By Larry Walton Photos by Mark Walton
Ever start a home-improvement project and then wish that you hadn’t? According to a recent study at ImproveNet.com, 63 percent of people who have attempted
Outdoor Improvements with a Natural Look
(guest post by Jesse Peralta) Home is where the hearth is! A fireplace not only makes for an attractive focal point for a room,
A fast, efficient—and accurate as all get-out—way to frame your next deck.
Moulding and trim are what give the walls of a room its character and appeal. Whereas some DIY homeowners find this type of finish carpentry
By Matt Weber
It won’t be long before the weather breaks, and everyone is back to building outdoors. The time to plan your new deck is at hand,
From routing wires to drilling pilot holes for fasteners, drill bits are indispensable tools for the professional tradesman as well as the DIY homeowner. In
When the size of a patio project is too large to DIY, it’s time to call the pros.
Lighting is the finishing touch to a room’s design. It is the element that changes the mood of the room and gives life to the
Back to my ongoing stair remodel… A funny thing happened on the way to installing the remaining treads: Everything went haywire. I’ll try to sum
Getting back to my ongoing staircase remodel… I already replaced the lower flight of the split-level stair treads, but I couldn’t replace the upper flight
Our last blog post showed how to remove wooden stair treads. This post will show how to install the new treads, which were provided by
Okay, back to my ongoing staircase remodel… You’ll see in earlier blog posts that I’ve already stained and finished the new treads and newel posts.
Day 2 of staining the parts of our new stair system involved a lot of repetitive motion. After the wood stain had completely dried on
I’ve embarked on a new project at my house — stair remodeling. The plan is to replace the treads and a wonky handrail system on
(guest post by Adrian Brito) You may not realize it, but roof vents are vital for maintaining a healthy roof and for keeping
Applying wood sealer to the end cuts of treated wood is more important than ever. Here’s why.
Boards or tiles? Metal or wood? What’s the right look for the ceiling of your home?
By Kathy Ziprik Who knows what products add value to a home better than a realtor? According to a majority of realtors, the selling process
Build something unique and add an extra personal touch to your home with this vintage inspired, European type stool. This DIY project is sure to
Sound Building and Carpentry Practices for a Dialed-in Finished Basement. By Mark Clement I love the transformation from cold, dusty, concrete bunker to a warm
How We Designed a Custom Trim Package and Fastened it to Masonry By Rob Robillard We were recently asked to dress up the rear entrance
(guest post by Adrian Brito on behalf of Frazier Roofing & Guttering) According to roofing companies in Grand Prairie Texas, building or renovating a home
(guest post by Pete Campbell) There have been tremendous changes in the roofing industry over time. With newly emerging businesses and a competitive market,
Even though you may often overlook the ductwork in your home, the smooth running of your HVAC system is contingent on the ductwork’s efficiency. It
Building a building inside a building By Larry Walton The situation comes up more often than you might think. Someone needs a room or two
A DIY Summertime Welding Project By Blair Weilnau First-time welder? No problem. With some ambition, inspiration and a Forney Easy Weld machine you can create
By Ran Keller Garage doors are opened and closed multiple times a day, yet few homeowners conduct regular checks and inspections on them. In fact,
Get 10 carpenters in a room and you’ll probably get 10 ways to build and detail a pergola. However, when it comes to the pergola’s
Above Ground or Ground Contact? That is the Big Question Chances are, if you step into just about any backyard in any part of the
The right way to attach a structure to a tree. Okay, so your kids are begging you to build a treehouse. If you are ready
(guest post courtesy Frazier Roofing) When you move into a beautiful new home, you’re probably not thinking about the inevitability of having to replace
When it comes to selecting a floor, homeowners always search for the right balance of value, durability and style. A flooring material’s value and durability
Prevent Weather Damage and Squirrel Infestation By Stuart Hanson
By Matt Weber From crown molding and baseboards to elaborate door and window casing, trim work can add character to any room and makes for
The basic design of a ladder has remained the same for more than 10,000 years, so making tweaks to that design has meant big business
Oh, the Things You Can Do! For all you DIY’ers out there whose springtime juices are flowing, here are some things you probably didn’t know
Be careful what you specify, not all treatments are the same Exterior wood trim adds natural dimension and architectural interest to any home. The good news:
The term “cladding” refers to a building or wall’s outermost layer of material, often called “siding” when used for exterior applications. Cladding is also used
A Natural Look for your Backyard Retreat By Mark Clement The look of stone is just as natural as grass and trees, making stone building
By Blair Weilnau Building your own backyard oasis is simple with a plasma cutter and welding machine. With these machines, you can fix your broken
How To Build A Horizontal Style Wood Fence By Mark Clement Every so often I run across a project I love so much that while
I love backyard barbecues, and for many years we used two Coleman coolers to store beer and soda. While this worked fine, I wanted something
With the right fence, you can expect years of protection, privacy and value. The traditional beauty and affordability of wood is a primary reason it
Hit the Road for Fun with this Cool DIY Welding Project By Blair Weilnau
Here’s how we overcame challenges when expanding a hardwood floor. Years ago, my parents had oak hardwoods installed on the foyer, staircase and top landing
By Matt Weber By installing stock kitchen cabinets, DIY’ers and pro remodelers can get stylish, high-quality cabinets on a tight timeline. Styles and materials vary,
Give your Next Deck Project More Artistic Appeal By Matt Weber A deck can be constructed as a simple wood platform, or it can be
(guest post by Callum Mundine from ledworld.com.au) If you’re feeling crafty today, we have the right project for you! This DIY tutorial shows you
By Chris Lundahl If you take pleasure in improving your house with fun DIY projects, why not install green roof? Not only can a living
On Instagram the word (or words) shiplap has been hash-tagged 162,503-times, meaning shiplap is popular and is here to stay. I’ve made shiplap installation videos
These times, they are changing, and so are building materials. Here are some of the latest options for roofing your home. By Chris Lundahl
Murphy’s Law states, “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” and that holds true with most kitchen remodels. With all the modern appliances and
How to Make “Cope and Stick” Doors for Cabinets By Rob Robillard The terms “cope and stick,” “frame and panel,” and “stile and rail” are
Planning the Layout of a Tile Pattern Floor By Matt Weber
By Rob Robillard Adding a ceiling molding treatment that is then painted with contrasting colors commands attention in almost any room. This article will cover
Installing a Basement Perimeter Drain By Mark Clement The basement in my century-old house—like most century old houses I’d guess—was damp. Downright wet at times.
