Q. I varnished a table with a satin-finish polyurethane product. After it dried, some areas were glossy while other areas were nearly matte flat. What
Design and Layout Instructions, Part I
Two tools I discovered invaluable in my latest tile job are the Bosch Tile Layout Laser and the Wagner PaintEater. The Bosch Laser built for
The tile are installed and grouted. I won’t say there weren’t moments of exasperation, but now that it’s all behind me, I can sit back
Installing Flat-lay Laminate Countertops
Rarely have I had tool failures, but this week has been an exception. Monday night I had a Dremel rotary tool die an ignoble death.
Master concrete stainer, Gaye Goodman, explains the staining procedure in step-by-step detail.
Create a new look for an old room by blending various trim styles and building a home-improvement design vocabulary.
Installing ceramic or porcelain tile should not be an intimidating project and with the right tools you can get professional results. My first tile installations
Several factors affect tile layout. My suggestion is before installing the tile permanently, do a dry run. Lay out the tiles, dry(using no mortar) to see what
This was almost a trick question. Ford receives credit for inventing the charcoal briquette, but did he really invent it? Nope, the patent preceded the Ford
Many years ago I converted a porch into a sun-room for my parents. The room gets more use than others and has become a family
Who invented charcoal briquettes?
What a beautiful weekend we had to begin the dock renovation. Several sections of metal roofing on the fish house had to be replaced following a fall
Q: When building a deck, is it necessary to fasten the deck ledger board to the house, or can I build a freestanding deck? A:
Q: What is Cat 6 wiring? A: Whereas you’re probably familiar with Cat-5 wiring, which is used for cable television among many other things,
Q: How do I determine what size of air compressor to buy? A: The most important rating for an air compressor is the SCFM
New water-conserving toilet valves can save money and resources.
Accesories to Make Your Shop Safer As you plan your projects, why not plan to work safely and efficiently with a new line of tablesaw
Here’s a three-fold approach to a new basement floor, including an insulated subfloor system, engineered cork flooring, and easy-to-install carpet squares.
Well it has been a few weeks since I updated the progress on mom’s bathroom renovation. The tile layers had begun their part of the
Bosch Introduces Impact Tough™ Accessories Mount Prospect, Ill., March 26, 2010 – Bosch Power Tools and Accessories this week introduces a full range of accessory
Just like you, I cringe when I have to pick up material for a big project. The current stage of dock renovation is painting everything,
Four! Whoops … that golf ball just made a smash landing right in your living room! Whether a stray soft ball or a ladder that
Well this past weekend temperatures here in the Deep South hit the mid 80s. What happened to the mild 70s I wanted? The greening of
You have seen HID lights, the bright-bluish white car headlamps that were once only found on high end sports models but are more prevalent now.
During the past month we surveyed one million EHT Newsletter subscribers. Here are the results from the customer satisfaction survey. I was surprised by the
Bosch Laser Dual Line Laser 360 degree coverage
This past weekend I had a few tools to use and review that I was really excited about. Now many times, these great expectations die a quick
A couple of products being reviewed this weekend have me excited. For starters I will be taking a look at a new HID Flashlight from
Howard Hughes, eclectic, reclusive and sometimes nutty billionaire was not a Horatio Alger rags to riches story. What was the source of his fortune? If
What did the Apollo 8 astronauts use to fasten down tools during weightlessness on their 1968 moon-orbiting voyage? Answer in the comments section below. Hint,
Do you remember the first real knife you ever had? I mean a knife that didn’t come from a gumball machine or a discount store and was made in Pakistan. It was probably a Schrade, Boker, Gerber or a Buck. Well mine was a Buck 110 and I will never forget how different it was from my other pretend knives. The blade stayed sharp and it didn’t rust at the first sign of humidity. I kept up with that knife through college, which is amazing since I lost sunglasses at a rate that kept many offshore sweat-shop mini factories in business. I discovered Ray-Bans in college, the aviator glasses I was told were a good way to attract girls. I still have Ray-Bans from college. I think there is an innate desire in us to hold onto items we perceive to have quality. So the extra money spent on such items, I came to see as an investment.
It is springtime in Alabama. Forsythia is already blooming, jonquils and crocus are beginning to drop their blooms, but the nights are still cool and
Q: Our concrete driveway has an old piece of lumber used to form an expansion joint. The lumber has rotted away. What’s the best way to
Q: Is there any difference in procedure between installing a picture rail and a chair rail? A: Installing a picture rail is basically the same
Q: When trying to replace a toilet, I stripped the nut that bolts the toilet to the flange. How do I get this off? A:
Q: How does a split-jamb door work? A: Prehung split-jamb doors are designed for situations where an interior wall’s rough frame is thicker than a standard
ShopBot is bringing its annual Jamboree back to Durham this spring. The ShopBot Jamboree celebrates industrial design and digital fabrication by demonstrating how CNC machines
I was talking with my good friend Doug Mahoney yesterday. Doug is editor of ToolSnob, and writes the tool columns for Popular Science and Popular
About a week ago I polled 10,000 readers regarding various areas related to Extreme How-To. Thank you to all who participated. Surveys help us better
Auger bit users dread few things worse than encountering nails hidden in studs, joists, or sill plates. Until now, those hidden nails typically meant two
(Editor’s Note, The complete story is found on NJ.COM link is at the end of the blurb. Wow, this one is even too weird for
By Matt Weber When the old paint wears away, it’s time to wash away the chalk and apply a new acrylic latex.
