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Barndominium Cost vs. House Cost: 10 Factors to Consider Before Building
When homeowners are comparing barndominium cost vs. house cost, there are several crucial factors that come into play...
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Precision Meets Portability: An In-Depth Review of the DeWalt 10-Inch Table Saw
The popularity of table saws stems from their unparalleled ability to cut through materials with accuracy and ease, s...
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Building a Shed Looks Easy—Here's What We Learned When Building a ShelterLogic Shed
Tired of all that clutter in your garage? Maybe it’s time to give your yard tools their own space. When it comes to s...
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See What Happened When I Used the Kushlan Cement Mixer to Pour a Shed Foundation
Whether it’s replacing a mailbox post, repairing the sidewalk, or building a new shed, the time eventually comes when...
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The Versatile Gorilla Ladder May Be The Only Ladder You Ever Need
Gorilla's multi-position ladder, the GLMPXA-22, combines stability, safety, and convenience into one impressive packa...
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Hands-On Review: Unveiling the DeWalt PowerStack Advantage in High-Performance Batteries
Get ready to supercharge your power tools with DeWalt's latest offering: PowerStack batteries. As an avid constructio...
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How Much Does Land Excavation Cost?
Highlights The national average cost to excavate land is $3,847, though prices typically range from $1,515 to $6,211...
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Composite Decking vs. Wood Cost Comparison: 9 Considerations Before Choosing
Homeowners who are looking to install or replace a deck are typically faced with a major choice: composite decking vs...
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How Much Does It Cost to Build a Cabin?
Highlights The typical price range to build a log cabin runs from $50,000 to $150,000, with customers around the cou...
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How Much Does a Container Home Cost?
Highlights The typical cost range to build a container home is between $25,000 and $250,000. Some of the factors th...
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How Much Does an Architect Cost to Hire?
Highlights The typical cost range for hiring an architect is $2,175 to $10,480, with a national average of $5,980. ...
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The Best Home Builders in Iowa of 2023
The Hawkeye State is an appealing place to live. The cost of living is one of the most affordable in the country, and...
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The Best Home Builders in Texas of 2023
With its low taxes, range of job prospects, and affordable cost of living, many folks are choosing to build homes in ...
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17 Planter Box Plans You Can DIY This Weekend
If you want to dress up your porch, deck, or garden with some greenery, consider taking a DIY approach with outdoor p...
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How Much Does a Pool House Cost to Build?
Highlights It will typically cost between $26,630 and $180,000 to build a pool house, with a national average cost o...
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The Best Home Remodeling Estimating Software of 2023
Remodeling is a great business; renovation contractors get to take a homeowner’s vision and turn it into reality. But...
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The Best Home Builders in Florida of 2023
Florida certainly has its perks. It has long been a destination for retirees and vacationers, but it's also become a ...
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How Much Does an Infinity Pool Cost?
Highlights An infinity pool typically costs between $55,000 and $130,000 to build, with homeowners across the countr...
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How Much Does a Barndominium Cost to Build?
Highlights A barndominium typical costs between $112,800 and $540,000 to build, with homeowners across the country p...
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How Much Does a Flagstone Patio Cost to Install?
Highlights The typical cost range for flagstone patio installation is $750 to $8,400, with a national average cost o...
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The Best Floor Plan Software of 2023
Whether it’s for a professional project or a personal build, designing the floor plan of a home or building is exciti...
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How Much Are Modular Home Prices?
Highlights A modular home typically costs between $180,000 to $360,000 to install, with a national average cost of $...
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How Much Does It Cost to Clear Land?
Highlights It typically costs between $1,359 and $5,572 to clear land, with a national average cost of $3,374. The ...
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19 Kit Homes You Can Buy and Build Yourself
Kit homes, also called catalog or mail-order homes, come shipped to your door in flat-packs with precut (and often pa...
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Our Best Advice for the Most Frequently Asked Questions of 2022
Homeowners face a variety of common conundrums, and they know just where to go for the best advice. From appliances o...
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How to Build a Classic Snowman
Snowflakes are falling, and you know what that means! It’s time to put on your snow gear and head outside. The arriva...
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The Best Railing Planters of 2023
An easy way to add greenery to an outdoor space is with a railing planter. They can house colorful flowers, herbs, or...
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The Best Custom Home Builders of 2023
When it comes to building a dream home, hiring the right builder is everything. Folks looking to make the most of a f...
