KnowRemodeling

Browse by category

Exterior Remodeling

Discover expert guides on exterior remodeling, roofing, siding, decks, outdoor living, landscaping, and pools to plan, frame, seal, and build exteriors

A new full-view storm door with glass panel on a craftsman entry, warm wood front door visible behind it
ExteriorStorm & Screen Doors10 min read

Hang a Storm Door in a Day (and Have It Close Itself Softly)

Install a full-view storm door: measuring the opening, hinge-side selection, mounting rail plumb, closer adjustment, and the expander sweep that seals the sill.
A gloved hand plugging a yellow twist-lock generator cord into a gray power inlet box on house siding
ExteriorEV Chargers & Generators11 min read

Hook Up a Portable Generator Safely With an Interlock or Transfer Switch

A step-by-step guide to a legal portable generator hookup: interlock kit versus transfer switch, sizing the generator, matching cord and inlet ratings, and the outage sequence.
Craftsman bungalow with fresh white paint, sage green shutters, a rust-red front door, and tidy mulched beds
ExteriorCurb Appeal Upgrades9 min read

Weekend Curb Appeal: Seven Projects That Transform Your Front Yard

Seven high-impact DIY curb appeal projects ranked by payoff per hour: front door paint, house numbers, lighting, mulch edges, and more.
A garage wall with new gray electrical conduit run to an empty box beside a parked electric car's open charge port
ExteriorEV Chargers & Generators11 min read

Prep Your Garage for a Level 2 EV Charger

A step-by-step guide to getting a garage ready for a Level 2 EV charger: panel capacity, the load calculation, the conduit run, and where the electrician takes over.
A scraper lifting failed paint from wood lap siding in warm light, clean primed boards visible alongside
ExteriorExterior Painting & Staining12 min read

Wash, Scrape, Prime: The Prep That Makes Exterior Paint Last

Exterior paint prep done right: washing siding, scraping and feather-sanding failed paint, spot-priming bare wood, caulking, and reading the weather window.
Printed solar quotes and a pencil roof sketch spread on a kitchen table with a calculator and small panel sample
ExteriorSolar Integration11 min read

Read a Solar Quote Like an Engineer, Not a Salesperson

A step-by-step guide to decoding rooftop solar quotes: production estimates, inverter choices, utility escalators, dollars per watt, and honest payback math.
A navy front door laid across sawhorses being painted with a small roller, matte black hardware and tray beside it
ExteriorFront Entry Doors9 min read

Paint Your Front Door and Swap the Hardware in a Day

A step-by-step guide to repainting a front entry door off its hinges: sanding, exterior enamel in the right sequence, and fitting new hardware that latches clean.
A homeowner on a ladder holding a sketch clipboard above an asphalt roof with a tape measure, compass, and sun-shade tool
ExteriorSolar Integration11 min read

Get Your Roof Solar-Ready Before the Installer Shows Up

A step-by-step guide to preparing a home for rooftop solar: roof age math, a DIY shade study, structural weight check, conduit path, and electrical service review.
A cedar pergola frame going up over a concrete patio, beams clamped in place beside a blue stepladder and drill
ExteriorPergolas & Gazebos12 min read

Build a Pergola Over Your Patio That Stands Plumb for Decades

A step-by-step guide to building a patio pergola: post anchors on concrete, doubled beams, rafter spacing for shade, and bracing that keeps it square.
Framed bump-out addition cantilevered off a house wall with new floor joists, sheathing, and a shed roof tie-in under construction
ExteriorRoom Additions & Framing12 min read

Bump-Out Additions Explained: Cantilevers, Roofs, and Real Costs

A practical guide to bump-out additions: how cantilevered floor joists work, the two-to-one rule, roof tie-ins, cost per square foot, and what a DIYer can own.