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Home and Garden

Test fence’s strength before replacing it.

Before deciding whether to repair the fence or replace it, test its strength. If most of the framework feels solid, I would repair it. If most of the posts are falling down, it’s probably best to rebuild.

THE LATEST
Healthy plants have better tolerance to heat

Plants originally coming from a desert are watered less often than those that don’t come from deserts. This is because desert plants have methods of surviving a longer time between irrigations.

Don’t neglect routine shower maintenance

Homeowners often neglect to repair cracked or missing tile grout and to replace the old caulking. Grout will crack and chip out creating a void where water can enter.

Give outdated design a fresh twist

Three design pros weigh in with ideas for how to give old design elements a fresh look.

No change in cabinetry to install microwave range hood

Q: I have a cheap range hood that is permanently stained and, as a bonus, it stinks. I want to replace it with a microwave oven/range hood combination, but I don’t see any ductwork in the cabinet above the hood. Do I need to change the cabinetry?