WALLS

Browse By Tag

  • How To (76)
  • Drywall (68)
  • Installation (51)
  • Repair (46)
  • Trim & Molding (45)
  • Plaster (41)
  • Decor (37)
  • Paint (36)
  • Materials (35)
  • Bob Vila Radio (27)
  • Clips (26)
  • Choose (25)
  • Design (25)
  • Exteriors (24)
  • Tools (20)
Tag icon article
How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Wall?
Highlights It typically costs between $300 and $10,000 to remove a wall from a home. The main factors that affect t...
Tag icon article
How Much Does Sheetrock Cost?
Highlights Sheetrock typically costs between $12 and $20 per panel, and the national average is $15 per panel. The ...
Tag icon article
How Much Does Stucco Repair Cost?
Highlights The cost to repair stucco typically falls between $599 and $2,559, while the national average price sits ...
Tag icon article
Peel-and-Stick Trim 101: How to Achieve a High-End Look for Less
Peel-and-stick trim is becoming a go-to solution for people seeking an affordable and low-effort way to add an elegan...
Tag icon article
The 10 Best Paint Colors for a Brighter Basement
Finished basements can serve all sorts of purposes, whether you’re in need of an extra den or a playroom or you want ...
Tag icon article
15 Basement Ceiling Ideas to Inspire Your Space
Figuring out a basement ceiling design can be trickier than doing a ceiling in any other room in a home. While it can...
Tag icon article
25 Wall Decor Ideas for Every Style and Budget
An empty wall is like a blank canvas, and how it’s decorated tells a story. Items hung on a wall can ground a space, ...
Tag icon article
7 Types of Drywall Anchors Every Homeowner Should Know
Trying to screw directly into drywall without using any type of drywall anchor is not a good idea. Either the screw w...
Tag icon article
25 Types of Nails and How to Use Them
“If the only tool you have is a hammer, it is tempting to treat everything as if it were a nail,” wrote Abraham Maslo...
Tag icon article
How Much Does It Cost to Soundproof a Room?
Highlights The cost to soundproof a room ranges between $1,036 and $2,721, with a national average cost of $1,874. ...
Tag icon article
How Much Does Drywall Repair Cost?
Highlights Drywall repair costs around $294 to $876, with homeowners paying an average of $573 nationally. The exac...
Tag icon article
How to DIY a Board-and-Batten Wall
Board-and-batten has traditionally been the stuff of barns and exterior cladding. Often rough-sawn and ready for the ...
Tag icon article
How to Install Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper Like a Pro
Wallpaper adds character and dimension to any space, but hanging it can be difficult, messy, and time-consuming. Not ...
Tag icon article
Solved! What Does It Mean to Say a House Is Settling?
Q: I recently bought a newly built home, but I’ve noticed hairline cracks in the foundation over the last couple of m...
Tag icon article
5 Classic Wall and Trim Color Combinations—and 5 for Rule-Breakers Only
After choosing the perfect wall color, many default to choosing a white trim paint without giving it a second thought...
Tag icon article
How Much Does Wallpaper Removal Cost?
Typical Range: $420 to $1,190 National Average: $786Wallpaper goes in and out of style, and does so with great gus...
Tag icon article
The Best Drywall Screw Guns of 2023
A standard sheet of drywall (or Sheetrock) is 8 feet long by 4 feet wide and weighs about 50 pounds. Trying to hold t...
Tag icon article
Solved! What Are the Signs of Water Damage in Walls, and What Should I Do About Them?
Q: I think I hear water running in my home, and I’m afraid there’s a leak somewhere. How do you know if you have wate...
Tag icon article
The Best Tools to Cut Drywall of 2023
Although drywall typically goes up quickly (and is one of the most exciting stages of a project), cutting it accurate...
Tag icon article
The Best Paint Brushes for Trim of 2023
Perhaps surprisingly, there is a lot more technology and thought behind paint and finishing brushes for trim than mee...
Tag icon article
Solved! Why Is There a Crack in the Basement Wall, and What Do I Do About It?
Q: I recently noticed a crack in my basement wall, and I’m concerned it’s a foundation issue. Is there a difference b...
Tag icon article
The Best Online Framing Services of 2023
Framed art, posters, or photographs on the walls can make a house feel like a home. A collection of memories adds cha...
Tag icon article
The Best TV Wall Mounts of 2023
It’s been decades since flat screens took the place of bulky cathode-ray televisions. Not only will wall-mounting fre...
Tag icon article
The Best Borescopes of 2023
Even for DIYers with excellent eyesight, there are certain barriers through which they’ll never see. Whether it’s an ...
Tag icon article
Solved! Can You Hang Wallpaper on Textured Walls?
Q: I’ve found the perfect wallpaper for the guest bedroom, but I’m not sure if I can put it over the room’s orange pe...
Tag icon article
The Best Drywall Primers of 2023
Fresh drywall is very dry and can soak up expensive paint like a sponge. It can also make it difficult to drag a pain...
Tag icon article
The Best Caulk Removal Tools of 2023
Old caulk has a way of stealing the show—and not in a good way. That dingy, cracked sealant can deter from the clean ...
Tag icon article
How Much Does It Cost to Install Crown Molding?
Typical Range: $567 to $1,870 National Average: $1,218Crown molding (also spelled “moulding”) is like icing on the...
Tag icon article
How to Decorate Shelves in 6 Simple Steps
Shelves and bookcases are the perfect place to display treasured objects while adding visual interest to a space. If ...
Tag icon article
Very Peri: How to Incorporate Pantone’s 2022 Color of the Year Into Your Home’s Decor
Pantone, the global color-matching authority and developer of the Pantone Matching System used extensively by interio...
Tag icon article
How to Build a Closet From Scratch
Few of us ever seem to have enough storage. Freestanding wardrobes are often expensive, never seem to be arranged how...
Tag icon article
13 Genius Products for Fixing Walls and Ceilings Yourself
Cracks in walls and ceilings are eyesores that draw attention in an otherwise attractive setting. Though they’re ofte...
Tag icon article
Supply Chain Shortages Hit U.S. Paint Supply—One Color in Particular
Just about every day, it seems, we see stories on the news about supply-chain disruptions around the world. These sup...
Tag icon article
19 Drywall Alternatives You'll Wish You Knew About Sooner
When most of us think about constructing interior walls, drywall usually comes to mind. It is cost effective and easy...
Tag icon article
The Best Caulk for Baseboards in 2023
Many DIYers are familiar with running caulk around their bathroom fixtures, and a number of products are designed spe...
Tag icon article
How to Soundproof an Apartment Without Opening Up Walls
If your neighbor’s taste in music makes you cringe, it’s time for some soundproofing. Fortunately, there are many way...
Tag icon article
How To Hang a Tapestry
Wallpaper, painting, or stencils may not be your thing, or you might want to decorate your walls with deeper, richer ...
