KnowRemodeling

The archive

Every guide, one shelf.

Interior refinishes, exterior maintenance, and the tips we wish someone had told us first. Browse by where the work happens.

A steel trowel pressing fresh gray stucco scratch coat onto wire lath in a patch on a cream wall
ExteriorStucco & Brick Veneer10 min read

Patch Cracked Stucco in Three Coats and Match the Texture

A step-by-step guide to repairing damaged stucco: cutting back loose material, new lath and paper, scratch and brown coats, and matching the finish texture.
Freshly painted white built-in shelves being fitted into a living room alcove beside painted trim
InteriorBuilt-ins & Shelving11 min read

Build Alcove Built-Ins That Look Original to the House

A step-by-step guide to building alcove built-in shelves: ladder frames, a scribed face frame, adjustable shelves, and paint that reads original.
Gloved hands spraying lubricant onto a garage door roller bracket beside the track, stepladder standing in the bay
ExteriorGarage Doors8 min read

Tune Up a Noisy Garage Door Without Touching the Springs

A step-by-step guide to quieting a garage door: tightening hardware, lubricating rollers and hinges, testing balance and safety reverse — springs strictly off-limits.
A reflective aluminum tubular skylight tube running from a flashed roof opening down between attic rafters
ExteriorSkylights9 min read

Install a Tubular Skylight in a Single Afternoon

A step-by-step guide to installing a tubular daylighting device: finding a clear rafter bay, cutting the roof and ceiling, flashing the dome, and assembling the reflective tube.
Gloved hands unlocking a course of beige vinyl siding with a zip tool, replacement panel and hammer leaning nearby
ExteriorVinyl & Fiber Cement Siding8 min read

Fix Cracked or Blown-Off Vinyl Siding With a $6 Zip Tool

A step-by-step guide to replacing a damaged vinyl siding panel: unlocking courses with a zip tool, nailing loose for movement, and matching faded color.
Curb-mounted skylight on an asphalt shingle roof with step flashing woven into shingle courses and tools resting nearby
ExteriorSkylights12 min read

Install a Curb-Mounted Skylight With a Flashing Kit

A step-by-step guide to cutting in a curb-mounted skylight on an asphalt roof: rafter layout, building the curb, step flashing, and finishing the shaft.
A compacted gravel pad framed with timber sitting level in a backyard corner, tamper and level resting on it
ExteriorHot Tubs & Spas9 min read

Prep a Hot Tub Pad That Can Carry Three Tons

A step-by-step guide to building a hot tub base: doing the weight math, gravel versus concrete, leveling, and where the GFCI disconnect must go.
A framed stud wall standing in front of rigid foam insulation panels along an unfinished basement wall
InteriorBasement Finishing12 min read

Frame and Insulate Basement Walls That Stay Dry

A step-by-step guide to framing basement walls the moisture-smart way: rigid foam against concrete, treated bottom plates, and a straight stud wall.
Roofing estimates fanned across a wooden table beside shingle samples, underlayment, step flashing, and a tape measure
ExteriorRoof Replacement (Asphalt, Metal, Tile)10 min read

Read a Roofing Quote Like a Builder Before You Sign

A step-by-step guide to decoding roofing estimates: tear-off versus overlay, underlayment, flashing line items, decking allowances, and what to prep yourself.
A steel trowel smoothing fresh gray resurfacer across a concrete step edge held by a wooden form board
ExteriorMasonry & Concrete Repair9 min read

Repair Crumbling Concrete Steps With Resurfacer and Simple Forms

A step-by-step guide to rebuilding chipped concrete step edges and resurfacing worn treads: chiseling to sound concrete, edge forms, and finishing.