Picking the Perfect Pipes

As your asphalt driveway ages, you will likely notice the development of some minor cracks and potholes. While you may think that the only way to repair this damage is to spend a small fortune on professional repairs, the truth is, this type of damage can often be repaired on a do-it-yourself basis at a very affordable rate. Following the easy steps outlined below will allow you to successfully complete this task.

Because slate provides a perfect contrast to a green lawn, colorful plants and well manicured shrubs, it's the ideal choice for creating a border in your landscape. Rugged, durable slate can be purchased in a range of colors, including green, gray, black, brown, purple and red. This fine-grained stone usually comes as either pavers or flagstones. Before you decide on the slate you want to use, take into account the location where you want it placed in the landscape as well as the effect you want to achieve, whether it's a rugged appearance or something carefully manicured and sophisticated.

Ice dams are one of the most feared roofing problems in cold climates. Ice dams form when an attic hotspot causes snow on the roof to melt and roll down to the eaves, where it refreezes and creates a blockage. This freezing water eventually backs up into the shingles and then into the attic itself. Once an ice dam has formed, fixing the problem can be difficult and the damage can be extensive.

Now that winter is here, the last thing you want is a broken heater. Unfortunately, you usually don't know you have a problem with your heater until you try to use it on a cold day. Having your heater break down in the middle of winter can be devastating, especially if you have to wait for parts to be delivered. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to take the edge off the cold until your heater can be repaired.

Whether it's a backed up kitchen sink or a dishwasher with burst supply lines, your kitchen is full of potential causes of an indoor flood. You may not think of calling it a flood when you have half an inch of water standing in the room, but the damage is the same whether the moisture comes from your appliances or a passing storm. These four serious problems threaten the health of your family and the value of your home if you fail to call for professional cleanup after a big water leak.

You expect your air conditioning system to keep the inside of your home nice and cool, but what happens when it starts to act up on you? Before you know it, you are stuck trying to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. To help you keep more of your money in your pocket, there are a few things you can do to extend the life of your unit.

Manufactured in China and imported to the United States beginning in 2001, Chinese drywall is a building product that contains dangerous levels of toxic chemicals, such as carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen sulfide. The drywall, which was installed mostly in Southern homes, may be in as many as 20,000 homes across the country. While the problems associated with Chinese drywall aren't proclaimed as loudly as those associated with asbestos, they are very real.