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  • How to Float Tile Grout

    Grout is a type of mortar made to sit in the spaces between tiles, providing a solid connector. "Floating'' the grout refers to the method of pressing the grout into the lines and wiping off the...

  • How to Grout Tumbled Travertine Tile With a Grout Bag

    The usual method of grouting the spaces between tiles is to wipe the grout across the entire surface with a flat rubber trowel, and then sponge the excess grout off the tile face, leaving it in...

  • How to Install Tile on a Wood Subfloor Without Using a Backerboard

    Installing tile over a subfloor usually entails first putting down a layer of concrete backerboard or extra plywood. If you are trying to avoid raising the level of the floor, you can get away...

  • How to Tile Over Brick & Tile

    Laying a tile floor requires a strong, immobile underlayment. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that it's possible (and even advantageous) to lay new tile over an existing tile floor or over...

  • How to Caulk Behind a Backsplash

    The backsplash behind your countertop is generally going to be made of tile, with grout between the tile lines. Regardless of what material it is, though, you should caulk around the bottom of the...

  • Cellulose vs. Spray Foam Insulation

    Insulation is a key component in the thermal protection of a home. While fiberglass is the most prevalent variety of insulation, you now have the option to exchange the standard barrier for a new,...

  • How to Install a Lag Screw

    A lag screw or lag bolt is used to provide a structural connection between two or more pieces of lumber. A lag screw has a ticker shaft than a normal screw or bolt and the threads around the shaft...

  • How to Measure Cinder Block Walls

    Cinder blocks (also called concrete blocks) got their name because they are usually manufactured from a combination of coal ash and cement. Cinder blocks are versatile and inexpensive. You can use...

  • How to Seal Grout on Porcelain Floors

    Porcelain, when fully glazed, is one of the most solid and moisture-proof kinds of floor tile you can buy. But that won't mean much if moisture can seep under the tile through the grout in...

  • How to Install Wood Floors With Baseboard in Place

    The normal process for installing a wood floor is to remove all the floor trim (base board and quarter round), lay the floor leaving an expansion gap' between the floorboards and the wall and...

  • Honda Dual Eu2000i vs. Eu3000i

    Honda makes the Super Quiet series Eu2000i and Eu3000i generators for fuel-efficient, portable electric production. They are useful for powering electrical tools, for recharging batteries, for...

  • How to Tell If Insulation Contains Asbestos

    Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with an innate resistance to chemical damage and open flames. Asbestos once was prized for these qualities and was incorporated into a variety of building...

  • How to Install a Residential Vapor Barrier

    The intent of a vapor barrier is to impede water permeation of a structure. Although it may not be considered the most important moisture control method used in your home, the installation of a...

  • Drop Ceiling Styles

    Consumers choose to install drop ceilings (or suspended ceilings) because of its low cost and the stylish choice of ceiling tiles available. Frequently used in residential recreation rooms, the...

  • How To Cut Laminate Kitchen Counters

    Trimming off the end of a laminated kitchen counter top isn't as simple as just taking a circular saw to it. If that cut isn't razor-straight, its imperfections will be very noticeable, especially...

  • How to Prime Cedar Siding

    The best way to care for cedar lumber is by painting or staining it. Before painting it, you should prime the cedar. Whether it is used for siding, a deck, railing, or another purpose, cedar...

  • How to Cut Wainscoting

    Wainscoting, also referred to as beadboard, is a lightweight wood paneling that measures, on average, about one eighth of an inch thick. The fact that it is so thin can cause some problems while...

  • How to Install Laminate Counter Tops

    Laminate sheeting for a counter top comes in a wide variety of colors and styles, but the installation process is always the same. You sand the counter top surface and make it flat and dull, you...

  • How to Make Your Own Hardi Shake

    Hardi Shake is fiber-cement-reinforced shingles used in siding and roofing. Many builders and homeowners prefer Hardi Shake because it is durable and fire-resistant, saves wood and is easy to work...

  • How to Build with Agricultural Fiber Panels

    Sure, you’ve heard the tale of the three little pigs, and how one of them decided to build his house of straw. But did you ever think that you might someday build a house of straw? And be...

  • How to Color White Grout

    White grout is not always the best choice for a ceramic tile application. White gets dirty quickly, creates a stark contrast with some tile colors, and is particularly impractical in high traffic...

  • How to Apply Sealant on Tile Grout

    Tile grout is the cement that fills the spaces between tiles. It looks rock-solid, but it's actually the most porous and vulnerable part of any tiled surface and is apt to absorb moisture and...

  • How to Fix Ceramic Tiles

    Loose or cracked ceramic tiles not only look bad, they can also cause damage. Tile walls or floors are designed to seal out moisture, and any break in that seal can allows moisture to get behind...

  • How to Remove Paint From Pressure Treated Wood

    Removing paint from treated lumber works much the same as removing it from regular wood. There are three primary methods that are used--sanding, chemical stripping or applying heat and scraping...

  • How to Lay Trex Decking

    According to the Trex.com, Trex decking materials have "the natural beauty of wood, but leave behind the rotting and splintering." It is very easy to maintain, because it does not require painting...

