(BPT) - Builders are back in business, and new-home construction is up in areas across the country. So is remodeling, as plenty of Americans choose to stay put and upgrade their current homes rather than tackle the challenge of buying and moving into something new.

(NewsUSA) - If you own a home, hot water availability can significantly impact how many daily tasks are accomplished, but it doesn't have to be that way. What if you could check a number of to-dos off your daily list -- such as laundry, dishwashing, showers, baths for the kids and perhaps one for yourself -- without having to devise a hot-water schedule? Well, you can.

Catalina State Park is a 5,500-acre gem, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. They are drawn by views of the soaring Catalina Mountains, the miles of hiking and biking trails, the overnight camping and equestrian areas and the rich and varied program of activities organized by Park rangers and volunteers.

Consider Rep. Melvin’s statement that “Wind and solar are nice, but they cannot power private sector industry more than the 1 to 2 percent they are doing now.”

 (NAPSA)—Did you know that easy-to-fix household leaks could waste at least 10,000 gallons of water per year (and 10 percent of your water bill)? Join thousands of Americans all over the country this week in taking just 10 minutes to check for household water leaks.

With weather forecasts in the mid-20's over the next several days, it is time to protect those pipes. The Oro Valley Water Utility would like to remind residents of some simple steps they can take to reduce damage caused by freezing.

(BPT) - This is the time of year when homes need a little TLC as winter’s harsh weather can batter windows, assault rooftops and damage pipes. Luckily, there are several easy tasks to include on home maintenance checklists and most of them are no-cost and low-cost chores that could end up saving homeowners big bucks.

(BPT) - Adding a bathroom to your home remains one of the most popular and rewarding home improvements you can make. In fact, when you sell your home, you can expect to recoup more than 50 percent of the cost of a bathroom addition, according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report. Creating a new bathroom where none currently exists can, however, be among the more challenging home improvements you can make.

(BPT) - Whether you’re a hosting aficionado or a novice entertainer, planning a party at home can carry a certain level of stress.

Progressive Plumbing is a family owned business providing quality plumbing services to scores of happy customers in the Tucson area since 1986. We are famous for our friendly, drug-screened, background verified and continually trained plumbing staff who are attentive to you, the homeowner as we meet all your plumbing needs. Progressive Plumbing is licensed and experienced to perform both residential and commercial plumbing work from the smallest repair to any sized project our clients might want to undertake.

In planning a basement remodel, your goal is to carve out living space that feels comfortable and looks like a natural extension of your home. As you explore design ideas for your basement remodeling project, make sure to include a new basement ceiling. While drywall is always an option, suspended ceilings offer many more benefits – both in style and performance features.

(BPT) - There are showers, and then there are luxurious “showering experiences,” that wake you up in the morning, and refresh you after a long day of work. It’s one thing to enjoy a spa-like setting when actually in a spa, and paying spa prices, and another thing to know you can saunter into a spa each and every day in your home for a mental and physical energy-boosting experience.

Since my childhood I’ve gotten excited about the holidays because people seemed enjoyably different, more social, less negative, and, of course, I woke up and found stuff with my name on it under the Christmas tree that dad and I selected. Most of the packages contained items that I may have nonchalantly mentioned to my parents as being possible gift partialities. They often added a few great selections on their own. 

(NewsUSA) - Wall-hung boilers are here to stay in North America. The reason is simple: appliances, like a wall-hung boiler, are often cutting home heating and hot water bills in half, while freeing up valuable living space and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Oro Valley Town Council voted 7-0 to deny the implementation of a Town-recommended Building Safety Board of Appeals on Oct. 17.

Between books, toys and years of accumulated “stuff,” a home can feel cluttered.  And most families quickly run out of available storage space.

Between books, toys and years of accumulated “stuff,” a home can feel cluttered.  And most families quickly run out of available storage space.

(BPT) - - Your home - it's your castle, your sanctuary. But could the place you go to escape the rest of the world be bad for you? Formaldehyde, chloroform and even asbestos could be in your home and you may not even know it.

To sit or to squat? If you've ever used a public restroom, you've likely faced the dilemma of how to protect your patootie from a toilet that looks like it hasn't seen a scrubbing brush since the creation of indoor plumbing.

Next month we will be celebrating our mothers. On Mother’s Day we thank them for raising us, caring for us and being there for us with gifts, hugs and sometimes tears. This year, instead of just telling mom how great she is in person, The Explorer is looking for you to tell thousands of people just how you feel about your mom. Through the “What makes your mom great?” contest, we are taking essays and will be handing out prizes for that special day.