The purpose of light switches and dimmers is to open and close electrical circuits, which control the light fixture. Before installing or replacing a light switch, it’s important to ensure that the switch you choose matches the amperage rating and voltage of where it’s going to be mounted. For this reason, you may find yourself asking: What amp light switch do I need?

We don’t realize how much we depend on our electricity until there is a power outage. While electricity at one time was merely a useful convenience, the way our homes currently run, it is more of a necessity. A power outage can cause your food to spoil, leave you without a way to cook food, and it can also affect your heat or air-conditioning system. So when your power goes out, you’ll probably want to know, “How long does it take for the power to come back on?”

Ah, the age-old tradition of hiring a contractor for your home. Fixing up your home is a pricey endeavor, and it’s actually one that carries a fair bit of risk. There are plenty of cases where contractors asked for large sums of money for a project upfront, only to bail mid-project. To ensure that you don’t get fleeced, contractors have a limit on how much they can ask for upfront in California. But, how much is it?

Instead of tiling the shower area, many homeowners choose to install a pre-made shower base with inbuilt membranes and wall flanges. These are cheaper, far easier to install, and you get to pick from a range of materials.

It takes hard work to stop a driveway from flooding, but it’s a worthy investment. Most methods involve excavation, which is best done by contractors. The best ways to prevent driveway flooding include:

A leaking shower is never good news. More often than not, a leaking shower is a dead giveaway that you are about to have to spend a lot of money on your home. That is, if fixing your leaking shower entails removing tiles.

Challenger circuit breakers and service panels were popular during the 1980s and 1990s. Thousands of these Challenger electrical systems were installed in homes built during this period. Unfortunately, experience showed that certain Challenger circuit breakers overheated during normal use. If you have Challenger components in your home, it is critical to replace those breakers. Replacement breakers for Challenger products are available.

Having glass shower doors is great, but it can be a pain too. Sometimes, that glass is accidentally broken, not only causing a huge mess but also a problem. You are going to have to replace that glass. But, is this even possible?

Wood paneling was a popular option for homes in the 1970s and 1980s, but today is a dated look. Many homeowners prefer the appearance of smooth drywall compared to wood grain paneling. Updating your interior space can not only make you happier at home, but it can increase the value of your home. Unfortunately, removing wood paneling can be extremely time-consuming and expensive.

Finding the right material for your shower walls can be tricky. Remodeling a shower can cost thousands of dollars, and it’s hard to commit to a material when you aren’t even sure what you want. Because of that, many homeowners will look for any alternative that gets the job done without breaking the bank. So, can you use peel-and-stick tile in a shower?

Radon is a radioactive gas found across America. It is formed by the breaking down of uranium in soil. The gas escapes and enters the air you breathe. Not only is radon the second-highest reason for lung cancer, but it’s also the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers.

Though it may seem like a far more difficult proposition, installing a pre-hung exterior door on concrete can be relatively easy. It is crucial that you have the right tools to do the job and follow the necessary instructions. So, how exactly can you install a pre-hung exterior door on concrete? We’ll tell you!

There are several popular home additions homeowners perform, making a home more livable and adding value to their home. Older homes with only one bath or no bath on the ground floor level beg for this kind of addition. One concern is how much does it cost to add a half bathroom to your home

No matter your climate, one of the most important things is having a well-insulated home. This will help to keep your place warm in the winter and cool in the summertime.

Painting your home yourself is a great DIY project to help you save some money. But even when you take all the precautions, it is still possible to get paint on places where you don’t want it. In many cases, paint is easy to wipe up without leaving a trace. But when you notice paint on your laminate floor that won’t come out, you will want to find an easy way to make the paint disappear.

The beauty of wood flooring is something many homeowners pine for. While it can be expensive, attractive and affordable wood flooring is also attainable. But what about attractive, affordable, and eco-friendly wood flooring?

If you have never stopped to think about it, there is a reason behind the specific use of toilet paper. Manufacturers make this toilet paper in a specific manner so that it can break up and dissolve easily in water.

For anyone working with concrete, being familiar with the cure time is an absolute must. Concrete is a building material that is not structurally sound until it is cured. The curing process depends on many factors outside of your control.

