Home Improvement

Here are the basics of how your plumbing works and how to re-plumb with CPVC to move water lines indoors.

A step-by-step guide showing how to repair a leaking ballcock valve in the header tank in your loft. This guide also explains the layout of hot and cold pipes and valves used in home plumbing systems.

A simple, easy, and inexpensive way to repair a cracked driveway.

Modern technology has afforded us many choices when it comes to residential plumbing. Each pipe material has some inherent advantages and disadvantages associated with it. This article describes and compares the characteristics and properties of these common pipe materials.

Leaky outdoor spigots can be easy to fix for DIYers. If you don't like to spend money on something you can do yourself, check out these simple steps to replace your outside faucet.

Math formulas and multipliers to help you bend electrical conduit. Learn how to bend conduit to any configuration desired, not merely the common bends on a conduit bender.

Detailed instructions for wiring an outlet so that half of it can be turned on via a wall switch. All your questions will be answered by an expert electrician, with diagrams and a video to help you.

How to install an over the range microwave oven. Installing a microwave isn't difficult, but here are some tips for potential problems and their solutions.

Why we opted for a window roller blind for our French doors, rather than a proper full length door blind, to block out the evening sun; and a basic step-by-step guide to the slightly unconventionally way I fitted it, and why I fitted it that way.

Heating and cooling a room with vaulted or high ceilings as well as how to better cool and heat the second floor of our homes are very commonly asked questions about HVAC systems. Here are your options and a few tips to help you accomplish a more comfortable environment efficiently.

Tips on how to lay self-adhesive vinyl floor tiles for a new flooring look. A simple job easily accomplished by the homeowner needing a new floor.

Professional instructions for wiring both GFCI (GFI) and regular outlets by the DIY homeowner. Learning how to wire electric outlets is a simple task that nearly everyone can do themselves.

Concrete driveway solutions for new construction, a remodel, or a repair can provide green space options. These ideas range from why-didn't-I-think-of-that to newly marketed products.

Have an old house that has problems with drains? Me too. I give strategies to unclog stopped drains as well as tips on how to prevent them.

With some simple tools, a little effort, and a few safety precautions, building a fieldstone fire pit is a weekend DIY project that your family and friends will enjoy for many years to come.

Learn how to get rid of that standing water in your sink by snaking your drain. Liquid drain cleaners and plungers don't always work and it requires a bit more effort but knowing how you can do this yourself can save you big money.

Tips and detailed instructions on how to replace a ceiling light in your home. An easy task if you know what you're doing.

A friend's daughter whose wedding I sewed and organized a few years ago came over last night with her 'Hubby' saying that the deal on the house they had bid on had been accepted. They asked me to help with window treatments.

Fix your own leaky faucets in your bathroom and save some serious money. Here are easy to follow step-by-step instructions.

Check out my tips for painting exterior soffits and fascia boards.

Are you spray painting your kitchen cabinets? Learn how to mask your cabinets for spray painting. This article explains the masking materials to use.

Thinking of buying a power tool as a gift? Or maybe it's for yourself to make DIY easier. This guide for the absolute beginner outlines the various tools available, their capabilities and what to buy

Spray painting baseboard trim is faster than using only a paint brush and produces a smoother finish. Check out my tips on how to spray paint your baseboards.

Before rushing out to buy a new showerhead, try fixing the problem yourself. It's easier than you think to clean a clogged or rusted showerhead. If you need to replace, you can do that yourself too.

When shopping for lighting, it is most important to understand the light source and the wattage that will be saved. As these are choices important to your wallet, the article explains the factors.

A guide to different lighting types in the home and their pros and cons. Covering incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, CFL, sodium, metal halide and LED.

Plumbing problems come in all shapes and sizes, from dripping faucets to sewer system backup to burst pipes. This article lists the most common issues, what causes them and suggests some easy fixes when appropriate.

Cross ventilation can clean your home's air, save you money and is easy to create without spending money. Start breathing cleaner air and saving money today.

Building new water sources costs billions of dollars that most governments don't have, but reusing wastewater can help relieve that need. This article covers home greywater and blackwater systems.

A conduit-bending guide with instructions on how to bend EMT conduit. Learn how to bend conduit easily and effectively with a hand bender.

Check out these recommendations for the best masking tape for painting. We'll take a detailed look at FrogTape and ScotchBlue for all of your painting needs.

