Bill and Kevin Burnett

Contributor

Bill Burnett, 52, lives in Oakland, California and works at the San Francisco Chronicle where he is assistant real estate editor. Along with other duties, he writes about renovation and remodeling. In 2002 his column, "Sweat Equity," was judged best in the nation by the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Bill bought his first house for $12,000 in 1974 in Spokane, Washington. Since then he has bought, renovated and eventually sold a half-dozen others. He is currently working on plans to build an 800-square-foot in-law addition to a home he owns in Boise, Idaho. Kevin Burnett, 53, lives in Eagle, Idaho and works as a paralegal for the state Department of Corrections. After receiving a master's degree in kinesiology from California State University at Hayward, Kevin's career path changed course. He started a painting company in Alameda, California, where he repainted many of the city's grand Victorian homes. Seeking a change, Kevin worked for a master builder where he learned the intricacies of trades involved in home construction and renovation. During this time, when not working with the builder, he performed small remodeling jobs for his own customers. He also bought, renovated and sold several houses - including a 100-year-old Italianate Victorian - in Alameda before moving to Idaho in 1993. He settled in Eagle, a small town west of Boise, where he built a 2,600-square-foot Federal style home in which he lives with his wife, 10-year-old daughter and three small dogs.

Work without a permit, get burned

Save time, money with project plan

Jul 29

Maintaining a tar-and-gravel roof

Bare spots require immediate attention

Jul 23

Do-it-yourself fix for squeaky floors

How to re-nail boards without cracking them

Jul 15

Fireplace teardown raises resale issue

Will demolition hurt or help value?

Jul 8

'Bubbling' drywall be gone

5 steps to restoring surface

Jul 1

Easy fix for water hammer

Bleed system to stop clanging pipes

Jun 24

Load-bearing walls and remodel fears

Opening up floor plan could involve major work

Jun 17

Rotted rafters: repair or replace?

If the latter, prepare to shell out big bucks

Jun 10

Refinish oak table like a pro

Tips on stripping, sanding, staining

Jun 3

Dual-pane windows: replace or repair?

Homeowner seeks cheap fix for leaky cells

May 27

Electrical outlets that put safety first

Installation easy with basic wiring skills

May 20

No-fuss wallpaper removal

Tips for a quicker, smoother job

May 13

Goodbye popcorn ceiling, hello drywall

Owner eyes improvement but fears code conflict

May 6

Save $2,500 on home improvement

Elbow grease and fungicide is all you need

Apr 29

Toilet 'throne' unfit for homeowner

Remodel mistake leaves tough job ahead

Apr 23

When lead paint lurks, take precautions

Tips for a safe exterior paint job

Apr 15

Plumbing overhaul worth every penny

Low water pressure is cue for pipe replacement

Apr 9

Tips for high-quality paint job

Task trickier when mildew is present

Apr 1

Tankless water heaters perform, but at a cost

Just beware of lowball bids from installers

Mar 25

Tankless water heaters under fire

Many readers disappointed with units' cost, performance

Mar 18

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