BUILD
PAINT
CLEAN
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USE
DESIGN
INSTALL
CHOOSE
GROW
Top Tips for Choosing a Rain Shower Head
I hate my shower! Well, actually, it’s my shower head that I don’t like. Granted, it's better than the standard fixture that most bathrooms come with, and it does offer a few water pressure options, but reall...
How To: Unclog a Clogged Drain
Some friends of mine moved into a new house and had a couple of issues with their bathroom. The sink drain was a little slow and had a funky smell. The tub also drained slowly, leaving them ankle deep in water by...
How To: Stack Firewood
Nothing celebrates the colder weather like the distinct scent and sound of a crackling log in the fireplace. A steady supply of firewood can help offset your heating costs and, unlike oil and coal, is a renewable...
How To: Preserve Your Jack-o'-Lantern for Halloween
No amount of candy corn can make up for the moment you realize that your carefully carved pumpkin’s smile has turned into a rotting grimace just as the trick-or-treaters start showing up at the door. The freshest...
How To: Use a Block Plane
Follow these simple guidelines for working with a wood plane and you are sure to have superior results: Assume the Position. One great virtue of the block plane is that it is used one-handed, so you can plane a p...
How To: Unclog a Sink Drain
Put the phone down! There's no need to call the plumber. In only six simple steps, you can unclog a drain that no longer flows as freely as it once did.
How To: Patch Plaster Walls
Finishing a new wall or room with plaster or joint compound takes practice. If you have no experience with plaster or its near relative, joint compound, don't learn in your living room. Experiment first in a ...
Quick Tip: Choosing Drywall
Drywall History Before drywall, builders nailed lengths of wood, called lath, to the studs and then applied several coats of plaster to that for a smooth finish. As many of us with old houses can attest, lath and...
Quick Tip: Buy and Install a Room Air Conditioner
What to Look for Room air conditioners are rated by the number of BTUs, or British thermal units, of heat that they can remove per hour. Contrary to what you might think, it doesn’t make sense to run out and buy ...
How To: Install a Drywall Anchor
So you bought a new towel rack—or some shelving brackets, or a paper towel holder—and you want to attach it to the wall. And you want that rack, bracket, or holder to do its job. You want it not to rip down under...
