Starting with waterproofing at roof and foundation, and proceeding to outdated electrical service, here are the major home maintenance projects you shouldn't put off.

This biannual ritual will help keep your house functioning smoothly.

A mason and homeowners derail a near disaster while building a stone chimney.

Exposed to the harsh elements, window boxes and siding often need to be repaired and restored.

A weather-tight roof is basic in the preservation of a structure, regardless of its age, size, or design. In the system that allows a building to work as a shelter, the roof sheds the rain, shades from the sun, and buffers the weather.

Head outside for three projects: sealing tarnished brass, fixing torn window screens, and installing functional shutters.

If yours is the tallest house around, if it’s surrounded by open land, if it’s been hit before: invest in lightning protection.

The best time to inspect and clean your gutters is before problems start.

Replacing a few damaged shingles or even a section of them is a one-person job.

Clapboards, shingles, and stone cladding are timeless, so it’s no wonder all three have made a comeback for houses built in this century. Just be sure any new materials match the quality of those on the house.

Learn how to seamlessly substitute new clapboards for damaged ones.

Stylish details don’t have to stop at the front door of your house. Give your roof some decorative attention with well-placed brackets.

Handsome, durable, and romantic in the rain, tin roofs can be easily installed with a few simple tools.

When just a few wooden shingles are damaged, replacing them one at a time saves money and staves off future problems.

These easy-to-implement tips can help your house function as it should by mitigating water infiltration.

A reader’s innovative project restores the missing tower roof on his Italianate house.

A homeowner recoats her built-in yankee gutters to repair damaging leaks.

Re-roofing a house can be an overwhelming prospect. That said, there’s a lot of instant gratification in roofing, and if done on a beautiful day, it can even be (dare I say it?) fun. Whether you’re looking to save money or just have a hand in sheltering your old home, some roof projects are worth undertaking.

Prevent lightning damage with lightning rods.