Today’s doors are stronger, more secure and better insulated, and they require much less maintenance than their predecessors. And you’ve never before had such a range of choice in materials, styles, colors and window treatments. Best Garage Door Materials Steel Most new garage doors are made of steel backed by rigid-foam insulation. Panels made of 24-ga. steel are the strongest (26- and 28-ga. steel is also used); most are produced with an embossed wood-grain pattern or with a smooth finish....

With several companies offering home insurance in Dallas, finding the right provider for you requires a lot of research. That’s why we’ve done the homework for you, researching factors like coverage, cost, and the customer service quality of each major player in the industry and compiling this list of the top homeowners insurance companies in the area. Top 4 Home Insurance Companies in Dallas The highest-rated homeowners insurance companies in Dallas include: The best home insurance companies in Dallas offer comprehensive coverage and a variety of endorsements to customize your coverage....

The GoSun SolarLamp 50, on sale right now for $24.99, is a small, but powerful solar-powered light that will be your new go-to for on-the-spot illumination. At only 4.3-inches by 4.6-inches, it’s the perfect size for stashing on your patio or porch to use at night for reading, to brighten up your family picnic in the yard, or to bring some extra light to that refinishing project so you don’t miss a detail....

Read on for more ways to approximate this holiday-ready entry. Leafy Wreath Leaves were a popular design element in Craftsman textiles and pottery, so what better way to deck your door than with a wreath made from fresh fir, magnolia, and boxwood. About $134 for 24-inch size; The Magnolia Company Add some sparkle with copper taffeta ribbon and faux berries. Ribbon, about $5 for 10 yards; berries, about $7; Jamali Floral & Garden Supplies...

Although 90 percent of driveways in the United States are either asphalt or concrete, there are a number of other options including crushed stone, gravel, cobblestone, and interlocking concrete pavers in a variety of patterns. Prices range from $1 per square foot for stone and gravel to $13 or more for cobblestone paving. To make your decision easier, we’ll lay out the pros and cons as well as costs for each of the four major driveway materials, and include a few of our own recommendations....

What are GFCIs? GCFIs exist to protect the user. These devices detect when current from the hot conductor contacts a non-current-carrying metal part and cut off power to the circuit. This means that GFCIs detect when current escapes the circuit due to a short circuit, such as the wire touching a metal box, a plumbing pipe, or the user standing in a puddle of water when plugging something in. Rather than continuing to feed current into that object or person, the GFCI trips and prevent further flow of electricity....

Shop now, and check shipping preferences at checkout to ensure your gift arrives by Father’s Day. Gift a This Old House Insider Membership Hide & Drink Leather Small Tool Roll-Up Bag Shop Now What better way to store tools than in this stylish, handcrafted tool roll? It has 10 pockets to hold frequently used tools, and it works well for anyone who has accumulated tools over time—from DIY enthusiasts to seasoned professionals....

The Squeeeeek No More tools have been around for awhile. The one for carpeted floors is especially good, plus it’s easy to use. Once you locate the joists under the carpeting, just drive in the special screws, then snap them off below the surface with the proprietary tool. It really is as easy as it looks. Your customers will think you’re a miracle worker if you can make their floors quiet....

Solid Wood Flooring Solid wood flooring has been the traditional choice in flooring and is still one of the most popular choices today. A large amount of wood flooring is manufactured here in the U.S., from native woods like oak, maple, ash, walnut, and cherry. But flooring made from imported woods like Jatoba is also available. Most solid wood flooring is ¾” thick. Wood strip flooring is typically manufactured in standard widths of 2 ¼” and 3 ¼”....

Before you go all in for a new class of family pet, check local ordinances about keeping livestock. Then follow along as Tom shows you how to skip the grocery store’s dairy case for better eggs closer to home. Building a Chicken Coop: Planning and Prep Project timeline Day One: Build the coop (Steps 1–12). Day Two: Add the nesting boxes and roof (Steps 13–17). Shopping list Lumber: Pressure-treated 4x4 posts T1-11 sheathing Exterior-grade plywood 2x4s Hardware Cellular PVC trim Asphalt shingles...

The design of this fort encourages tons of fun, with a super—cool kid-sized hatch—complete with a peephole to check out visitors—and a flag that kids can design and make themselves. There are also two built-in seats so that little warriors—or Mom and Dad can take a breather between make-believe battles. Set aside an afternoon to cut and assemble the parts, and you’ll have a playhouse retreat for years to come....

“I look for old wood with stable knots and tight grain that takes a stain really nice,” Tom says. “It’s a little more e ort to clean up the old boards, but I think it’s worth it.” For this wine-rack project, Tom and Kevin milled all the parts from a weathered 8-by-10-inch by-12-foot-long white pine beam and some worn 17-inch-wide pine floorboards from Tom’s stockpile, saving as much of the wood’s aged patina as they could....

A slew of retailers offer premade options along these lines, but the tables are also available in myriad styles and finishes. Or if you’d rather do it yourself, no problem: For under $100, you can easily cut and assemble one of your own, as you can see on the following page. Whichever choice you make, you’re sure to appreciate not having to hold your drink in your lap. Paint: Benjamin Moore’s Avon Green (HC-126), $10 per quart...

Steps for Adding Zones to a Hot Water Heating System Tools How to Keep a House Warm in Winter

To prevent the cement from cracking, the hole has to be big enough to allow a ½-inch clearance between the side of the post and the side of the hole at every point. Resources A custom metal railing can be purchased from a welding shop. Mark recommended using one with solid steel posts. The one Mark installed was made by Mike’s Welding Company. All the materials Mark used for this installation, including the caulking gun, the anchoring cement, and the coring drill, can be found at home centers....