Repairs, renovations, contractor quotes, plumbing, electrical work and maintenance decisions around real homes.
Homeowners, DIYers and tradespeople troubleshoot projects and compare approaches. Safety-critical electrical, structural and gas work should be treated cautiously.
The washing machine drains normally most days, but occasionally the standpipe backs up and splashes water onto the floor during the fast drain phase. It doesn't happen when I run a nearby sink. I'm worried about a partia...
We're repainting trim in a house with children and pets. I like the low sheen of satin, but skirting boards and door frames need to withstand frequent wiping and occasional knocks. A very glossy finish would show every b...
Our fence panels are mostly straight, but three posts lean slightly after a wet winter. The panels haven't collapsed, and the wood looks sound above ground. I'm worried the bases are loosening in the soil and that new pa...
A hairline crack keeps returning where an old plaster wall meets a newer drywall section. I fill and paint it, and a few months later a faint line reappears. The two surfaces probably move differently with temperature an...
I'm replacing failed caulk around a bathtub. The gap between tile and tub is narrow along one wall but wider near the corner, where the previous bead looked like a lumpy rope. I removed the loose old material and let the...
One room stays noticeably colder than the rest of the house, even after we replaced its drafty windows. The radiator seems to warm up normally, and the door is usually open. I'm wondering whether the problem is poor wall...
The wall looked smooth straight after painting, but when sunlight enters from the side I can see broad roller bands. From the doorway they're nearly invisible. I used the same paint throughout, so I suspect uneven pressu...
Our kitchen cabinets are sturdy but visually dated. New doors, handles and paint would cost far less than replacing the units, but the countertops are worn enough to make the whole refresh look unfinished. I'm trying to...
The bedroom walls have old plaster with hairline cracks and a few uneven patches. Most of it sounds solid when tapped, but one area near a former repair is crumbly. A contractor suggested covering everything with drywall...
I am chasing a small ceiling stain near an exterior wall. The strange part is that it does not show up during ordinary rain. It appears after storms where the wind is pushing rain toward that side of the house. There is...
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