INSTALLATION
Browse By Tag
Let’s face it: Many homes today feature inadequate, poorly positioned, and sometimes plain-old ugly light fixtures. B...
Last week, we wrapped up our sitting room built-in. I also promised a quick post on how to add trim to cabinets to make ...
Few do-it-yourself weekend projects deliver the beauty, utility, and overall satisfaction that building a brick patio does.
Everyone knows the backsplash is an important element in kitchen design. What you may not know is that, considering i...
Both of our bathroom exhaust fans are shot. The one in our guest bath was a beast at one time; it sounded like an F-16 a...
It should be easy, right? Just measure the boards, cut the miters, and nail the trim in place. Well, not exactly. If ...
Popular patio building materials run the gamut from poured concrete and pavers of recycled plastic to natural flagstone and bricks of fired clay.
With the right tools and some basic skills, you can install laminate flooring this weekend.
Installing a storm door may seem like a daunting, time-consuming task, but advances in manufacturing and design have ...
There’s a lot to recommend a bluestone walkway. The natural colors and textures look great in almost any setting. Mai...
How strong is your relationship with your spouse? Do you want to test it? Spend a weekend stripping wallpaper togethe...
Install wood paneling in any room to inject architectural detail, warmth, and character into your home. Traditionally...
Replacing your shower head is a simple fix that can spruce up the look of your bathroom, save water, and even add a l...
My son recently asked for help installing vinyl flooring in his bathroom. So we took a trip to the local home center ...
When we moved out of the city and into our new home, we increased our window inventory more than three-fold. The wind...
To protect your kitchen cabinets from water damage, the rim of your kitchen sink should always be sealed with a good ...
There are many ways to invite problems when you lay ceramic tile. Avoid such problems and a tile floor can last for d...
Plan ahead and place focus on prep work for professional results when installing ceramic tile.
While you might consider laying tile yourself for moneysaving reasons, remember that the substrate, or what the tile ...
Although the two words are often used interchangeably, sheetrock is actually a brand name for the generic drywall, wh...
If you’re looking for a quick and inexpensive way to give your kitchen a pick-me-up, replacing the sink faucet might ...
Even tiny gaps between your tub and the wall tiles can let enough water in to damage your walls and host mold. Since ...
If you’ve got an older toilet, you’re probably paying for twice the water you need for each flush. But never fear: to...
Also known as "can" lights thanks to their cylindrical shape, recessed lights are inexpensive, work well with low cei...
If you are planning to build a deck, consider the benefits of an on-grade design.
Learn how to install tile, a process during which a little layout sooner can save a lot of frustration later.
You never know why a previous homeowner made the decorating decisions they did, but sometimes you just have to scratc...
Before hanging anything, it’s important to find out what your wall is made of. Ideally, you should attach floating sh...
A garbage disposal really keeps things flowing in the kitchen, and installing one isn’t a tough job for a do-it-yours...
More than a third of new homes are built with backyard decks, and they’re a really a popular do-it-yourself project. ...
You can add a decorative border to your garden or landscape easily with today's crop of DIY-friendly landscape edgers.
I don’t mind the squirrels taking their turn at the bird feeder, but our dog seems to have developed a personal vende...
Replacing a damaged window screen is a simple, low-cost project that even a novice DIYer can do successfully.
Looking for a way to give your home's front entry a new look. Replace the light fixtures (you can do it yourself).
Looking to liven up a dreary kitchen? Consider re-tiling the backsplash—and doing the job yourself.
Create a simple stone path to enhance your yard and set a distinctive walkway.
Installing a ceiling fan is an easy DIY project, provided you follow manufacturer instructions.
Our home improvement projects often suffer from “mission creep,” as one seemingly simple project becomes hopelessly e...
Sundays can be a dangerous day in our household due to the abundance of home improvement circulars that arrive with t...
A true plaster job is the best way to complete a wall in a period home.
To install a new door, take your time, learn the basics—and don't be afraid!
There's a lot to consider: the rise/run ratio, treads, and essential tools, like the carpenter's square. Follow these guidelines for help building stairs.
Bathtubs are a functional and aesthetic feature of a bathroom. Before you buy a new tub, consider these important factors.
Surprises abound when you take on a home remodeling project. You never quite know what you will find; and once you’ve...
