What are Faux Wood Beams? Usually manufactured with high-density polyurethane, faux beams are made to look just like the real thing. They are widely obtainable and available in hundreds of styles and textures. They also are lightweight, which makes them easier to install than true wood beams. We asked five home bloggers to share their ideas for how to incorporate the look in a more affordable way. Here are five ideas to help you decide what to use and where to place your ceiling beams....

But there is an alternative to pricey traditional cabinets. Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets arrive flat-packed in cardboard boxes with the hardware needed for assembly. Because homeowners handle building them, and they cost the manufacturer less to transport and store, RTA cabinets can be half the price of factory-assembled versions. And these DIY-friendly cabinets can arrive quickly, too: Pick an in-stock profile and color from a big-box store, and they could show up at your door in as little as two weeks....

Is Asbestos Harmful to My Health? Yes. We now know that prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to lung disease. When disturbed, tiny abrasive asbestos fibers are easily inhaled, which damages lung tissue and can cause cancer. In homes built prior to 1975, asbestos is most commonly found as thermal insulation on basement boilers and pipes. Unfortunately, it can also be found in a myriad of other household materials including:...

Few folks buy a turn-of-the-century house without some appreciation for its original details. No surprise, then, that Indianapolis homeowners Kaela and Cason Cusack hoped to honor the built-in oak hutch in their circa 1895 American Foursquare’s kitchen. Last renovated in the 1990s, the room also held an awkward angled island that hemmed in the cook, a fridge that blocked traffic, and scant storage and prep space. “We wanted to preserve the beautiful woodwork but make the room flow better so that cooking would be fun,” Kaela says....

The 8 Best Mattresses for Adjustable Beds By clicking on the product links in this article, Mattress Advisor may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader. Scouring the internet for the best mattress for an adjustable bed can feel like tilting at windmills, i.e., as if you’re taking on a hopeless task. Mere clicks away are an enormous selection of online beds, any number of which might seem right for you based on a brand’s bold claims about comfort and compatibility with an adjustable base....

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Backyard Ponds Happily, you don’t need deep pockets or lots of land to enjoy your own water feature. You can install a fully equipped, landscaped, fish-filled pond for around $500, provided that you do your own digging. Everything You Need to Know to Build the Perfect Backyard Pond Creating a lush habitat like the one at right requires rubbery liners, powerful pumps, effective filters, and, without question, a commitment to care for them....

—Lisa Matthews, Madison, N.J. Troy Johnson of Outdoor Escapes replies: The best way to green up a driveway is to install permeable pavers, which allow water to drain down through the gaps between them and into a bed of crushed stone. From there, it seeps gently into the soil. Contrast that with a typical driveway, where water picks up oil and other chemicals as it washes into the street, overloading storm drains, polluting waterways, and increasing the chances of flooding from runoff....

Old houses are particularly prone to electrical problems. For starters, they are almost always underpowered, relying on 60amp or 100amp service rather than the 200amp service that many newer houses use today. Other common problems include ungrounded circuits, wiring with deteriorated or missing insulation, and circuits controlled by old-fashioned fuses rather than modern circuit breakers. The good news is that modern electrical components are designed, tested, and certified for safe, reliable, long-lasting performance....