Fences around your home provide security, privacy and curb appeal. Whether they’re made of wood, metal, brick, stucco or masonry, it’s important to keep them from succumbing to the elements, age and abuse. All it takes to have a fence you can be proud of is the right paint, a little know-how and a weekend of your time.
Oil-based (a.k.a. alkyd) is a long-lasting paint that tends to be more durable than water-based emollients. Oils take longer to dry and require paint thinner for cleanup. But if you’re looking for a tough, enameled (satin, semi-gloss or glossy) finish that withstands outdoor exposure, there’s no substitute.
Water-Based
Latex (a.k.a. acrylic) paint is a water-based formula that makes a good all-purpose paint solution. Acrylic paint is flexible — expanding and contracting with changes in temperatures — to resist cracking and blistering. Latex paint is also less toxic and better for the environment.
Primer
A primer is an undercoat that creates a bonding layer on a surface to seal it for painting. Besides blocking stains from wood tannins and mildew from moisture, primers give surfaces “teeth” to make the paint adhere better.
A lot of exterior paint formulas are self-priming. If the paint you choose is not, we recommend applying a quality primer to achieve the best results.
Fences around your home provide security, privacy and curb appeal. Whether they’re made of wood, metal, brick, stucco or masonry, it’s important to keep them from succumbing to the elements, age and abuse. All it takes to have a fence you can be proud of is the right paint, a little know-how and a weekend of your time.
Oil-based (a.k.a. alkyd) is a long-lasting paint that tends to be more durable than water-based emollients. Oils take longer to dry and require paint thinner for cleanup. But if you’re looking for a tough, enameled (satin, semi-gloss or glossy) finish that withstands outdoor exposure, there’s no substitute.
Water-Based
Latex (a.k.a. acrylic) paint is a water-based formula that makes a good all-purpose paint solution. Acrylic paint is flexible — expanding and contracting with changes in temperatures — to resist cracking and blistering. Latex paint is also less toxic and better for the environment.
Primer
A primer is an undercoat that creates a bonding layer on a surface to seal it for painting. Besides blocking stains from wood tannins and mildew from moisture, primers give surfaces “teeth” to make the paint adhere better.
A lot of exterior paint formulas are self-priming. If the paint you choose is not, we recommend applying a quality primer to achieve the best results.
More than 1,300 participants competed in Lowe’s first virtual pitch program aimed at supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs with home improvement products. The competition, “Making It… With Lowe’s” was hosted by Daymond John, star of Shark Tank, and had a similar feel to the popular ABC television show. Of the 1,300 submissions, roughly 400 products were evaluated before being narrowed down.
A panel of top Lowe’s executives, including CEO Marvin Ellison, gathered to hear pitches and ultimately choose which products they would feature in stores and display online at lowes.com. Five products were pitched, with three elimination rounds to eventually select a winner. All finalists were awarded grants of varied values. See some of the other inventors we’re thankful for.
Here are the final five products:
Grease Hero: Shawn Santos, a property manager from Honolulu, HI, invented a specialized drain catcher after years of addressing tenants’ clogged drains. His pitched product was designed to prevent future sewer clogs. Made with recycled paper materials, it’s designed to fit inside a sink’s drain and absorb used cooking oil for easy disposal.
Python Plunger: Kim Huber, from Grant, Minn., pitched an innovative tool “combining the power of the rotating drain snake with the design familiarity of the household plunger.”
Handle and Haul: Joe Porche, from Metairie, La, was badly injured after being hit by a drunk driver. Looking for a way to better lift heavy and awkward items, Porche invented the “handle and haul.” Its innovative design safely grabs and moves bulk items with a tie-down strap and adjustable handle.
SoilKit: Christina Woerner McInnis, from Foley, Ala., created a product designed to allow consumers to gather and submit soil samples to receive expert lab reports. Those reports are aimed at giving farmers a road map to help keep their lawns and gardens healthy.
Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce: Taufeek Shah, from Des Moines, Ia., turned a decades-old family tradition into a successful business with his mom’s homemade hot sauce recipe. Lowe’s claims it’s the only minority-owned hot sauce company in the U.S. and uses the world’s hottest peppers.
“Acknowledgement from such a large company like Lowe’s brings such a feeling of validation that all the hard work to this point is paying off,” Santos said.
Watch the video below to see more about the five finalists, and which product was ultimately named the competition champion.
