THE HOME PROJECT LIBRARY
Know the work.
Hire with confidence.
Explore the original Hiring a Contractor library: planning a renovation, understanding the work and choosing who should do it.
Recovered from our 2021–2022 site. Original publication dates are retained; historical prices, incentives and rules may have changed.
Attics
What You Need to Know About Attic Flooring
Ever think about your attic as more than a place to store old items? After all, attics can be great for anything from a guest bedroom to a kids’ playroom. But before converting an attic ,…
Attics
6 Top Attic Remodeling Ideas
If you want to add living space to your home, you do not necessarily need to invest in an expensive and time consuming addition. Attic space can be used for more than storing boxes and…
Attics
Key Factors for Attic Renovations
If you have an attic that’s just an empty space above your home and you’re considering a utilitarian upgrade (a useful remodel), then this article is for you. Attics hold the potential to…
Attics
DIY Attic Insulation: How Do You Do It?
Poorly insulated attics are one of the most common problems with homes. Home inspectors often note a lack of proper insulation. This not only makes the home less valuable, it also reduces…
Attics
Can You Finish an Attic Without a Permit?
The most likely answer is that finishing an attic without a permit is a bad idea. If you want to convert wasted attic space into a living area , you are in good company. Many homeowners…
Attics
How to Frame an Attic for More Livable Space
Extra square footage is hard to come by. Whether you want another bedroom, a game room, or some other type of living space, there is always value in adding an extra room. Some homeowners…
Hiring a contractor
How to Choose the Right Contractor
In this article we’re going to layout a course of action to help take the guesswork out of hiring a professional contractor. We’ll give you advice from professionals, offer helpful tips and…
Hiring a contractor
Get It In Writing
What You Should Know We’ve all heard the expression “get it in writing!” That old adage never rang more true than when having construction work done. A legal and binding contract should be…
Hiring a contractor
Hiring a Contractor Without Signing a Contract
If you are looking to get any work done on your home, you will find that most service providers operate as contractors. The term “contractor” refers to a professional or agency that does…
Hiring a contractor
Home Renovations and Taxes: What You Need to Know
Important Note: Below is general information on how taxes apply to home renovations. This is for informational purposes only and does NOT replace the guidance of a tax professional. Please…
Solar & electrical
Are “Free” Solar Panels Really Free?
If you have been in the market for a solar panel system lately, you’ve probably seen advertisements for “free solar panels.” Companies offering these deals promise to install a solar energy…
Solar & electrical
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need to Power My House?
The short answer is the typical homeowner needs 28 – 34 solar panels to cover 100% of his or her electricity usage. The range is fairly broad because solar panel need depends on many…
Solar & electrical
What You Need to Know About Solar Panel Installation
Solar power system prices have reached the point that the average homeowner can now consider it a viable option for their energy needs. The systems are smaller, lighter, smarter and more…
Solar & electrical
Solar Panel Specifications: The Basics
Solar power technologies are some of the greatest inventions. They can harness the power of the sun, which will remain in existence for as long as humankind does (provided we don’t discover…
Solar & electrical
Solar Shingles: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Solar shingles are thin photovoltaic (PV) sheets. They can lay on top of existing shingles, replace them, or be used in the construction of a new house or roof. They are based on a…
Garages
How to Choose a Contractor for Remodeling a Garage
If your garage is starting to feel a little dilapidated, it may be time for a remodel. Remodeling your garage can be a daunting task, and so many people chose to hire the services of a…
Garages
How to Convert Your Garage into an Accessory Dwelling Unit
ADU stands for Accessory Dwelling Unit. An ADU is just an additional living space occupying the same lot as a detached single-family home. Turning your garage into an ADU is an increasingly…
Garages
Garage Makeover Ideas
An old, worn-out garage isn’t just an eyesore; it can also be an energy inefficient money sink, let in water, dirt, bugs, and other things that can ruin what is inside, and even bring down…
Garages
The Pro Guide to Garage Remodeling
Few among us are happy with how our garage looks. Even if it’s perfectly clean it still disappoints with poorly used space or unused potential. Remodeling your garage can be just the ticket…
Garages
What Is the Cost of Remodeling a Garage?
