home sectionhome section
A closet carousel allows for the use of storage space more efficiently, whether it's for shoes, cups or other items. Custom closet carousels can be expensive, but you can build one to save money. A closet carousel is designed with a Lazy Susan in the bottom to make it rotate. The size and number of compartments can be chosen according to your needs.
Restaining old wood only requires the right tools and a little bit of know how. Find out how to properly restain old wood with help from a 46-year-old master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
Using recessed niches for audio-visual components and display shelving is a common way to make otherwise lost spaces useful. This is particularly functional in smaller homes, but done neatly the conversion of an alcove or nook can add an attractive feature, rather than be simply utilitarian. Building a bar serves an additional purpose in that it allows for potentially hazardous bottles and glasses to be removed from the flight paths of children and pets.
Using the natural power of the sun to provide light for your home can save you money by reducing the amount of time that you need to use electrically powered lights. The amount of daylight provided by the windows in the room can be limited by the position of the windows in relation to the sun. You can make the room brighter by piping additional sunlight into the room using tubular skylights. This is a type of lighting system that uses a metal duct to carry light from a lens on your roof into the room.
Vertical support beams are used in home construction for several purposes, including load-bearing walls and wooden deck supports. Vertical support beams need to be the appropriate size for the span of the horizontal beam that it keeps in place.
A bowing concrete wall shows cracks along its exterior. You can shore up these cracks with a hammer, nails and an epoxy kit that will refill the cracks and fix the problem. Repairing your wall will not require professional assistance, although it is a week-long process because of the drying time involved. This project cannot be accomplished in a short time.
Supplying air conditioning precisely where it’s needed in a home often requires the running of additional air ducts through the walls and ceiling spaces of the home. Flexible duct allows you to do this by working your way through small crowded spaces with ease. When the space is above a suspended drywall ceiling, there’s even more ceiling space to work with than usual. All that’s necessary is to access the space, attach the new duct and then run the duct through the area to wherever it's needed.
The firebox is an essential part of the maple evaporating system. This area provides the heat needed to remove the water from the maple sap and begin the rendering process. Once you know the size of the evaporator, you can begin construction on the firebox. Materials for the firebox are available at many home improvement and hardware stores. Construction of the firebox takes just a day or two, allowing time for the mortar to set.
Laying block under floor joists can help strengthen your floor and prevent it from sagging. The easiest way to do this is during the initial construction phase of your home. If you're like many other people, however, you may have bought your house and just now discovered the need to shore up your sinking floor.
While a mortared concrete block wall is strong, natural forces and accidents can still damage them. This is especially true of retaining walls, which often have enormous pressures put on them from the earth they hold in place. When too much force is applied to the wall, concrete blocks are sometimes ripped out of their mortar. Fortunately, repairing concrete block walls is a relatively easy job that requires no special experience or education.
Building a widened staircase can significantly spruce up your home's interior or exterior. Walking up and down narrow and steep staircases is a daunting and challenging task for many people, whereas a widened, gently rising staircase is inviting and is not imposing to traverse. Building widened stairs is generally easier for new construction because it doesn't require the tear-out of an old staircase or a widening of the space in which the stairs are already located.
When you need a longer load-bearing beam, you can splice a new section onto the end of the beam. You may have to extend a beam because the original end rotted, was infested by termites or because a remodeling removed the original beam end. Extend a beam only if replacement is impractical, because a spliced load-bearing beam will be weaker than an intact beam.
A homeowner wishing to install a shower or other fixture in a basement must plan for and place a drain with piping to connect it to an existing drain line. To install a shower drain in concrete, several factors ranging from creating a trench in the concrete to installing a sloped pipe between the drain and an outlet must be taken into consideration. Prior to beginning drain or below-grade fixture installation, check your municipal building codes, as jurisdictions often regulate several factors related to shower or bathroom construction, drain lines and general plumbing.
When you need to add a wheelchair ramp to your home, using the guidelines established by the Americans with Disabilities Act helps take the guesswork out of the dimensions you need to use. The ADA created a set of standards for commercial buildings, government facilities and public accommodations so people with mobility devices can enjoy and access the same services as able-bodied individuals. When you build a wheelchair ramp according to the ADA’s standards, it should be safe enough for any visitor to your home.
