable sawhorse is essential to our remodeling business. (A lightweight sawhorse is a bonus!) Here’s what you need to know to build folding sawhorses.
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  QuickTip: How to Uncoil Cords and Hoses Like a Pro
  Tangled up hoses can be frustrating and time sucks. So here’s how to quickly uncoil cords and uncoil hoses so you can get back to what you planned to do today.