home sectionhome sectionA washout is the result of water damage beneath a home’s foundation due to the removal of a significant amount of supportive soil. To fix a washout, the material beneath the home must be replaced to bring the foundation level once more. Since the house may already be sagging, the replacement material must be strong enough to fill the washed out void and push the house back to a level state. Slab jacking allows you to do this by pumping concrete slurry under the house. The slurry cures to a firmness that resists future erosion.
Getting your gate to swing freely over uneven ground can be accomplished in several ways. You can either modify or reposition the gate or even-out the ground in the gate's swing radius. If the gate's lower rail is too low, you will have to remove the gate, then reposition and reinstall it. If only the gate's infill pickets must be repositioned, they can be removed and installed higher on the frame. A third option is to dig out roots, rocks or mounds of soil that prevent the gate from swinging freely.
File shelves offer a place to store personal or business files without the need for a filing cabinet. This can help save space in a small home office or other area where you need to quickly access files. You can customize file shelves to fit the height and width of your wall, as well as to accommodate the volume of files you need to store. Hanging file shelves requires only basic supplies and carpentry tools.
Using a natural stone such as slate creates a naturalistic look for a walkway or patio. The subtle differences in the stone add variation and interest to the finished product. Since slate is a very finely grained stone comprised of mainly clay minerals, it does not have the strength of harder stones. Using slate for exterior walkways or patios usually involves thicker slabs, also known as flagstone.
It is essential that you inspect a home for structural damage before purchasing it or re-entering it after a disaster, such as a tornado or flood. You can spot some structural damage, such as collapsed walls or a missing roof, with the naked eye, while other damage, such as a cracked foundation, may be more difficult to see. However, if a home has sustained structural damage, the chances that it could collapse multiply. Seek professional help if you suspect a home has sustained structural damage, and never enter a home unless you are sure it's safe.
Many tubs purchased on the market consist of lightweight materials, such as acrylic or fiberglass, which makes the fixture light, especially when compared to older tubs. Nonetheless, once filled with water, the tub carries a tremendous amount of weight. This sort of weight provides support for the tub from underneath. In addition, the tub's framing must accommodate finishing materials, such as paneling, tub surround, marble or ceramic tile. Usually, the support takes the form of a rectangular shaped box, but the final design depends on the configuration of the tub.
Broken, worn concrete steps make a house look outdated and neglected. They may even pose a safety issue. You can repair the cement, but the patches will be visible. Covering old, broken steps of any kind with a natural stone covering, or veneer, can update and change the look of your home's exterior. Stone can be effectively applied to almost any clean surface. In a few simple steps, your unsightly cement steps become a past memory. Some time plus physical lifting and moving of stones is required. Stonemasons are available for hire if you choose to have the work professionally…
Granite is used often in kitchens as countertop surfaces and backsplashes because it is fairly durable and looks nice. If you want to update your kitchen, a simple way to do it is to create a tile backsplash. To give it a dramatic effect, add the granite tiles to the entire wall behind your counters. Generally this is not a lot of wall space.
Scaffolding provides a sturdy alternative to working off a ladder. However, you must take care when building scaffolding. Scaffolding consists of outside metal frames, planking and crossbars. The crossbars add stability and keep the scaffolding from collapsing. Properly connected crossbars are essential in scaffold building. Take the time to correctly build your scaffolding.
Stone steps are an attractive landscape feature that are actually relatively easy to install. Once you have the substrate laid and the stone in place, mortaring smaller stones so they stay where you put them isn't much different from decorating a Christmas cookie. The trick is that your primary stones for the steps need to be large and heavy so they are resistant to shifting and provide a strong central point for the smaller stones in the step to cling to. Additionally, it is helpful to have stones that are of equal height. This allows you to lay a substrate…
Wrecking crews can reduce a building to clear space and rubble in a short period of time, and use a variety of equipment to get the job done. Depending on the size of the job, wrecking tools can range from simple pry bars and hammers for residential projects, to the wrecking balls and explosives used for large-scale demolition work.
Millwrights have a history that spans 800 years, as the profession is the predecessor of mechanical engineering. The field has broadened over the years, as modern day millwrights work with heavy-duty machinery for manufacturing plants, construction sites and mining operations --- an occupation that often requires some college and four- to five-year apprenticeship. The tools used by these workers can help them translate the manufacturer's blueprint into fully functional machinery.
Wood has long been a natural source of building material. Timber logs assemble into one of the most basic examples of a wooden structure. Log cabins represent a rustic kind of living which is harder to find in the modern age. For some, a log cabin brings back memories of a childhood toy, while for others it is an escape from noisy city life. Log joints, like those used on cabin walls, are fairly simple to cut, though you may need help lifting the logs.
