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Architecture : Home & Garden
How to Choose Carpet Styles
When choosing a carpet style for your home, it is important to consider the different qualities of each carpet style to determine which type is most appropriate for your home. Some carpet styles are ideal for high traffic areas, while others show vacuum marks and footprints easily. For the best resu
How to Design a Custom Pool
Installing a swimming pool can be a great way to raise not just the fun quotient but also the value of your home. Swimming pools come in a vast array of shapes and sizes so you will want to think carefully about how you want yours to look before you start construction. If you take the time to design
How Do Solar Hot Water Panels Work?
Heat, Not ElectricityA general misconception about solar hot water heaters is that their panels are photovoltaic, or meant for generating electricity. No solar water heater works this way. Electric water heaters are very costly to run, and using photovoltaic electricity to heat water...
How to Identify a Norcold
Norcold refrigerators are made by the Thetford Corp. and are meant primarily for use in mobile recreation and marine vehicles. The company makes gas absorption, AC/DC and portable refrigerators, which are available online, at certain recreation vehicle dealerships and some appliance stores. Some Nor
How to Remove Asbestos Backed Tile From a Floor
Older vinyl, linoleum and asphalt floor tiles can contain asbestos backing for added strength, durability and heat resistance. Although asbestos backed tiles are long lasting, they eventually weaken and wear out overtime due to moisture, heat and aging. Only remove asbestos tiles if they are pulveri
How to Clean Bathroom Tile & Grout
Tile is a heavily used material in kitchens and bathrooms because it is relatively easy to install and is also easy to keep clean. Sometimes, however, grime and dirt can build up on the grout and face of tiles after years of use. Bathroom tiles in particular can accumulate soap residue that is unapp
When to Use a Vapor Barrier for Home Insulation
Knowing when to use a vapor barrier for home insulation is one of the primary keys to creating an air-tight and moisture-tight envelope around your home. The idea is to control the interior climate by keeping conditioned air indoors and external air outoors. Installing vapor barriers and insulation
How to Make a Concrete Kitchen Counter Top
When considering how much remodeling work they can complete themselves, many homeowners do not realize that designing new kitchen countertops is one of those tasks. These countertops are often seen in high-end commercial kitchen workspaces and are very possible to achieve in your own home. If you dr
How to Replace an Asphalt Shingle Roof
Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing materials used for homes. These shingles are relatively inexpensive, are simple to install and can last for several decades. However, dramatic changes in temperature can cause asphalt shingles to crack and split over time, allowing water to enter the shin
How to Seal & Stain a New Redwood Fence
You've just finished building a brand new redwood fence. It looks beautiful. But how do you maintain the beauty of new redwood while also protecting your investment from harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays and damage from exposure to water? A quality penetrating oil-based stain is a good way to protect y
How to Fix a Roof Leak With Rubberized Tar
Flat roofs are found on various types of buildings, from mobile homes to multi-unit buildings. These are constructed with sections or rows of tar paper overlapped on top of a wooden substructure. Over time the seams can dry out and crack, allowing water and debris to get under the paper and damage t
How to Trim Kitchen Cabinets With Crown Molding
Trimming kitchen cabinets with crown molding adds an elegant, custom style to the kitchen. Fussing to make angles perfect is rarely a problem because cabinets generally have perfectly square corners. The back of a crown molding has two flat surfaces that allow it to sit at an angle between a wall an
How to Fix Holes on Salt Shakers
While salt shakers offer a convenient way to season your food, a clogged salt shaker is nothing but a frustration. Even if you manage to unclog your shaker, it may happen again and again over time. Fortunately, you can unclog your salt shaker in little more than a few minutes and keep it from cloggi
Popcorn Ceiling Help
Popcorn ceilings have a bright white cottage cheese-like texture and became popular starting in the 1960s and 1970s. Popcorn ceilings add texture to any ceiling and are fairly easy to maintain with the products that are utilized to create today's popcorn ceilings. Repairing the ceiling can be done w
How to Install a Shelf From Basement Rafters
Mounted shelves increase your storage space with the added bonus of taking up no floor space, so you can place them where they are needed the most. In the basement, a shelf is useful for laundry products, but you may not want to hang the shelf from the wall, especially if the mortar is old and crumb
How to Level a Floor Before Adding Ceramic Tile
One of the most important steps in preparing to install tile flooring is leveling the subfloor. If your subfloor is not level it is only a matter of time before the tile will begin to crack, break and create problems. The easiest leveling method for tiling is to use LevelQuik RS Rapid Setting Self-L
Repairing Plaster Walls for Wallpaper Preparation
Plaster is a building material made from gypsum, water, sand and lime. It was used to build walls and ceilings in most homes, until the 1950s when drywall became widely used. While plaster is an extremely durable and long-lasting material, it can develop cracks and holes over time. If you'd like to
Why Is a Vapor Barrier Used Under Concrete Slabs?
A concrete slab is the supporting base poured as a single, solid piece before building construction. A concrete slab can sit directly on the ground, but installation of a vapor barrier between the slab and the ground prevents moisture damage to the concrete.
How to Remove Red Food Dye From Carpet
Spills from foods with red dyes are a nightmare if you have carpeting in your home. Cough syrup, red icing, Popsicles and red drinks all have dyes that turn your carpet red. Chances are if you have kids or have a party, something with red food dye will end up on your carpet. Act as soon as possible
How to Remove & Replace Asphalt Roof Shingles
As time goes on, homeowners must make repairs and upgrades to maintain their homes and improve their value. One repair, which can be costly, is replacing a roof. Due to constant exposure to the elements, roof shingles can be damaged, which can allow water to leak into your house. While most people e