A sudden increase in your water bill can be one of the first signs of a slab leak, even when there is no visible water inside your home. That is because a leaking pipe beneath a concrete slab can lose water into the ground or …

Adding a dormer changes part of your roof, but does that mean the entire roof has to be replaced at the same time? In many cases, no. A dormer can often be built by opening and rebuilding only the portion of the roof affected by …

If you like your existing countertops but your kitchen cabinets are worn, dated or no longer working well for your needs, you may wonder whether you can replace the cabinets without replacing the countertops too. In some kitchens, yes. Existing countertops can sometimes be removed, …

When planning a new kitchen, homeowners often spend a lot of time thinking about cabinet color, door style and hardware. Then a surprisingly important question comes up: Should the upper kitchen cabinets go all the way to the ceiling? There is no single answer that …

You may love the idea of changing your kitchen layout but not the thought of opening walls and relocating every water and drain line in the room. The good news is that a better kitchen layout does not always require moving all the plumbing. In …

Adding a second story can create the extra bedrooms, bathrooms or living space a family needs without giving up more of the yard. But before plans move very far, there is an important question to answer: can the existing house safely support another level? For …

If you are thinking about adding a dormer to your Long Island home, one of the first questions you may have is whether you need an architect before you can get started. For most substantial dormer projects, professional plans are an important part of the …

If you are considering adding a dormer to your Long Island home, cost is probably one of your first questions. It is also one of the hardest questions to answer with a single number. A dormer can mean anything from a relatively focused roof modification …

Shopping for kitchen cabinets online can be incredibly convenient. In one evening, you can look at dozens of door styles, compare colors, save inspiration photos and get a general idea of what you like. There is just one problem. Kitchen cabinets are unusually difficult to …

Kitchen cabinets can be one of the most confusing parts of a remodel. One quote looks surprisingly low. Another feels high. A third includes words that sound important but do not make it easy to understand what you are actually buying. Box construction. Finish quality. …