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With these clever products on hand, DIYers can fix plumbing, carpentry, and a host of other household problems.
Fear not: Cleaning blackened, burned cookware doesn’t have to mean an arm-wearying afternoon of rigorous scouring. It...
Cracking the windows is an effective way to air out your house when the weather is nice—but an open window can also b...
Removing a tree from your yard can be a tricky and expensive process, but it’s especially frustrating when you still ...
See the shades that virtually everyone loves for their homes.
Few decorating tricks transform the feel of a room as easily, quickly, and inexpensively as a fresh coat of paint. Perhaps because painting is so easy—a bit incon...
So, you've removed a label or price tag from a jar, bottle, or other household surface, and now the only evidence of ...
If you've ever shrunk your favorite sweater by drying it on the highest setting, or turned your white socks pink by ...
Conscientious homeowners may already know that there's a right and a wrong way to dispose of unwanted items. For ins...
The world is full of germs—we encounter them every day on our way to work, at school, or as we prepare dinner in the ...
The microwave oven may be the pinnacle of modern convenience. At the press of a button it can heat your lunch, refres...
Whether your furniture is brand-new or a treasured heirloom, you need to treat it right to keep it in good condition ...
Your trusty garbage disposal makes kitchen cleanup a snap by grinding food scraps into tiny particles that can be was...
Before you can build functional, stylish furniture for your home, you need a truckload of power tools and a craftsman...
Homeownership brings a lot of hidden costs, especially when it comes to the daily cleaning and maintenance that's req...
You reach for it when you need to relax with a cold beverage or soothe a bruise, but ice has many unusual uses that g...
Everyone thinks they know how to clean a mirror, but if that were the case every one of these reflective surfaces wou...
As the holidays draw ever nearer, many homeowners are preparing to entertain dozens of friends and family members ove...
There's no doubt that homeowners go to great lengths to make a house into a home, and the results of their hard labor...
No matter how much you spray, wipe, and scrub, you can never banish every speck of grime from your house. Most of us ...
Winter is coming. That means ice, snow, and cold mornings that make you want to never get out of bed. Are you ready?...
Where do homeowners turn when they need to stash off-season gear, sports equipment, and the odd power tool? Why, the ...
Halloween night (and Mischief Night, celebrated on October 30th) can turn ordinary kids and teens into neighborhood g...
Whether you love fall, or dread it, there's no arguing that autumn is here and winter is right around the corner. Bef...
The month of October is full of autumnal joys like rust-colored leaves, Halloween preparations, and crisp, cool air. ...
King of the kitchen, the crockpot is a culinary hero that can cook at your command on those days you're simply too b...
The world is full of unitasker appliances—the rice cooker, the panini press, the juicer, the waffle iron. These clunk...
Rust can strike at any time—or at least whenever metal is exposed to damp conditions. Left untreated, those corrosive...
The time comes when we could all use a little change—in our decor. The fastest way to alter the look of a room is to...
Considered both classic and refined, leather furniture has amassed a fan following thanks to its rich color and soft,...
Nothing ruins beautiful antique wood furniture faster than water—and it only takes a few drops of condensation from a...
For the average homeowner, the kitchen is the source of some of the most delicious smells, like home-baked cookies or...
Leftover wine—what's that? A true oenophile might not be able to imagine such a scenario, but it does happen. Once th...
Clorox can do more than whiten your whites. Did you know that the same bleach you use in the laundry can be put to us...
Although spiders are a great help in the garden—catching flies and other creepy crawlers—most of us would prefer not ...
When it comes to floors, carpet is no longer king. Today it's all about hardwood flooring—timeless, classic, and clea...
Take one trip to your local home center and you'll find solutions for just about any gardening problem. The convenien...
Outdoor pillows, cushions, and poufs can't hide from the cleansing power of the garden hose! If you've yet to give y...
Removing a tree from your yard is never pleasant. These leafy giants are part of our home and when one is mortally da...
Cleaning windows is a simple, straightforward task—for some people! For everyone else, it's streaky business. Wash a...
It's the simplest thing in the world, right? Load the machine, fill the soap tray, press a button—and voila! Sparklin...
There's perhaps no better way to show your appreciation for Mother Earth than to plant a tree. As we all know, tree...
You probably consider your home to be a safe haven from all the danger and mayhem in this crazy world, and most of t...
It may sound strange, but a dishwasher needs an occasional rinse to get it fresh and clean. The hot water that flows...
Whoever said "Summer time and the living's easy" must have never lived in a sweltering region with no air conditioni...
So you're taking a shower when you feel the water start to pool around your ankles. When that happens, you know the ...
Convenience incarnate: That's one way to describe your washing machine. This hardworking appliance launders clothes,...
Operating a screwdriver is so easy a child could do it—so why can't you remove that stubborn screw no matter how har...
You know the basics of fire safety: Check the fire extinguisher, douse a grease fire with baking soda, never leave a...
Stained grout ages your home and makes your kitchen and bathroom tile look dirty, even when not. If your previous at...
Did you know that tartar sauce makes a brilliant copper cleaner? Or that a slice of the bread is your secret weapon w...