  • How to Cure a Concrete Block & Mortar

    Curing, done properly, ensures that your concrete and mortar grow as strong as possible. It occurs in two steps. First is the original hardening process, which is quick. Second, the concrete and...

  • Things You Can Make Out of Old Wood 2 by 4s

    Two by four stock lumber can be recycled into everything from compost or mulch to gymnastics equipment and butcher blocks. They can be reclaimed prior to demolition of old buildings or disposal of...

  • How to Tell If Wood Is Pressure Treated?

    When wood is pressure treated, chemicals are forced into the wood to preserve it and make it resist rot, decay and insects. Three of the most common chemicals used to treat lumber are discussed...

  • How to Prevent the Warping of CCA Treated Wood

    Treated lumber, which is notorious for warping and bowing, is treated by dunking the lumber into a vat of liquid and then applying pressure to force the liquid into the wood. That means the wood...

  • How to Cut Pressure Treated Lumber

    Cutting and working with treated lumber is similar to working with regular or cedar lumber except for a few key differences. There are also certain safety precautions that you should take and ways...

  • How to Measure the Moisture Content in Sheetrock

    Sheetrock, also known as drywall, is one of the critical elements of home construction. Although it doesn't support the weight of the home the way the wood or steel frame does, sheetrock provides...

  • How to Apply Concrete Curing Compound

    A concrete curing compound is basically a liquid plastic that seals moisture into the cement until it can cure. There are two steps to the curing process. The first is when the concrete hardens,...

  • How to Identify Metal Scrap

    If you have various types of metal and want to sell them to a scrapyard or metal recycling facility, you will need to know how to identify each type of metal. There are several different types of...

  • How to Cut Hardie Siding

    Hardie board is a cement-board siding made from combining sand, cement, water and cellulose wood fibers. It is produced by James Hardie and revered by builders and homeowners as a durable, rot...

  • Ridge Vents Vs. Gable Vents

    Proper ventilation of an attic is crucial for home efficiency. Ridge vents and gable vents are just two kinds of fixed vents commonly used. Each type has a particular style and effectiveness.

  • How to Make Paint Stick to Pressure Treated Lumber

    Pressure-treated lumber is used for such outdoor items as decks, railings and fences. Treated wood is soaked in a chemical that makes it resistant to rot and insects. The best way to care for...

  • How to Stain Cedar Deck With Scratches

    Over time, scratches inevitably appear on the surface of even the most well-maintained decks. Fortunately, it's fairly easy to cover them up and extend the life of your deck in the process.

  • How to Use Thompson Protection on Cedar Wood

    The best way to care for cedar lumber is by painting or staining it. Thompson Protection is a high-quality stain, routinely rated as one of the best available. It lasts for three years before...

  • How to Choose Low VOC Paint for your Home

    We are all familiar with the fumes painting a room can put off, and those fumes are a sure sign that there are toxins being released into the air; but what you may not know is that paint continues...

  • How to Benefit from Solar Power

    Have you ever considered making use of solar energy? Unsure how to get started? Let this architect show you the way.

  • How to Remove Paint From Pressure Treated Lumber

    Removing paint from treated lumber works much the same as removing it from regular wood. One of three methods are usually used: sanding, chemical stripping or applying heat and scraping off the...

  • How to Connect Hinges of a Gate to a Wood Post

    Often times, the connections for a metal gate do not fit a wooden post. In order to attach the metal gate to the post, it is necessary to adjust the attachment fittings and drill through the post....

  • How to Maintain Treated Lumber

    The best way to maintain pressure-treated lumber is by painting or staining it. Whether it is a deck, railing or other purpose, painting or staining the material will lengthen the life of the...

  • How to Seal Pressure-Treated Wood

    The best way to maintain pressure-treated lumber is by painting or staining it. Whether it is a deck, railing or other purpose, painting or staining the material will lengthen the life of the...

  • How to Glue Wood to Mirror

    It is easy to glue wood to a mirror with some construction adhesive and clamps. PL-400 is the most commonly used construction adhesive and bonds to all sorts of surfaces, including wood, concrete,...

  • How to Glue Wood to MDF Panels

    It is easy to glue MDF to wood with some construction adhesive and clamps. MDF stands for medium-density fiberboard and cuts and handles similar to wood. PL-400 is the most commonly used...

  • How to Install Wood Poles

    Installing a wooden pole is easy to do and only requires a few basic materials. Setting a wooden post is generally done by digging a hole, placing the post in the hole, and filling the hole with...

  • How to Glue a Wood Frame to a Mirror's Surface

    It is easy to glue wood to a mirror with some construction adhesive and clamps. PL-400 is the most commonly used construction adhesive and bonds to all sorts of surfaces, including wood, concrete,...

  • How to Glue Cellular PVC Molding to Wood

    Cellular PVC molding is easy to glue to wood with some construction adhesive and clamps. Cellular PVC cuts and handles similar to wood and is easy to work with. PL-400 is the most commonly used...

  • How to Care for Pressure Treated Wood

    The best way to care for pressure treated lumber is by painting or staining it. Whether it is for a deck, railing or other purpose, painting or staining the material will lengthen the life of the...

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