Q: I need to replace a dimmer switch. Are the switches universal? A: Dimmer switches are rated to handle a specific maximum wattage. For example,
Q: Is there a right and wrong way to use wood shims? A: The best method for using wood shims is to insert them in
Q: When replacing a door and transom, do the replacements come as a single unit or separate pieces? A: You should consult with your door
Q: I have new stained wood kitchen cabinets. What’s the best way to care for them? A: Wood cabinets and furniture of all types require
Q: Should I use sanded or unsanded grout for bathroom tile? A: The sand in sanded grout makes it stronger than the unsanded variety so
Q: Why are nails designated in “penny” sizes? A: “Penny” sizes originally referred to the price for a hundred nails in England in the 15th
Q: My son broke a wooden spindle on the stair’s handrail. Since the spindle is trapped in the holes at the top and bottom, how
Oneida Air Systems New Gorilla Duct Gorilla Duct from Oneida Air Systems is a new affordable clamp-together ductwork for a dust-free work environment. This revolutionary
By Monte Burch When our deck weathered to splits and splinters we had a major problem. With more than 1,800
Solid surface material, a popular alternative to natural stone, is most commonly used for seamless countertop installations, but offers a wide array of other uses.
By Matt Weber Selecting the right generator should be a balancing act. You’ll need adequate electricity to power your equipment arsenal, with greater output required
By Rob Robillard Building a board-and-batten door is a task that can be completed in a relatively short period of time and is a project
Clean Craftsman Trim for Stain-grade Wood Windows By Larry Walton
This week I made some “industrial style” shelves for my son’s room. The shelf brackets are made from 3/4″ galvanized pipe, floor flanges and
Hands-down the most popular project among do-it-yourselfers, painting is a fundamental way to transform the look and feel of any room or object, indoors
One of our recent EHT projects was a “roof-over” in which we covered an existing single layer of three-tab asphalt roof shingles with architectural shingles.
If you’re reading this blog, then it’s a safe bet that all the rights and responsibilities which come with owning a home are extremely important
Setting a Medallion in a Tile Floor By Larry Walton Photos By Bruce W. Smith
(guest post by Francesca Holmes) If you have thought of doing away with a lot of your household stuff on various occasions but haven’t been
Nu-Wal Restoration System Tired of looking at the same cracked walls day in and day out? What if the
By Larry Walton, Photos by Tim Walton Rapid deployment is an important characteristic of most of the professional building trades these days. Even if your
Removing Wallpaper to Create a Painted Wall Surface By Larry Walton
New Tools & Accessories Impact Drivers are a relatively new power-tool category that’s taken the construction world by
Build a patio with composite pavers in an interlocking grid system. Julie Quigley wanted a large backyard patio with the look of traditional pavers. Her
Congratulations to EHTcontributing author Robert Robillard, who has a taken a new position with the Boston Globe. He’s charged with writing and responding to
I freely admit that I have no first-hand experience with 3D printing or any particular knowledge of its technical wizardry, but I recognize it
Modular kits make design and installation easy for the DIY’er. Adding a traditional spiral staircase can be an intimidating project for a homeowner, because the
A particular news story caught my attention during this holiday season. During a Christmas gathering, twenty members of a Kentucky family gathered on an
(guest post by Lindsey Schroeder ) You have finally decided to tackle that painting project and you couldn’t be more excited. The living space is
The holidays seem to arrive sooner every year, so there’s no time like the present to organize your shopping list for friends and family. This
SawStop, LLC, the world leader in table saw safety, today announced the introduction of a new saw: the SawStop Jobsite Saw. This saw is the
Customized single-pieced wainscoting makes installation easy. By Matt Weber
“DIY is in decline because today’s men are too soft.” This was a recent headline by UK-based newspaper, The Telegraph. Regarding a cultural
The Big Benefits of Snow Melting Systems By Rob Robillard In the Northeast, winter means shoveling and salting your walkway and stairs to keep your
(Guest post by Vicki Clary) For most Americans, the place where you live is your biggest and most expensive investment — and that’s why protecting
Wolmanized Wood University A new educational program from Arch Wood Protection Inc. addresses the wood-treatment process and proper
Last week the Extreme How-To staff went to the 2014 Remodeling Show/DeckExpo in Baltimore, Maryland. Aside from the good beer and great crab cakes, here’s
Wolverine takes comfort to new levels with the Cabor Boot featuring Wolverine EPX
The SKILSAW® brand began with the invention of the circular saw in 1924, and for decades their worm drive SKILSAWs have been regarded as the jobsite
By Justin White When you face a non-working garage door, you may fear an expensive repair bill. The good
Guest post by Francesca Holmes Even a cursory glance at the top interior design websites highlights the growing popularity of frameless glass. Most often used
I spent last Friday touring a Georgie-Pacific manufacturing plant in Thorsby, Alabama. I saw first-hand how log trucks deliver the raw Southern pine that is
Q: How can I keep mice out of my dryer vent? A: Replace the dryer vent on the outside of your house with a two-part
Q: What’s the best way to keep new tile grout clean? A: Cementitious grout is subject to staining because it is a porous material. Most
Q: Can I use 2×8 treated lumber as deck boards? A: No, that’s a not a good idea. Lumber wider than 6 inches should not
One of our recent EHT projects was a DIY “roof-over,” in which we covered an existing single layer of three-tab asphalt roof shingles with architectural
Tualatin, OR — October 1, 2014 — SawStop, LLC, the world leader in table saw safety, is celebrating 10 years of designing and manufacturing the
Milescraft 1312 DrillBlock The DrillBlock from Milescraft guides your drill bit for straight holes every time. The two V-grooves allow for drilling on corners and
