4+ mon, 1+ day ago  (252+ words) Santa Barbara Clean Energy (SBCE) is offering a new program from the Home Electrification Accelerator Program (HEAP) with incentives for heat pump heating, ventilation, and air conditioning(HVAC) systems, which efficiently heat and cool homes. SBCE customers who own single-family…...

5+ day, 51+ min ago  (532+ words) Dear James: My son just left for college, and his bedroom walls are pretty worn with quite a few holes. What are some tips to repair them so they look like new? Dear Lyle: Most homes today are built with…...

6+ mon, 2+ week ago  (476+ words) Dear James: There is some unsightly paint blistering spot on our wood lap siding. What causes the paint blistering? What is the best way to repair just these blistered spots? Dear Dennis: In addition to looking bad, blistering and peeling…...

3+ mon, 2+ week ago  (626+ words) The 3D-printed affordable home project proposed by the Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County has collapsed. The Housing Trust Fund has terminated the project, citing a variety of factors, including cost overruns, seismic requirements and challenges finding a printer....

3+ mon, 3+ week ago  (525+ words) Dear James: We are planning to use cultured marble in our bathroom upgrade instead of tile. Is it easier to keep clean and to install myself to keep on budget? Dear Jay: Cultured marble is an excellent choice, particularly if…...

4+ mon, 3+ day ago  (503+ words) Dear James: Our older house is not very soundproof. Do you have tips for making it quieter both in this old house and for when we plan and design our future house? Dear Steve: Inadequate soundproofing, especially from outdoor noise,…...

4+ mon, 2+ week ago  (560+ words) Dear James: I weatherstripped my windows last year, but I can still feel a draft near them on windy days. What else can I do myself to reduce these air leaks? Dear Troy: Most air leaks by windows can be…...

5+ mon, 3+ day ago  (848+ words) Question: Water drips inside our living room from the top of the sliding glass door frame whenever we have rain for a day or two. There are quite a few cracks in the stucco wall above the sliding glass door…...

5+ mon, 1+ week ago  (478+ words) Many people started new hobbies during the COVID-19 pandemic, but few turned them into a business. Even though Rollin Gartzke, the owner of 805 Pool Table Services, had an interest in pool and played in a local league, his first real…...

5+ mon, 2+ week ago  (676+ words) I call it a hall tree. It's an antique piece of furniture with hooks for coats, a lovely mirror and two umbrella stands " each with a tin plate to catch the drips. My husband surprised me with it one Christmas…...