Instructions on how to change a ballast in a flourescent light fixture.

Stone veneer will enhance your home. Learn how to install stone veneer and make your home the envy of all. Save time and money and beautify your home today.

An angle grinder is a useful power tool for cutting and grinding metal and other materials. Like any power tool, it can be dangerous if used incorrectly. This guide shows you how to reduce your risk of injury while using an angle grinder.

Sheetrock repair made easy: how to patch and repair different sizes of drywall holes from small to large.

Instructions on how to wire a 4-way switch, with wiring diagrams.

How to install a light fixture as well as how to wire that same light fixture. Written by an electrician that has installed thousands of fixtures.

A basic guide for the homeowner who would like to know the pros and cons, and the installation methods of the different types of faucet supply lines.

This is an easy to follow step-by-step guide to installing your new peel and stick vinyl tile flooring yourself, no matter what your skill level. I did it, and so can you!

A spigot (also known as a hose bib, bibcock or garden tap) leaks when the rubber washer inside wears away over time. Anyone with basic DIY skills can replace this. Only 2 tools are required.

Concrete is really easy to make and all you need is a shovel and some buckets. This is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide with pictures showing you how to make concrete by hand, with or without a mixer

How to choose, buy, and install a thermostat for baseboard heaters or other electric heat source. Called line voltage heaters, the installation is well within the capabilities of most homeowners.

Instructions for how to fix a leaky or running toilet. Repairing a toilet that runs constantly is a quick, easy job that anyone can handle.

Detailed instructing by choosing, installing, and wiring a GFCI outlet. Written by an electrician for the homeowner doing their own work.

Need more plugs? Here's how to add a new outlet by wiring into an existing outlet. Complete instructions here, including tips on running the wire and actually wiring the circuit.

Smells originating from our furnace and duct work are not only unpleasant but can present health concerns as well. Learn more about what causes them and how to get rid of these unwelcome odors.

Tile design ideas for countertops, floors, and showers. Pictures and design tips too.

How do you put up shelves, cupboards, brackets or coat hangers on a wall? This guide explains how to drill walls and outlines the tools, fixings and drill bits required.

Step-by-step instructions for covering over popcorn ceiling using joint compound, with tips, FAQ, and photos.

How to wire 3-way light switches, with wiring diagrams for different methods of installing the wire between boxes. Step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting guides included.

Furnace filter comparisons, air quality tips, how often to replace your filter and more. Understanding your options will help you choose the best one for you.

Owner review of advantages and disadvantages of installing Saltillo tiles.

This article will show you how to make your own DIY lamp using old yogurt containers, cement, and a few electrical parts.

How to finish drywall by applying tape and joint compound. Designed for the homeowner, this article gives useful tips for finishing drywall.

Accurate square and mitered cuts in wood are essential for construction work. However, properly cut timber looks better even if you are just doing basic DIY and making stuff around the home.

A conduit-bending guide for bending a 90-degree bend in electrical conduit. Possibly the most basic and common of bends, but there are several ways to bend a 90.

Many old French houses have issues with damp. Some of these issues relate to humidity in the home and can be easily dealt with, but rising damp is a serious underlying problem which needs addressing.

A comprehensive guide showing how to use a multimeter or DMM. A multimeter is a useful instrument in a home toolkit for measuring voltage, current and resistance and also for tracing breaks in wires, testing diodes, capacitors and fuses.

Roofing your own home can save you a lot of money. It is a physical job but, with the invent of newer materials and a little know how, the work can be accomplished by a "do it yourselfer". It does take physical ability and two or three people who...

Are you looking for the perfect thermostat temperature so that you're not wasting electricity—and money? Cut your electric bill, help the planet, and find the right thermostat setting for winter, summer, and everything in-between.

A basic guide to pipe types, plumbing fittings, and thread sizes, and instructions for how to use fittings to connect copper, PVC, and PEX water pipes.

A comprehensive guide on how to bend conduit, with instructions on how to bend 90s, offsets, saddles, and even concentric bends. A must-read for any electrician, from apprentice to journeyman.

This guide will provide five different methods a homeowner can use to fix a broken PVC sprinkler pipe.

How do you keep warm in the winter without electricity? Can you keep cool without AC during a summer heat wave? What if your home loses power for more than a day? A tent is one solution to all these problems.

In this tool review, I talk about the Goose Neck bendable paint brush I recently bought and whether it's worth buying, or not.

