A home’s crawlspace is often used for storage and may be a place that homeowners rarely explore. With its low ceilings, minimal light and often cluttered space, venturing into this unchartered territory might be a little scary. Though you may not have any idea what you are storing in your crawlspace it is important to know that air flows in and out of there, and can affect the overall health of your home. Crawlspaces are built directly above the ground, which means that …

Until recently, contractors, homeowners, and the general public in the U.S. had little knowledge of the dangers around them as they worked on older buildings. Many historic restorationists who focused on buildings from the 19th and early 20th century knew that the lead commonly used as a binder and colorant in old paint could poison them. In 1971, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency (HUD) enacted laws to reduce lead in house dust in federally-assisted housing. It wasn’t until 1978 that the US outlawed the manufacture and application of lead-based paint. Most European countries had done so decades before.

Hand-held power tools have become an indispensable part of the modern handyman’s and contractors’ toolbox. Power drills are the most commonly purchased hand-held power tool. You can spend from $30 – $400 for a tool that meets your needs. With that dollar range in mind, you may want to ask yourself a few simple questions before you go shopping. These same questions will also apply to most power tool purchases.