Hands-on how-tos for your home, your hobbies and the road.
Slate's porous, matte surface appeals to many, but cut edges on steps or platforms can appear too rough or overly smooth. The goal is to match the edge texture to the surface, not to create a high-gloss polish like marble. This guide outlines a method using a grinder and polishing brick to achieve a natural-looking edge.
Oiled bronze offers a gentler metallic look compared to standard bronze and has grown into a favored substitute for typical stainless steel. Both interior designers and manufacturers have been using oiled bronze to add warmth to bathroom and kitchen spaces.
Instead of discarding a small appliance when its plug fails, you can simply install a new plug — a straightforward repair. Flat irons generally use two-prong plugs connected to zip cord, which consists of two individually insulated wires joined by a shared outer insulation layer.
For low-slope roofing projects, roll roofing provides an economical option compared to shingles or tiles. It is produced from materials similar to those found in asphalt shingles, such as asphalt, tar and felt, and comes in several distinct forms suited to different roles — from temporary coverings to permanent roof surfaces.
Transform your yard into an entertainment-ready space with a DIY wood pallet bar, and learn how to eliminate crabgrass beforehand for a polished look.
A concrete front porch often sets the tone for a home's exterior. When the existing slab is dull and gray, several resurfacing methods can improve its appearance. These range from a simple resurfacing compound that smooths over minor cracks to decorative overlays, stains, or interlocking tiles that mimic tile, stone, or wood.
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.
A lacquer finish acts as a barrier that stops stain from penetrating wood, causing the stain to pool and run off instead. To stain a piece that has been lacquered, the existing finish and stain must be stripped away, the surface cleaned, and the wood refinished from scratch.
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.
Over time, garden vegetation can grow and block sprinkler spray patterns, often because the irrigation system was set up before plants went in. This guide explains how to fix that by adding either a straight riser or a flexible swing joint riser to a sprinkler head, enabling the water to clear obstacles. It covers the necessary tools and walks through each method from start to finish.
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.
Flaked or peeling coating on a door casing looks bad and can scatter debris across the floor that later has to be swept up. Whether the casing is interior or exterior, the approach for taking off the loose coating is the same.
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.
