Home Remodeling & Improvement

Basement support beams, pillars or poles run vertically from the floor to the ceiling and provide the essential support for your home. However, they stand out in the space and interrupt the flow of a…

Weight-bearing walls are essential supports in any structure, and removing them -- even in part -- can be pretty dicey. Weight-bearing, or load-bearing, walls can be removed in part or in whole, but…

A finished basement floor transforms the otherwise unused space into one that’s livable, and creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. A basement floating slab floor is not essentially a floor at…

Craftsman houses were commonly constructed in the early 1900s and their open floor plans made them appealing to home owners of the period. The ceilings often have beams and numerous windows to take…

Houses in warmer climates sometimes don't have heating systems because they stay naturally warm throughout the year. While this is more efficient from an electrical standpoint, it puts you in a bind…

Adding an archway between rooms lends grace and openness. The process is easier if you already have a doorway in place and simply need the arch. But if you have to open up the wall -- if it’s…

Basement vent pipes either pump air into a room or pull air out. These vents need to be finished by covering them for aesthetic reasons and to control the circulating air. Vents are usually located in…

The basement staircase sometimes has two walls all the way down the staircase. One way to open up a basement staircase is to remove one of the walls. This allows you to see into the basement as soon…

Finishing a basement is often the dream of homeowners who have an older, unfinished building. These basements add a significant amount of living space to the home. However, you need to factor in…

A rounded ceiling to wall corner is called a fillet. A special inside corner bead is installed prior to finishing the drywall to create the curve. Drywall joint compound is applied and then sanded…

Family rooms are casual living spaces where loved ones gather to spend time together. Whether they're watching a movie, playing a game or engaging in conversation, a family can enjoy each other's…

The benefits of limestone walls in your basement are plentiful -- including its durability, natural bacterial resistance and ease of maintenance. However, limestone is a naturally porous material that…

Small closets can present the biggest problems when you are trying to keep your items organized. The limited space can be dark with hard-to-reach shelves and only a single rod for hanging clothes. If…

Vents that connect the interior of a house to the exterior can function as unintentional areas of heat loss. For vents that are being used, this is unavoidable. You can reduce unnecessary heat loss by…

Ventilation and fresh air are important components of a healthy home. Ironically, the more tight and energy efficient houses become, the more risk there is that interior ventilation will be…

The channels that make up the framework of a suspended ceiling are supported in the middle of the room by a series of wires that extend from the ceiling joists down to the channels. When you remove…

Sheetrock is also known as plasterboard, wallboard or drywall. The region where you live will most likely determine what it is called. Sheetrock could become damaged by water leaking from the ceiling…

Skim coating a basement floor is the first step required before you can install any further flooring, or even paint the existing surface. A skim coat is concrete-based and spreads over the floor to…

Sand texture is never difficult to identify -- it feels like it has sand in it, and it does. While textures cover imperfections in the wall or ceiling underneath, a look can become outdated. Sand…

If you’re the sort of person who sees every challenge as an opportunity to do something original, opening yourself up to practical tips for finishing your basement on the cheap is going to be…

Recessed cabinets are cabinets that use space within wall cavities or between floor joists as storage, expanding the storage space available within a room. Most recessed cabinets lie flush with the…

Finishing a basement usually requires obtaining specific permits to do the job legally. As part of the process, the permit application must include information that verifies that the basement windows…

Wood paneling is a functional and aesthetic element in home design. Interior wood walls help a living space feel warm, comfortable and earthy. However, sun exposure can fade and dry out wood paneling…

A properly finished wall along your basement stairs helps connect the basement and first level in a manner that flows. The unevenness of the wall along the stairs often creates a challenge, but this…

Garages are roomy, so if you’re not using all that space, convert it into a living area. For example, large families might benefit from a hangout room somewhat isolated from the main area of the…

A ceiling may be covered with furring strips as a result of plaster that has been knocked off, or as a remnant of someone else's renovation. If you are planning to install a new drywall ceiling…

Noise from a basement can trickle upstairs, and noise from people walking in the house is often heard down in the basement. It's possible to soundproof basements, and some homeowners hire contractors…

Whether you want to replace old ceiling insulation with new insulation or remove insulation damaged by water or rodent infestation, prepare for a messy project. Among other factors, insulation depends…

If you are looking for additional space in your home, look no further than the basement as a possibility. Any basement project would be enhanced by a bathroom. Not only would your family benefit from…

Many homes have basement stairways that use rough board railings for minimum safety requirements. When updating your house, it is a good idea to replace the rough boards with a secure and attractive…

A finished basement can add living space to your home and can add value to the house when it is time to sell. A basement can provide an area for an additional bedroom for guests, a playroom for the…

When renovating a room in the basement, you may not know exactly how to finish it. Many of the finishing touches are the same as any other room in the house, but you also need to consider the unique…

Walls require certain techniques and materials to create a finished appearance. The walls running along your basement stairway are no exception, although they may be more difficult to reach. Finishing…

If you use a boiler or furnace as a heat source for your home's central heating system, you need to consider proper ventilation for the appliance. Boilers and other combustion appliances produce…

Whether your use your finished basement for entertaining, family leisure or as in-law or guest quarters, the addition of a kitchenette eliminates constant trips up and downstairs and makes your…

A ranch houses also are known as the Western ranch, the American ranch and the California rambler. It is typically one story with deep-set eaves and a low-pitched roof. The layout is usually narrow…

Nickel and chrome are two different types of metal finishes. Although similar at first glance, they actually differ slightly in sheen and color. Both nickel and chrome finishes can be polished to a…

Finishing a basement usually includes paneling your basement foundation walls to cover the masonry surface. While most of the time you’d want to make your paneling permanent, you may want to be…

Remodeling a basement often means taking out existing, non-load bearing walls. If they are standard walls made from drywall and 2-by-4 wood studs, the job can be done easily with just a hammer and…

Thin brick, or brick veneer, is a facing meant to make a structure look like it is made of brick. In reality, brick veneer is not in any way structural; it is cosmetic. The actual structure of a brick…

Removing an aluminum frame from brick, whether it's for a door or window, is a challenge that you could face when updating your home. Removing the aluminum frame requires that the frame be exposed so…

Over many years, your brick stoop will absorb moisture from rain and snow. In freezing weather, the water in the mortar will freeze. You can prevent further damage to your brick stoop by removing old…

Textured ceilings, sometimes called popcorn ceilings, were particularly popular in the 1970s, but today many people want a smooth, cleaner look. Removing any type of texture from a ceiling can be a…

Some basements have exterior access doors that are reached through a bulkhead, or sometimes through an open stairway that is surrounded by a retaining wall. You may want to remove this arrangement to…

If your freezer isn’t working properly, there may be something wrong with the electronics or the cooling mechanism of the appliance. These are tucked away in the back of the freezer behind a…

Adding the proper outlet wiring to your basement is much easier than attempting to add extra outlets when the walls have been completed. With the studs exposed, it's a relatively easy project to…

After running your plumbing to a shower area in your basement, you have to finish the drain. Placing the drain in the concrete slab is fairly straightforward, however there are a few steps to take to…

A sensitive voltage detector can be built from one to three transistors, which are semiconductors that amplify voltages and currents. A single one can amplify an electrical signal hundreds of times.…

Upgrading a dirt basement is a relatively inexpensive way to add living space to a home. Typically the basement consists of a dirt floor with some kind of wall structure that prevents the basement…

Excess water around the perimeter of a house can leak into a home's basement and cause problems with your home's foundation. Too much water also harms plants and contributes to a messy, muddy yard.…