Which projects are on your home improvement wish list? A modern kitchen? Maybe bathroom update or a basement remodel?...
In some homes, it seems like a thin layer of dust has settled over your tables, shelves, and other surfaces almost a...
You know the saying "out of sight, out of mind. " Well, when it comes to your oven's interior, it's "out of sight, a...
Just because the plant is beautiful, doesn't mean it belongs in your yard. Many popular plants available at your loca...
Find yourself in a stinky situation? If a skunk strikes close to home (or in your home!), take action against the un...
American architecture might not be as old as the kinds you'll find on other continents, but it certainly is stunning....
Many people reach for a bottle of brew to refresh themselves on a hot day. Fewer will crack open a cold one to clean ...
What's that smell? If you're sniffing around a damp bathroom, musty basement, or dewy screened porch, you may have c...
These quick upgrades don't require expert-level skills (or a big bankroll) to complete, but they can make a big impact on your home's potential—and your quality o...
Some homeowners are under the impression that the only wrong way to clean is to not clean at all. Not so. There are s...
There are many factors that contribute to a green and lush lawn. Healthy turf grass starts with choosing the right se...
When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade—clean house, instead! This versatile fruit can freshen every corner o...
How healthy and safe is your bedroom? The answer may surprise you. If you're keeping some of these seemingly innocuou...
Beloved for their economy and durability, vinyl and laminate flooring are two of the most popular flooring types avai...
Who knew? You might be the only thing standing in the way of your best-ever lawn. If the grass looks greener on the o...
When updating your basement, don't overlook a major opportunity to make a statement. To make the room unforgettable, all you have to do is look up.
There's a reason they make stud finders. These tiny tools come in handy when you need to find a wall stud, usually wh...
Admit it: Your garage, pantry, and closet are full of unused items. All of that junk is just one more organizational ...
When is the last time you cracked open an ice-cold Coke? If you're like two-thirds of Americans, it's probably been a...
Downsizing from a sprawling abode to a tiny home requires sacrifices of space and comfort—especially when it comes to...
Gun cabinets have long been the storage option of choice for responsible firearm owners looking to securely stash wea...
With the cold season in full swing, many heat-starved homeowners crank up the thermostat, sending their energy bill s...
If you’re regularly tagged with grocery duty, you know that the most perilous part of a trip to the supermarket is th...
Homeowners with furry friends know that you only have to take your eye off the pets for a minute before they wander o...
The lack of storage space in small kitchens constantly forces homeowners to make sacrifices. For Reddit user averagej...
Megan Pflug's gallery wall was a near masterpiece except for one niggling imperfection. A glaring white programmable ...
Pet parents know that there isn't ever a great place to store bulky bags of dry kibble. Closets are typically already...
Dedicated DIY-ers like Allison Allen know that fixing one design problem often causes another. When Allen, the blogge...
What's on the horizon for paint colors in the year ahead? Industry experts are predicting an embrace of warmer, more comforting hues that create a visual retreat ...
As temperatures dip, nothing feels better than thick fleece socks and a seat next to the fire. But, between uses, an ...
You might think that any color you love will work well in a bedroom, and that may well be true. If, however, you're someone who has trouble falling asleep (or wak...
When it's time to settle into a new home or apartment, most people face a tough trade-off: Buying all of the furnitur...
From searing a steak to piecing together the perfect kebabs, manning the grill is a juggling act. For BBQ-ers without...
When his wife started her new job as an attorney, Mark Evitt took on a different role, too: househusband. Since he w...
Decades ago, famed physicist Albert Einstein predicted that once the bees were gone, people would disappear, too. He ...
Nothing spoils the satisfaction of a paint job like drips and splatters on plastic surfaces, such as light switch cov...
When you get back from the grocery store with bags full of juicy strawberries, peaches, and cherries, your kids won’t...
The bathroom can be a nightmare to organize, with all of its towels, soap bottles, grooming supplies, and other toile...
When A Farm of Your Home's blogger Melissa Barrett first moved to Australian city of Perth, her backyard was a tiny d...
The struggles of sharing a home aren't limited to arranging furniture or dividing up a chore chart among the househol...
How you choose to eradicate weeds depends on your patience, physical abilities, and environmental ethics. You could g...
A night at the movies doesn’t come cheap. With the steep price of tickets, not to mention the popcorn and M&Ms, t...
Any interior designer will recommend layering multiple light sources, from wall sconces to floor lamps, for both illu...
Chain-link fences have bordered American yards for more than a century, and with good reason—they're cheap, easy to i...
A screwdriver, a screw, and a willing surface to drive it into are familiar features of many home projects. But over-...
Nothing makes a young, aspiring artist feel accomplished quite as much as having an easel to work on. But a tradition...
When it comes to lighting, there are probably plenty of places in your home with room for improvement—basements, stai...
If you have an unfinished basement, you probably don’t want to spend a ton of time down there. The air is musty, the floors are damp, and it feels just a tiny bit...
Often used as filler between tiles on the bathroom tub surround, kitchen backsplash, or foyer floor, grout can be a h...