Easy instructions with photos show how I make paper bricks. Don't shred and soak newspaper when making paper logs for burning in your fire. My paper logs dry so quickly I can even burn them next day!

Instructions on how to bend both 3 point saddles and 4 point saddles in EMT electrical conduit.

Detailed instructions on retrofitting existing fluorescent tubes to LED lamps. Benefit from energy savings, cold weather operation and long life by changing out your 4 foot fluorescent tubes to LED's

If you have an animal companion in your home, it can do wonders for the satisfaction of all concerned to allow free access to the outdoors. It can be easier (and less expensive) than you might think. Read how—and how not—to do it here!

Introduction to the basics of how a septic tank sewage system operates. How to care for it, and what mainteance is involved.

Common recommended tools required when becoming an electrician. An electrician's hand tools are his life blood—it is imperative that every electrician own a good set of tools.

Tips and specific directions on how to install a new outlet on an existing wall.

A new homeowner needs a tool set, but what should go in it? A list of the 20 most common and needed tools for the best homeowner tool set.

Damp can be a serious problem in homes leading to mildew on walls, ceilings, curtains, and clothing. It has several causes but can often be remedied or reduced in severity.

Has your kitchen sink become clogged? Learn the different methods you can use to clear your drain and how you can prevent blockages like this from happening again in the future.

Hundreds of homes burn each year from electrical fires. Learn the common causes of house fires and how to protect your home.

This guide shows ambitious DIYers how to replace and old sliding glass door with a new one.

When drilling any type of material, it's vital to use the correct bit to ease drilling and also to prevent bit damage. Drill bits are available for metal, masonry, tiles, plastics, glass and wood.

Suggestions on uses of rope lighting as well as directions for installing rope lights.

Air conditioning repairs are never cheap, but why do they seem higher now than ever? This may help you decide if it's better now to replace an old unit than to repair it.

A plate joiner, commonly called biscuit joiner, biscuit cutter, or biscuit jointer, is a power tool used to make very strong wood joints. Learn how to effectively use these amazing tools.

Learn to do your own home repair or improvement projects. Tips and encouragement for the novice.

One day, your sliding glass door will need repair as it gets harder and harder to open. In this article, you will find instructions on how to replace patio door rollers.

One of the more common bends made in electrical conduit is the offset bend. This page incorporates a comprehesive conduit bending guide and describes how to bend an offset using multipliers.

This information is to help understand the basic components of an HVAC system and their functions.

Hardwood flooring installation for both engineered and regular hardwood flooring. Instructions for the homeowner on how to install hardwood flooring.

Easy instructions for hand plastering walls to cover over wallpaper, hide damaged walls, or create a unique look.

How to replace a whole-house water-sediment cartridge filter on your Culligan HF-150, 160, and 360 model housing units. A step-by-step pictorial lesson for water-filter replacement projects.

Sometimes you can save money by tracking down the source of a bad smell in your home and trying some DIY methods before you call a plumber. It's worth a try!

Haunted or just a hassle? Doors that open and close by themselves can be annoying and sometimes dangerous. There is an easy solution that even the most green novice can handle.

"Hot" and "neutral" supply power to an appliance, so why the need for a "ground" wire? Basically, it's included for safety reasons. This article explains how it all works....

Cleaner duct work equals cleaner air and less dusting. Learn how you can improve the quality of the air in your home for free without specialized tools.

Do you have noisy shower pipes? Here's how you can fix noisy shower pipes and stop the banging noise inside your shower.

I describe how I sanded and painted the metal railings and light poles in my yard and explain tools and techniques that worked and those that didn't.

Owning a home is an investment which carries a the responsibility of maintaining it and performing repairs when necessary. Many people avoid performing regular maintenance however doing so could cost you in the long run. Here are several reasons why it's important to maintain your home & property.

This is a guide on how to mix mortar using sand, cement, plasticiser, and water for the purpose of repointing brickwork and ridge tiles.

Check out my tips for painting vinyl windows. Find out if it's a good idea to even paint your vinyl windows, or replace them instead.

EMT conduit bending instructions on how to make concentric bends in conduit. Not an easy task, but not impossible either, and one that should be understood by electricians everywhere.

Clogged drains are a very common plumbing issue. This article looks at what causes pipes to become blocked and offers advice on how to fix and prevent clogs from happening.

Detailed instructions on how to shingle a roof, including shingling both ridges and valleys.