Tag icon article
I Tried The New Cutting-Edge Stud Finder―Did It Work?
The idea that a DIYer could see what's within a wall cavity using a smartphone screen is the stuff of science fiction...
Tag icon article
How Much Does Insulation Cost to Install?
Typical Range: $1,400 to $6,300 National Average: $2,900If you’re experiencing a drafty house, high energy bills, ...
Tag icon article
6 Signs of Structural Damage You Should Never Ignore
Owning a home comes with some inevitable responsibilities, including maintaining and repairing problems before they w...
Tag icon article
The Best Wallpaper Remover to Update the Interior of Your Home
Outdated wallpaper can make a room look drab and tired. When it’s time for a modern update, removing old wall coverin...
Tag icon article
The Best Spackle of 2023
The strongest walls in a home will inevitably take a beating over the years, leaving pinholes, gashes, and rough scuf...
Tag icon article
The Best Brushes for Polyurethane of 2023
The best polyurethane provides a durable, attractive finish that comes in several formulas, including oil-based, wate...
Tag icon article
The Best Nails for Hanging Pictures of 2023
When you hang a piece of artwork, you should feel confident that it will stay put. The wrong hardware can set you up ...
Tag icon article
The Best Thermal Cameras of 2023
Thermal cameras can help detect potential issues in your home, such as a termite nest in the wall or a leak from a pi...
Tag icon slideshow
15 Ideas for Living with White Walls
While it’s true that over the past few years white walls have taken a back seat to walls in trendy gray, deep jewel tones, bright hues, and even black, it’s also ...
Tag icon article
The Best Drywall Anchors Tested in 2023
Drywall—composed of compressed gypsum (a soft sulfite mineral)—creates wonderfully smooth walls. Yet insert a nail or...
Tag icon slideshow
13 Places to Buy Temporary Wallpaper
Here’s where to find fabulous temporary wallpaper that’ll add unique style to any room without the mess, hassle, and commitment of traditional wallpaper.
Tag icon article
7 Types of Wall Texture and the Techniques Behind Them
Modern trends have tended toward flat, blank walls and a focus on color to bring a room together, but adding a unique...
Tag icon slideshow
The Best Paint Colors for the Kitchen
For many of us, the kitchen is the heart of the home—a room in which we greet the day, make important plans, and break bread with family and friends. Given the si...
Tag icon article
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...
Tag icon article
The Best Stud Finders of 2023
If you’ve ever had to install shelving or hang picture frames, you’ve more than likely had to find out where the stud...
Tag icon article
All You Need to Know About Shoe Molding
Paired with baseboard and stained or painted to match your trim, shoe molding (also known as “base shoe”) is a small,...
Tag icon article
What's the Difference? Shiplap vs. Tongue and Groove
If you’re a fan of modern farmhouse style, or simply watch a lot of decorating shows on TV, you’re undoubtedly famili...
Tag icon article
Solved! How to Fix and Prevent Wallpaper Peeling
Q: We’ve bought our dream fixer-upper and are slowly DIY-ing our way through each room. One of the bedrooms has some ...
Tag icon article
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...
Tag icon article
5 Ways to Find a Wall Stud Without Using a Stud Finder
We’ve all been there, right? “Oh, I just need to find a stud to hang this picture. ” And 15 holes later, you’re convi...
Tag icon slideshow
19 Wainscoting Ideas That Will Add Character to Your Home
Get inspired to add an elevated, custom touch to your home's interior with these charming wainscoting ideas.
Tag icon slideshow
15 Places Water Damage May Be Hiding in Your Home
Building materials and water don’t mix. Insulation, wood studs, plywood sheathing, and subflooring can all degrade, rot, or develop mold when they’re repeatedly s...
Tag icon article
How Much Tile Do I Need? Solved!
Q: I plan on installing tile on my entryway floor and kitchen backsplash. How much tile do I need to buy in each case...
Tag icon article
Joint Compound vs. Spackle: What’s the Difference?
Half of the battle with common home repairs is picking the correct product to use. And when two products have some ov...
Tag icon article
Solved! How to Get Smoke Smell Out of Your House
Q: I recently inherited a beautiful chair from my grandparents. Unfortunately, they were heavy smokers, and the cigar...
Tag icon article
The Case for Picture Rails in Modern-Day Interior Design
Picture rails are 1½-inch to 2-inch strips of molding that adhere to walls and run horizontally around the room, typi...
Tag icon article
7 Things to Know About Lath and Plaster Walls
From the 1700s all the way through the 1940s, lath and plaster was the interior wall construction method of choice. B...
Tag icon article
The Best Interior Paints of 2023
Whether painting walls, furnishings, cabinets, or trim, quality interior house paint is the key to good-looking, long...
Tag icon article
How to Use Drywall Anchors
So, you want to hang something heavier than an average photo frame from your drywall: Whether you’re putting in a scr...
Tag icon article
How To: Clean Wallpaper
Is your wallpaper looking a little tired? Over time, dust and moisture can discolor, leaving papered walls dingier th...
Tag icon article
How To: Remove Texture from Walls
Texturing walls is a time-honored method of adding character to a wall or covering such imperfections as drywall tapi...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: This is How Many Coats of Primer You Need
Look up instructions for almost any paint job, and you’ll consistently see primer mentioned in one of the first steps...
Tag icon article
Solved! The Right Height for Wainscoting
Q: My husband and I are thinking about installing wainscoting ourselves in a few rooms of our house, but can’t agree ...
Tag icon article
10 Wall Paneling Ideas That Don't Look Dated
Whatever your goal—adding oomph to a plain surface, hiding dings and dents, or adding interesting texture—wall paneli...
Tag icon article
The Dos and Don’ts of Waterproofing Basement Walls
Because they’re built below grade, basements tend to take on water. You may notice moist basement walls from time to ...
Tag icon article
Cool Tools: The All-in-1 Fix for Just About Any Hole in the Wall
What do you do when you find yourself staring at a hole in a wall caused by a furniture ding, a too-eagerly opened do...
Tag icon article
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...
Tag icon article
Solved! How Well Wallpaper Works in a Bathroom
Q: My wife wants to hang wallpaper in our Jack-and-Jill bathroom. The walls could do with some eye candy, but how wel...
Tag icon article
Solved! This Is How Many Coats of Primer You Need for the Perfect Paint Job
Q: I’ve given in to my daughter’s request to paint her bedroom pink. Is primer required for a job like this and if so...
Tag icon article
How to Install Shiplap
Homeowners can’t seem to get enough of the shiplap look! The on-trend design that mimics historic shiplap—the horizon...
Tag icon article
How To: Paint Textured Walls
While an attractive way to update a knockdown, skip trowel, or orange peel finish, attempting to paint a textured wal...
Tag icon article
Solved! How Concerned You Should Be About Cracks in the Walls
Q: I recently noticed a few cracks in our living room wall. I’m not sure if they've been there for a while and I just...
