Home Repair & Maintenance

Ever notice how your shower curtain liner starts to get dingy after using it for a while? A liner is used to protect the decorative outer curtain and keep splashed water within the shower...

At first, tongue-and-groove wooden siding may be hard to distinguish from other types of siding; but once you become familiar with the construction technique for installation, the task of...

Andersen doors and windows by Emco is one of the leading brands of storm doors in the United States. If your Andersen storm door closer refuses to close, the simple answer is press the thumb...

Screws are superior to nails when used in decking. Over time, the expansion and contraction of wood loosens nails and leads to loose boards and warping. In the world of screws, the six-pointed...

Deck screws are used during deck construction. Using high-quality deck screws will alleviate several problems that may arise from using lower-quality screws, including cracks, splits, nail raising...

Taking apart a kitchen sink faucet to replace or repair it is a simple task with the proper tools and knowledge. Depending on the type of faucet you have, there are different techniques to use...

T-111 siding is a durable and heavy-duty siding that comes in 4-by-8-ft. sheets. It is almost always used on the exterior of a home or building, and must be painted after its installation. If you...

When spring arrives, it is inevitable that birds will try to nest under the eaves of your home. Although birds can be a welcome addition to your yard, having their nest on your house can pose...

Sealing and protecting the interior wall structure of a home from moisture damage is imperative. The grout on newly installed or repaired ceramic tile shrinks as it cures. The shrinking causes...

Looking for ways to reduce energy bills while raising the value of your home? Vinyl replacement windows can provide the answers. They protect against energy waste by sealing in temperatures you've...

PVC pipe is inexpensive and used in many homes, both indoors and out. Yet, just like all types of pipe that is used for water into homes, PVC pipe can leak due to breaks or cracks that can be...

For many people, a home with an in-ground swimming pool is the culmination of the American dream. Pools can provide years of recreation for family and friends and provide wonderful ambiance for...

Nothing is quite as jarring as a storm door slam. Who hasn't been irritated by a storm door closing too slow? These problems generally have a common source: a broken storm door closer. Before you...

The Leatherman Wave is the best-selling of the Leatherman models, and it's easy to understand why. Within a package that can fit in your front pocket, there are 17 different tools to help you...

You may find it necessary at some point to convert a bathtub faucet into a shower. This can be due to your bathroom not actually having a shower, or you want to bathe your dog in the bathtub but...

Scale deposits on your pool tile and surfaces not only are unsightly but can also damage important equipment such as your heater if the deposits are formed over long periods of time. Pool scale...

When building a structure, a builder has a choice about which materials for flooring he may use for any particular room. For high traffic or storage area, the typical choice is concrete. ...

Storm doors provide extra insulation and a great view of the outdoors. When they work correctly, they are a pleasure. But what do you do when they no longer work like they should? The easy...

A crack in the floor of a fiberglass shower can cause water damage and other problems if not immediately taken care of. One option is to tear out the old shower and buy a replacement. This will...

Calcium deposits on faucets and kitchen hardware can be unsightly. It can also impede water flow and lower the water pressure of the faucet. While doing regular flushes of your water heater can...

Stone tiles provide beautiful and durable floor coverings in any room in your home and are often chosen as a patio flooring material or to create pathways near swimming pools. Because stone is...

While there are many methods for removing dog urine odor from particleboard subfloors---including sanding, covering the stain with Kilz sealer or using vinegar---these methods don't always work...

When your toilet has problems, you want to resolve them as quickly as possible. Understanding the causes of many common toilet problems and knowing how to fix them can help ensure that those ...

Cleaning mold from a bathroom ceiling is complicated by the nature of mold. Rubbing mold transfers it to other proximate surfaces, where it will grow. A dime-sized section of mold contains...

If you own an automatic garage door opener, sooner or later the sensors are going to become misaligned. When this happens, be prepared. Knowing how to adjust the sensor will turn a major...

Patching a small hole or crack in drywall is often just a matter of applying a little tape and plaster. But if you have significant wall damage--a large hole left by furniture movers, or water...

A flooded basement can contaminate your home with a plethora of fungus, not to mention bacteria and odor. Knowing how to correctly remove fungus from the affected walls and floors can save your...

You can tell if the windows in your home need to be replaced by making a few observations and doing some tests. Sometimes when windows are worn out they don't perform as they once did, and this...

Laminate flooring has become a popular do-it-yourself project because of its ease of installation, ease of maintenance and low cost. Laminate flooring holds up well to water and stains, but over...

Mineral deposits such as calcium can make fiberglass muddied and dull or remove its shine. There is a simple solution to removing calcium deposits from fiberglass. Distilled white vinegar has an...

Paint and ink markers can leave stains on a lot of surfaces, be they wood, furniture, carpeting or clothing. Marker stains can be especially troublesome, since they often absorb into whatever they...

It is becoming more evident that we all have a responsibility to conserve energy to help protect our environment. One product which has become popular in many homes and businesses is compact...

Improperly working tub stoppers can cause economic problems such as water waste, and higher water and electric bills. Not to mention there are few things as aggravating as settling down in a hot...

When plunging a toilet does not dislodge the clog, it is time to use an auger. Essentially a modified type of drain snake, a toilet auger is constructed to easily work its way through the toilet...

It's easier than you think to remove unwanted plastic anchors from your walls. There are two types of plastic anchors, which need different removal techniques: Plastic expansion anchors often come...

Although bats serve an important role in the environment by eating up to 3,000 insects each night, they can become hazardous when they roost in an area occupied by people. Old wives tales suggest...

A new coat of paint on front porch posts and railings can freshen the look of the whole house. Paint the porch white or with an accent color. Before you paint porch posts and railings, take the...

Wall lights are also called wall sconces. They are installed on a wall to provide lighting around the perimeter of a room, in a hallway or beside built-in furniture, like bookcases or fireplace...

The beauty and expense of granite counter tops usually are reason enough for homeowners to want to learn about their proper care. One of the appealing characteristics of granite is that it cleans...

EDPM (ethylene propylene diene Monomer) rubber is a durable, lightweight alternative to traditional roofing materials. It is UV resistant, provides optimal insulation and requires little...

Sliding bypass doors are typically used to cover closets or laundry space. They come in handy if both sides of the area are not needed at once. They are also useful for large spaces that never had...

You can replace a wall light, or wall sconce, that does not work or that is no longer the right style for your current decor after you remove the old fixture. It is important to ascertain that the...

There are a variety of options for handling water drainage from downspouts. The best option depends on the location of the home, local regulations and the needs of the homeowner. Water from...

A toilet that splashes too much when flushing is an irritating problem. Nobody wants to sit on or have to continuously clean up water that keeps splashing out of the toilet. Several factors can...

Before installing new tiles over an existing concrete floor, repair all holes with fresh cement. Patching a cement floor will not only create a perfectly smooth, level surface for the new tiles...

Reprogramming a Craftsman garage door opener is a simple and step by step process that will only require a few minutes to complete. Technology, including the ability to encrypt transmission codes,...

Properly insulating your home helps keeps your energy bill down. However, with old houses, insulation is a very costly endeavor. If you have just bought a home and do not have the capital to...

Water damage to wood can be extensive and there are a few different types of damage that can occur. Some water damage is more obvious to spot than others.

Mold in drywall can be a serious health and structural hazard, resulting in sickness and even death. Repairing it is crucial to good home maintenance and safety. It's not enough to simply spray...

A snowfall can be a beautiful thing, but only for so long. At some point, you'll want to get it off of your sidewalk, deck or wherever else it blocks your way or poses a potential hazard....