General Home Repair

Reusing old hardware is a great way to save money on a remodel. Giving them a fresh coat of paint can really make your pulls and hinges pop. Depending on the current condition of your old...

This article will help the reader with techniques to make an older house look new and a new house look better. An unclean disorganized house is a turnoff and reflects poorly on the residents.

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...

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...

Columns are part of the structural integrity of many porches, halls and entryways. They add style and elegance to these areas while opening up the space and giving support to the ceiling....

When building or remodeling a house, installing good windows can be an expensive investment. Many homeowners choose to do necessary periodic maintenance on their windows to avoid the cost and...

Replacing a basement tile floor when you have become tired of the colors can be both tiresome and expensive. Removing the tiles alone, even if you do it yourself, can take a great deal of time and...

Ceramic tile often covers bathroom walls, kitchen countertops, and bathroom and kitchen floors. According to "This Old House," ceramic tile is extremely durable and can last a lifetime if...

Concrete is a porous material which allowes liquids to easily be absorbed into the surface. If a painting project is going on next to a cement floor, there's a good chance that not all of the...

Many homes have wood trim around the base or top of the walls. Although it is possible to have painted trim, usually trim is kept its natural color. Typically, wax and wood oil is used to maintain...

Once you have spilled paint or painted PVC or any other variety of plastic piping, it becomes difficult to remove; however, there are options. Most attempts at removing paint from plastic piping...

Fiberglass tub surrounds are favorites among homeowners for many reasons. They can be installed quickly, are easy to clean and with proper care will last for many years. After years of use,...

Removing paint from plastic pipes can be a problem because many typical paint removers will also melt the plastic. Some paints don't stick well to plastics. You might be able to flake the paint...

You may have been careless while painting your toenails, or you may not have positioned a drop cloth carefully enough, but the results are still the same: you now have a paint spill on your couch....

Vinyl shutters are one of those low maintenance home improvements that add charm to a house. Usually, washing the shutters with a mild detergent soap and water will keep them looking good. The...

If you have a bronze plaque---whether it's a memorial or an award---you want to keep it in the best shape possible. If you have accidentally gotten a spot of paint on the plaque, you could be...

Caring for your tools is the key to keeping them in working order for a long time. Most tools are made of metal or wood, but may have parts that are plastic. Additionally, your tools may have a...

Porcelain is an attractive material which is often used to finish bathtubs. Unfortunately porcelain is also extremely fragile and can be chipped very easily if you are not careful. While the...

What would Halloween be without the tricks that go along with the treats? One of the holiday classics is to egg the house of enemies and those candy curmudgeons who don't want to give out the good...

Have holes in your wall from things like nails, screws, and accidents. Fixing your wall is quite simple, you just need to know where to begin and what supplies you'll need.

When you are painting anything from your walls to a picture it is easy to drip paint on objects and not notice it until the paint has dried. This holds true for brass. Brass can be found in lamps,...

Even on glass, spray paint is not only made to be durable and long-lasting, it's easy to accidentally apply it in a wider, less controlled spray than you might want. Luckily, removing spray paint...

While there are many different types of bathroom sinks--porcelain, cultured marble, cast iron--all sinks eventually get old and start to look grimy. Instead of buying a new sink, it is fairly...

Replacing your old kitchen cabinets can be very expensive, especially in today's economy. Instead, why not refinish or repaint them yourself with these easy to follow instructions. If you can sand...

Many options are available to remove paint from a bathtub using store bought, harsh chemicals, but some people are turning to "green," non-toxic solutions. With a little elbow grease and a mixture...

Spray painting offers a number of advantages over traditional paint or roller painting methods. It gives you the opportunity to get a very smooth finish, allows you to finish a project in a short...

Cabinets are an expensive part of any kitchen remodel. However, if your cabinets are in relatively good condition, spray painting the exterior may be a quick and cost-effective alternative to...

You have been wanting to refinish your mobile home cabinets for some time now, but didn't know how to start. Mobile home cabinets are usually made of particleboard, and care must be taken when...

A damp, cold basement is uninviting and a breeding ground for deadly mold and mildew. Waterproofing your basement is not a difficult project. By using the product Drylok, you can eliminate...

Latex paint on any leather item can be removed fairly easily. Latex has a rubber base, so it sits on top of the leather like a stamp on a letter. The challenge is to loosen its grip.

No matter how careful you are, all painted cabinets are eventually going to show some wear and tear. Kids bump into them; you drop things. Doors and drawers get banged and bumped. Chips and...

There are few things less irritating to those trying to perform home maintenance than stumbling upon a nut or bolt that cannot be budged, particularly if the immobility is caused by the hardware...

Whether your trying to get rid of deep scratches in your varnish or it's just time for a new coat of varnish or paint , removing varnish and paint completely from any surface can be tough. There...

The biggest threat that any piece of metal faces is rust. Rust is a corrosive condition that actually eats away at the metal, weakening its strength. If left undeterred, rust will continue...

Removing paint from fiberglass can be a difficult task, as you want to remove the top layer of paint without damaging the fiberglass finish underneath. Sanding is the best way to remove paint when...

This article will help you repair minor damage such as nail holes, scratched woodwork and the like. A must-read if you want to get your security deposit back.

Pressure treated lumber is used in a variety of projects, from mailbox posts to decks. The lumber is infused and covered in a chemical preservative that prevents rodents, insects and fungus from...

The oak cabinet doors you love are faded and scratched. They make the entire kitchen seem tired and dull. Something has to change, but replacing the cabinets means hiring a contractor and...

Some people may think they need to purchase a replacement air mattress once theirs begins to seep air. Air leaks in air mattresses are quite common. Because of this, some companies provide air...

When the water in your swimming pool looks more green than blue, you know it's time to refinish your pool. Every few years, pools need to be refinished simply due to the fact that the outdoors...

Porcelain tubs are actually cast-iron tubs with a glossy porcelain coating. The coating can crack, wear down or discolor over time. Replacing your old claw-foot or built-in porcelain tub with a...

Save time and money painting.

To remove paint from painted wood surfaces safely, we have found using a heat gun to be our best choice for us. A heat gun makes the job go smoother, and faster because you can easily remove paint...

Who here has a can of old paint out in the shed? I think most of us probably do and have been wanting to throw it away for quite sometime. Wait, before you do that, try this...

Several factors must considered before you get started replacing a kitchen cabinet door. A stain grade set of cabinets is often more difficult to match than paint grade. A few simple tasks are...

Normally a sand-silica mix, the material is shot out of a compressor at an object to remove paint, graffiti, dirt and grease or even varnish. Both fine and course sand can be purchased, depending...

If you have cracks in your drywall you definitely need to read this article. If you do not, you will not know how easy of a job it is to do yourself and you will probably end up spending your...

I will explain how to open a gallon of paint, with less mess and without destroying the paint can.

Whether you live in an older home or you just have a drafty window, every home owner will at one time or another need to use caulking. Caulk is a flexible sealing compound used to close up gaps in...