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The Home Improvement Idea File is full of home improvement ideas, remodeling information, lawn and garden tips and other useful home improvement and home energy saving ideas. Browse home improvement articles below or use the search tool above to locate ideas of interest.


Zoysia Grass Uses Less Water And Can Cut Your Lawn Watering Bills In Half |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/11/2006 |
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| Zoysia grass is a tough, spreading turfgrass that grows into a permanent, perennial lawn that never needs reseeding. Unlike cool-season turfgrasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass, zoysia grass is a warm-season grass that thrives in summer heat. |

Preventing Mold and Mildew Growth In New Homes |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/11/2006 |
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| Building a new home? If so, you've got many important things to think about ... from the design of your new home to mortgage decisions and insurance arrangements. Another important item that should be on your list is health concerns from moisture ... |

Holiday House Cleaning Tips |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/9/2006 |
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| Stubborn sticker residues, carpet stains and gooey tree sap mishaps are all familiar house cleaning challenges during the holidays. |


Indoor/Outdoor Grills Offer Safety and Convenience |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/9/2006 |
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| All Seasons Electric Grills bring the advantages of grilling to those living in a condominium or apartment--or in any area with open flame ordinances that prevent or limit the use of a propane or charcoal grill. |

'Tis The Season For ... Grilling? |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/9/2006 |
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| Once a hallmark of the summer season, grilling has become a year-round experience for more and more Americans. In fact, according to a survey by the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) more than 60 percent are now grilling all year long. |

Find Hidden Storage Space In Your Home! |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/6/2006 |
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| According to a recent survey, over 50 Million households only have an access opening in the ceiling of their hallway, closet, or garage, yet many do not take advantage of all the opportunities this small opening offers. |

Drop By Drop It All Adds Up |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/5/2006 |
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| Does it really make sense to use drinking water for all our water needs in the home? One key area in the home where potable water is unnecessary is flushing the toilet. |

Outdoor Plumbing Makes A Comeback |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/5/2006 |
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| The term outdoor plumbing may prompt unpleasant memories for anyone born before bathrooms moved indoors, but modern homeowners might want to consider adding exterior water service for convenience all around their homes. |



Unique Gifts For The Gardeners On Your List |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/2/2006 |
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| Let's face it, nobody ever puts socks and fruitcakes on their holiday "wish lists." So where can you find interesting gifts that are as fun to buy as they are to receive? |

Easy Furniture Fix-Ups For The Holidays |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/2/2006 |
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| When hosting friends and family for the holidays you always want your home to look its best. If your wood tables have watermarks, the dining room chairs wobble, or your couch's upholstery has seen better days, it may be time to consider these easy furniture fix-ups. |

Winter Gardening Tips |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 12/2/2006 |
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| Because it always provides "something to do," gardening can be a year-round activity. And if you can't think of any gardening tasks for the winter months, here are some tips to get you going. |


Consumers Eager For Home Makeover Ideas |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 11/24/2006 |
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| In a recent survey of homeowners, nearly three out of four were found to have completed a recent home makeover or had plans to do so within the next year. |

Join The Campaign To Lower Energy Use At Home |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 11/23/2006 |
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| Join the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in their seventh annual campaign to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The campaign encourages citizens across the country to replace existing incandescent light bulbs ... |


Winter Home Maintenance Tips |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 11/13/2006 |
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| As days grow shorter and temperatures fall, its time once again to prepare your home for the long winter months ahead. Taking a few minutes now to walk around your homevisually inspecting important systems from a safety perspective and making note of routine maintenance chores that need attentionis a great way to get started, and a good winter maintenance checklist can help. |

Lawn Aeration Benefits Run Deep |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 11/13/2006 |
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| Aerating your lawn is one of the most important things you can do to keep your lawn healthy and attractive. According to the Lawn Institute, the aerification process reduces thatch build-up in your lawn and opens passageways for air, water and nutrients to reach grass roots. |

Woodstove Safety Tips |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 11/10/2006 |
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| Few homeowners have the technical "know-how" to properly install a woodstove, fireplace insert or other wood burning appliance, and fewer still understand all of the pertinent building code requirements in their community. |












New Minwax Hardwood Floor Reviver Restores Beauty and Luster |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/24/2006 |
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| Minwax, the leading manufacturer of wood finishing and wood care products introduces new Minwax Hardwood Floor Reviver, a protective, clear topcoat that rejuvenates scuffed, scratched and dull hardwood floors in one simple application. |

Domes, Vaults And Arches Are Now A Reality At Home |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| Ornamental domes, vaulted and tray ceilings, curved archways and soffits have long been the norm in many commercial buildings, where they have replaced traditionally flat walls and ceilings. |