So many elements in kitchen design have remained common over the decades. Cabinets still have raised panels. Countert...
Tips and tricks to get the job done right when installing kitchen cabinets.
My wife, Mary Ann, hated the backsplash tiles in our kitchen, and I agreed they were slightly dated. Unfortunately, t...
This tricky but satisfying DIY project can add old-world style and polish to your home.
Last week in the Just Ask Bob section of our community forums, a site user asked an interesting question: “I haven’t ...
Make your measurements and energy calculations before you buy.
So you bought a new towel rack—or some shelving brackets, or a paper towel holder—and you want to attach it to the wa...
We've all been there, right? "Oh, I just need to find a stud to hang this picture" and fifteen holes later you're con...
I like mood lighting as much as anyone, particularly first thing in the morning when the full blast of light from a 1...
Since my current residence is only half finished, there are a lot of fixture-less light boxes in the ceilings—which m...
Depending on what part of the world you're from you may have heard sink disposals referred to as "garbage disposals,"...
Changing or installing a new faucet is a fairly simple home improvement task, even if it does require contorting your...
Most of the time finishing drywall joints isn't one of those jobs that has people jumping up and down with excitement...
Glass tile is a versatile and durable choice that can be low-maintenance (and quite attractive) with proper installation.
In the world of DIY it is the step-by-steps that detail a solution to a problem or project. In my case, it was the st...
As a person who has recently upgraded from living in a garage to living in a half-constructed house, the novelty of h...
Maybe I'm the only person (at least over the age of three) who gets a kick out of making a mess, but I would still ar...
Modern windows designed not to shatter can protect your home and family from inclement weather and hurricane-force winds.
Protect an unfinished home from the elements by building a durable subfloor from new, improved options in engineered wood.
New insulated garage doors will replace the home's originals and be installed on the new garage. They have the appearance of wood and the performance of factory-f...
The house is insulated for sound control to provide a quiet environment for baby. The installation of the insulation is demonstrated along with the necessary safe...
In the master bath, Bob reviews the appropriate design choices made by homeowner and contractor Nick Beasley for this period home. A new low-flush toilet is insta...
The new windows in the baby’s nursery are highly insulated for cold and sound and have health and safety features for young children. They can be installed by do-...
The unusually shaped room with original beadboard that sits under the roof’s eaves will be adapted from its prior use as a home office to be a child’s bathroom wi...
A peaceful nursery and childproofed home await the baby, and an elegant new master bath and powder room greet family and guests.
Bob talks with Jay Martel from the International Association for Child Safety about kitchen safety products for toddlers and baby safety gates for the stairs. Bob...
Sound attenuating insulation is added to the nursery to reduce the echo effect of noise.
Bob meets up with carpenter Bob Ryley, who is adding two third-floor dormers to the roof in keeping with the house's original one.
Michael Roche from Marvin Windows joins Bob in examining the house's existing windows and determining which to keep or replace. A new Palladian window will create...
Bob interviews Carlos Londono, a plastering contractor, who demonstrates how to apply a veneer coat of plaster over blue board.
Inspired by designs found in the Isaac Bell historic house, paneling is installed on Bob’s entrance door to the living room. Bob looks at the completed tiled show...
Tile is installed in the master bathroom’s shower area. A flashback reviews the waterproofing work that was done to prevent leaks.
Bob heads to the library to discuss the plaster patchwork in progress, and then visits the second floor, where ceramic tile is being installed in a guest bathroom...
Landscaping architects Rick and Nancy Lamb present their ideas to Bob for converting the landscape and creating urban spaces.
Experts review the replication of old house moldings and the use of Western Red Cedar for house trim and boards.
Bob discusses the installation of a plastic subfloor to prevent water damage and the selection of a basement dehumidifier.
Blinds for the new patio door are installed, as well as a variety of blinds and shades in other rooms throughout the house.
Carpenters install new prepainted shutters made from synthetic materials, with old-fashioned hinges and hardware.
The backyard is enhanced with a lattice-top gate, and a mudroom is converted into a kitchen pantry to provide storage space.
Old gutters are replaced and external landscaping continues with the trimming of a tree, installing a front garden, and creating steps from recycled granite.
Mark Newton and Jesse Gonzales explain what happens when the metal frames are removed from the poured walls, then they apply a three-coat plaster.
