11 articles · straight from the job site
Painting and remodeling advice for New England homes.
What we tell homeowners on walkthroughs, written down: when to paint, how a remodel actually goes, what to ask before you finish a basement or fix a leaky deck.
All articles.
Painting4 min read
How to Get Your House Ready for Interior PaintersA little planning before the crew shows up makes an interior paint job faster and calmer. Here's what to move, what to decide and what to leave to the painters.Read the article →
Painting4 min read
Wallpaper Removal and Skim Coating in Older HomesOld wallpaper rarely comes off clean. Here's what you'll likely find under it, how the walls get fixed and what it takes to get a smooth painted finish.Read the article →
Carpentry4 min read
Custom Built-Ins vs. Store-Bought Storage: How to DecideBuilt-ins aren't always the answer, and flat-pack isn't always the cheap way out. Here's how to tell which one fits the space you've got.Read the article →
Planning4 min read
How to Compare Contractor Estimates Line by LineThree estimates, three different numbers. Here's how to tell whether they're even pricing the same job, and why the lowest one isn't always the cheapest.Read the article →
Kitchens & Baths5 min read
Kitchen Remodel Order: What Happens First, Next and LastEvery step of a kitchen remodel sets up the next one. Here is the order the work happens in, what to decide before demo, and how to get through the stretch without a kitchen.Read the article →
Kitchens & Baths4 min read
Walk-In Tile Shower vs. Tub Surround: How to ChooseKeep the tub or go with a walk-in shower? It comes down to who uses the bathroom. Here's how to decide, and what makes a tile job hold up.Read the article →
Basements & Floors4 min read
Finishing a Basement: Questions to Answer Before You StartA finished basement is only as good as the answers you settle before the first stud goes up. Start with water, then work through the rest of this list.Read the article →
Basements & Floors4 min read
Choosing Floors Room by Room: Hardwood, Tile or Plank?There's no single best floor for a whole house. Here's what works in each room, how New England weather plays into it, and the prep that makes any floor last.Read the article →
Decks4 min read
Deck Leaking Into the Room Below? Find the Source FirstA stain on the ceiling under a deck is the last stop for the water, not the first. Here's where it usually gets in and the order to fix it so it stays fixed.Read the article →Decks4 min read
Pressure-Treated, Cedar, Mahogany or Composite Deck Boards?Every deck board can work. The right one depends on the look you want and how much upkeep you'll actually do. And whatever goes on top, the framing matters more.Read the article →Rather just ask us?
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