The Handle and Haul was named the eventual champion. Porche’s lift device beat out Shah’s hot sauce in the semifinals, and then McInnis’ soil tester in the finals. Lowe’s will sell all three products but Porche’s is already available. The online listing said the handle and straps have a maximum weight limit of 400 pounds and a one-year warranty.
“You go from an idea to a product and you work really hard — you just can’t imagine you’d be in a place like this and have an opportunity like this,” Porche said after being announced as the winner. “Words cannot explain how I feel right now.”
Lowe’s did not say if there would be a second competition.
More than 1,300 participants competed in Lowe’s first virtual pitch program aimed at supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs with home improvement products. The competition, “Making It… With Lowe’s” was hosted by Daymond John, star of Shark Tank, and had a similar feel to the popular ABC television show. Of the 1,300 submissions, roughly 400 products were evaluated before being narrowed down.
A panel of top Lowe’s executives, including CEO Marvin Ellison, gathered to hear pitches and ultimately choose which products they would feature in stores and display online at lowes.com. Five products were pitched, with three elimination rounds to eventually select a winner. All finalists were awarded grants of varied values. See some of the other inventors we’re thankful for.
Here are the final five products:
Grease Hero: Shawn Santos, a property manager from Honolulu, HI, invented a specialized drain catcher after years of addressing tenants’ clogged drains. His pitched product was designed to prevent future sewer clogs. Made with recycled paper materials, it’s designed to fit inside a sink’s drain and absorb used cooking oil for easy disposal.
Python Plunger: Kim Huber, from Grant, Minn., pitched an innovative tool “combining the power of the rotating drain snake with the design familiarity of the household plunger.”
Handle and Haul: Joe Porche, from Metairie, La, was badly injured after being hit by a drunk driver. Looking for a way to better lift heavy and awkward items, Porche invented the “handle and haul.” Its innovative design safely grabs and moves bulk items with a tie-down strap and adjustable handle.
SoilKit: Christina Woerner McInnis, from Foley, Ala., created a product designed to allow consumers to gather and submit soil samples to receive expert lab reports. Those reports are aimed at giving farmers a road map to help keep their lawns and gardens healthy.
Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce: Taufeek Shah, from Des Moines, Ia., turned a decades-old family tradition into a successful business with his mom’s homemade hot sauce recipe. Lowe’s claims it’s the only minority-owned hot sauce company in the U.S. and uses the world’s hottest peppers.
“Acknowledgement from such a large company like Lowe’s brings such a feeling of validation that all the hard work to this point is paying off,” Santos said.
Watch the video below to see more about the five finalists, and which product was ultimately named the competition champion.
The Handle and Haul was named the eventual champion. Porche’s lift device beat out Shah’s hot sauce in the semifinals, and then McInnis’ soil tester in the finals. Lowe’s will sell all three products but Porche’s is already available. The online listing said the handle and straps have a maximum weight limit of 400 pounds and a one-year warranty.
“You go from an idea to a product and you work really hard — you just can’t imagine you’d be in a place like this and have an opportunity like this,” Porche said after being announced as the winner. “Words cannot explain how I feel right now.”
Lowe’s did not say if there would be a second competition.
Home improvement spending is showing no signs of slowing down, according to a recent study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) of Harvard University. In fact, spending is expected to increase in nearly every major U.S. metropolitan area in 2021.
The projections, released annually in the first quarter, are “designed to project the annual rate of change in spending for the current quarter and subsequent three quarters,” according to the study. It found that 42 of the 46 largest U.S. cities are expected to see increased spending on home improvement projects. The exceptions: New York City, Denver, Boston and San Jose.
The Rise in DIY and Home Improvement Spending
Home improvement popularity grew immensely in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, largely due to stay-at-home orders and employees working from home. Large metro areas saw an estimated two percent rise in remodeling gains in 2020, according to the study.
Nationally, that average is expected to grow to almost five percent in 2021, with 14 metro areas projected to grow by six percent or more. Seventeen additional regions are projected for gains between three and six percent, according to the study.
There are several free tools that help estimate the cost of a DIY or contractor remodeling project. Here we’ve rounded up the top remodeling estimators, with highlights, so you can find the best one for your project.
Top Cities Where Increased Spending Is Expected
The cities with the highest projected growth on the JCHS list were San Antonio, Phoenix, Charlotte, Tucson, Ariz., Austin, Tex. and Oklahoma City. Those cities are expected to have the largest percentage increase in spending.
“The largest remodeling spending gains are projected to occur in relatively more affordable metros in the Sunbelt,” said Abbe Will, associate project director in the Remodeling Futures Program at the JCHS.
