This page is dedicated to our home and yard DIY projects. Our home was built back in 1999 and at that time we took on several projects to help save money. We did all the electrical and installed tile and hardwood flooring, just to name a few of the biggest. It took some research and lots of hard work, but it all turned out very well. Since then we realized that there were many projects we can do ourselves.
The articles on this page will highlight the projects we’ve taken on. We’ll show you some of the tools you may want to invest in to make these, and future projects easier to tackle. There are also a variety of tools, equipment, and appliances that are very helpful to help keep your investment looking good. We’ll show you some of this equipment and demonstrate how it can save you time and money. Hopefully, we can convince you that “average folks” can take on some of these DIY home and yard projects!
Cast Iron Burners vs Stainless Steel (Update)
Is your gas barbecue grill on its last leg? Is it well beyond giving it a good cleaning and replacing a few parts? It might be time to look into buying a new gas grill. Now comes the big question. Which way do I go, cast iron burners vs stainless ...
How To Paint Your Garage Floor
Are you tired of looking at that drab old garage floor? Are you wondering if you can paint your garage floor or what kind of paint you should use? You're in luck! This article has all the information you need to help you answer those questions. Painting a garage floor ...
How To Make A Suet Log Bird Feeder
Bird watching is a great pastime on a cold winter day. Why not stay inside, where it's nice and warm, and watch the birds. Enjoy hot cocoa or a cup of coffee while watching them come and go. It's very relaxing! What's the best way to attract birds? They're just ...
How To Clear A Sink Clogged Past The Trap
A clogged drain is one problem every homeowner will face sooner or later. The key is knowing the fastest and easiest way to clear that stubborn clogged drain. You’re in luck! We’ve had plenty of experience dealing with slow draining or clogged drains. Even the stubborn ones with the sink ...
34 Easy Wall Decor Ideas For Homeowners
Have you just moved into a new home or apartment and need to add a few decorations? Or are you tired of looking at the same old stuff that’s been hanging on the walls for the past 5 or 10 years? If one of these describes your situation, then we ...
Suet Recipe For Birds
One of our favorite things to do during the cold winter months is to feed and watch the birds in our back yard. It is amazing how many different species of birds that you can attract. Here is a simple and inexpensive suet recipe for birds that you can make ...
How To Make A Roof Water Leak Repair Yourself
One of the worst things a homeowner can face is the dreaded roof water leak. It can lead to all kinds of damage inside the home if left unchecked. The good news is you can make a shingle roof water leak repair themselves. It only takes a few basic tools, ...
Complete Pressure Washer Guide For Home Use
If you’re reading this article it probably means you have questions about pressure washers for home use. Do I need a pressure washer? What kind of pressure washer do I need? How do I use a pressure washer? In this pressure washer guide, we’ll do our best to answer all ...
Call Miss Dig Before You Dig
Are you planning your next DIY outdoor project? What do projects like building a new deck, putting up a fence or installing a sprinkler system all have in common? They all require digging. To protect you and your home call "Miss Dig" before you start. This should be part of ...
Safe Roof Snow Removal
Did you just receive a nice big snowfall and know you’re going to have to go out and take care of all that snow? Well, after you’re done plowing, snow blowing, and shoveling don’t forget there is one more area that you may want to consider doing some snow removal ...
How To Convert A Gas Dryer To Propane
Recently we decided it was time to replace our old clothes dryer. Our old dryer was gas, so we opted to stay with gas for the new dryer. Because we live in a rural area, and natural gas isn't available, meant we had to convert the new dryer to propane ...
Roomba Maintenance
If you read our first article on the Roomba, you would know it does a great job of controlling pet hair. We've owned our Roomba since 2015 and we use it almost every day. It is still going strong. We did finally change the battery in it at the end ...
Hoover Carpet Cleaner Brushes Not Spinning
If you read our article on the Hoover Power Scrub carpet cleaner, then you know just how much we like it. We’ve had it since 2015 and it does a great job. It's perfect for both spot cleaning and powerful enough to clean an entire room. So when we found ...
DIY Wall Mounted Metal Wine Rack
DIY home projects don’t have to be large or complicated to be considered a success. Even smaller projects can make a big impression, especially if it has some sentimental value thrown in. See how we transformed a plain wall mounted metal wine rack into something that was extra special to ...
How To Wire An Electrical Outlet
If you need to replace or install a new receptacle, it's important to know how to wire an electrical outlet the safest possible way. By following some basic best wiring practices this can easily be done. Keep in mind, if this is a receptacle replacement, the wiring connections used may ...
Fall Protection Basics Can Save Your Life!
