Numerous home improvement projects involve working with a hammer and nails. They are among the most ubiquitous tools across worksites and learning how to use them properly is essential.

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?

Dirty burner caps don’t just make your stove look bad, but they can throw off the vibe in your kitchen. It’s hard to keep burner caps clean when you cook several days a week. However, it’s best to clean them as much as possible before stains form and it becomes harder to remove them. Many homeowners struggle with how to clean gas stove burner caps.

Anyone who’s owned or rented a house for any period of time knows that clogged drain lines are inevitable. Luckily, a common and handy solution is readily available to get rid of those pesky clogs. Drano is one of the top resources to eliminate clogs in sinks, tubs, and many other drain lines.

If you want to build a garden pathway on a tight budget that lasts a long time, then start looking for bricks. New bricks at home improvement stores can be fairly cheap (and also quite pricey), but if you are looking to build a pathway for as little as possible, don’t head to a retail store.

The swimming pool that serves as the centerpiece of your yard should be a constant source of fun for your family. Unfortunately, accidents can happen near the pool and the people involved can get seriously hurt. You must keep that area safe at all times and building a new pool fence will help with that goal.

Are you thinking about upgrading your bathroom to give it a fresh look? One of the best ways to make an impact is by replacing your old bathtub or, if you only have a shower right now, to add a new one. Unless you have advanced carpentry and plumbing skills, this will involve hiring a professional to carry out the work.

Whether in the mountains, on a picturesque lake, or in the woods, there’s something undeniably magical about a cabin. It offers you a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life and a place to make lasting memories. The best thing about a cabin is it can be as simple or grand as you want to make it. 

Before GFCIs and self-grounding electrical outlets, there were a lot more individuals getting electrocuted by rogue currents. But now, it’s very rare for such an event to happen, mainly because of the two devices above.

Caulking is a plumbing project that typically requires a professional (or at least a DIY perfectionist). It’s necessary for a bathtub spout, but do you need to caulk around the bathroom sink faucet too?

Is your toilet running all the time? Perhaps you have heard the “phantom flushing” in the middle of the night and wondered if you are going crazy. It turns out that this is a fairly common problem and one that can be fixed in a number of ways. More often than not, the flapper is the culprit.

Insulation is an important part of every home. It keeps your house warm during the winter and cool during the summer.  But insulation also reduces noise, thus increasing privacy.

There are times where “do-it-yourself” takes on just that mean: all you have is yourself. While it may be nice to have a helping hand, especially on big projects, that helping hand isn’t always available. That is why it is important to know how to handle the larger items you may come across.

Pea gravel is a ubiquitous landscaping element. You’ve probably heard a lot about it already if you’ve been talking to landscaping experts about your yard. The practical and aesthetic benefits of using pea gravel are well-known and your household could find them useful as well.

Many different companies have manufactured electrical panels over the past 50 years. Some of them are notorious for the poor performance of their products and the problems these products have caused. One of the least known of these companies is Zinsco. Many homeowners wonder if their Zinsco electrical panels are safe?

If you live in a windy area, it is not easy to keep warm water. Your pilot light is one that suffers from consequences. So, how do you stop a pilot light from blowing out on your water heater?

Squirrels can be an entertaining sight in your backyard as they perform the gymnastic moves through the tree limbs. However, if you are like me and are more entertained by the birds attracted by your birdfeeder, squirrels are more of a nuisance. People suggest several methods to stop squirrels from raiding your birdfeeder. We wonder if squirrels can climb PVC pipes.

Going into winter can be daunting when you don’t know where to start when it comes to preparing your home. The last thing that you want to do is struggle to catch up when the temperatures plummets.

Pairing the right sink with a 30-inch cabinet is not as easy as it may sound. Factors such as how the manufacturer states dimensions and flange sizes can make all the difference in installation. So what size sink do you need for a 30-inch cabinet.

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?

The exterior of your home’s cladding not only provides an aesthetic appeal but can also play a significant role in the insulation and overall protection of your home.

You’re probably pretty familiar with plywood, an engineered wood product used for many different projects. But when it comes to the underlayment, things are a little more complex. Is underlayment plywood the same as the subfloor, and when should it be used?

