Coil Wrap vs. Cellular PVC Trim
Exterior trim is an essential component of a home's appearance and resale value. More importantly, it provides protection from moisture at corners and around window and door openings, where material transitions occur. Traditionally, exterior trim has been made of wood due to its low initial cost, ease of installation, and familiarity as a building material. However, several materials are available as a replacement for wood trim, including coil wrap and cellular PVC trim.

When I think about DIY painting basics, I think about process and procedure -- setting up an effective work space and job sequencing. I have been at this business for a long time, and I have seen and learned a lot. I have met homeowners of all competencies, each of whom seemed to lack this understanding of process and procedure. Throughout this series, we will look at interior and exterior application techniques, including tips and tricks. The goal is to help the DIYer produce a higher-quality result using fewer resources.

In our last article on DIY painting basics, we discussed setting up an effective workspace and managing the workflow. We're now ready to work, and we'll discuss tips on preparation and finishing your interior painting project. Painting serves two purposes -- to beautify and to protect surfaces. Beautification takes a more prominent role in interior painting than in exterior, where protection is your higher concern. Proper surface preparation is equally important in achieving both purposes. Preparation is the most time-consuming and difficult aspect of any painting job, although it is also the most important. Proper preparation will produce a finish that will look great and last far longer than poor preparation will.

Paint failure occurs for many reasons, but moisture is a common cause. It is important for a homeowner to not only notice moisture problems, but to hire a competent painting contractor who can identify their causes and make the necessary corrections. Moisture as a source of paint failure falls into three general categories: systemic moisture, structurally caused moisture, and moisture caused by human error.

Previously in our series on painting, we looked at set-up and interior painting tips, as well as exterior paint failure due to moisture. Although most homeowners will want to leave exterior painting to the professionals, we will discuss exterior painting work that DIYers can perform. At the least, gaining an understanding of exterior painting will benefit homeowners when they're making decisions about home maintenance and improvement.

As the old saw goes, the proper tools make the job; this applies to painting as well. Purchase quality tools and materials. DIYers save on labor costs and can easily justify paying the price of quality tools. Tool quality and price vary widely, but you can find good quality at a medium price. The right tools will help you to achieve your goals of increased quality and decreased work time.

Installing or replacing a kitchen faucet is a job any homeowner can do. As with any home improvement project, a little planning to ensure that you have the proper faucet type and the right tools on hand will make for a smooth job.

Now that you’ve installed a new energy-efficient front door, your home radiates curb appeal. Inside, though, we have one more project to complete the new look – door casing. With the right tools and a little know-how, installing door casing is a job any DIYer can accomplish. Join the At Home channel’s host, Jeff Wilson, for a quick lesson on how to install simple casement trim around a new front door.

Old light fixtures can make a room look dated. Funny thing is, installing new light fixtures is one of the easiest things to change and is a job any do-it-yourselfer can tackle. Join the At Home channel’s host, Jeff Wilson, as he demonstrates the job of removing an old fixture and replacing it with a new one to brighten up your room.

DaVinci Roofscapes®, the leader in synthetic roofing tiles, successfully showcased the company’s newest roofing colors and blends at the 2011 International Builders’ Show. The company exhibited its revolutionary Bellafortéline of interlocking and self-aligning slate tiles along with the company’s original polymer Slate and Shake roofing tiles.

The ComfortLink™ II Thermostat from Trane is the company’s latest and most innovative offering. With its 7" interactive high-definition color touch screen, the product is the ultimate home comfort connection. Providing an intuitive user interface, the thermostat serves as an easy-to-use central planning center for the home, bringing year-round home comfort and control right to one’s fingertips. The ComfortLink II Thermostat will launch in early 2011 and, even before its official debut, has already been named a Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Best of Innovations 2011 Honoree and winner of the Popular Mechanics 2010 Breakthrough Award.

Finding a big hole in your drywall isn’t much fun, but fixing it isn’t a big problem. Whether you have a hole to fix or you are just prepping to paint, a few supplies and tools are all you need for the job. Join the At Home channel’s host, Jeff Wilson, for a demonstration of how to repair a variety of different size holes and divots in drywall.