Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 254)

soil testing
Lawn & Garden

Soil Testing 101: What All DIY Landscapers Should Know

Lush lawns begin with healthy soil. Soil testing is an important diagnostic tool to determine your soil’s health and needs.

The Best Paint For Bathroom Options
Reviews

The Best Paint for Bathrooms

Humidity can make painting bathrooms a challenge. The best paint for bathrooms keeps mold and mildew at bay, prevents peeling, and still looks beautiful.

Best Paint for Brick Fireplaces Options
Reviews

The Best Paint for Brick Fireplaces

Avoid the need to tear out an old brick fireplace by giving it a fresh look with a new coat of paint.

The Best Mini Freezer Options
Reviews

The Best Mini Freezers

The best mini freezer will organize frozen foods without taking up too much room in a tight space.

home fixes that can make problems worse
DIY

DIY Disasters: 9 Homeowner “Fixes” That Can Mess Up Your House

Some simple fixes seem like good DIY ideas, but these mistakes can cause serious trouble and cost more than calling in a pro.

flowering trees
Lawn & Garden

11 Flowering Trees Every DIY Landscaper Should Know

You can keep your landscape in bloom—or at least in bright colors—for the majority of the year by planting a variety of trees that flower during different seasons.

can cold water efficiently clean clothes
Interior

Can Cold Water Effectively Clean Your Laundry?

Looking to adopt a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle while still getting your clothes and home fashions clean? Washing your clothes in cold instead of hot water can conserve energy, help the planet…and save you big bucks!

How High to Hang Pictures
Design

Solved! How High to Hang Pictures

Whether a casual vacation snapshot or a professional family portrait, you can give your favorite pictures the attention they deserve with this guide to the perfect height for hanging pictures on the wall.

Here's Why You Should Install Shoe Molding
Design

All You Need to Know About Shoe Molding

Find out if this slender baseboard supplement is just the thing to give your rooms extra finesse.

9 Tips to Remedy a Smelly Fridge
DIY

Solved! How to Freshen Up a Smelly Fridge

Eliminate whatever weird odors plague your fridge with these easy tips.

how to install bifold doors
Interior

How to Install Bifold Doors

Tired of fighting those traditional sliding closet doors to get at your clothing? Improve access to your closets —and upgrade the aesthetics of your room—with simple and stylish bifold doors.

Where to Put Smoke Detectors, Solved!
Interior

Solved! Where to Place the Smoke Detectors in Your House

Yes, there are correct and incorrect locations to install life-saving smoke detectors in the home. Here's where they should go, and how to ensure they’re up to code.

The Best Paint for Furniture, Solved!
Reviews

Solved! The Best Paint for Furniture

Find the perfect paint to spruce up all kinds of furniture, from indoor pieces to your patio set.

Finding the Right Bathtub Size for Your Bathroom
Interior

Solved! What’s the Best Bathtub Size?

Determine the ideal tub dimensions to suit your bathroom layout and your bathing style using these rules of thumb.

GFCI Outlets Around the House
Interior

All You Need to Know About GFCI Outlets

Avoid electric shock from ground faults by installing these safe outlets in your home.

7 Types of Saws Every DIYer Should Know
DIY

7 Types of Saws Every DIYer Should Get to Know

Familiarize yourself with these saws and their uses, and your next DIY project is sure to be a cut above the rest.

drywall repair
Interior

Dos and Don’ts of Repairing Drywall

Got a gouge in that gypsum board? Fix it the right way with these tips!

signs of overwatering plants
Lawn & Garden

7 Signs You’re Overwatering Your Plants—and How to Fix It

Do your houseplants or outdoor container plants look rough without a clear reason why? You might be giving them too much water.

The Best Construction Work Pants Options
Reviews

The Best Construction Work Pants

If you’re thinking those old jeans will hold up on the jobsite, you can forget it. These pants for construction will have you covered.

The Best Glues for Rubber Options
Reviews

The Best Glues for Rubber

Crafters and DIYers as well as those who make automotive and home repairs occasionally need to glue rubber surfaces. The best glue for rubber forms a durable and permanent bond between rubber and various additional substrates.