In a groggy morning, you want that first cup of coffee to be as accessible as possible. That means mugs at the ready ...
Every house has its problems, but you'd be amazed how many of them can be solved with a single afternoon and a common DIY staple: a can of paint. See how a few po...
Though they're growing up fast, my girls still love to play with a dollhouse—so much so that we needed to upgrade fro...
Single-use kitchen gadgets—garlic presses, juicers, and vegetable peelers—all do their jobs exceedingly well, but eve...
Most of us already have the makings of a collection sitting out on a shelf or dresser, right under our noses. Transfo...
In old homes, it’s the details that draw us in. While the intricate trim and sculpted ceiling medallions certainly cr...
Everyone has a favorite seat, a comfortable corner of the living room perfect for lounging, reading, working, snackin...
Wishing for a way to refresh a kitchen or laundry room without sinking thousands of dollars into a renovation? If you...
The holidays always bring a fresh influx of toys, games, and craft sets into the home. Come January, we struggle with...
Power sanders are incredibly useful—and incredibly expensive. The smallest versions, called detail sanders, allow you...
In with the chill, out with the coats—and hats, scarves, mittens . . . you name it. With so much winter gear and so l...
It's been a long day, but it's not you who needs a hot bath—it's your towels. When wet towels dry in open air, they ...
For kids, nothing beats the thrill of the first snowy day of the season. While they get busy building a snowman, you ...
When the snow started to pile up on handyman Bill Bachand's roof, he did what any responsible homeowner would do: run...
The fall season has been mild this year, but chilly temperatures are right around the corner, especially with the off...
Winter’s first snowfall is greeted with open arms for affording fun-filled activities like bobsledding, skiing, and b...
Every December—occasionally as soon as the day after Thanksgiving—holiday-loving home decorators divide into two grou...
When you've moved your plans indoors to escape the seasonal chill, a draft to send you back under the blankets is the...
Your holiday spirits may be high when the champagne and the conversation is overflowing, but after the guests leave, ...
For many Thanksgiving hosts, the holiday's fun, family, and food mark the culmination of a month-long process: dilige...
Just like us, our ancestors loved a good cookout. As early as 500,000 years ago, the earliest humans whipped up dinne...
Does your bed squeak every time you toss or turn? Learn how to bring peace back to your bedroom and improve the quality of your sleep.
My kids love LEGO so much that it borders on obsession. We have a lot of these plastic bricks and, until recently, no...
This crisp fall forecast calls for bundling up—that means some rummaging through your closet to unearth options for l...
Unplanned guests can throw off even the most seasoned holiday host or hostess. Between checking on the turkey, wiping...
Family and food go hand in hand this time of year, and the kitchen is generally bustling with all of the action. If y...
If you rely on Google to answer day-to-day questions or count on cat videos to pull you out of the post-lunch slump, ...
The foundation of many furniture projects—like crafty wine racks, whimsical swing chairs, and elegant daybeds—relies ...
We all start autumn bright-eyed and optimistic, eager to pick apples, gaze at the stars, or watch the leaves change c...
Few colors in home design can be considered both fresh and traditional, but gray succeeds on both counts. It's been called the color of the season for more season...
Many of the clichés of parenthood hold true, but this one does especially: Kids grow up so fast! Before you know it, ...
Wholly malleable yet still a sturdy project material, concrete mix has proven its worth outside of just lawn and gard...
Too far out of reach (and often out of sight during normal cleaning routines), ceiling fans collect plenty of dust wh...
No matter whether you prefer heart-warming classics or heart-pounding thrillers, your personal library of paperbacks ...
If you actually wear everything you own, you might be part of a growing trend: people paring down their possessions i...
Finding a home for every single possession—and remembering to return them to their specified spots—is always a challe...
Once the excitement of closing on a new house or locking down a great apartment wears off, reality sets in: Time to p...
As the first leaves begin to litter the lawn, we're reminded that it's once again time to dig out the ladder from the...
Nothing says family fun like a little bit of friendly competition! When the weather’s nice, there are many choices fo...
What better way to celebrate the end of summer than with a good old-fashioned campfire, surrounded by friends and fam...
This story starts at the curb, where people leave out the things that they no longer need. Between neighbors' recycli...
If cleaning your outdoor grill were just as easy as cleaning your household oven, it wouldn’t be so bad—but, alas, th...
For most parents, the week of Labor Day is jam-packed with barbecues, parades, or back-to-school shopping. But for ki...
If you find yourself scouring the flea markets for that perfectly imperfect piece of painted furniture that's distres...
In most of the Western world, Sunday is the day of rest—and that means different things to different people. Do you s...
There are lots of household chores to take care of before going on a vacation: board the dog, clean the fridge, empty...
Paint offers DIYers of any skill level an opportunity to make over drab dwellings at the mere lift of a brush, roller, or sprayer. But homeowners often paint them...
Thoughtful lighting is key to evoking a desired ambience in nearly any space. (They don't call it "mood lighting" for...
