Q: I’m having a terrible time trying to remove melted candle wax from the carpet. Any advice? A: First, carefully scrape any loose wax
Q: Is there a quick fix for a squeaky door hinge? A: Here’s one method that sometimes works: petroleum jelly. Start by loosening the
Q: I’m about to wallpaper a bedroom but dread the mess of soaking the pre-pasted paper. Is there any way around this? A: The soaking
Spray Polyurethane Foam is Raising the Bar in Building Insulation
Rust, it’s the bane of anyone doing restoration work. Concern about the destructive effects of corrosion to iron-based materials has been around as long
How to make a mantel—or an awesome shelf—from Fypon’s new Southwest Collection urethane moldings.
New materials, smart building practices save money on energy bills.
Buried Treasure: Discovering and Recovering Hardwood Floors
The latest trend is increased power in a compact package.
Boost your curb appeal and add value to your home.
Q: Our upstairs hardwood floor squeaks in a few places. I can’t access the joists because of the finished ceiling of the first floor. Can
Tips and Tools to Get the Job Done Right
Push-starting our ’74 Super Beetle wasn’t that big of a deal (unless you ask my lovely young bride, who once had to interrupt her
Replace old windows to reduce energy costs and add value to your home.
Q: Help! When I had my back turned, my three-year-old grandson found a loose loop of carpet and gave it a yank. Now I have
Q: Several spots in our plumbing system began to leak over the last year, so we had to replace some of the galvanized pipe. Last
Q: We plan to lay a new kitchen floor in our lake house. We purchased peel-and-stick tile, hoping we can lay them right over the
Q: I’d like to add an arched entryway between the living room and kitchen. Can you tell me how to bend drywall for the arch?
Q: My neighbor has a faux finish in her family room that she calls “stippling.” It gives the walls a nice textured look. Her walls
Q: I’m planning to do my own roofing job. Is it possible to do one side of the roof at a time, finish one part
Q: When I turn on my air conditioner I smell a very bad odor, like sulfur or rotten eggs. The smell only lasts about 10
Q: I always hear about the importance of insulating the attic, but rarely hear much talk about insulation between the floor joists of crawlspaces? Is
Q: I had a mahogany deck installed last year and the boards were put too close together, resulting in puddling when it rains or snows.
Q: What product do you recommend for regular cleaning of hardwood floors? A: Many pros swear by using nothing more than a mixture
Q: A few months ago, I hired a contractor to install laminate tongue-and-groove flooring over concrete. It was installed with glue. Now I hear pops
Q: Help! My three-year-old son flushed a bar of soap down the toilet. I’ve tried using a plunger plus a lot of Drano, and it
Q: We just had our fireplace cleaned and the cracks sealed, but still sometimes have a backdraft problem where the smoke doesn’t go up. There’s
Phil Smith of Decatur, Indiana, submitted the following helpful home tip to the EHT staff: “While refinishing my basement, I was putting the final touches
Q: When hanging drywall, do you place the bottom of the sheets on the subfloor or are they raised up to allow for expansion? A:
Q: Is textured paint easier to use than creating texture with joint compound? A: Using pre-textured paint can be easier because it saves you the
Q: I was interested in becoming a residential contractor, and I thought Extreme How-To may have some information on pointing me in the right direction.