Some of you had asked about what should an upgrade from one wood type to another on cabinets cost? Well I e-mailed Dura-Supreme Cabinets in
Milwaukee Sawzalls are a favorite tool around here. The Sawzall maybe fifty years old but it still holds a treasured spot in every renovators box.
Several times a year, home improvement editors and trade magazine editors travel to see new products, tools and etc. Now some of the time we
A few years ago, Matt Weber and I did a review of demolition tools. I don’t know that any other category of tools gets our
PEX plumbing is being used more frequently in today’s construction, tell us about your experience with it. Have you used it in existing construction or new construction
Move over Superman. The Man of Steel takes second place to the strength associated with many building products manufactured for today’s homes. In the “perfect
Q: Can you explain hard water? I see tons of commercials for products to get rid of it. Why should I worry about it?
We all know Bosch makes top quality tools and the 26618 drill/driver is no exception. With 1500 inch pounds of torque, the impactor leads its
Unbelievable was my response to this article. Matt Weber, EHT Editor-in-Chief brought this to my attention and after further discussion of this program you may soon see advertising
Well, I must admit I am a sucker for log homes and log homes that stretch the boundaries of affordability I can’t resist. When I
We are putting the finishing touches on a step-by-step installation guide for solid surface countertops for the DIY homeowner. Would you consider installing this material
HVLP sprayers offer the highest quality finish available for woodworking, automotive, furniture or any other application that requires an immaculate finish, and the 1040VR is the
Below are the required materials and cut lists for Max Hunter’s “Deluxe Tool Cabinet,” which you can learn to build HERE. These are estimated costs, price
Here is an overview of the dovetailing process that serves as an addendum to Max Hunter’s article, “Build a Deluxe Tool Storage Cabinet.”
Several months ago we were asked to test a prototype of Skil’s new flooring saw. I had an installation of 1100 square feet of flooring waiting that I needed to get done before spring 2010, so we agreed to use the new saw and run it through its paces. When the saw arrived, Matt Weber and I both picked up the saw and wondered if maybe the saw had been shipped in two different packages. It was that light. We opened the package and everything was there, but the saw itself was smaller than we expected and Skil used an aluminum base to save weight.
New Energy Star-qualified windows produce a quick return on investment.
Q. What causes corrosion of car battery terminals, and what’s the best way to deal with it? A. The sulfuric acid used in car
Q: I am trying to remove my old laminate countertops. After popping loose a couple of screws, the countertop tilts up easily, but the backsplash
Q. The drain pump on my air conditioner condenser is leaking onto the floor. Is there any way to fix this without replacing the pump?
Q. How do I fix a flickering lamp? A. First, make sure the bulb is tightly screwed down into the socket so there’s no
Q. How do I repair cracked, damaged stucco from around a window? A. Home-improvement stores sell premixed dry stucco in bags just like concrete.
Q. The basement of our home has rough block walls with some very sloppy mortar joints. I’d like to paint the wall, but how should
Q. Why does my hot water heater run cold so quickly? A. If you’re running out of hot water too quickly, there may be
The insulation programme was suspended after it was linked to a number of electrocution deaths. Tens of thousands of homes will now have to be
Amana Tool announces its line of solid surface router bits, featuring undermount bowl router bits for trimming and finishing counter-top edges in undermount sink bowl
Milwaukee Tool’s M12 Radio is our featured tool. The M12 uses the same popular M12 battery that powers its cordless 12 volt series tools and
Extreme How-To and Punch! Software bring you Weekend Projects. Punch! supplied the design software and Extreme How-To brought the “How-To” to Punch!’s latest software edition. Punch!
Extreme How-To Blog is reborn.
Build a workstation from common tools and materials.
Man’s oldest metal, copper, is an ideal material for kitchen and bath renovations.
What would you do if someone offered to show you how to save $10,000 on a home improvement project? Several lucky homeowners presented with
On January 4th, 2010 the Energy Star® program introduced new criteria to improve energy performance levels of windows and doors for all regions of
Advanced energy-efficient technology and alternative fuels provide clean, cost-saving solutions to home heating.
Flaring the windows delivers depth and mass, and the lack of casing leaves more room for ceiling trim.
Tools and materials that make it easier and faster to install crown molding.
By Larry Walton One of my favorite home projects is building a new concrete walkway. It could be
Purpose-built metal cutting power tools make quick work of tough tasks.
Strut Like a Pro – This DIY Shock/Strut Installation Saves Owners Time and Money
Great-looking, Long-lasting and Environmentally Friendly
Residential home designer Marla Bruemmer has a unique viewpoint on the placement of windows in the houses she creates. “I use windows as picture
Tile a concrete patio for a decorative touch to your outdoor space.
Use a masonry waterproofer to conceal stains and prevent water intrusion.
Q. We’d like to replace an old vinyl floor with tile. The flooring currently has a vinyl base strip that is firmly attached to the
Q. I am working on a new deck and would like to cover up a 6-by-6 post with cedar. What is the best way to
Q. We’ve used an exterminator to kill cockroaches inside our house, and the service seems to have worked inside. The problem is all the cockroaches
Understanding the relationship between components and systems can affect the comfort, health, durability and energy-efficiency of your home.
Cable railing has become one of the fastest‑growing trends in outdoor living design, and for good reason. Homeowners want cleaner sightlines, modern aesthetics, and materials that don’t require constant upkeep. Builders want systems that install cleanly, tension reliably, and hold up to weather without callbacks. DeckWise Cable Rail Kits hit that sweet spot by combining […]
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