When a new washing machine can cost up to $1,000, there are plenty of reasons to consider a cheaper alternative befor...
A weathered finish on a beloved table or chair chronicles the story of a bygone era. But while authentic antique piec...
Remember when your biggest problem was keeping your favorite CD from skipping? Times were simpler before iPhones, Net...
It's no easy feat to master the art of hanging a picture on the wall. Between marking the hole, hammering the nail, ...
Dusting used to mean lazily moving about the house with an old T-shirt and furniture polish in hand, loathing the amo...
Instructables user deluges, a self-described amateur tinkerer, has nothing against custom screws—just the added cost ...
An unsightly scratch in your new hardwood floors—or worse, the expensive mahogany table you splurged on in a recent d...
Summer vacation is all about fun: swimming pools, later bedtimes, and epic blanket forts. With all the lively activit...
Tired of the frenzied search for your keys before leaving for work? You're not the only one. According to the Wall St...
Ants are one of those annoying pests that seem to pop up everywhere they're unwanted during the summer—picnics, kitch...
Sure, your indoor plants might be doing just fine on their own with your current watering schedule and carefully sele...
Yes, we’re just as shocked as you! But anyone who lives in an area that’s incredibly dry or has serious water restric...
Everyone wants to be a DJ, but no one wants to buy the equipment—let alone figure out how to use it. This life hack w...
Whether you're returning from a 12-day vacation on foreign soil or have just wrapped up a weekend by the pool with th...
Having a TV is great—except when you're not using it. Then the box just sits in your living room, idle and unappealin...
Few things in life are guaranteed. That short list includes death, taxes, and the fact that freshly painted rooms wil...
Americans may not agree on political issues, reality television, or eating their vegetables, but we do share one sent...
Practical, flexible, and customizable, the room divider is one of the unsung heroes of the home design toolkit. An attractive version can add textural interest to...
It's a great feeling to have all of your tried-and-true tools in one handy toolbox, but that feeling can quickly be e...
Can rain really damage your home? Well, that depends on the storm and on whether or not you're ready for it. One inch...
As summer approaches, the growing number of sunny hours each day means that we have more time to spend out in the yar...
Some days, hanging out under an awning is the closest we can get to enjoying the breeze underneath a shady beach umbr...
Got an old wood plank, used door, or slab of countertop sitting around? Well, then you're halfway to a truly one-of-a...
Too little storage, not enough chairs? For any sort of home furnishings conundrum, IKEA has the answers. But when it ...
Hosting a summer party for family and friends is hardly a small task. Manning the grill, scrambling to set up seating...
Painting a room can be quite the process: choosing your paint color, covering all of your furniture, prepping every s...
'Tis the season when all the creepy, crawly, and buzzy things are waking up and starting to stir. The same goes for m...
"My mom once said she could only keep so many things alive at once," writes Jill Kurtz, photographer, architect, and ...
By the early 1990s, most middle-class homes had a VCR. Video rental stores sprouted up like dandelions, taking over s...
Few home improvement projects are as transformative as a fresh coat of paint. In fact, painting your own house—whethe...
There's more than one way to slice a watermelon, and more than one thing to do with it once you do! Sure, you can sna...
Want wood paneling without the hassle of nailing lumber to the walls? Meet Stikwood, the first peel-and-stick solid w...
Today, Americans buy everything from groceries to furniture over the Internet without thinking twice. But what's true...
Among shots of cats napping on windowsills and family vacations, there's a wealth of DIY ideas on Flickr. This one, s...
Stephanie Beamer, Crystal Ellis, and Hillary Petrie are the founders of Egg Collective, a furniture design firm that'...
With the exception of fire, water poses the greatest threat to our homes, whether it's a slow-and-steady leak or a su...
We're always choosing between saving time and saving money. So when a DIY comes along that's both quick and inexpensi...
It's not what you feared. Spilling coffee on the carpet doesn't have to mean living with an eyesore until you replace...
Even if you're a veteran do-it-yourselfer and hip to the many different avenues for project research available on the...
Is it a MacGyver-style party trick or a practical skill for managing power-outtage emergencies? We're not positive, b...
Stars, they’re just like us! When on the hunt for real estate, celebrities enjoy jaw-droppingly large budgets, sure, ...
After a cold and blustery winter, homeowners are geared up and ready to get back outside. First on many to-do lists i...
Slippery when wet! Those words of caution may be most familiar in the context of hospital and airport floors, but the...
As the owner of a railroad contracting and maintenance firm, John Hendrick oversaw a crew responsible for, among othe...
Joining the ranks of smart-home gadgets and gizmos is Scout, a completely wireless, internet-connected home security ...
Last year, Tiffany left her roomy rental house for a compact apartment closer to downtown. Though ideally located, th...
Remember back when successfully programming the VCR felt like a minor triumph? Now imagine how James Larssen of Make ...
In 2015, people are as likely to charge a digital device as they are to plug in a table lamp or a hair dryer. But whi...
Every single month, tons of fire hose reaches the end of its useful life and must be disposed of. That's when Oakland...
Everyone dreads at least one household chore. Many people's least favorite is cleaning the windows. Too important to ...
