Drywall guru Myron Ferguson of Albany, NY offered tips for remodeling with drywall. Some common DIY mistakes he notes include:

• "Not using enough mudding compound behind tape, causing bubbles. Not letting the mudding compound dry thoroughly between coats, and too thick or too thin fill coat which covers the tape."
• Ferguson also urges DIY homeowners to "get enough help" when putting up drywall. "The sheets are heavy, fragile, and difficult to maneuver," he said.
• Ferguson recommended using full 16-foot sheets of drywall when ever possible and to try to minimize seams.

What are steps you should take if you discover your concrete foundation is leaking? In a Networx article, writer Steve Graham gets some advice from Cassi Sherman of Peak Basement Systems, a concrete contractor near Denver. Sherman emphasized safety and said to check for submerged wiring or appliances before stepping into a pool of water. "Confirm the water is a foundation leak and not a broken pipe or sewage backup," she said.

Unfortunately, depending on the cause of the leak, you may need to call in a remediation company, an electrician, a plumber, or a concrete foundation or waterproofing specialist. Leaks in your concrete foundation can occur for a variety of reasons. The next task after maintaining safety from electrical shocks is to determine the place and cause of the leak.

What are steps you should take if you discover your concrete foundation is leaking? In a Networx article, writer Steve Graham gets some advice from Cassi Sherman of Peak Basement Systems, a concrete contractor near Denver. Sherman emphasized safety and said to check for submerged wiring or appliances before stepping into a pool of water. "Confirm the water is a foundation leak and not a broken pipe or sewage backup," she said.

Unfortunately, depending on the cause of the leak, you may need to call in a remediation company, an electrician, a plumber, or a concrete foundation or waterproofing specialist. Leaks in your concrete foundation can occur for a variety of reasons. The next task after maintaining safety from electrical shocks is to determine the place and cause of the leak.

What attributes should you look for in a "green" HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) business? One example of such a company is Greentree Heating and Air Conditioning in Denver and Omaha. They recommend working with a company that follows all government incentives and tax benefits associated with installing or improving your home energy standards. Other questions you should ask an HVAC contractor include inquiring about the willingness of the company to do an energy audit/analysis first. An audit will help you find ways to reduce the amount of wasted energy to both lower your energy costs as well as your carbon footprint. Is the company willing to repair and upgrade your systems or do they just want to sell you new products? And lastly, will they work with your particular situation to find green solutions?

When you are facing plumbing problems, it's important to also protect yourself from disreputable plumbing contractors.  Laura Foster-Bobroff, in a Networx article, said that while most plumbing contractors are reputable, it's a good idea to know what to watch out for such as inaccurate estimates and sending in extra workers to pad the bill. "Inaccurate estimates are the most common way a plumber can get money out of you," says plumber Dave Buteau of OnDemand Plumbing in Concord, New Hampshire. 

In Foster-Bobroff's interview, Buteau goes on to describe the "shady practice of sending in two or more people to do the job. If a plumber is training an apprentice, that's one thing, but you shouldn't be charged extra if the job only requires one person do the work."

Taking the housing market into consideration, if you own a home you may be thinking of whether to remodel or tear down and rebuild. In a Networx article, Laura Foster-Bobroff suggests looking at important factors such as structural weaknesses. "Over the years, changes in structure may have been implemented without adding additional structural support. Also, it's common to find beams that have been cut into in order to accommodate upgrades in electrical and heating systems, compromising structural integrity," she said.

Another consideration is cost effectiveness. Peter Bonnette of P.M. MacKay Group, located in Nashua, New Hampshire, specializes in residential and commercial remodeling projects. Bennett said he leans toward remodeling, saying "If you are going to renovate, once you start to demolish past the point of retaining at least 50 percent of the original value, you need to rethink the project."

Whatever you are inspired to do to improve your home, it is important to be aware of local codes and bureaucratic processes. Amy Howell Hirt did a remodeling project in Cincinnati and paints a clear picture of the hurdles you may need to jump for your remodeling project. You may be required to submit complex studies, pay significant fees, and deal with your town's inspectors and local preferences. Take the time and effort to research what is needed in terms of permits etc. for your DIY projects. You will save money and aggravation in the long run.

Unless you have a major electrical problem, you may want to wait and "bundle" several jobs together before you call an electrician. One Denver electrical company, Coffman and Companies, suggests on their website "You'll find having the electrician attend to several smaller needs in one visit much more cost effective."

The company also suggests in selecting an electrical contractor to look for a flat rate as opposed to hourly. "Contractors with low hourly rates may add on separate fees or take longer to get the job done to offset the lower rate," they state.

If you have crawl spaces in your home, it's a good idea to check them regularly to be certain you don't have any excessive moisture of water gathering in them. As the company Kennedy Plumbing notes on their website that moisture and standing water can lead to larger problems than mold. "It can also result in structural damage from unstable wet soil, dry rot, potential indoor air quality problems, as well as the presence of termites and other unwanted pests attracted to moisture," states the Portland plumbing company. The company recommends having your crawl spaces lined with plastic and potentially you may need a plumber to install a drain system if moisture or water becomes a larger problem.

When you think of bamboo flooring, most folks think of it as a "green" product. Sometimes this is true and sometimes not, according to green building consultant Carl Seville. Seville, a green rater and builder who works with Atlanta flooring installers, said that while bamboo, which is fast growing grass, may be a better because it preserves old growth forest, "retaining old forests is better for the environment than creating new bamboo plantations." Also, it's a good idea to be aware if you are looking to make your home more green to avoid bamboo products that have been processed with toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, Seville said.

