Building & Remodeling

Showers and bathtubs are the most important part of any bathroom. However, they are definitely no use to anyone if they aren't fully waterproof because their purpose is to keep water from...

I know when doing simple projects in my garage/ workshop that are dusty it is not always enough to wear a filter over your nose and mouth. Sometimes it is a question of the amount of dust that...

Siding can speak volumes about a house and must be chosen carefully. Fortunately for homeowners, there are multiple options available, including fiber cement siding, which is now used on about 12...

Laminate sheeting for a counter top comes in a wide variety of colors and styles, but the installation process is always the same. You sand the counter top surface and make it flat and dull, you...

Hardi Shake is fiber-cement-reinforced shingles used in siding and roofing. Many builders and homeowners prefer Hardi Shake because it is durable and fire-resistant, saves wood and is easy to work...

Fiber cement siding is an exterior option more homeowners are turning to, as it is now on about 12 to 15 percent of all homes, but installation problems may be a deterrent to choosing this product.

As trends, budgets and personal tastes change, you may decide to remodel part or all of your house to get the look you want. With any remodel, challenges may arise. During the remodel of a...

A concrete curing compound is basically a liquid plastic that seals moisture into the cement until it can cure. There are two steps to the curing process. The first is when the concrete hardens,...

Countertop laminate is hard plastic that is affixed to the countertop frame in single pieces with contact cement (a special adhesive that won't stick to most things, but instantly binds to other...

Deciding what material to use to cover the exterior of your home is an important decision. Two popular options are cement board and vinyl siding. Each has its own set of pros and cons to consider...

Devoloped by James Hardie, Hardie board is a siding made of fiber cement. Cement is combined with sand, water and cellulose wood fibers to make a solid building material well suited for protecting...

Solvent-bonding PVC pipes and fittings requires the use of PVC cement. The PVC cement needs a clean surface that is free of inks, oils and chemicals for it to permanently bond a PVC pipe to a PVC...

Drywall is the standard wallboard in most modern homes. It's lightweight and very strong when dry. However, in areas where the walls may be in constant contact with moisture, drywall is a poor...

Want to change the siding on your house. Cement board is a good choice. With a little help it is not that hard to put on.

Renovating a tiled bathroom shower is a challenging task, but the do-it-yourselfer with the right equipment, patience and time can renovate a tiled shower that will add value and beauty and...

Using plastic, formica-style laminate to build rugged work surfaces and countertops has become a skill that the average cabinet maker takes for granted. To the uninitiated, it may seem like...

A cement mixer is handy to have around when you have big amounts of cement to prepare. Instead of mixing the cement by hand with a mixing hoe, you can toss the dry mix in the cement mixer, which...

As tastes, technology and budgets have changed over the years, many homeowners are upgrading their once-in-style laminate countertop with natural stone such as granite and limestone. Whatever your...

With commercially made stone veneer, also known as cultured stone, going for $4-$8 a square foot I decided to make my own for a retaining wall. I will admit it was time consuming but if you know...

Cement backerboards are 3'x5' sheets that get screwed into place much like drywall and then topped with a thin layer of mortar for tile flooring. Backerboards are a much easier method than the...

If you are planning to resurface a wall or floor, it is important to get as much of the tile cement removed so that you have a smooth surface to work with. Don't attack this project by busting...

Before you can begin laying the tiles in your bathroom, kitchen or entryway, you have to have the proper surface prepared. Ceramic tile is usually laid over cement backer board, if you are not...

Laminate is a thin, hard sheet of plastic that's used to protect countertops and provide a smooth, waterproof work surface. Adding a layer of laminate to a countertop is something you can do right...

Both cement and wood foundation proponents claim their product is the best. In reality, each type of foundation has its strengths and weaknesses.

Cinder blocks are an excellent building material. They are sturdy, easy to handle, inexpensive--and ugly. You can paint them, but that just gives you colorful cinder blocks. If you want a more...

Lightweight concrete, also known as EPScrete (expanded polystyrene concrete), is a material widely used in the building of environmentally "green" homes. The substance is often made using small...

So you're thinking about building a barn. Well, you should. This type of structure is very flexible and can provide your property with a lot of additional functionality. This article is part of a...

Being able to install your own plumbing pipe properly is a skill that will open the door to various home improvement projects. Pipe installation is a major part of bathroom and kitchen remodeling....

As careful as a painter may be, spills and drips are inevitable. Dried paint on a cement sidewalk can be a real eyesore. Unfortunately, many people aren't sure how to remove paint from cement...

Concrete has been around for some time now. Just recently it's being used in a artistic way. It takes skill and preparation to cast concrete in general, and attention to detail to cast a...

Safe wood stove installations require a heat shield that will prevent heat from the wood stove from creating a fire hazard in the building materials that form the exterior wall. Hardi cement board...

A few brands of cement fiberboard are on the market, and you cut them in the same fashion. Cutting cement fiberboard is a very easy task to complete with the right tools. A masonry blade makes...

Countertop laminate today comes in all kinds of finishes made to mimic the look of tile, wood or, even, slate stone. Whatever kind of laminate you have, it's eventually going to wear out, becoming...

Most packaging instructions for laying tiles will tell you to start with a perfectly flat and even surface, to ensure that the tiles are flat and even in the end. Like many home project...

Applying stucco to the exterior of your home is an inexpensive way to create original designs and textures that beautify your home. The amount of time and energy your stucco project takes depends...

Garages are usually square or rectangular in shape, so laying out the foundation is very straight forward. Nevertheless, careful and detailed planning is always required because once the slab is...

Laminated countertops can be trimmed with a thin edging strip of the same material that is used on the laminated surface or with plastic or metal moldings that finish the edges and complete your...

Roofing felt is a paper-like material made of organic fibers and saturated with asphalt tar. It is available for purchase in large rolls. Common classifications of roofing felt used in new...

If you've got an old laminated countertop that is so worn and outdated that you're thinking about replacing it, think first about re-laminating it. If the countertop is structurally in good shape,...

Both brick and stamped concrete are durable and attractive choices for outdoor patios, walkways and other projects. While brick may initially seem like the cheaper option, once you've added all...

Mud or adobe floors use a thick mud mortar in place of cement or tile floors. A mud floor will, in most cases. retain heat better than other types of poured floors and often set up to be softer...

Adding cement kitchen counters is a challenging, but not impossible, project for do-it-yourself homeowners. It is a major undertaking and homeowners must consider many factors before deciding to...

Building forms for cement is not a difficult job, but doing it right is absolutely essential to the finished product turning out well. The method of building forms described can be used for...

Painting concrete can create vibrancy and mood to existing construction. Concrete must be completely dry and clean prior to beginning this process. Before beginning, you will need gather the...

For as long as glass bottles have been in mass production they have been collected for their durable nature and with abundance, naturally, have come new ways to use them. Starting in the early...

Painting or staining your cement will add color and a renewed look to just about any cement structure. Stains fully work with the cement's permeable nature, soaking into all of its grooves,...

Mobile home siding protects the metal or fiberglass shell of the structure from damage caused by wind, precipitation and other elements. Choosing the right siding helps the homeowner to extend the...

Sealing your shower walls is essential for tiling the surface to prevent moisture from effecting the integrity of your tile installation. Plywood or drywall is insufficient as a subfloor because...

Floor tiles look and feel as solid as rock, but in fact they can easily crack if they're not laid correctly, or if there's any unevenness or movement under them. This is especially true for very...

Whether you're adding another shower to your home or just need to replace your existing shower plumbing, installing a shower p trap is a necessary step. New pre-formed shower bases have simplified...