Building Materials & Supplies

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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.

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...

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...

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

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...

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....

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...