In California wine country, a house-hunting couple struck upon a cozy, cedar-shingled cabin. Encompassing 960 square ...
Though a half dozen remote controls clutter your coffee table at any given time, doesn't it always seem like the one ...
Karen loves fires—summer bonfires, barbecues, and winter evenings spent 'round the living room hearth. Even so, she'd...
Jonah Meyer and Tara De Lisio are partners in marriage—and partners in business. In their first venture together, the...
In the Idaho desert, the Outpost sits at the end of a half-mile-long driveway. Designed by architect Tom Kundig, the ...
Light bulbs didn't change for decades—arguably for a full century. But then, somewhat all of a sudden, a confluence o...
Like so many other do-it-yourself enthusiasts, Nicole Shariat Farb frequently browsed blogs and social media sites, a...
We're stunned by the latest marketing campaign let loose by BoConcept. In the past, we've always appreciated BoConcep...
In remote Millinocket, ME, there are as many as 1 million cords of wood resting at the bottom of Quakish Lake. Since ...
[bobsays_inset] There are plenty of housekeeping jobs that people put off. And as opposed to a task like clearing the...
Perched on South Fork Mountain in West Virginia, deep within a 27-acre site you can only reach on foot or with an off...
The measuring tape: It's a tool of unobjectionable simplicity, no more or less complicated than it needs to be—for so...
Over the past several years, the tiny house movement has only gained momentum, with increasing numbers of homeowners ...
To coax a candle into burning more slowly so that you can enjoy it for a longer period of time, try out one or all of...
It would be an exaggeration to state that mattress shopping provokes as much stress as, say, losing your job or getti...
Nothing brightens up a room like a fresh coat of paint—but the unfortunate side effects of many painting projects are spills and splatters. Even the most careful ...
In 2002, Tom Givone went out on a limb. The former advertising copywriter decided to purchase and resuscitate a 19th-...
Removing wallpaper is, in a word, laborious. The process takes a great deal of energy and time. And lo and behold, ev...
[bobsays_inset]Before hauling your rug outside on a cold day after a snowstorm, first vacuum its front and back. Alte...
Homes make strange noises on a regular basis, from groaning and creaking to popping and scratching. As a homeowner, you should be able to tell whether that noise ...
How did Big Chill end up manufacturing cutting-edge new kitchen appliances that look, in the best way possible, 60 ye...
The walls of our homes have the power to speak volumes about our lives. Filled walls produce a lived-in look packed with personality, while blank walls suggest th...
Paint is the easiest way to transform a room, yet it’s surprisingly easy to muck up your project with a few silly mistakes. The next time you pick up a paintbrush...
It's the next best thing to X-ray vision. With a mini camera fitted to the end of a flexible, three-foot-long cable, ...
Motion sensor lights are a must for any home security system, but sometimes they get out of whack, turning on and off...
Bringing light to a dark room will immediately make it more appealing. If making structural changes like adding windows, doors or skylights just isn’t in the card...
When's the best time to remove paint spots from wooden floors? Right after the paint hits the floor, of course! But w...
Choosing the best paint color for a room is tricky enough, requiring at the very least putting paint swatches up on the walls for a few days to make certain you k...
What's keeping you up at night? Basement flooding? Bathroom mold? What about termites?It's possible that among the ma...
Q. First-time deck painter here. I have prepared my deck as well as possible, scraping away old paint and sanding the...
To save time and money on your next building project, one option is to use engineered I-beams. Made from engineered...
Here's an ornamental way to use clapboard. Create a sunburst on a gable end. Draw out your design on a template. Cut...
Protecting woodwork before you paint (or do other work) around it will save you time and money later. Trim protectio...
If you're remodeling or adding a bathroom, use cement board as an underlayment. A bit of hardened mortar is sandwich...
There’s something so crisp and clean about a kitchen with a traditional, white porcelain enamel stove. But sometimes ...
If you have an old house, some paint stripping projects require extra care. Antique woodwork can include applied det...
Rubber slate can be a good choice when re-roofing a Victorian. Made from the same material as car bumpers, rubber sl...
Loss of the roofing causes the greatest amount of damage from hurricanes. Construction techniques have been develope...
Here's how to inlay sheet vinyl flooring for a designer look. Measure your design on the floor with chalk lines. Se...
Framing a house using engineered wood has many advantages. Glue-laminated beams are stronger than their conventiona...
Here's a way to create a decorative textured finish for a cement surface. Once your cement is poured and flowed out,...
Building with structural insulated panels is becoming a popular way to save construction time and energy dollars. Co...
Here's how to cut a decorative design out of the middle of a board. After choosing your design and carefully marking...
If you've ever done drywall work, you know the corners are the really tricky part. These no-coat drywall corners ar...
When you're repainting your house, here's how to restore that smooth, original finish. After you've removed all loos...
Here is a tip you can use to shingle your own roof. Make a starter course at the edge of the eave, laying the shingl...
Here's an inexpensive and creative way to decorate a floor. Roll on a coat of deck enamel (the color of your choice)...
