All articles – First House Fixes

Daylight Under the Back Door: Replacing a Worn Threshold

Posted on October 7, 2026In Repairs & Fixes

You could see daylight under the back door at sunrise. Pulling the worn oak threshold for an adjustable one and a new sweep, $58 in an afternoon.

Posted on October 3, 2026In Energy & Utilities

New furnace, a new filter routine and insulation in its second winter. What we did in early October and the gas numbers we'll measure against.

Posted on September 27, 2026In Yard & Exterior

The maple side fills twice every fall. $168 of stainless mesh guards on 52 feet of gutter, against a $3,900 whole-house quote. How it went.

Posted on September 22, 2026In Homeowner Money

We skipped the renewal in 2025, then the water heater died. Fresh quotes from three warranty companies and who I think a plan really suits.

Posted on September 15, 2026In Weekend Projects

One year married, two and a half years in the house. The projects we do well as a team, and the floor-sanding day we agreed never to repeat.

Posted on September 10, 2026In Tools & Workshop

A $40 dust separator lid on a bucket changed how I use our shop vac. Plus the filter and hose upgrades that made drywall dust manageable.

Posted on September 5, 2026In Yard & Exterior

A rented core aerator, 10 pounds of seed and a sprinkler on a timer. Fixing our thin, plow-scraped front lawn in late August for $167.

Posted on August 30, 2026In Homeowner Money

A year after escrow raised our payment by $271, PMI is gone and the shortage is paid off. Our new payment is $1,929. How the numbers shook out.

Posted on August 25, 2026In Energy & Utilities

Our 1998 furnace went out on our schedule, not in January. Three quotes, a $650 chimney liner surprise and a $250 Consumers Energy rebate.

Posted on August 11, 2026In Weekend Projects

Our kitchen counters sat in shadow. Plug-in LED bars, an inline switch and careful cord routing lit them up for $112, with no wall work at all.