Tag icon article
Board and Batten Siding and Trim: All You Need to Know
Wood siding that consists of narrow vertical strips or battens installed over a flat base or board is known, logicall...
Tag icon article
Solved! Which Comes First: Painting the Wall or Trim?
Q: We're gearing up to repaint my living room, but it’s been awhile since I’ve picked up a brush. Friends and family ...
Tag icon slideshow
17 Times Shiplap Made the Room
You’ve certainly seen it—but you may not know what it's called or how versatile it is. Shiplap is a series of grooved wooden boards joined horizontally to give a ...
Tag icon article
All You Need to Know About Knockdown Texture
The knockdown drywall finish, an early 1990s successor to popcorn and orange peel textures, has remained a hit with h...
Tag icon article
Solved! This is How High to Mount Your TV on the Wall
Q: I want to get my new TV off of its stand and up onto the wall. How high should I mount my TV? Do you have any advi...
Tag icon article
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 ...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Top Tips for Patching Peeling Paint
If you painted an interior wall not too long ago but have noticed that it’s already peeling, cracking, or flaking, he...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Your Quickstart Guide to Patching Drywall
Need to fix a ding in your drywall? Here are a few quick pointers. CM_BVNOTES-1727-3Listen to BOB VILA ON PATCHING DR...
Tag icon article
How To: Remove a Wall Mirror
Covering your wall with floor-to-ceiling mirror (or, rather, mirror tiles) seemed like such a good idea back in the 1...
Tag icon article
All You Need to Know About Shaker Style
Once in great a while, a style comes along that captures such a wide audience that its popularity is, well, unshakabl...
Tag icon article
All You Need to Know About Limewashed Brick
Despite being one of the most durable materials around, brick very visibly ages.  Its crisp square edges can soften, ...
Tag icon article
How To: Paint Wood Wall Paneling
In a room with wood-paneled walls—particularly if that wood is a veneer—your instinct may be to start fresh, either b...
Tag icon article
What's the Difference? Drywall vs. Plaster
If you’re thinking of taking on a wall construction project in your home, you’ll likely hear of two options: drywall ...
Tag icon article
Solved! What to Do About Mice in the Walls
Q: For the first time in my life, I have mice. I had thought that I dreamed the scratching and skittering sounds I he...
Tag icon slideshow
18 Paint Colors You're Going to See Everywhere in 2018
When it comes to predicting the most popular paint colors of 2018, industry experts are seeing red—and blue, and black, and gold. Strong, saturated shades are poi...
Tag icon article
Solved! How High to Install a Light Switch
Q: Our screened-in porch is undergoing some updates, including the installation of overhead lights and addition of a ...
Tag icon article
5 Types of Tile Worth Considering in Your Next Renovation
Walk into a home improvement store on a mission to renovate your kitchen or bath, and you may find yourself overwhelm...
Tag icon article
All You Need to Know About Tuckpointing
Bricks provide durable cladding for interior and exterior walls, chimneys, and fireplaces. But the mortar used to fil...
Tag icon article
All You Need to Know About Venetian Plaster
The age-old surface treatment of Venetian plaster is making a comeback in modern homes.  Mostly used on interior wall...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: What the Heck Is Shiplap?
What is shiplap? For one thing, it's a trendy wood wall treatment. More specifically, the term "shiplap" refers to ro...
Tag icon article
Cool Tools: An Easier Way to Repair and Finish Drywall
Drywall taping has always been a notoriously messy, imprecise undertaking. In the past, no matter the size of the job...
Tag icon article
How To: Prep and Paint a Wall with Only 4 Tools
This content has been brought to you by Hyde Tools. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Paint offers on...
Tag icon article
Porcelain or Ceramic: Which Tile Type Is Right for You?
When considering a tile refresh for any floor, wall, or countertop, keep porcelain and ceramic tiles top of mind for ...
Tag icon article
Cool Tools: The Hands-Down Easiest Way to Hang Almost Anything
However elegant the outcome, hanging art, photos, or mementos on drywall can be a painstaking process. During the bal...
Tag icon article
Solved! How High to Hang Pictures
Q: I recently framed my son's graduation photo and want to display it in my living room. If I hang it too high, I’m a...
Tag icon article
How to Mud Drywall
"Mudding," the process of applying multiple thin coats of drywall compound to the joints and screw indentations in ne...
Tag icon article
How to Clean Brick, Indoors and Out
The naturally distressed patina of brick adds to its desirability indoors and out, but too much dirt accumulation can...
Tag icon slideshow
14 Reasons to Love Exposed Brick
Exposed brick brings texture, color, and a rustic vibe to interior spaces. The look, which is typically achieved by removing the plaster from a wall to reveal the...
Tag icon article
Video: How to Find a Wall Stud
There's a reason they make stud finders. These tiny tools come in handy when you need to find a wall stud, usually wh...
Tag icon article
The Right Way to Fill Nail Holes
If you’re reluctant to rearrange the pictures on your walls because you dread dealing with the nail holes left behind...
Tag icon slideshow
12 Photos That Prove Wallpaper Still Wows
You may have memories of horrible wallpaper haunting you from homes past. But wallpaper has changed. Seriously. Not only have advancements in adhesive technology ...
Tag icon article
How To: Choose the Right Scraper for the Job
This content has been brought to you by Hyde Tools. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Removing old wa...
Tag icon article
The Best Ways to Soundproof a Room Without Tearing Down Your Walls 
Figuring out how to soundproof a room doesn’t have to be difficult. As working from home is becoming more popular, ho...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: The Brick Treatment You Should Try
Looking for a way to improve the look of a brick exterior, interior wall, or fireplace surround? Consider German smea...
Tag icon article
All You Need to Know About Crown Molding
It’s the crowning glory of interior design: stylish overhead molding that adds architectural character while producin...
Tag icon article
All You Need to Know About Shiplap
Shiplap has been popping up everywhere lately. The rough-sawn wooden planks arranged as horizontal panels can take an...
Tag icon article
How To: Remove Drywall Anchors
Drywall anchors certainly come in handy when you want to safely hang something heavy on a hollow wall or a spot witho...
Tag icon article
How To: Use a Stud Finder
When hanging heavy mirrors, bracing large furniture, wall-mounting a new television, or erecting shelving, you need t...
Tag icon article
How To: Whitewash Brick
Seems like just yesterday that the red brick in your family room looked perfect, but tastes change with time. Now you...
Tag icon article
How To: Maintain Stucco
Over the course of millennia, builders have used everything from animal horns to whiskey in the making of stucco—an a...
Tag icon article
How To: Spackle a Wall
Maybe there was a mishap while moving a major appliance. Or perhaps someone hung some pictures the old-fashioned way ...
Tag icon slideshow
6 Low-Cost Lifesavers to Make Wall Repair a Cinch
Walls take a beating. Overzealous furniture movers, rowdy kids, and constant doorknob bangs can leave dents, cracks, and holes that mar your walls' once-smooth su...
