Blog Posts by Matt Jones

I've made these kinds of repairs, so I can give you a quick tip, but don't think that I'm especially vigilant about checking my own leaking downspouts. I'll fess up -- I tend to react to repairs rather than anticipate upkeep for my home.

In other words, when I notice the busted joints in my downspouts beginning to pour like Niagra Falls, I'm pretty sure I need to fix them. Pronto.

Here's how you can be more proactive.

The problem of leaky downspouts (vinyl, PVC, or aluminium) may be linked to one or more of several contributing factors.

Gutters choked with leaves, pine needles, or twigs retain water, and wherever you have standing water, you have pressure and potential warping of the downspout joints on your drainage system.

If you've done any exterior work on your home recently -- such as redoing a roof or painting the house -- the downspouts could have been bumped or dented and the joints shaken loose in the process.

Downspout joints can, of course, also simply wear out with

Here are some fun "fright night" items for your Halloween home decorating: a front yard full of custom-created tombstones and some spooky hand-carved jack-o-lanterns for your porch. Get project tips from our "D-I-Why Not?" video host, Jeff Meacham, who shows homeowner Suzanne the fun, and follow along to make your own pieces with our step-by-step instructions below.

Here's what you'll need

Dremel 4000 motor cutting tool
Adhesive spray glue
Plastic glue
2"-Styrofoam sheets
Styrofoam cutting tool
Stencils
Sanding pad
Paint
Paint roller and paint brush
Dropcloth
6"-long wood dowels
Round, sharp-tip tool
Baking powder

Here's how to make the tombstones

In just a few quick and easy do-it-yourself steps you can make your front yard the spookiest on the street. Crafting these Styrofoam tombstones will save you money, provide lots of fun, and let you display the decorations again next year, too.

We'll show you how to make lots of creative Styrofoam tombstones using just some stencils, paint,

The first time I recall removing wallpaper -- to put up other wallpaper -- was because we were interviewing a new babysitter for our 6-year old daughter.

You'll have to ask my wife why redoing the living room wallpaper all day Saturday was such a high priority to impress the babysitter;  but as I had been slow to tackle the redecorating project, I suspect my wife simply seized the occasion to motivate our efforts.

Urgent as our wallpaper project was, I still think I got off easy compared with another couple I know who once struggled to build a new deck over a weekend becasue the "in-laws" were coming for a stay (talk about project motivation!).

Chances are you're facing a wallpaper removal project because you've recently bought a home with '70s glam wallpaper that won't quit, and it lines everything from the foyer to the family room. The designs probably make your eyes hurt, so the offending wallpaper must come down, like yesterday.

If you're new to wallpapering -- and the medium is

OK, maybe I got you to smirk a bit with my suggestive headline, but now that you're reading, I do have some serious safety tips to share for your next project involving wiring anything.

I recall launching into my first home decor electrical installation -- hanging a ceiling fan -- only to be stopped dead in my tracks (strike that, poor choice of words) with a wiring issue. Please tell me this kind of situation has happened to you, just so I'll feel better.

I've taken the fancy fan out of its box, spread the parts (small or large) and instruction papers all over the floor, climbed my folding ladder with the fan propped on my shoulder, pulled out the fan connection wires to attach it to the ceiling, and found myself staring dumbfounded at the jumble of celing junction box wires. (Blame it on the previous homeowner's hack job, I always say.)

My fan instructions tell me to connect its wires to the ceiling junction box wires as such: white to white, black to black, and green to grounding.

I've painted -- and repainted -- many rooms in my various homes over time. My record is painting my daughter's room three times in one year, from bland-beige to beet-red to baby-blue (a teenager's room, however did you guess?). I've painted in every condition from easy-on brushwork for bedroom walls to angled applications for bathroom corners.

If you're like me, you may have become semi-efficient at completing a room-painting gig (at least to the point of not stepping in the paint pan). But if you're new to the home painting game, you can always use advice from one who's been there, done that.

Here are some tips to handle the challenge of "cutting-in" paint around decorative wood trim.

If you've already begun planning your room painting, it may have been obvious to you from the first that you'll need to protect the white wood trim from your bright green wall paint. (Unless you've already copped out and decided to paint the walls white.)

And there's a lot of wood trim to manage when

If you're a down-with-it-diyer like me, I'm sure you've come across about every home improvement tool you can imagine. Or have you? Check out some unfamiliar but very cool tools here.

We'll describe the first set of three, so you'll know what may be missing from your tool set and what to get for your next home renovation project.

Just for fun, we'll also show you another three tools that seem like they come from another planet and ask what you think they do!

Tools for special projects

Electric caulk gun.  This cordless caulk and adhesive gun includes a clear barrel so you can easily see remaining material as you work. The powerful applicator delivers great pushing force for tough applications and the highest level of bead control. It even stops excess material from oozing with the release of the trigger (saves me some messy work!).

Multi-material cutting tool. The so-called EZ Shear cuts many different materials, including laminate flooring, engineered hardwood flooring, vinyl

Sometimes a man just needs a room of his own where he can unwind and indulge his passion for baseball and beer. That's what the man cave is all about.

And some men? Well, they might also need to express their passion for cars. Or movies. Or ... taxidermy. That's where these amazing man caves from the Man Cave Site come in.

We've collected almost two dozen photos of the most extreme man caves we could find to inspire you. You might not believe your eyes.

CLICK THE PHOTO TO GO TO OUR MAGNIFICENT MAN CAVES SLIDESHOW

Have we got you feeling like a kid again? Then take some tips from our "D-I-Why Not?" video host, Jeff Meacham, who shows homeowner Brian how to make space for his children's toys as well as his own big-boy toys.

The trick is how to store toys away - ready for the kids' playtime at a moment's notice - while also allowing room for typical man cave items like a cabinet bar, wall-mounted TV, comfy seating, tables for snacks, and sports memorabilia.

Follow the video tips and

Boo!

There, did I get your attention? I hope you're thinking about decorating for Halloween as much as I am these days!

It's never too early to begin planning which jack-o'-lantern designs you'll make this year as a spooky display for your front window, porch, yard or driveway.

Every autumn, my daughter and I begin dreaming up fresh pumpkin faces as soon as there's a hint of chill in the air. And we're getting more imaginative with our designs every year (some fun creative competition!).

And now's the best time for you to get a jump on the Halloween season, too, with a few handy pumpkin-carving tools and some popular jack-o'-lantern patterns.

After all, every would-be pumpkin Picasso can use a little help!

A tour of the Web provides a selection of some top-flight pumpkin-carving tools to do the trick (or treat):

From Williams-Sonoma comes a set of tools with everything you need to scoop out and carve your pumpkin, down to the last crooked tooth (shown).

Four tools made of stainless