Resources on Home Improvement

Community Forums on DoItYourself.com
Online community forums are a great way to get information pertaining to your own specific situation because you can pose questions to the forum. DoItYourself.com has numerous forums on home improvement topics, such as decorating, Electrical & Electronics, Garden & Outdoors, hardware & tools, exterior and interior home improvement, household and cleaning, and plumbing, air. There are numerous "sub-forums" under each topic that go into great detail. For example, under the Interior Home Improvement category, you'll find the following sub-forums: architecture & codes, attics, basements, bathrooms, carpentry & woodworking, ceramic tile, marble, terrazzo, etc., doors & windows, energy & weatherstripping, fireplaces & chimneys, framing & subflooring, insulation, kitchens, paneling & trim, and walls & ceilings.

The Renovator's Place
This is a huge site, very professionally laid out, with detailed plans, helpful hints, and materials lists for dozens of home remodeling projects—and more. Here you'll find detailed plans and helpful hints on everything from tips for savings money when you remodel, to inexpensive decorating tips, even ways to spice up everything from the kitchen and the bathroom to the family room for under $500. If you find the idea of remodeling too overwhelming, this site even has a wonderful article on 2-hour renovations—ways to break projects down into manageable bites so they don't seem so daunting. They even have articles for the brand new Do-It-Yourselfer to help you get started—and survive the experience. No matter what your level of experience, this site has helpful advice on how to get started on a project, how to estimate costs, how to hire and work with contractors, how to get financing, and, possibly most importantly, this site tells you how to maintain your sanity in the midst of insane chaos.

Outdoor Fountains are Definitely Part of Hardscaping
You may have heard of landscaping, but are you familiar with the term hardscaping? In a nutshell, hardscaping refers to features other than flower beds that can make your outdoor living space attractive. It can include a patio or deck, a walkway, a gazebo, or a decorative screen. Outdoor fountains, ponds, and waterfalls also add interest to your backyard, since people are drawn to this type of feature and find being around them to be very relaxing. Why not add a barbecue pit or a grill while you are at it? Food cooked outside always seems to taste better than what you prepare inside!

This Old House Offers Video Remodeling Feeds, Home Improvement Tips
A hub for home improvement resources, visual aids and home remodeling publications. The well-known television show appears in cyberspace to offer a webcam of an ongoing project, as well as information about This Old House magazine. The "Homeowner Know-How" section offers tips for getting a mortgage, and tiling around a bathtub. Visit the website store for merchandise including polos, caps and T-shirts, magazine ordering information.