Tag icon article
Dos and Don’ts of Repairing Drywall
Drywall is tough, but it’s not indestructible. Over time, gypsum-board walls can sustain ugly cracks or holes. Fortun...
Tag icon article
Genius! The Soundproofing Solution That Doubles as Wall Art
The struggles of sharing a home aren't limited to arranging furniture or dividing up a chore chart among the househol...
Tag icon article
So, You Want to... Remove a Load-Bearing Wall
In the old days, homes were built with a warren of smaller, sharply delineated rooms, each devoted to its own distinc...
Tag icon article
How To: Remove Wallpaper
No homeowner wants to be confronted with ripped-up wall coverings as a day-in, day-out reminder of a job not yet fini...
Tag icon article
How To: Cut In Paint
Any professional painter knows that a successful paint job is only as good as the preparation that comes before it. T...
Tag icon article
Solved! What to Do About Peeling Paint
Q: We painted our bathroom a few months ago and are already noticing areas where it’s peeling. How can we fix this—an...
Tag icon slideshow
17 Easy Fixes for a Botched Paint Job
Not every paint job ends with a perfect “after.” Here's how to fix the most glaring painting mistakes and achieve near perfection.
Tag icon article
The Finishing Touch Homeowners Forget
In any remodel, the average homeowner tends to focus mainly on the end result, seldom understanding that overall succ...
Tag icon slideshow
The Best Paint Pick for Your Personality Type
Whether you're a passionate DIYer, an exercise enthusiast, or even a light sleeper, there's a paint pick that's perfect for your character. Continue on to find ou...
Tag icon article
This Woman Brings Your Imagination to Life—with Paint
It's often said that nothing reinvents a room like paint. Well, that's especially true in the case of colorful murals...
Tag icon article
3 Fixes for a Hole in the Wall
While drywall is highly durable, it’s not indestructible.  Over the years, interior walls take a beating, speckled wi...
Tag icon article
Quick Tip: Use a Painting Tool for Easier Picture Hanging
It's no easy feat to master the art of hanging a picture on the wall.  Between marking the hole, hammering the nail, ...
Tag icon article
2 Ways to Make Your Own Wallpaper
Wallpaper is having its moment again—and we're not talking about the stuffy prints you remember seeing in your grandm...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Texture Ceilings to Hide Imperfections
Adding a little texture to drywall compound can go a long way toward hiding imperfections in ceilings. And it’s an ea...
Tag icon article
How To: Install Chair Rail Molding
Sometimes the simplest updates make the most impact in a room—and chair rail molding is no exception. More than an ea...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Removing a Wall Anchor
Wall anchors allow you to hang almost anything almost anywhere. But what does one do to remove a wall anchor?mp3 file...
Tag icon article
Genius! There's a Secret Hiding Behind This DIY Photo Frame
By the early 1990s, most middle-class homes had a VCR. Video rental stores sprouted up like dandelions, taking over s...
Tag icon article
The Fastest, Easiest Fix for a Damaged Wall
This post has been brought to you by Hyde Tools. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Perhaps you swung ...
Tag icon article
Install Wood Paneling with Peel-and-Stick Ease
Want wood paneling without the hassle of nailing lumber to the walls? Meet Stikwood, the first peel-and-stick solid w...
Tag icon slideshow
10 Easy Repairs Never to Pay Someone Else For
The joys of homeownership are many—as are the little everyday challenges. The occasional leak or break is bound to happen, but there's no reason why these minor ...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Cleaning (or Concealing) Wall Stains
If you spy some ugly stains on your walls, don’t despair. Chances are there’s a way to either remove those walls stai...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Why Not a Wainscot?
If you’re looking to dress up the interior of your home but are working on a limited budget, why not consider adding ...
Tag icon article
How To: Remove Paint from Brick
If you've ever tried to remove paint from brick, you know that it can be a painstaking process. Depending on the scop...
Tag icon article
How to Remove Tile From Floors, Backsplashes, and Other Surfaces
A lot of DIY demolition and renovation can be fun. It provides stress relief, excitement, and fast results. One of th...
Tag icon article
So, You Want to... Install Wainscoting
The term "wainscoting" refers to any type of paneling that covers the lower portion—usually the lower third—of an int...
Tag icon article
How To: Remove Wallpaper Glue
Removing wallpaper is, in a word, laborious. The process takes a great deal of energy and time. And lo and behold, ev...
Tag icon slideshow
9 DIY Ways to Redo Your Wall—Without Paint
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...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: The Tool-Free Way to Locate Wall Studs
If you've got a heavy mirror to hang on the wall, you'll need to find a stud that will support the weight. The easies...
Tag icon slideshow
What Makes the Ultimate Wall?
Homebuilding has only grown more sophisticated in recent years, with a far greater emphasis placed on energy efficiency. Though many elements of wall assembly hav...
Tag icon article
So, You Want to... Knock Down a Wall
You live in an older house populated by a warren of small, cozy rooms. Lately, you've been thinking of knocking down ...
Tag icon slideshow
Personalize Your Home with 10 Foolproof Stencil Projects
Looking for a finishing touch for your painted wall? Just add a stencil. This trendy technique offers an easy, inexpensive way to turn any surface into a statemen...
Tag icon article
How To: Hang Picture Frames on a Brick Wall
Although exposed brick offers a warm, appealing aesthetic redolent of history, many homeowners are puzzled by the que...
Tag icon article
How To: Patch Drywall
Sooner or later, most of us need to patch drywall, whether for purely cosmetic reasons—filling nail holes, for exampl...
Tag icon slideshow
9 DIY Wood Wall Treatments
Wood is found inside every home, from the framing to the floor. With the exception of floors, molding, and trim, however, most of it is covered by drywall, paint,...
Tag icon article
Repair Drywall with Less Hassle
Let’s be honest. Drywall repair is not something most people look forward to. Although it’s relatively straightforwar...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Plaster Wall Cutouts
It’s pretty straightforward to cut a hole in drywall to add a light switch, electrical outlet, or even a recessed she...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Removing Plaster
It’s tough to think of a dirtier job than tearing down old plaster. The dust gets everywhere!Listen to BOB VILA ON RE...
Tag icon slideshow
Framed! 18 Picture-Perfect Gallery Walls
Candid vacation snapshots. Formal family portraits. Contemporary art. Flea market finds. Your most prized pictures and artistic expressions deserve a special plac...
Tag icon article
Quick Tip: Taping Drywall Joints
 Here's a helpful tip for getting really smooth drywall seam. After you've laid the tape in a four-inch bed of joint ...
Tag icon article
How to Tile a Bathroom Wall
When it comes to durable bathroom materials, few surpass the utility and great looks of tile. While tiles are frequen...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Radiant Walls
You’re probably familiar with the comfort and effectiveness of radiant flooring, but did you know that radiant heat c...
