Carpentry

The foundation is the most important part of a house or other standing structure. If you find a crack in the foundation, it could indicate merely that the house is settling. But if the crack is...

The addition of an air conditioner to a room can greatly enhance its comfort in warmer months. A wall-mounted air conditioner allows you to cool just one room instead of the whole house and is...

Installing basement stairs may not top your list of home remodeling priorities. But a brand new set of basement stairs can improve the look of the room, especially if it is unfinished. Choose...

Leveling a door jamb is necessary for the door to function properly. An out-of-level door jamb forces a door to "stick" when closed, stops the door from closing all the way or latching, and can...

Wood siding has been used successfully for thousands of years. It has a solid, well-built appearance and provides good insulation. It can be painted or stained to provide positive curb appeal....

Replacing support columns can be very dangerous work. Proper support must be supplied to the area being supported before the existing columns can be removed and replaced. Depending on the type of...

If you're building a garage and want to do it all yourself, an experienced do-it-yourself homeowner can lay a concrete garage floor. It is a big job but if you purchase ready-mixed concrete that...

The most important concern when repairing a basement is whether moisture is present in the basement. If moisture is present, it must be removed before any remodeling can take place. A dry basement...

Screen repair can be expensive. So why pay someone else when you can do it yourself, saving time and money.

Floorboards, as they are sometimes called, are the strips of flooring that make up a laminate or solid wood floor. Making floorboards requires a few specialized tools, attention to detail and...

A nice railing can be a beautiful addition to any stairway. Not only is it decorative, but it also serves as an important piece of safety equipment. Though railings are most often found on the...

An old wood floor that's soft and rotting presents the real danger of stepping right through it. It's an especially common problem around toilets, because of the moisture that can buildup there....

Stairs may be the hardest part of building a home. Only one or two out of every 10 framers are capable of configuring a stair opening without a detailed plan. Configuring a stair opening involves...

A staircase consists of three main components: stringers, which are the angled supports on the sides of the staircase that hold everything up; risers, which are the vertical front boards between...

Chair rail can add a touch of class to any room, but the problem often encountered is where to stop the chair rail in a room that opens into other areas. Often the answer is simply to carry it...

Building a home is a large task. Few people can complete this task entirely on their own, but completing the areas in which you are able saves money on labor. With this in mind, a little bit of...

Rafters are essential to any home construction. Without them, you can have no real functional roof, and with them, the roof can be transformed into a delightful hat for any home.

Asbestos is a fire-resistant natural mineral fiber, which was widely used in building materials before 1987. Many products in use today, including vinyl floor tiles, still contain asbestos....

A workbench for the corner of your basement or garage is a really good, practical idea, especially if you want to put every square inch of your work area to use. Instead of filling that unused...

Much of the molding that is installed on the inside or outside of a modern house can be cut with a circular saw. This is not the only way to complete the task, but cutting with a circular saw is...

Before applying a polyurethane coating, a wood surface should be cleaned to remove dust and debris. Sometimes, even with pre-prep cleaning, dust still makes its way into your freshly painted and...

Roofs on houses vary in geometry, method of ventilation and covering material. Most roof styles are best left to professional contractors, but if you are familiar with the materials, methods and...

Building a roof for a house can be a daunting task and is most often left to professional contractors, but it is possible if you're a highly experienced handyman. Roofs vary mainly in basic shape,...

Laminate worktops continue to be a popular choice for kitchen countertops. They are durable and come in a wide range of color choices. If you are remodeling your kitchen and are installing...

When the contractor is building your house they normally will build a temporary set of steps. They will cut the stringers (the diagonal boards that hold the steps) to fit the location and they...

Attic fans are one of those home amenities that make things just a bit more cozy in the summertime. Attic fans also help save on your electric bill by taking advantage of cooler evenings. With a...

Making more storage space in your home is easy when you add a closet. You can add one almost anywhere, and the most important part of the project is to frame it and secure the frame to your walls.

Use thin set mortar for walls, floors and ceramic tiles. When laying tile, it's important to use the correct size trowel. For a smaller tile, use a smaller trowel. The correct trowel will make...

There is much to consider when building a quality treehouse. Location, support, design and safety are all important. Follow these steps to complete this rather complex, but fun and rewarding...

Reclaimed wood is not only beautiful, it's environmentally conscious as well. Just think, it's estimated that over 3 trillion board feet of lumber have been produced since the early 1900's, and...