Design Contest
The design of the house was selected from over 175 entries received from architects across North America. The challenge of the competition was to design an affordable home which was simple to construct but offered many unexpected amenities. ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
A Closer Look
What is the external wall covering? Wood is the most common siding in North America, with roughly 90 percent of houses clad in wood. Is it clapboard, shingle, board-and-batten (consisting of wide vertical boards, with the joints covered with ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Find The Right Contractor
A contractor calls or knocks on your door and offers to install a new roof or remodel your kitchen at a price that sounds reasonable. You tell him you're interested, but can't afford it. He tells you it's no problem - he can arrange financing ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Staircase Installation
Kevin Kalman chose to install a pre-engineered stair system from Port City Staircase in the Lifespan House. Port City designs a stair system to fit every budget. Utilizing innovations such as Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Numeric ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Structural Adhesives To Strengthen Roof Sheathing
Tests at Clemson University's Wind Load Test Facility show that the sheathing can be pulled off the rafters or trusses with a 40 pound per square foot uplift pressure when it is attached using these older nailing patterns. Use of 8d nails has ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Material And Construction Options For Windows
Wood is the standard material for residential windows. It can be painted or stained, and is strong and easy to work with. Ease-of-use makes for easier custom windows, which is why highly detailed designs are typically made from wood. With regard ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
You Can Design A Beautiful Vegetable Garden
My own garden is round, with 4 quadrants for crop rotation. The center has a small patch of wild strawberries, that bear a miniscule crop of more miniscule berries. There are stepping stones, so I know where to put my feet, and where ants like to ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Troubleshooting Garage Door Openers
The garage door is the single largest moving part in your home, and should be inspected and maintained every year. Whether you have a belt drive, chain drive, or screw drive opening system, maintenance issues are virtually the same. Inspect the ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Building A Safe Room
A safe room, or storm shelter, provides the highest degree of protection for you and your family from the dangerous forces of extreme winds and debris impacts. Consider the following information for building or installing a safe room All ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Getting Connected: Project Sponsors
Home Director hopes to pioneer a fundamental shift in the new-home construction industry toward the adoption of high-speed Internet access as the next home utility. The company is committed to bringing the digital lifestyle into the home by ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Recycled Nylon Carpet
Additionally, the carpeting is both made from recycled materials and will be completely recyclable the next time Virginia's First Family decides to redecorate. With over 2 billion pounds of waste carpet ending up in landfills each year, recycling ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Holiday Fire Safety
In addition to the holidays themselves, many people choose to celebrate the season by deco-rating their homes with electric lights, candles, banners, and wreaths. The Christmas tree is among the most popular of these decorations. The Bureau of ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