Q: When you’re laying sheathing on the roof, which way does it need to go, vertical or horizontal? We have it going horizontal and have
Q: I’m interested in buying a framing nail gun and wondered what the pros and cons were for Clipped-Head vs. Round-Head. I’ll be framing a
Phil Smith of Decatur, Indiana, submitted the following helpful home tip to the EHT staff: While refinishing my basement, I was putting the final
Q: How to Build a Header for a Door? A: A header is doubled 2-by material above the door to distribute the weight of the
Q: Hi, I’m 12 years old and I need to get a stripped screw out of my electric guitar. The needle-nose pliers won’t grip it
Q: I would like to cover a block wall of my home to look like an old adobe. Do I need to cover the brick
Q: Any advice on installing crown molding solo? I’m remodeling my house but I live alone and don’t usually have an extra pair of hands
Q: I recently finished adding a deck to my house. I’ve noticed part of my handrail is warping. I used treated wood, 2-by-4 and spindles
Q: Can I install plastic laminate over a countertop that’s already covered with existing laminate material? A: Yes, but the existing surface must be even
Q: Is it possible to paint vinyl siding? Or do I have to replace the siding if I want a new color? A: Fortunately, several
Q: I can do a decent job at taping and mudding the flat seams of drywall, but still have a little trouble at the inside
Q: My home has about 6 inches of fiberglass insulation in the attic, and I’m planning to add more. Should I use faced insulation? A:
Q: For a countertop, what are the advantages/disadvantages of 2-centimeter granite versus 3-centimeter granite? The 2-centimeter is cheaper, but I know you usually get what
Q: A thunderstorm blew a few shingles off my roof. The roof is about 12 years old. I would like to replace the missing shingles
Q: I’m remodeling my kitchen, which will feature white cabinets, white crown molding and white baseboard trim throughout. For a sink backsplash, I thought the
Here’s how to build two types of benches; one “classic” piece of outdoor furniture, as well as a rustic bench made from a log slab.
For people tired of dragging around a lawn sprinkler, we have found a simple solution…
A classic workbench can help make your next woodworking project a rousing success.
Different tools for different jobs … EHT looks at the ins and outs of buying a nailer or stapler.
The Ins and Outs of Installing an Exterior Door
Pro builder and radio personality shares tips on building the best deck.
Knee-deep in books? Get organized by constructing your own home library.
“While I’ve sanded floors before, I learned some things on this one that can save a few headaches.” –MC
Create a classic door style for cabinets or furniture.
Majority Feel Renovations Will Boost Value at Resale
These deck posts integrate with joists and decking to make a safe, sweet-looking handrail.
Using the proper glue for specific jobs is important; using the proper technique with specific glues is just as important.
A board-by-board guide to renovating the best room of your home.
Gardening and woodworking have a lot in common. Both are enjoyable, relaxing hobbies that can add value to your home and can also be
From thorough cleaning to re-decking, here’s a look at how to breathe new life into an old deck.
Radiant floor heating is a great way to warm the home.
Install a Plastic Rail System with the Strength of Concrete
Shop smart when choosing new appliances for a kitchen remodel.
By Monte Burch A carport, or lean-to shed, attached to an existing building such as a garage, barn, shed or the side of your house
A Guide to Pressure Washers and Accessories for the Toughest Cleaning Tasks
Attention to Detail: Add both form and function to the outdoor living space.
A close look at material options and DIY installation
New flooring and storage products make the garage more versatile than ever.
Homeowners are enhancing comfort, curb appeal, resale value, energy and maintenance savings with environmentally-friendly replacement windows–an investment that pays for itself and other remodeling projects.
Air compressors provide a single power source for a wide assortment of tools.
Six Upscale Ideas Towards Creating All-Season Outdoor Living Spaces
A little light concrete work makes an easy summer project.
Radiant heat floor systems combine comfort and energy efficiency.
Better Blend: Give your horsepower a boost with a throttle body spacer.
With the right tools and techniques, you can create custom trim and molding.
In late November of 2005, 67-year-old Larry Hambee was on his Motorcycle riding home form his daughter Christy’s automobile business. He had just dropped off
The Metal Advantage: How to Select a Metal Roof for Your Home
Trim techniques for the DIY’er—from planning and prepping to scarfing and coping.
Pole-style construction provides an economical method of building a drive-thru shed, even if the shed is built on a sloping lot.
Call 811 Before You Dig to Help Reduce Injury, Expenses and Penalties.
Sealing and waterproofing your home is a smart way to protect your investment.
How to build a deck over an existing patio slab with low clearance.
Wainscoting can enhance any room in the house. Here’s a step-by-step look at how to install.
A wood-burning stove can offer the comfort of a fireplace and an economical source of heat.
A wide variety of materials can be used to construct a retaining wall, from brick and mortar to landscape timbers.
Each year between 1999 and 2003, nearly 32,000 fires in the home were caused by faulty house wiring or wiring devices.
From new technology to alternative fuels, here’s a look at some alternative methods to cut down on home heating costs.
A band saw can be an extremely versatile and fun shop tool.
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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