4) Online Resources for Home Owners

The Internet provides a plethora of information for the homeowner, from step-by-step instructions to checklists for maintaining your home, to finding a contractor. Here are some resources for starters:

General Information Sites

Start with How Stuff Works if you want to know how items in and around your home work. Click on “HomeStuff” for home repair and improvement items. In this section you will find topics on home improvement, yard stuff, appliances and more.

Home Improvement Store Sites

The Home Depot Know-How section has videos for numerous projects. There are also articles, calculators, buying guides, interactive tours, and design tools. You can also get the schedule for weekly clinics, workshops, and kids workshops.

Lowe’s has a "How To" Library filled with buying guides, projects, in-depth microsites, project calculators and more. Articles, descriptions, step-by-step instructions and videos are available on many topics.

Ace Hardware has an Answers @ Ace section containing Project How-To’s, The Helpful Hardware Man’s Corner, Frequently Asked Questions, Solution Source, What’s Bugging You, and Vendor Directory. The Project How-To list contains step-by-step instructions for a variety of repairs or home improvements. The Solution Source is full of detail on many hardware and home improvement products including what they are used for and the results you can get using them.

Home Improvement Sites

DoItYourself.com: provides how-to guides and tips. It also has a hardware store. Use the site map at the bottom of the page to quickly find information on a variety of home improvement and repair topics.

Home Maintenance and Repair: a database of text articles from the Michigan State University Extension Information Management Program. The articles cover a wide range of topics of interest to the homeowner.

Handyman USA: full of tips and how-to’s in an easy to navigate format. The list of categories is accessible on the left side of most pages.

Hometips.com: provides buying guides, DIY instructions, and other information related to home improvement, remodeling houses, home repair, decorating, buying appliances and more.

Popular Mechanics: their Home Journal section has a home improvement section with step-by-step articles that include pictures. Its Homeowner’s Clinic provides a collection of Q&A’s.

UK Flooring Direct: this site has great information and resources for home improvements, as well. This site shows you anyone can perform simple home improvement tasks that can not only save money, but also prevent you from spending a lot of cash on professional contractors.

Specialty Sites

Theplumber.com: plumbing FAQ, articles on the history of plumbing, a Plumbing Care & Repair handbook, and links to other plumbing sites.

The Original Homeowners Painting Guide: provided by Calvert Painting in North Carolina. It covers paint failures and ways to make your paint last longer.

Paint Quality Institute: provides a paint resource library and an FAQ. The paint resource library includes links to paint companies and other home improvement sites. The Do It Yourself link on the home page gives lots of information for the do-it-yourselfer.

Hardwood Information Center: provided by the Hardwood Manufacturers Association. Lots of facts, tips, and other useful advice about hardwoods and the use of hardwoods in cabinets, flooring, furniture, and woodworking projects.