Contemporary safety glasses are much improved. They offer comfort and clear vision as well as protection from flying...
Here's how to install a hot or cold water shut-off valve under your sink. Apply plumbing sealant to the shut-off th...
When hanging floor joists, use joist hangers to make building a floor deck simpler. Place hangers every 16 inches o...
Most professionals paint from a pail rather than a can. Painting out of a can is messy, causing rim buildup and drip...
Even the simplest home improvement projects can be messy. Be sure to protect your floors while you work. There's a w...
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...
When applying clapboards as exterior siding to your home, it's a good idea to prime both sides of the clapboards bef...
I've got some tips for you on how to laminate countertops in your kitchen. Roll on contact cement and allow it to se...
An exterior paint job is only as good as the prep you do first. Make sure to scrape and sand the surface to remove ...
It's easier to cut vinyl flooring to the exact shape and size of your room when you make a template first. Staple she...
When doing an attic or a third-floor renovation, consider using a crane for the heavy materials. For about $500 a da...
Here's how to drill a hole when you need to see both sides of your work. Drill on the front side of the board until t...
Here's some tips for easier door hanging. For this type of door, measure five inches from the top of the door to the...
Here's how to scribe a floor tile to fit around an uneven edge. Set the closest full tile in place, then use another...
Here's some important safety tips to remember when you're using a circular saw. Remove jewelry and loose clothing fi...
You can paint over existing interior wood finishes, if you take the proper steps first. Here's how. To paint over a ...
Here's a great device for keeping your home energy dollars from going down the drain. A drain water heat recovery de...
Here's how to properly install a sill plate on top of a foundation wall. Sink anchor bolts into your foundation ever...
Metal roofs have long been associated with agricultural and industrial use, but these days, new metal roofing system...
Here's how to keep the exterior paint from peeling off your house, if you live in a damp climate. Using a breathable...
A bench dog is a great tool for any woodworker's shop. Bench dogs are often used in pairs, with one pair set into a...
A decorative wood valance adds charm to your house. You can make one yourself. Here's how. Copy a pattern, or create...
The lost art of Victorian plaster detailing is making a comeback in a new form. Modern manufacturers are finding way...
Make sure that when you're using a slotted screwdriver, you're not doing it the hard way. Here's how. Be sure you're...
Learning how to install a vinyl window is something most DIYers can do, and it can save them a lot of money. For star...
Here's a helpful tip for getting really smooth drywall seam. After you've laid the tape in a four-inch bed of joint ...
Shimming a door frame is a skill anyone planning to install a new door into a rough opening should know. When carpent...
Make neater work of your next touch-up project. Applying paint from a quart can will get messy, especially if you're...
Using a chalk line is a quick way to give yourself a straight line as a building guide. Here's how. Find the endpoint...
Pliers are a relatively modern invention, and it's hard to imagine what people did without them. There are a dozen o...
Next time you tackle a big exterior paint job, try using a power sprayer. Start at the bottom and work your way up, ...
Whether you live in a palace or a studio apartment, you gotta have a fire extinguisher. While they come types A, B, ...
For a saw that can handle the curves, look for a good saber saw. Sometimes called a jigsaw, it has a small blade th...
When it comes to durable bathroom materials, few surpass the utility and great looks of tile. While tiles are frequen...
Wood shingle siding installation is a breeze, but keeping courses straight is tough. If you want to shingle the side...
Flashing is a good way of preventing water from entering a dwelling at the point where the roof meets the walls. To ...
Q: Many of the drywall seams on my 40-year-old house are bulging. It doesn't appear as if the joint tape is pulling a...
Termites and other pests can cause expensive damage. Here's what to look for. The sawdust-like accumulations of fra...
Here are some things to remember when you install vinyl siding on your home. First of all, you hang vinyl siding, s...
Don't wreck a good pair of scissors trying to cut metal. You need a good pair of tin snips. Tin snips look and work ...
Here's a way to install a tongue-and-groove ceiling without damaging the wood. Set a board in place. Then with a scr...
Here are some things to think about when you want to hang kitchen cabinets. Start by hanging your upper cabinets so ...
Here's how to lay a no-squeak subfloor. Apply a generous bead of panel adhesive to the tops of your floor joists. La...
If you need to insulate your attic, blowing in cellulose insulation is an easy job you can do yourself by renting a ...
Here's a tip on how to install a pre-hung door. First, lift the door into place, then be sure it's plumb. Always use...
Low-VOC paints are a safe and efficient option for your next project. Paints with low VOCs, or volatile organic comp...
Here's a way to join two pieces of wood without visible hardware or nails by using oval wooden biscuits. With a bis...
A propane torch is portable, inexpensive, and just about indispensable for many household chores. A valve controls t...
If you're updating the bathroom, you'll need to know how to install a toilet. Apply a new wax seal over the waste fl...
Here are some things to keep in mind when you're painting masonry. Like any other surface, masonry needs to be prepar...
When you're using a Phillips-head screwdriver, make sure that you're not doing it the hard way. Here's how. Be sure ...