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The Best Tiny-House Loans of 2023
Many home buyers will need to secure a mortgage in order to buy a new home. But what if they are looking to purchase ...
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The Best Construction Loan Lenders of 2023
Finding the perfect home isn’t always easy, especially for home buyers with very particular tastes. After months of s...
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The Best Roof Underlayments of 2023
From the ground, a roof looks like a simple set of inclined planes meant to shed water. However, roofs are actually c...
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The Best Modular Home Manufacturers of 2023
While modular homes are not yet as popular as traditional stick framing, the modular home industry is growing quickly...
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The Best Outdoor Kitchen Sinks of 2023
Nothing beats cooking and entertaining outdoors until it comes time to clean up. An outdoor sink can make the task le...
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12 Modern Homesteading Ideas for a More Self-Sufficient Life
Homesteading as a term can be derived from the Homestead Act of 1862, in which eligible adults who had not taken arms...
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The Best Mobile Home Manufacturers of 2023
Manufactured homes are light-years ahead of where they used to be. Once referred to as trailers, today’s mobile homes...
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The Best Pond Liners of 2023
Every man-made pond needs a liner to ensure the water doesn’t leak out into the surrounding soil. Shopping for the be...
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15 Outdoor Bench Plans You Can Build This Weekend
Whether you’re an experienced woodworker or just looking for the right weekend project to get your feet wet, building...
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The Best Tiny-Home Builders of 2023
Whether it’s a personal mission toward minimalism, a vacation home in the mountains, or the start of a fledgling rent...
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What is a Gabion Wall and How Do You Use It in Your Home Landscape?
A gabion wall offers numerous home landscaping possibilities: They can serve as a budget-friendly retaining wall, enh...
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The Best Home Builders of 2023
Whether someone is a first-time home buyer or customizing the house of their dreams after years of living in pre-buil...
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10 Small House Plans With Big Ideas
With rising real estate costs, many people are getting priced out of purchasing a traditional home. In addition to of...
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13 Floating Deck Ideas Perfect for Big or Small Backyards
When most people hear the word deck, they immediately visualize wooden planks and rails attached to the side of a str...
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The Best Metal-Cutting Saws of 2023
Sawing through metal by hand is hard work! A hacksaw can tackle occasional small jobs, but for larger pieces or if yo...
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9 Cabin Plans for Building Your Dream Home Away From Home
Home kits that include all the plans and materials needed to build your own home are an economical solution for many ...
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9 Deck Plans for Extending Your Outdoor Living Space
Adding a deck to your home is perhaps the best way to maximize your outdoor space for entertaining, relaxing, playing...
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Are 3D-Printed Homes the Answer to the Housing Shortage?
House hunters have their work cut out for them. A limited number of available houses combined with soaring home value...
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12 Porch Swing Plans for Building the Ultimate Outdoor Siesta Spot
A porch swing is a great place to relax on a balmy evening while sipping something cool and refreshing—what’s not to ...
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Make This DIY Accent Wall in a Day
Instead of trying to decorate a blank wall with pictures and other decor, consider creating a modern wood accent wall...
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9 Sawhorse Plans You Can Build This Weekend
Among the most useful tools to have in your garage or workshop are sawhorses for supporting long planks of lumber, se...
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14 Picnic Table Plans for Building the Perfect Backyard Dining Area
A nice picnic table is a desirable piece of furniture for many backyards and gardens. It isn’t just a great place to ...
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What is Reversible Architecture?
A drive through any American ghost town reveals buildings in various states of decay: collapsed roofs, fallen walls, ...
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What's the Difference Between Mobile Homes, Manufactured Homes, and Modular Homes?
Mobile, manufactured, and modular homes are all types of prefabricated homes. These "prefab" homes are built in a fac...
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How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost?
Highlights The typical range for outdoor kitchen costs is $6,121 to $25,180 with a national average of $15,534. Out...
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See Inside Habitat for Humanity's First 3D-Printed Home—and the Future of Construction
Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity has constructed hundreds of thousands of affordable homes for people who need t...
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The Best Drill Bits for Tile Tested in 2023
Drilling holes in tile—to install towel rods in a bathroom renovation, say—can be tricky. There's always a risk the t...
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How Much Does a Tiny House Cost?
Highlights The typical range for the cost of a tiny house is $30,000 to $60,000, with a national average of $45,000....
