What Causes Cracks Where Walls Meet the Ceiling?
A crack where the wall meets the ceiling can be easy to overlook at first. It may look like a thin line in the paint, a small separation in the corner, or a repeating crack along the top of a wall. Sometimes it stays the same for years. Other times, it widens, returns after patching, […]
What to Know Before Adding or Moving Interior Walls
Adding, removing, or moving interior walls can completely change how a home feels. A closed-off kitchen can become part of a larger living space. An unused formal room can become a home office. A large bedroom can be divided into two rooms. A basement can be finished with storage, sleeping space, or a family room. […]
What to Know Before Converting a Basement Into Living Space
Converting a basement into living space can be one of the most useful ways to add function to a home. A finished basement can become a family room, guest suite, home office, gym, playroom, media room, hobby space, or rental-style living area depending on the home and local rules. But basement remodeling is not the […]
How to Tell If Your Home Has Poor Drainage Around the Foundation
Poor drainage around the foundation is one of those home problems that can start quietly. At first, you may only notice a puddle near the house after rain, a damp smell in the basement, soil washing out of a flower bed, or mulch floating away from the foundation. Over time, though, poor drainage can contribute […]
What Are the Signs Your Home Needs Better Drainage?
Water around your home should have a clear path away from the structure. When drainage is working well, rainwater flows off the roof, through the gutters, out of the downspouts, and away from the foundation. The yard may get wet during a storm, but water should not sit against the house, wash away soil, flood […]
Why Does Your Roof Leak Only During Wind-Driven Rain?
A roof leak that only shows up during windy rain can be confusing. During a normal rainstorm, everything may seem fine. But when rain comes with strong gusts, water suddenly appears near a ceiling, wall, window, attic, fireplace, or exterior corner. Then the rain stops, the leak disappears, and it becomes harder to figure out […]
What Homeowners Should Know About Roof Flashing
Roof flashing is one of the most important parts of a roofing system, but many homeowners do not think about it until there is a leak. Shingles, tiles, or metal panels may cover the largest parts of the roof, but flashing protects the areas where water is most likely to sneak in. Flashing is usually […]
How to Know if Your Gutters Are Causing Home Damage
Gutters are easy to overlook until something goes wrong. When they are working properly, they move rainwater away from the roof, siding, fascia, foundation, landscaping, and basement. When they are clogged, damaged, undersized, sagging, or draining in the wrong direction, they can quietly contribute to home damage. Many homeowners think of gutters as a simple […]
Why Does Your Home Feel Humid Even With the AC Running?
Your air conditioner is supposed to make your home feel cooler and more comfortable. So when the AC is running but the house still feels sticky, damp, or heavy, it can be frustrating. You may lower the thermostat, but the air still feels humid. The rooms may feel cool on paper, but not comfortable in […]
What Homeowners Should Know About Indoor Air Quality During Remodeling
A remodel can make a home more functional, comfortable, and attractive. New flooring, fresh paint, updated cabinets, improved insulation, better windows, and redesigned rooms can all make a major difference. But during the renovation process, indoor air quality can take a hit. Dust, debris, paint fumes, adhesives, insulation fibers, mold spores, combustion gases, old building […]