Building Materials & Supplies

Thin set mortar contains latex, which allows it to be more resilient to everyday wear and tear. These additives also make thin set mortar more flexible, which is important because changes in room...

Ensuring the use of effective quality control measures in concrete projects prevents the addition of concrete to the project that fails to meet the regular standards attributed to quality...

Plaster has been a part of civilization for centuries. Today, plaster of paris is used for a wide range of roles, from building to art. It is particularly useful as a coating on walls, where it...

A gravity heating system makes use of the difference between the densities of water at different temperatures. These heating systems are able to move heated water through a structure because at...

Enamel paint is composed of a solvent (water, oil or latex), a pigment and a polymer that acts as a binder to the paint. Enamel is a hard-surfaced paint commonly used by high quality paint brands,...

Unlike its heartier cousins marble and granite, travertine is a rather soft stone, making it far more susceptible to chemical and physical damage. Additionally, travertine's internal structure is...

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...

Different types of tile have varying water absorption qualities. The water absorbing characteristic of a tile is determined by immersing an unglazed tile in water. After it has soaked, it is...

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...

Chances are good that your home contains at least some PVC piping. Engineers have used PVC for over 70 years for applications that need a material extremely hardy and resistant to breaking. Most...

Gutters are used to collect water from melting snow and rain from roofing. Found on most residential homes, gutters are usually connected to downspouts to channel water down and away from a home,...

If you have ever used sandpaper or a power sander to smooth out a wood, concrete or metal surface you know how effective it can be. Rough grit like sand and silica can break down and smooth...

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)...

As the summer draws on every year and residents look at their increasing water bills, many people try to think of ways to stretch the budget more. A low-cost solution is to take advantage of a...

Concrete is a construction material that is all around us yet often taken for granted. A surprising amount of measurements and calculations are needed to keep concrete structures intact, and one...

A "swamp cooler" is a chiller device that operates by utilizing heat exchange principles. Swamp coolers can be easily built for under $100, and with a minimum investment in labor and tools. With a...

Tyvek and felt are both durable, protective, non-woven materials. One of the oldest materials known to mankind, felt consists of compressed wool fibers that become even more entangled with one...

There are several types of sump pumps available on the market. The most popular types of sump pumps are: pedestal, submersible, water powered and floor sucker pumps. Each serves the same function...

Water pumps are very useful devices in homes and businesses. A few types of water pumps are available on the market, all of which serve the same general purpose. Some water pumps are used to bring...

When making the choice between a water softener system and a whole-house system, the main question to be answered first is: what is the quality of the incoming water? Most municipal and rural...

If you are working on a tight budget, or trying to maintain a level across a wide open span or a great distance, a home made water level could be the perfect tool. It is often used in stick...

Solar water heating is a way to heat your water from a free energy source. It uses the sun's heat to provide hot water for a household. In sunny climates, it can produce enough hot water to...

I have some simple tips for you when plastering small jobs. The tips are helpful and have helped me when I have had small jobs to do.

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:

When cutting ceramic and some other "softer'' kinds of tile, you can use a tile cutter that simply scores and snaps the piece. But the hardness of marble tile makes that cutting method difficult,...

Whether you're installing a toilet in a new house or replacing one that's old or malfunctioning, there are some common problems that arise. Toilets are surprisingly complicated fixtures, with...

Plaster of Paris is a quick drying form of plaster that is a excellent for creating masques and other craft shapes. The finished product is light and strong enough to worn out for an evening of...

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, chillers are industrial- and commercial-grade refrigerating systems used in cooling applications (i.e. buildings, raw materials, chemicals,...

Fire sprinklers are used to minimize injury and death in the event of a fire emergency. This systems work to suppress the spread of the fire and resulting heat damage that can cut off escape...

Check valves come in the form of ball check valves, cone check valves, and disk check valves. Check valves are used to close off piping and to prevent backflow. Backflow occurs when the substance...

Mortar is a workable mixture that is used as a bonding agent to bind masonry, such as brick or stone, to other masonry or other surfaces. Common mortar is usually made of a mixture of lime, sand,...

This is about how to mix a bag of concrete. Concrete and cement are not the same thing. Concrete has aggregate (little rocks) in it, cement does not. Concrete is useful for setting deck posts,...

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...

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe fills plumbing needs all over the world. Cheap, stable and easy to work with, it has become the material of choice for most plumbing needs. PVC pipe is sized...

With summer right around the corner many people are starting outdoor projects. In any project involving masonry, fencing, sidewalk or driveway repair, or even in building a pad for a new air...

Wooden rain gutters were once commonly found on homes throughout America to protect them against the harsh rains. Since homes were created entirely out of wood, the gutters were constructed from...

A pump tank is used by a well system to store water until it is needed in the home. The tank is also called a water pressure tank, because it is where the water is pressurized to give it some...

Pumps are the earliest machine used to take control of natural energy. To this day, pumps are still one of the most common machines used throughout the world. Hand water pumps are pumps that take...

A dual or double check valve works the same as a normal check valve. The only difference is that there are two places where water can be stopped instead of one. A check valve is used to keep the...

Mix concrete with a power mixer by pouring the concrete into the mixer, adding a little water, turning the mixer on and then continuously adding water until the right consistency is reached. Mixed...

The most common household improvement undertaken by homeowners is painting. There are two primary types of paint: oil-based and latex. The most common for do-it-yourself projects is latex paint....

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...

When choosing an area to put the water pump in your basement, you want to choose an area that isn't in a main walking area and an area close to an outside wall. A corner of your basement is...

Wood glaze seals the wood that it is applied to, helping to protect it from damage that is caused by water. Since the water is unable to penetrate the glaze, it can't get deeper into the wood...

PEX piping is an innovative new product for hot- and cold-water plumbing systems. PEX is the abbreviation for cross-linked polyethylene (PE-X). It's the result of a production process in which...

Automatic sprinkler systems are used to protect people and property in the event of a fire. Unlike other types of sprinklers, automatic systems are operated without any input or action. They...

Ready mix concrete is composed of standard concrete ingredients and additives, according to the intended use of the concrete. "Ready mix" is not a special type of concrete. Instead, the term...

Hardening mild steel with salt water is an old-time method not used so often anymore in the welding community, although using salt water is a great way to keep everything easy, and it's readily...

There are a variety of types and grades of stainless-steel tubing, each designed for different applications. Stainless-steel tubing can be used for car exhaust systems, water lines for appliances,...

Drywall is made out of a mineral called gypsum. Gypsum's scientific name is dihydrous calcium sulfate and its molecules are made up of two parts water and one part calcium sulfate. Because it...