Bob and Chris Vila visit the plastering contractor and receive a lesson in plaster mixing. Next, they talk to Dino from Dino's Construction, who's installing the ...
Bob watches as flooring specialists put in red rosin paper as underlayment before installing Ash hardwood floors in the penthouse apartment.
Bob talks to Nick Tagios, of Tagios Tile and Marble, who's laying down the marble tile bathroom floor using a traditional installation technique.
Bob consults with the project's stone and tile specialist, who explains the process of attaching the Pietra Cardosa countertops to the Cherry Craftline island cab...
With much of the demolition having been completed, Bob walks through an open, loft-like space, which was dark and cramped feeling pre-demolition. Carlos Leuchtman...
Bob and Brad Brewster of Princeton Custom Cabinetry oversee the installation of the hanging cabinets in the new condo kitchen. Brewster lists the various features...
Bob confronts the remodeling challenge of choosing a flooring material that will deaden sound without sacrificing the sleek, clean look of tile or stone. So contr...
Bob looks on as workers instal a solid-surface countertop called Zodiaq (from Dupont), which is made of natural silica, quartz, and polymer.
Jack Murdock from RMI and Craig Ryans from Vermont Castings demonstrate how simple it is to have gas appliances and heat in a rural location.
Bob joins Sonya and Bob Berle, owners of Elm Court, for a tour of the ornate grand parlor.
Bob reviews the construction of the pitched roof, from the framing to the shingling.
Bob meets with Peter Merianos and the crew from Coastal Heating and Air Conditioning, who are fabricating the AC ductwork on site.
To add a new line off the main trunk, the crew cuts a hole into the the trunk with a special tool. A starting collar from which the new line will extend is then i...
Bob joins Jay Seminara (of Seminara Construction), who is in the process of laying down a new cobblestone apron at the edge of the driveway.
Carpenter Bob Ryley and Jim Daniels (of Woodport Interior Doors) join Bob to hang a new door in the master bathroom.
Interior carpenter John Kiley is building the staircase in the front hall.
Interior carpenter John Kiley continues to build the staircase in the front hall of the modern Colonial.
Bob starts on the balcony of the Manhattan Brownstone where open space was standard for these urban town homes then moves to the interior to talk about the large,...
Bob meets Jason Hill from New England Classic as their ready-measured and pre-cut paneling system is installed in the Manhattan Brownstone.
Bob shows the Woodport medium-density fiberboard doors selected for the Manhattan Brownstone then works with the crew from Thorough Construction as they prepare t...
In a progress report, Ted Riley shows Bob the pre-primed red cedar siding , the heavy-duty metal Bilco bulkhead installation, and the Quechee home's standing seam...
Bob is joined by Michael McDevitt of Therma-Tru Doors as Wes Lohr and his crew prepare for the installation of the pre-hung exterior door.
Bill Powers of GutterPro joins Bob at the Mashpee, Massachusetts, affordable home sites for the installation of their LeafGuard gutters.
Bob points out that one huge aspect of affordability is doors, windows, and trim stock.
Bob visits with carpenter Mark Fortunati, who is building a traditional-looking staircase in the foyer.
Kenneth Carmode of WW Wood Products joins Bob as their Sequoia cabinets are installed in the kitchen of one of the Mashpee, Massachusetts, affordable homes.
Mario Taormina of N. Pagano Plumbing installs the Totl pedestal sink in the bathroom of the Manhattan Brownstone.
Bob works with the general contractor Charlie Tomaszewski to move the Medford project home's original front door, so they will be able to frame up a new foyer.
A representative from Owens Corning tells Bob about the architectural shingles that have been selected to replace the old roofing material. And Velux VSE skylight...
Bob goes up to the attic of the Victorian project house, where an ODL tubular skylight is being installed. Also, Bob looks back at the installation of windows on ...
Bob Fulmer (from Harraseeket Restoration, Inc.) joins Bob on the roof of the breezeway to install a double-lock standing seam copper roof.
A crew from US Gypsum is installing drywall in the barn of the Victorian restoration project house. This is a traditional installation with drywall wallboard and ...
Workers replace the old barn doors with an oversized Ponderosa Pine door (from KML Industries in Canada).
Bob and Tim Colgan (from Kahrs) discuss the white oak flooring being installed in the bedroom.