Remodeling your garage is a great way to add or improve the character of your home while also gaining a more functional space. An old, dilapidated garage not only looks bad, it also tends…
Garages
How to Remodel a Garage Into a Living Space
If your garage is starting to get a little run down and needs a makeover , you may want to consider repurposing the space for another use! A garage is an area that often goes overlooked as…
Planning your project
How Does the DIY Meter Work?
The DIY meter is our standardized assessment of whether it makes sense for the average homeowner to do the job themselves, based on the cost, difficulty, tools required, risks and…
Home offices
Building A Complete Home Office
Building A Complete Home Office: It Takes More Than Just a Chair and a Laptop Working remotely has moved on from being a ‘growing trend’ to becoming a normal method of employment. Formal…
Home offices
How Much Will It Cost to Build Your Backyard Office?
The number of options paving your path to the perfect backyard office make the potential cost difficult to calculate. For example, converting your existing shed into a home office will have…
Home offices
DIY Office Shed: 5 Must-Haves
More and more people are working remotely these days, which has become a boom for the home office industry. As a result, workspaces have become a new niche market in the home remodeling…
Home offices
Is a Prefab Office Shed the Perfect Addition to Your Home?
As the world trends toward working from home, individuals are finding all kinds of ways to acquire the ideal home office . Building onto your home can be expensive and DIYing your own…
Home offices
Turning Your Shed Into a Home Office
As more individuals and businesses experience the many benefits of telecommuting, working from home is rapidly becoming the new normal. That’s no surprise when statistics show people who…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
What Does an AC Warranty Cover?
Buying a new air conditioner for your home is a huge investment and undoubtedly one that you want to protect with a warranty. You want to make sure the warranty favors you and is not easily…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
The Pro Guide to Chimney Repair
We see them everywhere but rarely give them much thought. Yet, chimneys are an important safety feature of many homes, especially those that were built 50+ years ago. Some exist only to…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
How to Choose an HVAC Contractor
HVAC repairs are one of the most expensive repairs that a homeowner will face – and with this kind of repair, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Due to the expensive nature of…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
The Cost of Repairing a Chimney
Your house’s chimney needs regular maintenance and occasional repairs just like any other part of your house. Damage to the chimney can lead to massive structural problems for other parts…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
Do-It-Yourself Chimney Repair
If you have a chimney as a part of your house, it is inevitable that it will eventually require some maintenance. Although often overlooked, chimney maintenance is crucial for not only…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
Pro Guide to Ductless Mini Split HVAC Systems
The ductless mini split system (DMSS) has been around for decades but, until recently, it was generally found only in Japan and Europe. The system is now becoming popular in North America…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
Ductless Mini Split Maintenance & Troubleshooting Tips
Ignoring your ductless mini split HVAC system is easy to do. After all, it’s virtually silent and needs no input from you once you’ve programmed your smart thermostat. Unfortunately, even…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
Essential Facts of Furnace Installation
The decision to install a new furnace is only the first in a long line of choices you will face. Local code requirements will need to be considered as well as the need to upgrade existing…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
How to Repair A Damaged Chimney Crown
The chimney crown is the portion of the chimney that is between the opening of the stack and the cap that rests at the topmost pinnacle. The crown surrounds the chimney and is designed to…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
How to Repair Damaged Chimney Flashing
What is Chimney Flashing? The chimney’s flashing is a metal barrier wrapped around the base and the roofline that seals the point where they meet. The flashing serves many purposes, but the…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
Repairing Your Damper or Cracked Flue
Please don’t yell at us, we know a flue is not a damper. The terms, however, have grown to be interchangeable over the years, and we don’t want someone to miss out on good information just…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
Chimney Liner Repairs
Chimney liners serve a vital purpose for your home. For one thing, they prevent hazardous gas leaks, which are a health and safety danger. In addition, chimney liners help aged chimneys be…
Heating, cooling & chimneys
Replacing or Installing Central Air Units
While not a prime selling point for a home, not having central air will often be the primary cause of a hard pass for those seeking to buy a new home. We have grown accustomed to having…
Home repairs
DIY cabinet repair
DIY Meter DIY Hire a Pro Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text. Project Assessment Cost of…
Yard & garden
Fencing 101: All You Need To Know
DIY Meter DIY Hire a Pro Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text. Project Assessment Cost of…