Building Materials & Supplies

Tile is routinely used as a wall covering and as flooring material. Less typical, but just as valid, is to use it as base trim along the bottom 4 to 6 inches of a wall, framing the floor. Bullnose...

It's easier to use outdoor living space if you have a patio cover. A porch-like covering can be made of wood, metal or fabric. A patio cover keeps out excessive sunlight, rain and gusts of wind....

Clapboard sidings are sidings or boards built into the exteriors of homes. Clapboard sidings have a long history of use; when colonizers settled in the U.S., sidings acted as a shield to withstand...

There's nothing quite like the smell of a cedar-lined closet. In addition to its distinctive aroma, the cedar also repels moths and other pests, and makes the walls inside the closet look great....

Grouting a standard tile surface is a simple matter of wiping the grout over the whole tile field, scraping it off the tile face and pressing it into the spaces between the tiles, then wiping down...

Pressure treated wood is used in many decks and other buildings that may be exposed to the outside elements. However, some people aren't sure what pressure treated wood is or what kind of nails to...

Self-tapping threaded brass inserts are easy to install in thick plastics and wood. After you install the threaded brass insert, friction provides a permanent and secure bond between the outer...

"Sidewinder Bulls" is a common name for a Sidewinder Bull Block. A bull block is a machine for the drawing of wire and tubing. Sidewinder Bull Blocks are mainly used in single draw with inline...

Sheet steel forms easily with the proper tools. The tools required to form a piece of sheet steel into a pipe vary depending on the thickness or gauge of the steel. Thinner steel sheets are formed...

Ceramic tile is a popular material to install on walls and floors, and with proper maintenance it holds its beauty and durability for decades. If you have ceramic in your home, it's important that...

Tile floors are generally laid in a grid pattern, but there are other options. One of them is to lay the floor in a diagonal (or diamond) pattern. The process of laying out the floor is almost...

Trees large enough to make traditional solid wood beams have become more rare and expensive. As a result, many construction projects use beams made of laminated wood. By varying the grain...

You've just found a beautiful black walnut burl deep in your woods. With considerable effort, you removed it from the dead tree and carried it home. The burl is easily a foot across, and exhibits...

Bethel White Granite, known as granite, is only mined in the United States. Bethel White Granite was first mined in Bethel, Vermont in the late 1700s. By the early 1800s, immigrants were...

Four common types of simple machines are the lever, axle and wheel, inclined plane and pulley. Pulleys are often used to lift objects, such as bricks, flags and pianos.

Rebar is a solid steel rod varying in thickness from 3/8 inch to several inches in diameter. It has a special design incorporating a raised diagonal pattern over its length. Wet concrete will form...

Drill bits can be made in any size. Manufacturers routinely producing drill bits follow the defined sets of sizes defined by various standards organizations in the United States and United Kingdom.

A screened-in porch is highly appreciated in areas of the country where evening comes with an onslaught of insects. The protection of screening can make all the difference between enjoying a...

Brazing is used when welding similar or dissimilar metals together to create various structures and products either in a factory or at home. Prehistoric ax heads, bicycles and automotive parts are...

Ceramic tile is beautiful, durable and not that hard for do-it-yourselfers to lay on floors or walls. The most important part is making sure that you space our ceramic tiles evenly and...

SmartStraps ratchet tie-downs are used to secure loads to trailers. Their ratcheting device takes up the slack to apply pressure to whatever you are securing. These devices are commonly used by...

Veneer is a very thin slice of finished material (usually wood) that's treated with plastic and glued over a particle board or plywood base to give a presentable surface to cabinets and other...

Acrylic plastic is something you probably know by another name: Plexiglas. This material has a wide range of uses, from the lowly fish tank to skylights. What makes it attractive to builders is...

You have a cabin or log home or a house with a lot of wood panelling. Make your own trim to match your interior. This will give you the look you desire.

Laminate flooring is popular for many homeowners because it is inexpensive to install, mimics the look of real hardwood floors and is easy to maintain. It is important to keep laminate floors...

You've done your homework and picked out the perfect countertops to match your cabinets and kitchen. Now you're ready for the hard part---installing them yourself to save on the steep...

Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) was used in the manufacture of nearly all pressure treated wood up until December 31, 2003; these chemicals were deemed harmful according to the EPA and the...

Wall trim is generally cut at the outside corners using a miter saw set at 45 degrees for both pieces, to make the 90-degree corner. Inside corners, however, provide more of a challenge, because...

A new rage in the building field has been cement board siding. If you have a few tools you can do this yourself. Here is the basics to get you started.

While remodeling or building your home spending a little extra time and money on insulation will pay for itself many times over the years in decreased utility bills. There are many types of...

PVC pipe is created from a polymer of vinyl chloride and is used commonly in construction, plumbing and agriculture irrigation. Due to the low cost, durability and longevity of the pipe, it is...

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) trimboard is used for a variety of residential and commercial purposes including houses, businesses and warehouses. The trimboard is inexpensive and durable, and it can...

Gasoline-powered electric generators come in sizes from small hand-held units to large installed units powering hospitals and other operations during power losses. Most people, though, are...

When you get involved in home remodeling projects, it may be important to understand the miter saw. If you need to make angled cuts, create perfect corners with molding or make quick straight cuts...

Refinishing sinks, tubs and other porcelain surfaces is a very specialized job that's usually best left to professionals, because of the hazardous chemicals and specialized equipment involved....

Foundations serve as the base of any building. A good foundation provides stability for the entire structure and is essential for longevity of any building. It also can be essential for providing...

Ceramic tiles are a popular choice for shower walls because they provide moisture protection, beauty, variety and ease of installation. One of the easiest types of ceramic to install is mosaic,...

Installing copper tubing is very common in construction and remodeling. Copper tubing resists corrosion and can be used in a number of applications, making it the ideal choice for most homes....

Mud brick is a building material that has been used throughout the world. Mud brick has many benefits, although it is not as durable as some other materials. According to Earth Architecture, half...

Fiberglass-handled sledgehammers deliver much greater impact than ordinary claw hammers, and are more durable than wooden sledges. But the use of a heavier hammer also entails the risk of severe...

Teak wood, also called Tectona, comes from the tree of tectona grandis, a tropical hardwood birch tree originating from Southeast Asia.

Tongue-and-groove wood flooring is usually installed starting with the grooved side along a wall and the tongue side facing out into the room. Modern floor staplers drive staples into the side and...

When you are remodeling your home, you might find it necessary to add walls or redo existing ones. In order to do this, you will need drywall. Drywall, or gypsum board, came into use after World...

High bay light fixtures are used to provide general purpose lighting in buildings or rooms with high ceilings. They are often found in warehouses, athletic facilities, garages and storage...

Getting enough supplies for a commercial project is crucial. Too much can waste a client's money and not enough could cause the project to fall behind schedule. You want to get exactly enough...

Cedar siding, also called cedar shakes, is a naturally water repellent and weather-resistant siding that works especially well with old houses. Just because it is a hardy wood, however, does not...

Toplac is a brand of paint manufactured by the Interlux company which develops products for the marine industry. Toplac is a high-gloss silicone paint that is applied to boats, docks and some...