Bob talks with carpenter Bob Ryley and general contractor Kevin Kalman, as they lay down the subflooring.
Bob discusses the advantages of hazard-resistant building techniques, specifically sheathing the roof, with Bryan Readling (from the APA).
Bob observes the tile setter Tim Galvin build a shower pan.
Contractors install the stair railing and balusters, and carpenter Bob Ryley describes the techniques, and the various checks and balances, used to make sure the ...
Carpenters Bob Ryley and Mike Smith hang double doors at the entrance to the private family living quarters of the Virginia governor's mansion.
Bob confers with carpenters Bob Ryley and David Ives, as they construct and install cabinets in the loft conversion unit.
Bob interviews Brian Dauphinee, who's hanging blue board, installing corner bead, and applying the scratch coat of plaster.
Carpenter Bob Ryley installs plantation shutters against a bedroom wall.
Roofing contractor Jack Viera demonstrates installing three-tab asphalt roof shingles.
An excavation specialist, working under the oversight of a city inspector, digs the trench for new water service to the accessible home. Inside, contractors are a...
Installer Juan Gonsalves shows Bob how to install steel stair stringers.
Bob Riley and Howard Brickman install a reclaimed hard pine floor. The orientation of the boards is explained, and the moisture content of the subfloor is checked...
Bob drops by the third Elmwood project house to watch as the deck is covered with rubber and the hot tub is installed.
Carpenter Bob Ryley helps install a new porch railing and new screen doors. An underground sprinkler system is also installed.
Front porch restoration continues with the roof being replaced and new red cedar shingles being applied on the porch wall. Bob demonstrates the shingle weaving pr...
A new kind of rubber slate is applied to the roof, and the crew brings the spa down on a special plywood ramp, then carefully places it in the turret for installa...
A granite tub surround is installed, as well as an in-floor heating system and unique fiber optic lighting.
Bob meets with contractor Ed Weller to looks at details of the roof flashing. Various elements are involved in flashing, including the drip strip, fascia, felt, a...
Bob meets with stucco contractor Angelo Dattini, who walks Bob through the first steps of stucco application.
Bob meets with stucco contractor Angelo Dattini, who is mixing Rinker-brand stucco with Pompano sand in a wheelbarrow.
Bob joins contractor Ed Weller on the patio, where the crew from Agreda Brothers Tile and Marble is setting cement-based tile over sanded white thin-set mortar. W...
Bob and carpenter Cortney Lofton install clapboard siding on the front porch of the bungalow. In addition, they reinforce the gable to correct an existing sag, th...
Bob and contractor Cortney Lofton discuss the Indian slate tile being installed on the pool deck and back porch.
Bob meets with contractor Cortney Lofton, who is installing porcelain mosaic tiles with acrylic mastic over an existing bathroom mortar bed.
Bob confers with cabinetmaker Brian Comeaux. He is installing the kitchen cabinets that were custom-built in his shop to match a vintage cabinet found by the home...
Rope lights are installed in the ceiling of the living room. The ropes are cut to length, capped, and clipped into place. They are then covered with a stained gla...
Bob helps cabinetmaker Brian Comeaux custom-build a cabinet for the dining room.
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley look at the corner of the house, where the sidewall has been removed to reveal the plywood and Douglas fir sheathing. Next, Bob helps ...
Bob and roofer Paul Morris begin mounting the skylight, by cutting a rough opening in the roof and laying a weather shield. Once the skylight is mounted and the f...
Bob meets with Bob Ryley and Al Worth to install a pair of Andersen mulled windows with a transom, as well as an interior window seat. Bob discusses the window it...
Bob joins carpenter Bob Ryley, who is putting sidewall shingles onto the exterior of the new addition.
Bob visits with Butch and Dennis LeDonne, who are using thin-set epoxy to install an aggregrate product from Rover Tile on the master bathroom floor.
Bob meets with restoration contractor Richard Marks, who explains the distinction between restoration and reconstruction. He and Bob also discuss the relocation o...
Bob observers the expert plasterer add detail to the cornice, which is under reconstruction due to water damage.
Bob meets with John Clancy who is applying "California" stucco inside the greenhouse. A tint is applied to the mix to match the interior, and a latex bonding mate...
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley build and install the stairs between the first and second story. Ryley explains the math involved in building a staircase and the pro...