Landscaping For Energy Savings |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| With consumers looking for effective ways to take control of their energy costs, an often over-looked opportunity can be found in landscaping. |

Electric Utilities Offer The Power To Save |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| Making your home more energy efficient can help you get more value from your energy dollar. But did you know that making your home more energy efficient can also give you greater quiet, comfort, and a higher resale value? |

Put A Door Where You Didn't Think You Could |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| In places where a swinging door would waste space and a door-in-the-wall can't be installed, an easy to use hardware set from Johnson Hardware solves your problem by letting you wall mount a door. Johnson also offers Wall Mount Door Locks that can ... |

Divide And Conquer Spaces Creatively In Your Home |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| Doors should do more than just hang around and sit on their hinges. They should be dynamic parts of the home, helping you divide and conquer interior spaces in creative ways that enrich your lifestyle. |

New Exterior Trim Adds Curb Appeal To Your Home |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| When it comes to your home, first impressions are everything. And, nothing makes a worse initial impression than exterior trim that is cracked... |

Don't Undersize Circuits Or Extension Cords |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| Knowing how to select the wire size needed for circuits and extension cords can save you money, and improve your family's safety. If an extension cord is undersized, it creates a drop in voltage from one end to the wire to another. |

How To Select A Standby Generator |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| If you are considering a backup generator purchase, there are important sizing and code requirements that you need to know to insure a safe and adequate standby generator installation. |

Tips For Simple Wiring Repairs |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| Understanding the fundamentals of electrical wiring can be valuable, particularly when you're making simple repairs or home improvements. |

Before Buying A Deck, Be Sure You Know The Ropes |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| Buying a new deck is a big decision, so be sure it's the right one. All decking and railing products are not alike. You need to consider different manufacturers, materials, maintenance, plank colors, costs, and more. |

For a Quick Home Makeover, Change Your Interior Doors |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| With the growing number of home decorating and improvement shows on cable and network TV, as well as syndicated radio, newspaper columns, magazines and special Web sites devoted to the subject, do-it-yourself (DIY) has become today's hottest hom ... |

Screens Don't Keep Children In Or Natural Disasters Out |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| While the great outdoors brings many pleasures it also opens us up to worries like insects bites, children at danger from falling out of windows and damage caused by storms, like hurricanes and tornadoes. |


How To Break Mold's Grip On Your Home |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| The issue of mold continues to be an important topic to builders, homeowners and governmental agencies alike. Lately, it has reached an even higher level of awareness, as plans are made for rebuilding the Gulf Coast. |

Fall: The Best Time To Rejuvenate Your Lawn |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| Horticultural experts generally agree that proper lawn care in the Fall has greater impact than similar efforts in the Spring or any other season for rejuvenating a lawn throughout the year. |

An Abundance Of Free, Natural Sunpiped Light |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| Instead of just putting a window on your roof and letting the sun shine in, a super-reflective Sun Pipe can reflect daylight from above your roof, through your attic space, to a ceiling-mounted diffuser. |

Cedar Chest Keep Holiday Memories Fresh |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| The word 'valuable' may be defined in the dictionary, but its true meaning is subject to opinion. After all, most of the possessions that people prize above all others are things, such as family heirlooms... |


From Bench To Desk To Picnic Table ... They Are All Maintenance Free |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| Looking for an eye-catching comfortable bench to use in the backyard? Or an outdoor desk? Or even a picnic table with bench seating? You can have them all with the unique new Multi-Bench -- and, best of all, you'll never have to worry about painting ... |

Before Installing New Fencing, Get The Lay Of The Land |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| We rely on fences to serve an array of different purposes. They keep children and pets safe, offer privacy from nosy neighbors, transform yards into outdoor entertainment centers, and add beauty and value to property. |



Add Style To Your Home From Floor To Ceiling |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| Does your fireplace need a face-lift? Are your walls looking drab? If so, the American Hardwood Information Center has plenty of simple ways to create your very own look with solid hardwood moulding. |


Tips For Saving On Energy Costs Year-Round |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| According to a USA Today/Gallup Poll, rising energy prices are creating financial hardship for up to 58 percent of Americans. The Alliance to Save Energy suggests the following tips to help save energy in the home. |

When Remodeling The Basement, Don't Forget The Ceiling |
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| Home Improvement Article Posted 8/15/2006 |
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| With the onset of fall, homeowners begin to turn their attention indoors again and undertake those neglected do-it-yourself projects. One room that often requires love and attention is the basement -- and lately, homeowners are giving in. |


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