Are expandable garden hoses worth it? Easy. [UPDATED]
[UPDATED] Answer: Yes! Like lots of people, I wondered what's up with these expandable garden hoses popping up everywhere. I remember first seeing them on TV a few years ago, but never checked them out. It's probably a good thing. Like most new technologies, it had...
What’s the best hammer for me? Believe it or not, size matters!
You would think an everyday tool like a hammer would be simple. Yes and no. There are all kinds of features you might need to know about. Choosing a tool that’s too heavy for you and you’ll…
Floating vanity in a small bathroom. Good choice.
Considering a wall-hung floating vanity for your bathroom remodel? Here’s some things to consider—and why one worked so well for our small bathroom.
Choosing ladders: think twice, buy once
Like most homeowners, I found out a long time ago I can't get by with just one ladder. Especially not that rickety old aluminum stepladder I found in my garage—though I tried for awhile. You're likely going to need at least two ladders to get your basic DIY stuff done...
1-piece toilet beats 2-piece, hands down.
Trying to choose between 1-piece toilet or the traditional 2-piece? We were, too, but after having lived with both, it's not even close: We favor the 1-piece by a wide margin. It's sleeker and more modern-looking, it's easier to clean and it's less likely to leak or...
Are keyless locks better than regular front door locks?
When my front door's regular mechanical deadbolt lock started seizing up, I wasn't even considering keyless locks until I saw them at Home Depot. You know, the electronic kind with a keypad like in office buildings. My first reaction was 'oh hell no,' ... but I...
Choosing a freestanding patio heater for an open, uncovered patio.
When I looked into choosing a patio heater for our small-to-average (15'x15') uncovered patio, I wound up in the freestanding propane category pretty quick. From what I can tell, a lot of people do. Here's a quick read on why it was basically the only option that made...
Best wet-dry vac for the money … depends on your budget
Shopping for a wet-dry vac will suck the life out of you if you let it. There are SO many models and options to choose from, and so much competition. Not only are there a lot of features to weigh against each other, there are several models for every need and price...
Pressure washers I can afford? What a blast!
I never thought about buying a pressure washer until I looked into renting one to blast some mildew off my brick walls. For about $50, I could rent one for 4 hours, or—much to my surprise—I could buy an electric pressure washer in the $100-$200 range. Electric? I've...
Buy a garden cart or a wheelbarrow? The answer was yes.
When my wife’s landscaping/gardening efforts got a little more ambitious, she started looking at garden carts. I suggested that a wheelbarrow might be a good double-duty solution—especially since I was going to need a wheelbarrow for some backyard projects, and I didn’t want to borrow my neighbor’s beastly heavy ‘barrow anymore.