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30 DIY Home Projects Absolutely Anyone Can Do
Every home can use a little sprucing up. If you’ve been overwhelmed by a list of needed house projects in the past, t...
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5 Reasons Why You Should Reconsider Renovating Your Home
Renovations can make your home more comfortable and attractive, and can often increase your home’s value. However, it...
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Designing Your Own Home: Tools to Use, and How to Get Started
Building a new house is a complex undertaking that must comply with building codes, ordinances, and even homeowners a...
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14 Adirondack Chair Plans You Can Download and DIY This Weekend
Adirondack chairs feature high backs and wide arms with seats that slant towards the back. Their design makes them id...
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How Much Does It Cost to Build a Garage?
Highlights Building a garage typically costs between $16,281 and $39,472, with a national average cost of $27,867. ...
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What the First 3D-Printed House for Sale Means for the Future of New Construction, According to Home Builders
Recently, BobVila. com showcased a 3D-printed home in Riverhead, New York. Built by SQ4D, a New York construction com...
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How Much Does It Cost to Build a House?
Typical Range: $158,572 to $478,600 National Average: $303,373Shopping for a new home based on existing inventory ...
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5 Things to Know Before Adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit to Your Property
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are additions that create secondary standalone or interior housing on a single-family...
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The Best Shower Doors of 2023
Shower curtains might be perfectly functional, but a glass shower door offers the same function with an enhanced mode...
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The Best Masonry Drill Bits for Concrete and More
Drilling through stone, brick, granite, and even marble is possible, but it takes a tough drill bit made of hard meta...
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The Best Cement Mixers for Your Concrete Projects
There are lots of DIY-friendly projects that require a bit of concrete work. From building decks to erecting a new ma...
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9 Building Materials with the Biggest Pandemic Price Increase—and What That Means for DIYers
No, it’s not your imagination. You’re paying more for some home improvement building materials these days, and you have the pandemic to blame.
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The Best Drill Bits for Metal Tested in 2023
Home improvement centers often dedicate an entire aisle to drill bits, which come in a plethora of types and sizes fo...
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DIY Lite: Set Up a S'mores Station Anywhere with This Tabletop Fire Pit
What's summer without s'mores? Even if your outdoor living space is limited to a small side yard, you can still enjoy...
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The Best Table Saw Blades of 2023
While a good table saw makes large jobs easier and more accurate when it comes to cutting wood, a good blade is a thi...
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8 Inexpensive Building Materials That Don’t Look Cheap
There’s no need to break your budget when buying building materials, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for ugly. These 8 reasonably priced materials look g...
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11 Things You Need to Consider Before Putting in a Pool
Before you meet with that swimming pool company, take time to consider all that goes into choosing, maintaining, and paying for a summer oasis.
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5 Tips for Building a Strong Shed Foundation
A shed can be a great place to store yard tools and equipment, or it can serve as a useful area for completing projec...
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6 Things to Know Before Cutting Metal
Around the home, you won’t frequently run into situations that require you to cut metal, but there are a few DIY proj...
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The Best Drill Bits Tested in 2023
When one is assembling a tool kit for home improvement, maintenance, and construction projects, one of the first item...
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The Best Cordless Drills Tested in 2023
With many of today's tools running on powerful, long-lasting batteries, DIYers aren't limited by the length of a cord...
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5 Tips for Building and Using a French Cleat Wall
It may sound fancy, but a French cleat is simply a sturdy beveled support board, a secret that builders and craftsmen...
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Here’s How Building a Cold Frame Can Extend Your Gardening Season
A cold frame is one of the most valuable accessories for the northern or mountain gardener. With a cold frame, garden...
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The Best Wood Glues Tested in 2023
With its unique grain patterns and natural tones, thick and thin wood earns praise for being a beautiful building mat...
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How To: Build a Temporary Wall
If you can't live with the layout of your space, a temporary wall may be just the solution you need. For decades, ren...
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A Strong Start: The Best Concrete Mix for Every DIY Project
If you have any experience with home improvement, you need no convincing about the strengths of concrete as a buildin...
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9 Pro Tips for Building an Outdoor Kitchen
To create a functional and beautiful outdoor kitchen, you need materials that can really stand up to the elements—and few materials surpass the durability of ston...
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The Quickest Projects You Can Complete with Concrete
Check out the fun, functional, and (yes!) fast decor and garden accessories you can create with concrete to add style to your space, indoors and out. This co...
