Browsing Category

Architecture : Home & Garden

Bathroom Floor Plan Ideas

There are many possibilities for bathroom floor plans, and they can bring a high yield on return. Typically, bathrooms function around three simple areas: the toilet, the bathtub and the sink. Many floor plans try to find a way to make the necessities of a bathroom very comfortable.

How to Hang Drywall Around a Bathtub

The final preparation of a bathtub enclosure for tile, paint or other wall finish is the installation of water-resistant drywall, typically referred to as "green board." Water-resistant drywall has an identical gypsum core composition as traditional drywall, except it has a thin wax coating on the s

How to Calculate the Amount of Shingles for a Roof

It is very important to correctly calculate the number of shingles you will need for the roof of your house. Buying too many increases your cost and labor, carrying the heavy bundles up onto the roof. Buying too few means you'll have to take another trip back to the home improvement store, wasting

How to Install Floor Trim

Floor trim provides a border around the perimeter of the floor, where it meets the wall. It covers up the gaps between the floor and the wall that are required for most types of flooring, and it adds a decorative element to the room. The most common type of trim is stained or painted wood. It's gene

How to Tile a Wood Top Kitchen Island

There are many ways to finish the top of a kitchen island including Formica, wood, and marble. One inexpensive but still attractive and durable option is to use tile. There are some special considerations when using tile over a wood surface. Extra work will be needed to strengthen the top surface

How to Apply Vinyl Tile Over Ceramic Tile

There are a variety of flooring options on the market, and your first choice, or the one you are provided when you buy a home, may not be the best. Ceramic tiles can offer a number of advantages in the world of flooring, but their style and design is not for everyone. If you choose to install vinyl

How to Repot a Dying Fern

With their bright green free-form foliage, ferns add a touch of interest to any room or office. These plants make excellent houseplants because they are adapted to low light areas and have a reputation for being hardy. If your indoor fern appears to be dying, don't curse your brown thumb just yet; t

Duct Bending Flange Tools

Most of the ducts in your home or office likely have a flange. A flange is simply some sort of rim around the duct that strengthens and supports it. In order to bend, shape, remodel or replace a duct, you'll need special tools that can handle both the duct and the flange. The following tools will u

How to Cut in a Hinge on an Interior Door

Cutting in or mortising door hinges can be done with a few common hand tools. Mortising is necessary in order to relieve the door enough to allow the hinge to lay flush with the edge of the door. This technique will hide the edge of the hinge and allow the door to close tightly to its jamb. A proper

How to Lay a Concrete Slab for a Garden Shed

When your basement is full and your tools and law equipment don't have a home, consider a garden shed. Building a garden shed is fairly straight forward, but if you have heavy equipment such as a riding lawn mower or an upright tool chest, you need to reinforce its floor. Do this by laying a concret

How to Replace a Windowpane on a Metal Frame Window

When something hits your metal frame window and breaks the windowpane, replacement is your only option. Replacing the glass in a metal window frame is a simple do-it-yourself project. Have the glass removed from your window frame before you begin. You can buy window panes from specialty shops or hom

About Stone Countertops

Stone countertops have increased in popularity in recent years. Due to the natural beauty of stone as well as its durability, it can be found in a many kitchens these days. There are a wide variety of stone countertops on the market, and more coming out each year. The decision of what kind of stone

How to Insulate an Attic Between the Joists

Protect your home against energy loss by adding insulation between the joists in the attic. The resistance against losing heat in the winter and gaining heat in the summer is known as the "R" rating. Madison Gas and Electric suggests adding insulation to new homes to reach an "R" rating of 44 to 50,

How to Run Conduit Before Pouring Concrete

The best time to run conduit is before your pour the concrete slab. This allows you to install the conduit under the slab in a location where it is well protected. PVC conduit is typically used for these applications because it is weather-tight and doesn't corrode due to exposure to the acidic concr

How to Make Your Mobile Home Green

The words "mobile home" and "green" haven't always gone hand in hand, but architects, environmentalists and mobile-home buyers are increasingly interested in making these homes greener and more environmentally friendly. Not only will a green mobile home look and feel better, it can also save you mon

Installation of Cabinet Locks

Cabinet locks are a necessity for any couple welcoming a child or for children caring for aging parents with Alzheimer's disease. Cabinet locks come in different types. Some are simply "U" channel bolts that are slid behind the cabinet handle and secured with a ratchet clip. Others are more traditio

How to Grout Travertine

Grouting travertine is among the most complicated grouting jobs, because of the nature of the tile. Travertine is full of naturally occurring craters and pockmarks on its surface, which is part of its unique look. When installing travertine in the home, you’ll usually fill those holes with

How to Install Kitchen Island Cabinets

Kitchen island cabinets are actually easier to install than the cabinets attached to walls. Some of the same principles apply, like how to attach one cabinet to another, but the process of attaching the cabinets securely to the floor must be done differently to ensure your island does not move. Foll