Tag icon article
How To: Texture Walls
Learning how to texture walls does more than transform boring-to-look-at surfaces into pitted, peaked, and otherwise ...
Tag icon article
What Would Bob Do? Dealing with Bulging Drywall Seams
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...
Tag icon article
How To: Find Studs
 Whether you're hanging shelves or breaking through a wall, you've got to know where to find the wall studs. There ar...
Tag icon article
How To: Repair Plaster Walls
 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...
Tag icon article
Quick Tip: Using Reclaimed Brick
 In a restoration project, reusing the original brick is a great idea. Water damage and neglect can destroy the morta...
Tag icon article
Add Visual Interest with Board and Batten
A striking dimensional finishing treatment, board and batten, is enjoying renewed popularity, with homeowners install...
Tag icon article
How To: Paint Brick
There are a host of reasons that homeowners choose to paint brick:• If a brick fireplace is out of sync with the deco...
Tag icon article
How To: Bend Drywall
 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...
Tag icon article
Quick Tip: Installing Beadboard Wainscoting
 To achieve a Victorian look on an interior wall, try a beadboard wainscot.  You can buy beadboard at your local lumb...
Tag icon article
How To: Stencil a Wall
 You can hand-paint your own stenciled border. Use painter's tape to mark off straight edges; you'll find the tape pr...
Tag icon article
All About Radiant Wall Heating
This article has been brought to you by Warmboard. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Think “radiant h...
Tag icon article
Quick Tip: Custom Moldings
 Dress up the rooms in your house with a variety of custom moldings.  These moldings are available in many historic p...
Tag icon article
What Would Bob Do? Cutting Drywall
I've got to remove some drywall in a room so I can nail studs behind the wall for anchoring purposes. What is the bes...
Tag icon article
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...
Tag icon slideshow
10 Ways to Unleash the Potential of Your Blank Walls
Do your blank walls bore you to tears? Try to look at them as if they're canvases, just waiting for your inspired touch.
Tag icon article
How To: Paint Brick
 Painting bricks requires some special considerations. Wet down the surface first to ensure better paint adhesion. Us...
Tag icon article
How To: Remove Crayon Stains
 If you have kids, you know that crayons can cause some serious damage to any paint job. Here's how to tackle tough c...
Tag icon article
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...
Tag icon article
How To: Remove Plaster
 Here's how to remove old plaster when starting a remodeling project.  Have professionals remove any old electrical c...
Tag icon article
Stone Veneer 101
The pharaohs capitalized on the beauty and strength of stone, overseeing the construction of architectural gems whose...
Tag icon article
Quick Tip: Drywall vs. Blueboard
 When choosing wallboard, remember the difference between drywall and blueboard. Drywall panels are covered with pape...
Tag icon article
What Would Bob Do? Installing Beadboard
Q: We are thinking about installing beadboard in our bathroom. How do I install it so that it looks at home in the ro...
Tag icon article
Quick Tip: Using Metal Studs
 If your home improvement project calls for new walls, you might want to consider metal studs.  They fit together lik...
Tag icon article
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...
Tag icon article
How To: Identify a Bearing Wall
 There are two kinds of walls: bearing walls and non-bearing walls.  You can do anything you like to a non-bearing wa...
Tag icon article
Plastering Tools
Hanging drywall is often one of the first tasks taken on by the novice renovator. Plasterboard or Sheetrock, to call ...
Tag icon article
All About Skim Coat Plastering
Traditional plastering consists of three separate coats of plaster. The first two, called the brown and scratch coats...
Tag icon article
How To: Finish Seamless Drywall
I won't attempt here to tell you in detail how to hang wallboard or to tape joints; there are a number of book-length...
Tag icon article
Top Tips for Installing Drywall
You've probably hung some 'rock over the years, either at home or helping a friend refur­bish a room. So you probably...
Tag icon article
The Walls and Ceilings
The completed rough frame of the structure allows you to get a physical and a visual sense of the new or renovated sp...
Tag icon article
How To: Rebuild a Wall with Three-Coat Plaster
On the Manhattan Brownstone project, Bob, Chris Vila, and architect Brian O’Keefe discovered an intact ceiling cornic...
Tag icon article
Custom Paneling Systems
Custom paneling has always been a luxury item. It is labor and cost intensive, since creating a profile means multipl...
Tag icon article
DIY Wall Stenciling
Artisans Polly and Ken Forcier of MB Historic Decor joined Bob Vila on the Season 13 "Modern Colonial" project house ...
Tag icon article
Blueboard and Veneer Plaster Offer Old-Style Look
Everyone knows drywall and you can’t beat its cost. But almost no one loves drywall, a leading cause of contractor ca...
Tag icon article
Top Tips for Installing Tongue-and-Groove Paneling
Install wood paneling in any room to inject architectural detail, warmth, and character into your home. Traditionally...
Tag icon article
How To: Paint Masonry Walls
Hurricane Sandy proved to be a trial for many of us. My wife and I were fortunate, and our home suffered no major dam...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Drywall Costs
As of January 2nd, U. S. drywall manufacturers increased their prices by 25 to 30%. On top of a similar increase last...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Foam Core
It used to be that foam-core board was only useful to architects building models. Now that foam technology has taken ...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Historic Trim
If you're looking for ways to dress up your dining room for the holidays, nothing works better than some good, old-fa...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Crown Molding
If your home doesn't have the style and panache you wish it had, adding crown molding can help. Listen to BOB VILA ON...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Beadboard
When industrial sawmills started cranking it out in the late 19th century, beadboard came on the scene as a quick and...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Load-Bearing Walls
Removing walls that don't have a function and making spaces work together is a great way to improve the traffic flow ...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Patching Drywall
Drywall has been the wall finishing material of choice for most of a century, because it’s so easy to install and fin...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Plaster
If the idea of a freshly plastered wall does not overly excite you, it’s because the options for plaster have been fa...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Locating Studs
Whether you're removing a wall or just hanging bookshelves, you've got to know where the studs are before you start. ...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Installing Drywall
Although the two words are often used interchangeably, sheetrock is actually a brand name for the generic drywall, wh...
Tag icon article
5 Favorite Picture Hanging Tricks
Hanging a picture is about as DIY as many homeowners get. But although it may seem easy, hanging a picture properly i...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Water Spots
Water spots on ceilings and walls aren’t just unsightly--they can be a symptom of a much bigger problem that needs at...
Tag icon article
DIY Faux Finish Wall Covering
While it's not uncommon for a hallway to be the 'problem child' of a home decor scheme, most people never encounter o...
Tag icon article
5 DIY Wood Wall Treatment Ideas
Wood. It makes up so much of our homes, from the framing to the flooring we walk on. And it appears in all kinds of f...
Tag icon article
How To: Clean Painted Walls
Cleaning painted walls may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple, albeit somewhat time-consuming....
