Home Improvement DIY

Can Screws Be Used With Joist Hangers Instead Of Nails?

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.

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How To Silence A Microwave Oven

Microwave ovens are a modern luxury we often take for granted. You can easily heat leftover meals without creating a pile of dishes. They are also amazing at heating and cooking meals, making a dinner that is hot and ready in five minutes. While microwave ovens are amazing, sometimes the sounds they make are anything but. If you have a particularly loud microwave oven that is prone to constant beeping, you have probably wondered if there is a way to silence it.

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How To Install Radiant Barrier Insulation In A Stud Wall

Radiant barriers are classically located in attics and are excellent at reducing the amount of heat and reducing cooling costs. While it may not be as typical, you can also install radiant barriers in stud walls. With this short guide, you will be well on your way to understanding how to go through this installation.

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How To Fix A Broken Tile Without Replacing It

In the DIYers world, we always want to find the best ways not to buy something. One of those things comes from tiles and how we can fix them without replacing them. Using this guide, you will be able to handle any tile fixing projects.

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How To Pick A Skeleton Key Lock [3 Super Easy Ways!]

It is all too easy to misplace an old skeleton key. Even if you have your skeleton key on hand, it may not be able to unlock a vintage lock. Because of that, many homeowners are left with their hands in the air wondering how they can pick a skeleton key lock.

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How Do I Lower The Humidity In My Home?

Humidity can ruin a great day outdoors, but nothing is worse than excessive humidity in your home. It’s hard to get comfortable when you breathe moist air, and it can be dangerous if you have respiratory problems. Luckily, there are several simple ways to lower humidity in your home.

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Finding Beige Flags In A House

It’s the day you’ve been waiting for — move-in day. You finally closed on your new place, have the keys in hand, and become a homeowner. However, you’re starting to notice a few minor issues that might give you second thoughts. These are the little frustrations and inconveniences that many refer to as beige flags.

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Can You Use Exterior Paint Indoors?

Exterior paint is known to be both strong and durable. But, is it appropriate for indoor use? It may seem like a great idea to use exterior paint on interior walls; however, this option has serious downfalls. One has to beware of the dangers of exterior paint when it’s used indoors.

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Cheapest Ways To Heat Your House In The Winter

The last thing you want to do is run up massive energy bills all winter. It’s tempting to turn up the furnace every time it gets cold, but that will quickly become quite expensive. So, what are the cheapest ways to heat your house in the winter?

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Nails Vs. Screws: Which One Should You Use For Your Project?

Nails and screws are a mainstay in many construction projects. You would be hard-pressed to tackle any home improvement task that doesn’t call for one or the other. But how do you know when to use nails or screws for your project?

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Toilet Swirls But Won't Flush: Possible Causes & How to Fix

Toilets are in every home, but they are hardly talked about until something goes wrong. Toilet issues, however, are more common than you might think. In fact, one survey suggests that 28 million Americans have a toilet that clogs every month. This begs the question – what can be done when you have a toilet that swirls but won’t flush?

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How To Cut Glass With A Dremel (Step by Step Guide)

There are many reasons that people have for cutting glass. Reshaping mirrors and windowpanes, cutting bottles for craft projects, and etching designs into bottles, are just a few of the many reasons people have for cutting glass. No matter what reason you have to cut glass, there is one tool that can certainly help: a Dremel.

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Chipped My Le Creuset Enamel. Now What?

Le Creuset cookware is not only one of the best performing brands on the market, but it also looks amazing. Even if you aren’t known to cook gourmet meals in dutch ovens all that often, you might still want to own a Le Creuset simply for its shiny and colorful enamel.

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How To Program Old Craftsman Garage Door Opener

Having an automatic garage door does not mean much if the opener will not work. For some reason, the Sears Craftsman garage door opener remotes just stop working after a while. This means you have to buy a new remote. Or does it?

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Do TV Mounts Come With Screws?

Purchasing a TV mount and the necessary screws can be an exciting decision. But getting your mount without screws can be an annoying discovery!

