Q: We plan to soon repaint several rooms in our house. Do you recommend flat paint, satin or a semi-gloss sheen? A: The choice of
Q: I’d like to convert a spare bedroom into a music room. Do you have any advice on soundproofing an existing room? A: To reduce
Q: When building a cinderblock wall, should I fill the voids in the blocks with mortar? A: We recommend filling the empty spaces of the
Q: I’ve seen a faux finish painting technique that combined two different colors onto a wall. What is this technique called and how do I
Q: What’s the difference between normal carpet and “natural fiber” carpet? A: Natural-fiber floor covering is often selected for its environmental appeal, because the fabrics
Q: I plan to convert my unfinished basement into a finished living space. When installing drywall on the basement ceiling, do the panels attach directly
ShopBot Desktop CNC Tool The ShopBot Desktop is a small-footprint CNC machine for hobbyists, educators, and small and mid-size business owners. It serves as
For homeowners with a taste for the contemporary, a recent report projects the top home design and remodeling
By Larry Walton You know the place. It’s the little room where your wife tells you not to use the good towels that match the
By Larry Walton Making Machines Ready for the Long, Cold Winter Those who attended the Olympic games in London may remember it differently, but we
By Paul Williams When selecting your new stove you have several options. It’s not just looks but also design, function, fuel and operation. Wood
The classic walnut gun cabinet safely stores guns, ammunition and valuables while adding beauty to your decor.
In an effort to shape up the curb appeal of one of our project houses,
By Matt Weber Don’t blame the showerhead for a leaky spout. The problem originates in the valves behind the shower handles.
Matt Weber Modern technology is a mixed bag. Although I’m generally disappointed in the glaring absence of flying cars and hover-boards that I
If you’re planning to build a deck near a pool or spa,
Simonton Windows, one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of vinyl windows and patio doors, has launched the Simonton ProNetwork ™ program for builders, remodelers, contractors and
The Energy Detective 5000-C The Model TED 5000-C home energy monitor comes with all the components necessary to keep track your home’s energy usage,
By Tim Walton We’ve all heard that impressive, at least to motorheads, roar of a loud diesel exhaust.
By Matt Weber Installing Aluminum Weather-Stripping Around a Leaky Door.
By Larry Walton Build a patio shade cover without obstructing the view Have you ever walked into form boards on a lumber rack? Or, have
Equip your Favorite Workspace with these new tools and supplies. Gladiator Rack Shelving For storage of large, bulky items, homeowners can use the Gladiator
When replacing an interior door, try to replace just the door blank rather than removing the casing and door jamb.
Shock and Awe: Install High-Performance Suspension
Tile is hard. Tile is unforgiving. Tile bends for no man, but when it’s under too much pressure, it can snap. The rigid ceramic or
By Charlie Self A Handy Technique for Treating Tools, Blades and More
By Matt Weber A Look at New Innovations in those Toolbox Staples.
Here’s something new in the world of caulk: ExactColor Sealant from Sashco is an easy way
Wolverine is introducing a new work boot with technology that allows for ultimate customizable comfort. The new Gear work boot features Wolverine ICS technology, a
This powerfully advanced Stand-alone System has 5 steps to give you the cleanest air possible:
Ridgid Roofing Cutter Ridgid’s new pneumatic roofing tool cuts roofing materials effortlessly. Its 9,600-SPM (strokes per minute) operating speed provides superior cutting in cold
By Rob Robillard Paint your electrical plates to match your wall color. Nothing creates more immediate impact than a fresh coat of wall paint, especially
By Matt Weber A frank look at what you can expect.
By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Photography by Zoe Thomas A Rose By any Other Name. Build a wooden rose arbor to enhance your home’s outdoor
By Matt Weber EHT takes a look at a variety of DIY-friendly garage storage products for the garage and workshop.
