General Home Repairs

Wood will eventually crack over time, especially if it is exposed to changes in humidity, stress or abuse. This is particularly true if the wood is allowed to dry out and is not maintained properly.…

An uneven caulk line between the backsplash and counter top makes the area look messy. The unevenness may also allow moisture to seep into the crack, causing damage to the wall behind. Repairing the…

Sealing basement walls reduces the risk of moisture seeping through the concrete and into the basement. The best time of year to waterproof a basement is when the temperatures are warm enough for the…

Hidden hangers are virtually invisible from the outside, which makes the look of rain gutters more attractive. They are also fairly simple to install, and have become standard for rain gutter…

A cracked or sagging plaster ceiling is not only unsightly but also poses a structural hazard unless immediately repaired. Ceiling cracks and droops occur for a variety of reasons, including improper…

Wooden stairways often have decorative side panels attached to the stringers to improve the stairs' overall appearance. This trimming is subject to wear over time, and its aesthetic appeal reduces as…

During foundation construction, the contractor forms and pours the walls, leveling the wet concrete with the tops of the forms. While this usually provides a relatively level concrete surface on which…

T1-11 siding contains plywood with vertical grooves and displays a natural wood look. The 4-foot by 8-foot sheets create the feel of wood siding without having to attach small, individual slats. The…

An aluminum gutter trench is an effective way to take water away from your gutter downspouts and deposit it further from your house. This is helpful in regions prone to heavy rainfall, as it can help…

Wire mesh foundations were widely built after WWII throughout the country. The wire mesh provided support for the concrete and helped to prevent cracks from developing throughout the slab. As the…

Mailboxes often pose a target for vandals. Their location near the street and often a driveway also makes them prone to car damage. A sturdy brick mailbox is more attractive than metal pole varieties…

Cedar is used for exterior walls because it is attractive, durable, resists rot and insects and is easy to work with. Exterior cedar walls can be everything from whole logs to split shakes installed…

Creating a walkway around your home does not require using precast concrete blocks. These blocks, often used by municipalities, lack character and customization. There are other ways to build a…

Wood stoves add a certain charm to a room in addition to being an ideal secondary or main source of heat. Over time, older stoves can begin to lose their finish and will look worn and old. Porcelain…

Replacing an electrical panel in a house is challenging for many homeowners -- but with some operational knowledge, a few safety tips and the right tools, this task can be accomplished. Safety is…

Welding hard steel, such as 4140 steel, is a complicated process that involves heating levels that are unusual to achieve in a home workshop. However, in the right shop, it is possible. You will need…

Leaks in the seams between the cement foundation wall and the wooden stud wall lessen the energy efficiency of a home and allow for infestations of insects or mice. When building a new construction…

Fixall, now sold as Fix-It-All, is a patching compound used for a wide range of wall repairs. It binds solid patching material to a wall, fills in voids and smooths out imperfections. It can fix holes…

Sometimes projects around the home or garden call for you to work with materials that you might not be familiar with. When you work with a new material such as aluminum for the first time, you must…

An ejector pump is used when installing a water-using device — such as a commode — in a basement not already plumbed for it. A basin similar to a sump basin is set into the floor and the…

If you would rather not replace your collapsed recliner, check for the source of the collapse, such as a broken base frame or loose joints. You might need the help of a friend or family member who is…

Building a set of stairs between two stone walls isn't really harder than building stairs set away from stone walls, except that the size of the stairs will be limited by the width between the two…

Rain water flows from the roof to gutters and discharges through downspouts. Drain-tile can be connected to the downspout to direct the water away from the house, and protect the foundation from…

When building a home, it is important to properly secure the roof joists to the walls when framing the house. In general, roof joists are secured to the walls with specially designed metal straps.…

Many homeowners upgrade their outside panel siding to James Hardie's HardiPlank brand. This siding choice is made of fiber cement which is extremely durable and long lasting to weather the cold and…

Rotary tools such as the Dremel have allowed do-it-yourselfers around the world to pick up projects that otherwise would have required a specialist. One of those jobs is grinding the head off a bolt.…