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13 Beautiful Ways to Use a Backyard Pergola
Take your backyard to new heights with more than a dozen versatile uses for a trendy garden feature. Ahead, these pergola ideas will inspire and even guide your n...
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The Secrets to Pouring Concrete in the Heat of Summer
While summer sunshine encourages outdoor projects, it also poses its own set of challenges. Ahead, learn how to beat the heat when pouring garden edging, patio sl...
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5 Ways to Prevent Cracks in Concrete—and 1 Easy Fix
Even if it's your first concrete project, you can ensure a long-lasting, professional finish by steering clear of a few pitfalls and, if necessary, using the righ...
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9 Ideas for a Beautiful Brick Patio
Perk up your patio with great-looking, long-wearing brick with one of these ideas.
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Solved! When, Why, and How to Use Pilot Holes Correctly
Q: I know it’s a good idea to pre-drill before nailing or screwing two pieces of wood together, but I can’t seem to g...
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The Easiest Way to Make an Outdoor Bar for All Seasons
Whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue or entertaining Christmas carolers around the chiminea, an outdoor bar provi...
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Backyard Makeover: DIY a Patio Table with a Built-In Cooler for Drinks
Has a relatively empty patio left you uninspired to head outdoors?When it comes to setting up the deck or balcony, yo...
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This DIY Project Provides the Ultimate Finishing Touch for Your Curb Appeal
This content has been brought to you by Quikrete. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Lawn and garden e...
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The Dos and Don'ts of Gluing PVC Pipe
Pipe made of polyvinyl chloride, commonly called PVC, is used in a variety of residential applications, from plumbing...
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The Dos and Don'ts of Building Retaining Walls 
Reducing soil erosion, turning steep slopes into terraced backdrops, creating focal points in the landscape—retaining...
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Makeover an Ordinary Outdoor Space with a Wall-Mounted Trellis
It's not news: You don’t need to have a huge backyard to enjoy greenery. The key is to embrace your vertical space, a...
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Dos and Don'ts of Building a Fire Pit
Fire pits are a hot commodity! These attractive backyard additions can dress up a drab yard with mesmerizing flames w...
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How To: Build a Better-Looking Baby Gate
A lot of lifestyle adjustments need to be made when a baby comes along, and the house is no exception. In addition to...
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5 Keys to Choosing the Right Size Shed
When the time comes to buy a backyard shed, size is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Surprisingly, th...
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9 Cool Projects You Can Make with Pipe and Fittings
Create hip, functional home goods out of flanges, elbows, and other basic fittings. This article has been brought to you by SupplyHouse.com. Its facts and op...
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Video: 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Shed
Setting up a shed in your backyard can feel like a tall order when you consider the variables involved. Here, we've d...
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Built to Last: 4 Ways to Make Your Shed More Durable
Homeowners typically use sheds to stash stuff—everything from off-season sporting equipment and unused furniture to a...
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How To: Cut Pavers
Pavers—be they brick, stone, or concrete—are a pleasing alternative to large expanses of plain concrete, adding visua...
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All You Need to Know About Pony Walls
While pony walls aren’t new to the housebuilding scene, they’ve recently seen a resurgence in popularity—even before ...
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Building or Remodeling? The One Question You’re Forgetting to Ask
Planning to add onto or remodel your home is equal parts exciting and hectic.  There are so many decisions to make: c...
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This DIY Christmas Tree Stand Makes Your Fake Fir Look Real (and Taller!)
You've adorned every limb with baubles, tinsel, and ribbon, but what's a fully decorated tree if its base remains bar...
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How To: Drill Into Brick
Decorative brick adds warmth and beauty to your home, but its tough surface shouldn’t deter you from hanging your art...
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This DIY Rolling Cart Is What Every Kitchen Needs
Having an organized and functional kitchen can sometimes feel unattainable especially if you're working with limited ...
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7 Strong Types of Wood Joints Worth Knowing
Wood joinery, as the term implies, refers to joining pieces of timber or lumber to create other structures. Crafting ...
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9 Things to Know Before You Screen In a Porch
A porch is an extension of a home’s living area: a place to savor a summer’s breeze, observe wildlife, or bask in bir...
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Solved! The Perfect Closet Rod Height
Q: I need to organize my closet of chaos with a closet rod, but I don't know how high to mount the rod for easy acces...
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So, You Want to... Build an Outdoor Fireplace
It's the ultimate in backyard entertaining—an outdoor fireplace where friends and family gather to share good times a...