With a nail gun, you can aim a nail for perfect placement and stop worrying about bent fasteners or hammered thumbs. Nail guns also spare
Pocket doors have long been popular because they “disappear” into a wall, so there’s no swinging door in either adjoining room. The “disappearing” aspect of
Adding a sunshade or patio cover to an existing roof is not a simple project. The problem arises when you try to figure out how
guest post by Chris Lundahl photo courtesy Flickr If you take pleasure in improving your house with fun DIY projects, why not install green
Construct a Laundry Room Shelf System for under $200. By Rob Robillard
By Larry Walton Photos by Mark Walton
By Matt Weber There’s no secret to the advantages of a sprayed paint finish. If applied correctly, spraying a coat of paint will result in
Nu-WoodTM, a leading industry synthetic millwork manufacturer, now offers faux polyurethane brick and stone masonry panel options in eight different styles and 15 different hand
Never underestimate the power of curb appeal. A whopping 99 percent of National Association of Realtors members believe it’s important in attracting a buyer.
The front steps of our project house had two problems: They were ugly and dangerous. We needed to make them pretty and safe.
A DIY Storm Door Project By Rob Robillard A storm door is very much part of a home’s curb appeal. We were recently asked to
Staining and sealing for protection from the elements By Matt Weber
SYRACUSE, IN – The often overlooked “fifth wall” in a room can be a showstopper — when a coffered ceiling is added. Tilton Coffered
MILLS RIVER, N.C. – Made in the USA Day on July 2nd serves as the ideal time to focus on the benefits of constructing
Rescue an old wooden porch from the elements. By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Your house is in a constant state of battle with the sun
By Matt Weber Water leaks are house killers, and this drywall repair story is testament to
Check out these four DIY-friendly approaches to wall trim. By Matt Weber
By Sarah Green Carmichael Photos By Ben Carmichael Photography If you’ve redone a bathroom lately—or even taken a peek inside a home design magazine or
Use a steel wire to stabilize a leaning post and prevent further damage to your fence. A fence is only as strong as its posts.
By Mark Clement Inspired by Stonehenge, I call this project Plant-henge. I love projects that combine carpentry and landscaping; cool layout, dirt, big changes and
(guest post by Ryan Bridges) Fences can serve different purposes. Your home might need one to keep your livestock in and wild animals out, improve
Tips and Tricks to Build a Treated Wood Fence By Matt Weber Privacy fences not only limit how much of your property other people can
By Merle Henkenius How will you know when your water heater needs to be replaced? When its steel
By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Photography By Sterling Thomas It has been said that the lumber available today is not as dense or as solid
Believe it or not, life in paradise has its down side. If you’re a homeowner, the constant salt air, strong winds and sea spray can
By Matt Weber A shower diverter valve switches the supply of water from the faucet to the shower
What to Consider when Hanging Wood Planks Overhead By Matt Weber A wood plank ceiling offers the same classic décor as a wood plank floor,
Dress up your rafters with a decorative tail pattern By Matt Weber At the recent Remodeling Show/Deck Expo in Baltimore, Maryland, the EHT staff caught
By Matt Weber Bugs… Nobody wants them inside their house, but that’s what was flying through the big rips in our previous back-door screen. The
Seattle, Wash. – Attractive paint colors, landscaping and decorative millwork can all make a home exterior more appealing. However, it’s what lies beneath the
Wood in the Shower instead of tile. We show you how. By Mark Clement
Get the Kitchen of Your Dreams by Building the Perfect Cabinet By Linda Parker One of the best ways to revamp your kitchen is to
By Merle Henkenius If your home’s drinking water has an unpleasant taste or is occasionally cloudy, an inline water filter is often an easy and
Tackle the small jobs, but leave the big ones for the pros. By Matt Weber The Extreme How-To staff has fielded a lot of questions
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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