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Architecture : Home & Garden
How to Install Wall Pavers or Patio Pavers First
In consideration of installing pavers on a patio and adjoining wall a sort chicken-or-the-egg dilemma arises regarding which should be done first. On the one hand, gravity suggests that placing the patio pavers under the wall pavers first might provide more support. On the other hand, installing pat
How to Lay a Kitchen Marble Countertop
When you're considering a new surface for your kitchen countertop, you have many contemporary choices. However, sometimes it's best to reach back to an older idea. Marble is an old standard throughout kitchens. It predates vinyl and laminates and lends a richer, more solid look wherever you use it.
DIY Roof Shingle Repair
Shingles play a vital role in the protection of your home's roof. They serve as the first barrier against rain, wind and all other elements. If your asphalt shingles are cracked or curling, it is time to properly repair them to maintain the integrity of your house. The process is simple, and just ab
How to Refinish Hardwood Floors Sand-Free
In some cases, a floor must be refinished even though it is still smooth and does not have any cracks or chips. A floor that simply needs to be resealed does not need to be sanded. If a wood floor has unevenness or cracks, however, sand it down first before starting the sealing process. All of the m
Baseboard Installation Tips
Adding baseboards to line the edge where the wall meets the floor can give any room a more completed look and add value to your home. Many people choose not to add baseboards because of the perceived time and effort which will go into constructing them. Installing baseboards, however, is an extreme
How to Remove Tile From a Basement
Sometimes old tile on a basement floor can become dirty, chipped or just out of date. In this case, removing the old tile to retile the floor, or install a new material, such as wood or carpeting, makes sense. Remove old tile all the way down to the subfloor, including any old adhesive, to ensure a
Playground Slide Installation
One of the most exciting staples of an outdoor playground is the slide. Although a slide provides an important element of fun, it can also cause injuries. Installing a slide properly helps eliminate some common playground accidents and ensures years of happy sliding.
How to Get Solar Panels for Free
Solar panels are very effective in lowering and even eliminating your home's energy bill, but the initial investment in a solar panel can be pricey. Free solar panels are available if you know where to look. However, understand that anything free may not be the latest design, may be damaged or inope
How to Replace a Back Splash
If you've got a worn, damaged or outdated backsplash behind your kitchen sink, replacing it can transform the look of the whole kitchen, while ensuring that the wall there remains protected from the moisture of the sink. A tile backsplash is easy to install, and the range of colors and styles is lim
How to Build a Safe Room Shelter Design
While few homeowners will plan a high-tech safe room like the one portrayed in the movie "Panic Room," generations of families have recognized the value of having a safe room for tornadoes or other natural disasters. Some families have begun to design safe rooms for use in case of nuclear, biologic
What Kind of Underlay Should I Put Under Laminate Floors?
Laminate flooring requires an underlayment. You get what you pay for when it comes to flooring underlayment. Cheap is not always better. There are several types and price ranges available, and each manufacturer of flooring has a recommendation for the type of underlayment that should be used. One of
How to Design Drawers in a Cabinet
Building your own drawers and cabinets are cheap and creative solutions to add more storage in your home. Before you go down to the store to purchase your supplies, you must create a design with set measurements for the drawers you wish to build for your cabinet. Having a fully detailed design will
How Do I Build Passive Solar Panels for Radiant Floor Heat?
Highly efficient radiant floor heating systems use fluid-filled piping under flooring to radiate heat throughout a living space. Heated fluid (usually water) gathers in a collector, from which it is circulated as needed to the system. You may use typical fossil-fuel fired boilers to heat the fluid,
How to Apply Joint Tape
Taping and "mudding" Sheetrock (drywall) is a process that requires practice - and if you're doing a whole room or a whole house you'll get plenty of that. The first coat is the tape coat - here's what to do.
Foam Solar Oven Ideas
Solar ovens focus the heat and radiation of the sun to cook nearly any food product, but work especially well for baking or cooking low-temperature dishes like grains and vegetables. Plans are widely available to help you build your own efficient solar oven. Many plans use foam in a...
Homemade Solar Panels for Your Home
With the rising cost of energy, solar panels are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners. The rise of solar panel manufacturers has also resulted in decreasing costs, and government refunds make solar panels more accessible. For many consumers, however, these costs are not decreasing fast eno
How to Install Laminates
Laminates provide a long-lasting durable surface that maintains its luster despite heavy traffic. You can choose from several surface finishes to accommodate light residential use to heavy commercial use. A variety of widths, textures, grains, colors and tones are available to accent any déco
How to Install a Range Vent Hood
How to Install a Range Vent Hood. Installing a range vent hood is a necessity if you want to vent cooking odors and hot air resulting from range-top cooking out of the kitchen. A range vent hood will also add décor to your kitchen. You can purchase a range vent hood at any appliance retail outl
Removing a Stuck Carpet Pad From Hardwood Flooring
While carpet padding is supposed to protect the finish of the hardwood floor from accidental scratching by acting as a barrier, the pad can stick to the floor and damage the surface of the wood. Safe carpet pad removal requires saturating the padding with mineral spirits, which lubricates the materi
How to Design Your Own 3-D Model Home
Many people have a hard time reading floor plans and cannot understand how they will look in real life. A 3D model of the house design will help many be able to visualize how their house will look from all the different angles.