Building an extra load bearing wall truss requires some knowledge of the manner in which your current load bearing wall supports the weight of your home. Consulting a structural engineer can help you determine how to proceed and if there are any additional considerations you should make when putting your truss together. Otherwise, use a common and well-established support design as an effective starting point. Follow the design of the Pratt truss, a common design used in bridge building. Two parallel beams are connected by several diagonal cross supports and then the entire structure is inserted just below and connected…
Designing a room's framing first on paper can help the project flow better. You can frame one or two smaller rooms within a very large room or basement area. By understanding the basics of how framework supports house structure, you can install the framing to work well over time. Framing must accommodate plumbing and electrical wiring in certain instances. By breaking the process down into manageable steps, your DIY room framing will look professionally done.
Double floor joists are installed in a mounting process known as "sistering" the joists. Through this method, you create additional support for that section of the floor above each joist. The process is often used either for repairing weakened joists or sagging floors or for providing the floor support necessary for heavier than normal weight loads on that particular section of floor. Replacing double joists requires that you support the weight of the floor before the old joists are removed. Once the floor is supported, you can remove the old joists and install new boards in place.
Because in-ground pools are at ground level they are particularly susceptible to problems when refinishing the surrounding concrete. Methods of installing concrete around in-ground pools deal with the pool first by creating a barrier around the water source. This barrier also serves as the edge of the concrete.
A small brick wall can add a visually interesting feature to almost any yard or garden. In some instances, it might be the perfect project to replace an unsightly or unused concrete slab, such as the foundation of a removed outbuilding. Although taller brick walls should be left to professional masons, a smaller brick wall to accent a garden might lie within the skill level of a competent do-it-yourselfer.
Limewash is a mixture of slaked lime and water traditionally used to coat lime plaster and other porous building materials. It produces a bright white surface with some water resistance that can brighten and protect the inside of your foundation wall in the basement or cellar. This coating is relatively simple to apply but requires some safety precautions due to its high pH.
Basement or other below-grade windows are often prized for the natural light they allow into an otherwise dark area, not to mention their potential use as an emergency exit. Window wells are typically implemented around low windows to hold earth back from the window area. Window wells can be built from a number of materials, ranging from corrugated metal to brick or poured concrete. If a curved concrete window well is desired, forms that reflect the planned well shape must be constructed.
A frozen floor not only damages the flooring material, it poses a danger to anyone who walks on it. Garages and basements are most susceptible to this type of problem because they are typically not as well-insulated as other floors in the home. Heating systems help prevent ice buildup by preventing surface moisture from reaching freezing temperatures. While many heating systems require professional installation, you can use a do-it-yourself heating kit for garage floors if you have experience working with concrete.
Pole barns are so called because their roofs are supported on poles, not walls. In fact, walls are entirely optional, as is a fabricated or poured floor. Because cost and speed and convenience of construction are all factors in deciding on building a pole barn rather than a more complex structure, the roofs are typically made of the lightest, easiest-to-install materials.
With the right tools and instructions you can build a set of stairs for skateboarding tricks. Skateboarding steps, also known as a picnic ledge, allow boarders to practice jumps, thumping, flips and landings. The freestanding set of steps may be placed in almost any open area, so soft landings in grass are possible. If you are under age 18, obtain permission and ask for assistance before beginning this project, because it involves the use of power tools.
Some homeowners desire high ceilings, but sometimes it can feel like you may not have a choice if the deal on a home you want to purchase is too good to pass up. High ceilings can make a home less energy-efficient to heat and you may find it more difficult to replace a light bulb. Fortunately, if you want to lower the height of your ceiling, you do not have to worry about adjusting your roof if you install a suspended, or drop-down, ceiling.
Underpinning refers to the process of stabilizing and strengthening the existing foundation of a house so the ground, not the walls, supports the building load. Reasons for underpinning can include a weak or unstable foundation, nearby construction, the soil type does not support the home or the cost to underpin a foundation is less expensive than building a new one. Movement of the earth and excess moisture in the foundation may also necessitate the underpinning of a foundation. When you underpin a home, you extend the foundation’s width or depth, depending on how you need to distribute the load.
Concrete slab flooring offers advantages such stability and protection from moisture. When you add onto a room or a home with finished flooring on top of concrete, you will need to remove floor joists called sleepers to add concrete to the slab and extend the flooring.
