The outside of your house, from the roof down to the footing
Straight answers about gutters, flashing, chimney crowns, foundation cracks, driveway millings and the rest of the exterior. Each guide gives you the sizes, code numbers and prices that matter, and says where they come from.
Topics
- Roofing
Metal, shingles, pitch and flashing
- Gutters
Styles, materials and downspouts
- Siding & Soffit
Cedar, PVC and a soffit calculator
- Chimneys
Crowns, chase covers and dampers
- Foundations & Septic
Cracks, piers and drain fields
- Driveways
Millings, chip seal and gravel
- Yard & Outdoor
Stone, walls, gates and railings
- Heating & Cooling
Heat pumps, mini splits and ducts
Calculators
- Soffit calculator
Panels, channel and attic intake vent area.
- CFM duct chart
How much air a round duct carries, and what size you need.
- Roof pitch to degrees
Convert any roof pitch to degrees, grade and area multiplier.
How these guides are made
We work from manufacturer installation instructions, the International Residential Code and government sources, and we link to them at the end of each guide. We don't sell anything and no one pays to be mentioned. The details are in our editorial policy.