If you are doing a bathroom remodel, one of the biggest parts of the project can be removing the old bathroom vanity. Removing the old vanity can involve electrical work, plumbing work, demolition work, and cleanup of the space. As you plan your bathroom remodel, it is important to understand the cost of removing your old bathroom vanity.

A septic tank needs ample space to drain. And without knowing precisely how big your field should be, it can lead to ground contamination at worst and a nasty cleanup effort at best. Taking the proper precautions beforehand will save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

Many homeowners consider a backyard swimming pool as the ultimate entertainment and relaxation. However, new advances in swimming pool design and the quest for something different led to lazy backyard river installations. You can now enjoy the summer fun in your backyard of what once was only to be found in expensive water parks. Many homeowners wonder how much it costs to install a backyard lazy river.

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.

The difference between cubic centimeters (cc) and horsepower (hp) is a complicated relationship with many factors. One main difference is that cc refers to the size, or volume, of an engine while hp is the measure of how much power the engine puts out.

A swimming pool can be a terrific investment due to the value it adds and just how useful it is. If you have a swimming pool at home, you can use it for exercising or cooling down during the summer. Unfortunately, there’s also a chance that your swimming pool may largely go unused.

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.

There are a lot of variables that go into determining whether a 10-gauge wire can handle 40 amps. The higher the amperage rating of the circuit, the larger the wires must be. This helps avoid fire by cutting down on excess heat that melts the wires.

By installing soffit boards underneath the roof system of your porch, you’ll create a cleaner look for your outdoor living area. Not only does installing a soffit complete the look of your entire porch, it also helps to insulate your home, shielding it from outdoor temperature fluctuations throughout the year.

Installing a new light fixture looks to be a simple operation. Two wires to connect and hang the new light fixture. Then you take down the old light fixture and find a mass of white, black, and red wires. There is an instant flash of panic as you try and figure out how to wire the new light fixture. Which of the black, white, and red wires do you use?

Have you ever been in a room that was too bright, and you wished that you could tone down the brightness of the room’s light? If so, then you would need a dimmer switch to do that. Dimmer switches are a commodity that doesn’t come as standard procedure on most houses. They’re a specialty item that costs more than normal light switches.

Switches are used for operating lights, fans, garbage disposal, and even large electrical mechanisms. However, not all switches are the same. Planning out which switches and sockets to have in your home bears many questions.

Cracked walls, peeling paint, and mold are all signs of water damage often seen in basements. If there’s water damage in your basement, then the clear solution is to waterproof it. But what is basement waterproofing, exactly, and what waterproofing methods can you choose between?

Building a new home on a budget is a rewarding endeavor. But these days, finding the right materials at a low price can be a real challenge. Prices continue to increase and sometimes materials are difficult to find, which makes them even more costly. If you are on a tight budget when building a home, you will want to search high and low to find cheap or free materials to incorporate into your home building project.

The blower motor inside your HVAC unit has an important role to play. That blower motor is responsible for moving the fan in your HVAC unit so the air will not circulate without it. Simply put, your HVAC unit will not be able to provide the comfort you seek if the blower motor is malfunctioning.

Owning a home can be fun and exciting, especially when it comes to styling the outside as an expression of your character. However, this can be done in more than one way. Instead of painting the house or trim, what if you change your garage door colors to add some pizazz? Some people even choose to have black garage doors, but is this a bad idea?

If you’re planning to use concrete slabs in an upcoming project, it’s important to do your research when it comes to the cost. No matter what you’re building—whether it’s a back patio designed for cool hangouts or a smooth, new driveway—you’ll need to be aware of the potential price of materials and labor.

Insulation is generally considered a good investment because of the immediate and long-term benefits it can provide. Different parts of your home must be insulated if you want to capitalize on the available benefits. Your garage should not be an exception to that.

Vinyl plank floors in homes are a cost-effective, attractive, and low-maintenance option that has recently grown in popularity.  The floors in your house make a huge impact on the design, so you want to make sure you make the right choices regarding installation. Therefore, in addition to choosing the best color and pattern, you also need to know which direction to lay vinyl plank flooring. 

