Sunday, July 06, 2008 » Sign Up to Receive the HomeShow eUpdate  Search this site   the web Homepage Listen Online PodCasts Ask Tom - advertisement - Projects 4 U Tom's Tips HomeShow Q&A Helpful Links Sponsor Solutions Endorsed Companies - advertisement - HomeShow Store Right Angle Magazine MogerMedia Tom Tynan Homes Advertise on The HomeShow Stories Archive Sponsored Stories Archive Article Archive Has mold finally met its match? Mold is a modern-day horror which aggravating homeowners and insurance companies alike. Rarely covered by insurance, and even when it is, mold is expensive and inconvenient to repair. Weather and water damage are a worry even in new home construction during the framing stage. In the past, builders only dried and sprayed the wet wood with bleach. Today, you have a better choice. Building a better shower is an art Protecting your home from water damage is a basic homeowner responsibility. And yet, many times water damage is practically self-inflicted due to improper shower pan installation Get decked in a good way A backyard deck project is great investment that adds real value to your home. Whether you're entertaining friends or just relaxing with the family, that "just right" deck will enhance your living space and give you years of enjoyment. Plug into the new rules of electric deregulation Before deregulation utility companies were assigned a specific area to serve and were obligated to serve all customers in that area. That's all changed now. Knowing how deregulation affects you could mean saving money on your energy bills. Every house needs a healthy flu Enjoying a warm fire on a winter night is probably the only time you really think about your chimney. Routine maintenance is critical not only to the wellbeing of your fireplace, but to your entire home. These few steps will help keep you safe while the fireplace keeps you warm. Keeping your smoke detectors detecting Whenever the first cold front rolls through, we see tragic news stories about someone’s house burning down and sometimes people have been killed in the fire. Then we learn the home had a smoke detector that wasn’t working or the residents never checked to see if it was operable or if the batteries were still working. Know your P-Trap and how to keep it clean You might have heard the word “p-trap” before, but what is it? Basically, it is a piece of pipe that is under a sink in every home. Learn how to keep yours clean and how to easily fix a clogged one. The art of using plastic anchors made simple There are many kinds of wall anchors on the market today and it seems that everyone wants to reinvent the wheel, however, in many applications; you just cannot beat the old proven way of doing things. Changing a thermostat may lower energy bills A question that I get all the time is: will a programmable thermostat save me money on my energy bill? The answer is maybe yes and maybe no. Learn why and how to make the change yourself. Du-West Foundation Repair Since 1978, Du-West Foundation Repair has worked hard to earn the trust of homeowners across Texas. Today, over 15,000 Texans enjoy the benefit of a Du-West solid foundation. Katrina Cottage offers temporary housing solution As the home building industry works to help Gulf Coast residents displaced by the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, its members continue to appreciate signs of progress — like a bright new design for temporary housing. Blackout-proofing your home Since Rita and Katrina blew through, emergency generators are growing in popularity--and with good reason. With these disasters fresh in our minds, there's never been a better time to invest in a standby home generator. Getting grounded: foundation basics The majority of foundations found in the state of Texas are one of two types: the post tension type (has cables running through it), or the conventional reinforced steel slab. Your project may be a candidate for other alternatives. Click to learn more. A rat by any other name This is the time of year when many Texas homeowners find they are sharing their homes with mice, rats, raccoons, possums and even skunks. Our homes provide many entry points for these unwanted visitors, which often come inside looking for water and food. But how do you get rid of these critters once they've made themselves at home in your house? Crepe myrtle pruning myths debunked Late winter is the perfect time to prune the south's favorite flowering tree: the crepe myrtle. But bad pruning advice abounds, so sometimes it's hard to know how to get the most summer blooms from your flowering beauties. Read on for some common myths. Feeling stuck with stucco? Stucco homes have gotten a bad rap in recent years because some of the poor imitations have had high failure rates. But homes constructed with old-fashioned, traditional stucco have been around for decades and still look great. Click to learn more. Care of wood flooring 101 Wood flooring enhances the look and value of any home and, thanks to new technologies in stains and finishes, is easier to maintain than ever. Read on to discover what you need to know to keep it looking as beautiful as the day you installed it. Don't get hosed: choosing a sprinkler system installer Spring is a great time to install a new sprinkler system, especially if you can’t stomach the idea of moving hoses and manually watering your lawn for another long, hot, Texas summer. But irrigation contractors are a dime a dozen, and product choices are daunting, so where do you start? Houston real estate market starts the year with a bang Houston’s real estate market is as strong as ever, according to statistics released last week by the Houston Area Realtors Multiple Listing Service. Houston set monthly records for both sale prices and volume, even as the U.S. Commerce Department announced that new home sales decreased 5 percent nationwide in January. Replacing a deadbolt lock made easy Replacing a deadbolt lock or lockset—either for aesthetic or security reasons—is a relatively simple task and can be done in a few easy steps. Read on to see how. Get in the know about termites Termites cause nearly $3 billion in damage each year in the United States, and serious damage can occur before most homeowners see evidence of their existence. Read on for some facts about these hungry and social pests. Don’t invite hungry termites to your house Researchers at Texas A&M University estimate that wood structures in Texas have a 70 percent chance of being attacked by termites within 10 to 20 years of construction if they aren’t properly protected. So what steps can you take to protect your home from these common pests? Remodeling industry expecting slower growth this year Remodeling activity slowed in the fourth quarter of 2005, according to the National Association of Homebuilder’s Remodeling Market Index (RMI), although those polled for the latest report remained upbeat in their assessments for the year. Your sago palm questions answered Sago palms are one of the most common tropical plants in Texas landscapes, so if you’re considering planting one in your yard this spring, you might have a few questions. Lawn and garden expert Randy Lemmon, host of Houston’s GardenLine radio program and a frequent contributor to The Right Angle with Tom Tynan, has some answers. Spring has sprung for your yard Now that our short Texas winter is giving way to spring, it seems like our brown winter lawns green up overnight. Here’s what you need to know to cultivate a beautiful, healthy lawn the neighbors will envy. Do's and don'ts of fire safety Every 20 seconds, a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the nation, and more than 80 percent of all fires occur in the home. