This Week’s Web Winners: Home Improvement

BUBBLE SHMUBBLE

Housing prices may not be soaring as they had been. That only means this could be time to spruce up the old castle. Go to the Web for ideas and step by steps for improving your personal space.

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DO IT

The glitzy DIY Network site has do-it-yourself instructions for hundreds of fix-ups, and a section on house building. Check here for the gritty details, with cost estimates, on repairing or installing tiles, kitchen cabinets, fireplaces and hundreds of other projects.

www.diynetwork.com/

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HUD HELP

The federal government insures loans meant to assist with rehabilitation and repairs of homes for low-income families. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s site gives the particulars, and can direct you to the lenders. Despite the friendly front page here, the jargon does get a bit thick.

www.hud.gov/improvements/

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ASK A BUILDER

Tim Carter’s Web site explains things to help you decide among the myriad of possible improvements for your home. What’s a heat pump, anyway? Why is oxygen bleach safer to use than chlorine bleach to kill mold?

www.askthebuilder.com

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ANOTHER TIM

Comic actor Tim Allen is still many people’s idea of the home-improvement specialist, due to the TV sitcom he starred in as Tim “The Toolman” Taylor. This is a fan site for the old show.

www.morepower.com/homeimpr.html

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ENERGY STAR

Check here for advice on improving the energy efficiency of your current home. Instructions for diagnosing and fixing problems such as cold floors, roof ice dams, and winter dryness inside your house.

www.energystar.gov/

You can take tax credits for some of the money you spend on energy-saving improvements such as insulation. Here are the particulars.

www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits

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SCAM ALERTS

The Better Business Bureau has a list of things for potential home-improvers to watch out for _ particularly contractor scams _ but also including hidden costs, insurance needs and storm preparedness.

www.bbb.org/Alerts/Home.asp

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Reid Kanaley: rkanaley@phillynews.com

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