Carpentry

While a building with concrete walls is sturdy, it can often make a room feel desolate if left bare. You may wish to make the room feel more inviting by adding photos to the walls. However,...

A wooden garage must always be built with longevity in mind. Putting extra care into the process will ensure that your project will last as long as you do. Spend extra time on the foundation and...

Garage floors, or slabs, are one of the easiest projects to form. You can make cement forms out of wood planks and have the whole thing ready in half a day for your concrete. As long as you have...

Before you commit to pouring concrete in your slab forms, you need to make sure that the slab is in "square." Being "in square" means that all corners are at 90-degree angles. No matter what shape...

Once your concrete slab is poured, you are ready to stud the concrete. Studding the concrete is a cool way of saying "attach the sill plate for your walls." Sill plates are the bottom run of wood...

Builders prefer concrete block for quickly built, solid walls that often require no additional finish. Tedious trowel work required to "point" smooth lines of mortar between stacked blocks can...

When pouring basement walls, there are some things you should know about the tools, materials and techniques necessary for a successful project. Failure to follow critical steps in the process can...

If you want to partition the laundry area of your basement into its own room, basic walls made from 2-by-4 boards and wallboard can be built and affixed to the existing walls of your basement. New...

Concrete formwork is as important as the concrete itself; the formwork shapes the eventual finished product of the concrete. The average do-it-yourself homeowner can greatly improve their finished...

Porches provide a warm and welcoming gateway into your home. But what to do when your porch says "Come in" and your worn steps are saying "Stay away"? Weather, age and traffic all play their part...

When installing tongue and groove paneling on cement, there are extra measures you must take in order to protect your paneling from the cement's corrosive ability as well as the moisture contained...

Painting the concrete floor of your basement can add instant new life to an otherwise gloomy space. Use a light color or faux painting techniques to create a polished look without spending a...

Gazebos have been around since the Romans and maybe even longer. They are built from various materials, such as wood, concrete, bricks, metal, marble, and even stone. A gazebo can provide a place...

Building a house directly on a concrete slab is a money-saving option for home construction. This type of home construction requires different insulating specifications than a home built with a...

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...

Concrete staining is a method of adding color to hardened concrete through either chemical or mechanical means. Staining differs from painting in that painting puts a layer of material (paint) on...

Having a chain-link fence installed can be expensive, but you can drastically reduce the cost by buying the parts and doing the labor yourself. It's not an easy job and will require some hard...

Hammer drills are equipped with a special feature that allows a drill bit to move back and forth in quick recessions while the bit spins. This hammering drives the bit into the hard surface while...

Removing concrete nails can be a frustrating task. There are two types of nails that can be hard to remove: the concrete nail and the masonry nail. Concrete nails are heavy-duty, rigid and...

Concrete slabs are commonly used during home construction. The slab may be located on the first floor of a home with no basement, while a home with a basement will have a concrete slab for the...

Concrete saws are available in several types and sizes. The hand-held concrete saw is the most common and least expensive version. These saws are usually operated with a gas and oil mixture. In...

Concrete floors have a very versatile surface that is not only super durable but also highly polishable. It is no wonder that most big box stores use concrete for their floor of choice. It can...

Installing windows in a concrete block opening presents a small challenge. The primary problem is that it is difficult to anchor the window to the block. With a little forethought and preparation,...

Since a basement stays relatively moist throughout the year, it is necessary to add a few extra steps of precaution when installing wood onto concrete. By following a few simple steps, a...

The main problem with trying to frame a shed on an existing concrete slab is trying to set the sill plate. The actual framing follows a standard process, the only exception being that you may have...

Concrete steps are one of the most durable and solid options for a homeowner. Making a set of these steps involves building rectangular forms in the shape of the steps from wood and then filling...

Nail guns are common on both construction sites and in the garages of everyday people who like to work on their homes. Nail guns can dramatically cut down the time it takes to complete a task, and...

Installing vinyl windows into a block house, as this guide will show, does not have to be difficult. Some specific preparations to the window opening can make the job much easier and leave the...

Installing windows into a block house does not have to be difficult. Some preparations to the window opening can make the job much easier and leave the window prepared for interior and exterior...

Installing a privacy fence on concrete is fairly simple. Home and garden stores carry a variety of stud bolts that can be used in concrete. These bolts expand inside a drilled hole in the...

Adding cabinets to concrete block garages can be accomplished by using toggle bolts. Toggle bolts come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are widely available. When purchasing toggle bolts,...

Building a concrete slab for a home, office or deck requires basic math and calculation skills. Concrete slabs are available in many different sizes, shapes and thickness. The one that you choose...

Is drab concrete flooring ruining the look of your home? Installing hardwood flooring is a wonderful way to beautify and upgrade any room in your house. Hardwood flooring will turn your garage or...

If you know how to put drywall onto concrete, you can transform your basement into a game room or an extra bedroom. Concrete basement walls can be drab and unsightly, but with the right tools and...

Cutting out an opening for a door or window in concrete takes a little time, carpentry knowledge and a special concrete saw. There is a no need to call a costly handyman or carpenter when you can...

It has been said that good fences make good neighbors. The shadow-box fence allows for some privacy but still have the opportunity to talk to your neighbor. It’s semi open design allows air to...

Many older homes have porch columns that are either rotten, damaged or just out of date. Some new buildings have boring 4" X 4' skinny posts that need beefed up to look appropriate to the house....