Walls

Attaching a bottom plate to the concrete slab is the first step in building walls for new construction. The bottom plate must be securely anchored to the concrete to maintain the integrity of the...

Siding acts like a skin for a house, offering both protection and beautification. With a seemingly endless list of siding types and specifications, it can seem difficult to estimate quantities....

Concrete is the most commonly used material for foundation construction today, and the two main types (stem wall and slab-on-grade) can be used in just about any situation. It may seem that...

A textured drywall can improve the look of a home's ceilings and walls. It also helps to keep out the noise coming from outside the home because of its soundproofing properties. Drywall wall...

Homes can lose heat through the sides of windows or doors, through attics and through walls. Applying spray foam insulation can prevent heat leaks virtually anywhere in a home because as it is...

A vapor barrier helps keep moisture out of the interior wall cavities, preventing such problems as mold, mildew and decay. The vapor barrier should be installed on the inner side of exterior...

The orange peel look is not only pleasing to the eye, it can also hide imperfections in walls that need painting. Spraying watered-down joint compound through an airless paint sprayer is the...

For as long as glass bottles have been in mass production they have been collected for their durable nature and with abundance, naturally, have come new ways to use them. Starting in the early...

If you’ve just spent hours and hours cutting hundreds of 2x4s as part of your remodeling project, cutting the drywall to finish the job is a piece of cake! If you follow the steps in this...

Finally! The step-by-step guide to hanging drywall you’ve been waiting for! Hanging drywall doesn’t have to be hard. If you do it right, the most difficult part of hanging drywall will be getting...

Taking paneling off the walls is a difficult and time-consuming task. Painting the paneling is the easiest way to change the look of the room. A necessary step to prepare paneling for painting is...

Applying trim to the interior of your home involves installing baseboards along floors and trim such as crown moulding along the ceiling of the home. Some people choose to trim ceilings with...

Hanging double drywall in the proper way is an effective means of creating a "firewall" barrier between two spaces. In some localities it is mandatory to create a firewall in certain...

Drywall is installed to cover studs, wires and pipes, and to create walls to separate your home into rooms. You can make textured or smooth walls with drywall, depending on your finishing...

While wallboard may appear to have a smooth finish, upon further inspection you will find it is covered with a series of small "x's" or cross-hatch marks, giving it a rougher texture. After the...

If you have a wall covered with ceramic tile, removing the tile will be difficult. Odds are you can't do it without damaging the drywall. Your goal should be to save the tile. Tile is expensive...

Dark wood paneling was all the rage in the 1970s, but now those grooved wood panels can date an interior, and all that dark wood can make rooms feel small and closed in. Wood paneling usually...

Brick walls can be a beautiful decorative element in any room in your home, but aging and peeling paint can take away from the natural beauty of the brick itself. Many people think that you cannot...

Over time, the mortar that holds your brick wall together may become weak or begin to chip away; this is normal wear and tear but should be repaired as soon as possible to save the bond between...

The task of cutting concrete block walls can prove to be a messy one, and even difficult in some situations, as the walls are often built to be permanent structural features, and therefore built...

In terms of suitability for hanging tiles, drywall isn't perfect, but is often workable. It's smoother and flatter than plaster, which is good. But it's not waterproof like wetrock or cement...

Painting is a big task that takes time to do properly. The last thing you want to see when you are done is your paint peeling off the wall, or worse yet, being scraped off the wall because you hit...

Gypsum is a mineral that is crystal-like in appearance. It grows in a thick bed that is associated with that of the sedimentary rock. An ingredient in drywall, gypsum is used as a construction...

The addition of concrete block to an existing concrete pad is a situation that will most commonly come up during a remodeling project. Though this is a task that is more complicated than simply...

Proper preparation of a concrete surface for tiling is absolutely necessary for successful tile application. You surface needs to be clean and smooth with the right texture to attain the best...

