Home Improvement
Does A Sump Pump Need GFCI Outlet?
A failed sump pump can be a nightmare situation. Ankle deep standing water in a basement after a sump pump fails is no picnic. But what if that standing water is energized and capable of delivering a lethal shock? Shouldn’t sump pumps be on a GFCI protected outlet?
Do Shower Doors Add Value To Your Home?
There are numerous options available whether you’re thinking about installing shower doors in a new construction or upgrading your bathroom. Shower doors enhance the beauty of your home, whether you prefer a contemporary or classic style. Check to see if adding shower doors increases the value of your house as well.
What's The Ideal Shower Curb Height?
Shower curbs are such a fixture of the average full bathroom that it’s easy to ignore them even as you step over one. However, it is important to consider every aspect of a shower curb when you install or renovate a shower. So, what is the ideal shower curb height?
How Much Does It Cost to Turn A Crawl Space Into A Basement?
For smaller homes, space can come at a premium. While the simple solution may be to just get a bigger home, it also isn’t necessarily financially viable for some. That is why making the most out of the current space is sometimes the more optimal route.
How To Remove A Stuck Showerhead (9 Easy Steps!)
You come home at the end of a long, tough day, looking forward to taking a hot shower. You climb in and find out that your shower has either stopped distributing water completely or with the painstakingly low-pressured flow.
How To Move A Toilet Drain In Concrete (Do This!)
Whether you are buying a new home or simply looking to change things up in your old one, those changes can have a potentially sizable impact. It all depends on what you are looking to do. Some changes are no more than aesthetic and can be done in short order. Others are a bit tougher.
Low Hot Water Pressure In Your Shower? (We Have A Fix)
Nothing is nicer than having a hot, steamy shower that hits you in a powerful, massaging way. Unfortunately, today, your shower decided not to give you that. Rather than give you the usual high pressure that you’re used to, your shower just puts out a little trickle of water. After annoyedly trying to huddle under the showerhead, you give up. What’s going on with this crazy thing?
Sump Pump Runs Every 30 Seconds? (Causes & Quick Fixes)
Sump pumps are a fixture in houses with basements. They help to get rid of, or pump out, excess water, and protect your basement and the rest of your home from flooding. Your sump pump is only supposed to run when water causes the float switch to trip. If your sump pump is running every 30 seconds, that could indicate that something is wrong.
Can You Nail Down Laminate Flooring? (Find Out Now!)
For many years, laminate flooring has been one of the most popular alternatives for hardwood used by homeowners. It is designed to mimic real wood, but is more affordable, DIY friendly, relatively easy to clean and maintain, and scratch-resistant than traditional hardwood.
How To Attach 4x4s To Each Other
When you first start woodworking, you’re probably using 2 by 4s. They’re easy to attach to one another, not to mention to other wood measurements. When you need something sturdier, a 4×4 is what you’re going to grab. Attaching two of these to each other, though, can be a little bit tricky. So, how can you do it?
Will Construction Costs Go Down (in 2023)?
From record sales and rapid price increases to historic supply chain issues and steady interest rate hikes, things are without a doubt wild and constantly evolving in today’s construction world. But even with these major shifts and hurdles, buildings are still going up and new construction is soldiering on.
What Is A Deck Mount Faucet? (Find Out Now!)
Faucets are among the most important fixtures in a home. Whether you’re looking to install a faucet for the first time or want to replace an existing one, it’s best to learn about the different options you have. Undeniably, deck mount faucets will be among your top considerations. But, what exactly is a deck mount faucet?
How To Remove Plastic Nut From Toilet Tank (Do This!)
Working with toilets and other plumbing fixtures can be intimidating, difficult, and messy. This is especially true when it comes time to remove the lid from your toilet tank remove any component. With that said, how do you remove the plastic nut from a toilet tank?
Can You Flush Coffee Grounds Down Toilet? (Find Out Now!)
Starting the day with a hot cup of coffee is a staple for many people. If this is true for you, too, the unavoidable truth to that is you are then left with a pile of used coffee grounds with every pot you make. As you’re going about your daily routine, it’s easy to get lazy when cleaning everything up.
What Is A Tamper-Resistant Receptacle? (Find Out Now!)
