Mike McClintock

Asphalt, wood shakes, slate and other overlapped roofings are fine until they meet an obstruction. Up against a dormer, a vent pipe, a chimney, they need flashing — a patchwork...

The rap against tile, especially in kitchens, is that whatever you drop on it breaks. Tile itself can also break due to gaps in grout that let in water, a...

The design of every deck railing is controlled by the baby's-head rule, the unofficial name for codes about spacing between uprights. It's usually 4 inches, based on the premise that...

Most mechanical systems lie unobtrusively and quietly behind the drywall. Lighting, heating and cooling are simply there when you need them. Plumbing is different. It's a supply in and a...

Of all the threats to your home, fire is the one that can erase everything except the masonry foundation in less than an hour. That's why mortgage lenders require fire...

The first things contractors do on the job is plug in the chargers and spare batteries- for drills, saws and most other power tools. It's a no-brainer these days, for...

New washing machines come with elaborate control panels that allow hundreds of different cycles- even four loudness settings for the timer. But underneath the bells and whistles they're still simple...

The part of the roof least exposed to the weather is often the one in the worst shape. But that's normal with soffits — the underbelly of the roof overhang....

Capacity Whatever the size and shape, all ladders come with a duty rating — the maximum weight each is designed to carry. Most household ladders are Type 3, rated up...