Home Construction and Design

Deciding to design and build your dream home opens the door to an exciting new chapter. However, home construction and design require a practical approach that encompasses all of the moving parts and anticipates any potential challenges. Whether you're just diving in or needing advice for a particular phase of the project, you'll find what you need with our library of helpful resources, checklists, and cost guides.

A woman in sitting behind a desk
Photo: Getty Images 1210334452 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
A woman in sitting behind a desk
Photo: Getty Images 1210334452 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Explore top articles
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
A contractor in front of a new construction
May 6, 2025
May 6, 2025
The cost to rebuild a house after a disaster or demolition depends on the house size, features, and more. Learn what affects the cost to rebuild a house.
White house patio family table
May 9, 2025
May 9, 2025
Dreaming of building your own home from the ground up? Learn how much it costs to build a house yourself and if it’s worth it to skip the pro on this project.
Mother and daughter running upstairs
May 9, 2025
May 9, 2025
While it isn't easy to expand your property, you can consider building up. The cost of adding a second story has quite the range. We'll break it down here.
Homeowners talk over their new houses' plans with builder
Dec 2, 2024
Dec 2, 2024
Building your dream home starts with hiring a builder. Here is how to find a builder who understands your needs and preferences for your brand-new home.
White mobile home
Dec 5, 2024
Dec 5, 2024
Looking to compare a mobile home vs. a tiny home? Here, we share the significant differences, including the best lifestyles for each home type.
Shipping container house orange door patio
Apr 24, 2025
Apr 24, 2025
How much does a container home cost? It depends on the number of containers you use. This guide will help map out potential expenses for your project.
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Vintage style living room with built-in blinds
Learn the 3 most common problems with patio doors featuring built-in blinds—and understand the quick, effective solutions to keep them working smoothly.
A house with a red brick wall
You can hire a professional to fix a decaying brick wall, or you can save money and do it yourself by learning how to tuckpoint brick using the steps below.
A worker checking on a brick wall of a construction site
If your brick or stone wall needs repairing, then you need a brick masonry contractor to tackle the project. Hiring a mason for a project can feel daunting, but if you follow these tips you’ll know just what to do to find the perfect pro for you.
An outdoor fireplace
If you don’t want to buy an outdoor fireplace kit or get a pro to install it, you may be able to do it yourself. Learn how to build a DIY outdoor fireplace.
The exterior of an exposed brick house
Everything you need to know about repointing brick: benefits, how it works, basic procedure, cost, and who to hire for the job.
A dining area and swimming pool
Here are the steps to repair your brick patio—whether you need to re-level a sinking patio or replace missing mortar.
A beautiful red brick house
Learn how to clean mortar off bricks if you've noticed sloppy mortar stains that are outside the lines of your brickwork.
large bifold door panels
Learn about the 5 most common bifold door problems and practical solutions to fix them—repair sticking, misalignment, broken tracks, and more.
Two story brick house
Learn about the five common causes behind black stains on your brick and how to remove them effectively, either by yourself or by hiring a pro.
Efflorescence on brick home exterior
If you have white staining on brick, it may be time to learn how to remove efflorescence from brick gently and safely without harsh ingredients.
Large brick house
Problems in your brick veneer can range from minor, cosmetic cracks to extensive, structural issues. Find out who to call to repair brick.
woman having coffee and using laptop in the kitchen
If you’ve started researching how to update old brick or repair crumbling mortar, you may be wondering what tuckpointing is. This guide has you covered.