By Hal Jones Xtreme Access Sockets and Ratchets, Swiss Knife Utility Comes to Socket Sets
If you’re the kind of tool hound who buys really obscure items just in case you might possibly one day have a use for them,
By Clint C. Thomas, Esq., Photographs By Zoe Thomas From material selection to installation techniques, here’s how to finish the job with success, when working
By Charlie Self Don’t brush your way into a corner. Use these easy tips for choosing the right paint brush to get the finish you’re
By Larry Walton How to prepare for and spray a new paint job on an old house by using an airless sprayer.
By Matt Weber Using Soap and Water to Locate Leaks in your Tire; The Bubbles Never Lie.
A rotten sill plate is a common occurrence in old houses—and a big problem. The sill is the piece of wood closest to the ground,
By Matt Weber Careful planning, labor-saving products and elbow grease are the keys to success for a DIY bathroom remodel. Bathroom upgrades rank among the
By: Hal Jones A few years ago I was testing a GTH 26 Garden Tractor by Husqvarna. One of the biggest surprises was its speed
By: Hal Jones Starting Plant Seeds Indoors Compared to Starting Seeds In the Garden It started off as what I thought would be a life
Wow, Spring is already here and I think someone is feeding steroids to my grass it has to be cut so frequently. Gardens are being
By Matt Weber How to Match the Air Supply to Your Air Tools
By Charlie Self Everyone Wants a Table Saw: Exploring Hybrid and Job Site Saws for the DIY Homeowner.
Editor’s Note: EHT editorial sampled these in Milwaukee and both Matt and I came away thinking this tool is going to really make an impact
By Mark Clement How to replace a roof on an old house—once and for good. This old house remodeling challenge is to replace a roof
By: Hal Jones The soreness in my right shoulder wasn’t there yesterday. Today though it pains me to even do the simplest task such as
By Clint C. Thomas, Esq., Photography by Shellye Thomas Save money and resources with a little DIY carpentry. I recently completed the renovation of a
By: Hal Jones It seems like every few years I find myself on a ladder painting a house exterior. Years ago in college I would
Tools & Materials for the Outdoor Retreat Spring will be here before we know it, making late winter an ideal time to get a head
With steady growth, our Extreme How-To Blog surpassed 2000 registered users this past weekend. Thank you to all of our loyal readers and users alike.
By: Hal Jones When we first got the HSA 65 to review I was interested in the 36 volt platform Stihl had just introduced. First
Several weeks ago, we began our annual preparations for our vegetable garden. One of the cost saving tasks we do, is to begin some of
By: Hal Jones A few years ago I walked into my teenage stepson’s bathroom he was working on and saw that he was using one
By: Hal Jones In the world of tool testing, I subject tools to what obviously are tasks outside of intended uses. In order to simulate
By Matt Weber A ladder is a must-have tool for professionals and serious DIY’ers alike. They’re
As temperatures continue to drop it’s time to start giving soil some tender, loving, care. During the fall and winter seasons, soil is naturally composed
By Mark and Theresa Clement Make a Splash It may not seem so, but a great backsplash can be the difference between a kitchen and
By Matt Weber I’m tough on a truck. To me, a pickup truck isn’t meant to be coddled like a
Congratulations to the January Winner of the Wagner PaintEater System. These are really neat tools and I loved mine until it was stolen a few
Editor’s Note:Any car owner who has fought shaping issues when restoring his car’s body, will appreciate body materials that are easy to work with. Eastwood
Extreme How-To in partnership with Skil Power Tools and Wagner Paint Products gave away a Skil Flooring Saw and a Wagner Power Painter Max with
By: Hal Jones If you find vertical wooden balusters to be commonplace and dreary, consider building your next handrail with a horizontal metal cable system.
Home-improvement projects can become a war zone, so protecting the surroundings is critical. Protective Products Int’l Inc. has smart way to prevent unwanted scratches to
Okay, so most folks don’t have a wavy door that needs wavy casing, but it sure makes an eye-catching IBS display for ResinArt, manufacturers of
Builder’s Show Wrap-Up The number of exhibitors may be down from years past, but the quality remains high. Maybe the biggest disappointment regarding no
Retrofit accessories that help stabilize ladders often focus on preventing lateral movement at the base. The new LockNClimb stabilizer gives the ladder two extra bracketed
Need to render a big rock to rubble in an environmentally friendly way? Instead of ripping through concrete or stone with a jackhammer–or even explosives–Ecobust
MILWAUKEE, WI – Milwaukee Tool continues to revolutionize cordless power tools with the introduction of the new M18 FUEL™ ½” Drill/Driver (2603-20/22) and M18 FUEL™
Want a quick project to spruce up your bath, kitchen, bar or powder room? Consider installing a new sink.
By Matt Weber (originally published November 2011) From the professional carpenter to the hobbyist woodworker, routers are amazingly versatile tools that can
By Clint C. Thomas, Esq., Photography by Shellye Thomas Organization and time management save the day.
Rick Tempchin Executive Director, Retail Energy Services Edison Electric Institute Electric utilities are replacing analog meters with digital “smart” meters across the country, creating improvements
Using Gypsum Board for Creative Interior Décor. One of the often overlooked (underlooked?) areas of the home is the ceiling, which can present a prime
By Matt Weber Prepare the home for winter to save energy and heating costs by updating your insulation. When we get cold,
What better way to start the new year off than winning a gift card to the premier woodworking and gardening company. Congratulations to the following
Milwaukee Tool Corporation continues to expand their Test and Measurement line and M12™ LITHIUM-ION system with the introduction of the new 160×120 Thermal Imager, powered
By: Hal Jones Second Part of Securing a Vacation or Lake Home. How-To Install Surveillance Cameras in a Vacation or Lake Home, Where Remote Surveillance
The total cost for your bathroom remodel will depend on many factors, including how extensive the project is, where you live, what types of
By Monte Burch From East to West, North to South, flooding has been a major problem across much of the United States. You can’t do
By Dave Barnes 11 Keys to Successfully Stain Exotic Hardwood for Outdoor Applications
By Mark Clement Do You Live in a Barn? We’ve all seen them. You can probably picture one in your mind’s eye—if not your backyard.