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help you protect your home and family from fire. March madness at home: 10 organization tips to stop the madness Do you feel hopelessly disorganized around the house? The thought of spring cleaning overwhelming you for all the mess that pervades your living space? March is not only a great time to catch some college hoops, it’s also a great time to get a jump on those maddening organization projects you’ve been putting off for so long. Here’s how. Show fleas the door with a three-step elimination system Anyone who has experienced a flea infestation knows the frustration involved with eliminating these parasites. The process is often time consuming and expensive, and conquering the sheer number of fleas involved can make any homeowner feel like he or she is waging a losing battle. Does your contractor need insurance? If you want to protect your home and family, the answer is a resounding yes, according to Tom Tynan, of The HomeShow with Tom Tynan. “As the weather heats up in Texas, so does the competition for your home improvement dollars, and there are many unscrupulous guys out there,” Tom says. “This is one area you don’t want to leave to chance.” Spring forward: Daylight-saving time started Sunday It’s spring-forward time again. Daylight-saving time began for Texans at 2 a.m. Sunday, thus moving an hour of sunlight from morning until evening each day. Installing a dimmer switch If you want to control the lighting level in your home, a dimmer switch is an effective and inexpensive solution, and installing it is one of the easier do-it-yourself home projects you can undertake. With a few simple tools and proper instructions, you can complete the job in less than 10 minutes. Get the most out of your tax refund Most American homeowners are expecting a tax refund this year, according to the IRS, and the average refund is expected to be more than $2,400. If you’re one of the lucky recipients, you’ve probably already given some thought to the best way to use the money. But before you earmark your check from Uncle Sam for a week-long Caribbean cruise or that high-definition plasma TV, consider these smart ways of putting your money to work for you. IRS energy credits for homeowners Now that most of us have filed our income tax returns for 2005, it’s time to turn our attention to a new tax law that can specifically benefit homeowners for 2006 and 2007. A recent tax law change provides a tax credit to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes. Oops, I forgot! Ten commonly missed homeowner tax deductions Have you ever forgotten to claim a tax deduction until after you sent your tax returns to the IRS? Most of us have. Fortunately, tax returns can be amended up to three years from the date they were due. If you’ve bought, sold or refinanced your home, you might have forgotten to claim some big tax deductions. Read on for a list of the most often forgotten real estate tax deductions. Tips for a safe backyard playground With spring in high gear, now’s a great time to add a backyard playground to keep your children occupied close to home. Here are some things to think about as you consider all the options. Is your home ready for warmer weather? With fuel prices at an all-time high, we’re all dreading the onset of the Texas heat and the high energy costs that go with it. Here are some of our favorite spring projects to increase the energy efficiency of your home all summer long. Can you hear me now? A cell phone antenna can help Tom Tynan has always been a fan of radiant barrier insulation systems. The aluminum foil used as a radiant barrier helps keep the sun’s heat from getting into your house, a great cost-saving feature that pays big dividends on your energy bill. But there’s one drawback: Cell phones often won’t work in the house. The solution to this problem? A special antenna that was not necessarily developed for radiant barrier homes, but for cell phones with weak signals. Take steps to avoid the West Nile virus With the warm summer months quickly approaching, it’s important to use extra care and caution in the prevention of bug bites. One inherent danger is the West Nile virus. Luck be a ladybug tonight (in the garden) Ladybugs are not only pretty and interesting to watch, they’re also a gardener’s best friend. They feed on a variety of soft-bodied insect pests, but aphids are their main source of food. Establishing a healthy population of these delightful beetles will do wonders for controlling pests in your garden. NAHB focuses homeowners on window safety It’s National Window Safety Week, so as homeowners open their windows to let the spring air in, here are a few safety tips from the National Association of Home Builders. Installing a foundation watering system Installing a watering system to prolong the life of your foundation is easy for the do-it-yourselfer. Follow these simple instructions to add years to the life of your foundation. Protect your home and family from fire ants If you’ve lived in the south for long, you know fire ants are a fact of life. They first arrived in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1930s, undetected on a shipment from South America. Since then fire ants have spread to virtually the entire southern United States, infesting hundreds of millions of acres of land and causing billions of dollars in damage. Pool chemistry 101 As the temperatures rise, we’re all aching to get out in those backyard pools and enjoy the cool, relaxing water. But first, a little homework. We asked Houston’s Keith McCoy, vice president of store operations for Control Solutions Inc., a few questions about chemistry—pool chemistry, that is. Here’s what you need to know to make the passing grade. Ready, set, splash! Now that warmer temperatures are upon us, it’s time to ready those backyard pools for a summer full of fun. So we asked pool expert Keith McCoy, vice president of store operations for Houston-based Control Solutions Inc., to help start the season right with an overview of basic pool maintenance. Ins and outs of pool filters Keeping your pool filter clean is one of the most important things you can do to stay on good terms with your pool. Maintaining your filter not only helps ensure clean, clear water, but it also reduces the need for chemicals and prolongs the life of your pool equipment. Protect against poison plantings Spring time is gardening time, and many home owners are unaware that common yard plantings are toxic to pets. Read on to learn more about the most common poisonous varieties. Home sweet home improvement scams There are a bunch of unscrupulous contractors out there vying for your dollars, so the next time you’re choosing a candidate for your big project, don’t ignore these red flags. Replacing a tub spout A new bathtub spout ranges in price from $10 to more than $200, and everything else you might need to complete this relatively simple job is available at your