Building Materials & Supplies

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...

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,...

Deciding what material to use to cover the exterior of your home is an important decision. Two popular options are cement board and vinyl siding. Each has its own set of pros and cons to consider...

Devoloped by James Hardie, Hardie board is a siding made of fiber cement. Cement is combined with sand, water and cellulose wood fibers to make a solid building material well suited for protecting...

Using plastic, formica-style laminate to build rugged work surfaces and countertops has become a skill that the average cabinet maker takes for granted. To the uninitiated, it may seem like...

Laminate is a thin, hard sheet of plastic that's used to protect countertops and provide a smooth, waterproof work surface. Adding a layer of laminate to a countertop is something you can do right...

Lightweight concrete, also known as EPScrete (expanded polystyrene concrete), is a material widely used in the building of environmentally "green" homes. The substance is often made using small...

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....

Most packaging instructions for laying tiles will tell you to start with a perfectly flat and even surface, to ensure that the tiles are flat and even in the end. Like many home project...

Both brick and stamped concrete are durable and attractive choices for outdoor patios, walkways and other projects. While brick may initially seem like the cheaper option, once you've added all...

If you are laying a new foundation for your home or just adding a basketball court to your backyard you are going to need a large amount of cement. If you prefer to lay and spread the cement...

Wall tiles don't have to sustain weight the way that floor tiles do, so the tile backerboard you use on walls doesn't have to be as strong as the tile underlayment you use on floors. However, it...

Water supply pipes are critical components of civic and industrial water distribution systems, which keep buildings and homes functioning, and factories in business. Federal and state governments...

According to the Office of Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA), more than 250,000 people work in concrete manufacturing and more than 10 percent experience job-related illness or injury every...

Concrete mixers come in a variety of sizes, from small electric mortar mixers up to large, trailer-mounted, gas-powered types capable of mixing up to one-half cubic yard per batch. The mixer is...

Stone or clay-based tile has no "give'' to it, meaning it will break if it moves at all. That makes it important to have a solid, immobile underlayment. The only truly perfect tile floor...

There are many different kinds of home siding. Each one has a different price for materials and installation. Before starting any home siding project, it is important to be aware of all costs that...

There are a large number of different chemicals used to make concrete. Different chemicals are used in different amounts to produce different types of concrete.

Renovating your bathroom is one of the best home improvement projects you can undertake. While other home renovations will add beauty and charm to your home, renovating your bathroom with new...

The recipe for mortar has changed through time, having been around for thousands of years in differing regions. Modern mortar is made of either cement powder or lime (or a combination of the two)...

Foundations in buildings are significant in all elements of the structure. The three basic types of foundation are the basement--which is an inexpensive way to expand the house--crawl space and slab.

Ceramic, porcelain, marble and every other kind of stone or clay-based "hard'' tile share two characteristics: they have absolutely no flexibility. They'll crack if uneven stress is applied to...

Estimating concrete cost is a relatively straightforward process. If you are mixing your own, you need to calculate the amount of concrete that the job requires, choose what ratio of cement to...

Man has been using natural materials in home building since the beginning. With the more common use of artificial materials in home constructions, many of us like to use the looks of nature to...

Nothing boosts your home's curb appeal and market value like new exterior siding. There are home siding options to fit every budget, lifestyle and aesthetic preference, so consider all the options...

When building a project it will vary on the type of bricks you will need to use. For instance, if you are working on foundation, a large wall, or an outside fireplace it is best to use cinder...

Fiber cement siding is a construction material used to cover the exterior walls of a home. It is made from a blend of cement, silica sand, This product is a popular alternative to traditional...

PVC pipes are made out of a material known as polyvinyl chloride, a durable, strong plastic-like substance. Pipes are constructed from this material and used in various applications from plumbing...

Once you have taken the time to pick out the right tiles for your project, you'll need to choose tile grout to go with them. While it may seem simple to just spread grout in the joints between the...

Installing ceramic tile isn't like painting a wall, where you can just re-coat if it doesn't end up looking right. Once you've glued down your ceramic tile, it's too late to make changes, either...

There is an abundant amount of styles to choose from when selecting a house siding. Similar styles are available in different types of materials offered. There are natural materials: wood, brick...

Low-sloped roofs can present a problem for standard shingle systems, as the water doesn't flow fast, and any debris can cause water to pond and penetrate beneath the shingles and through nail...

Before we had the ease of ready made concrete mixes, you had to mix your own. Many people still prefer to make their own. Here’s how to make 1 cubic foot of concrete:

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is an international organization that develops voluntary testing standards for building materials and a number of other products. This...

Fly ash is a by-product of coal burning in power plants that has a use of its own. Since it was considered a waste product of the burning, fly ash was traditionally disposed of in landfills. Now,...

Pouring concrete is a fun and rewarding home improvement that is easy to learn. Having a builder come to your house can be an expensive job, so learning to pour concrete for yourself may save you...

Concrete may harden enough to walk on in a few hours, but truly curing concrete requires significantly more time -- five to seven days depending on the area of the project. When concrete is fully...

In this depressed housing market, every little bit counts when trying to up your house resale value. Even if you don't have a lot of money to throw around, there are things you can do throughout...

If you have already dug holes for your footers and are ready to pour concrete without hiring a cement truck, here are some steps to guide you through.

Aerated concrete is made by mixing cement, silica sand, water and aluminum paste into a molding chamber. The chemical reaction causes tiny hydrogen bubbles to develop, causing the cement mix to...

The process of laying brick is universal and only differs according to the patterns you wish to make with the brick. Laying brick is a relatively easy project that can be completed by one or two...

Fiber-cement siding is a popular choice for a house exterior because of its durability, cost and flexible options. Fiber-cement siding also comes in a large variety of textures, styles and colors....

Have you ever wondered why some bricks have holes and some don't? There are two types of bricks: paving bricks that do not have holes and structural building bricks that have 2-3 holes in each...

Whether you are pouring concrete for construction or casting cement décor, the trick to having a successful concrete structure is how the cement is cured. Here are some tips on how to cure...

When making one of (if not the) biggest purchase of your life, you want to make sure that your home will last at least as long as you live in it. Therefore, choosing siding for your home is an...

Fiber cement is a popular alternative to vinyl, PVC, wood and aluminum siding products as it is quite hardy and requires little maintenance. Made from a mixture of cellulose fiber, cement and...

HardiePlank, a brand of cement-board siding, has rapidly gained popularity as an alternative to using real wood or vinyl siding on your home. If you like the look of wood siding but don't want to...

After a building is torn down, the only thing that is left is the concrete slab that was under the building. Building something new on top of the old concrete slab may seem impossible, but it is...

Concrete in its simplest form is created from aggregates, sand and water. The aggregates are used to form the paste, the sand is used for texture and the water holds it all together. In ancient...