Hands-on how-tos for your home, your hobbies and the road.
Home Repair · 128 guides · Page 7
A basement that has not been completed for living purposes may still serve practical needs such as storage. Keeping it in that state can reduce building expenses, simplify access to pipes and wiring, limit flood-related losses, and preserve flexibility for future room conversions.
Plywood is a low-cost, versatile material that many DIY enthusiasts pick for household projects, and attaching edging to the sides of plywood tables and counters gives them a more polished appearance.
In building construction, window sills play a key role in preventing water from entering a home when window components shift and settle over time. Properly built sills help protect the structural materials of a house. Most contractors follow a commonly accepted standard height for installing windows and their sills, though alternative design factors can lead to adjustments.
While some installers simply fasten plywood underlayment with screws or nails, adding wood glue creates a base that resists shifting and peeling as the structure moves or moisture builds up. The following guide walks through preparing, gluing, screwing, and finishing an underlayment installation.
A raised floor foundation elevates a house above the ground using piers or walls, so the structure rests on these supports instead of being directly anchored in the earth like a traditional foundation. This design keeps floor joists away from soil, guarding the wood against moisture and acidic damage, which can extend its service life. While construction depends on various conditions, the fundamental approach is straightforward.
Geodesic domes, which Buckminster Fuller brought to prominence in the 1950s, take their name from the geodesic arcs formed by their structural chords. They have been built for purposes ranging from residences and storage units to space-based installations. Because the dome is nearly spherical and encloses a large volume relative to its surface, its chords spread loads throughout the interior much like a shell. Many geodesic sphere varieties exist, each with distinct geometric characteristics. Most require complex formulas beyond the scope of this guide, so references and resources should be consulted for construction specifications. Two widely used types are detailed here.
Whether you're replacing an outdated fiberglass or plastic unit or prepping for a tile upgrade, taking out an old shower stall is a project that can wrap up within a few hours. The process involves disconnecting plumbing fixtures, separating wall panels, and removing the base—with different techniques depending on whether the base is fiberglass, plastic, or ceramic.
If your bathroom vanity has only one light fixture, you can upgrade to two fixtures to brighten the area. This guide walks through the process, from shutting off power to installing the new lights, with safety precautions for working with electricity.
Inverter welding units function as power inverters, transforming standard 120-volt alternating current into direct current for the welding torch. They can be connected to an ordinary household outlet, which makes them handier than a separate DC generator. The resulting DC electricity is then directed through a transformer to raise it to the voltage required for welding.
For a thorough pool table restoration, some individuals choose to refurbish even the hidden areas. Before putting down fresh acrylic felt, you might consider applying new laminate to the table's bed. This job demands careful planning and a steady hand, yet with fundamental skills it can be completed quickly.
Bathtub drain stoppers come in various designs, ranging from complex linked mechanical systems to simple touch-activated models, each operating on distinct principles.
Asphalt tile roofing depends on a self-adhesive strip to create a watertight barrier, but that strip only works within specific temperature ranges. Manufacturers generally set minimum and maximum roof temperatures for installation, and the seal needs time to cure afterward.
Updating a room with fresh tile can make a home feel brighter and more contemporary, and it often delivers greater value for DIY enthusiasts compared to many other renovation projects. Today's floor tile selections span a wide range of materials, such as porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone.
When you are applying stain to wood and aiming for a smooth, unblemished result, airborne particles settling on the wet finish can be a frustrating setback. Because this problem can easily arise, it helps to understand the proper steps for fixing it so that your project isn't ruined.
You can skip the high price of genuine antique wood by distressing new plywood yourself. The result mimics old, worn surfaces and lets you customize the appearance for your own projects.
Sandstone belongs to the sedimentary category and consists largely of minerals that are abundant on Earth, which explains why it appears in so many places worldwide. Its notable traits are tied to what it is made of, how it forms, the different kinds that exist, and the ways people put it to use.
A True Angle protractor captures the precise angle formed where two walls meet, and that reading, when matched to a chart in the Crown Molding & Trim book, tells you how to configure a miter saw for a clean crown molding cut.
Shillelaghs, whose Gaelic name means "oak club," are traditionally English in origin according to Irish Culture and Customs. These hardwood weapons and walking sticks arrived in Ireland with England's invasion. Mother Earth News notes that England prohibited weapons in Ireland. In response, the Irish used the shillelagh as both a walking stick and a covert resistance tool. Here's how to make your own shillelagh to celebrate Irish heritage or for practical use on hikes.
