QDEAR TIM: The house I grew up in has slate tile that seemed to be a random mix of squares and rectangles. I'd like to install this material in my home. Is that a job that a beginner can tackle ...

Q: My front hall floor is trashed from all of the kids’ traffic that comes in and out. I would like to install a new floor but I am not sure what material will hold up best. I am not on a tight budget ...

Dear James: The foyer floor by the front door has taken a beating from the children over the past 10 years. It is stain-resistant and available in a variety of shapes, surfaces and colors. When ...

Q. I have decided to install a slate floor in my kitchen. What must I do to make sure the slate will stay adhered to the floor? What tools will I need? Can I apply the slate to a wood subfloor? Will ...

Harnessing the sun’s warmth to heat water is an approach fading in popularity in many places where solar power is already used, but it still makes sense for especially sunny places like Spain. Because ...

Key Points Avoid high-maintenance, trendy floors like marble, carpet, and glossy finishes.Stick with timeless, durable ...

Recently, I wrote a column about how to get ceramic tile grout clean. I received quite a few thank-you notes via the “Ask Tim” page at AsktheBuilder.com. It’s always gratifying to hear from you that I ...