If you would like to keep your home warmer and drier, insulating the concrete walls of your basement is a good place to start. Insulating concrete walls can be a special challenge though, since...

Fiber cement siding is a cost effective, fire-proof house cladding option that has been growing popularity in recent history. The cost of materials for fiber cement siding depend almost entirely...

Estimating the cost of building a fence prepares you for the investment and eliminates last-minute surprises. Typically, you can expect to spend about $2,500 to $3,000 putting up a backyard fence,...

While there are several ways to stick a mirror to a wall in your home, a more permanent method involves actually gluing the glass to the wall using a special adhesive. While this method can be...

Locating a metal stud is the first step in hanging a decoration or starting a renovation project. There are different methods of locating a stud, but one method in particular allows you to locate...

Concrete block retaining walls are effective structural features for keeping slopes in place. These walls are flexible enough to be constructed in just about any situation, and can be relatively...

Concrete walls in your home can be unsightly, especially when those walls are covered with faded or peeling paint. Perhaps the simplest way to cover old painted concrete walls is to remove the...

Though most floors have wood base molding, that's actually a modern development. The older idea of using rows of clay or stone tiles as floor trim can lend a dramatically different look to a room....

If you plan to remodel your house, you may need to install new Sheetrock. Sheetrock is a registered trademark for a brand of drywall, or plasterboard, that is commonly used for interior walls and...

It can be daunting to even think about removing wall paper from walls, but it doesn't have to be. You don't have to go out and buy special products and tools to effectively remove old wall paper....

Concrete walls, such as those found in a basement, may need to have insulation added if you plan to finish the basement and cover the walls. Adding insulation to concrete walls will help to...

Styrofoam wall coverings are typically applied to concrete walls in a basement to retain heat or to be finished. This type of insulation comes in sheets that are 4-by-8 feet and are secured to the...

A linoleum wall covering is installed in a fashion similar to that used for a linoleum floor. The linoleum comes in sheets that can be cut to specific sizes and are secured to the wall with a glue...

Its essential to prepare the walls for new wallpaper in order for the paper to adhere properly as well so the paper does not show any prior wall imperfections. Taking the time to prepare will...

Dorm rooms, military barracks and older apartment buildings sometimes have walls made from stacked concrete blocks. Unpainted concrete is not the most colorful backdrop for a room, so occupants...

There are two methods of framing a wall. Using method one, covered in this article, you build a section of wall with 2x4s and raise it into place. This is the easier of the two methods- as long as...

Concrete is a foundation material that has been used for over a century and has grown to be the most popular foundation type used today. Several different foundation configurations have been...

Drywall is basically pressed chalk, generally 1/2- to 5/8-inch thick. It's made to cover walls, not to hold weight. It's best to secure shelving track to the wall studs behind the drywall....

Mylar is a thin plastic layer that is used as an adhesive for wall coverings such as wallpaper. Mylar is also used on glass as a tint and can be removed with a one part ammonia and two parts water...

Most wallpaper features a vinyl coating. When removing vinyl-coated wallpaper, the actual wallpaper often separates from the wall but the paper backing remains behind. To effectively remove all of...

Crown molding can dress up even the drabbest of rooms. Crown molding comes in many sizes and finished cuts, so no matter the height of the ceiling or decorating motif, you can find a crown molding...

Colton Plastic Cement is called "plastic cement" because it has a higher degree of plasticity than other cements. This makes it easier to work with in many building situations. The best way to use...

Marble mosaic tile is a simple way to add beauty to your kitchen or bath. You can install tile in a large variety of styles and colors. Whether you use it as a backsplash in the kitchen or as a...

Any parent who has a teenager in a band will attest that noise from music travels far. Whether you live in a condo and like to play music at full volume at 3 a.m. or you have all-night video-game...

Installing ceramic tile can seem daunting the first time you try it. Keep in mind that people have been using tiles in much the same way for several thousand years. While your first tile job may...