local hardware store or home center. Here's what you need to know. Prepare now for severe tropical weather Hurricane season starts June 1, and the National Hurricane Center has predicted another record tropical season. The effects of a tropical storm or hurricane can be felt well beyond the Texas Gulf Coast counties. Heavy rainfall, flooding and tropical system-spawned tornadoes can occur hundreds of miles inland. That’s why it’s important for all Texans to heed Hurricane Preparedness Week. Recent home buyers spend more on home improvements A new study by the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) found that 66% of new homeowners undertake at least one improvement project on their home and almost half of existing homeowners do a project to ready it for sale, with home projects on average costing $2,576. Tour Houston’s beautiful water gardens and ponds Join the Houston Pond Society and the Lone Star Koi Club June 2–3 for a tour of some of Houston’s finest water gardens and ponds. The annual, self-guided tour includes 23 koi ponds and water gardens—some returning favorites and many new attractions. More about pressure washing Pressure washers remove grime and build-up in a fraction of the time it takes to do the same work by hand. Pressure-washer projects most often undertaken to improve the outdoor appearance of a home include home siding and exteriors, driveways and sidewalks, brick patios, restoring wood decks, paint preparation and garage floors. Make a good first impression When you’re selling your home, first impressions make a big difference. Real estate agents report that potential home buyers often decide whether they can see themselves living in a new home as soon as they pull up to the curb. So as the summer home buying and selling season ramps up, here are five simple and inexpensive tips you can follow to boost the curb appeal of your home. Honeybees: friend or foe? Honeybees are a great benefit to society, but if they come to roost near you or your home, brace yourself for emergency medical care or a massive cleanup job. They produce about $150 million dollars worth of the sweet sticky stuff annually in the U.S. and $11 million in Texas, but despite their economic value, the dreaded insects can become a huge household problem. Powder coating: what’s old is new again Have your outdoor or indoor metal furnishings or appliances lost their luster? Are you trying to get more life out of them but aren’t sure how to? Powder coating might be just the answer you’re looking for. Keeping track of your possessions Each year in this country tens of billions of dollars are lost to fire, storms, theft and accidents. That’s why our insurance agents remind us the best way to make sure you can replace your personal possessions in the event of a catastrophic loss is to know exactly what you have and what it’s worth. Here’s how. Avoid the sting of dog bite liability Each year more than 4.7 million dog bites are reported in the U.S., and it may surprise you to learn that the insurance industry reports the average dog bite liability claim was $21,200 in 2005. Most homeowner’s policies cover dog bite liability, but insurance companies can charge more for larger or traditionally dangerous breeds, like pit bulls, rottweilers, German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, chows and huskies. Any dog can bite under adverse conditions, so here are a few things to keep in mind to reduce the chances of your dog biting someone. Turn up the heat: grilling safety tips Father’s Day weekend is traditionally a time when families gather around the grill, so what better way to celebrate Dad than to take over the grilling so he can relax and unwind? Here’s a sampling of tips from the Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association to keep the day safe and successful. Powdery mildew on your crepe myrtles? Summer officially arrives this week, and the proof is in our beautifully blooming crepe myrtles. The trees are heavy with abundant blooms in all colors of the spectrum, reminding us that our Texas sunshine pays special dividends in the garden. But our hot, dry weather can also bring on a fungus that’s most unwelcome: powdery mildew. June is National Homeownership Month President George W. Bush declared June as National Homeownership Month in an effort to promote homeownership across the nation and to raise awareness of the benefits of achieving the American dream of home ownership. Voluntary guidelines promote water conservation A new voluntary water efficiency program that will build a national brand for technologies and practices that conserve water is great news for home builders and new home buyers, the National Association of Home Builders reports. Patterned after the popular Energy Star program, which recognizes consumer products with superior energy efficiency, WaterSense will identify products and services that use less water. Drip, drip, drip: five smart ways to save water Is your money dripping down the drain? Easily corrected household water leaks rob consumers of up to 8 percent of their water bill, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The average household can save 30,000 gallons per year—or enough to supply a year of drinking water for 150 of their neighbors—by adopting water-efficient products and practices. Enjoy a safe Fourth of July: firecracker safety tips Fourth of July celebrations wouldn’t be complete without a fireworks display bursting in the night sky. But while more Texans than ever are including fireworks in their holiday plans, injuries from fireworks have actually decreased in recent years. So as our favorite summer holiday approaches, let’s keep up that trend with these tips for keeping your family and property safe. Cool designs: designing to keep the cool air in It’s not easy keeping a house cool during the long, hot, dog-days of summer, but according to interior design experts at The Art Institutes, there are design steps you can take to not only make your house cooler, but also more environmentally friendly, energy efficient and enjoyable to be in. New home size at all-time high The average size of a new home climbed to a record high last year, according to annual data on new-home characteristics released by the U.S. Census Bureau last month, and in terms of amenities the distance between homes built today and homes built 30 years ago continued to widen. Ins and outs of air filters One of the easiest things you can do to reduce cooling costs during the hot summer months is to change your AC filter regularly, and yet many homeowners procrastinate about this simple task. Dirty filters not only spread dust throughout the house, they also restrict air flow, reducing the efficiency of the cooling unit. In fact, a dirty filter can increase your air conditioner's energy consumption by up to 10 percent. Reducing pet allergens in your home Studies show that more than 15 percent of the U.S. population struggle with allergies to dogs and cats, and many of those are pet owners who choose to keep their pets inside their homes despite uncomfortable symptoms. So what can you do to peacefully coexist? Dr. Linda Oliva, one of Houston’s most respected veterinarians and host of the radio show PetWise, answers your questions about pet allergies. Fixing a leaky faucet Today’s faucets come in