HandyPro

Interested in changing up the theme in your kitchen? Post a pic of your custom backsplash!!

Home Tips : Tiling a Countertop Backsplash Free advice on tiling a countertop backsplash from leading home improvement expert Don Vandervort. ****

On the wing: Spring is robin season | StarTribune.com Spring moves toward us at its own plodding pace, "migrating" northward about 15 miles a day, a measure of the rate at which frost leaves the soil

Check out this great article from Keith Paul!

Tips for insulating a drafty basement - AnnArbor.com This is a common problem for homeowners because this particular area is usually an afterthought for insulation until after the house is built. The area is called the rim joist, or band joist, and is a perfect area for air pe*******on and sometimes even critter infiltration.

What have you done to creatively organize in your home? Post a pic on our wall!!

Most think household "operational efficiency" means kitchens, garages, closets, and home offices.

People often overlook a very important area: entryways! Entryways are where organization rarely exists and where it is truly needed. It really pays off once in place, too!

Here's a few "easy-to-do" entry organizers. First, add hooks for coats and backpacks (at least two for each family member) with kid's hooks mounted low so they can reach them.

Second, add a shelf or place for small accessories like sunglasses, caps, and car keys. Add a row of wall-mounted spring clips for wet gear like mittens and gloves, and a small bench so shoes and boots can be easily slipped on and off (with a shoe rack and foul-weather drip tray nearby.)

Finally, add a bulletin board and blackboard for messages, as well as an eye-level place for movie rentals and library books that are waiting to be returned. Add new order to your family's "loading and unloading zone" and bring operational efficiency to your home!

Let us know what else you do to maintain your home as spring appears!

4-03 Spring Drainage Reminders Winter seems to be over, and the ground is saturated with snowmelt and rain. When it's quiet enough you can actually hear water percolating through the soil. Spring rains will bring even more moisture.

Spring is just around the corner, check out this spring maintenance checklist and ask us about any questions you may have!

Spring Maintenance Tips for Your Home It should be checked once a month and replaced or cleaned as needed. Some filters are reusable and are supposed to be taken out, washed with a hose and re-inserted. A dirty filter can lower the efficiency of the heating/cooling system, increase heating costs and cause fires.

What's your story on home repairs? What has been the most rewarding fix you have completed?