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Your Shed, Your Way: 5 Surprising Ways to Customize Your Backyard Building
Why settle for a basic backyard shed when you can trick it out to be so much more? With a little imagination, you can...
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How To: Cut Plastic
There’s little debate over the proper methods to cut wood. However, cutting plastic—particularly acrylic and polycarb...
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All You Need to Know About Cedar Closets
Prized for repelling sweater-munching moths, the woodsy aroma of cedar is finding new fans in eco-savvy homeowners lo...
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Bob Vila Radio: What The Deck? Understanding The Many Options in Decking Materials
Adding a deck? You have lots of materials to choose from. CM_BVNOTES-1737-1Listen to BOB VILA ON DECK MATERIAL OPTION...
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11 Tips and Tricks for Making the Most of Your Shed
When you're investing money and time in—and, for do-it-yourselfers, the energy to build!—a backyard shed, you’ll want...
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The Dos and Don'ts of Curing Concrete
You may rightly consider concrete to be one of the most durable and attractive construction materials around, but did...
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Power Sheds: How to Design and Build a Shed for Workshop Projects
Every weekend warrior dreams of a convenient backyard structure that's spacious enough not only for storing tools but...
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Solved! The Best Decking Material
Q: I’m putting a new deck on my house and I want to make sure it is constructed properly. What is the best decking ma...
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The Dos and Don'ts of Building a Shed
A backyard shed frees up your home and garage by storing cumbersome essentials like your riding mower, hedge trimmers...
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So, You Want to... Build a Pond
Water brings a touch of enchantment, transforming an ordinary landscape into something magical. Whether you yearn to ...
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How To: Cut Sheet Metal
Whether you're repairing HVAC ducts, replacing roof flashing, or tackling the occasional metal craft project, you'll ...
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All You Need to Know About Doorway Casing
The trim around a door frame—also known as doorway casing—is installed first and foremost to conceal unsightly constr...
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How To: Cut Mirror
Mirrors enhance any interior as both decorative and highly functional features, bouncing light and offering an opport...
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How To: Create a Walk-In Closet in 1 Hour
Have you dreamed about a walk-in closet with endless storage possibilities for clothes and accessories? Fortunately, ...
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How To: Cut Concrete
Whether you want to create a countertop or expand your sidewalk, cutting concrete yourself may not be as daunting as ...
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DIY Lite: This Curtain Rod Only Costs $12 to Make
While often initially installed for privacy, window treatments do a lot to improve a space's interior design. Curtain...
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5 Types of Screws Every DIYer Should Know
Though they may not be much to look at, screws hold a place of honor in the construction, hobby, and furniture-making...
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How to Pour Concrete the Right Way
Learning to pour concrete may save money and build your skills, but without proper equipment and attention to detail,...
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How To: Drill Into Concrete
While concrete's cool, industrial aesthetic is a go-to design touch in modern homes, its density and strength are wha...
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How To: Sweat Copper Pipe
For DIYers eager to take on plumbing tasks, one of the most important skills to master is how to sweat copper pipe—a ...
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How To: Build a Faux Fireplace
Even if it’s not operational, a fireplace somehow still makes a space feel cozy—and ups its “architectural charm” fac...
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How To: Build a Kitchen Island
Sometimes, the kitchen is too small to prep a multi-course meal for friends or family. If only you had 12 square inch...
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DIY Lite: Build a Clock that Displays the Time—and Your Plants
Clocks may be less a necessity than they were in the days before cell phones remained attached to consumers' hips and...
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So, You Want to... Build a Ramp
Most homes have one or more exterior steps, but mobility-challenged individuals may find it difficult or impossible t...
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DIY Lite: Declutter Your Entry with an Easy Shoe Storage Bench
Streamlining the home's entryway or mudroom poses a real challenge for bustling households. Add up all of the jackets...
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How To: Cut Copper Pipe
Beyond its well-earned prominence in the plumbing department, copper piping is having its moment in the DIY world as ...
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DIY Lite: Build a Backyard Hammock Stand from Scratch
Wish that you had a relaxing moment in a camping hammock in your own backyard, but have nowhere to hang it? Rather th...
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So, You Want to... Build a Floating Deck
Summer isn’t summer unless you’re soaking up the sun, grilling, and chilling in your own backyard. Yet a traditional ...
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How To: Cut Brick
Many home improvement enthusiasts choose to enhance their landscapes with the DIY installation of brick patios, walkw...
