Home Remodeling & Repair

Databases

• MasterFILE Premier
  You can search for reviews of appliances, tools, etc. in Consumer Reports and other magazines.

Websites

Hardware / Home Improvement Stores

• Ace Hardware
  A "helpful hardware" dealer-owned cooperative of hardware stores that specialize in service, with more than 4,700 stores in 50 states and more than 70 countries. Includes a "store locator" to find a store near you.
• Home Depot
  The national website of the metachain of home development super stores. Use their store finder to find one near you.
• Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse
  Lowe's has information on "How-To's" projects, "Safety Tips", and product highlights. You can find a store in the Pittsburgh region with their store locator.
• True Value
  True Value Company, headquartered in Chicago, is one of the world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperatives with approximately 5,800 independent retail locations worldwide. You can find an affiliated store in your area with their "store finder".

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General Home Improvement Sites

• Ask The Builder
  Tim Carter is a syndicated newspaper columnist whose website is full of information on remodeling or home building. You can search his site for topics needed, read his past columns, or use forms to find a professional contractor.
• BBC: Homes
  Here you'll find a comprehensive website from the United Kingdom about buying, selling, remodeling, and housekeeping your home.
• Better Homes and Garden
  This site contains a Home Improvement Encyclopedia if you are doing home repair. If you have a home-related project or problem, this is the place to start. Here you'll find information on plumbing, wiring, carpentry, decks, masonry & concrete, and Project Calculators.
• Build.com
  Build.com has gone out and searched the internet to find the best sites in product catagories. Product catagories range from Appliances to Yard and Garden. Build.com also has a home improvement bulletin board/discussion forum.
• DoItYourself.com
  For do-it-yourselfers, this site provides answers to some of the most common household maintenance problems.
• HGTV: Home and Garden Network
  The website for the Home and Garden TV network offers sections on Kitchen Design, Bath Design, Decorating, and Remodeling.
• Hometime: Home Improvement and Repair
  This site is based on the popular tv show, and has an extensive collection of how-to information on all sorts of home projects.
• The Housing Zone
  This site for the professional builder/remodeler is good for recent news in the housing industry.
• HUD: Home Improvements
  Federal programs to help with repairs from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Michael Holigan
  Michael Holigan hosts the "Your New House" TV show. The website has articles covering useful topics such as Installing a Solar Attic Fan, Treating a Deck, Dividing Plants. Some have videos of the program.
• On The House
  The Carey Brothers help millions with their weekly radio show and nationally syndicated newspaper column. Here you can read their column, listen to a radio broadcast, or surf their website for information.
• Remodeling Online
  This website for Remodeling Magazine offers the annual "Cost vs. Value Report" telling you which home remodeling efforts pay off.
• ToolBase Services: Energy Efficiency Improvements for Remodeling Projects - Training Modules
  These modules describe energy efficiency improvements that can be made in the course of any remodeling project. The training modules were developed in collaboration with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Southface Energy Institute with support from the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Specific Remodeling Projects

• American Lighting Association
  The American Lighting Association is a trade association representing the lighting industry. Their website includes brochures on lighting for your house as well as a directory of lighting consultants.
• Chimneys.com
  Find out how your chimney works and how to maintain it. From the site for chimney professionals, also offering a guide to find a local chimney sweep.
• Energy Star
  ENERGY STAR was introduced by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products, in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. ENERGY STAR has expanded to cover new homes, most of the buildings sector, residential heating and cooling equipment, major appliances, office equipment, lighting, consumer electronics, and more product areas.

• H2Ouse - the water efficient home
  A website from the California Urban Water Conservation Council providing advice on how to create a water-efficient home. It tells you how to save water in the garden, laundry, bath, and kitchen.
• Home Ventilating Institute
  Do you need to improve the ventilating in your house? This website has a guide that covers whole house ventilating, bathroom and kitchen ventilation.
• Kitchens.com
  Kitchens.com is the Internet company for the kitchen & bath industry. On their website you will find an Interactive Kitchen Remodeling Guide which provides information on cabinet structure (frames and door styles), Pulls & Knobs, Appliances, Countertops, Flooring, Sinks & Faucets, and Architectural Details. They link to kitchen remodelers that in turn link to manufacturers of cabinetry, flooring, etc. A great site!
• National Kitchen & Bath Association
  Thinking about remodeling your kitchen and/or bathroom? All the tips and tools you need to get started on your kitchen and bath remodeling project can be found here! The National Kitchen & Bath Association is a more than 25,000 member not-for-profit trade association that has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry for over 40 years.
• National Wood Flooring Association
  Expert information wood flooring information. Covers installing, maintaining, repairing and refinishing wood floors.
• The Not So Big House
  Are you tired of the trend towards ever bigger houses? Then you will enjoy this companion website to the Taunton book by Sarah Susanka.
• Sound Home Resource Center
  Locate home construction, remodeling, and home maintenance topics such as: basements, bathrooms, construction and remodeling, decks, energy/heating/cooling, environmental & health issues, exterior siding, interior surfaces, roofs, and water & moisture problems.
• This to That
  What glue to use when you need to stick one thing to another. Information about toxicity, time to set, where to buy it, website if available.
• WorkBench Magazine
  Current issue contents, home improvement articles.

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Pittsburgh Resources

• 16:62 Design Zone (Lawrenceville Corporation)
  The 16:62 Design Zone is Pittsburgh's design district —- a unique destination for products and services in home and office design, décor, and furnishings. Extending from the 16th Street Bridge in The Strip District to the 62nd Street Bridge in Lawrenceville, the 16:62 Design Zone includes more than 100 shops, galleries, studios, and professional services firms. It is an initiative of the Lawrenceville Corporation intended to promote growth among the home and workplace design-related businesses.
• CCI Center
  Conservation Consultants, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is responsible energy use in homes and other buildings. They provide energy consultants to check the energy efficiency of your home.
• Old House Fair
  An annual event held by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. You’ll learn how to turn your old house into a handsomely restored treasure for you and the whole neighborhood to enjoy. Learn first hand how to renovate or improve the beauty of your historic home from professionals on decorating, gardening, and restoration.
• Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show
  An annual show held in March at the David Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. The largest home show in Pittsburgh with 1400 exhibits.
• Pittsburgh Indoor/Outdoor Home Show
  An annual show in Monroeville's ExpoMart.
• Pittsburgh Pennysaver
  Search the classifieds for garage sales and equip your house or apartment on a shoe string.