As homeowners, there are many jobs and repairs that require the use of ladders. When working from heights it’s important to be able to recognize the hazards and know how to protect yourself. In this article, we’d like to share with you some fall protection basics that you can use ...
A Loadhandler Truck Bed Unloader Can Save Time And Your Back!
Have you ever had a pickup truck full of landscaping material that was going to take you 30 or 40 minutes to unload with a shovel? How would you like to cut that time down to 30 seconds?! Get yourself a Loadhandler truck bed unloader and give your back a ...
DIY Small Bathroom Update Ideas
During a meeting at our local golf course (Eagle Glen Golf Course, Farwell, MI) it was mentioned that the women's bathroom could use a makeover. It hadn’t been updated in several years and was in need of a little “TLC”, so I volunteered my time and ideas to spruce it ...
How To Keep Your Carpet Clean
Having new carpeting installed can be exciting. It can really transform your home’s appearance. Keeping it looking new depends on a few factors and can require a little work. Here's a quick and dirty list of things on how to keep your carpet clean and looking good for years. Give ...
Safety Tips On Working From A Ladder For Homeowners
How often do you use a ladder at home? Are you taking your time and using them correctly? In this article, I'd like to share with you a few tips on selecting the right ladder for the job and cover some basic safety tips when working from a ladder. These ...
iRobot Roomba Vacuum | How to Control Pet Hair!
A Dogs Perspective Buster and I have heard the old saying “dog is man's best friend”, but, from a dog's perspective, do you know what the new saying should be? Its “the iRobot Roomba vacuum is dog's best friend”! Actually, we should share the saying with all of our other furry, ...
DIY Raised Garden Bed Plans
Do you like gardening but don't have the time or space to do so? Have you ever thought of downsizing your garden? Our DIY raised garden bed plans just might be the solution to your problem. Not having enough time or the room are only a couple of reasons for ...
Tips To Maintain a Healthier Home
Every house has its own mini-ecosystem and it's up to you to maintain a healthy home environment. You have to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Sometimes the humidity is too high and sometimes it too dry. Then there are dust, dirt, and pollens to ...
DIY Household Pest Control
I am fairly certain that every home has them. Those creepy, crawly, flying, biting, gnawing, hole digging, yard tunneling pests!! Maybe they're not in your home or yard yet, but they are always nearby trying to figure out how to get in. Our home is no exception. I'd like to ...
DIY Basement Ceiling Options
Are you finishing your basement and having problems with deciding how to finish the ceilings? Here are a couple of DIY basement ceiling options we used to finish off our basement ceilings. These options went up quickly, were fairly easy to do, and we're not any more expensive than traditional ...
Know What To Do: A Power Brownout Can Cause Damage
We all love our creature comforts. Air conditioning on a hot summer day; our furnace on a cold winters night and, one of the most important, indoor plumbing! All of these things have one thing in common... electricity. All of your home's major appliances, like the furnace, air conditioner, refrigerator, ...
Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe: Every Home Should Have One
As homeowners who have raised 2 children and 5 dogs, over the past 35 years, we have come to appreciate the things that have made this process easier. One such item is a good, powerful carpet cleaner. It helped us clean up after the kids and dogs, which made life ...
DIY Home Electrical Wiring Basics
Doing our home electrical wiring was the most challenging home project I've ever undertaken. As I mentioned on the “About Us” page, I am a controls technician, so I am familiar with home electrical wiring basics and circuits. I also have a very good understanding of wire current ratings and ...
Our Kitchen Countertop And Backsplash Make Over
Kitchen Countertop and Tile Backsplash After 15 years in our new home, the signs of wear and tear were starting to show on our kitchen counter-top. So my wife and I decided it was time for a kitchen makeover. The laminate countertop was starting to show its age, so we ...
How to Gel Stain A Garage Door
Are you tired of looking at your faded, chalky, aluminum garage doors? Revitalize your garage doors with Minwax gel stain. Gel stains come in several colors and provide a nice finish that will last for years. We used Minwax gel stain on our aluminum garage doors back in 2015 and ...
How To Make Inexpensive Smoked Meats
I've had my Brinkmann smoker for over 20 years now and I hope I get to use it another 20 years. During that time I've made all kinds of smoked meats with it. It was a basic charcoal model smoker and it was a great smoker for beginners. I knew ...
How To Install Brick Veneer Or Stone Veneer And Save Money!
Have you ever wanted a brick chimney on a house without a real fireplace? Or how about fieldstone around a gas fireplace, but without the expense? Those were two things we wanted when we built our home several years ago. And they both are doable if you just learn how ...