• 1  Clear the area of all weeds, previous grass or other impediments. Use a glyphosate indiscriminate herbicide to kill all signs of living plant life if needed. If you have the time, it is a good idea to let the cleared area sit for a week and water it. This will allow any dormant weed seeds to germinate allowing you the chance to kill them before your grass goes in.

•  2 Till your soil to aerate it and soften it. You can till using a tiller or your shovel, depending on area size.

• 3

  Now that the area is cleared and tilled, it needs to be properly graded. Use a garden rake and level out the area. Make sure there is a slight slope away from the house foundation, at least 1 inch per 10 feet.

• 4

  Tilling brings a multitude of weed seeds to the surface…

Having a swimming pool in your yard can be a lot of fun. During the summer, you and your family can spend your time swimming or relaxing by the pool in order to cool off. It can also be a great reason to have a pool party with friends.

Though a swimming pool can offer both luxury and convenience, it is undeniable that the cost can be tremendous. You need to invest thousands of dollars just to have a functional pool at home. That is why there is no room for mistakes when it comes to pool installation.

Here are some common mistakes people make when it comes to swimming pool installation:

• Installing a pool during winter. Some people think that the cost of materials is cheaper during the winter. Actually, the cost of pool materials are never cheaper in the winter, and s a matter of fact, it could…

5: More Space and Light

In real estate, dark and cramped are no good, so a little light goes a long way. If your house has small rooms that block the flow of natural light, you may want to consider knocking down some walls and opening up your floor plan. Open floor plans usually involve combining your kitchen, dining and living areas into one big space that suits a casual lifestyle. This makes a small house feel light and airy, giving the illusion of a larger living area. Open rooms create an inviting atmosphere for entertaining, because kitchen duties can be performed while hanging out with guests. It’s also great for young families because it allows parents to work on dinner while keeping an eye on the youngsters. If you’re not up for taking down walls, even widening doorways 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30.5 centimeters) will make a…

MainStreet America in Houston aims to make shopping for home products an entertaining experience.  The new 14-acre superstore wants to reinvent how you purchase home-related products.

Home improvement junkies in and around Houston, it’s time to rejoice. MainStreet America, the first theme park dedicated to home building products and services, is opening in your area next month.

You won’t be able to buy nails and duct tape at this place, but if you’re looking for the latest bath fixtures, you’re in luck. The 14-acre space that includes a 45,000-sq.-ft. Guest Center will feature 12 model houses all operating as retail showrooms.

Dubbed The MainStreet American Home Collection, these spaces will allow visitors to seeappliances and furnishings in a real working environment.  Watch the video to learn more.

Each faux residence will have its own unique architectural appearance and range in size from 1,800 to 6,000 square feet. Building styles include: The Midtown, a contemporary townhouse; The…

Tired of not knowing which cords that leads to what? Afraid of pulling the wrong one?
Use cord labels for a good overview of your cords. And they are easy to make

The art of manhole covers has now reached the point of a national obsession in Japan with numerous municipal departments competing against each other in the pursuit of the perfect manhole cover. The designs are manufactured by a municipal foundry where they are cast and created. The city or council will submit ideas and the symbol of choice to the foundry and their in-house designers will then create a design based on these specifications, going back and forth until the design is approved. The foundry will then cast a prototype before doing the final cast. These manhole covers are made of metal, as opposed to European manhole covers, which are typically constructed of pre-cast concrete. After the covers have been cast the carved wooden masters are saved in an enormous central library.