Step-by-step help for the outside of your home
Choose an area of the house or search for a project. Every guide lists the time, tools, safety notes and the expert sources it was checked against.
Buying guides
How to choose the right snow shovel
There's no single best snow shovel, only the right one for the job. Here's what each type does well, which ones suit taller people, and how to shovel without hurting your back or your heart.
Ice melt: which one, when, and how to use it
Ice melt works best as a helper after you shovel, not a replacement for it. Here's how the common types compare in the cold, what they do to concrete, plants and pets, and how to use less and get more.
Check your roof from the ground
You can catch most roof problems with binoculars and a flashlight, without ever climbing onto the roof.
How to prevent ice dams (and what to do when you see icicles)
Ice dams start inside your house, not on the roof. Warm air leaks into the attic, warms the roof deck and melts snow from below. That water refreezes at the cold roof edge and can back up under the shingles. The fix is to keep the roof cold: seal attic air leaks, add insulation and keep vents open. Mid-fall, before the first big Front Range snow, is the time to do it.
Clean gutters and downspouts safely
Clogged gutters overflow right next to your foundation. Here is how to clear them the way ladder-safety experts recommend.
Wash and inspect your siding
A gentle wash brightens the whole house and gives you a close look at caulk and paint before small problems grow.
Find and seal drafts around windows and doors
The Department of Energy's simple method for finding air leaks, then sealing each one with the right material.
Check, clean and seal your deck
A five-second water test tells you whether the finish is still working. A yearly structural check tells you whether the deck is.
Fill driveway cracks before winter
Water that sits in a crack freezes, expands and makes it worse. Seal cracks while it's still warm enough for the product to cure.
Put the yard to bed for winter
Colorado State University Extension's fall routine for lawns, trees and shrubs, plus how to water through a dry winter.
Swap a thirsty patch of lawn for a low-water bed
The strip of grass that never looks good is often the best place to start a water-wise planting bed.
Winterize your sprinkler system
Water left in sprinkler pipes freezes and cracks them. Here is what a proper shutdown includes, and the part to leave to a pro.
Protect outdoor faucets from freezing
A burst pipe behind an outdoor faucet can flood a wall before you notice. A few minutes per faucet prevents it.