Read more home improvement stories on Newserhttp://www.newser.com/taggrid/494/home-improvement.html2009 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorTue, 24 Nov 2009 11:19:07 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/67488/diy-projects-go-frugal.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagWith the five-figure granite-countertopped kitchen overhaul now an emblem of prerecession excess, home-improvement chains are seeking a new niche for themselves in more frugal times, the New York Times reports. DIY projects these days have shifted from upgrades to maintenance—consumers won't redo the bathroom but will fix the leaky...http://www.newser.com/story/67488/diy-projects-go-frugal.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagSat, 22 Aug 2009 7:26:25 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/67129/dow-falls-186-biggest-drop-since-july-2.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagStocks continued to decline after drops in world markets proved to be contagious at the open, with the Dow falling the most since July 2, the Wall Street Journal reports. The worldwide stock decline had investors scrambling to Treasurys and other safe havens. Home-improvement retailer Lowe's fell 10% after reporting...http://www.newser.com/story/67129/dow-falls-186-biggest-drop-since-july-2.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagMon, 17 Aug 2009 15:32:41 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/51883/insourcing-is-recessions-diy-buzzword.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagThe recession is prompting Americans to forgo luxuries—and that means doing for themselves what they would once have paid someone else to do, the Washington Post reports. Starter sewing-kit sales have soared 30%; landscapers are losing business; customers are forsaking salons to dye their own hair. The trend is...http://www.newser.com/story/51883/insourcing-is-recessions-diy-buzzword.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagThu, 26 Feb 2009 11:00:02 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/33250/nation-cooking-on-radioactive-countertops.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagGranite countertops have become exceedingly popular, but few realize the dapper slabs can be radioactive, the New York Times reports. Granite often contains uranium, and reports have been flowing in of “hot” counters giving off higher-than-recommended levels of radon gas. “It’s not that all granite is dangerous,” said one expert....http://www.newser.com/story/33250/nation-cooking-on-radioactive-countertops.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagThu, 24 Jul 2008 10:07:49 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/26402/do-it-yourself-can-be-fightin-words.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagAdrian starts painting in the middle, but Hannah wants the wall layered methodically. Adrian storms out, and Hannah works alone. The DIY dispute is no anomaly: 35% of British homeowners said in a recent study that home improvements caused domestic rifts. Underlying the debates on paint color and floorboards is...http://www.newser.com/story/26402/do-it-yourself-can-be-fightin-words.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagSun, 04 May 2008 12:18:00 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/23581/diy-home-care-not-so-hard.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagHomeowners can save big bucks on maintenance and keep their houses shipshape by mastering 10 simple skills, Allen Norwood observes for McClatchy Newspapers: Swap out your door locks: Remove a few bolts and screws and easily replace an existing lock for a new one. Become familiar with your filters: Note...http://www.newser.com/story/23581/diy-home-care-not-so-hard.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagTue, 08 Apr 2008 16:04:05 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/20076/dour-housing-market-slams-home-depot-q4-results.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagContinuing US housing market woes, showing no signs of letting up, helped drag Home Depot’s fourth quarter profits down 27% over the same quarter last year, to $671 million from $925 million. The world’s largest home-improvement retailer also predicted fiscal-year earnings will drop 19% to 24%, more than twice the...http://www.newser.com/story/20076/dour-housing-market-slams-home-depot-q4-results.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagTue, 26 Feb 2008 8:23:08 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/18444/10-lies-homeowners-tell-buyers.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagWhen a homeowner is desperate to sell and a buyer is ready to fork over the cash, the truth about a house is often swept under the rug, MSNBC reports. Watch out for frequent fibs when talking about: Personality of neighbors and the neighborhood. Status of home repairs (particularly the...http://www.newser.com/story/18444/10-lies-homeowners-tell-buyers.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagFri, 08 Feb 2008 18:41:07 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/750/fireplaces-heat-up-backyards.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagThe outdoor fireplace is the latest must-have for obsessive upgraders—at least those with backyards. With built-in stereo systems, refrigerators, and price tags that run to $80,000, these oversized hearths often come with a just-for-show wood pile, though they run on gas.http://www.newser.com/story/750/fireplaces-heat-up-backyards.html?utm_source=syn&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tagWed, 21 Mar 2007 14:54:54 CDT