Being safe around electricity is a necessity for workers. Loose wires or mishandling electrical equipment will seriously injur or kill a person. Even with modest protective gear, such as gloves or goggles, injuries from electricity can still occur. Nevertheless, recommended or advised electrical safety tools will help increase a worker's chances of avoiding electrical shocks. Tools may include handheld devices used during electrical maintenance or gear worn while working around electricity.
Log cabins are a symbol of American history and folklore. Just as early American settlers found log homes to be cost-effective building choices, contemporary pre-fabricated log home builders also offer modern log cabins as a cost-effective building choice. Prefabricated log homes are excellent choices, whether it is your primary residence, or a vacation retreat.
Stone steps can make it easier to walk up a hillside, but they can also be an attractive addition to your landscape. The steps have two main building blocks: the riser blocks that you install whenever you want to raise the elevation, and the flagstones that make up most of the area where you step. Before installing the blocks in the hillside, first install a stable base and then build up from there.
If you're going to install wood walls in your new closet, there's no reason not to go all-out and install cedar walls. Cedar is a favored surface for closets because the sharp, clean scent of the wood infuses the clothes and repels moths. Cedar is installed like other types of wood walls, with tongue-and-groove boards that you hang horizontally over the bare studs of the closet instead of hanging drywall.
Flagstone steps offer a beautiful and functional addition to a landscape. The stairs provide an easier way to climb sloping lawns, create separate levels within a garden or lawn and offer a visual point of interest in the landscape. Set aside a good amount of time for building flagstone steps to allow for proper drying time of the concrete and mortar.
Hand-hewn timbers give rustic architecture a traditional look that sawed or planed timber can't match. Builders who need timbers with unusual dimensions might have no choice but to cut their own, and equipment capable of sawing accurate timbers costs more than most modern homesteaders can afford. Hewing timbers with axes requires some special tools and practice, but consistent effort soon turns out timbers of excellent quality. Broad axes with one flat face and a single bevel work best for the final hewing. Chopping axes with double-beveled bits chop the scoring notches.
Steam heat systems fall into two categories, each controlled differently. A two-pipe system uses short, compact radiators with a pipe on each end. The tall radiators of single-pipe steam systems have a pipe only at one end. Single-pipe radiators have a bell-shaped vent valve on the end opposite the pipe and valve. Whether a single- or two-pipe system, a boiler is controlled by a thermostat, but individual rooms can be regulated to some degree.
When laying paving flagstones, start with a stable foundation. You don't want the flagstones to be loose or to create a weak foundation. Many homeowners use cement when laying paving flagstones at home. This makes the foundation more durable, as opposed to using a sand base for the construction. The entire installation takes minutes.
Prefabricated church buildings are basically kits manufactured in factories and assembled on-site. They may incorporate wood, metal systems and/or concrete panels, and the final appearance can range from extremely modern to old-fashioned. They are generally inexpensive, quick to erect, safe, versatile and capable of adapting to the changing needs of a congregation. The challenge is to create a building that stands as a testimony to a magnificent, eternal God while using inexpensive and impermanent construction techniques.
Shelving units with adjustable storage compartments are useful when you need to store items that won't fit into your fixed-position shelving units. Designed and built for flexibility, adjustable shelves should be easy to reposition without complicated tools. Similar to units with shelf standards, small pins or clips are pushed into pre-drilled holes on the interior of the shelf cabinet. The shelf then rests securely on the repositioned pins. Moving the shelves is easy if you mark the original positions of the pins before you remove them.
Dovetail joints are some of the hardest joints to cut but are some of the strongest holding joints. The dovetail joint is basically a mortise and tenon joint that has two angled sides interlocking with the next log. Half or whole dovetail notches can be used. Making a jig for your specific-size logs will save time and materials. Rough hand-hewn logs that vary in size will need each joint cut specifically for that corner. Round logs will need to have flat sides on the tenons at the corners.
Shelving for DVD storage can often be expensive, and it can be hard to find the right style of shelving to fit your living space. A great alternative to manufactured shelving is to design and build your own. Custom DVD shelving design and construction options vary widely, and depending on the size of your collection, you may be able to build an entire array of shelves to fit your needs using only a small amount of materials and basic household tools.
For a carpenter or any home-owner needing to install things and make repairs, a carpenter's level comes in handy. A carpenter's level helps you make sure whatever you're making is level and, therefore, square. Switching between tools while leveling something can throw off the accuracy of your project if you accidentally bump or let go of something while grabbing for another tool. Most often, you'll need a tape measure while using a level, so a convenient idea is to combine the two tools into one.
A good field fence will prevent animals from wandering off your property. It will also prevent unwanted vermin from getting in. There are many different kinds of field fences including the most popular, woven wire mesh. This field fence will keep out most small animals and is relatively straightforward to insall. Depending on size, this project can take a day or up to several weeks.
