Building Materials & Supplies

For thousands of years, humans have prized marble for decoration and as a building material because of its beauty and durability. Today, marble tile is extremely popular for countertops, wall...

Natural stone tile is very different from a clay manufactured product like ceramic. Despite its solid appearance, stone is very porous, absorbant and prone to staining. This issue comes into play...

A do-it-yourselfer has options when it comes to buying a blade for cutting ceramic tile. The decision should be based upon whether you're just doing one project or many, how fast you want to cut,...

A sanding plane is a tool used to smooth usually flat surfaces. It is easy to understand the tool's essence by its name: Sanding removes material to leave a regular surface, while plane refers to...

Ceramic is the easiest kind of tile to cut, because it's made from clay instead of natural stone. While stone tiles usually require a wetsaw to cut, standard sized ceramic tiles (6 to 10 inches)...

Laying a new hardwood floor is within the capabilities of a competent homeowner partly because modern tongue-and-groove flooring is so well-engineered, and partly because the nailing methods and...

Cedar siding is a variety of wood siding typically made from western red cedar trees. It has been used to side buildings for hundreds of years and is still used in construction projects today....

Cedar and cypress siding are both widely used, traditional siding choices. The woods have many similarities, making it difficult to choose between them. However, there are some distinct advantages...

Balustrades are used along the edge of balconies, stairs and mezzanines. They are comprised of a top handrail and a row of supporting balusters. Glass is a popular material used as an infill...

When it comes to varieties of nuts and bolts, it can be tough to remember the functions and uses for each. A jam nut plays an invaluable role for moments when a standard nut just won't do the trick.

Whether adding it to your home or building a new house, there will come a time you'll need to pick insulation. You have a choice between blown-in cellulose insulation, which can hug...

Different types of sandpaper, all made from different materials in a variety of grits, are used to texture or smooth an area or remove a layer.

Concrete or cement stucco and synthetic stucco both have advantages and disadvantages. Concrete is very strong and durable, but does not allow for shrinkage. Synthetic stucco (EIFS, exterior...

Gutters are used to collect water from melting snow and rain from roofing. Found on most residential homes, gutters are usually connected to downspouts to channel water down and away from a home,...

A crepe rubber block is a durable material used in woodworking to clean sanding equipment. With a bit of care, you can use a crepe rubber block to clean and restore your sanding disc.

Often older homes have switch plates that have an uncommon set up, such as one outlet and two light switches. There was a time when phone jacks were also unusually shaped, such as round or oblong....

Marine plywood is the best available exterior plywood available. It is superior to general exterior plywood because it contains fewer defects, it is thicker and stronger, and the wood is denser.

Krause Ladders are made by Krause Systems, which makes professional scaffolding and other materials for builders, painters and restorers. Krause Systems is headquartered in Germany, but has an...

Natural stone tiles (marble, slate, granite and others) tend to look solid and impenetrable. They're not. If you buy unsealed stone tiles, which is generally how they're sold, the material will...

When it comes time to replace your roofing, give some thought to what you put on it. Don't just buy the cheapest because it could cost you more in the long run. Consider using shingles that...

Metric bolts differ from American bolts in the way that they are measured. The most significant difference is that American bolts use the number of threads per inch as a measurement while metric...

When considering what type of ceiling to install in your basement, you have two basic options: a sheetrock ceiling or a drop ceiling. Which is most economical will depend on the obstacles in your...

The structural integrity of piers and other structures that line the coasts of our oceans, rivers, lakes and bays is important to protect boats and other vessels, as well as human lives. Marine...

Sandpaper has been used since the 13th century, when the Chinese glued seashells and seeds to parchment. Modern sandpaper is made from organic and synthetic materials designed for specific...

C-clamps are used in many trades, especially woodworking, to keep objects pressed together for any period of time. C-clamps are available commercially in a wide variety of sizes. Some craftsmen...

There are many different kinds of home siding. Each one has a different price for materials and installation. Before starting any home siding project, it is important to be aware of all costs that...

"Schedule 40" and "Schedule 80" refer to reference charts published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). When speaking about PVC pipe, the different schedules refer to the size,...

Sewage pumps are one of the great innovations of the 20th century and have seen a great amount of popularity since the 1960s. Developers have diversified the market with the advent of many types...

If you have ever used sandpaper or a power sander to smooth out a wood, concrete or metal surface you know how effective it can be. Rough grit like sand and silica can break down and smooth...

Sandblasting is used for many different purposes, and it can be a surprisingly effective way to clean a number of surfaces. Sandblasting is often used to etch decorative designs into freshly...

Grout--the specialized mortar between floor and wall tiles--may seem solid and impenetrable, but in fact it's the most porous part of the tiled area. Sealing the grout with a special liquid...

Power tools can make any construction project both safer and more efficient, but it is important to use those tools properly. Like anything, construction tools are only as good as the people who...

Sandpaper is sold for either commercial or industrial use. It differs in grit, backing material and bonding agent. Choosing the right sandpaper will help ensure that your project turns out like...

Installing your own Brick Chimney is simple using this new "Brick Chimney in a Box". I'll tell you how to easily install new or replace your old rusting or rotting chimney chase. Also...

Craft, home improvement and shop projects sometimes involve measuring a circle. The circle might be many feet in size or just a few inches. But with a few simple steps, the task of measuring a...

Sandblasting refers to the abrasive technique of smoothing, cleaning, and molding a rough, hard surface by pressurizing solid particles at high speed onto the material's surface. Sandblasting is...

Metal roofing is becominge a popular roofing option because of its substantially low price compared to other roofing materials, easy installation and energy efficiency. If you are interested in...

Concrete roof tiles are a great alternative to traditional clay tiles. They can provide a lasting, attractive roof treatment at a lower cost than other alternatives.

Pneumatic hardwood nailers are essentially the same as traditional pneumatic nail guns, but they are powerful enough to drive nails through hardwoods as opposed to softwoods. They are easier to...

Decra shingles are an excellent roofing option. They offer the warranty of a steel roof, with the appearance of a metal roof. This is the first type of steel roof company to come out with a...

Kitchen and bathroom remodels often necessitate new tiles and, in turn, new grout colors. Some people assume this isn't a problem because they think grout only comes in white, but grout actually...

Baseboard heating is a popular option for residential and commercial buildings. The two types of baseboard heaters, while similar in appearance, differ in function, cost and energy efficiency.

Corrugated roofing has grown to be a popular choice for roofing material for structures of all purpose, from homes to office buildings. Its popularity is most likely due to its proven ability as...

Exterior siding for homes is extremely popular among homeowners due to its attractiveness, durability and ease of cleaning. Siding options have evolved over the years from one or two styles to a...

Sheds provide extra storage when your house or garage becomes too full. Because sheds are storage units separate from your home, you need to create a door latch that keeps the doors tightly...

A sun room is connected to the basic structure of a house. The purpose for building one is to enjoy the view outside your house while staying protected from the wind and rain. It is also called...

Hardiplank siding is a type of cement fiberboard that can look like wood, stucco and other types of siding, such as vinyl. This type of siding is tougher than other materials that are used for...

Beam clamps are used in heavy construction as a fixing designed to temporarily secure steelwork such as strengthening steel, pipe work and cable trays. Beam clamps are depended upon to secure...

There are a large number of different chemicals used to make concrete. Different chemicals are used in different amounts to produce different types of concrete.

While tile floors have been used throughout history all over the world, vinyl floor covering has grown to be one of the most commonly used floor types in the United States. Tile and vinyl floors...