Building walls or structures where there is no existing joist framework requires a different approach than the norm. In most cases joists are available to use as a sturdy base on which the structure can rest, borrowing strength and creating a rigid whole. When this does not exist, the closet, in this case, must be built to hold itself up using the existing floor surface and ceiling as anchor and/or wedge points and providing much of its own strength.
Nature rarely builds in squares, rectangles or other geometric angles. Rolling hills, circular trees and curving seashells exhibit the grace and beauty that come from nature's natural building design. So when it comes time to build interior walls inside your house, featuring a circular wall, gently curving around a room, creates the same feel of beauty and style. Unfortunately, many builders skip curved walls in the belief that they are difficult. Given straight lumber and flat drywall, it's easy to understand why. Building a circular wall isn't difficult, however, even for the newcomer to construction. It just requires a different…
A weight-bearing wall is a wall that carries a load and transfers that load to a point below the wall. The standard rule for supporting a weight-bearing wall is to position the wall in such a manner that the weight from above carries all the way to the ground. This holds true whether the wall is on the top floor of a high-rise or on the ground floor of a house. Weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing walls (partition walls) contain similar framing members, but weight-bearing walls require added support if studs are cut to install windows or doors.
Lifting a house to replace your foundation is a slow and challenging proposition. But if your foundation can no longer support the house safely, you must raise the house up so you can remove the old foundation and build a new one. House lifting requires multiple people and attention to detail for a safe project.
A load-bearing wall supports the weight of the structure above it. Exterior walls of a house normally bear the load, but sometimes an interior wall will also be load-bearing to support extra weight above, such as an attic furnace or air conditioner. Any opening in a load-bearing wall, such as a door or window, requires extra support that will shift the load or downward pressure in the open space to extra vertical supports on both sides of the opening. Any change in a load-bearing wall, such as adding a window or putting more weight on a roof, requires extra support.
Cathedral ceilings generally are slanted ceilings that extend through more than one floor of a home. These ceilings usually follow the slope of a home’s roof. A cathedral ceiling’s impact on a roof’s overall structure mostly depends upon the configuration chosen for the roof rafters and ceiling joists. For example, a single beam may support rafters to eliminate all horizontal supports in a cathedral ceiling design, or a roof may have multiple support beams of horizontal, diagonal or vertical position.
Transforming a buried basement to a walk-out adds convenience and an element of safety to a home. Basements often have only one entrance, coming from the main level of the home. A walk-out basement includes an exit to the exterior of the home, allowing persons to enter or exit through the basement, bypassing the upstairs. For homes built on a flat surface, this project may include the assistance of professional landscapers, depending on the soil type surrounding the home.
A well-crafted concrete block foundation is critical to supporting a house structure. The block foundation helps ensure the house will not shift or sag over time, so it's important to follow all required building codes. From a practical perspective, a block foundation provides needed crawl space for accessing heating system ductwork, plumbing lines and electrical wiring under the house. Building the crawl space deep enough, such as 4 of 5 feet, makes accessing any part of it much easier.
Sunken living rooms, family rooms and dens bring an interesting architectural feature to the design of a home. By adding an additional level to the floor you can separate a room from the rest of the house and provide an open feeling at the same time. Whether the sunken room is down several steps or only one or two, you must follow your local safety code regulations when building the staircase. Often, for a sunken room with only one or two steps, no railing is required.
If your floor is sagging because of a weakened support structure, you can add a load-bearing wall to provide additional support. In most cases, floors sag because a previous owner removed a load-bearing wall under the floor joists or because of a weakened main supporting beam or girder. The added support wall can restore firmness to your sagging floor.
The proper installation of basement stairs allows for safe entrance to the lower portion of a house. There are several options for adding stairs to a basement, including the use of pre-made metal stringers. For those wishing to stick with a wood option, the project can be a do-it-yourself job if you have the right tools and enough time. Only use lumber without flaws, splinters or cracks. Do not use particle board or any other composite wood product.
A new foundation might become necessary when you decide to build onto your home. Certain types of foundations that require extensive excavation, such as those for a new room, should be left to professionals. In some cases, however, you might attempt the job yourself. For instance, if you're adding a new feature that needs a shallow concrete slab foundation, such as a patio connected to the house, you can do much of the work yourself. Always check with your local building department before starting any significant construction.
Mounting a projector on the ceiling of the classroom, office or living room where it is used saves space. Many projectors come with mounting equipment, but attaching the unit to a suspended ceiling is difficult with these mounts. Using the right mounts stops vibrations from ruining your presentation or television viewing.
