Steps: Use a stiff-blade putty knife to scrape off peeling paint and old joint compound. Scrub the walls clean of all wallpaper-glue residue using wallpaper stripper solution and a coarse scouring pad. Spot prime the area with an oil-based primer. Once the primer is dry, spread a thin layer of joint compound over the area. When the joint compound is dry, sand the area smooth with 100-grit abrasive paper, then prime again with oil-based primer....

“Numbers of ticks fluctuate annually, and this is looking to be an up year,” says entomologist Kirby Stafford, Ph.D., the author of a tick-management handbook. Here, some of his tactics to keep the bloodsuckers at bay. How To Kill Ticks in Your Yard Ways to Tick-Proof Your Yard with Landscaping Mow the lawn Ticks can’t jump or fly; they travel by standing on grass blades and foliage, and waving their front legs in hopes of hitching a ride with a host....

Though installing a radiant floor heating system can run up to 50 percent more than, for example, conventional forced-air heat, it saves 30 percent in energy costs, eventually paying for itself. Putting it into new construction is easy: Special wood plates screwed to the joists double as subflooring. But retrofitting the tubing under an existing floor presents challenges. If a room is gutted down to the joists, it’s easy enough to lay down the wood plates....

In this episode: Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada meets a plant expert at a local greenhouse to talk about different houseplants and tropical plants. The two discuss the importance of the direction windows face, as it determines how much sunlight the room will get. Matching this sunlight to the right type of plants will allow them to thrive. They also explore suggestions for greenery with different sun exposure requirements: shade plants like bamboo palms and pothos, partial shade plants like dracaena and Swiss cheese plants, and full sun plants like crotons and snake plants....

In this episode: Eight months ago, the 1890s Victorian project house in Atlanta, GA, once owned by Luther Judson Price–South Atlanta’s first black postmaster and civil rights advocate–was an electric blue, vine-covered, dilapidated, and abandoned structure. Now, it is restored with a deliberate effort not to fix everything. Builder Jerry Davis gives Tom Silva a review of the exterior structural changes and how the problem of the 6-inch drop on the previous bump out was solved....

“When the cost of land can be shared, it brings the cost of living down,” says Union Studio architect Christina Carlson. “It’s a very adaptable way of developing, and it’s also solving some of the affordability issues.” Separate but Together An arresting blue paint turns a wall in the ADU’s living area into a focal point that livens up the whole space. The furniture was chosen for its practical and compact design....

Make the Room Look Bigger When designing a small office, you’ll want to choose furniture that isn’t bulky and can be tucked away against walls. Depending on the room’s shape and window and door placement, you may be able to use a corner desk and hide the chair when you’re not using it. All About Home Offices Try a Floating Desk A height-adjustable, wall-mounted “floating” desk is a great way to maximize space, both visually and physically....

Common Types of Door Sweeps A) Least visible Not crazy about seeing a sweep? This hidden device’s metal housing fits into a groove routed into a wood door’s bottom edge; the sweep automatically raises and lowers. When the door closes, a pin on one end is pushed in, lowering the gasket flush with the threshold. Opening the door releases the pin and lifts the sweep. Easy Fixes for Drafty Windows and Doors Shown above (a): National Guard Auto Door Bottom 335N-36, $37; Zoro...

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Top 4 Wood Pellets Best Hickory Pellets: Traeger All-Natural Hickory Hardwood Grill Pellets Best Mixed Pellets: CookinPellets Perfect Mix Best Gourmet Blend: Bear Mountain BBQ Pellets Best Variety Pack: BBQr’s Delight Wood-Smoking Pellets Variety Pack Best Hickory Pellets: Traeger All-Natural Hickory Hardwood Grill Pellets This 20-pound bag of hickory wood pellets gives your meat a classic barbecue flavor. Hickory wood pellets produce a strong smoky flavor that goes well with baked, barbecued, braised, grilled, roasted, and smoked meat....

Top 5 Backpacks Most Customizable: HotStyle TRENDYMAX Backpack Best Storage Options: LOVEVOOK Backpack Purse Best Small Backpack: Himawari Travel Backpack Best Anti-Theft Features: Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Backpack Best For Cameras: TARION Camera Backpack Most Customizable: HotStyle TRENDYMAX Backpack With over a dozen unique designs ranging from polka dots to eggs to dinosaurs, this eccentric backpack provides a roomy storage option that matches your child’s interests and personality. It has a main compartment with a laptop slot and zippered pocket, a front compartment, a water bottle holder, and a hidden back compartment....

Learn about how dehumidifiers operate, what models to use, and more in our review below. Top 5 Dehumidifiers Best Large Pump-Style: Ivation Dehumidifier Best Large Hoseless: hOmeLabs Dehumidifier Best For Small Rooms: Pro Breeze Mini Dehumidifier Best Disposable: Vacplus Mositure Absorber Boxes Best Rechargeable: Eva-Dry Renewable Dehumidifier Best Large Pump-Style: Ivation Dehumidifier Pros and Cons ✔ Comes with a washable air filter✔ Has a control panel with displays and buttons for various settings✔ Can see how much water is in the tank with the transparent viewing window ✘ Has a high price tag from all of the advanced features✘ Runs loudly...

Top 5 Electric Lawn Mowers Most Lightweight: Sun Joe Lawn Mower Best Batteries: Makita Brushless Lawn Mower Kit Best Lights: EGO Power+ Push Lawn Mower Best For Small Yards: Black & Decker Cordless Lawn Mower Best For Large Yards: Yard Force Lawn Mower Most Lightweight: Sun Joe Lawn Mower With 75 minutes of runtime and an adjustable height between one and three inches, this lawn mower provides a quality cut. Plus, because it weighs less than 35 pounds, it’s easy to push around your yard....