Building Materials & Supplies

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...

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...

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...

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

Band saw blades pose a storage dilemma. From hooks to drawers, band saw owners have tried many things to store these sometimes large and unwieldy blades. Hanging the blades causes damage to the...

Being able to install your own plumbing pipe properly is a skill that will open the door to various home improvement projects. Pipe installation is a major part of bathroom and kitchen remodeling....

If you are one of the fortunate people who can build your home from the ground up, you are blessed indeed. You are in charge of specs, implementing your ideas, and building a structure that is of...

Over time caulk can and will build up on your caulk gun. This is where the old job site saying, "A clean tool is a happy tool," comes into play. The buildup of caulk and debris will eventually jam...

The lowermost structural framing member in most buildings is the sill plate. The sill plate, or bottom plate, is installed into the framing while the walls of the building are being built. The...

Hardwood floors are an old idea with some new twists today. Modern wood floors aren't just planks nailed next to each other, but are a precisely milled tongue-and-groove system designed to hold...

Tungsten Inert Gas, or TIG, welding is used in many fabrication processes. The commercial accessibility of TIG welders has increased greatly over the years, making it possible for even regular...

Build your first or next home from recycled shipping containers. Unless your local building ordinances prohibit it, you could build a small home from one container or combine two or more for a...

Plywood siding does not always have a visually appealing surface. Before painting it, the joints and interior corners should be caulked, and any blemishes or knothole plugs filled in. The finished...

Birdseye maple has become a popular wood for craftsman to make high-quality furniture and crafts with. The cause of what makes birdseye in some trees versus others is still unknown, and it is only...

Straw bale houses, outbuildings and other structures are becoming increasingly popular with the growing demand for sustainable building alternatives. A chief dilemma of straw bale construction has...

It seems like one of the most time-absorbing parts of woodworking is trying to find the right size wood screw for the job. If you don't understand the size measurements of wood screws, you can...

Plastic lumber is a popular choice for outdoor structures, such as fences, decks and pergolas. Plastic lumber doesn't rot; resists stains, mold and mildew; comes in different colors; and has the...

Saving money is important during any home improvement project. That's why buying the correct amount of shingles for your home can seem like a daunting process. Purchase shingles with confidence,...

Removing ceramic tile from plywood is a physically difficult job but a relatively straightforward one. The idea is to break the mortar bond between the tile and the underlayment, which can be...

A concrete foundation is the base for any major structure and will determine the soundness of your structure. Before beginning, you should determine the type of soil that the concrete foundation...

Disappearing attic ladders are one of the most ingenious inventions of the building industry. They provide easy access to the attic yet disappear when they are not in use. For this do-it-yourself...

Tiling over wood flooring is usually something to avoid---but sometimes it's unavoidable. Putting down a layer of cement board will raise the level of the floor before you tile, which could create...

There are many brands and types of prefabricated storage shed kits that come in a box and are constructed on site. Brands such as Handy Homes, Arrow, DuraMax, Murryhill, and Glenwood, just to name...

To save money on the cost of insulating your home, blow in cellulose insulation. With some help from friends, save the cost of labor and just pay for the materials and insulation blower machine....

One of the characteristics of Plexiglas is that it is impact resistant. While the reason for needing to drill a hole in such material may differ, the procedure to do so remains the same. It is...

For centuries, stucco has been a leading exterior cladding choice for commercial and residential buildings. Relatively easy to apply, resistant to bugs and moisture, and long-asting, stucco, which...

The Serrox Heat Isolation membrane is the perfect tool for PLEXIGLAS® linear forming. The membrane isolates reliably and lets the heat pass exactly to the areas destined to be formed....

How to make an Acrylic box. Cut in one piece in foil, V-grooves are perfectly cut, taped, broken, glued and bent in one piece all the time. See our technique to produce a box with a perfect shape.

Plexiglass is a popular acrylic building material with the lucidity of glass yet less rigidity, making it more resistant to shattering. The only drawback to this awesome clarity is that a sloppy...

Having installed several Composite Decks here are some tips on how to avoid problems when installing framing and Composite Decking. By following these suggestions you should be able to save both...

Scaffolding is erected to safely support workers on a level surface that's elevated for construction or painting jobs. The most common type of scaffold, or pipe staging, in the US and Canada is a...

Shingles are one of the most important elements of a safe and sturdy home. Not only are they extremely visible to passersby, they are also the primary protectant from rain, sleet and snow. If you...

Cellulose is an energy-efficient material used for insulation and is gaining popularity among the building community. Its use is a cost-effective and time-efficient method with a low waste...

Hydraulic hammers (also known as breaker hammers) are really powerful tools that are purchased for big jobs like the demolition of buildings. These are typically purchased by construction...

Cultured stone is a man-made concrete stone product molded and colored to replicate the random patterning and coloration of natural stone. Installing cultured stone on concrete is effective as...

Treated lumber is timber injected and covered with chemical preservatives to prevent insects, microorganisms, fungi decay and weather elements from destroying the surface and the internal...

Granite is a durable natural stone countertop material and its durability derives from the quartz and other crystalline structures that form it. These materials that provide durability and easy...

If you open your own storefront or have a need for a display case or a display cabinet then I have a very cheap, easy, and affordable way for you to build your own cabinets.

Powder coating is a durable, hard wearing and environmentally friendly shiny color finish that is perfect for the sturdy and stable substrate that MDF provides. Powder coating requires special...

A ceramic tile countertop can add an elegant upscale touch to any kitchen. The colors, styles and designs are almost limitless. A tile countertop is resistant to burning, staining and breaking....

A bandsaw blade can snap, especially if it is brittle with age or cold or if it is excessively torqued. But you don't need to buy a new saw; you can weld the blade yourself.

Concrete is a versatile material that can be used in forms and molds to create a diverse range of structures from very large buildings to garden containers to small decorative objects. Depending...

Aluminum trim, or capping, is an essential protective element of your home. Capping covers and protects otherwise bare lumber on corners and edges of your house. Mastery of a capping machine...

A wood lathe is used mainly for creating rounded wood forms. The wood on a lathe spins at high speeds against a sharp chisel that literally shears away corners to create rounded edges. Different...

Metal residential metal roofing for homes is usually 3' wide. It comes in many different colors and can be installed over exiting shingles or a new roof installation. It comes 26 and 29 gague,...

If you are into reusing and recycling materials, you might be interested in building with shipping pallets. Building with pallets has recently come into popularity, and people have used them to...

You can make your own rocks for a stone fireplace, a wall, a garden border or a pathway through the yard. For this project you'll be creating your own mold with foam insulation, mixing up...

Green materials include recycled materials, those that do not harm the environment, sustainable materials and those produced naturally or locally. One way to be environmentally friendly is to...

Most people use a wet saw to cut through stone such as granite and marble because the surface of the stone is extremely hard. The wet saw makes precise cuts, keeps the dust down and cools the...

Aluminum siding is well suited to the do-it-yourself homeowner as the parts necessary to do the job are sold as a complete package. You will get the necessary fasteners, trim, accessories and...