Bob joins contractor Bob Ryley, who is installing a Velux skylight on a curb mount. Ryley describes the screws and mounting hardware used, and Bob demonstrates th...
Bob assists Michael Roach (from Marvin Windows) with installing a large setup of three windows on the gable end of the home.
Bob and the electrician look over the plastic-sheathed electrical wiring and discuss how to protect the installation, while still making it look good.
Contractor Rick Davenport demonstrates the installation of wet-spray cellulose insulation. Jets of water moisten the insulation as it leaves the blower hose nozzl...
Bob visits with plaster sub-contractor Mike Bennet, who is floating mortar bed walls in the shower space of the beach house bathroom.
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley install a salvaged door on the side of the dream garage, which is undergoing construction.
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley install a vinyl-clad Pella window awning with pre-assembled exterior trim.
Bob interviews drywall contractor Mark Richardson, as he hangs drywall inside a skylight and attaches the corner bead.
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley cut and install stairs leading to the garage's storage area. After securing the framework and stringers, the two move on to adding ...
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley install a railing for the stairs to the upper floor.
Bob and Tom Moran (from Pella) discuss the anatomy of the doors chosen for the Martha's Vineyard Victorian project, and contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates the proc...
Bob remarks on how much progress has been made in one week of work on the Wayland project home. The footings have been established and the crew has begun building...
Demolition continues on the roof, as the crew removes the sheathing, rafters, and some of the ceiling joists.
Bob reviews the varous elements of the roof, including the fascia, soffits and sheathing. The shingles are applied in layers, each row adhering to the row beneath...
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley plan and build a new staircase. Ryley explains the "rise over run" rule in designing stairs and measures the dimensions of the area.
A window is recycled during the remodeling process and placed back into the frame of the new addition. Bob explains the reason for recycling and assists with the ...
Bob joins the plumber as he installs a shower stall in the kids' bathroom. After drilling the drain hole, the plumber demonstrates how to properly attach a metal ...
Bob joins plastering contractor Bob Fragakis, who will install blueboard, then apply a skim coat of plaster over it. Fragakis explains the tools and materials use...
Floor tiles are installed in the bathroom after the underlayment has dried and chalk reference lines have been drawn. Tips on cutting and laying tile are given.
Contractor Larry Landers builds a trapdoor to enable access to the old bulkhead from outside. Sheet lead flashing and an ice-and-water barrier are used to waterpr...
Bob helps carpenter Bob Ryley and crew install a new box bay window, which will enlarge the dining space and enhance the interior atmosphere.
A country-style door, built by carpenter Bob Ryley in the workshop, is hung in the new entry of the Plymouth project house.
Bob has finished wiring the Colonial-style light fixture in the entryway and, back in the kitchen, the refrigerator ice maker is hooked up.
Bob helps the contractors work on building and installing new French doors.
Contractors Al and Steve Stiles set a new window on the back porch. Using a combination of stock and one custom windows, they demonstrate how to save money on mat...
Bob observes as gunite is poured over rebar to form the bottom and sides of the swimming pool cavity.
Bob interviews Larry Lelflar (from Bonita Drywall) as he and his team hang drywall on the ceiling, then apply the first coat of tape and compound.
Bob demonstrates how to fabricate off-site, and install on-site, wooden kitchen cabinet panels.
General contractor Ron Gan explains the advantages of metal wall studs, as the studs are cut and installed in the kitchen, complete with plywood backing plates fo...
Bob helps carpentry contractor Bob Ryley install the pre-hung front door, then visits Shepley Wood Products to see how the door was made.
Bob looks on as tile setter John Boardman applies bathroom floor tile at the Cape Cod project house.
Bob reviews progress on the renovation, both upstairs and down. Carpenter John Sheehan installs a new vinyl window, which is a challenge in a brick house where no...
General contractor Tim Berky is completing trim on the oriel window that faces onto the deck. He begins by covering the underboard with MDO (medium density overla...
Steve Powers (from Trikeenan Tileworks) explains the manufacture of their unique artisanal tiles, and the homeowner lays out her design vision. David Cloutman (fr...
Bob is joined by Jim Remick, of Nickerson-Remick insulation contractors, who tells Bob that closed-cell insulation is more and more in demand. Once rigid, the ins...