A newer product called Denyx might be a good option when renovating your bathroom's sinks, tubs, and countertops. Denyx, as described by the Maryland Custom Marble Inc., is "an advanced composite material. The material, which can be cast in many shapes and sizes, has no surface coatings and can be routed, cut, and seamed. The bathroom renovating company near Rockville, MD also describes the material as a dense, highly stain-resistant, non-porous blend of synthetic and natural materials. The material has the look of granite, but with a few more benefits and lower maintenance.

If your dishwasher is having problems, you may want to call plumber instead of an appliance repair technician. Pioneer Plumbing and Roofing, a plumbing company in Los Angeles, states on their website: "Many of your kitchen appliances that work with water are interconnected, and your dishwasher may not need a part but rather some simple plumbing." The company goes on to state that they look at your plumbing system over-all to make a determination regarding what might work best for you and your situation.

Sometimes remodeling is less about changing the appearance of your home and more about saving money through energy efficiency. If you are lucky enough to live in one of the five-county areas of Philadelphia, you can also take advantage of significant savings on energy upgrades with the help of Energyworks, a program of the Energy Coordinating Agency and the city of Philadelphia. In a networx article by Steve Graham you can learn some of the finer details of the program which is slated to run through June of 2013. Energyworks helps homeowners obtain energy audits. Then working with Philadelphia contractors and remodelers Energyworks assists the homeowner with low interest financing, tax credits, and rebates. If you don't live in Philadelphia, have no fear. There are many programs to help you get a cheap or free home energy audit.

We've been talking a lot recently about landscaping due to the full onslaught of spring currently happening in the Northeast.

Besides the plant side of things, there is also outdoor furniture and structures to consider. Now is the time to think about patios, walkways, sheds and playgrounds.

Inhabitat points us to a remarkable use of old shipping pallets with b sq. Design Studio's "Pallet Garden." Created for the Canada Blooms Garden Festival, the structure features planters, a tower and even a water fountain. It's a green way to create an outdoor space that is beautiful and unique.

The good news is that pallets are plentiful across the country from Alabama to San Diego. This project is fairly straightforward too, so there should be no need to call a Birmingham carpenter or San Diego remodeler.

Last week, we reported on the key things you need to do when transplanting a tree.

But what about planting new trees? Whether you live in the Northeast or in the south, there is no need to call a Boston tree expert or Atlanta landscaper for advice - we've got you covered.

One important thing to consider when planting a new tree, is how the tree will work with the environment. Placing deciduous trees in the Southern area of your property will add significant shade and a cooling effect in the hot days of summer. Evergreen trees planted in the North-Northwest will also block cold weather winds away from your house.

All in all, tree placement can make your home more comfortable and save you money on heating and cooling bills.

Bathrooms can be one of the most germ-infested areas in the house, Between all of the moisture and grime that goes through the space it can be a challenge to keep it clean and sanitary.

I can sympathize because my apartment's bathroom takes forever to dry out and at some point I'll have to call a Brooklyn HVAC contractor  to fix things up.

In a recent blog post, This Old House outlined several ways to keep the bathroom healthy. One simple way is to make sure all of the caulking is in working order. Any missing or subpar caulking can allow mold and water to get into the wall, possibly leading to a host of health and structural problems.

Spring is officially here in the Northeast and for residents of cities from Beantown to the Big Apple, that means that it's time to start planning out all of your landscaping projects. So whether you decide to do it yourself or call a Boston landscaper, time is of the essence if you want to get everything done on time.

One common job to be tackled during the springtime is transplanting a tree. The good news is that transplanting a small tree is fairly easy and something that most homeowners can do. If it's a tree with a diameter larger than 3.5 inches howerver, you're going to want to call in a pro.

The key to a successful transplant is to have an intact root ball that is big enough. That's about 11 times the size of the trunk's diameter. After digging out the root ball, the roots need to be wrapped in burlap and secured by twine. If done correctly and properly watered, the tree can survive for a long time this way.

[via This Old House]

Oregon-based Etsy seller AtomicAttic has dreamt up an imaginative and simple way to reuse old computers without having to call in a Portland electrician to wire it up into some new gadget.

Late model computers and computer monitors seem to make up a large portion of the world's e-waste and creating a second life for them is a godsend for the environment.

Using ancient iMacs as a frame, AtomicAttic has built a line of pet beds that are eco-friendly and stylish (they also have some nice upcycled suitcase beds as well).

AtomicAttic

My friend is a landscaper in Orlando and is always looking for new ways to make lawns look amazing. I'm happy to report that Networx writer Sayward Rebhal has dug up an amazing (and surprising) formula that should really help him out.

According to former groundskeeper Tim Heffron, a combination of soda, beer, dishwashing soap, ammonia and mouthwash will keep lawns green and healthy.

[via WiseBread]

Thinking of doing a little redecorating around the house? If you have a very specific plan in mind, cool. If you're like me and don't know quite where to start, we've got you covered.

When beginning a program of DIY interior design, you need to start with the basics. Networx writer Philip Schmidt outlines the 5 core laws of interior design here, but for brevity's sake I'll fill you in on number one.

I assumed that I would need to call a Brooklyn painter or interior designer to come up with some master plan, but the real secret to home decorating is to understand how you use the space. By really analyzing how you (and any other occupants) actually live on a daily basis you can be better prepared to create a useful and pleasing design scheme. As Philip explains, you need to be realistic and practical, not try to conform your lifestyle into a pre-made design that you saw in some home decorating magazine. Once you have that foundation of understanding, you can start planning how to fill in the space.