A new DIY solar hot water system has been introduced by Fafco, a Chico-based company that specializes in solar pool heaters. The new system can be installed by two homeowners in half a day, the company claims, and the whole thing weighs just 62 pounds. And it comes in a box! The system costs around…
There’s a lot to like about Trex or other composite decking materials. They don’t splinter, split, rot or need painting or staining. And they’re made from cast-off stuff like milk jugs and wood pallets. In fact, Trex claims it uses 50 percent of the grocery bags we recycle in the U.S., and that every year…
The 400-year-old Dutch-door style is making a “major comeback,” according to door and window manufacturer Jeld-Wen. You have to admit, Dutch doors are fun: Close the bottom half to keep toddlers and Lassie inside, but open the top for light, air flow and to connect with the neighborhood. (If you’re trying to keep a cat…
The trouble with affluence is that people come into your house — people other than your family and friends — and this may cause security jitters. Get enough income and you’re likely to accumulate a housekeeper, a nanny, and a housesitter. And if you undertake a remodel, all kinds of tradespeople need access to your…