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.

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.

Choosing the right door for your home can be tough with all of the options out there. For many homeowners looking for a door that is cost-effective and sturdy can be a challenge. However, the ReliaBilt door provides sturdiness while being cost-effective, as well as many other benefits. With a wide selection available, you’re sure to find something that fits your needs perfectly.

Let’s be honest. No one wants to have to use a yellow toilet seat. And as a homeowner, you don’t want your guests looking at one in your house. While you may immediately think a yellowing toilet seat means it’s dirty, but this isn’t necessarily true.

While most conventional gasoline contains either ten or fifteen percent ethanol, TruFuel is engineered gasoline that removes the ethanol from the equation. It’s pre-mixed, ready-to-use fuel for your small engine power equipment.

You can spend days and weeks looking for the best toilet, but you’ll usually find your way back to the same brands. Toto and Kohler are two of the top toilet brands, and they both produce many high-quality toilets. With that said, what is the better toilet brand, Toto, or Kohler?

Who doesn’t love the unique rusty look of knotty pine cabinets? However, there are times when these cabinets may look worn out and old rather than rustic and chic. What do you do when your cabinets do not go with the interior theme of your home? You paint them.

Every homeowner who has a penchant for DIY projects needs to be able to have the right tools at hand. Some of them, like a good saw, a hammer, or nails, can only be bought in a hardware store. Others, like snap claps, can be made at home if you’re crafty enough. A DIY tool is an affordable tool. If your project requires the use of snap clamps on piping, you can save some money by making your own.

Often times, when builder-owners plan to rewire a house, it is to protect the drywall from fire hazards. Things get slightly complicated, however, when builder-owners are faced with the thought that they may have to remove drywall. You don’t need to worry, because you can rewire a house without removing drywall, and it’s easier than it sounds.

We often use 240-volt outlets in our homes to power large appliances like air conditioners and clothes dryers. If you’ve recently purchased a new appliance, you may find that you need a new 240-volt outlet to power it. Can you install it yourself, or is it necessary to get a permit and involve a professional?

Living spaces in the United States vary greatly based on your budget and where you live. For many singles and couples who rent, a one-bedroom apartment often offers sufficient space. However, a one-bedroom can get tricky for families or multiple roommates.

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.

When planning out your expenses for the months ahead, it helps to know how much you regularly pay for certain bills. That knowledge can help you better distribute your finances. It can save you from potential budget shortages near the arrival of your next paycheck.

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.

Some people call it paradise. Others see it as Eden in the Pacific. Whatever your views, you will probably admit that Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Many people dream of living in Hawaii but wonder how much it costs to build a home in Hawaii?

Samsung dishwashers are affordable, efficient, and reliable. That doesn’t mean they aren’t without their problems. For example, performance issues and error codes often appear and confuse homeowners. What do the Samsung dishwasher Smart Auto and Heavy blinking error codes mean?

When building a home from the ground up or adding an addition to your existing home, you have to jump through a lot of hoops. Each town or county has its own set of zoning laws put in place by the local government. Oftentimes, the contractors will take measures to ensure they’re adhering to the proper laws. Whether you’re employing a contractor or building a structure yourself, it is important to understand the zoning laws in your area.

Grout is an important part of taking care of your shower. It fills the gaps in your tiles, which prevents dirt, food, and other substances from falling between them.

Any outdoor electrical circuit should be protected by a GFCI breaker somewhere in the circuit. GFCI circuits protect you from an accidental shock be interrupting the flow of electricity when an electrical fault is detected. Sometimes, an outdoor GFCI outlet will trip after a rainstorm.

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.

Imagine this: You just finished using the bathroom, press down on the handle to flush and after the first, anticipated flush, your toilet unexpectedly flushes a second time. If this scenario is happening in your bathroom, you’re not alone. In fact, this is a very common occurrence that homeowners experience. There are a number of reasons why your toilet may be double flushing. While there might be some do-it-yourself ways to troubleshoot and fix the problem, calling in a professional is always the recommended route to obtain a proper diagnosis.