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Honda Self Propelled Lawnmower Not Pulling? (We Have A Fix)

It can be frustrating when a piece of equipment is not operating correctly. One of the most annoying things I can think of is when a self-propelled lawnmower will not pull. You try to push it forward or backward, but it just won’t budge. So, in this circumstance, how do you fix the issue?

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How To Remove Thinset From A Tile Face (Step-by-Step Guide)

Home remodeling or renovation can be an expensive endeavor. You could end up spending somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 to have your home remodeled. Saving money whenever possible would be ideal.

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How To Block A Bathtub Drain Without A Plug (Quickly & Easily!)

After a long, stressful day a good soak in the tub can be a relaxing way to unwind. However, this experience is highly dependent on a working stopper keeping the water from escaping down the drain. If your bathtub doesn’t have a functioning stopper or plug, there are ways to block the drain without them.

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How To Make Scented Candles At Home

If you love bespoke home accessories, making scented candles at home might be a DIY activity you want to add to your wheelhouse.

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How To Remove Sunken Nails From Wood (3 Ways To Do It!)

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.

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How To Clean A Shower Floor

You use your shower to get clean, so if any part of it’s gross, it feels icky instead of relaxing, and you say, “eww” more than “aah.”. If the shower floor starts to get scummy or grimy, it boosts the ick factor because you feel like you’re standing in filth. So what’s the best way to clean the shower floor so you’re not cringing while you’re washing up?

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OpenHAB Vs. Home Assistant: Which Is Best For Your Smart Home?

Slowly and quietly, a new trend in smart homes is starting to take root among the ultra-techy. People are now making their own open-source programs for their smart home hubs. But when comparing the OpenHAB vs Home Assistant programs, which is better for your home?

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Creative Ways To Build A Bookshelf With Cheap Or Free Materials

A bookshelf is a fantastic addition to almost any room. It looks great and can showcase all sorts of items including art, plants, and of course, lots of books. It works well in a bedroom, home office, living room, and even in the kitchen. But bookshelves can cost hundreds of dollars or more. This might have you wondering if it is possible to build your own bookshelf with cheap or free materials.

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Can You Use Ceiling Paint On Walls?

Whether you ran out of paint while painting your walls, or you don’t want to get two separate cans of paint, you might be wondering if you can just use your ceiling paint on your walls.

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How To Keep A Poorly Insulated House Warm

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.

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Can You Add Water To Paint?

If you found the perfect color paint but find it too thick to paint with, you might wonder how you can make it more workable. Or perhaps you have an old can of paint you need to use for touch ups, but find that over time, it has thickened up too much to use. Either way, this thick paint will have you wondering if you can add water to your paint, and if so, how much?

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How To Build Garage Shelves From 2×4's

If you’re a handy homeowner, your garage probably isn’t just a place that you park your car. It’s actually a place where you park everything from seasonal storage, gardening gear, tools, kids’ toys, and wood saws. Without space-saving shelves to help contain all of these supplies and tools, your beautiful garage can end up looking like a disorganized mess.

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How To Connect Two Faucet Supply Lines

Faucet supply lines are often composed of a single line from your wall supply to your faucet. These lines are composed of several possible materials, and there are several ways to join them. Sometimes, you may find a single line is a wrong length or shape, and you need a second line.  So, which method should you choose?

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How To Stop Wind From Blowing Out Pilot Light (On A Water Heater)

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?

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10 Creative Things To Do With A Spare Closet

Are you blessed with a closet and no clutter? If so, you end up with a world of possibilities. There are all sorts of creative, fun and practical things you can do with a spare closet.

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How To Make A Doorknob Hole Bigger (Step-by-Step Guide)

When moving into a new home, one of the first things most people do is change the locks. You want to feel secure in your new home and changing the locks helps with that. This is the time when a lot of people make a common mistake.

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How To Install Metal Roofing On A Shed

Metal roofing is perfect for sheds because of its low cost and how easy it is to install. Still, many home improvement enthusiasts and building-owners have not installed metal roofing on a shed before and want to know how it can be done properly. So, how exactly do you do it?

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How To Add A Light Fixture And Switch To An Existing Circuit

Built-in lighting is excellent; it typically can provide an entire room with light, but what if it’s not enough? You could add plugin lamps, or you could add more built-ins.

