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When painting the exterior of your home, you want to get the most from your investment. Done right, an exterior paint job can last 10 years; stain needs to be reapplied more often, anywhere from two to 10 years, depending on the type of stain. One key to how long an exterior finish lasts is how well the surface is prepared. But equally important is the choice of the paint or stain itself. Using high-quality materials, matching them to your house and climate, and conducting regular maintenance will extend the time between recoatings. Expect to pay $35 to $45 per gallon for conventional premium paint or stain. "Green," or zero-VOC, products run $45 to $55 per gallon. A gallon covers 350 to 400 square feet, so figure on about 8 gallons to cover an average two-story, 30-by-40-foot house. Most paint jobs require a primer and two topcoats. Acrylic Latex Paints Acrylic latex is the favored choice, both of pros and do-it-yourselfers. These water-based paints come in an endless range

With the holidays  coming at you fast and furious, you want to be sure your home is cozy, but with that  fresh-as-spring feel  — as opposed to that musty-damp-winter feel. Here's how to make that happen (along with a few other timely tips): #1 Wash Bed Pillows You love your trusty, old, perfectly-snugged-to-your-head pillow. But guess what's also snug against your head?  Fungus — 4 to 16 species to be precise. Yuck! W ith fall being the height of guest season, you'll want your pillows fresh, too.  Toss them in the washing machine and dryer for an all-over clean feeling. (But check manufacturer advice, too. Some pillows shouldn't be washed, but replaced instead. #2 Clean the Mattress, Too Sleeping soundly gets even better when you know you're lying on a clean and fresh mattress. The yuck factor: Skin cells and sweat get into the mattress, then dust mites show up for a dinner party featuring those tasty skin cell morsels. You'll want your mattress to be at it'

Gain storage space and usable square footage by installing pocket doors.   Pocket doors maximize under-utilized areas around doorways and transform them into smart storage spots.  The swing of a standard interior hinged door eats up as much as 10 square feet of floor space. That’s not to mention the unusable wall space the door occupies when open. By gliding on a track that disappears into the wall, pocket doors reclaim that space and increase the usable square footage of your home. Is the additional space worth it? It’s not exactly an open and shut case. For starters, unless you’re dealing with new construction, you’ll need to demolish a wall. Here’s what else you need to know before giving the sledgehammer a heave-ho. Benefits of Pocket Doors Space. With more available wall space, you have room for furnishings or freestanding storage. However, avoid penetrating the pocket-door wall to hang shelves or artwork—nails or drywall anchors might damage the door or prevent it fr

Not all exterior doors are equal. Here are the pros, cons, and costs of different types.   Good looks and value -- what's not to love? Not only does replacing your front entry door kick up your curb appeal, it's a solid investment with a decent payback. According to the "Remodeling Impact Report" from the National Association of REALTORS®, a new steel entry door has a national median cost of $2,000, and you'll recover 75% of that investment if you decide to sell your house. But how do you know which door is right for you? Make your decision by comparing the three main materials available for exterior doors: steel, fiberglass, and wood. Steel Entry Door If you’re looking to save money, a steel door is a great choice, especially if you have the skills to hang it yourself. A simple, unadorned steel door can sell for as little as $150 (not including hardware, lock set, paint, or labor) and typically runs as much as $400 at big-box retailers.  Steel offer

The Energy Star label is good, but the NFRC label tells you even more. With the high cost of replacement windows and doors, it's wise to know exactly what you're getting for your money.    Here's what all those scientific terms and numbers about energy savings mean:   The 2 Most Important Window and Door Labels The two labels you should look for: The white National Fenestration Rating Council label. Nonprofit NFRC is the industry-recognized certifying body for windows and doors.  The Energy Star label, which means the appliance has met strict energy efficiency criteria set by the U.S. government, in addition to the NFRC ratings. What the NFRC Label Terms Mean The NFRC label typically lists five measurements. The other three are somewhat less important to energy performance, according to Energy Star, but can help you judge how well a window or door will perform in a particular application — for example, whether it'll let in enough light. 1. U-Fac

Garage door insulation cuts energy bills and street noise. Here's how to insulate your garage door yourself. Garage door insulation can make your life warmer, cooler, and quieter. It lowers energy bills, acts as a barrier between you and street noise, and brightens an otherwise dreary space.   Garage door insulation is an easy DIY project; it’ll cost you about $200 to insulate two 9-foot-wide doors.   Types of Insulation Any insulation type will increase the energy efficiency of your garage door. Here are the most popular types to apply to the back of garage doors: Batt insulation. This flexible insulation, often found stuffed into exterior walls, is commonly made of fiberglass. It’s usually backed by paper or foil, which act as vapor and air barriers. Insulating values are R-3 to R-4 per inch of thickness. Cost is about 30 cents per square foot. Foam board insulation. These rigid panels, typically made from polystyrene, provide a high insulating value for rela

7 Smart Strategies for Kitchen Remodeling Follow these seven strategies to get the most financial gain on your kitchen remodel. Read Copyright 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Home Improvement with Heart — Just in Time for Valentine’s Day Roses are red; violets are blue — here are romantic improvements that add value, too. Read Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Fall landscaping preparation ideas ready your yard for a long winter and glorious spring.  Fall landscaping chores are your last chance to prepare your property for winter, and to protect that curb appeal you’ve worked so hard to create. So pull on some gloves, grab your tools, and get ready to mulch, prune, and plant before snow and frozen ground turn the lights out on your landscaping. Spread Mulch Fall mulching is better for the plants than spring mulching and it helps protect roots from frost and helps retain moisture during a cold and dry winter.  Spread 2-3 inches of fresh mulch around shrubs and trees.  Avoid using free mulch from municipal piles, which often contain disease spores; instead, buy hardwood shredded mulch from home and garden centers.  Cheap, dump mulch mainly is made from trees that have died from disease and many diseases will linger in the mulch, like leaf spot and pine bark borers. You don’t want ground-up diseased plants around your landscaping.

Fall is the most crucial time for your lawn.  Although spring lawn care gets all the attention, fall lawn care is the make-it or break-it season for grass. “I’m already thinking about next year,” says John Dillon, who takes care of New York City’s Central Park, which features 200 acres of lawn in the middle of Manhattan. “The grass I grow this fall is what will be there next spring.” Fall lawn care is no walk in the park. It’s hard work, and Dillon guides you through the four basic steps. #1 Aerate Aeration gives your lawn a breather in autumn and provides room for new grass to spread without competition from spring weeds. Aeration tools pull up plugs of grass and soil, breaking up compacted turf. That allows water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach roots, and gives seeds room to sprout. If kids frequently play on your lawn, plan to aerate twice a year — fall and spring. If your lawn is just for show, then aerate once a year — and maybe even once every other year. A hand-aeratin

If you live in the Northeast, there are maintenance jobs you should complete in spring or summer to prevent costly repairs and keep your home in top condition. Certain home maintenance tasks should be completed each season to prevent structural damage, save energy and keep all your home's systems running properly. These maintenance tasks are most important for the Northeast in spring and summer.  After a long, cold Northeastern winter, spring is an excellent time to get outside and perform a fresh inspection of the whole house.  You should give all your major exterior systems—roof, siding, gutters, drainage—a close examination to make sure they’re working properly and are in good shape. Key Spring Maintenance Tasks to Perform: • Monitor your gutters and drainage - If debris has accumulated over the winter, you'll find out when the snow melts and spring rains arrive. Remove any blockages and look for signs of bending, damage, and areas where water has been diverted