While they may act as splash blocks to prevent rainwater from eroding the soil around your home in some cases, the presence of cement sidewalks alone certainly will not waterproof your home’s foundation. According to the North Dakota State University Extension, “An inch of water on 1,000 square feet of roof amounts to about 623 gallons of water.” Not properly directed, that water can accumulate around your foundation. Water issues are more than an inconvenience. They can lead to serious structural issues and property damage inside your home. Older homes are at particular risk because drainage was not always a…
A drop or suspended ceiling is often used to install acoustic tiles, to deaden or soften sound in a room. One also can hide blemishes or irregularities in a ceiling or to create new shapes and angles. A drop ceiling will cover damaged plaster or drywall, to save the cost of repairs, or will flatten out slopes or angles from construction. A drop ceiling also can be used to create new angles, especially if installed to conceal heating ducts or utility pipes. Its versatility stems from the wires used to hang the framing, which can be adjusted to various lengths.
Concrete blocks allow you to quickly construct a curved seating wall. The blocks come in a variety of textures and colors, with some blocks looking similar to rock. When you are planning your wall, contact your local utilities for help with locating buried utility lines. You also need to contact your local building code authority for guidance on where you can place the wall on your property. Since your wall is made for sitting, it does not need additional reinforcement required by walls that measure higher than four feet tall.
A suspended ceiling can be a viable alternative for routing heating ducts through a house that does not have a basement or crawl space. The Department of Energy as well as heating unit suppliers recommend that ducts be installed in "conditioned" air space. In other words, areas that are heated, so hot air flowing through the ducts is not diminished by exposure to cold air. Houses built on concrete slab foundations often have ducts running through unheated attics, which reduces heating efficiency. A suspended ceiling can keep the ducts inside when walls are high enough to accommodate 6- or 12-inch…
Mono slabs, foundations that result from one continuous pour of concrete, work well in warm climates. Colder regions often need deeper foundations, such as poured-concrete basement walls, that go well below the frost line. Mono slabs typically lie just below grade level and are generally less costly than other types of foundations. Although a large mono slab should be constructed by professionals, a handy homeowner is capable of doing much of the work on a smaller slab, such as that for a backyard patio.
A load-bearing wall is exactly what the name implies: It carries a load, consisting of the structure above, whether another story or attic, the roof, and anything on top of the roof. While modern building methods, which use prefabricated truss systems for the roof, eliminate the need for load-bearing walls, conventional roofs built with rafters and ceiling joists must use load-bearing walls. The outside walls and some interior walls, especially those that run perpendicular to the rafters -- particularly center walls, ideally suited to support the center of the roof -- are crafted to absorb the weight without sagging or…
Some homes are designed with a walk-out basement, or basement with an additional entrance to the home through the basement. If the home is not originally designed this way, it is possible to add an external entrance with the proper tools and landscaping. Before beginning this project, consult with local landscaping professionals concerning the type of soil that is present. Sandy or loose soil requires a professional for safe and proper completion of this project. Contact local municipalities to locate any buried line or pipes. Before beginning the excavation process, any buried utility or sewage lines must be located in…
Alcove bathtubs are affordable and make excellent use of floor space in compact bathrooms. They fit snugly against a long back wall and two shorter side walls, with a shower curtain in the front. An alcove bathtub -- a single molded unit with a finished surface of enameled steel, fiberglass or a composite -- doesn't require the creation of a tiled deck, as would an island tub or whirlpool. Alcove bathtubs incorporate an upturned strip of material, called a nailing flange, at the upper edge of the back and sides for attachment to a ledger board running across the studs.
Framing additional dividing walls in a basement can increase your living space, and is cheaper than building an addition to your house. When a builder plans to finish the basement they generally insert anchors in the concrete to allow easier attachment of the interior walls. Even if there aren't any anchors, however, you can still frame the basement out with sturdy, solid walls. The most common method is to anchor the bottom wall plate to the concrete with adhesive and reinforce with concrete nails driven with a power-actuated concrete nailer or similar. In some areas, however, building code requires the…
The key floor framing members, called floor joists, for the typical wood-framed house attach to large beams called header joists, or band joists, placed around the perimeter of the structure. The size of these header joists must be carefully calibrated by a professional to ensure that they meet with your local building code requirements. Once this is done, you can create a proper header yourself with a few tools and the use of some specialized fastening hardware.
