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.

Insulate Your Crawl Space To Save On Summer Cooling Bills

Posted 2/10/2006

After a long winter, many homeowners look forward to tidying up their yards by removing branch and leaf debris, planting flowers, cleaning outdoor furniture and getting their air conditioning units ready for the warmer months ahead.

How To Locate An Insulation Contractor To Improve Your Home's Energy Efficiency

Posted 2/10/2006

For most homeowners, crisper temperatures are reminders to prepare our homes for the cold days ahead. Energy Awareness Month in October is the perfect time to make sure your home is as energy-efficient as possible.

Using Air Conditioners To Control Humidity--Inefficient And Ineffective

Posted 2/10/2006

It is that time of year again, when temperature and humidity start rising outside and the thermostats get lowered inside. It is also the time of year when you hear people say, "It's not the heat, it's the humidity," ...

2005 Brick In Architecture Award Winners

Posted 2/10/2006

The Brick Industry Association (BIA) recently announced the recipients of its 2005 Brick in Architecture Awards, which honor innovative use of clay brick in four categories: commercial, institutional, residential multi-family and "special feature...

Think Environmental Responsibility When Planning A New Home Purchase

Posted 2/10/2006

For many of us who are environmentally responsible, purchasing eco-concious products is often of high importance. Yet, for the largest purchase of our lifetimes, the purchase of a home, we often forget about environmental responsibility.

Inspired To Redecorate? Look Up To Expand Your Boundaries

Posted 2/10/2006

Though it's the roof over our heads and the last thing we see at night, ceilings are often an overlooked canvas in home decor. In fact, 98% of homes constructed today have white gypsum drywall ceilings ...

Indoor Air Quality ... The Challenges Today's Homeowners Face

Posted 2/10/2006

No matter if you are a new home owner or if your home is years old, indoor air quality can effect your health, comfort, belongings and energy savings.

Energy Efficiency, Safety, And Innovation In Modern Residential Window Screens

Posted 2/10/2006

While new homes today are typically equipped with energy efficient window screens that are an integral component of the window itself, there are homeowners galore who still face the seasonal task of exchanging screens for storm windows.

How To Remodel And Keep Your Cool

Posted 2/10/2006

Your present home represents a big investment--perhaps the largest of your lifetime. Safeguard, and at the same time update your property with careful planning of improvements.

U.S.A. Brings A Lot To The Picnic Table

Posted 2/10/2006

One of the greatest social events ever dreamed up, a picnic is a combination of food, family, friends, recreation, entertainment, and merriment. At the first sign of spring, people begin firing up their grills and taking their meals outdoors, and the ...

Front Porch Swings Are Always In Style

Posted 2/10/2006

The porch has been a part of our dwellings since prehistoric times, when overhanging rocks were used for shelter.

Go For The Gusto--Get A Gazebo!

Posted 2/10/2006

Fanciful or formal, fun or functional, the gazebo has come a long way since its origin as a roof-top structure ...

Drab Garden? Get Over It With A Bridge

Posted 2/10/2006

Garden bridges can be traced to the earliest civilizations, where they decorated landscapes from the stately grounds of ancient Roman and Greek aristocracy, to the exotic water gardens of Japan and China.

Wood Doors Combine Elegance, Durability And Energy Efficiency

Posted 2/10/2006

When most people think about interior design, they typically only think of paint, window treatments and furniture. Yet doors play a much bigger role in a home's architectural styling and upgrading them can have a dramatic effect.

No More Matching! Mix Hardwoods To Create A Colorful, Cozy Look In Every Room

Posted 2/10/2006

Think you have to match your hardwood cabinets, floors and furniture? Relax! Forget about matching and mix it up with a variety of woods and colors.

Pride In Your Lawn Reflects Good Environmental Stewardship

Posted 2/10/2006

You take pride in your lawn, investing considerable time and effort to maintain it. You know it increases your property value and that its aesthetic appeal reflects on you as a homeowner.

Lawns, Water And The Environment

Posted 2/10/2006

People who want to maintain a beautiful and environmentally friendly landscape and conserve water can now turn to the book, "Water Right: Conserving Our Water, Preserving Our Environment."

Fix Small Wall Cracks Quickly And Easily

Posted 2/10/2006

Making your home presentable for company may be easier than you think, even if it involves fixing small wall cracks.

When You Need To Corral Closet Clutter, Pocket Door Frames Open Up Space

Posted 2/10/2006

As a rule, people only use about ten percent of their belongings. Most of the other ninety percent is clutter, which can take over your space if not properly organized.

The Buddy System: A Painter's Best Friend Since The Drop Cloth

Posted 2/10/2006

It happens almost every day in homes across the country, and can strike in a variety of ways. Mom carrying groceries in from the garage, a teenager with an over-sized gym bag rushing down a narrow hallway ...

You Can Minimize The Risk Of Indoor Home Pollutants When Tightening Your Home

Posted 2/10/2006

It is estimated that Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors. And with studies showing that indoor environments are two to three times more polluted than the outdoors ...

What To Know When Buying A Deck For Your Home

Posted 2/10/2006

When it comes to home improvements, deck systems top the list with an estimated four million new decks built annually in the U.S. and 40 million remodeled decks gracing today's homes.

No Room For A Door? Slide It Aside The Wall

Posted 2/10/2006

There are many places through most houses where doors that slide rather than swing can provide space saving advantages. But genuine pocket doors that slide inside of walls can't always be installed, due to obstacles such as room configuration or costs.

Extreme Energy Savings -- The Original SunPipe

Posted 2/10/2006

Thinking about getting a skylight? Did you know it will make a permanent change to the structure and energy-efficiency of your home? And with energy costs going way up, this could be a big deal.

Energy Fun Facts

Posted 2/10/2006

Did you know that your home's largest energy users are its heating and cooling systems? Typically, about half of your energy bill goes for heating and cooling.

Energy Help For Low-Income Families

Posted 2/10/2006

The country's higher energy prices are affecting everyone, but for low-income households, particularly those that include the elderly, the disabled, or children, paying the monthly utility bill can sometimes be a real challenge.

Energy Efficiency Tax Credits

Posted 2/10/2006

The nation's new energy law offers you federal tax credits to make energy-saving improvements to your home, according to the Edison Electric Institute. These tax credits will help you lower your income taxes dollar-for-dollar.

Time To Audit Your Home's Energy Use

Posted 2/10/2006

Mention the word "audit" and most people cringe. But there is one type of audit that is easy, costs next to nothing, and can actually help you save money. A home energy audit.

Handy Resource For Planning Home Sound Control

Posted 2/10/2006

The world is a noisy place and homeowners are constantly exposed to sounds that are not wanted. Noises from many interior and exterior sources, within a house, negatively impact people's hearing and diminish productivity.

Minimize The Risk Of Mold In Your Home

Posted 2/10/2006

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York City Health Department, you can minimize the risk of mold in your home by keeping these tips in mind.

Tips To Head Off High Seasonal Cooling Bills

Posted 2/10/2006

With the cost of air-conditioning expected to skyrocket over the warmer months due to higher electricity rates, many homeowners are wondering what to do about it.

Building Code Changes Affect Bathroom Construction

Posted 2/10/2006

Builders, remodelers and do-it-yourselfers now have a new consideration for their bathroom designs. Changes made to the 2006 Internaltional Residential Code (IRC) no longer recognize moisture-resistant, paper-faced drywall ...