By Mark and Theresa Clement Every Deck has its Day. Steps for Rebuilding your Backyard Deck. The beloved backyard deck, in historical terms, is a
Who doesn’t love a new way to break stuff? Instead of
By Charlie Self Cultivating Garlic in a Raised Bed Garlic bulbs are available everywhere, but the pleasure of growing your own is great. It is
I spent the weekend at an arts and crafts festival at the Tannehill Ironworks State Park
By Matt Weber I started my first backyard garden last year, having for decades watched my dad and grandfather tend large gardens of their own.
By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Photography by Zoe Thomas Making the most of a Backyard Garden America’s doctrine of westward expansion, known as Manifest Destiny,
Professional painters take note: The Scrammer is on its way. The multipurpose Scrammer
By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Photographs by Zoe Thomas Trim Paint with Perfection.
By Matt Weber Gear up for summer with new equipment for your outdoor improvements. Black & Decker 36V Tiller For the 2012 spring
It’s time to give your lawn its back-to-school haircut.
Now you can have both the soft, warm comfort of a sweatshirt along with protection from the cold and wind with the Wolverine Regulator Full
By Matt Weber Cabinet veneer gives the appearance of solid hardwood at a fraction of the cost.
By Tim Walton It’s easy to feel torn when trying to decide what kind of mods you’d like to do
By Rob Robillard Create a beautiful water feature with some simple materials and a little ingenuity.
The cleaning and staining of the deck was way past due (for probably 3-4 years). Six years ago I wrote this article (http://extremehowto.com/deck-makeover/) describing the
By Michael Springer A Guide to Glues and Adhesives used in Home Improvement. There is a dizzying array of glue and adhesive products in the
Here’s an example one of those unexpected chores that seem to come up on every remodeling job … In this case, I had to
By Matt Weber Refinish a deck to renew the look and protect it from the elements. For decades genuine wood has remained America’s most
I noticed that our friend Marc from HomeFixated.com — a very cool home-improvement and tool review blog — showed Extreme How-To some love with his
By Larry Walton Under the Hood — Install an oven range hood to upgrade your kitchen’s exhaust system. When the Vendettis decided to upgrade their
(photo courtesy Liquid Nails) Trim Work: When it comes to installing exterior molding and trim, a simple way to save time and money is to
How’s this for an interesting business model: Textbook Painting. No, the company doesn’t paint your textbook. It’s an entrepreneurial painting service that serves two purposes:
By Larry Walton Photos by Larry and Tim Walton Step by Step instructions for reconfiguring your kitchen cabinets to install a dishwasher. Lacey Melton, my
By Matt Weber New Concrete Coating Converts a Dull Slab into a Colorful Canvas. The natural color of concrete has all the flair and fashion
We recently demonstrated a variety of tile-cutting tools for an upcoming EHT article. Check out our October issue for coverage on everything from old standards
By Mark and Theresa Clement Installing a synthetic slate roof: How to cool down—and amp up—the house’s hot spot. A roof is one of the
By Mark and Theresa Clement On the set of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition playground project in Joplin, MO. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is such
Winning. For DIY’ers, choosing the right paint sheen for the right application can be a confusing ordeal. To help clear things up, Debbie Zimmer, paint
By Matt Weber How to Build a Sectional Entertainment Center with Pocket-hole Joinery.
“Be prepared.” That’s the Boy Scout motto, and wise words for DIY’ers in this era of face-eaters and doomsday-preppers. And, while we don’t generally blog
Installing a squeak-free floor should be the goal of any professional flooring installer–and the hope of any homeowner. To accomplish this requires diligent floor prep,
Major work on a house usually requires a building permit and an inspection by a city official to make sure all remodeling is done in
I knew a lot of homes had asphalt shingles–but 85% of the homes in America? … Wow. If you’ve got 2-1/2 minutes then you can
By Matt Weber Over the course of many years and many flooring jobs, the EHT staff has developed a list of favorite flooring tools that
Q. What is expansive cement? A. Concrete is generally mixed with more water than is needed to hydrate the cement, and when it evaporates it
Q. What is the purpose of the recirculate setting in an automobile? A. The recirculate button can help your vehicle HVAC system run more efficiently.