different shapes, styles and colors. Some are single handled, while others have individual handles for hot and cold water. What they all have in common, though, is eventually they will leak, causing that annoying drip, drip, drip of water down the drain—and along with it your hard-earned money. Five easy ways to tame those summer energy bills Do you feel powerless against the enormous increase in energy prices this summer? With crude oil and natural gas prices at all-time highs, it’s easy to think we can’t do anything to ease the shock of opening those energy bills every month. But while we may not be able to influence world supply and demand, we can make small changes in our habits at home that save real money each month. Here’s how. What do I need to know about backup power? Standby generators are continuing to grow in popularity, especially in hurricane-prone areas like the Gulf Coast states. But given all the available options on today’s market, consumers need to be well informed before deciding what system best suits their individual needs. Here are a few points to consider. Leave the light on Summer is high season for vacations—and high season for criminals. Homes that look unattended are mighty temptations for criminals cruising about looking for an easy mark. Here’s a checklist to follow to make your home unattractive to thieves. Best summer watering and mowing practices The summer heat is scorching, and drought conditions are severe to extreme across the entire state of Texas, so you may be wondering how to set your sprinkler systems and mower blades for the best results. Here’s what you need to know to keep your yard looking good during late summer’s extreme heat. Recommended gas storage practices In general, gasoline should be used promptly after it is purchased, but there are times when longer-term storage is required, such as fuel used for small-engine equipment or backup fuel for a vehicle or boat. And with the proliferation of backup power systems in hurricane-prone areas, many homeowners wonder how to store the fuel that powers them. Whatever your reason, it’s important to store fuel properly and safely, so here’s what you need to know. Hibiscus haven Few garden plants provide so much enjoyment for so little care as the hibiscus. The huge, beautiful blooms thrive in the Texas heat and humidity, and grow well in beds and containers alike. Lawn and garden expert Randy Lemmon, host of Houston’s GardenLine radio program and a frequent contributor to The Right Angle with Tom Tynan, weighs in on just what you need to know to grow these delightful plants. Yellow hibiscus leaves: what do they mean? Yellowing leaves and premature bud drop on hibiscus plants are fairly normal problems in late summer. But which of two distinct reasons are causing these problems? Maybe more importantly, should anything be done about them? According to gardening expert Randy Lemmon, host of Houston’s GardenLine radio program, it depends on what is causing them. Cleaning household appliances When it comes to cleaning house, many homeowners forget the basics of cleaning household appliances. You might wipe down the front with a damp cloth every once in a while, but thorough cleaning not only makes for a healthier home, it also extends the life of your appliances and in many cases saves energy, too. Always consult manufacturer’s instructions first, but here are a few general guidelines to keep in mind. Firescaping your property Wildfires don’t just happen out West; they happen in every state of the union and cause incredible damage and loss each year. Firescaping, or landscaping to help protect your home from wildfire damage, is a growing trend. The idea is that through plant placement, selection and maintenance you can help prevent the spread of fire from the surrounding landscape to your home. Here’s what you need to know to keep your property safe during the hot, dry summer months. What’s the best carpet cleaning method? There are many misconceptions about carpet cleaning, but what’s the best method? That depends, according to experts at Houston-based Clean as a Whistle Inc. Four methods of carpet cleaning are approved by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (HCRC), the world’s most recognized body of certification for carpet and upholstery cleaners. Here’s what you need to know. Don’t let your home be underinsured With both home improvement and hurricane seasons upon us, there’s no better time than now to review your homeowners insurance to make sure you have the coverage you need. There are two issues at work here, according to Marc Hutson, a Nationwide Insurance agent based in The Woodlands, Texas. “If a disaster strikes, people either don’t understand that it will cost more to rebuild than it cost to build their home originally, or they are underinsured because they don’t report major home improvements to their agent.” Water gardening: Should I worry about green water? Green water is probably the number one stumbling block of water gardening enthusiasts, but in most cases, green water is harmless to the health of the pond. Anita Nelson of Nelson Water Gardens and Nursery reminds us of a few essentials water gardeners need to know to keep their ponds healthy and “properly green.” What causes green algae in your pond? The existence of green algae is a source of concern for many water gardeners, but its appearance is actually quite natural, says Anita Nelson of Nelson Water Gardens. But what causes algae to form? The most common reasons follow. Making your home more “green” As energy costs continue to rise, many homeowners are looking to alternative ways to help lower their bills—and help the environment—by making their homes more “green.” Here are some simple steps to save money and minimize your home’s impact on the environment. Building a compost pile American lawns generate untold tons of yard waste each year. Instead of bagging and lugging it to the curb, why not convert it to a usable resource: compost? Composting not only benefits the environment by saving landfill space, it also benefits your lawn and garden by providing nutrient-rich, organic mulch—completely free of charge. Here’s how. Green building for home buyers If you’re interested in incorporating eco-friendly building features into your new home, there’s help from the National Association of Home Builders. Geared to helping homebuilders explain green building concepts to their customers, “Energy Innovation: How Homes Become Green,” can now be downloaded from NAHB’s Web site. The full-color illustration depicts a range of innovative green building features, including products that can be included in remodeling projects to create a more energy-efficient home. Toilet training Let’s face it: We all take toilets for granted—and for good reason. Indoor plumbing is a beautiful thing, but if your commode is rocking, moving or sliding, there is usually a problem that needs prompt attention. Ignoring it now may cost you a bundle later. Fortunately, toilet removal is not difficult. Late-summer gardening tips During late August even the most enthusiastic gardener is ready to throw in the trowel until cooler temperatures arrive. But there are a few simple things you can do to revive your garden and extend the life of your flower beds until that first cool front heralds the approach of our