A slotted shelf is ideal for holding assorted tools. Photo: JProvey
Since my wife and I recently downsized, I am making do with a much smaller basement workshop these days. Whereas I could fit as many as four workbenches into my old basement, I now only have a five-by-eight-foot area, that is just enough room for a worktable and some compact, well-organized workshop storage.
Related: DIY Workbenches: 5 You Can Build in a Weekend
Large stationary power tools may be out of the question, but there is undoubtedly sufficient room for me to fix things and build small projects like wooden toys and picture frames. Because I like being able to see the items I need, the design for my new workshop involves a great deal of shelving on which I plan to store everything from hand tools and portable power tools to drill bits and bottles of glue.
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How To: Choose a Ceiling Fan
Photo: greathomepainting.com
Choosing a ceiling fan is enough to make any homeowner’s head hurt. With so many variables and options, what should you consider when choosing a ceiling fan? Here are my suggestions:
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The Basics: Clay and Concrete Roofing Tiles
Reclaimed Clay Tile Roofing. Photo: performanceroofingcompany.com
Tile roofs come in many styles, and each has its own preferred applications and intrinsic beauty. An exotic sense of romance is associated in particular with clay roof tiles, which commonly appear on Southwest-style and Mediterranean-inspired homes.
In addition to their beauty, tile roofs are extremely durable, lasting for centuries in some cases. Whether made of fired clay or concrete, individual tiles are often molded in a barrel shape, and reinforcing their strength is tile roofing’s interlocking mode of installation.
Related: Debunking 5 Metal Roof Myths
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How To: Install Baseboard
Photo: shutterstock.com
It should be easy, right? Just measure the boards, cut the miters, and nail the trim in place. Well, not exactly.
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The Basics: Wood Shingles and Shakes
Photo: peakperformanceroofing.com
There are two types of wood roofing—shingles and shakes. Neither boasts the practicality of a modern roofing material like asphalt shingles, but it’s difficult to deny traditional wood’s aesthetic appeal. In fact, many other roofing products try to simulate look of wood shingles and shakes. Made from cedar, spruce, or treated pine, wood roofing is especially appropriate for older homes and those based upon historical styles.
Related: Debunking 5 Metal Roof Myths
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The Basics: Composite Roof Shingles
EcoStar's Midnight Majestic Composition Slate Roofing
Coming up with alternatives for traditional shingle materials has proved a steep and slippery slope for a surprising number of manufacturers. Class-action lawsuits have showered down as so-called “lifetime” roofing products with names like Hardishake, Maxishake, and Permatek have prematurely failed.
Related: Composite Roof Shingles: The Great Pretenders
“The impetus for the development of many of these products was the ban on the use of asbestos fibers,” says Rick Damato, a 38-year industry veteran and editorial director of Roofing Contractor magazine. “Manufacturers substituted other fibers and they just didn’t perform as well.”
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Prefinished vs. Unfinished Wood Flooring
Acacia Natural Prefinished Floor. Photo: fantastic-floor.com
I’ve looked at flooring from both sides now… and it’s the horrors of applying polyurethane I recall.
Apologies to Joni Mitchell for that, but when it comes to installing solid or engineered wood flooring, prefinished is my choice. Some pros disagree, but these are my reasons:
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Laying a Walkway with Bluestone
Photo: sansoucystone.com
There’s a lot to recommend a bluestone walkway. The natural colors and textures look great in almost any setting. Maintenance is low. And unlike concrete pavers or brick, bluestone pavers do not require edge constraints.
Another pro: Shifting is rarely a problem. If root growth or a frost heave does shift a bluestone paver, repositioning it is relatively easy. Need to fix a broken water main or run an electric line? No problem. Just pry and temporarily lift the pavers out of the way.
Yet another benefit is that, in contrast to concrete, a bluestone walkway will not prevent water from reaching the roots of prized trees or shrubs.
Related: 12 Easy-to-Imitate Stone Walkways
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- Kitchen >
- How To: Add Under-Cabinet Lighting
How To: Add Under-Cabinet Lighting
Photo: jacksonelectricinc.com
Under-cabinet lighting can vastly improve the workability and appearance of your kitchen.
For starters, under-cabinet lighting facilitates cooking tasks, such as chopping veggies or reading from a recipe book. Aesthetically, it helps balance the room’s ambient light, eliminating shadows in parts of the kitchen that would otherwise be dark.
An added convenience is that under-cabinet lighting can serve as a nightlight if equipped with a dimmer.
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- Bathroom >
- The Easiest Way to Clean Shower Doors
The Easiest Way to Clean Shower Doors
Photo: Kohler
It’s always a challenge to clean shower doors, but that doesn’t mean you have to use powerful cleansers made with ammonia, bleach, and other harsh chemicals. Without much trouble, you can effectively clean shower doors in ways that are much safer for your family.
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