Of all the myriad plumbing mysteries confounding the DIY homeowner, sweating (soldering) copper pipe seems to be foremost among them. It needn’t be so. Once the process is understood, the steps are actually quite simple. Following is an explanation of that process. Sweating is the name given to the act of joining copper pipe by ...
While wood siding is a very attractive and durable siding choice, cleaning wood siding and preparing it for a fresh coat of paint can be a daunting task. By the time most people get ready to repaint wood siding, the old paint is starting to peel and chip away from the wood. Because of this, ...
Congratulations! You got your wife a new garbage disposal for Christmas. But there’s a problem. She wants you to install it. Something about serving you right, she said. And you have no idea how to go about changing a garbage disposal. Relax. I can help you. It’s easier than you might think. Clean out the ...
If you have ever owned a wooden home, you may have had to deal with rotten wood. The fact is, it isn’t as hard as many seem to think. The first step is to identify the problem area and ascertain how much wood you actually need to repair. The area needing repair seen most often ...
I have always loved ceramic tile floors in kitchens, bathrooms, foyers and utility rooms. Even though I prefer hardwood in other areas of the house, ceramic tile floors are extremely easy to maintain and can be used in any room. The problem, of course, is repairing damaged tiles, especially if there is an underlying problem. ...
It’s that time of year again. The rainy weather that comes with the warm summer months. The rain is great for gardens and lawns, but too much rain can create serious problems when it has nowhere particular to go. When the ground around your home becomes saturated, water ends up flowing wherever it has the ...
The first thing you need to know: what do you plan to use the chainsaw for? Cutting hard wood or soft wood? Hard wood requires more power to cut. Will you be away from an electrical outlet or will it be too cumbersome to have the chainsaw attached to an electrical cord? In this case, ...
We have had our beautiful Dinaire dining room chairs for 20 years, and they are still looking great. Ten years ago we installed oak hard wood floors in our kitchen and dining room, and they look gorgeous as well. However, we had some problems with the chairs scratching the floor when we moved them around, ...
Is it time to purchase, or build, a doghouse for Fido or Fifi? Don’t just run out and grab the first doghouse that catches your eye. A trip to the lumber store may be in order, but read on before you grab your keys. Several factors will affect the decision of which doghouse is right ...
At the age of 12, I discovered embroidery paints and have been working with them ever since. For those people who cannot thread a needle, sew a straight stitch, or have the patience for regular embroidery, paints designed for embroidery work are for them. They are easy to use, create beautiful artwork, and allows a ...