late Texas fall. Your credit score matters Your credit score is a very important part of your overall financial health. After all, lenders, employers, landlords and insurers use credit scores to determine what services you qualify for—and how much those services will cost. But what does your credit score mean and how exactly is it calculated? Pool safety for you and your children Although Labor Day signals the end of summer for much of the country, here in Texas we know we have at least a few more months of hot weather—and at least a few more months of fun in our pools. But drowning statistics are alarming, so let’s review some important safety tips. How much are bathroom upgrades really worth? A National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) model used to estimate the price effects of bathrooms has consistently shown that an added bathroom has one of the strongest impacts of any home feature on single-family detached home values. But how much are bathroom upgrades really worth? Up on the rooftop Labor Day weekend is a good time to begin tackling your fall home improvement projects, but if a leaky or worn roof is on the list, it’s best to get help from a reputable roofing contractor. Professional roofers are trained to safely and efficiently inspect, repair and replace roofing systems. But how do you find a roofing contractor—or better yet, a good one? Chinch bug chronicles Once it's hot enough—and it’s plenty hot in Texas—it's not long before the dreaded chinch bugs come to suck the life out of our St. Augustine turfgrass. They especially like to chew up lawns that aren't taken care of very well. In other words, well-watered and well-fertilized lawns are the best way to keep chinch bugs at bay. But what if you suspect you've got chinch bugs? Southern Living Idea House comes to Texas Are you inspired by innovative architecture and design features? Looking for great ideas for your own dream house? The Southern Living Idea House is in Texas this year, chock full of inventive ideas for your home and garden. Get your grill ready for the gridiron It’s football season all across Texas, and that means it’s time for some serious grilling. So if it’s been a while since you gave your grill a good cleaning, here’s what you need to do to get your barbeque grill in fine football form. Home sales forecast lowered, prices to dip temporarily Home sales during the rest of the year will be lower than earlier projections as the market works its way through an inventory and price imbalance, according to the National Association of Realtors. The most obvious effect in the near term will be with home prices. Buying in a buyer’s market With all the evidence pointing toward a downswing in the recently lucrative housing market, you might be wondering how you can benefit from current market conditions. Here are just a few tips how to get a leg up in an emerging buyer’s market. Buying a home? Hire an inspector! Owning a home is truly the American dream, but many times the desire to purchase a particular home is motivated by emotion rather than logic. Many professional services—such as realtors, bankers, appraisers and inspectors—are necessary during the home-buying process and contribute to making your experience an enjoyable one. Cleaning gutters and downspouts Gutters and downspouts serve a valuable function by allowing water to drain away from your house properly. Let a clog to take over and you’ll soon notice large pools of water near your home, possibly compromising your foundation, the landscaping or even causing wall and ceiling damage within the home. Fall’s a good time to get on top of this chore. Here’s how. Renting home improvement tools Many smart homeowners see fall as the year’s last chance to fix that leaky roof, resurface the driveway, restain the deck, clean the chimney and tidy the yard. But while all your last-minute winterizing chores probably won’t break your back, they could break the bank if you try to buy all the tools you’ll need to get the jobs done. For many homeowners with realistic home improvement budgets and limited tool storage space, renting is the answer. Restore order to your garage Looking for an excuse to get outside this weekend? Look no further than your cluttered garage. It’s the perfect project to get you outdoors for the day and accomplish an important task on your fall things-to-do list. Here’s how to get started. It’s Fire Prevention Week Three in 10 reported home fires start in the kitchen—more than any other place in the home. That’s why kitchen safety is the theme of Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 8–14. This year's campaign focuses on teaching families and kids how to keep cooking fires from starting in the first place. Here are a few tips to keep you and your family safe in the kitchen. Quick tree planting guide Fall is a great time to plant trees, so we asked Texas garden expert and GardenLine host Randy Lemmon to guide us through the process. Randy’s technique has been used for years with great results in Texas’s gumbo/clay soil, and it's one that can be applied to large shrubs as well. Making the housing bust work for you Everybody knows the “housing boom” is over in most parts of the country. But what does that mean for people who are thinking about buying a new home? Is a “soft” market a good time to buy? Or is it a time when it's smarter to just sit on the sidelines, and wait and see where things are headed? Here are some practical thoughts from the National Association of Home Builders that you can add to your own analysis of whether to shop, buy or hibernate for awhile. Container gardening made easy Itching to show off your green thumb but short on time and space? Container gardening might be the perfect solution for you. Suitable flower and plant varieties abound, offering a palette of colors and styles limited only by your creativity and imagination. But as with any gardening, adherence to a few simple guidelines will improve your chances of achieving a dazzling result. Fall-inspired painting tips With the colorful season of fall upon us, it’s a great time to consider bringing some of that color into your house by updating the wall color in your home. To successfully and easily transform your home’s interior with paint color, check out the following tips. Time for a time change It’s fall-back time again. Daylight-saving time ends for Texans at 2 a.m. Sunday, October 29, thus moving that extra hour of evening sunlight we enjoyed all summer back to the morning—and allowing an extra hour of sleep over the weekend. Smoke detector safety Properly working smoke detectors can double your odds of surviving a house fire, according to fire safety experts. But many people either don’t install smoke detectors or don’t properly maintain them. These tips from Underwriters Laboratories will help you get the maximum benefit from these life-saving devices. Carbon monoxide safety tips Approximately 250 people in the United States died last year from the effects of carbon monoxide (CO). But protection against this deadly poison is as easy as installing a simple carbon monoxide detector in your home. Here’s what you need to know to protect you and your family. Selecting an effective CO detector Next to a smoke alarm, a carbon monoxide detector may be the most important safety item you could have