By Mark Clement Making the Most of the Most-used Door in the House
By Matt Weber Staining and Sealing to Fight Mother Nature. The natural beauty, durability and affordability of wood are what keep pressure-treated lumber at the
By Matt Weber Tankless water heaters have carved a healthy niche in the residential market thanks to their energy-efficiency and convenient on-demand hot water
Unless you’ve been living on a desert island, you know how tough it is to sell a home these days. In some neighborhoods, “For Sale”
By Clint Thomas Equip a Work Belt with the Most Often Used Tools and Gadgets.
By: Hal Jones (Editor’s note, within one week of installing the new alarm system, the thieves came back. The entry door was pried or kicked
By Clint Thomas, Esq., / Photos by Zoe Thomas Concrete, block and smart building techniques solve the problem of a dilapidated retaining wall surrounding
By Myron R. Ferguson Tray Ceilings Enhance Ordinary Ceiling Lines to Create Architectural Interest. Quite often when I mention a tray ceiling to a prospective
By Matt Weber Some of the most satisfying DIY home improvements are those that have posed a serious problem that the homeowner struggled to overcome.
By Matt Weber The purpose of caulk is two-fold. One purpose is strictly aesthetic, where it is used to close off joints in trim, woodwork,
By Larry Walton Careful planning pays off in a fence that looks good for years to come. There’s more to planning a picket fence than
The Changing Face of the Modern Wood-burning Appliance Wood-burning stoves and hearths possess an old-fashioned charm that warms a home comfortably and naturally from an
By Matt Weber Natural stone is durable, attractive and if you dig them up, very affordable. Natural stone can make an attractive, low-maintenance and incredibly
Q: Does adding glue inside a screw hole strengthen the connection of a wood screw? A: For outdoor applications that are exposed to a
Q: How do I know what viscosity grade of motor oil is appropriate for my vehicle? A: Always refer to your vehicle owner’s manual.
Q: What is involved with dry-stack cinder block construction? A: Dry-stacked block home construction uses concrete masonry units (blocks) to erect walls without mortar.
Q: I’d like to paint a basement floor, but the concrete is too rough. Is there an easy way to smooth it out? A:
Q: I have a new pre-primed steel door I plan on painting. What is the best way to apply the paint? A: For steel
Q: How long should I cover a new concrete slab for it to cure properly? A: The longer concrete stays damp after it’s poured,
Q: I’m refurbishing a maple bookcase. What is the right approach to filling in nail holes? A: If you’re painting the shelves, use a
Q: I understand the value of getting a home inspection when buying a house, but I’m selling a house. Is there any advantage to paying
Q: How Do I Paint a Faux Wood Finish over Paint-grade Trim? A: Mask off the trim and apply primer if it’s not already
Q: What type of wood do you suggest for building outdoor projects? A: Whether you’re building a deck, gazebo, raised garden bed or front porch,
Q: A friend is having his home renovated because of defective Chinese drywall. What harm does the defective drywall cause to the home or occupants?
EHT Tip: How to Calculate Concrete Coverage by Bag Size To calculate concrete coverage, record your measurements in feet and decimal equivalents of inches
Q: I’d like to extend an existing concrete patio. What is the minimum thickness for concrete? A: Concrete is typically applied at a thickness
Q: What is sinker cypress? How is it different from standard cypress lumber? A: Sinker cypress, as the name implies, is cypress that was sunk
Q: Our lawn is infested with weeds. I’m planning on killing it all and starting with new grass seed, but I’m wary of the chemicals
Q: When hanging drywall, do the panels install lengthwise or across the studs? A: On walls, installing the panels horizontally reduces the overall linear
Q: I have a toilet that flushes slowly. I’ve tried plungers, chemicals and a plumbing snake, and nothing worked. My neighbor suggested using something called
Q: This summer I’m planning to update my landscape by planting a few trees. What are the pros and cons of buying a young potted
Q: Why are nails designated in “penny” sizes? A: “Penny” sizes originally referred to the price for a hundred nails in England in the
Q: I’ve seen lots of painted synthetic trim, but will wood stain work with the woodgrain-style of synthetic products? A: Check the trim manufacturer’s
Q: How often should I have my septic tank inspected? A: Septic systems should be inspected and pumped every three to four years. You
Q: I’m planning to install ceramic floor tiles in my bathroom. The tiles are glazed, so I wasn’t planning to use a sealer. However, my
Q: Our local home store has stick-down vinyl tiles that have a beveled edge. When you butt the tiles together they create a V-joint between
Q: A fallen tree limb has punched a hole in our aluminum siding about the size of a baseball. The damage appears to be limited
Q: How do I cut small mosaic tiles? I’m installing a backsplash and can’t fit whole tiles around the electrical outlets and switches. A:
Q: Now that spring is coming around the corner, when should I start feeding my lawn? A: Winter is like a long slumber for
By Mark Clement EHT shows how to hang cabinets plumb, level and square in rooms that aren’t.
By Larry Walton I’m sure you realize that your truck is one of the best tools you own. Not only does it get you to
By Matt Weber There are hundreds of ways to make a headboard. Here’s one—a custom creation combining style
By Mark Clement Tips and tricks for working with plaster walls—from pulling it down to patching it up.
By Matt Weber It’s a drill press. Check out some modern features and DIY jigs.
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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