Stories

A chipped porcelain sink can look worse than it is. Small impact marks around the bowl, tap holes or draining area are often repairable with a porcelain…

A smart lock can make daily life easier by replacing a traditional key with a PIN, phone app, fingerprint reader or proximity tag. It still depends on a basic…

Australia's bushfire seasons have grown longer and more severe over the past decade, with record-breaking events in the Adelaide Hills, the Blue Mountains and…

A wobbly handrail is one of those repairs that tends to get put off, yet it carries real risk on a busy stairway. In Australian homes, where multi-level…

There's a particular frustration reserved for the moment you press the button on your garage remote, hear the motor whirr, watch the door glide halfway down,…

A well-planned privacy hedge can screen a neighbouring house, soften a boundary and provide useful shade through every season. The best result comes from…

Basement wall condensation occurs when warm, moisture-laden air meets a colder surface. Water vapour turns into droplets on concrete, masonry, pipes, or…

A gutter pulling away from the fascia is more than an untidy gap under the roofline. Once the gutter tilts, rainwater can spill over the back or front edge,…

A clean chimney flue helps smoke, combustion gases and fine particles leave the house safely. Soot and creosote can restrict airflow, create unpleasant odours…

Pruning fruit trees is a practical way to improve sunlight, airflow, fruit size and picking access. Removing the wrong branches at the wrong time, however, can…