Why Is My Basement So Humid?
Why is my basement so humid? What humidity is too high, why summer is worst, how to tell humidity from a leak, and how to size a dehumidifier.
Door Won't Latch: How to Diagnose and Fix It
Why a door won't latch: how to find where the bolt hits the strike plate, check the pocket, hinges and weatherstripping, and when to call.
Why Is My Deck Sagging in the Middle?
Why is my deck sagging in the middle? How much sag is too much, how to measure it, and whether joists, the beam, a footing or rot is the cause.
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Deck in Illinois?
Do you need a permit to build a deck in Illinois? Who issues it, why the 200 sq ft exemption rarely applies, and what a permit and the inspections involve.
Egress Window Requirements for Basements in DuPage County
Egress window requirements for a basement: the 5.7 sq ft rule, sill height, window well size, ladders, and when a finished basement needs one.
Illinois Deck Railing Code: Heights, Baluster Spacing and Handrails
Illinois deck railing code in plain terms: guard height, baluster spacing, stair guards, graspable handrails and the 200 pound load test.
Fall Deck Maintenance: Getting a Deck Ready for Snow, Salt and Ice
Fall deck maintenance for an Illinois winter: what to move off the boards, which ice melt to use, when to shovel, and what to fix before the freeze.
Illinois Deck Building Code, in Plain English: What a Deck Has to Meet
Illinois has no deck code of its own. Local codes must now meet the IRC. Footings, ledgers, guards and stairs, with the numbers inspectors check.
The Cheapest Way to Redo a Deck, and What Each Option Costs Later
The cheapest deck redo depends on the frame underneath. Stain, paint, board swaps and re-decking compared, with what each one costs you later.
Worn or Leaking Door Threshold: Adjust It, Reseal It or Replace It?
A leaking door threshold often needs a cap adjustment or a new sweep, not replacement. How to tell, what code allows, and when the sill has rotted.
Repair or Replace a Sliding Patio Door? What Actually Decides It
A sliding patio door that drags, fogs or leaks usually needs a part, not a new door. What fixes each fault, and when replacement wins.
How a Rotted Deck Joist Gets Repaired, and When It Cannot Be
How a rotted deck joist gets repaired: sistering, splicing or replacing it, what makes each one hold, and when a repair is ruled out.
Trex vs a Wood Deck: What Ten Years Actually Costs
Composite or wood decking, compared over ten years in DuPage County: staining, the frame underneath, joist spacing and what the warranty covers.
Why a Basement Smells Musty After Rain
A musty basement after rain means water is reaching the wall. How to tell grading from seepage from humidity, and what fixes each one.
What to Fix Before the First Illinois Freeze
A fall checklist for DuPage County homes: what has to happen before the first freeze, what can wait, and the one job worth skipping until spring.
Does Wood Rot Epoxy Actually Work? An Honest Answer
Where epoxy genuinely fixes rotted wood, where it only hides it, and why a painted window sill and a deck joist get different answers.
Deck Joist Rot Prevention: What Actually Keeps Them Dry
What actually keeps deck joists dry: tape on the top edge, treated cut ends, roof water moved away, and clear ground under the frame.
Rotting Deck Frame: How Far Does the Damage Usually Go?
How far rot travels through a deck frame, why it runs along one joist instead of across the frame, and why soft wood you can see is not the edge of it.
How to Stop a Deck Post Rotting at the Base
What keeps the bottom of a deck post dry: the right treatment grade, a standoff base, ground that drains, and a capped cut end on top.
Wobbly Deck Railing: Is It the Fixings or the Framing?
Why tightening the bolts never cures a wobbly deck railing, how to tell a post problem from a framing one, and what a code guard connection needs.