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How to Drill a Hole in Glass
You're a crafty DIYer who'd love to create a lamp from an empty wine bottle or hook that mirror through a hole, but t...
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How To: Cut Glass
If the very thought of cutting glass makes you cringe, perhaps it’s because you remember a painful occasion when glas...
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DIY Lite: Double Bathroom Storage with Easy-Build Box Shelves
The bathroom can be a nightmare to organize, with all of its towels, soap bottles, grooming supplies, and other toile...
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DIY Lite: A Beginner's Guide to Building a Wooden Planter Box
Some lucky homeowners with enough property for a large plot of land to be dedicated garden space; for the rest of us,...
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How to Cut Ceramic Tile
A small- to medium-size ceramic tiling job is a project that's well within the grasp of most DIYers. With careful mea...
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How To: DIY a Space-Saving Sliding Door
When you have a doorway but not enough room for a door to swing open, oftentimes the frame goes without any sort of c...
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How To: Cut Plexiglass
In a range of applications, from picture frames to tabletops, plexiglass (also known as acrylic) serves as a cost-eff...
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How To: Frame a Mirror
Done any shopping for your home recently? In perusing the aisles, you may have noticed that even a very simple mirror...
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How To: Install Curtain Rods
An attractively mounted curtain rod adds a subtle layer of embellishment to an entire room.  Beyond completing a room...
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DIY Kids: Build a Backyard Tire Swing
There’s something so incredibly appealing about a simple tire swing. Whether it’s the freeing feeling of soaring thro...
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DIY Kids: Make an Easy A-Frame Tent
Summer vacation is all about fun: swimming pools, later bedtimes, and epic blanket forts. With all the lively activit...
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How To: Make a Tabletop with 2x4s
This DIY has a bit of a backstory: In my basement workshop—as a byproduct of about a half dozen previous projects—I'd...
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How to Make a DIY Wasp Trap from a Bottle and the Right Bait
Nothing can ruin a summer barbecue or evening by the pool like the threat of a wasp’s sting. Mind you, wasps aren’t a...
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How To: Build a Cinder Block Wall
Privacy, safety, security—these are only a few of the reasons that homeowners build solid, durable garden walls. Alth...
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How To: Build a Paver Patio
Patio. The very word conjures up visions of lazy, relaxing afternoons spent with friends and family. For those whose ...
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How To: Make a Concrete Planter
This post has been brought to you by QUIKRETE. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Everyone knows that ...
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How To: Make Concrete Garden Edging
Always affordable and at once both decorative and functional, concrete garden edging effectively defines garden beds,...
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DIY Plywood Bookcase
When we saw Ama's sleek and contemporary bookshelf, we were impressed. And when it became clear that it was made enti...
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Genius! DIY Radiator Cover
If your heat comes from radiators, you know the predicament: In the winter, you're glad to have the heat. But no matt...
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Bob Vila Radio: Installing a Laundry Chute
Tired of lugging laundry down the basement stairs? Maybe you should consider installing a laundry chute. Kits are ava...
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Today's Homeowners Rediscover the Benefits of a Root Cellar
Until fruits and vegetables were available year-round at the grocery store, the root cellar played a vital role in da...
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Genius! DIY Trash Can Shed
Who hasn't admired a great product in-store before balking at the price tag? When daring DIYer Anne Davis saw a $300 ...
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How To: Mix Concrete
Everyone knows how concrete looks and that it lasts for years and years. What you may not have realized is that prepa...
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Weekend Projects: 5 Easy and Creative DIY Lamps
In any room, in any house, lighting is key. Besides its practical importance, lighting is one of the main factors inf...
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How To: Create a Gravel Driveway
A gravel driveway can be very attractive in a characteristically unpretentious way, introducing casual curb appeal to...
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DIY Mason Jar Speaker Set
The humble mason jar can hold nearly anything—including tech gadgets! Designer Sarah Pease converted these canning ja...
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DIY Outdoor Chandelier
I just love candles in mason jars. A few summers ago I bought a package of half-pint jars and some light wire and mad...
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DIY Mason Jar Windchime
It was only a matter of time before I tried out my bottle cutter on a mason jar. Here's how I pulled off this mason-j...
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DIY Mason Jar Solar Lamp
When the words mason jar and solar lamp come together in the same sentence, I don’t care who you are—you get excited....