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Metal Studs
If your next home renovation requires framing new walls, think twice before you reach for those ubiquitous two-by-fou...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Hanging Shelves
Who doesn't need more shelf space? Hanging shelves is a great do-it-yourself project that can help you get organized....
Tag icon article
How To: Install Floating Shelves
Before hanging anything, it’s important to find out what your wall is made of. Ideally, you should attach floating sh...
Tag icon article
Bob Vila Radio: Drywall Types
Everybody calls it sheetrock, but the generic name is drywall and it comes in various thicknesses and sizes. LISTENLi...
Tag icon article
How To: Patch Plaster Walls
Finishing a new wall or room with plaster or joint compound takes practice. If you have no experience with plaster or...
Tag icon article
Quick Tip: Choosing Drywall
Drywall History Before drywall, builders nailed lengths of wood, called lath, to the studs and then applied several c...
Tag icon article
Drywall 101
What is drywall?Although the two words are often used interchangeably, Sheetrock is actually a brand name for drywall...
Tag icon article
Quick Tip: Patching Damaged Drywall
The Virtues of Drywall Drywall has been the wall finishing material of choice for most of a century because it’s so e...
Tag icon article
How To: Finish Drywall Joints
Most of the time finishing drywall joints isn't one of those jobs that has people jumping up and down with excitement...
Tag icon video
Insulating the Roof and Installing Mold-Resistant Drywall
The roof of the new addition is being insulated – in an environmentally conscious way – to retain the heat from the radiant heating system. Moisture- and mold-res...
Tag icon video
Building a First-Floor Slab and Walls with Concrete
The home's concrete-slab floor is constructed with foam decking and connected to PEX tubing that will heat the home. The ReddiForm foam blocks enable a single con...
Tag icon video
Building with Polystyrene Forms and Concrete
Bob explores innovative construction technologies – Insul-Tarp and ReddiForm polystyrene blocks – as the structure is reinforced and the first-floor walls start t...
Tag icon video
Building a Metal Stud Wall in the Basement
Bob meets carpenter Danny Ruffini to see how a metal stud wall is built in the basement.
Tag icon video
Installing Stud Lumber Partitioning for the Bathroom
Bob reviews plans for the kitchen remodeling and visits the second floor, where one of the bedrooms has been removed to accommodate his and her bathrooms. He help...
Tag icon video
Installing Paneling in the Master Bedroom Closet
Bob joins carpenter David Ives, who is installing the paneling in the master bedroom closet, and then checks in on artist Kim’s faux finishing work on the walls.
Tag icon video
Applying Decorative Painting Techniques
Bob meets with faux-painting expert Kim Sweet, who is applying a gold parchment effect on the master bedroom walls. Bob tries his hand at applying some color.
Tag icon video
Installing Wall Paneling in the Entranceway and Visiting the Completed Tiled Shower
Inspired by designs found in the Isaac Bell historic house, paneling is installed on Bob’s entrance door to the living room. Bob looks at the completed tiled show...
Tag icon video
Touring the Isaac Bell Historic House
Bob takes a tour of the Isaac Bell historic house in Newport, RI, exploring one of the finest examples of the Shingle Style to be found anywhere.
Tag icon video
Installing a Chair Rail and Restoring a Corner Cupboard
In the dining room, carpenter Bob Ryley installs a chair rail and works with carpenter Danny Ruffini on the glass doors that will be added to the corner cupboard—...
Tag icon video
Repairing Plaster and Installing Ceramic Shower Tiles
Bob heads to the library to discuss the plaster patchwork in progress, and then visits the second floor, where ceramic tile is being installed in a guest bathroom...
Tag icon video
Building a Kitchen Staircase
Furniture maker Todd Allen builds a staircase from scratch, which will run from the basement to the kitchen, using a technique that is a couple of centuries old.
Tag icon video
Looking Behind the Walls and Installing a Pocket Door
Before putting on the blue board, Bob looks at what goes behind the walls: wiring, light fixtures, heat ducts, water lines, and a pocket door frame.
Tag icon video
Applying a Veneer Coat of Plaster over Blueboard
Bob interviews Carlos Londono, a plastering contractor, who demonstrates how to apply a veneer coat of plaster over blue board.
Tag icon video
Replacing and Installing Windows and Costs of Finishing a Basement
An old basement window is replaced, and experts explain the costs of the Owens Corning finishing system.
Tag icon video
Completing the Basement Finishing System and Repairing the Basement Stairs
Bob talks with Owens Corning experts about the basement finishing system and discusses staircase repairs.
Tag icon video
Recapping the Remodeling and Converting an Unfinished Basement into Living Space
Bob recaps the project and the installation of a new ceiling and walls begins.
Tag icon video
Installing a Basement Half-Bathroom
Bob discusses the installation of a basement half-bathroom, including wiring, plumbing, and radiant heating.
Tag icon video
Fiberglass-Faced Wallboard Combats Mold and Moisture
Bob meets Thad Goodman to install fiberglass-faced wallboard.
Tag icon video
Reviewing the Work Involved in Building a Hurricane-Resistant Home
Bob meets with Leslie Chapman-Henderson from the Federal Alliance for Safe Housing (FLASH) and Randy Shackelford to discuss an assortment of storm-resistant roof ...
Tag icon video
Removing the Concrete Wall Forms and Planning the Plaster Finish
Mark Newton and Jesse Gonzales explain what happens when the metal frames are removed from the poured walls, then they apply a three-coat plaster.
Tag icon video
Metal Stud Framing
Dino Koukoudakis of Dino's Construction prefers using metal studs, because of their light weight and resistance to warping. Easy to cut and fasten, metal studs to...
Tag icon video
Fast-Pace Drywall Installation and Mold-Resistant Interior Siding
Bob spends a moment with the drywall contractor before speaking with Thad Goodman of Georgia Pacific. Mr. Goodman tells Bob about the unique, mold-resistant prope...
Tag icon video
Mixing Plaster and Installing the Skylight
Bob and Chris Vila visit the plastering contractor and receive a lesson in plaster mixing. Next, they talk to Dino from Dino's Construction, who's installing the ...
Tag icon video
Applying Marmorino Plaster
Bob discusses the custom wall finish with designer Jonas Everets, who is using marmorino, a centuries-old lime-based plaster, on the kitchen walls of the top-floo...
Tag icon video
Waxing Venetian Plaster
Bob looks on as custom wall finisher Jonas Everets demonstrates the process of waxing a surface plastered with marmorino, a Venetian plaster.
Tag icon video
Reviewing the Penthouse Living Area & Kitchen
Bob surveys the interior decorating of the penthouse apartment, as well as the top-quality materials and appliances in the kitchen. Also, Bob learns about the dif...
Tag icon video
Advantages of a Pre-cast Foundation System
Chris Vila discusses the benefits of a factory-built foundation system with Mel Zimmerman of Superior Walls.