Whether a basement wall is solid concrete that has developed cracks or built from cinder blocks with mortar-filled spaces between blocks, a basement may suffer from moisture problems ranging from…

Recliner chairs come equipped with lever mechanisms that project a footrest from the chair’s base and allow users to tilt the chair into a more relaxed position. Recliner chairs are typically…

Smooth-top ranges have a glass or ceramic surface on which you place pots and pans. The surface is very strong, and able to support the weight of several heavy objects. However, dropping an item on…

Adding slab steps to your front lawn can boost your home's appearance and value, while easing access to the front door. The measurements and slab sizes for your project depend largely on the slope of…

An ice dam, the buildup of ice along the edge of a roof, subsequently traps water which can leak through the roof and damage your ceilings. Take care of the ice dam and roof damage first, then repair…

Roof trusses are made in a factory and delivered by truck to the job site. They are then either stacked atop the house by crane and moved into place by workers or placed individually by crane and…

Like brick, stone and some types of tile, the flagstones on a hearth are installed using mortar. When properly applied, it serves as an adhesive that holds the flagstones securely in place on the…

Failing to notice a step can be a painful experience, resulting in stubbed toes or a back-jarring drop you were not expecting. Highlighting the edges of stairs is one way to increase their visibility.…

Cement sidewalks can last many years, but the cracks, pits and other signs of wear and tear that form over time can be an eyesore. Removing a damaged sidewalk is laborious and unnecessary if the…

Bowed Sheetrock not only looks unsightly on walls, but it is unsafe. This type of damage is typically caused by moisture. Once Sheetrock gets wet, it can do more than warp, it can also harbor harmful…

Slate is a type of porous stone culled from natural riverbeds. While it stands up well to weather, slate can still start to look dull over time. When cleaning slate, you need to use an alkaline base…

If your camper has been involved in a rollover accident, it may have sustained extensive damage to its exterior as it rolled on the hard surface of the road and possibly crashed against a vehicle,…

Cracks in the washer tub are sometimes a cause of washing machine leaks. They generally occur over time, especially with frequent use. Replacing your washing machine can be a large expense, so you can…

The same toughness that makes concrete a valuable building material also makes it difficult to cut. One approach involves a stream of water that cuts into the concrete, usually in combination with an…

Concrete slurry is a byproduct of cutting concrete. Whenever contractors cut concrete, they use a saw that is lubricated with water. The byproduct created from concrete cutting is considered hazardous…

Concrete cutting involves a variety of techniques used by professionals to efficiently and safely cut large, square-or rectangle-shaped incisions into wall concrete or slab concrete. Core drilling is…

House construction follows standard procedures, starting with excavation that's followed by foundation construction; floor, wall and roof framing; the installation of sheathing and protective surfaces…

Water pressure is a common problem, especially in older homes. Showers especially need appropriate water pressure to make the water flow effective for bathing and for making the shower comfortable for…

Installing gutters on rooftop eaves is important home maintenance, but can be difficult. Gutters on the eaves are necessary to catch and channel moisture and other debris that collects on the roof.…

When you install an invisible dog fence or low-voltage landscape lights, you may find the wiring needs to go underneath your sidewalk. Do not let this deter you from setting up the fence or lights the…

Daily wear and tear loosens fasteners on wooden items. Once loose, the movement of these screws, bolts and other fasteners allows the ridges to dig into the wood, enlarging the hole. These fasteners…

The wooden support beams of a deck are a critical part of its construction. If a beam develops a crack, you need to repair it as soon as possible so the deck doesn't collapse. Use an epoxy adhesive to…

Cracks in manufactured drywall or plasterboard panels are caused by movement in the wood framing, according to TV celebrity contractor Danny Lipford. This movement is caused by improperly dried lumber…

The Frigidaire Affinity dryer is a home appliance that features an ultra-capacity drum for large loads of clothes and the copyrighted TimeWise technology to improve drying times based on the size of…