Expert Advice for your Lawn & Garden TV Host of Today's Homeowner^® and home expert for The Weather Channel

Shutters have been around for hundreds of years. Originally used on the inside of windows before glass, shutters provided protection for homeowners from pests and the elements. In the nineteenth century, shutters slowly made their way to the exterior of homes. People chose to use shutters not only for protection but also for decoration. Since then, shutters have come a long way and are now available in a variety of sizes, styles and finishes.

Whether you’re considering slate with copper flashing or something a little more modest, a new roof is a major investment that typically runs into the thousands, even for the ordinary three-tab asphalt shingles that cover most houses. The materials themselves represent a relatively small portion of the bill. The bulk of what you’ll spend goes for the skilled labor involved. And that makes choosing an experienced pro the best way to protect your investment and ensure a leakproof job. Simple, right? Unfortunately, roofing is an easy-entry business that requires little more than a pickup, a ladder and some basic tools to get started.

Whether you are selling your home or just want to update its tired look, that first impression your home gives from the street or sidewalk-its curb appeal-is key to how your house is perceived. And at the very center of curb appeal is your front door and the area around it. It’s where you welcome the world to your home, and it sets the tone for your entire house. The good news is that upgrading the impression your front door gives the world can be accomplished for as little as a few hundred dollars. It’s really a matter of dressing up what you have with some strategic replacements and additions.

These homeowners are adding a deck and additional outdoor cooking space to an already great backyard so they can further enjoy their outdoors. Their backyard wasn’t unattractive by any means but it wasn’t really appropriate for entertaining nor did it transition well to the existing concrete patio.

With the weather warming up homeowners are ready for weekends spent outdoors, but you don’t want to end up constantly maintaining your new decks, patios, and walkways. There are a number of things Danny shared in the Satellite Media Tour including many tips and solutions for homeowners as well as the latest news on materials and products now available to help you make your outdoor projects not only easier and quicker to do, but virtually maintenance free as well.

Spring means spending time outdoors and for many of us that means our own little backyard paradise. However a suitable surface for the barbecue grill, table, and chairs is a must. Here are some tips for creating your own custom paver patio.

As long as there are homes and cars there will be driveways. Danny demonstrates how to properly seal, protect and maintain asphalt driveways. Plus, take a look at other options for driveways. While driveway surfaces (concrete or asphalt for most of the country) are incredibly resilient, they do require some attention so they’ll last as long as they should.

To meet the needs of a growing family, we convert an existing underused carport into a 13′x15′ playroom for the family’s three children. Plus, there’s enough room for two storage rooms and a grilling station for Mom and Dad. Although time consuming to create, a custom tapered roof with modified rafters and rolled roofing material provided the needed slope to solve drainage problems.

I’ve had plenty of phone calls over the years from homeowners who are convinced they have to reside their entire house because some of their siding has been damaged by water. Yet when we take a look at these jobs, we often find that relatively little siding has to be replaced. Even better, the homeowners are surprised to learn that the fiber-cement siding we use as a replacement is often a perfect match for what they have. What’s more, it resists damage from water and insects.

Whether you’re creating a brick landing for a new set of steps or forming a small brick path, the trick is to get a nice sub surface to support the bricks. You’ll need a nice smooth surface but also one with a consistent depth, otherwise some bricks may be higher or lower than others creating a tripping hazard. To create a smooth surface create a screed (the same tool concrete finishers use to smooth out concrete).