Mike McClintock

Modern house paints are advertised to resist fading from the sun's rays, mildew from the soggiest summers, plus cracking, peeling and flaking whatever the weather. But even if you find...

When glass sliding doors bog down in their tracks and need to be tugged open and closed, there are four possible fixes. Three take just a few minutes, and only...

In an old house with wooden floors, planks are bound to squeak sometimes. In newer buildings, joists, plywood and flooring should be strong enough, and connected securely enough, not to...

Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer because if there is a CO leak while you're asleep, you may never wake up. There are no crackling flames to hear, no...

Tiles used to be set in a thick bed of cement to keep them from cracking. The standard these days is to set them in a thin layer of adhesive...

More than 95 percent of walls and ceilings in homes today are surfaced with drywall — basically crushed rock wrapped in paper. The product, a strong, fire-resistant, durable panel that...

Most homes have a storage tank for hot water — 50 gallons or more that's regularly reheated and ready to use 24 hours a day. The compact alternative, often billed...

Perfectly prepared homeowners save a sample of every material used on the house: paint, wallpaper, trim, shingles, you name it. And when someone drops a bowling ball on the tile...

Most tools, appliances, and other home products work pretty well for a reasonable amount of time. There are lemons that slip through the system. But most products are scrutinized at...