Home Wiring for the Information Age
From whole-house audio to camera-equipped security systems, a comprehensive structured wiring system in your home can accommodate a long list of modern-day amenities.
From whole-house audio to camera-equipped security systems, a comprehensive structured wiring system in your home can accommodate a long list of modern-day amenities.
Rigid plastic footing forms are new alternatives to conventional forming methods for concrete pier footings. These types of piers are quicker and less expensive to
Here’s a step-by-step look at how to install your own bamboo floor.
Shed water the right way with properly installed roof flashing.
Cork flooring has an elegant and natural appearance. It is also hypoallergenic, anti-microbial and sound absorbent.
Hand planes are the epitome of fine woodworking. Extreme woodworkers use them, and serious collectors collect them. I’m both. I began with some of my
Drywall surrounds us and for good reasons. It is an inexpensive wall covering that goes up quickly. It is neutral and can be covered with
Proper installation of wood siding can protect the building envelope from moisture intrusion.
From furniture and cabinets to interior trim, refinishing can breathe new life into old wood.
Decks are such a hot item for today’s home. There seems to be no limit to the new innovations, helpful accessories and decorative accents that
The age-old “shtick” about a rake handle smacking you in the face when you step on the teeth isn’t funny. It’s happened to me
There’s not much glamour in gutter systems, but when properly installed, they do a great job of directing roof runoff away from your home. Flowing
Pergolas have been around for centuries, adding structure and beauty to outdoor living areas.
A knockdown texture on sheetrock walls can give a room a warm, rustic appeal.
Create a new look and cut down on noise with an acoustic ceiling.
Worried about mold in your home? Armed with a checklist, caulk gun and a common-sense plan, homeowners can overcome the hysteria about mold and protect
When it comes to vertical tile installations, careful layout and attention to detail are key to a successful project.
Remove a window and replace it with a wall.
The kids are back in school, summer grilling and outdoor lounging is over, and in most spots across the U.S. it’s just too
Casting Light on the Most Used Rooms in the House.
With winter right around the corner, there’s no time like the present to seal your home from moisture intrusion and heat loss.
Professional tips for smart roofing installation.
Concrete has been used in construction since the Romans invented it about 2,000 years ago. Although it’s been a widely used material for driveways and
From garden accent walls to taller walls that create space for a driveway, retaining walls can add a lot to your property. And new segmental block systems make construction easier than ever.
For those new to laying tile, the temptation is to pick the straightest wall and start laying the floor along it. While that may work
Night-lighting your landscape offers a creative way to showcase your home.
Homeowners are constantly repairing minor blemishes in and around their homes, but many people do not know how to properly fix these minor problems.
Cabot, the inventor of the first decking stain, shows homeowners how to protect and beautify their wooden decks.
Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials. It can be used for anything from entire buildings to portions of buildings, sidewalks, patios, post
Using drywall to cover cracked plaster provides an economical way to give an old room a new look.
There’s a lot to consider when building a wood fence. Here’s some advice for the do-it-yourselfer.
Use lightweight gypsum plaster to repair cosmetic damage to plaster walls.
The Power of the Sun: How to Use Skylights to Enhance a Room Addition
Anchoring items to concrete or masonry often requires boring a hole, inserting an anchor of some sort, then bolting or screwing the item in place.
Create your own planters for flowers and foliage to bring an organized look to your home or garden.
Today’s metal roofs offer a wide range of benefits, from exceptional strength in the face of harsh weather, to a variety of styles and finishes.
Snap-together laminate flooring can be installed in a flash, with no glue or nails.
Passing the Bar: Creating a bar pass-through between a kitchen and dining or family room can lighten both rooms and provide a gathering place between the two areas.
Compost is supposed to rot … houses are not. Unfortunately, wood rots. Unless kept dry and in the right environment, wood, being a natural material, eventually decays.
Jigsaws are great tools for both basic home repairs and more advanced woodcraft projects.
Easy-to-install, durable, less expensive … These characteristics are what make today’s exterior trim manufactured from wood alternatives so popular among busy homeowners. Do-it-yourselfers can
Building a seawall prevents the lake from washing away your shoreline.
Improvements in design and construction practices hold the key to moisture management and mold mitigation.
Real estate agents, builders and homebuyers alike realize that first impressions make a difference. Installing a distinctive entrance door made from oak, mahogany or
“To line with boards or paneling,” is how Mr. Webster describes wainscot. Doesn’t sound very exciting, does it? Wainscot, however, can add excitement and set
Give your countertops a new look with laminate.
Get your creative juices flowing by installing ceramic tile in your home.
Ahhhh, the romance of a screened porch—lemonade and cool comfort for those hot summer days and a hammock or chaise lounge for slumbering those warm
The addition of skylights adds sunshine to any room.
Repairing and Refinishing Wood Floors
Unless your taste leans entirely toward modern chrome, a lot of your furniture is wood. If you’re like most of us, it’s a mix of
A beautiful wood deck can contribute directly to your home’s value and to your family’s quality of life, and whether the deck is 200 square feet or 2,000 square feet, many people are passionately proud of their decks.
Looking to get “back to basics” with woodworking and furniture making?
With the popularity of home improvement shows such as Trading Spaces and Changing Rooms, do-it-yourselfers and novices interested in home improvement are becoming more interested and adventurous when it comes to interior design.
Technology has affected almost every aspect of the daily life of modern man. This being said, it would seem that some menial tasks have been overlooked, like installing a doorknob.
Electrical problems are the cause of more than 40,000 home fires in the United States each year. On average, these fires claim close to 350 lives, injure 1,400 and result in $700 million in damages according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Q: Can you lay new tiles (saltillo) on top of old ceramic tiles? A: Yes, but only if the existing tile surface is in
Armstrong-Clark’s deck and siding wood stain has nondrying conditioning oils that separate from the drying side of the formula. These oils penetrate deep into the deck or siding wood fiber where the wood’s natural oils used to be. This process rejuvenates the wood. The drying oils stay at the surface, lock in the conditioning oils […]
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