If hard water is a problem in your house, you might want to look into getting a water softener. The scale in your wa...
A decorative paint finish is a good way to customize an interior in only a short time. Use a latex glaze mixed to th...
Here's how to save your aching back next time you have to move something heavy in the workshop. A workshop dolly is ...
Here's how to get a professional look when you hanging wallpaper. After you line up your pattern, overlap the top a...
For jobs that require a hammer with a little more heft than a claw hammer, try a ball-peen hammer, sometimes called ...
Professional builders use a plumb bob to make sure their walls are vertical. Here's how. Measure two inches away fro...
The tricky part of hanging double doors is that they have to meet in the middle. After hanging each door, check to s...
Whether you're hanging shelves or breaking through a wall, you've got to know where to find the wall studs. There ar...
There are three kinds of adhesives that work best on wood. Polyvinyl resin glue, or white glue, works for china, pap...
Before you repaint your house, you have to remove all loose and peeling paint. A pressure washer makes the job go fa...
If you like fireplaces but your home doesn't have one, a zero-clearance fireplace could be for you. It can be set o...
When marking off several measurements of the same size, it's best to make yourself a guide. We call this a story pol...
There's a revival of the 19th-century embossed wallcoverings Anaglypta and Lincrusta. Anaglypta is a heavy embossed ...
Here is a helpful tip if you are thinking of staining some cedar shingles. To protect new shingles, apply a penetra...
A chisel is one of the most useful tools in the workshop, but it's important to know how to use it. For example, aft...
If you have an old house with holes in the plaster, here's a quick way to patch them. Apply your base coat (or brow...
Checking your work for level and plumb is crucial. Here's how to select and use the right tool for the job. I recomm...
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...
For an elegant look in your bathroom, try using cultured marble. It's easy to work with, because it's made of real ...
If you're pouring a concrete foundation, how do you figure out how much concrete you'll need? There's a pretty simpl...
For exterior trim work and siding, pre-engineered lumber has several key features that make it a practical option. It...
Give your carpentry work that professional look by concealing nails or screws with wooden plugs. Use a dowel bit to ...
In a restoration project, reusing the original brick is a great idea. Water damage and neglect can destroy the morta...
When you're renovating, save and recycle old hardwood floorboards for patching and repairing. Using a pry bar at eac...
You can lose a lot of heat through your chimney, even with the damper closed. Installing fireplace doors is a great ...
Here's a way you can get a designer look for your painted walls. With a roller, apply an oil paint glaze over an alr...
The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that indoor air pollution is often much higher than outdoors. Here ar...
Here's how you can tell if your house has termite damage. First, examine obvious areas of wood rot for termites. Som...
If you have to hang a lot of wallpaper, here's a time-saving way to apply paste. Try a manually operated wallpaper p...
Here's a tip on how to throw a curve with drywall. The trick is to use two sheets of quarter-inch drywall instead of...
To achieve a Victorian look on an interior wall, try a beadboard wainscot. You can buy beadboard at your local lumb...
You can hand-paint your own stenciled border. Use painter's tape to mark off straight edges; you'll find the tape pr...
Salvage yards have always been a great place to find old house parts. These can be recycled as art objects or as rep...
If space is a consideration in your remodeling project, you might want to consider building a winding staircase. Yo...
For a lot of jobs around the house, using a staple can be a lot faster and easier than banging tacks or nails. The m...
Here's an easy way to improvise when you're running out of clamps around the woodworking shop. After spreading glue...
Dress up the rooms in your house with a variety of custom moldings. These moldings are available in many historic p...
Here's a unique way to use ceramic tile for a very unusual countertop. Just break up the tiles into random pieces, u...
Sometimes it's simple tricks that make home improvement easier and safer. Tool belts are always a good idea, especia...
Here's how to re-glaze those old, broken window panes. First, remove the old glazing compound with a propane torch a...
Fireplaces are a nice feature in any home. Count Rumford fireplaces, known for their heat efficiency, are tall and s...
Here is the best way of joining copper pipe yourself. First, use fine sandpaper to clean the inside of the fittings ...
A butcher block table can help make your kitchen much more efficient. Built to take a beating, butcher block doubles...
Here are some tips on how to make a stone walkway. After marking the walkway with string, the first step is to lay ...
To get the best color performance from your paint, use a tinted primer first. Usually available in three shades, gra...
Here's how to lay out a cement block wall yourself. Mix two parts masonry cement with one part sand, and add just en...
Here's how to stop squeaks in an old house with original floors you'd rather not replace. Preservationists use an ac...
To hang heavy cabinet doors and conceal the hardware, use mortise European-style hinges. Use a 35-millimeter drill ...
Tubular skylights are a great way to bring sunlight into underlit rooms. The adjustable design of these skylights al...
Here are the steps professionals follow to apply a stucco finish. After installing a 15-pound felt moisture barrier ...
For tough jobs like removing rust or preparing surfaces for paint or varnish, there's nothing like steel wool. It's ...
Keep these things in mind when pouring a DIY concrete walkway. Set a level frame with one-by-four lumber. Lay plasti...