Tag icon video
High-Speed Drywall Finishing
Bob witnesses high-speed drywall finishing taking place in the Simplex modular home building plant.
Tag icon video
Installing Windows and Engineered Siding
Pella windows are being set into the modular home, one section of which is being sided with a board-and-batten product from Georgia-Pacific.
Tag icon video
Reviewing the Modular Home's Exterior
Bob surveys the modular home project in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts, paying special attention to the products used on the exterior of the house.
Tag icon video
Elm Court's Unfinished Restoration
Bob goes on a behind-the-scenes tour of Elm Court.
Tag icon video
Drywall Installation
Bob walks through the farmhouse interior and points out some of the challenges the home's design posed for the drywall contractors.
Tag icon video
Exterior Painting With an Airless Sprayer
Latex paint is being applied on the exterior of the Vermont farmhouse by workers using airless sprayers.
Tag icon video
Applying Glazed Wall Tile in the Bathroom
Rob Shedrofsky from Davinci Stone explains the tiling process to Bob as the Porcelanosa wall tile is installed in the bathroom
Tag icon video
Antique Brick Work at the Burtch-Udall House and Sumner Mansion
Bob and Professor Tom Visser (UVM) visit the Burtch-Udall house in Quechee, VT, and the nearby Sumner Mansion-- suitable locales for a running discussion on prope...
Tag icon video
Installing French Doors
Bob talks with Ray Adam (from Pella Windows) about the new French doors to be installed in the library. It's an active/inactive door with all hardware. The most i...
Tag icon video
Skylight and Gable Window Installation
Bob goes up to the attic of the Victorian project house, where an ODL tubular skylight is being installed. Also, Bob looks back at the installation of windows on ...
Tag icon video
Blowing In Cellulose Insulation
Bob joins Joe Sheridan (from Energy Guard) to learn more about the US Greenfiber Cocoon cellulose insulation being used in the barn.
Tag icon video
Drywall vs. Blueboard Explained
In the barn of the Victorian restoration project house, Bob talks with a rep from US Gypsum about the new technology that makes blue boards stronger and lighter t...
Tag icon video
Installing Drywall with Wallboard and Taped Joints
A crew from US Gypsum is installing drywall in the barn of the Victorian restoration project house. This is a traditional installation with drywall wallboard and ...
Tag icon video
Patching With Plaster
Chris Borovka (from US Gypsum) joins Bob to explain about patching with plaster.
Tag icon video
Building Walls With Structural Insulated Panels
Bob visits the site to watch the Steve Thompson and his crew from Premier Building Systems raise the SIPs walls. Jim Tracy (from Premier) provides SIPs details.
Tag icon video
Tour of the Premier Building Systems Factory
Bob tours the Premier Building Systems plant with general manager Steve Thompson.
Tag icon video
Manufacturing the Engineered Wood Floor Joists
Bob visits the Willamette I-Joist Mill in Woodburn, OR, before returning to Yonkers where the crew is assembling the second floor walls with structural insulated ...
Tag icon video
Plastering the Walls
Tim Smyth, the plastering contractor, provides a drywall update and offers a few tips on quality, speedy installation.
Tag icon video
Decorative Painting Techniques With B. Smith
Decorator B. Smith paint a lavender stripe pattern on a bedroom wall.
Tag icon video
Discussing the Building Materials and Wall Layout
Bob discusses the wall layout with carpenter Bob Ryley and, with Bryan Readling (from the Engineered Wood Association), the talk surrounds the use of laminated ve...
Tag icon video
Applying Veneer Plaster to the Stairway Walls
John Galvin is applying veneer plaster to the walls along the stairway.
Tag icon video
Interior Trim Tips
Carpenter Bob Ryley and the finish carpenter install interior trim in the dining room.
Tag icon video
Aluminum Replacement Window Installation
Carpenter Bob Ryley and Bob George (from New England Window) install a bronze aluminum replacement window in an arched-top masonry wall.
Tag icon video
Hanging Blueboard and Installing Corner Beads
Bob interviews Brian Dauphinee, who's hanging blue board, installing corner bead, and applying the scratch coat of plaster.
Tag icon video
Installing a Mirror and Glasswork
Bob observes Bill Brody (from Classic Glass) installing a large mirror, a glass shelf, and a glass partition wall.
Tag icon video
Installing a Bathroom Grab Rail
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley put up a grab bar in the bathroom to facilitate a wheelchair-bound person's maneuvering.
Tag icon video
Flooring, Plumbing, and Plastering
The old flooring in the Gothic Carpenter-style home in Elmwood has been removed. Bob outlines the process of installing the new floor and discusses the new suppor...
Tag icon video
Installing Insulation and Plastering
Carpenter Bob Ryley and Tim Grether (from Owens Corning) install insulation and vapor barrier in the bathroom. And Jim Larson (from Georgia Pacific) installs a sp...
Tag icon video
House Seven: Shingle-Style Renovation
The seventh Elmwood neighborhood project house has rotting sidewall and old asphalt roof shingles in need of replacement.
Tag icon video
Discussing Cedar Shingle Siding
Homer Earl (from the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau) explains what makes a quality shingle. The group takes a look at Sikkens Cetol shingle stain products, and Bo...
Tag icon video
Framing Begins on the Miami Home
As part of a Miami kitchen renovation, Bob frames a partition wall made to resemble a banana leaf. He also pours concrete to patch a floor.
Tag icon video
Pouring Concrete for the Home Addition
Bob watches a concrete slab foor being poured, and looks on as sets of insulated forms are filled with concrete to make walls.
Tag icon video
Applying Stucco
Bob meets with stucco contractor Angelo Dattini, who walks Bob through the first steps of stucco application.
Tag icon video
Mixing Stucco
Bob meets with stucco contractor Angelo Dattini, who is mixing Rinker-brand stucco with Pompano sand in a wheelbarrow.
Tag icon video
Framing a Partition Wall
Bob helps frame a partition wall that will resemble a banana leaf.
Tag icon video
Plaster Repair Over Drywall
Bob interviews Mike Casas, a plastering contractor applying plaster over drywall and metal lath over wood lath.
Tag icon video
Installing Clapboard Siding on the Front Porch
Bob and carpenter Cortney Lofton install clapboard siding on the front porch of the bungalow. In addition, they reinforce the gable to correct an existing sag, th...
Tag icon video
Tour of the Home's Remodeled Exterior
Bob tours the home's exterior, noting that the crowned gates are complete and that a locking latch has been added to secure the pool. Bob also remarks on the land...
Tag icon video
Removing and Relocating Windows
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley look at the corner of the house, where the sidewall has been removed to reveal the plywood and Douglas fir sheathing. Next, Bob helps ...
Tag icon video
Putting Up the Second Floor Exterior Wall
Bob assists the crew installing sidewall on the second floor of the addition.
Tag icon video
Building Interior Wall Partitions
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley demonstrate how to lay out and build interior partitions.
