Home Improvement Projects
How to Repair Water Damaged Drywall Without Making a Mess
There is nothing quite like the ghost of home maintenance past coming back to haunt you. You know the drill: you get the major emergency fixed, but the cosmetic scars stick around for months, staring at you every time you walk by. That is exactly the situation with...
Upgrading a Smart Thermostat
Ditching the Nest for a Honeywell 9000 Thermostat ⚡️ Why They Switched the System Sometimes, I get a very specific job request. This time, the call was about replacing an existing Nest smart thermostat. It’s a great piece of technology, but it runs on a battery that,...
Tin Roof Troubles Solved
Anchoring a Rustic Shade Cover for Hill Country Silence The beautiful Blanco, Texas ranch community of Albert 303 (near Albert, Texas), a sister community to where I live (Old 32 Ranch), features homes with a distinct blend of modern structure and classic Texas charm....
Upgrading a Bedroom’s Vibe with a Ceiling Fan Replacement and New Sconces
I'm out in Runnin' J Ranch (home of Vaaler Creek Golf Club), just south of Blanco, and my client, Kathleen, needs some lighting updates. The main issue is that her bedroom is just too dark—it feels like a cave, honestly. The existing ceiling fan is nice, but they lost...
Deck Transformation
Check out this custom Cedar Hog Panel Railing I built for Kip and Theresa! We detail the design choices, tackle the challenging custom sliding gate and stair rails, and focus on delivering beautiful deck safety that will naturally weather for years to come.
Getting Your House Ready to Sell
Boost your home’s appeal and sale price with these three high-impact, value-adding home improvements. Learn how smart landscaping, a half-bath vanity swap, and quick water damage repair maximize your return on investment when preparing your house for sale.
Stair Repair
Adding new life to 3 sets of stairs in a hill country home.
Custom Sign Install & Huge Barn Door
Dive into the challenges and triumphs of two significant home improvement projects: a heavy, backlit metal sign mounted on a ceramic tile wall and a massive, custom-assembled barn door. Learn how to tackle tricky installs with the right tools and a smart approach.
Side Door Fiasco: Rebuilding a Collapsed Portico
I rebuild a collapsed front door portico, securing it with heavy-duty bolts and fasteners after discovering it was only attached with nails. I salvage the original frame, add new cedar supports, and finish it with cedar pickets for a beautiful and safe entry. Learn how I fix a home’s biggest weakness by rebuilding a portico that will last for years.
How AI Helped Me Diagnose a Bad Capacitor and Save $400 on My A/C Repair
How AI Helped Me Diagnose a Bad Capacitor and Save $400 on My A/C Repair
Custom Cedar Railings: A Blanco Porch Transformation
Discover how we transformed our Blanco farmhouse with a significant deck expansion and modern hog panel railing, complete with a bonus mower shed built from recycled materials. See the impact of our DIY improvements!
Expanding Our Blanco Farmhouse Deck: A Hog Panel Railing Renovation
Discover how we transformed our Blanco farmhouse with a significant deck expansion and modern hog panel railing, complete with a bonus mower shed built from recycled materials. See the impact of our DIY improvements!
Refinished Wood Floor
Transform your old pine wood floors with our step-by-step guide to refinishing! Learn about industrial sanding, repairing damaged planks, and applying polyshade and polyurethane for a stunning, durable finish.
Crafting a Cedar Wood Stove Cover: A Christmas Surprise
Discover how a DIY spirit and some cedar wood transformed a cheap eBay idea into a cherished, custom-made cedar wood stove cover Christmas gift. Learn about the process, from design to Dremel work, in this personal crafting journey.
Transforming a Nursery: A Labor of Love and a Stellar Nursery Renovation
Discover how a DIY nursery renovation, featuring a custom tall bead-board chair rail, built-ins, and furniture assembly, transformed a South Austin home into a beautiful space for a new baby.
Restroom Restoration: Leaky Toilet in the Half-Bath
From Simple Swap to Major Undertaking: The Reality of Restroom Restoration We opted for tile, a far more resilient material for areas exposed to moisture. After he picked out some attractive tiles, I began the tear-out. As I pulled up the water-damaged "wood," I...
Fix it or Replace it? A Refrigerator Conundrum
I noticed the front of the fridge was hot. I did some searches to see root causes (AI was actually more helpful). It had me check the evaperator coil fan– said it needs to be vacuummed every year. Well, I’m guessing this fridge was about 15 or so years old, and I had never cleaned the back of the unit… and it was a mess. I unplugged it, removed the cover, and got after it to clean it… then I plugged it back in to see if the fan was working. It wasn’t.
Shower Upgrade
Here's what my dad used to call a "15-minute job." This got it's name from when my dad and his brothers would visit my grandparent's place in Denton to, for example, replace a ceiling fan. "Should only take 15 minutes" would turn into an all-weekend project, with 3...
Automatic Gate Solutions: Solar-Powered Convenience Meets Durability
Conquering the challenge of drilling through 1/4″ steel pipe, we installed a Topens single swing gate opener with solar-powered battery backup. Automatic gate solution that combines durability, technology, and smooth operation.
When Outdoor Cooking Meets Creative Design: A Stucco Solution
Homeowners often face unique challenges when designing outdoor living spaces, and this recent project perfectly illustrates how a little creativity can transform a functional problem into a stunning design feature. My clients, Brian and Wendy, were experiencing a...