Building & Remodeling

New kitchen backsplash tiles can add splash and sizzle to your kitchen. They provide a little color, show your personality and update your kitchen without requiring a major remodeling project....

Even before there was an energy crisis, people knew that the most efficient way to heat a home was with a wood stove. When there's children involved, especially infants, it's crucial that the wood...

Hardwood flooring is designed to be toe-nailed into the sub-floor through the tongue, and there are two easy ways to sink the nails, unless you prefer to do everything by hand. Flooring nailers...

Harnessing the sun's energy and converting it into electricity to create solar power at home can reduce energy costs and decrease a home's impact on the environment. Through the installation of a...

If you are looking for a fast and fairly easy way to update your kitchen or bathroom, overlaying your existing Formica or tile countertops with concrete is the way to go. While it is a sleek and...

Installing a solar system can seem a costly undertaking at first glance, but by taking advantage of federal, state and local financial incentives you can cut your costs radically. If you're an...

Block walls take many forms. Do-it-yourself projects can range from simple decorative walls that enclose a patio to an entire structure such as a garage or storage building. Usually the blocks are...

Using a drill is the fastest way to make holes, screw and unscrew screws and bore into material. There are two types of drill: corded drills and battery powered hand drills. Battery operated...

Bathrooms are predominantly defined by the color and pattern of the tile scheme on the floors and walls. Changing this scheme is the best way to alter the look and feel of the bathroom, and may be...

Bamboo flooring is an ecologically friendly product produced in tropical countries, mainly China. When the farmed bamboo is harvested, it is soaked in chemicals to remove sugars, then cut into...

Brick flooring is often installed directly over a concrete slab, either outside or inside. However, with the right preparations, you can install brick flooring on top of a wooden subfloor....

Changing a bathtub to a shower requires some serious installation work. Start by hiring a company that specializes in converting old bathtubs into new shower areas. Explore different shower...

Tub surrounds enhance the look of the tub and protect the walls from water. It's an extension of the tub, and is typically manufactured to match or complement a specific type of tub.

College dorm rooms are notoriously small. Schools need to accommodate large numbers of students in small areas. It isn't uncommon for dorm rooms to have double, triple or quadruple occupancy. Most...

The point where a vent pipe runs through a rooftop can be a source of problems if not properly constructed. Lead pipe flashing needs to be affixed around the vent pipe, and then incorporated into...

Laminate floors are favorite choices for homeowners seeking the look and feel of hardwood floors without the expense and regular maintenance required of real wood. You may have bought laminate on...

Appliances and plumbing fixtures require vent pipes that run through the roof of a house. Lead pipe flashing is installed over vent pipes and incorporated into the shingle pattern to create a...

Circuit breakers are used in every home built today. Only a few of the older homes still have the old screw-in fuses for circuit protection. A number of home fires have been attributed to arcing...

Cultured marble is an inexpensive and durable material that is frequently used in bathroom designs. The material is made up of crushed stone and bound together by polymers and resins, which give...

Bifold doors that are broken and not working properly may have a bad track or floor bracket that needs to be replaced. Most types of bifold doors have a roller that slides in a track that is...

Double doors are a great addition to any home. You may want an extravagant double entry door, or perhaps you want to install french doors that open out to your patio. Double doors typically...

Bose cube speakers are used with surround sound systems and can be secured on a stand, set on a shelf or mounted to the ceiling. When mounting Bose cube speakers to the ceiling, you will need a...

There are only a few types of tile that can be used with no grout. Some dry-stack materials can only be used in dry wall applications, such as fireplace surrounds. Others are vinyl tiles or other...

Vessel sinks and granite countertops are two popular components of many bathroom designs. A vessel sink is any shape or size of sink that sits above the counter. Some vessel sinks can also be...

Home builders install wall panels (also called drywall or wallboard) over wood studs. Workers cut the panels to size, then use screw guns or hammers to attach the panels securely to the wood...

The Stanley box cutter is a simple tool for making freehand cuts on cardboard and paper. It consists of a thin metal handle that holds a standard razor blade. The handle also acts as a safety...

Over the course of time, tile can begin to get worn out in its appearance. Whether it's a buildup of dirt and grime, or cracks or broken tiles, the tile will lose the glean look that it once had,...

Aggregates are crushed rocks or pebbles mixed with cement and often resurfaced onto driveways to add a decorative touch. The aggregates vary in color and size and can be partially exposed from the...

Bead board kitchen cabinets are a popular choice of cabinet finish that is available at most home and kitchen stores. Often this style will be antiqued or distressed to create a modern yet...

The shower pan is the floor area of a walk-in shower where water accumulates and drains away. When you shower, the shower pan is the surface on which you stand. When building a shower pan, you...

Tubs and sinks endure abrasive dirt particles, toothpaste and soap residue. Regular scrubbing to keep surfaces clean can scratch and discolor the surface. When comparing tubs and sinks, don't look...

Houseboats are decorated and the interiors finished in a variety of styles. People fortunate enough to live aboard their floating home enjoy the same amenities found in a home on dry land....

Mosaic tile is available as a commercial or handmade product. Commercial tiles are generally standard in size, shape and thickness, and are mounted to mesh sheets for easier installation. Handmade...

When remodeling a home, you may need to repair or replace a door. Some new replacement doors come pre-drilled and prepared for the hinges, while others require that you measure the old hinges and...

Residential siding materials typically come in 2 foot or 4 foot widths (26 inches for corrugated panels) and with lengths of 8, 10, 12 and 16 feet. If there were no required horizontal and...

Photovoltaic (PV), or solar, panels are designed to deliver a preconfigured output voltage, usually 12, 24 or 48 volts, but the true output voltage fluctuates during the day as the weather...

The front side of cabinets do not always fit against the wall without a gap. Fortunately, they are built with face frames that overlap the cabinet box about 1/4 inch, which can be sanded or planed...

Do-it-yourself gas fire kits have progressed from holes in the ground, which have been around for many years, to decorative fireboxes that are the focal points for numerous outdoor living spaces....

A clothes dryer vent for installation on a roof has a flap that keeps it closed to keep bugs and birds out of the dryer vent when the dryer is not in use. Install a clothes dryer vent on a roof in...

If you have taken the plunge and installed concrete countertops in your bathroom or kitchen, you may have learned that they can sometimes become stained, cracked or chipped. While this will...

As concrete countertops become more popular for kitchens, bathrooms, and other work areas, the prices of the professional labor to obtain them go up. Unfortunately, this is the rule of supply and...