General Home Repair

Before you re-install a toilet you must purchase a new wax ring and new closet bolts.

Ultraviolet (UV) lamps are built into many air conditioners and air filters to kill airborne mold, a common type of fungus in households. Their usefulness is limited, however, since mold can pass...

You can replace an oven door on your electric or gas range with no tools in under half an hour. However, before you begin, make sure a new door is even necessary. If your door is simply bent...

When it comes to your bathroom and shower door, it is essential to occasionally remove the old caulk and replace it. Since the caulk in the shower area is constantly wet, it easily develops mildew...

Whether you have a sump in the basement or an outside cistern that needs to be manually drained or filled, you can save yourself the tedium of keeping a constant eye on them by installing an alarm...

Insert a replacement filter in your central heating unit every three months at a minimum. According to Energy Star, however, you should visually inspect the filter every month, especially during...

Step by step instructions for caulking around your bathtub

Caulking around the doors and windows of your home not only seals your home from the outside elements, but also adds beauty as well. One of the types of caulk becoming more common is the...

One of the most complicated aspects of refinishing cabinets is the sanding process. Not only does it promote mild forms of delirium for the homeowner when they are presented with the prospect of...

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) first gained notice in the late 19th century, according to the book "PVC Pipe, Design and Installation," but it wasn't until much later that the use of PVC materials...

Although a fire can quickly damage a home, the smoke produced by the fire can be almost as damaging. Smoke can not only stain surfaces in your home, it can also leave a noxious odor on everything...

Wood fillers are commonly used in many aspects of woodworking and home repair to fill nail holes, hide screws and cover dents in the wood. Once applied, a wood filler needs to be sanded so that it...

Stone foundations are common in older homes and add a touch rarely seen in modern home designs. While these old stone foundations are attractive, many have aged to the point that they require...

Hand trucks are convenient when you need to lift and move heavy or awkward objects, but like any tool, they can break or get damaged. The tires are the typical victim of damage on a hand truck,...

Do-it-yourself spray foam kits provide an economical way to foam-insulate your home without going through the hustle and bustle of hiring a spray foam contractor. Spray foam kits are readily...

Once the tiles are in place on a tub surround, the next step is to waterproof the area to ensure water does not seep behind the tub. Waterproofing is critical to the longevity of your new tub...

You'll get the best results from a pressure washer by following a few simple rules. The machine needs to be serviced regularly, including various oil changes. Correct operation of the pressure...

You've established a regular maintenance schedule for your pool that includes the basics: testing for chemicals, adjusting pH levels, keeping pesky leaves out of the water. You add chlorine when...

Your door will not latch anymore. It is turning in to a pain. These easy steps may help.

A typical home contains many hinges, and these are occasionally disassembled for maintenance, improved access, or repair. The most common types of hinges are door hinges, cabinet hinges and...

Silicone caulk is perhaps one of the quickest and most practical ways to seal a home. It's great for working around doors, windows, or even in the bathroom. The caulk provides a great adhesive...

Tungsten inert gas--or TIG--welding uses a constant electric current to create the heat necessary to melt metal. In this form of welding, an inert gas such as argon is used to shield the tungsten...

Cement surfaces often bear the brunt of difficult-to-clean stains. Oil or other automotive fluids leak onto your driveway. Household chemicals and rust find their way onto basement floors or...

You've decided to replace not only that stained and discolored shower curtain, but the shower rod holding it in place as well. Maybe it's flecked with a few rusty spots or the shine has worn off,...

Hang a rack in the kitchen for your pots and pans. This can create a beautiful display of high quality cookware or create additional storage space in a small kitchen. Depending upon your kitchen,...

Caulking is important home maintenance that protects against water leakage and damage. Though there are several types of caulking material, such as elastromeric and acrylic urethane, the method of...

When the ants come marching in, you may feel all hope is lost. Whether it be a home or garden infestation, ants can be incredibly difficult to be rid of and can pose problems for children and...

French doors, pocket doors and sliding doors are just a few of the many different styles of doors that you can hang in the doorways of your home. Folding doors are usually found in the doorways of...

A well-maintained asphalt driveway can enhance the curb appeal of your home. Over time, cracks may occur. Water can seep through the cracks, erode the sub-surface and eventually cause potholes....

Every household should have a tool box with basic tools. Even if you're not a do-it-yourself kind of person, you never know when you might need a tool to do a small project. There are a few...

Are you renovating your kitchen or bathroom? Did you just install new windows on your home? Chances are you need to know how to caulk. Follow these few simple steps to a professional looking...

Efflorescence is salts and minerals that rise from the inside of concrete to its surface and appear as a powdery white coating. The substance can also appear as a hazy film or streaks of white...

Grease is an essential but humble part of any craftsman's workbench. Grease keeps fittings lubricated and reduces friction on moving parts, especially for heavier machines like mower decks and...

Styrofoam can be finished to replicate nearly any surface from wood grain to brick to stone. The lightweight, easily sculpted material makes a flexible medium for many architectural details from...

Finishing a garage is quite a complex project requiring you to obtain knowledge of installing insulation, electrical and drywall among other skills. You might wish to do the entire project...

Installing or repairing a bathtub means you must be certain the joints are sealed all the way around. Failure to completely seal cracks and crevices around the tub will result in water leaking...

If your concrete sidewalk has seen better days and you are considering replacing it, another option might be to pour a new layer of concrete over the old slab. This is a fairly simple process that...

If you have sagging shelves, the best solution is to take apart the shelves and do a step-by-step analysis to see what is causing the problem. This means taking everything off the shelves and...

Green algae growth on wooden stairs is usually an outdoor problem that occurs on places where water collects and forms a continuous wet area or on wood that has been exposed to the elements for a...

A storm door protects your inside door from the elements and offers an additional layer of insulation. Removing a storm door is relatively simple; but if you're not an experienced home handyman,...

Have you ever been working on a project and didn't have the right socket for the nut, or bolt, you're removing? What do you do? Besides buying an entire set of metric, or standard wrenches, or...

As it starts to get colder preparing your house for winter becomes more and more important. The cold, snow and ice that winter brings can cause expensive problems in and outside of your home....

When loading a grease gun, there are two options. Pre-filled grease cartridges can be loaded into the barrel, or the barrel can be filled from a bulk grease supply. While cartridges will save some...

An air purifier makes an excellent addition to the home or office if you're looking to cut down on dust and harmful air particles. Unfortunately, commercially available air purifiers can cost...

Grease fittings in the machinery lubrication industry are referred to as zerks---a strange name for such a small part that plays an extremely basic lubrication maintenance role. They are made of...

Nails and screws are sized primarily in the same way. In fact, most sizing charts are used for both. Both nails and screws are used to fasten objects and are available in a range of types and...

Hate cleaning that greasy frying pan? You can clean it quickly and easily with white vinegar!

Wood floors are elegant, attractive and suit any decor. While they can be pricey, they're worth the investment as they almost always raise a home's property value. Because they cost so much to...

When it comes to decorating and maintaining certain rooms of your home, you may need to drill a hole in concrete and cinder block walls. While this task isn't one for the typical set of hammer and...

Having the proper amount of water in a toilet bowl helps it to flush completely clean. The amount of water in each individual toilet bowl is determined by the shape of the toilet itself. Some are...