Building Materials & Supplies

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...

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...

A wall tile that's loose, cracked or broken can ruin the look of an otherwise nice tiled wall. It can also literally ruin the wall, if moisture gets under it and migrates beneath the other tiles,...

Wall tiles provide a solid, classic look to a room, while also protecting the wall from moisture and damage. Porcelain (pressed clay dust) is one of the oldest and most popular forms of wall tile....

Hardwood flooring is ideally laid over plywood subfloor, which allows you to secure it with nails and flooring staples. But some subfloors are covered with particle board, which is basically...

Ceramic tile is a versatile wall covering, able to go over wood, plaster, cement, wetrock, and other wall surfaces. Even sheetrock (drywall) can be used, under the right circumstances, even though...

Concrete blocks are an inexpensive and versatile building material ideal for the construction of utility buildings like garages. Most concrete blocks are a combination of cement and an aggregate...

There are many ways to install oak flooring---nailing, gluing, and even "floating'' the floor unattached. However you do it, though, it's important not to start laying boards without knowing how...

The amount of paint needed to cover a two-car garage will vary based on several factors. The homeowner will need to calculate the square footage of the surface that will be painted and research...

Concrete blocks are made by combining cement with an aggregate material. Often, the aggregate is a form of coal ash, which is why concrete blocks are often called cinder blocks. You can purchase...

There are all kinds of ways to hang shelving on your wall. One of the most convenient is to hang shelving tracks, which are vertical strips on which you affix the shelf brackets; the shelves then...

Insulation board, also known as fiberboard sheathing panel, helps to insulate your home and make it air tight. Before installation, you must measure the amount of footage required for your...

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...

Laminate flooring comes in many different styles and installation systems. Some nail or glue to a wood underlayment, just like traditional wood floors; others are ``floating'' floors that sit on a...

The measurements and calculations needed to estimate a new siding installation can be made in a few minutes, and won't require anything more complicated than a calculator. You'll need the height...

Homes can be constructed from many types of materials, including wood framing, brick or masonry or a combination of framing with brick veneer. When brick veneer is used, the necessary insulation...

Before building a shed or other building structure on a concrete slab, you must estimate the lumber required for the job. Unless you are building some sort of custom design, 2 x 4 inch material...

Electrical sockets are a tricky issue when re-tiling a wall, and not just because of the cuts you have to make around it. Sockets are set in electrical boxes that sit flush against the wall, then...

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...

Empty wine bottles can be used for a large number of arts and crafts projects around the house, from flower vases to incense burners. If you have a lot of empty wine bottles lying around, you can...

Depending on the size of your wall tile, choosing the appropriate trowel is important to properly spread an adequate amount of thinset to the wall for durability and proper attachment. Homeowners...

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...

When remodeling an older home with plaster walls, you can keep the budget down and retain a certain period charm by repairing the plaster rather than removing it all. Cracks and other damage to...

Fully insulating a wall is the single best thing you can do to improve your home's heating and cooling efficiency. It's very easy to do if the wall is open for new construction or remodeling....

Wall insulation is a simple and effective tool to increase the comfort and cost efficiency of any building, helping to regulate the internal temperature by restricting the transfer of heat in or...

Installing Closet Organization Systems is an easy Do It Yourself project and takes just a little planning, time and effort. The materials are inexpensive, and the results will pay big benefits.

Crown molding is the most challenging kind of trim to install. It sits out from the wall at an angle, which means that, at the corners, there are two angles that have to be cut in conjunction with...

Buying concrete blocks is expensive. You’ve finally saved enough money to begin building the wall around your garden that you’ve always wanted. The neighbor’s dog has dug under your fence for the...

Tiling isn't the cheapest or easiest way to cover a wall, but in high moisture settings like bathrooms and kitchens, it's often the most practical. It can also be a beautiful way to provide a...

Door stops are hardware devices that can serve two functions. They may be used to stop the door from opening past a certain point, or used to stop the door from closing. There are a number of...

Cellulose insulation is generally made from recycled newspapers soaked in fire retardant. Cellulose insulation recycles paper, saves you money by helping keep energy costs down and works so you...

Any shelf design has to rely on one fundamental--it's got to attach to something. In almost every case, the shelves will be attached to a backing wall, and it will be necessary to attach the...

There are times when we all need to paint a wall or even just touch it up. However, we may not want to have to repaint an entire room. If we saved the old paint can or we are lucky and remember...

Now you can turn an ordinary glass block project into the extraordinary. Computer controlled laser beam etching equipment can take unique images and stock patterns and create one of a kind designs...

Choosing the right tile can be a daunting or smooth a task. Following a few basic rules of thumb will narrow down your search and make sure that your tile will function well. The textures and...

Beadboard is a decorative style of wood paneling that has evenly spaced grooves on the surface. It's popular for use in cottage or Cape Cod style homes and furniture. Beadboard is usually...

To find a wall stud, purchase an electronic stud finder from a local hardware store and press the button until the green light indicates the correct location. Find a wall stud with tips from an...

Calculating the stone needed for a retaining wall will be different depending on what kind of stone you use. There is Cultured, Natural, Keystone, Rosetta, Terrace, Quarry, just to name a few....

Estimating Framing down to every board that will be used is hard. However, Rough Framing has a waste factor of about 10%-20%+ and estimating the importation lumber + commen lumber + 10% to 20%...

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...

Whether you are an experienced brick mason or a do-it-yourself kind of person with no experience at all, you will eventually need to be able to calculate the number of bricks you will need if you...

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...

Framing walls is not a difficult job if you have patience and the will to do it. By doing it yourself, you can save a fortune in labor and also receive the satisfaction of a job well done....

An ideal security barrier, glass blocks suitably provide the ambiance of natural outdoor lighting filtered through textured glass. They provide light to otherwise dark spaces, and they are...

Framing interior walls is not as hard as you mite think in this step by step article we will go over everything you need to set up and frame your own interior wall project

Unless you plan to install a textured medium on the surface of your wall, you will likely apply paint or wallpaper. In either case, any bumps, uneven patches or dents in the drywall beneath will...

Adding crown molding to any room adds depth and elegance while covering and beautifying the connection between the ceiling and the wall. Moldings have been used since the late Renaissance period...

Before installing drywall, make sure the application area is clean and free of debris. This may require removing old drywall or other materials before installing the new. In overlay situations,...

This article will show how to repair a leaking crack in a poured concrete wall through the process of injection. It is a far superior method to doing a surface repair to the crack using caulk or...