Harvard’s study supports a similar study produced by Axiom, a Minneapolis, Minn. marketing firm. Axiom found that more than 90 percent of DIYers said they plan to spend as much or more time on home projects in 2021 compared to last year, and that 56 percent of respondents intend on hiring a professional for all or part of projects. Approximately 64 percent of projects planned for 2021 are expected to cost more than $1,000, according to Axiom.
Thirty-one percent of Axiom’s survey responders said they were planning yard and landscape work, more than any other project type. Twenty-five percent listed fixing or building a deck/patio. At-home entertainment areas have increased in demand with bars and restaurants shut down at times during the pandemic.
“Homeowners said they definitely gained confidence in their own skills because of what they accomplished last year,” said Stacy Einck, building products practice lead at Axiom. “Once you know how to do something and believe you can handle the work, it becomes a big motivator to dive into the next project.”
Home Improvement’s Housing Market Impact
Approximately 5.64 million homes were sold in 2020, an increase of 5.6 percent from 2019, according to online real estate marketplace Zillow.
“Broad strength in house price appreciation, existing home sales, and residential construction suggest that many metros will see greater renovation activity this year,” Will said.
Home improvement spending is showing no signs of slowing down, according to a recent study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) of Harvard University. In fact, spending is expected to increase in nearly every major U.S. metropolitan area in 2021.
The projections, released annually in the first quarter, are “designed to project the annual rate of change in spending for the current quarter and subsequent three quarters,” according to the study. It found that 42 of the 46 largest U.S. cities are expected to see increased spending on home improvement projects. The exceptions: New York City, Denver, Boston and San Jose.
The Rise in DIY and Home Improvement Spending
Home improvement popularity grew immensely in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, largely due to stay-at-home orders and employees working from home. Large metro areas saw an estimated two percent rise in remodeling gains in 2020, according to the study.
Nationally, that average is expected to grow to almost five percent in 2021, with 14 metro areas projected to grow by six percent or more. Seventeen additional regions are projected for gains between three and six percent, according to the study.
There are several free tools that help estimate the cost of a DIY or contractor remodeling project. Here we’ve rounded up the top remodeling estimators, with highlights, so you can find the best one for your project.
Top Cities Where Increased Spending Is Expected
The cities with the highest projected growth on the JCHS list were San Antonio, Phoenix, Charlotte, Tucson, Ariz., Austin, Tex. and Oklahoma City. Those cities are expected to have the largest percentage increase in spending.
“The largest remodeling spending gains are projected to occur in relatively more affordable metros in the Sunbelt,” said Abbe Will, associate project director in the Remodeling Futures Program at the JCHS.
Harvard’s study supports a similar study produced by Axiom, a Minneapolis, Minn. marketing firm. Axiom found that more than 90 percent of DIYers said they plan to spend as much or more time on home projects in 2021 compared to last year, and that 56 percent of respondents intend on hiring a professional for all or part of projects. Approximately 64 percent of projects planned for 2021 are expected to cost more than $1,000, according to Axiom.
Thirty-one percent of Axiom’s survey responders said they were planning yard and landscape work, more than any other project type. Twenty-five percent listed fixing or building a deck/patio. At-home entertainment areas have increased in demand with bars and restaurants shut down at times during the pandemic.
“Homeowners said they definitely gained confidence in their own skills because of what they accomplished last year,” said Stacy Einck, building products practice lead at Axiom. “Once you know how to do something and believe you can handle the work, it becomes a big motivator to dive into the next project.”
Home Improvement’s Housing Market Impact
Approximately 5.64 million homes were sold in 2020, an increase of 5.6 percent from 2019, according to online real estate marketplace Zillow.
“Broad strength in house price appreciation, existing home sales, and residential construction suggest that many metros will see greater renovation activity this year,” Will said.
I loved my string trimmer—except when it came time to replace the string. Then I hated it! Replacing string was practically a two-person job. So I was pretty excited when I ran across Oregon's new string trimmer head. The Gator SpeedLoad Cutting System attaches to most popular trimmers and makes string replacement super easy. The heavy-duty string comes coiled on a disk. All you do is plop the disk into position, feed out the two string ends (and not through tiny little holes, like on my old one), and snap on the cap. My property is several acres, so if I'm close to running out of string, I slip a replacement spool in my pocket before I head out. That way I don't have to walk all the way back to my shop to reload. — Mark Petersen. Get it today!
