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.

Photo: mjas/morguefile.com

What Can I Expect From Roof Inspection Cost in 2013?

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Sep 19, 2013

There's an old joke about business consultants that goes something like this: If you ask a consultant what time it is he'll look at your watch and tell you. Many homeowners might...

Photo: Lloyd Morgan/Flickr.com

We Tested It: Moka Coffee

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Sep 12, 2013

As with many things food-related, the Italians are peerless at the art of making coffee. Walk into any bar on any street in any town in Italy and ask for a caffé, and you'll...

Photo: Pedro J. Perez/morguefile.com

How Do I Apply for a Roofing Permit?

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Sep 04, 2013

First of all, you get a gold star just for asking the question How do I apply for a roofing permit? This shows that you have at least some inclination to do things by the book, or...

Photo: johnglenn513/morguefile.com

Fall Maintenance: The Short List

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Aug 23, 2013

Feel like your list of important tasks to get done in that precious little time between boiling hot summer and frigid fall is getting longer every day? The kids are starting school,...

Photo: kconnors/morguefile.com

Fall Maintenance: End-of-Summer Gardening Tips

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Aug 20, 2013

It's easy to get the gardening bug in springtime, when we humans ourselves feel like new sprouts finally getting out into the sun (or, for some of us, like vampires emerging from...

Photo: Rachael Voorhees/Flickr.com

Fall Maintenance: Freezeproof Faucets

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Aug 13, 2013

If you live in an area with frosty winters, you know the agony of exploding pipes and the pain of preventive maintenance to stop the issue before it starts. Particularly cold cities...

How to Fix a Garage Door Gap

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jul 28, 2013

A garage door gap of almost any size is an invitation to unwanted guests. Gaps along the sides and top of the door let in wind, rain and snow, and gaps along the floor let in not...

Help! My Central Air Stopped Working!

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jul 28, 2013

Which is worse: your furnace quitting in the middle of a cold snap or the AC conking out during a heat wave? If you're like most people, your answer probably changes with the weather....

Flaking Paint on Outside Walls

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jul 28, 2013

Cracking, flaking paint on outside walls is one example of what pros call paint failure. It's a tough world out there, and there are many ways for a once-beautiful coating of color...

Flor tiles. Photo by Philip Schmidt.

FLOR Modular Carpet Tiles

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Feb 27, 2013

After decades as the flooring equivalent of a sturdy cotton housedress, carpeting has achieved what may be its final stage of evolution. And we're not talking about a more stain-resistant...