Until the 1980s, popcorn ceilings were quite popular. Popcorn ceilings are made of a spray-on stucco material, and many contain asbestos. The material asbestos can lead to serious problems such as cancer and asbestosis, so homeowners often remove popcorn ceilings.

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? 

Unless you’re in a rustic cabin in the woods or similar setup, your residence no doubt has a bathroom. In fact, more than likely, you have at least two bathrooms if you’re in a typical home. Some homes have three, four, or more bathrooms, but there’s usually a mix of half-baths, full-baths, and those in between. 

If you are building a structure that requires some support beams and additional safety measures, you might have purchased some joist hangers. Joist hangers are very strong pieces of hardware that offer additional weight support and security for weight bearing structures. They are much stronger than just using nails or screws alone. As you prepare to install your joist hangers, you might wonder if you can use screws instead of nails to install them.

Toilet flushing accounts for a huge percent of a homeowner’s water bill. This in part explains why toilet installation is important. Toilet installation can be done by yourself or by hiring a professional, and often toilet installation only takes a few hours! 

Nothing is better than coming home from a hard day at work and slipping into a tub full of hot water for a long soak. It is even better if your tub has jacuzzi jets to massage those sore muscles and relieve the tension. Many people wonder about adding Epsom salt to their jacuzzi tub to enhance the muscle-soothing action of the hot water jets.

When you need something sturdy to serve as a long-term structural fixture on your property, you can turn to cinder blocks. Cinder blocks are prized mainly for their strength, but they are also eco-friendly options. If you want to build a strong supporting wall or erect one outdoors, using cinder blocks makes a lot of sense.

Hardwood floors can make a room look elegant, rustic, historic and quite expensive. They are often selling points for home buyers and can potentially increase the value of your home. This, of course, is assuming that the floors are in great condition. If you notice scratch marks on your otherwise lovely hardwood floor, you will want to find a way to get rid of these unsightly marks as quickly as possible. 

Getting the most space out of your kitchen’s layout has always been a significant issue, especially if your home isn’t that big. That’s why corner cabinet lazy susans have been a mainstay in most homes. However, they aren’t perfect. Their circular builds can get jammed with stuff, and you might lose out on some storage space.

There are a few things that homeowners never want to see. High up on that list is water damage. Leaks and invading water can make for a nightmare scenario for homeowners. The possibilities as it pertains to damage are seemingly endless.

What happens if you build a fence without procuring a building permit? This question largely depends on whether or not your particular project requires a permit. For instance, if you live in a rural area, the odds are that you won’t need one. However, living in a major metropolitan area makes the process more difficult and will almost always require you to obtain a building permit.

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?

When looking for ways to protect your home, there are a lot of different things to think about. Your driveway is something that gets used every day but isn’t often taken into consideration with regards to protection. By covering your asphalt driveway with a seal coating, you can help keep it in good condition.

Corian has been around since 1964 and was first used for countertops and sinks. It’s been taking the design world by storm over the last couple of decades. Its clean, no-fuss style adds a touch of class without going overboard.

When you’re comparing house wrap, you’ll find that most of them have many features in common. House wraps are essential for keeping your home as durable as possible. You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for things like air-resistance, cold resistance, and UV rating. 

No matter how hectic and stressful life gets, you should always be able to count on your home to offer some peace. But if your house adds to your stress instead of taking it away, then it’s time to reassess your home, not-so-sweet home.

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?

Over time, as quality lumber supply lessens, we will likely experience a dramatic shortage and metal studs will begin to replace their wood stud counterparts. While wood studs are definitely more common in general construction, there are a number of benefits associated with using steel studs in a home.

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!

For many people, nothing says elegance and quality like marble. For centuries, marble has been the choice of building material to symbolize wealth and power. Marble has been used to adorn some of the most well-known palaces in the world. It is no wonder that many homeowners want to evoke the same feelings in their bathrooms but wonder about the cost.

Tiny houses have gained popularity in recent years for their versatility and eco-friendliness. They can be configured to any size, shape, and design that suits an owner’s needs. You can even build tiny homes on trailers so you can take your home anywhere you like.