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How To: Make a Clapboard Sunburst
 Here's an ornamental way to use clapboard. Create a sunburst on a gable end. Draw out your design on a template. Cut...
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How To: Make a Picture Frame
What is art? Critics and philosophers are free to debate the question endlessly, but we think it's pretty simple: If ...
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How To: Bevel a Fence Post
 Here's how to dress up a fence post with a beveled cap. It's easy to do with a radial arm saw. Set the blade at a 45...
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How To: Make Concrete Countertops for Your Kitchen
The brute strength of concrete has made it the go-to building material for a variety of such outdoor installations as...
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How To: Make a Wood Window Valance
 A decorative wood valance adds charm to your house. You can make one yourself. Here's how. Copy a pattern, or create...
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How To: Make a Biscuit Joint
 Here's a way to join two pieces of wood without visible hardware or nails by using oval wooden biscuits.  With a bis...
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3 Simple Steps to a Backyard Ice Skating Rink
Over the snowy-white winter, adults and children make the most of the cold by taking part in a smorgasbord of seasona...
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How To: Make a Fresh Holiday Garland
This year, as you dress up your house for the holidays, consider decking the halls with twinkling lights, festive rib...
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How To: Make a Story Pole
 When marking off several measurements of the same size, it's best to make yourself a guide. We call this a story pol...
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How To: Make Cabinet Doors
 Here's how to dress up an old kitchen with new cabinet doors. Use a fine-grade plywood, such as birch, for the new d...
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How To: Make a Gingerbread House From Scratch
The holiday season comes with so many traditions—cooking and baking, house decorating, caroling, and cocoa making—but...
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Be Nice to Mice: How to Build a Humane Mousetrap
None of us loves the idea of little Mickeys and Minnies scurrying around our homes. Some people insist they're cute, ...
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How To: Build a Winding Staircase
 If space is a consideration in your remodeling project, you might want to consider building a winding staircase.  Yo...
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How To: Make Homemade Clamps
 Here's an easy way to improvise when you're running out of clamps around the woodworking shop.  After spreading glue...
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How To: Make a Mosaic Countertop
 Here's a unique way to use ceramic tile for a very unusual countertop. Just break up the tiles into random pieces, u...
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How To: Make a Stone Walkway
 Here are some tips on how to make a stone walkway.  After marking the walkway with string, the first step is to lay ...
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How To: Build a Cement Block Wall
 Here's how to lay out a cement block wall yourself. Mix two parts masonry cement with one part sand, and add just en...
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Quick Tip: Glass Block Walls
 Glass block walls are a great design feature that let extra sunlight into any room in your home while still providin...
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How To: Lay a Dry Stone Patio
 You can lay a stone patio yourself. Here's how. Prepare a base of sand or stone dust to provide good drainage in a l...
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How to Build a DIY Pallet Compost Bin
This post has been brought to you by Dickies.  Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. A compost bin is a g...
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How to Build Scaffolding (and When It's a Better Idea Than Using a Ladder)
Painting a home’s exterior, installing new siding, and putting up new gutters are just a few of the projects that req...
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How To: Lay Brick
 Here are a few tips on laying your own bricks. Prepare a mortar mix that is neither too firm and nor too runny. Spre...
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How To: Build a Trellis (The Quick and Easy Way)
Low-cost additions to any landscape, easy-to-make garden trellises can be used to introduce shade or privacy, or to s...
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How To: Install Pegboard in Your Workshop
Does it look like a bomb went off in your workshop? Even the best tools are useless if they are nowhere to be found w...
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How To: Build a Basic Backyard Fire Pit
Many homes have fireplaces or propane stoves inside, but there’s nothing quite like enjoying a fire pit under the sta...
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How To: Make an Inexpensive Desk for Your Kids
It was a challenge to find a desk for my five-year-old daughter. I needed something size-appropriate that would provi...
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Planning Guide: Basement Remodeling
Do you feel like your home is shrinking? Are the kids growing up and accumulating more stuff? Is your teenager demand...
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Planning Guide: Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchen makeovers remain popular as homeowners continue to invest to create a warm, stylish, comfortable, and efficie...
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How To: Make a Mortise and Tenon Joint
Mortise and tenon joints are the preferred style of joint for furniture and cabinetwork. It's strong, durable, and li...
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Planning Guide: Bathroom Remodeling
Bathrooms continue to top homeowners' lists of popular rooms to remodel—and for good reason. As more Americans are ca...