Q. What type of grass do I need for a “no mow” lawn? A. Certain grasses that are native to western regions of the U.S.
Q. What makes “ground contact” PT lumber more durable than lumber specified for “above ground” use? A. Pressure-treated lumber has been immersed in a liquid
Q. Does thinning paint have any adverse effects on the paint? A. Most paint products are ready to go right out of the can with
Q. I have a rectangular hallway pass-through in my home that has no door. I’d like to change the top of the pass-through into an
Q. What type of underlayment is required to install laminate flooring? A. Laminate floors should always be installed over a moisture-proof membrane, such as polyethylene
Q. What type of herbicide is best to kill the weeds that are sprouting up all over my lawn? A. Post-emergent herbicides — the type you’ll need now
Q. I have a two-handle faucet with a dripping shower head. How can I stop the leak? A. If a compression faucet drips from the
Q. After building my deck, how long should I wait before I stain it? A. The pressure treatment of lumber with waterborne preservatives leaves moisture
Any builder or renovation expert has made this statement many times, now it’s official. Having ripped and demolished structures since childhood, I have seen the
Stain or seal in half the time™ Minneapolis, Minn. – June 11, 2012 – Wagner SprayTech Corp. today introduced the new DeckJet® deck finishing tool
Q. Last week a loud screech started coming from beneath the hood of my car. Any idea what causes this? A. It’s possible that a
Q. How far away from the house should water be diverted with a downspout? A. Today’s building codes generally recommend that water should be diverted
Q. How large should grout joints be in tile? A. There’s not a specific standard for the size of a grout joint, but there are
Q. How does manufactured stone compare with real stone veneer? A. Manufactured stone, sold under brand names such as Cultured Stone, Coronado Stone, etc., is
Q. I have an older deck and fence that has grayed out and is somewhat stained. How can I restore old wood to its original
Q. How do I remove old bathroom caulk? A. A good tool combination for this job is a putty knife, a dental pick and a
Q. How do I give a copper fire pit an artificial green patina? A. The tarnish that develops on copper over time is what makes
Q. How do I shorten an interior door to clear a floor register? A. Lay a sheet of cardboard or plywood on the floor that
Q. How do I install a peephole in a fiberglass door? A. Fiberglass doors are built with two fiberglass panels with wood blocking and insulation
Q. How do I calculate the pitch of a roof? A. Roof pitch is a numerical measure of the steepness of a roof. The roof’s
Q. I have a couple of minor leaks in my roof where sheathing nails have popped up through the asphalt shingles. How do I repair
Q. The nails that hold the gutter on my house are pulling away from the fascia. What’s the easiest way to fix this? A. The
By Mark and Theresa Clement A P-Ar-GaDe-O-La. The mission of this project is to battle the blandness of the all-too-often overlooked side-yard of so many
By Matt Weber Border Security—A Painting Technique to Brighten a Room Nesting. It’s what birds do, and wasps, too. As I’ve learned, expectant human
By: Hal Jones First off, I don’t hear anyone begging to return the days of anything goes when it comes to manufacturing safe products. But
Werner 16-ft ladder collapses to Six feet when Folded The Werner three section Aluminum Extension Ladder is a 16-ft. extension ladder that collapses to an
Classic Architectural molding can add elegance and value to your home. Our multi part series based on Kuiken Brothers Whitepaper is informational not only for professional designers, but homeowners also.
Ask any seasoned contractor where a deck is most likely to fail, and odds are they’ll point to the ledger board. If it’s not properly installed and protected from moisture, this critical connection point can quickly become the weak link in an otherwise solid structure. That’s where Trex® Seal™ Ledger Tape comes in—a moisture-blocking MVP […]
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