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Exterior Remodeling

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

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.
Samples of asphalt shingle, standing-seam metal panel, clay tile, and concrete tile laid on a workbench outdoors
ExteriorRoof Replacement (Asphalt, Metal, Tile)10 min read

Asphalt, Metal, or Tile: Choose Your Roof by Decades Per Dollar

A step-by-step guide to picking your next roof: how climate, slope, structure, and cost per year of service decide between asphalt, metal, and tile.
Gloved hands sealing metal flashing at the base of a brick chimney with a caulk gun, wire brush on the shingles
ExteriorChimneys & Flashing9 min read

Reseal Chimney Flashing Before It Stains Your Ceiling

A step-by-step guide to resealing chimney flashing: reading the two-layer system, cleaning the reglet joint, choosing the right sealant, and when to call a pro.
A black EPDM rubber liner draped into a freshly dug pond with tiered shelves, stones stacked for a small waterfall
ExteriorPonds & Fountains12 min read

Dig and Line a Backyard Pond With a Small Waterfall

A step-by-step guide to building a lined garden pond: digging plant shelves, underlayment and EPDM liner, sizing the pump, and stacking a spillway.
Heavy white polyethylene vapor barrier being unrolled across crawl space dirt and taped around a block pier
ExteriorCrawl Spaces & Moisture Control10 min read

Install a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier That Actually Seals

A step-by-step guide to lining a crawl space with a sealed vapor barrier: 6-mil versus 12-mil poly, seam overlap and taping, and wrapping piers and walls.
Gloved hands filling a wiring hole through attic framing with expanding foam, caulk gun and headlamp lying nearby
ExteriorEnergy Audits & Air Sealing11 min read

The DIY Energy Audit and Air-Sealing Weekend That Pays Rent

A step-by-step guide to a DIY energy audit and air-sealing weekend: smoke-pencil leak hunting, attic top plates, foam and caulk targets, and weatherstripping.
A sturdy plywood workbench along a garage wall with pegboard tools, bright shop lights, and lumber storage above
ExteriorGarage Conversions11 min read

Convert a Garage Bay Into a Real Working Workshop

A step-by-step guide to turning one garage bay into a workshop: layout zones, workbench height, lighting, dust control, and honest talk about power.
A worker in gloves blowing loose-fill insulation across attic joist bays, a wooden depth ruler standing in the fill
ExteriorExterior Insulation11 min read

Top Up Attic Insulation to R-49 the Right Way

A step-by-step guide to topping up attic insulation: air-seal first, install baffles, choose blown-in over batts, and verify depth with rulers every ten feet.