When you first have kids or get a new pet, one of the things that you need to do is consider baby-proofing your home. There are a lot of hazards in and around your home that you may need to watch out for. For example, almost everything electronic can be hazardous to young kids. That’s why people are told to get tamper-resistant receptacles. But, what on earth is a tamper-resistant receptacle supposed to be?
Chainsaw Chain Direction: Which Way Should It Go?
A neighbor who has experience with chainsaws borrowed yours a couple of weeks ago for some yard work. When he returned the chainsaw, he put it back up on the shelf for you. Now, you plan to do some trimming in the yard, so you haul down the chainsaw. But wait a minute.
What Are The Standard Dimensions For A 2 Car Garage?
For many homeowners, a two car garage is not only highly sought after, but it is also a necessary part of their home. Not all houses come with 2 car garages, of course, so often homeowners will have one built to accommodate their needs.
Can You Paint Fiberglass Doors? (Find Out Now!)
Fiberglass exterior doors are becoming more popular with builders and homeowners upgrading their homes. Fiberglass doors offer a lot of advantages like those offered by steel or PVC door units. However, fiberglass door units offer only a few color options, and many homeowners wonder if they can paint a fiberglass door to match the exterior of their homes.
How To Lay Paving Slabs On A Slope (Step By Step Guide)
Paving slabs can make a pathway or driveway look fantastic with just a little bit of hard work. We are going to show you the ins and outs, of laying down paving slabs on a sloped surface. Since not all properties are perfectly flat, it’s essential to know how to do this, especially if your property is on a slope!
Polymeric Sand Alternatives: Using Other Materials For Your Paving Job
For years, contractors, home improvement enthusiasts, and hobbyists alike have used polymeric sand for paving. Polymeric sand is essentially a sand that when combined with water and something such as silica forms a tight bond. However, not everyone wants to use polymeric sand, and many homeowners opt for an alternative.
Does Foundation Repair Affect Home Value?
It may go without saying, but the foundation of a home is one of the most important aspects of the entire property. The foundation literally holds the structure up. When there are issues with the foundation, it can lead to serious concerns about structural integrity and can cost quite a bit to repair.
Can You Run 400 Amp Service With 2 200 Amp Panels?
More and more, we are seeing 400 Amp service being run into residential properties across the US. Today’s modern appliances and electronics demand more and more power requiring higher amperage electric service. Many homeowners, builders, and contractors wonder if using a pair of 200 Amp service panels is a viable option.
15-Ft Wide House Plans (with Drawings)
When you think of a 15-ft wide house, you might picture a shotgun house or single-wide mobile home. These style homes are typically long and narrow, making them a good fit for narrow lots. You could also find multi-level 15-ft wide homes in many cities, where space is limited, but housing needs are high.
Can You Put Out An Electrical Fire With Water? (Find Out Now!)
Electrical service is a hallmark of modern civilization. Having electrical service is so common we tend to take it for granted. However, there are times when electricity becomes a problem. An arc or short circuit in an electrical system can quickly start a fire you our home. Many people wonder if an electrical fire can be extinguished with water?
What To Do With An Old Toilet (Find Out Now!)
Odds are, you’ve never really had to think about how to throw a toilet away. It’s not a project homeowners deal with on a regular basis, but it’s safe to say that it will happen at some point or another. The average lifespan of a toilet is 10 to 15 years. So, what can you do after that?
Can Laminate Flooring Get Wet?
Laminate flooring is composed of particleboard, resin, and a print on top that mimics wood. It’s popular among homeowners for its ability to resist scratches, fading, stains, and other cosmetic imperfections.
Remodeling Your Shower: How to Transition From Tile to Drywall
It’s funny – most people, no matter how familiar they are with home improvement, never really think about how they should finish the tile edgings when they meet the wall until they’re actually at that point. Then they begin asking all the questions: Should they just stop? Grout the spot? Add a metal profile or commercial edging? What would be the costs?
Do You Need To Vent A Metal Roof?
Metal roofs have been used to top barns, country-style homes, and buildings across the U.S. since the 1700s. However, the metal roofs of today are nothing like the familiar tin roof of years past.
Can You DIY A Basement Home Theater For Under 5k?
Has a home theater always been a dream of yours? Or perhaps with the explosion of streaming services and more and more movies going straight to these platforms, you find yourself craving a theater experience.
Expanding Foam Vs. Concrete Fence Post: Which Is Better?
Setting a fence post can be tricky, but it does not have to be. The two most viable options for setting a fence post is using expanding foam or concrete.
