Written once, kept current
Guides
Plain explanations of the things that decide whether work on your home goes well. No dates on them, because none of it is news. When a figure changes, the page changes.
- What has to be inside the wall before a grab bar goes on it
A grab bar is only as strong as what is behind it. The blocking dimensions, why plates need more room than the bar, and the question to ask. - How much room a ramp actually needs
The 1:12 rule in practice. A 24 inch rise needs 24 feet of ramp, plus landings. Measure before you assume a ramp fits, and know the alternatives. - Can a landlord or association refuse to let you install grab bars?
Under the Fair Housing Act a housing provider generally cannot refuse a reasonable modification you pay for yourself. Who pays, and why it differs. - How to check a contractor's license yourself
Reviews tell you whether someone was pleasant. A registry tells you whether they are licensed. The method works in any state, and it takes about two minutes. - The Maryland Home Improvement Guaranty Fund
Maryland reimburses homeowners up to $30,000 for work a licensed contractor did badly or abandoned. It pays nothing if the contractor was unlicensed. - Nobody licenses the person who pays your parents' bills
Maryland licenses locksmiths and tax preparers. It does not license daily money managers. What to check when there is no register, and what matters more. - The Montgomery County Design for Life tax credit
Montgomery County pays $2,500 to $10,000 toward accessibility work through a property tax credit most homeowners have never heard of. How to claim it.