in your home. Without the aid of a detector, it is virtually impossible to know if dangerous levels of carbon monoxide are present. There are three different types of CO detectors, each with their own unique features. Before purchasing a detector, know the differences between each model and be clear about how many detectors you need to have in your home. Get educated about CO poisoning Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can happen within a matter of minutes and is responsible for more deaths than other single poison. The odorless, colorless poison can hurt you slowly in low levels, cause permanent neurological dysfunctions in moderate levels, or take lives in higher levels. But many people don’t know enough about this poison and its symptoms. Survey: Half of all homeowners plan holiday home improvements Remodeling contractors can expect to be busy this holiday season, according to survey findings released by RenovationExperts.com, a national home improvement network of remodeling contractors. The Pre-Holiday Home Improvement Survey found that of the more than 2,050 homeowners responding nationwide, 48 percent plan to conduct a home improvement project before the end of the year. Winterizing your pool Your pool is a major investment, so taking care of it properly is an important step in protecting the value of your home. But as winter approaches and your pool use decreases, don’t forget some important tasks that will ensure many years of fun in your backyard paradise. Houston-based Control Solutions Inc. recommends these steps for protecting Texas pools during winter. It’s time to clean the gutters Gutters provide a very important service to the rest of your home: They transport runoff away from the roof, thus protecting your foundation, doors and windows, siding, and landscaping from water damage. But to do their job properly they must be free of debris, so take advantageous of the crisp, cool fall weather in November and tackle this important job. Here’s how. Owners expecting home values to rise despite slowdown Confidence in the outlook for residential real estate remains unshaken by the current slowdown in the marketplace, according to recent findings from a new nationwide survey commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders. November gardening tips The shorter days and advancing cold fronts this month let us know that winter isn’t far away, even as far south as the Gulf Coast. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you prepare your yard for winter. Calculators help homeowners compare project pricing How would you like to calculate costs of your home improvements before contacting local remodeling contractors? A suite of online calculators provided on RenovationExpert.com, a Web site that helps homeowners locate and hire local remodeling contractors, can help you do just that. Prepare your home for winter cold With cold autumnal air moving in fast, the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is providing some basic suggestions for homeowners to make their homes cozier and more energy-efficient this winter. Some of the chores can be undertaken by homeowners over the long holiday weekends ahead, while others may take some outside help from a remodeler or other professionals. Chimney inspection checklist Fireplaces and chimneys are often the most overlooked parts of the home. Seven to eight months of the year, the fireplace sits dormant, while the chimney is mostly neglected. But with the onset of colder weather, it’s important to take a few precautionary steps before we light that first match. Fireplace safety Fireplaces are used to enhance warmth, comfort and atmosphere in more American homes than ever. As we head into the holiday season and look forward to hours in front of the cozy fireplace with our loved ones, the Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association reminds us of these important safety tips. Think fresh: choosing a fresh-cut Christmas tree Many people might argue that a home should smell like Christmas during the holidays, and few things do that better than a fresh-cut Christmas tree. Most of the “real” trees you buy from grocery stores or parking lot stands are seldom Texas-grown and definitely are not as fresh as those you can cut yourself. Let there be Christmas lights Putting up Christmas lights is not for the meek of heart. Since we are dealing with electrical issues, there are some important things to keep in mind to stay safe when stringing lights outside your house. If you’re stringing a few lights, then there shouldn’t be any problems. But if you want to illuminate your whole house with several thousand festive lights, you could be risking blown breakers, fires or even electrocution. Protecting your property from holiday heists The winter holiday season is traditionally a time of giving and receiving. Unfortunately, it can also be a season for increased theft and burglary. Keep your presents under the tree and out of the wrong hands this holiday season by following several pointers from insurance industry experts. Do’s and don’ts of poinsettia care You shopped early for your poinsettias, and this year you picked some real beauties. You carefully brought them home and placed them around your home to enhance your holiday decorations. But how should you care for your poinsettias to make sure they last the entire holiday season and beyond? Check out these do’s and don’ts from GardenLine’s Randy Lemmon. Year-end tax tips for homeowners The hustle and bustle of the holiday season doesn’t usually put you in the mood for thinking about taxes, but paying attention to a few extra details now could pay big dividends later. Here are five things homeowners can do before the end of the year to help relieve tax stress when the IRS comes calling in April. Keeping your poinsettias year ’round How many of us buy or receive poinsettias during the holidays, only to throw them away at the end of the season when they start to look bad? Did you know that they can be grown in the landscape for years to come? If you live in a temperate climate in which there are no hard frosts, you can plant this tempermental plant outside in a permanent location. Here’s how. Oh the weather outside is frightful: cutting home heating bills Winter is officially here, and we’ve already had our fair share of cold temperatures here in Texas this season. With the cost of heating fuel escalating to ever-higher levels, you’ll need to take some simple measures at home to lower those winter energy bills. Here are some tips from TXU Energy. Revving up existing home sales crucial step in housing recovery Getting the trade-up housing market back into full gear is a prerequisite for a sustainable recovery from the current housing industry slowdown, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). That’s why the organization is providing homeowners with tips geared to helping them move their properties so they can use the proceeds from the sale to buy a new home. Cover me! Protecting your landscape properly When temperatures dip below the freezing mark—and they have already this year across nearly all of Texas—what do you need to do to protect your plants? Do you cover the entire garden? How do you protect the sprinkler system from freezing and breaking pipes? J.D. Burney, a landscape designer