Mike McClintock

Few home sellers offer unlimited warranties. One of the increasingly rare examples is L.L. Bean. Not satisfied with an ax you buy there? Return it for replacement, refund or store...

Even in a nearly snowless winter, it pays to think about what a big snow does to the roof over your head, so that you're prepared when snow comes calling,...

Instead of buying a drill, a jigsaw and other tools, each with its own motor, some manufacturers offer one motor that powers several tools. We're not talking one saw and...

To uncover good-looking wood beneath layers of old paint — detailed trim, a carved mantle — there are two choices: chemicals or heat. Both soften paint so you can scrape...

Even into the 1960s, some plumbing pipes were connected by pouring molten lead into the joints — one of the jobs best left to a pro as some still are...

Garage doors are the largest moving parts of a house. But tap in the code and they open and close so smoothly we take them for granted. And with modern...

Electrical codes call for so many outlets that you can plug in almost anything anywhere. Most rooms have them at 12-foot intervals, and in kitchens even closer. So why do...

Drywall started to replace plaster in the post-WWII building boom. It wasn't stronger, longer lasting, more soundproof or a better insulator. It was quicker — by a mile. But it...

Heat cables look like heavy-duty extension cords. But instead of delivering electricity from one end to the other, they break a cardinal rule of wiring and bleed heat through the...

If you don't live on a farm, why would you want a tractor? Because companies like John Deere, Kubota and Mahindra that make the agricultural giants also make yard-size models...