Tag icon video
Wall Demolition to Create a Doorway
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley demolish a wall on the second floor in order to connect the framed-in addition to the existing house.
Tag icon video
Architects Tour the Newton, MA Project
Bob meets with the architects, Mark and Geoffrey, who visit the project site every two weeks in order to check on progress, and to make sure their plans are being...
Tag icon video
Applying Plaster to Blueboard
As he watches the plaster being applied, Bob discusses the advantages of using blueboard and plaster, instead of drywall.
Tag icon video
Shingle Siding
Bob joins carpenter Bob Ryley, who is putting sidewall shingles onto the exterior of the new addition.
Tag icon video
Plaster Cornice Reconstruction
Bob surveys the plaster cornice in the project home. Water damage has ruined a large section and much of the remaining plaster needs repair. Bob and restoration c...
Tag icon video
Adding Detail to the Plaster Cornice
Bob observers the expert plasterer add detail to the cornice, which is under reconstruction due to water damage.
Tag icon video
Plaster and Cornice Work
Bob joins restoration contractor Richard Marks to see how the existing plaster and cornice work is blended with the new drywall.
Tag icon video
Stucco Walls
Bob meets with John Clancy who is applying "California" stucco inside the greenhouse. A tint is applied to the mix to match the interior, and a latex bonding mate...
Tag icon video
Framing and Erecting the Second-Floor Walls
The second-floor walls are framed and erected at the Malibu beach house.
Tag icon video
Cellulose Insulation Installation
Contractor Rick Davenport demonstrates the installation of wet-spray cellulose insulation. Jets of water moisten the insulation as it leaves the blower hose nozzl...
Tag icon video
Exterior Stucco Finish
Contractors explain their methodology as they apply stucco finish to the Malibu beach house in a multiple-step process.
Tag icon video
Applying Mortar Scratch Coat for Shower Wall Tiles
Bob visits with plaster sub-contractor Mike Bennet, who is floating mortar bed walls in the shower space of the beach house bathroom.
Tag icon video
Installing Insulspan Structural Insulated Panels
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley review the Insulspan structural insulated panels (SIPs). These Styrofoam panels save steps in construction, since they include struct...
Tag icon video
Hanging Drywall Inside the Skylight
Bob interviews drywall contractor Mark Richardson, as he hangs drywall inside a skylight and attaches the corner bead.
Tag icon video
Finishing the Interior and Exterior
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley install southern yellow pine plywood on the interior of the garage. On the exterior, Bob talks with Greg Binford about adding a stain...
Tag icon video
Touring the Interior of Chateau-sur-Mer
Bob tours the lavish interior of Chateau-sur-Mer in Newport, RI. The entrance walls are painted canvas and the ceiling is adorned by a fresco. Hand-carved walnut ...
Tag icon video
Building a Victorian-Style Breezeway
Contractor Bob Ryley is creating a Victorian-style breezeway using modern materials, which will bridge the old and new wings of the home.
Tag icon video
Installing Cedar Shingles
Bob meets with carpenter Ron Jackson, who is installing Atlantic white cedar shingles and sidewall flashing.
Tag icon video
Victorian-Style Wallpaper
The wallpaper installers, Jim and Tracy Matheson, show Bob how wallpaper is measured, cut, and applied.
Tag icon video
Adding a Door to a Wood-Paneled Wall
Bob reviews progress in the kitchen, which includes the installation of a pantry, and contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates how to build a door into a wood-paneled wa...
Tag icon video
Window Trim and Scalloped Shingles
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley confer about adding trim to the curvilinear top edge of an arched window. After sheet lead is installed as flashing, Ryley attaches s...
Tag icon video
Touring the Home Addition
The designer shows Bob around the addition, pointing out certain highlights, such as the breezeway with exposed studs and the Victorian-influenced lighting design...
Tag icon video
Home Addition and Construction Timeline
Bob remarks on how much progress has been made in one week of work on the Wayland project home. The footings have been established and the crew has begun building...
Tag icon video
Shirley-Eustis Colonial Governor's Mansion Tour
Bob meets with Lynn from the Shirley-Eustis Colonial Governor's Mansion Association. Together they tour the Federal-style home, noting an Irish crystal chandelier...
Tag icon video
Blueboard and Plaster
Bob joins plastering contractor Bob Fragakis, who will install blueboard, then apply a skim coat of plaster over it. Fragakis explains the tools and materials use...
Tag icon video
Constructing a Clapboard Sunburst Fan
Bob joins siding contractor Brian Quinn, who is constructing a beautiful gable-end sunburst fan from clapboard siding. Quinn explains how to lay out the center mo...
Tag icon video
Selecting and Hanging Wallpaper
The interior decorating process has begun. Bob receives some tips on selecting and hanging wallpaper.
Tag icon video
Installation of Paneling in the Basement
Refinishing the basement continues with the installation of wood paneling.
Tag icon video
Reviewing the Home Exterior
Bob and carpenter-contractor Bob Ryley review the exterior of the home, pointing out the new trellis and the new entryway. Next, they move inside to have a look ...
Tag icon video
Hanging Ceiling Drywall
Bob interviews Larry Lelflar (from Bonita Drywall) as he and his team hang drywall on the ceiling, then apply the first coat of tape and compound.
Tag icon video
Finishing the Drywall Ceiling
Bob tours the interior of the in-progress Naples project, discussing the installation of ceiling boards with the drywall contractor.
Tag icon video
Using Metal Wall Studs in the Kitchen
General contractor Ron Gan explains the advantages of metal wall studs, as the studs are cut and installed in the kitchen, complete with plywood backing plates fo...
Tag icon video
Framing the Walls
Bob works with the crew on framing the walls of the Cape Cod house.
Tag icon video
Applying Cedar Shingles
Sidewall contractor Dean Fraser shows us how to apply cedar shingles.
Tag icon video
Drywall Techniques
Plaster contractor Claude Daigle demonstrates his preferred drywall techniques.
Tag icon video
Pine Interior Paneling
Carpentry contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates how to put up the pine interior paneling in the living room.
Tag icon video
Installing the Parallam Beam
The crew installs a Parallam beam in the living room along with iron beams on the back masonry wall.
Tag icon video
Plaster and Drywall
Bob looks on as plaster contractor Sabino Lux performs plaster patching and adds drywall details.
Tag icon video
Vinyl Siding
Contractor Carleton Bergere explains the advantages of vinyl siding and demonstrates how to install it.
Tag icon video
Exterior Cladding
Bob looks on as general contractor Tim Berky clads the Queen Anne Victorian project house with clapboards, taking cues from the home's original 1890s exterior.
Radio banner a
Driveway Aprons 101 More clips
Get the Adobe Flash Player to listen to this audio file.
Follow banner a
Newsletter icon Flipboard glossy Facebook Twitter Pinterest Youtube Rss icon