with Houston-based Thompson Landscaping, answers your questions. Holiday cooking tips to reduce scorching energy bills The holidays will probably find you in the kitchen more than usual as you work to set the perfect holiday table for your family and friends. And while conserving energy might not be foremost on your mind as you stuff the turkey, roast the beast and bake the sugar cookies, you’ll be glad you did when those energy bills arrive after the holidays. The following tips from TXU Energy will be easy to incorporate into your holiday cooking routine. Kitchens more important than ever to homeowners Want to build the perfect house? Start with the kitchen. It’s the center of home life, and if you get it right, everything else falls into place, says home designer Mary Jo Camp. Clearing the air: indoor air pollutants increase in winter Your indoor air environment is a very complicated and dynamic system. In your home there is continuous interaction between the outside and indoor environments, as well as human intervention through building technology that attempts to control our comfort conditions. The indoor air environment is determined by various factors including the outdoor environment, the occupants, and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. During the winter months the impact of these various factors is more noticeable. Indoor pollutants: your questions answered During the winter months we spend much of our time indoors surrounded by sources of air pollution. Combustion appliances, consumer products, building materials, cigarettes and furniture can all contribute to the problem. Indoor air pollutants can build up rapidly indoors to levels much higher than those usually found outdoors. Here’s what you need to know to protect your family this winter. Fresh air supply key to proper ventilation To reduce indoor air pollution, a good supply of fresh outdoor air is needed. The movement of air into and out of your home is very important. Normally, air comes through cracks around doors and windows, helping to reduce the level of pollutants indoors. This supply of fresh air is also important to help carry pollutants up the chimney, stovepipe or flue to the outside. Here are some more steps you can take to ensure proper ventilation in your home. Resolution for renovation If you’re like most people, you’ve made a least a few resolutions for the New Year. And if you’re like most people, you have only a small window of opportunity the first few weeks of the New Year during which to harness your motivation to accomplish those goals. So January being the month of New Year’s resolutions, how about a few that will benefit your home in 2007? What to do if the power goes out in winter Any number of things can cause a power outage during the winter months, but most wintertime outages are weather related. Such outages can be widespread or localized when bad weather is bearing down on your area, so what should you do when the lights go out? Keeping your garbage disposal healthy The garbage disposal has become an essential kitchen appliance since the 1970s, when the device became widely popular in many American kitchens. For the most part, garbage disposals are easy to use and nearly maintenance free, and proper use and care can avoid most malfunctions. Here’s what you need to know to keep this invaluable kitchen appliance in tip-top shape. Texas shows nation’s biggest population growth Texas continues to benefit from national population shifts, according to newly released Census data. Looking at the one-year period of July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006, Texas saw its population grow by 579,275, the biggest increase in the nation. Warm up the winter months with garden-inspired décor Now that the hurdle of the holidays has passed, even the most ardent winter enthusiasts can find themselves dreading the cold, wet weeks of the Texas winter. Warming up your interior décor with garden-inspired looks and themes is a great way to beat winter blues. Here are some ideas for brightening your home this winter by bringing the outdoors inside. Heat up your spaces safely With the recent chilly weather across Texas, you might be considering supplemental heat sources like space heaters. Used properly, space heaters can add heat to your home during a particularly cold time or can be used in normally unheated areas of the home like garages or basements. No matter how you use them, keep these safety tips in mind to protect your family when using space heaters. Kitchens and baths remain the most common remodeling jobs Kitchen and bathroom remodeling remain the top two most common remodeling jobs, and master bedroom suites and great rooms are the two most popular home additions, according to remodelers who were surveyed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) during the first three quarters of 2006. The value of replacement windows In today’s uncertain real estate market, many Americans are choosing to stay in their current house and make improvements that enhance their home’s comfort and beauty. Others are investing in their homes so they can sell at the best price when the market improves. Replacing inefficient windows saves heating/cooling dollars for people who plan to stay in their homes. They also build the resale value of a home, no matter what the homeowner’s selling timeline may be. Houston real estate market continues to defy national trends The Houston real estate market continues to differentiate itself from the nation in seemingly cornering the market on affordability, according to statistics released by the Houston Association of Realtors® (HAR). Sales and prices ended 2006 with further strength, capping another record-breaking year for the greater Houston area. New EPA-certified toilets pay for themselves in water savings Along with its final specifications for the newest water-saving toilets that use less than 1.3 gallons per flush, the Environmental Protection Agency recently issued efficiency and performance criteria for toilets to be certified to carry the WaterSense label. No doubt about it: regrout it Innumerable products on the market today promise to clean grout and restore tiled areas to a like-new, pristine condition, and in fact, many work very well. There does come a time, however, when tile replacement or grout replacement are the only options. It’s a dirty job: tips for cleaning tile and grout The importance of keeping a home’s kitchen and bathrooms clean and up-to-date is well documented, so dealing with dirty or deteriorating grout is something every homeowner should address regularly. Sometimes, instead of replacing grout, a good cleaning is all your tile and grout need to look like new. Here are some helpful hints to help you get on top of this daunting task. Winter home projects free up summer time Many people think of summer as the primary time to tackle household projects. But in reality, many projects can be completed during the winter months when we’re stuck in the house anyway. So free up some time this summer by working on home projects now. Are you finished yet? Refinishing a wood door Entrance doors create a beautiful first impression of your home, and with wood costs rising, it’s usually more practical to refinish your wood entry door than to replace it. But the task can be