It is easy to put concrete curbs out of your mind because of how commonplace they are in daily life. Whether you walk over concrete curbs every day or you simply drive alongside them, they’re a bigger part of your life than they may seem. With all of the functionality and benefits of concrete curbs, how many types are there?

You noticed that sag in the roof of your home. A trip into your attic and a bit of investigation and you found a roof trust with some damage. The damage doesn’t look too bad from the inside, but you can see the definite sag where the roof truss has bowed from the outside. How much does it cost to repair a roof truss?

Grout is one of those things that is meant to look perennially crisp and clean. Unfortunately, when reality hits, it’s often a different story. Usually, this can all be fixed with a little bit of bleach and scrubbing. Dirtiness aside, the biggest issue grout can have is a crack. Cracks are rare with grout, primarily because it’s not supposed to happen. When they do, you might be wondering what caused that grout crack.

Retaining walls are built for different reasons. They may be built for landscaping purposes or perhaps for safety reasons. Some homeowners also want retaining walls to keep their property protected and to maintain their privacy.

It can throw you for a loop when you get a particularly high electric bill. That is truer now than ever before, since the cost of living has increased so much in the past few years. So you may ask yourself, why is my electric bill so high?

Jack and Jill bathrooms are often popular choices for multi-kid households, with two separate bedrooms sharing one bath. They even get their name from the popular kid’s nursery rhyme, Jack and Jill. They also enable household members to have a private entrance without having to double up on the number of bathrooms. 

When it comes to designing or renovating a bathroom shower, most homeowners place a strong emphasis on appearance rather than function. However, because you likely don’t want to shower while standing in dirty water, the drain is one of the most important components of your shower. There are many different types of shower drains, some of which are the only application for specific situations.

Cabinets can be a centerpiece and eye-catcher of your kitchen, so finding a floor that complements it is key. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for which color hardwood floors go with maple cabinets. Whether you prefer dark or light flooring, you can find something that matches.  

What kind of flooring do you want to install inside your home? It can be tough to pinpoint a standout candidate given the sheer number of options available. While browsing your options, you cannot forget to take a closer look at marble flooring because it presents some terrific qualities.

Propane is a versatile fuel that can be used to power numerous appliances in and around the home. You can use propane for cooking, heating water, and it can also help provide some warmth.  Many homeowners even purchase propane tanks so they can store that fuel and use it on-demand.

Showerheads can generally be changed out whenever you feel like it. Whether it is because the old showerhead has gone bad or you simply want to go with a new style. Even better, they are generally installed and removed with relative ease.

Laying tile for shower walls can be hard work, but you can make it easier if you choose the right adhesive. There are so many tile adhesives on the market these days, but mastic and Thinset mortar are two mainstays when it comes to shower walls. So, what is better; mastic or Thinset for shower walls?

Support beams are important for the structural integrity of buildings. The important part is not only determining the location of these beams but the proper length and strength depending on where they are being deployed and what type ( like an I-beam).

Toilet flush systems often end up with issues that need immediate repairs. You do not want your nature’s call to be messy due to a broken toilet, now do you? One such problem that has been frequently witnessed by people is an inefficient toilet flapper that closes too soon. As a result, the necessary amount of water does not flush down the toilet bowl to clean it.

Wiring branch circuits in your home can be complicated and a bit tricky. There are numerous codes and regulations to consider as you install the circuit breakers, wiring, receptacles and lighting fixtures. One issue requiring more than a little attention is the number of receptacles installed on a 20-amp branch circuit.

You may not know the term ‘recessed lighting,’ but you’re guaranteed to have seen it somewhere. These ceiling fixtures, which create nice ambient lighting, are a worthy addition to any home. But it can be tough to know which kind of recessed lighting to buy, and if a pro should install them for you. Let’s discuss the question, can a handyman install recessed lighting? 

Many homeowners get confused about their electrical system when talking about neutrals and grounds. This confusion can lead to questions about how the circuit breaker box in your home is wired. Is it permissible to have the neutral wires and the ground wires in your home’s electrical system connected to the same bus bar in the electrical panel?

The grey pipe or the conduit PVC pipe is designed to handle the heat of the sun and the heat of the electrical wires. Two different kinds are used in electrical work, which are Schedule 40 and Schedule 80. Either or can connect to an electrical box.

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?