How Much Does A Trex Fence Cost?
Over the years, fences have come in many styles, ranging from simple chain link to classic wooden boards to elaborate, ironwork masterpieces. These styles are good options, but over time metal rusts and wood can rot. A Trex fence features a composite material that is attractive and long-lasting.
Garage Door Jerks When Opening? (We Have a Fix)
A garage door is more complicated than just your average front door. This huge metal contraption probably weighs more than you do. However, with a flick of your hand, or the press of a button it opens like magic.
Does A Refrigerator Need To Be On A GFCI Circuit?
Your refrigerator can work with a standard electrical outlet as well as a GFCI. Many people believe that using a non-GFCI outlet is the best option for food storage. Thinking that this will prevent unnecessary tripping of the circuit breaker, causing food spoilage.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Cultured Marble Showers?
Showers should be a place of relaxation and cleanliness. If your shower isn’t helping you relax or is constantly dirty, then you’ve got to make a change! Whether installing a new shower into your current home or selecting one for your new home, you’ve still got extensive choices to make.
Alternatives To Birdsmouth Cuts: Ways To Hang Roof Rafters
If you’re familiar with framing, then you’ve probably worked with birdsmouth cuts. These styles of cuts allow roof joists to connect to the wall plate of a structure. Other than asking a store to cut your wood, there are some other alternatives! What are some other options for the birdsmouth cut?
9 Types of Toilet Flush Systems
Flush toilets have been in use for centuries, first being introduced back in 1598 by Sir John Harington. They operate by using water to flush waste through a drainpipe to another designated disposal location. Over the centuries, the efficiency, design, and flushing systems of these toilets have drastically improved to yield the modern toilets available today.
Gorilla Ladders Vs. Little Giant: Which Ladder Is Best?
Choosing the right ladder can be tough because there are so many brands that make them, and many are similar. Good ladder manufacturers not only create a wide variety of ladder heights, but also several options for materials and purpose.
How Often Do I Have To Recoat Hardwood Floors?
Hardwood floors can elevate a room, and they often increase the value of your home. When you have hardwood floors, you want to make sure you keep them looking sparkling clean and looking fresh. Wood floors, however, inevitably show wear and tear. As you look down at your less than perfect floors, you may find yourself wondering how often you should recoat your hardwood floors.
How To Install Vinyl Soffit Over Wood
When it comes to maintaining your roof, there typically isn’t a lot to be done unless you got an old or poorly made roof. Still, there will come a time where you are looking to have essential maintenance done or perhaps are looking to make a change to some of the materials.
How Long Will a Treated 4×4 Post Last in the Ground?
There are a lot of reasons why you may want to sink a post into the ground. Most importantly, that post can be made of different materials. Wood is a very common, cheaply acquiring material for putting posts in the ground.
How Much Does A Truckload Of River Rock Cost?
Having a rocky driveway, or adding rocks to your garden? Using rocks as a way to “feather the nest” at home is a commonplace thing, no matter where you are. River rocks are considered to be one of the more popular types, not to mention one of the more affordable. If you’re considering doing a landscaping project using these rocks, it’s a good idea to know what you should expect.
Can I Share My Electricity With My Neighbor?
It’s no secret that heating your home with electricity can be expensive. Because of that, it may have crossed your mind to share the burden with a neighbor instead of paying for everything on your own. That begs the question: is this even possible?
Cultured Marble Shower Cost [Per Square Foot & Overall Cost]
Whether you’re building your shower for the first time or renovating it, choosing the right materials for it will be crucial. Your shower is going to be a prominent part of your bathroom. It’s understandable if you want to use some special materials to make it stand out.
How To Fill The Gap For Sliding Barn Doors
Many people install barn doors in their houses to save space. No matter the door’s width, these flush against the wall taking up zero space in a room. You can install them anywhere in the house without worrying about opening and closing them. However, barn doors do have a problem. They usually end up with gaps between the door and the baseboard, as these doors need to slide over the board.
Can You Put A Toilet On Top Of A Floating Floor? (Find Out Now!)
Remodeling bathrooms can be tricky. But installing a new toilet shouldn’t be the most challenging part. So, can you put a toilet on top of a floating floor? Or do you need to take extra steps to install it correctly?
How Much Does AC Coil Replacement Cost?
