Categories House Renovation

HGTV’s “Rico to the Rescue” showcases Denver’s worst home renovations

Rico León has seen far more botched home renovation projects than the average Denverite. As a self-described “advocate for desperate families,” he has been helping locals navigate their worst construction nightmares by mediating with general contractors or taking on that role himself to help projects reach the finish line.

Now anyone with access to HGTV can watch – and commission – as León tackles half-baked home projects around Denver in a new series called “Rico to the Rescue,” which airs Saturdays.

León, a Pittsburgh native, got his start as a salesman for Roto-Rooter, bidding jobs for emergency restoration caused by

Categories House Renovation

Home Improvement Project? 5 Questions to Ask Before You DIY

It’s easy to find online tutorials to help you turn certain home improvements into DIY projects, and you can potentially save money by doing so.

But it’s also important to consider factors other than costs and convenience when deciding whether to complete a DIY home upgrade.

Before picking up a sledgehammer, ask yourself the following questions.

1. Is it really a simple project?

If the project is relatively small and simple — think installing a faucet or repainting your guest bedroom — attempting to DIY is probably fine. In fact, it might be a great confidence builder, especially if you’re

Categories House Renovation

Is Shiplap Overrated? Experts Weight In

It’s time to have an overdue chat about Shiplap. Now, before you distract yourself with another episode of Fixer Uppers, you have to accept that even Chip and Joanna Gaines would like to be known for more than fomenting a cult-like obsession around the beloved accent. And there’s a reason it’s beloved! Stained, painted, or natural—the wall treatment can be appealing, adding visual interest and texture! But if we’re honest, the overused design feature loses a bit of its charm every time we see it—which is, at this point, too often. In short: There’s an oversaturation of shiplap.

“There is

Categories House Renovation

TikTokers accuse HGTV renovation shows of cutting corners and ‘ruining’ homes: ‘So incredibly shady’

TikTokers are claiming that HGTV renovation shows (specifically “Fixer Upper” and “Renovation Impossible”) cut corners on their construction jobs for the sake of TV magic — and their revolutionary videos are going viral.

While we’ve seen many home renovations go viral for their happy endings — like the couple who purchased and renovated Marilyn Monroe’s final home with Joe DiMaggio — these TikToks instead claim to be cautionary tales against the alleged dangers of design shows.

The quality of the construction done by these renovations shows isn’t the only thing being called into question, either. Many are wondering if the

Categories House Renovation

3 suspects sought in allegations downtown Toronto home renovation scam

Toronto police are asking for the public’s help identifying three suspects who are confidently convinced a homeowner their roof needs repairs before demanding cash.

Police said an unknown man knocked on the door of a residence in the area of ​​Henry and Baldwin streets on March 10.

He allegedly told the homeowner that he was a home renovator and the owner’s roof needed repairs. After demanding to be let inside, the man, along with two other men, entered the home, the police said in a media release issued Thursday.

Shortly after, the three men allegedly advised the homeowner the roof

Categories House Renovation

Child safety among aims in $592,000 underway renovation at Arkansas Governor’s Mansion

Arkansas’ Governor’s Mansion is in the midst of a privately financed renovation with an estimated cost of $592,000 for construction that started at the end of February and is tracking to wrap up at the end of April, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ spokeswoman said.

There were improvements that had to be made for the safety of Sanders’ three children, and the project includes renovating the upstairs living space and bedrooms, spokeswoman Alexa Henning said.

“This is the first time in decades young children have lived in the mansion,” Henning said last week in a statement responding to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s

Categories House Renovation

Beacon House is a San Francisco renovation story

The San Francisco midcentury gem that is Beacon House has an interesting origin story. Built in the 1960s to the era’s modernist architecture style, full of wood, soft light and open spaces, it is now the family home of an architect and a biologit, who one day, walking down the street, saw it and joked that this would be their ideal home. Their dream soon became a reality when the residence went on the market, and the couple quickly snapped it up. They then went to family friend Vivian Lee of architecture studio Edmonds + Lee, to help with the