Mike McClintock

Most new walls are minimum code — 1/2-inch drywall, 2-by-4s, 1/2-inch sheathing, and vinyl siding. But without switching to labor-intensive masonry, upgrades can make wood-framed walls stronger, safer, longer lasting...

Among termites, powder post beetles and other borers, carpenter bees are the masters. They work nonstop producing a stream of sawdust. They drill straight in, sideways, even upside down, making...

Garages often become the space where things go when they can't go anywhere else. But using it as a catchall has limits, specially when the space is also the laundry...

Laminate flooring may be a picture of wood instead of real wood, but its appearance is secondary. Although there are dozens of colors and patterns to choose from, its increasing...

Water seeping into a basement or crawl space erodes masonry on its way through, then fosters mold, bad odors and wood rot. To stop it, the first line of defense...

There's a mower to match every yard. Tractors towing banks of cutters can handle acres of lawn while push-it-yourself reel mowers can handle postage stamp-size grass with that old-fashioned summer...

Fly-by-nighters are good at finding ways to separate homeowners from their money. There are phony loans, bait-and-switch schemes, cash upfront jobs that never get started. And every summer, we get...

Framing is the crucial skeleton of a building but the part you see for only for a few days. It's up, then covered up — and too often missing inexpensive...

After months of ice, snow and freezing temps, the best repair for an aging roof is summer. Blistering sun turns shingles almost gooey and reheats the dashes of tar that...