Here’s a funny Craiglist ad I stumbled across this weekend. – M. Weber
Land Pride’s SA20 Skid Auger fills a need for users that require a quality post hole attachment but don’t
By Tom Matthews Mold is a top concern for indoor air quality and remains a common
Over the weekend I came across some information on generating heat from compost, which struck me as a really interesting idea. Composting is the
Don’t Flush your Money Away By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Photography by Zoe Thomas
Protect and beautify your outdoor wood—fast. By Matt Weber
Ever since the first caveman broke open a nut with a rock, we’ve used tools for anything and everything at work and at home. Lucky
By Matt Weber Fasteners hold together everything we build. These are the unsung heroes of construction, because
LAND PRIDE SNOW PUSHERS:SSP15 & SSP25 SERIES
New streamlined ceiling finishing system for hotel and motel bathrooms, laundry rooms, food assembly lines, and other spaces where aesthetics, minimal maintenance,
Learn the basics from professionals with years of experience. By Matt Weber A dock is essentially a deck built on piles in the water, and
The L.S. Starrett Company announced that in addition to exhibiting at various trade shows, it will host its first virtual exhibition in September. “Traditional tradeshows
Thanks to more cutting edges and no center spur, the KIK spade bits from TG Tools can be used to drill curved holes. The spade
Superdeck Cleaning & Stain Products Wood decks are a popular home addition and a great investment. According to Pro Deck Builder Magazine “Adding a basic
Use corded tools in remote areas that have no electrical supply. Supply power to electronic equipment for a campsite or tailgating party. Operate vital appliances
Q: What is meant by “wire-feed” welding? A: Wire-feed welding (MIG welding) has become popular over the last few decades because you can pick up
Q: I’m starting a compost bin to use as fertilizer for a vegetable garden. I know to use plant matter, etc., but is there anything
Q: Should block retaining walls be angled backwards or built vertically plumb? A: A very short retaining wall built of only a couple of courses
Q: What’s a good method for cutting aluminum gutter material? A: One basic method is to clamp the gutter material firmly to a couple of
Clamps that deliver the highest clamping force with the least effort.
Give your Carpentry an Edge By Rob Robillard Wouldn’t it be nice if we could apply thin layers of skin to cover our aged, wrinkled
Get the Look of Traditional Tile with the Easy Installation of Adhesive Vinyl. By Matt Weber
We love pergolas. We love designing them. We love building them. We love how they make the backyard not just a place you go to
The summer season is considered the busiest time for home improvement projects, and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is reminding homeowners to
Like Pulling Teeth By Matt Weber If you’ve ever stripped a screw or broken off the head of a bolt, you know how frustrating it
Get Rolling to the Internet home of Kaddies Inc., maker of the best portable storage available.
By BriskHeat Corporation When temperatures drop dangerously low, many homes and buildings are at an increased risk of frozen pipes
By Larry Walton Our first task for this loft project was to put in a new open rail,
Our friends at Arch Wood Protection Inc. have rolled out an educational program designed to address the wood-treatment process and proper use of preserved wood
Have you ever come face to face with a wet patch in your basement completely covered with a black fungus-like substance? What you are seeing
Check out this new video from Arke’. This video features the selection process and installation of an Arke’ spiral stair kit.
When it came time to re-stain a shadowbox fence, I wanted to work smarter rather than harder, so I tried a promising product called Ready
Q: How do I fix a sagging refrigerator door? A: A sagging door isn’t just an eyesore. If the gasket doesn’t seal properly, the refrigerator
Q: Can PEX piping be used for outdoor applications, such as a water garden? A: The PEX material can be used outdoors if it is
Q: What’s the difference between enamels, latex-base and oil-base paints? A: According to the experts at Sherwin-Williams, enamel is a broad classification for finishing materials
Q: I replaced the flooring in a bathroom. I reinstalled the toilet afterward, but the inlet to the tank is now 1/4 to 1/2 inch
Upgrading a stripped-down utility trailer to move mulch and tow your tools. By Mark Clement
Sakrete U.S. Cold Patch Sakrete U.S. Cold Patch is a high-performance permanent pothole repair product that can be used in wet or dry conditions. Easy
By Matt Weber Jigs and tool accessories provide a handy way to get more efficiency, more versatility or more accuracy from your powered equipment. Attach
For a recent Extreme How-To project we used the new AZEK composite pavers to create a beautiful new patio. The AZEK pavers fit quickly
Installing a clay paver patio is great DIY summertime project that enhances the look of the home’s outdoor environment. By Walt Steele
How to Install a Ceiling Fan By Matt Weber A ceiling fan can be a stylish and effective way to enhance airflow throughout a room.
RTA12 & RTR12 Rotary Tillers The RTA12 & RTR12 Series Rotary Tillers from Land Pride till soil for seedbed and planting preparation with applications in landscaping,
(Guest post courtesy Garage Door Repair, LLC) When you face a non-working garage door, you may fear an expensive repair bill. The good news for
Have you ever used a circular saw blade backwards? For most jobs it’s a terrible idea and very dangerous. But for a certain few materials,
Q: How do I fix a hole in a rusty, leaky gutter? A: First, scrub off the rust around the hole with a wire brush.
Q: What’s the best way to stabilize a rocking toilet? A: Toilets rock due to uneven floors, usually on tiled surfaces. Movement in the toilet
Q: Our backyard slope is slowly washing away with every rainfall. What’s the best way to stop the erosion? A: One common method to prevent
The best footing tube base & pier footing tubes available today are made by Bigfoot Systems®. The Bigfoot team has been in the construction business for many years and has developed a variety of Bigfoot products for all your construction needs. Rigid plastic footing forms are alternatives to conventional forming methods for concrete pier […]
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