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Best: Combine a drill, reciprocating saw, and circular saw, and you have a cordless-tool kit. The Porter-Cable PCL418C-2, $300, at top, drove screws and sawed 2x12s almost as well as a $500 kit. Worst: Don’t be tempted by the $230 price tag of the Skil 2887-16. It’s mediocre overall, but worse, it has a short battery run time and will require frequent recharges.
Best: Low-luster paints, also known as eggshell or satin, are ideal for most rooms. And Behr Premium Plus Ultra Satin Enamel, $33, sold at Home Depot, had impressive one-coat hiding and stain resistance and doesn’t need a primer. It’s also low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Worst: But Sherwin-Williams Duration Home Satin, $47, was only so-so at hiding and stain resistance. Plus its sheen noticeably changed after scrubbing.