Home Exteriors
Everything you need to know to make the outside of your home better, more durable and more beautiful.
Review the entire Archive of Home Exteriors Articles here, or do a more in-depth search to find what you’re looking for.
What kind of furnace should I have installed?
Our insurance company tells us that our 25 year-old oil tank needs to be replaced or they won’t extend coverage…
Can you help recommend an insulation upgrade for my 150-year-old home?
I’m planning to restore an 1860’s board-and-batten home, and need some advice about insulation. Right now there’s none in the…
How can I replace a load bearing wall to open up a space?
There’s a load-bearing wall between the living room and kitchen in my son’s home and he’d like to open this…
VIDEO Q&A: Energy Efficient home design
I’m looking to build a new energy efficient home. Do you have any recommendations on energy efficient features that I…
What kind of coating can I put on some oak stairs to stop dogs and people from slipping?
What kind of coating can I put on some oak stairs to stop dogs and people from slipping? I really…
Pillar Free Floor Systems
I’m looking for information on floor and roof supports in new houses. I’d like to have a home built with…
How can we stop frost from forming on the inside face of the garage walls?
How can we stop frost from forming on the inside face of the garage walls on our three-year-old home during…
Can I paint my white vinyl windows brown? Is painting or aluminum cladding an option?
Most vinyl windows are white, and the reason has largely to do with the way vinyl expands and contracts with…
What’s the best stain or treatment to prevent wear and pet damage to our deck?
We’ve just rebuilt our cedar deck and want to apply the best staining treatment to protect it. In the past…
How can I boost the energy efficiency of the floor-to-ceiling windows in my high-rise condo?
How can I boost the energy efficiency of the floor-to-ceiling windows in my high-rise condo? Heating costs are very high…
How do I get rid of recurring ceiling mold near an exterior wall?
How can my hubby and I get rid of recurring mold that appears in a corner of our bedroom ceiling?…
What are my options for fixing flaking brick on the front of my house?
What are my options for fixing flaking brick on the front of my house? The place was built in 1980,…
Is foam injection insulation a good way to boost the energy efficiency of my brick house?
Is foam injection insulation a good way to boost the energy efficiency of my brick house? It’s about 60 years…
I live in a 50-year old bungalow and have just discovered there’s not a single bit of insulation in the place. How can I fix this?
The first step is to get some loose-fill insulation blown into your attic. This is the easiest and least expensive…
ASK STEVE: Frost jacking causes heaving, help!
About 5 years ago I installed two posts under a porch and now one seems to be rising out of…
What kind of portable tablesaw should I buy for building a new house and outbuildings?
What kind of portable tablesaw should I buy for building a new house and outbuildings? I’m not a professional, so…
How should I go about preserving exposed bricks in my home?
My kitchen will be renovated soon and I’d like to expose the bricks on one interior wall. The kitchen has…
Whole house fans & Canadian homes
I’ve seen a few articles written about whole house fans, mostly in US magazines and on web sites. Why aren’t…
Q&A: Brand new home with brand new mold!
We’ve moved into a brand new home and we’re having trouble with a section of the basement we requested be…
ASK STEVE: Peeling paint mystery
The paint beneath our south facing windows is peeling on the inside walls, but I don’t know why. Some of…
Q&A: Cottage Insulation Help
A friend owns a cottage and would like to insulate the roof. The problem is the limited amount of space…
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Everything you need to know to make the outside of your home better, more durable and more beautiful.