Don’t chance hitting your thumb or finger when hammering a small tack or nail. If you slip the fastener between the teeth of a comb, the comb holds the nail while you painlessly hold the comb. You can also use a bobby pin or paper clip.

Here are just two of the many choices I had to make during my recent bathroom remodel, neither of which I anticipated in advance:

• Where should the tile pattern begin in the shower – at the right edge, left edge, or in the corner? This affected not only the finished look, but how much tile needed to be ordered.

• Did I want my ideal medicine chest, which would delay the project at least four weeks (since I didn’t order it in advance), or could I settle for one that was available the next day? …and once I thought I’d made every possible decision, I found out that my countertops couldn’t even be ordered until the cabinetry was installed – another delay!

When you need a primer coat (usually white) and you’ve chosen a dark finish color, add a bit of the finish paint to the primer. The final coat will cover much better.

Whether your dream home is newly constructed or a 200-year-old fixer-upper, you have visions of your family relaxing and enjoying a home you are all excited about moving into.

Too many times, though, “dream homes” aren’t quite as perfect as they first appeared to be. The good news is that there are a few simple things you can do to avoid problems.

Going green with your remodel or new construction project?

These guides and how-tos will help you make the best and most eco friendly choices in building materials. Includes articles on insulation, lumber and roofing.

To make new cedar shakes (shingles) match the old, weathered ones when repairing a roof, "age" them in the following manner: Combine a one pound package of baking soda with a half gallon of water. Then brush or spray this mixture on the new shakes (shingles). Over three or four hours, they’ll assume a permanent gray color.