You can dress up a room by installing crown molding along the ceiling. Here are some tips to keep in mind. Always pl...
Here are some tips on how to distress wood, making new lumber look old. First, trim off machined edges with a hatche...
Here are some steps to follow when preparing new wood for painting. First, countersink any finish nails. Then fill ...
Anyone can snake wire in a wall between floors. Here's how. From a hole in the floor below, push a wire snake with ...
Here's how to get a warm, dry basement floor over a concrete slab when converting your basement into living space. L...
Here's how to avoid cracking a tile surface when you need to drill a hole. Mark your point, then gently score the ti...
Here's a way to save time and energy when repairing floorboards. Instead of drilling and chiseling damaged floorboar...
Painting bricks requires some special considerations. Wet down the surface first to ensure better paint adhesion. Us...
When installing clapboard siding, it's important to overlap all joints. Here's a way to get started that will ensure...
If you have kids, you know that crayons can cause some serious damage to any paint job. Here's how to tackle tough c...
Glass block walls are a great design feature that let extra sunlight into any room in your home while still providin...
Here's how to remove old plaster when starting a remodeling project. Have professionals remove any old electrical c...
Because today's new houses are built to allow less air infiltration than older homes, mold growth has become a conce...
This wooden-handled hammer may look strong enough to pull any nail but because the grain of the wood is actually wea...
Here's a home improvement tip everyone should know. Ground fault interrupters, or GFIs, are electrical outlets desig...
It's easy to replace old storm windows. Here's how. Loosen all screws and pull the old storm window away from the wi...
Here's a helpful tip you can use when you need to cut down a small tree. Make sure you wear proper safety gear and m...
Recessed lighting fixtures have become very popular these days. They have to be roughed in. Here's how to install o...
It can be easy to patch cracks in an old wood floor or grout a new wood block floor. Here's how. First, make a mixtu...
For a very unusual floor finish, you might want to try wood blocks. Lay out your floor the way you would any cerami...
Installing a lightning protection system is not a do-it-yourself project, but it's very important in protecting your...
A wet-dry vac is a great tool to have—and not just for cleaning up the workshop. They come in handy for those tediou...
When roofing your house, consider using a metal roof. Available in a variety of colors and styles, metal roofing is ...
If you've ever hung your own wallpaper, you'll know that no corner is ever perfect. Here's how to solve that problem...
Did you know that if it's made of nylon 6, your old carpet can be recycled? Over 200 million pounds of old carpet is...
Where stripping paint is concerned, there's just no easy way out. Here are some tips. Cover the floor under your wo...
When choosing wallboard, remember the difference between drywall and blueboard. Drywall panels are covered with pape...
Hot mop tar is a good way to waterproof projects like an indoor planter. Here's how it's applied. After it's heated ...
Woodgraining is an artist's technique for creating the look of fine woods like mahogany. After two coats of a base c...
Here's how to get professional results when using a caulking gun. Caulking guns aren't expensive, so don't skimp her...
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...
Wooden fences are a terrific finishing touch. They give a home privacy and character. They surround and define your ...
Here's how to properly plant a new shrub around your house. Mix one part peat moss with two parts top soil for high ...
Don't throw out that rusty garden furniture. Restoring it can be a great weekend project. Use a wire brush or sandpa...
If you're house hunting, here are some things to keep in mind on your walk-through. Check for structural integrity. ...
Take the guesswork out of storing paint leftovers. Before you replace the lid, mark the level of the paint remaining...
These days, more new homes are being built with sprinkler systems. Here's how they work. Sprinkler pipes are hooked...
Painting a home’s exterior, installing new siding, and putting up new gutters are just a few of the projects that req...
If your home improvement project calls for new walls, you might want to consider metal studs. They fit together lik...
Here are a few tips on laying your own bricks. Prepare a mortar mix that is neither too firm and nor too runny. Spre...
While giving the exterior of your home a new paint job or fresh siding may not be in the budget, one affordable optio...
Here's a way to replace damaged ceramic tile. Remove the grout with a grout saw. Crack the tile with a hammer and c...
Reclaimed wood floors give new life to old timbers. Made from lumber recycled from demolished buildings, heart pine,...
Here's a tip on how to increase the life of old wooden gutters. The first step is to lay a new rubber liner along th...
Here's how to restore the missing brass hardware from an antique door. The "ghost" image of original brass hardware...
If you have an old house with dated electrical outlets, you know they weren't designed to meet the demands of today'...
There are two kinds of walls: bearing walls and non-bearing walls. You can do anything you like to a non-bearing wa...
Make the most of your project, whether you're planning to paint wrought iron or wood flooring, concrete or curtains.
Wrinkles in wall-to-wall carpet don't just look bad, they can be a tripping hazard. They'll also wear out first, so t...
Spencertown, NY, is a church and a post office and a general store. It's actually not even a town; it's a hamlet. New...
Grace tweets, “The bathroom sink in my 1890s Victorian is draining really slowly. What’s the best way to get things f...
In addition to top-quality application equipment, you may need some of the painting tools and painting materials list...
