Building Materials & Supplies

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...

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...

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....

Cutting a perfect hole in a ceramic tile requires a specialized hole saw---and even then is difficult to get right. Luckily, you seldom need to cut a perfect hole in the tile. Usually, a hole is...

What if you have to a cut a hole in a tiled wall to install a plumbing fixture? The simplest way is to buy a masonry hole saw, which bores through the tile at any size you want and makes a perfect...

For sheer holding power and ease of installation, it's tough to beat lag bolts. Sometimes referred to as lag screws, these fasteners are used to join pieces of wood. They may be made of bright,...

Almost anyone who's tackled a home improvement project at some point has had to deal with having to drill into a wall. From hanging a picture to installing shelves or light fixtures, this needs to...

Concrete block is among the most widely used construction materials because it is a strongly built rigid material. Concrete block may need to be cut for partial wall sections or openings or...

Cordless tools are a handy and efficient way to accomplish tasks around the house or to complete larger scale professional projects. Taking care to purchase the proper tool for your needs,...

Thin set is an adhesive used to attach tile or stone to a surface. It typically comes in powdered form and needs to be mixed with cool water. The mix is a blend of concrete, sand and additives....

A hole saw is a kind of bit that attaches to you power drill and cuts different size holes in any surface, including drywall. It looks like a cup with teeth around the rim with a regular drill bit...

Lag screws, also called lag bolts, have a hex head and a sharp end with coarse threads. They are the fastener of choice in wood applications. Square-head lag screws are also available. The shape...

Carbide drill bits are typically made of tungsten carbide that is nickel based with a carbon coating. This type of drill bit has many applications, such as drilling into stone, metal and removing...

Cultured marble is a combination of crushed limestone and fiberglass resin molded to look like marble stone. This material is cast in molds that can be installed as a countertop in your bathroom...

Shelves are a great way to add storage space in any room. The last thing that you want to happen is your shelf collapsing and falling off the wall because of too much weight. The ideal solution is...

Mounting items such as pictures, shelves, or televisions securely onto brick requires methods that differ from those that are used on other materials. Using a fastener that was designed for use in...

Drill and impact drivers are essential and handy tools to have around the home. Both tools perform the same basic function i.e., driving (or loosening) bolts, screws and other fasteners into...

Wood splitting poses a serious challenge to you when trying to get your project finished with the minimum amount of monetary outlay in lumber purchases. Wood splitting is caused by sharp-tipped...

Shelves are usually very easy to hang in drywall as you usually just need to find a wood stud in the Sheetrock and screw at least one leg of your shelves into that. But hanging shelves on cement...

Electrical boxes are installed on many types of walls, including walls made of concrete. A typical electrical box can be embedded into a poured concrete wall or attached to an interior or exterior...

Wrought iron railings are an ideal choice for the home. Nearly indestructible, they offers safety for guests and pets and they have an Old World charm that will add instant appeal. Proper...

If you’re in the middle of the project and can’t find your own depth gauge or simply want a cheap and effective way to make one, this article is for you! It’s a quick and easy method you can use...

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....

A drill bit is a tool used to bore holes in material. They are usually loaded into hand-held power drills or drill presses. Drill bits come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are constructed in...

Whether a person is trying to bore a hole in wood, glass, metal or brick, there are drill bits for every occasion. Two of the more popular types of drill bits are cobalt and titanium bits. Each...

Most everyone, from a seasoned carpentry expert to the average Joe-Blow-DIY-Home Improver, comes across a situation when a particular drill bit is required for a job. To get the right kind of...

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...

Power tools drill thousands of tools in their life time. Here is how to find the right cordless drill for your application.

For a DIY drywall project there are a few tools that you will need to buy. Though installation of drywall is not especially difficult, having the correct tools will make your work that much easier...

Confirmat screws are designed specifically to be used with processed-wood materials. These types of materials are particle board or medium-density-type fiber boards that are used in furniture and...

Anyone who dabbles in home improvement will eventually come across the frustrating problem of a stripped screw that needs to be removed. Don't try removing it by just twisting your screwdriver...

How you make a circular hole in any type of wood depends on the size of the hole you need to make. There are different tools for this type of project. Whether making a hole in a desk top for wires...

To use a power drill, mark the designated drill spot and begin drilling slowly to firmly lock it in place. Use a power drill with tips from an experienced handyman in this free video on home...

When buying a power drill, consider purchasing a light cordless drill for occasional tasks. Purchase a power drill with tips from an experienced handyman in this free video on home remodeling...

Drill press safety covers a few rules of using drill presses responsibly, including securing bits firmly, keeping hair and sleeves away from the drill, and clamping down wood securely. Operate a...

Tips for using a drill press include matching the speed of the drill to the bit being used and the material being drilled. Use oil when drilling metal, change speeds for different drill bits and...

Using a spade bit in a drill is a good way to drill large holes quickly, but drilling too far can ruin a clean piece of wood. Use spade bits on your power drill safely and without damaging...

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...

The need to replace rivets with screws may arise from a mechanical failure of the rivets or from a need for access behind some riveted sheet metal. It is your choice whether you utilize a simple...

Drill bits can be used over and over again, but only if they remain sharp. The tip needs to be sharp to penetrate whatever surface it's drilling into, and the ridges must be sharp to gather up the...

Riveting is a fastening technique prized for its lightweight and high strength capabilities. When nails or screws are simply not strong enough, the use of rivets is an excellent alternative. There...

There is a reason that cabinet installers make the money they do and that is because there is a bit of skill involved in making the cabinets level. Read on to get a better understanding of how...

If you've got "paper walls" and can hear everything said in the room next door, you may wish to consider using soundproofing foam spray to get a little peace and quiet. There are many...

Woodworking brings a craftsman many hours of satisfying enjoyment. To help these people to be as happy as possible, the woodworking industry has modified much of the machinery it takes to be a...

Rivets are fasteners, like nails and screws. Rivets themselves are smooth, metal cylindrical shafts with a head on one end and a buck-tail on the other. To use, a rivet is placed through a hole...

Finding a drill bit supplier is as easy as opening up your yellow pages or better yet, typing drill bit supplier into your google search. Any hardware store or lumber supply house carries...

An electric drill is a must-have tool for anyone doing maintenance, building or repair work, whether at home or elsewhere. Electric hand drills use a drill chuck to tighten the end of the drill...

It's not always possible to find a stud to drill in to when you want to hang pictures, wall art or shelving on your wall. Drywall anchors allow you to hang objects without drilling in to a stud,...

Sawhorses are a necessary piece of equipment for anyone working with wood or building with large materials. Folding sawhorses are inexpensive to build and easy to carry because they are...

How do you bore a big hole? Use a spade bit to make a hole larger than you can with a regular drill bit. Here's how.