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Architecture : Home & Garden
How to Nail in Shed Roof Rafters
Rafters support the decking and covering of a shed roof. There are two basic styles. One, called a shed roof, is a simple slope that slants from one wall to another. The other is a gable, with a center peak and slopes on both sides. A common variation is the saltbox on a gable, in which the peak is
How to Make an End Table From a Dog Crate
Dog crates provide a safe and convenient place for your pets and keep them away from restricted areas. While dog crates are good for your pets, it is not necessary that you live with an ugly pet crate. You can embellish your dog crate and make an end table from it. You can use the end table as a dec
How to Tear up Carpet & Restore Hardwood Flooring
Perhaps the carpeting in your older home's living or family room has pet stains that can't come out. Or maybe you've just gotten tired of the rug's color and want to see what lies underneath. Either way, it may be time to tear up the carpet and restore the hardwood flooring. Be aware the project gen
How to Install New Stair Treads
The staircase in any home is a high-traffic route between floors and usually a central feature in the floor plan. Whether the treads on an aging stair have lost their protective finish and become too worn, or the stairs have been carpeted and you want to upgrade to a nice wood finish, replacing the
How to Make Windows More Energy Efficient
Windows provide a view to the outside world from our homes, but they also play a key role in our household energy costs. Poorly fitted or insulated windows allow too much air to come in or out, raising your overall energy costs. Learn ways to make your windows more efficient and save on your heating
How to Lay or Install Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a preferred choice for homeowners who want durability and attractiveness at a fraction of the cost of hardwood flooring. Made from composite wood, this flooring material is covered with a layer of protective coating to protect it from spills and stains and comes in a variety of
How to Assemble a Rubbermaid Big Max Shed
The Rubbermaid Big Max shed is a storage shed that you can build in your backyard. The shed is designed to be compatible with Rubbermaid's anchor system, so you can easily add accessories like pegboard and shelving. The Big Max shed comes with all the pieces and fasteners you need to put it together
How to Cover Hardwood Floors
If you can't bring yourself to tear out your hardwood floor, but you're not yet ready for the expense and work of renovating it, there is a third option. A glueless "floating" wood floor can sit right over that old hardwood floor without damaging it in any way. It looks and feels like a regular wood
How to Cut Bullnose for a Ceramic Countertop
Bullnose is tile with a finished side used at edges and corners. When cutting tile, you always hide the cut edge in the corner or against the wall. Due to the nature of bullnose, this is not possible. Unless the length of the counter is an exact multiple of the length of the bullnose, you'll have to
How High Should You Place a Chair Rail?
Rule of ThumbGenerally speaking, a chair rail should be placed one-third of the way from the floor to the ceiling. To determine this height, measure from floor to ceiling and divide by three.Chair HeightAn alternative to the one-third rule of thumb is to place one of your chairs against...
How to Cover Up Interior Paneling
If paneling is not your idea of attractive interior wall décor, there are ways to cover it up without removing it. Several coats of paint will change the color, but it will not hide the lines between the panels. Camouflage the dated paneling with fabric to completely change the feel of the spac
Solid Surface Fabrication Tools
Solid surfaces generally consist of synthetic or composite materials, and these products resemble natural stone or metal. The major difference is that it's easier to cut and shape these materials than their natural counterparts. You still need the proper tools to work with synthetic materials, but t
How to Build a Hammock in Your Room
A hammock is a kind of hanging chair that is stretched between two points. The traditional hammock is hung outdoors between trees. However, just because you do not have a front or back yard doesn't mean you can't have a hammock. It is possible to hang your hammock indoors, even if you have drywall a
Potential Uses for Passive Solar Energy
The Power of the SunSun image by KPICKS from Fotolia.comSolar energy, the power of the sun, can be harnessed by solar panels to produce electricity, but this requires expensive, specialized equipment. However, passive solar energy can be captured using little or no equipment.LightingLarge...
How to Calculate Squares of Roofing Tiles
Before beginning any roofing project, it’s important to know the amount of roofing material you’ll need to finish the job. No matter what type of roofing material you’re using, you’ll need to know the number of “squares” required to cover the roof. “Square&#
Back Patio Ideas Using Tile, Stone or Wood
Back patios create an inviting and comfortable outdoor area in your backyard. Quality patios add artistic touches to create an attractive design. The most popular quality patio materials are tile, stone and wood. You can use the materials alone or in combination to create a patio to suit...
How to Install Bi-Fold Doors in a Closet
Bi-fold doors are useful for covering large closets. They provide access to both sides of the closet and are convenient because they fold out from the wall and close either next to another set of bi-fold doors or a wall jamb. Installing a bi-fold door is moderately easy if you have the right tools a
How to Drywall a Mobile Home
Putting up new drywall is one way to give a mobile home a fresh, modern look. However, because many mobile homes' walls are originally made from a very light plywood or other engineered wall surface, it's important to use the thinnest drywall available, 1/4 inch, to prevent the mobile home from sagg
How to Repair a Fiberglass Crack
Extremely fine glass fibers make up fiberglass. Fiberglass serves many useful functions around a home, but fiberglass cracks occur in showers, bathtubs and other fiberglass surfaces. Luckily for you, the process of repairing fiberglass cracks does not pose much of a challenge to the do-it-yourselfer
How to Install Ceramic Tile Over Cork Underlay
Cork underlay is used by many floor installers as a natural sound control underlayment. Placed under a ceramic floor, the cork deadens the sounds transmitted through the material. The thicker the cork underlay, up to six millimeters, the greater the sound reduction. Cork underlay also provides some