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How To: Build a Sawhorse
The sawhorse is an indispensable piece of work-site furniture. It's part workbench, part scaffold, and now and again ...
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How To: Clamp a Glue Joint
A properly glued wood joint is very strong, but one that is glued improperly is likely to fracture given a minimum of...
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Building a Basic Deck? Top Tips for DIYers
Decks and other outdoor spaces are different from ordinary rooms. They serve as an intermezzo between home and nature...
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How To: Make a Concrete Walkway
A walkway or garden path enhances a home's landscape and complements its exterior features. While traditional materia...
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How To: Build a Horseshoe Pit
When summer is on, it’s time to get outside and play. If you're looking for ways to make your backyard more fun, why ...
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How To: Make a Mitered Corner
A mitered corner is formed by joining two pieces of wood, each cut to a 45° angle. One of the easier joints to cut, a...
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How To: Make a Deck Rail Planter
Last year, I was dying to have some deck rail planters to grow spinach and lettuce in, but I couldn’t find any that w...
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How To: Make Tabletop Topiaries
The sculpture of plants, or topiary, has been a gardening practice for centuries. The precise designs achieved throug...
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How To: Make an Evergreen Holiday Wreath
As soon as December hits, I’m ready to break out the Christmas cheer. When it comes to decorating for the holiday, I’...
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So, You Want to... Build a Porch
A porch is simply a deck with a roof on it, right? Not quite. While some porches may be as simple as that, many are m...
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How To: Drill Straight 90° Holes (Without a Drill Press)
Except in special cases—when you intentionally choose a specific angle or bias—it's important to keep all drill holes...
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How To: Choose the Right Screw for the Right Job
Back in the day there were just two options, slotted or Phillips. You picked one, picked a length, and were good to g...
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So, You Want to... Build a Cabinet
Building a cabinet looks easy. After all, it’s just a box with a door. It only becomes difficult if you want it to lo...
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How To: Match End Grain with Side Grain
As you may recall from science class as a kid, wood is a collection of fibers that run in the same direction. Basical...
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How To: Make a Kid's Teepee
A basic teepee is not hard to make, provided you keep it simple and fun, as I discovered when I created this project ...
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How To: Make a Kite
There's nothing more fun for a child than learning to fly a kite. Who doesn't remember the thrill of watching their f...
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How To: Make a Window Box
A window box can add enormous curb appeal to a house and provide a garden opportunity for even city dwellers. And, th...
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How To: Make a Sandbox
With just some basic home improvement knowledge, you can build a simple backyard sandbox like this with colorful stri...
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How To: Make a Rain Barrel
Rainwater collection has an ancient history with archeological evidence dating back at least 4,000 years. Urban deman...
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How To: Build a Dry Stone Retaining Wall
Depending on the size and weight of the stones used to construct the retaining wall, the tools and materials for the ...
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How To: Make a Tire Swing
Create some outdoor fun this summer—the old-fashioned way—with this "oh so easy" tire swing how-to.
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The Basics: Building a Raised Garden Bed
For the soil- and drainage-poor gardener, a raised garden bed offers the opportunity to perfect your environment and ...
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How To: Make a Terrarium
Terrariums can be as basic or elaborate as you want. While those featuring sand and air plants (tillandsia) are popul...
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How To: Make Garden Luminaries
Luminaries create an enchanting glow at dusk along a garden path or atop a picnic table. Here’s how to turn an old sa...
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How To: Make a Campfire
Building a fire was once an essential survival skill. But even in these times of portable heaters and grills, a campf...
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How To: Make a Birdhouse
The homemade birdhouse is a DIY classic. And with good reason: It’s usually the first woodworking project for many; o...
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How To: Make an Outdoor Shower
Whether you’re cooling off, rinsing off, or actually bathing, an outdoor shower is a fun and relatively easy summer D...
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How To: Get Clean, Chip-Free Cuts in Melamine and Veneer
Melamine-coated particleboard is a great material for storage, basement, garage, home office, and kid's room projects...
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How To: Distress New Beams for an Century-Old Look
Creating hundred-year-old beams is an art form that Juan Santos of Emilios' Woodworking has perfected. In the Malibu ...
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5 Ways to Get Perfect, Clean Cuts in Plywood
Plywood sheet goods are an essential in any home improvement project involving wood. But due to their layered structu...
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How To: Stack Firewood
Nothing celebrates the colder weather like the distinct scent and sound of a crackling log in the wood burning firepl...
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