The air conditioner is crucial to maintaining comfort for many households. A malfunctioning air conditioner could make dealing with the sweltering summer heat next to impossible. If one of the coils inside your air conditioner breaks, you need to replace it as soon as possible.
Can You Flush The Toilet During A Power Outage? (Find Out Now!)
Being forced to sit in the dark brings to light how much we rely on electricity to live. It’s no secret that power outages can make your life inconvenient, but the good news is there’s a chance that inconvenience will not affect your toilet usage.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Fiber Mesh Concrete?
Concrete needs to be sturdy and last a long time. One way to help concrete be its best is to use fiber mesh concrete. Fiber mesh concrete involves adding fibers to a ready-made concrete solution. The fibers will help reinforce the solution. Different fibers such as glass, steel, and synthetic or natural fibers are mixed in to form the mesh.
Why Does My Shower Sound Like A Kettle?
One of the most alarming and frightening noises that your plumbing can make is a high-pitched squeal. It sounds similar to a shrieking tea kettle and it usually happens while you’re taking a shower. If your shower sounds like a tea kettle, then there are several different things that could be happening.
How Much Does It Cost To Build A House In Houston?
Texas is growing faster than almost any other state in the Union. In Texas, Houston is experiencing an economic and population boom as businesses relocate and their employees follow. The lower cost of living and the relatively modest cost of homes than other states make Houston particularly attractive. Many people are surprised at how much it costs to build a house in Houston.
What Color Should I Paint My Kitchen With Cherry Cabinets?
When it comes to kitchen design, very few things will make as much an impact as the color scheme you choose as well as the wood finish you choose for your cabinets. Some wood finishes, like birch, can be matched with a wide range of different paint schemes. Cherry cabinets, on the other hand, can be pretty hard to pair with paint. Want to avoid hackneyed color pairings? You do have some interesting choices you can make…
How Much Does It Cost to Convert to a Saltwater Pool?
A swimming pool could turn out to be a fantastic addition to your property. In the short term, you can use your new swimming pool for having fun or even working out. Long term, potential buyers may find your property may attractive thanks to the presence of the swimming pool.
Can I Use Quikrete For My Shower Pan?
If there’s one thing that most people don’t want to do, it’s making a massive mistake by using the wrong underlayment while they’re trying to put together a shower. A bad underlayment can ruin the shower pan you bought. Those things are not cheap, and they can easily cost an arm and a leg. If you want to use Quikrete on a shower pan, you’re probably a little hesitant to do so.
Neutral And Ground On Same Bar In The Subpanel? (Fix It Now!)
The electrical components of your home or business can require professional intervention much of the time for good reason. Not only is it a complicated setup, especially to DIYers, but it is dangerous as well. Plus there is the potential of installation going wrong on top of all that.
Bathroom & Laundry Room Combo Floor Plans
Whether you live in an apartment, condo, or single-family home, there’s a good chance you have a laundry area. Laundry areas come in many forms, including a utility room, laundry closet, or a shared laundry area. For example, many people have their laundry set up in a garage or a bathroom.
Can You Turn A Light Switch Into An Outlet? (Find Out Now!)
If you have a light switch that you hardly use, it might be more beneficial to convert it into an outlet. But can that even be done? The answer is a resounding yes!
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Bathroom Fan?
Many homeowners have learned to live with bathrooms that are perpetually coated with moisture. You should avoid following their example because excessively moist bathrooms become breeding grounds for mold and they also pose maintenance difficulties. Thankfully, you can effectively reduce the amount of moisture accumulating in your bathroom by installing an exhaust fan.
How High Should An Outdoor Electrical Outlet Be?
As outdoor electrical outlets are subjected to different weather patterns, installing them falls under strict building codes.
How Much Does Underground Electrical Service Cost?
Very few improvements can improve the look of both your home and your neighborhood than removing overhead wires. Whether you’re remodeling your home or working on a different project on your property, it may make the most sense to dig a trench and bury existing wires or upgrade your current services. However, underground lines can be costly and you’ll likely end up spending thousands more on this job than overhead lines, plus the few days of labor to dig and fill the trench.
10 Amazing Ways To Conceal An Electrical Panel
Electrical panels stick out like a sore thumb, and while they are practical, they are also visually unappealing. These eyesores are a necessary evil, but you don’t have to necessarily see them for them to be useful. There are several amazing ways to conceal an electrical panel and still access it.