daunting for many do-it-yourselfers, so here are some easy-to-follow instructions to get you on your way to restoring your front door to its original beauty. A Houston don’t miss: The Azalea Trail If you’ve lived in the Houston area for long, no doubt you’ve heard of the Azalea Trail, an annual rite of spring that has Houstonians flocking inside the Loop to see some of Houston’s more beautiful homes and gardens. Don’t miss this year’s Azalea Trail, scheduled for March 2-4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Celebrating azaleas March is the month for azaleas in Texas. Indeed, much of the state is blessed with the perfect soil conditions and climate to showcase these flowering beauties. Here are a few guidelines from GardenLine’s Randy Lemmon to help us get the best blossoms out of our azaleas each year. Real living needs shape dream home buyers want Based on constant feedback from her readers and from reviewing thousands of new and remodeled homes each year, Gayle Butler, editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens, says that consumers these days are putting their dollars in dream homes that accommodate the needs of real living. Spring cleaning: organizing the pantry The temperatures are inching up, and spring’s just around the corner. As you consider the spring cleaning tasks on your to-do list, don’t forget about one of the most-used rooms in the house: the pantry. Cleaning and organizing your pantry now will make cooking for your family in the warmer—and busier—months ahead simpler and more enjoyable. March gardening checklist March weather is particularly fickle in the Lone Star state, leaving gardeners to ponder the best timing for spring plantings. Although many of us will finally enjoy balmy weather, we can’t rule out one or two more freezes in the coming weeks, so be prepared to cover tender plantings. Here are some more tips from GardenLine’s Randy Lemmon to get the best out of your garden this month. Spring forward … earlier! What’s on your agenda for this Sunday, March 11? Better double-check your schedules, because that’s when we begin daylight savings time—more than three weeks earlier this year—in most of the United States and Canada. All clogged up: simple tips for cleaning a sink drain Let’s face it: We demand a lot from our sink drains. We put more substances down them than ever, from chemical-laden household cleaners and beauty products to more organic food items and human hair—and they can all contribute to some nasty clogs. So if your sink is just slow to clear or completely blocked, here are some tips to help you keep your drains healthy and clear of debris. Go green at home for St. Patrick’s Day If there’s one thing we all remember on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s the color green. So this March 17, as you don your green apparel and claim your Irish heritage—whether you’re Irish or not—here are a few easy steps to take to help all of us claim “greener” living in our homes. Going green with incandescent light bulbs According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, if every U.S. household replaced just one regular incandescent light bulb with a compact florescent light bulb, it would prevent 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road. And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that by replacing regular light bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs at the same minimal rate, Americans would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year. New tax incentives: save energy and write off home improvements The U.S. federal government is so in favor of reducing energy consumption, it’s created incentives to encourage Americans to replace leaky, old windows, doors and insulation with more energy-efficient options. Texas among states emerging from housing boom's dark shadow Housing markets with the biggest booms in 2004 and 2005 will generally be the slowest to return to normal levels of activity and those that showed more restraint will be the first to get back on track, according to a regional industry outlook for single-family production in 2007 and 2008 released by National Association of Home Builders economists this week. And that’s good news for Texans, because the South has fared relatively well through this cycle of boom and correction. What home information do you need for tax purposes? Tax day is April 17 this year, and with less than a month to go before that deadline arrives, you might be wondering if you’ve gathered all your relevant tax data. Most people are familiar with the necessary paperwork regarding bank and brokerage accounts, but homeowner deductions often take a backseat. You don’t want to miss out on any deductions or credits, so here’s what you need to gather regarding your home and where to get the data. Keep your personal information safe at tax time Whichever tax camp you belong to, the simple fact is that tax time can’t be avoided. So as long as you’ve got all your financial information out of the file box, why not make the most of the occasion and devote a few extra minutes to checking your credit report, as well as taking some easy steps to protect your private information? Wildfire preparedness begins at home: Are you ready? Spring is the perfect time to do yard work, and while doing so, take the steps to improve the chance of your home surviving a wildfire. Texas Forest Service wants to remind citizens that “Wildfire Awareness Begins at Home,” which is the theme of Texas' Spring Wildfire Awareness that began March 24 and runs through the month of April. Let there be light Energy experts estimate that lighting accounts for up to 10 percent of the average homeowner’s electricity bill. In fact, enhancing lighting efficiency is one of the easiest ways to decrease energy consumption. Here are a few tips to reduce the amount of energy you use to light your home. Wild about wildflowers It’s an annual rite of spring passage: This time of year, you can’t help but smile as the Texas roadways become awash in brilliant blues, purples and oranges as the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush emerge to greet the spring. Here are a few simple tips to remember so everyone can safely enjoy one of Texas’s most beautiful natural resources. April garden checklist Whether you believe March came in like a lion and went out like a lamb, or the other way around, chances are you agree March went by in the blink of an eye. Perhaps you even missed a few key items on your March garden checklist. The good news is April is still a delightfully nice month to spend in your yard, so get out there and get caught up on all your spring gardening. Exterior painting tips for spring With warm weather just around the corner, soon it will be time to begin those home exterior painting projects. “Whether you’re contemplating a whole house re-do or a simple front door color change, spring is the perfect time to spruce up your home,” offers Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute (PQI). To get picture-perfect, long-lasting results, Zimmer shares these four basic rules for a successful and attractive exterior paint job. Effective cleaning tips to help lighten the load Keeping your house and your family clean can be easier than you think if you keep in mind a few quick—but effective—cleaning tips.