Dovetail joints are one of the most common ways to join the logs at the corners of a traditional log house. The slanted surfaces shed water to the outside and lock the logs together so they're less apt to spread apart. Even if hand-hewn logs are different sizes, you can make the dovetails compensate for the unevenness and keep the logs square and level. You can cut a common dovetail joint (sometimes called a half-dovetail) with either a chainsaw or hand saw and a large chisel.
A laundry tub can be a useful addition to a home, particularly when you need to clean garments that can only be hand washed. Today's laundry tubs are typically made of plastic, which makes them easier to position and install than the cast iron tubs of decades past. Securing the laundry tub to the floor is a straightforward process that most homeowners can complete in two hours or less.
A granite backsplash protects the wall behind your sink, while decorating the kitchen with one of the finest materials you can buy. You can buy pre-made single-slab pieces of granite for a backsplash, which are simply mortared to the wall, but a cheaper and often better-looking alternative is to cover it in a grid of cut-granite tiles. This looks good whether it's above a granite countertop, or mixed with any other material that might be on the countertop surface.
The edges and corners of a foundation slab of concrete are the areas most vulnerable to breakage. When a section breaks off from the slab, it not only detracts from the look of the slab, it also lowers the structural integrity. Repairing such a break requires that you create a corner that fits to the slab as strongly as the original did. This can be done through the use of a wooden form, built directly against the broken portion of the concrete foundation. Once the form has been properly built and prepared, you can pour in a patch that will…
The ability to determine rafter length is an essential skill for the completion of any roofing project because rafter length is involved in many different calculations for roofing installation and maintenance. Possessing this knowledge will also allow you to make more informed decisions regarding the cost of labor and materials for your new or existing roof.
Television and computer armoires have offered a practical, attractive way to house bulky electronics. However, now that electronics are smaller and sleeker, many people no longer need to conceal them, or can conceal them in much smaller places. As a result, many people own huge, attractive armoires that are essentially useless. Fortunately, you don't need to send your armoire to the landfill. Many of these sturdy pieces can be converted with some spare wood and very little skill into useful storage spaces for clothing, spare bedding and even dry foodstuffs and canned goods. All you need are a few shelves.
There are several ways to fake a fireplace on your home wall. Although a fake fireplace will not provide heat, it will add a feeling of warmth and boost the value of your home. The average do-it-yourself homeowner can build a fake fireplace in one to two days, depending on the type of fireplace.
Large mirrors, like those found behind bathroom countertops and sinks, require special handling and installation to prevent accidents. Simple household tools and a few items of special hardware can make this job safer and easier. This project requires a helper who will be able to lift and hold the heavy mirror for several minutes. Gather all your tools and materials into the bathroom for an efficient installation.
Scaffolding allows workers to work at a height with a stable platform to hold tools and material. The stability of the scaffold begins with properly installing the scaffold's first section. Placement on solid ground and properly leveling the first section of scaffold will ensure that the work platform is safe for use under load. When erecting the scaffold, additional safety components ensure the safety of people working beneath the scaffold. Toe boards and railing reduce the amount of material that falls from the scaffold to the ground.
Installing a lockset onto a door, including a deadbolt, will enhance the security of your home. To perform the installation, you will need to drill holes for the door handle, deadbolt hardware, locking mechanism and pilot holes for the mounting screws. There are different types of drill bits required to drill the door to accept the Schlage lockset. Utilizing each type of drill bit properly will make the installation of your Schlage lockset run smoothly.
Climbing vines like sweet jasmine or vegetables like tomatoes and zucchini can make a trellis the focal point of your garden. Install a trellis against the side of your home, or secure the trellis to a fence or garden wall for extra support, especially when holding up heavy crops.
Many people have the desire to be more patriotic and wish to put up their own flag right at home. The poles to post these can be bought in various sizes, strengths and qualities. Making a flagpole adds individual creativity. Do-it-yourself flagpoles are inexpensive. Depending on the size, materials could cost as little as $100.
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 columns being replaced, the foundation may also need to be repaired.
Any home improvement or repair project requires tools. Certain common tools are necessary whether you are working on an electrical, plumbing, carpentry or some other miscellaneous task. Having the right hand and electrical tools will help your project to go smoothly with less frustration.
Wood pole scaffolds were used before metal scaffolding was invented, and they are still used today when it is more convenient and economical to do so. When building scaffolding, there are several things to keep in mind. How much weight will be on the scaffolding? How high will the scaffolding be? Is there a solid object or building to cleat the scaffolding to? After you answer those questions, you cab begin to build.
Installing a closet rod requires cutting the rod to the correct length, choosing a bracket type that will support the weight of the clothing and making sure the rod is centered in the closet and level. Create a bracket that can also support a shelf with instructions from an experienced carpenter and construction specialist in this free video on carpentry.
Squaring a pole barn enhances its appearance and ensures that it will be of the desired size after completion. The following instructions are written assuming the pole barn will be 30' x 30' in base area and we will be starting from the ground up. For different sized buildings just change the dimensions and the angles will still work.
