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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: home improvement

home improvement stories: 9 news summaries

 DIY Projects Go Frugal 


Aug 22, 09 7:26 AM CDT
(Newser) - With the five-figure granite-countertopped kitchen overhaul now an emblem of prerecession excess, home-improvement chains are seeking a new niche for themselves in more frugal times, the New York Times reports. DIY projects these days have shifted from upgrades to maintenance—consumers won't redo the bathroom but will fix the leaky... More »

MORE ABOUT:
home improvement • recession • Home Depot • Lowe's

MARKETS

 Dow Falls 186, 
 Biggest Drop Since July 2 

Worldwide shocks worry investors

Aug 17, 09 3:32 PM CDT
(Newser) - Stocks continued to decline after drops in world markets proved to be contagious at the open, with the Dow falling the most since July 2, the Wall Street Journal reports. The worldwide stock decline had investors scrambling to Treasurys and other safe havens. Home-improvement retailer Lowe's fell 10% after reporting... More »

MORE ABOUT:
home improvement • Dow Jones • Nasdaq • Nikkei • Hang Seng • S&P 500

 'Insourcing' Is 
 Recession's 
 DIY Buzzword 

From hairdressing to gardening, 'insourcing' is hot

Feb 26, 09 11:00 AM CST
(Newser) - The recession is prompting Americans to forgo luxuries—and that means doing for themselves what they would once have paid someone else to do, the Washington Post reports. Starter sewing-kit sales have soared 30%; landscapers are losing business; customers are forsaking salons to dye their own hair. The trend is... More »

MORE ABOUT:
home improvement • recession • Target • Wal-Mart • service industry • economy • financial crisis • do-it-yourself • insourcing

Nation Cooking on Radioactive Countertops

That fancy granite may contain more uranium than is good for you

Jul 24, 08 10:07 AM CDT
(Newser) - Granite countertops have become exceedingly popular, but few realize the dapper slabs can be radioactive, the New York Times reports. Granite often contains uranium, and reports have been flowing in of “hot” counters giving off higher-than-recommended levels of radon gas. “It’s not that all granite is dangerous,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
cancer • home improvement • radiation • uranium • kitchen • granite countertops • radon

 'Do-It-Yourself'
 Can Be Fightin' Words 

35% of British homeowners admit to house-related disputes

May 4, 08 12:18 PM CDT
(Newser) - Adrian starts painting in the middle, but Hannah wants the wall layered methodically. Adrian storms out, and Hannah works alone. The DIY dispute is no anomaly: 35% of British homeowners said in a recent study that home improvements caused domestic rifts. Underlying the debates on paint color and floorboards is... More »

MORE ABOUT:
home improvement • marriage • psychology • fight • therapy • relationship • couples

 DIY Home Care—Not So Hard 

Homeowners only need a few simple tools and a little know-how

Apr 8, 08 4:04 PM CDT
(Newser) - Homeowners can save big bucks on maintenance and keep their houses shipshape by mastering 10 simple skills, Allen Norwood observes for McClatchy Newspapers:
  1. Swap out your door locks: Remove a few bolts and screws and easily replace an existing lock for a new one.
  2. Become familiar with your
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
home improvement • list • repair • homeownership • home renovation • utility tools • maintenance

Dour Housing Market Slams Home Depot Q4 Results

Profits drop 27%, and the company says 2008 isn't looking very bright

Feb 26, 08 8:23 AM CST
(Newser) - Continuing US housing market woes, showing no signs of letting up, helped drag Home Depot’s fourth quarter profits down 27% over the same quarter last year, to $671 million from $925 million. The world’s largest home-improvement retailer also predicted fiscal-year earnings will drop 19% to 24%, more than... More »

MORE ABOUT:
home improvement • housing market • construction • corporate earnings • Home Depot • Robert Nardelli • Lowe's • retail sales • housing crisis

10 Lies Homeowners Tell Buyers

Few are above making a fib or two part of the sales pitch

Feb 8, 08 6:41 PM CST
(Newser) - When a homeowner is desperate to sell and a buyer is ready to fork over the cash, the truth about a house is often swept under the rug, MSNBC reports. Watch out for frequent fibs when talking about:
  1. Personality of neighbors and the neighborhood.
  2. Status of home repairs
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
home improvement • housing market • list • homes • infestation • homeowners • existing home sales • water damage

Fireplaces Heat Up Backyards

The wood may be for show, but the status boost is for real

Mar 21, 07 2:54 PM CDT
(Newser) - The outdoor fireplace is the latest must-have for obsessive upgraders—at least those with backyards. With built-in stereo systems, refrigerators, and price tags that run to $80,000, these oversized hearths often come with a just-for-show wood pile, though they run on gas. More »

MORE ABOUT:
families • home improvement • backyards • fireplaces • backyard fireplaces • landscaping

9 Stories


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