Philip Schmidt

Philip Schmidt

Philip lives in Colorado with his wife, two daughters, and too many leftover building materials. He has been teaching readers how to do things for almost two decades. A former carpenter, project designer specializing in houses and everything we do with them and longtime writer and editor, he is the author of 24 books, including PlyDesign: 73 Distinctive DIY Projects in Plywood (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007T1PJ36/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1), Little Free Libraries and Tiny Sheds: 12 Miniature Structures You Can Build to Enhance Your Yard or Neighborhood (https://www.amazon.com/Little-Free-Libraries-Tiny-Sheds-ebook/dp/B07QFG3ZBP), Black and Decker the complete guide to treehouses: Design and Build Your Kids a Treehouse (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008D1PIT6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1), The Complete Guide to Greenhouses & Garden Projects: Greenhouses, Cold Frames, Compost Bins, Trellises, Planting Beds, Potting Benches & More (https://www.amazon.com/Decker-Complete-Greenhouses-Garden-Projects-ebook/dp/B005CDCX50), The Complete Guide to DIY Greenhouses, Install Your Own Solar Panels: Designing and Installing a Photovoltaic System to Power Your Home, DIY Solar Projects - Updated Edition: Small Projects to Whole-home Systems: Tap Into the Sun, The Complete Guide to a Clutter-Free Home, The Complete Guide to Contemporary Sheds: Complete plans for 12 Sheds, Including Garden Outbuilding, Storage Lean-to, Playhouse, Woodland Cottage, Hobby Studio, Lawn Tractor Barn, Schaum's Outline of Elementary Algebra, Decorating with Architectural Details, Install Your Own Solar Panels: Designing and Installing a Photovoltaic System to Power Your Home, Ultimate Guide: Trimwork, Upgrade Your House: 100 DIY Repairs Improvements For Under $100, The Complete Guide to Attics & Basements, The Complete Guide to a Green Home: The Good Citizen's Guide to Earth-Friendly Remodeling & Home Maintenance, Craftsman Router Techniques; A Comprehensive Guide to Using Routers, Molding & Medallions: Four Easy Weekend Projects (eHow Easy DIY Kindle Book Series), McGraw-Hill's 500 College Algebra and Trigonometry Questions: Ace Your College Exams: 3 Reading Tests + 3 Writing Tests + 3 Mathematics Tests, Black Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Treehouses: Design and Build Treehouses for All Ages, Don't Sweat It... Hire It!, The Complete Guide to the Green Home, Decorating with Architectural Details, and The Complete Guide to Treehouses.

Understanding the Cost of New Shingles

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Photo of roofers installing new shingles by DolfinDans/Flickr. If you've ever had a roof replaced, you know that the majority of the cost is in the labor. But that doesn't mean the...

Help for a Clanking Radiator

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Photo of a radiator by GeS/Flickr. Old steam radiators can make more racket than Marley's ghost and are no less disturbing to one's sleep. But if you're pretty sure it's not an...

Grout Colors Primer

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Whether you play it safe or go bold, choosing a grout color should never be an afterthought. If you’ve ever gone through the careful process of selecting frames for artwork,...

Tile Cost Estimates

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Photo of a retail tile display by deanj/Flickr. Done right, tile ain't cheap. Quality materials and meticulous installation come with a price, but the payoff is a beautiful, nearly...

Help! My Roof is Sagging!

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

If your roof's ridge is starting to take the shape of a saddle, you might look on the bright side and consider it a "Western" décor detail. On the other hand, there are better...

Help! My Deck is Collapsing!

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Oops! The deck collapsed. Photo by GSEC/Flickr. A deck collapse, in most contexts, means the deck platform is heading earthward. If this is the case with your elevated deck, how...

Roof Replacement Deductibles

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Photo of a roof replacement project by DolfinDans/Flickr. Just to make sure we're all on the same page of fine print, a deductible is a specific amount of money that you the homeowner...

Roof Replacement Scams

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Photo of a roof being replaced (not a scam) by Bryn Pinzgauer/Flickr Creative Commons. You've heard of ambulance chasers and snake oil salesman. And you might remember the "before/after"...

What Does a Restoration Carpenter Do?

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Historic houses like this one would need a restoration carpenter to do restoration work. Photo by ExperienceLA/Flickr. Carpenters by nature are well-rounded tradespeople. The essence...

Cleaning Dog Pee on Carpet

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Photo of an extremely cute English Mastiff by Ocean Yamaha/Flickr. I went shopping for a vacuum recently, and it seems that every vacuum in the world, in one way or another, is...