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How Do I Make My House Quieter?

Everyone wants a home that gives them a quiet place to relax and unwind. But if your house isn’t quite the peaceful retreat of your dreams, what can you do? Whether you’re dealing with a small space, a busy street, or a house that echoes like the Grand Canyon, you can make your house quieter.

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Reasons Why Your Fresh Paint Keeps Peeling Off The Walls

There is nothing like a nice new coat of paint to get a room, piece of furniture or even your home’s exterior looking shiny and new. Painting your walls is a great way to reinvigorate them without having to start from scratch. But sometimes our best intentions end in disaster, like when a freshly painted wall starts peeling. But if you just completed this job recently, you are likely wondering why your fresh paint is peeling off the walls.

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Best Home Improvement Projects To Accomplish In The Winter

When the bitter cold of winter sets in, it is particularly difficult to stay motivated. The freezing temperatures, combined with short days, make even the most proactive person lethargic. While outdoor options might seem limited, the winter months allow you lots of free time to accomplish many home projects that you find yourself too busy to tackle in the spring and summer months.

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Can You Use Interior Paint Outside?

People have their own reasons for why they don’t want to use designated products for a project, such as outdoor paint for an outdoor paint job. Maybe they have too much extra indoor paint, or they don’t want to spend the extra money.

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How To Install A Ceiling Fan Where No Fixture Exists

Whether you’re installing a ceiling fan to cool you down in the summer or help circulate heat in the winter, there are countless benefits to adding one to your home. Increase comfortability and save money on your energy bills by installing a ceiling fan. However, what happens if you want to install one in a room that does not have an already existing fixture? Although the project is much simpler with the existence of a fixture, it can still be done without the necessary wiring in place.

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Generator Runs For A Few Seconds Then Stops?

If you have ever run a generator, that frustrating feeling when it runs a few seconds and stops is not good. Whether it results in a ruined camping trip or reading by candlelight, it isn’t a fun experience. So what do you do when your generator does this?

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Can You Use Peel-And-Stick Tile In A Shower?

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?

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How To Prepare For A Home Appraisal

If you’re purchasing a new home or planning to refinance, then you’ll need to get a home appraisal. Your lender requires a home appraisal to ensure they aren’t lending you more money than the house is worth. You want the number to be accurate and not too low, so how do you prepare for a home appraisal?

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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.

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How To Install A Mounting Block On Existing Vinyl Siding

When installing a mounting block on vinyl siding, there are plenty of ways things can go wrong. You may ask if your vinyl siding can handle this depending upon the weight. You may not know where to begin.

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How To Make Bar Stools Taller (Step-by-Step Guide)

Have you purchased bar stools that are too short, or want to use your old bar stools in a new, higher location? Fortunately, you won’t need to purchase expensive new stools or return the ones you picked out.

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What Size Wire To Run To A Shed? (Find Out Now!)

Electrical work may be confusing even to an experienced DIYer, especially when it comes to wire gauge. Wire gauge is the thickness of a wire and it can affect how much of an electrical load it can handle. So, what size wire should you run to a shed?

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How To Fix Cracks In Windows

Window glass is usually pretty durable, but it only takes one unfortunate event to cause a crack.

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How To Remove A Ceiling Fan (Quickly & Easily!)

Ceiling fans are great for providing comforting and efficient cooling. They are especially useful in smaller homes since they don’t have to take up additional space near the floor. Add a ceiling fan to your home and it can be a useful fixture for years to come.

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How To Remove Moisture Between Window Panes With A Hair Dryer

Have you ever noticed moisture between the window panes of your house? If so, then you know how annoying it can be. Since it is a hard-to-reach place, it can be tricky to get rid of this condensation.

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How To Remove Wood Stain From Concrete

Wood stain is a great way to freshen up a drab piece of wood furniture by bringing it new vigor and added protection. Unfortunately, while wood stain might be a miracle worker when applied to wood, it is more of a nightmare when it spills on concrete.

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How To Organize Power Tools In Your Garage

It can take years and even decades to build a sizable tool collection that you are proud of. There are just so many essential tools, it can take years to save up for them all. Power tools, in particular, are quite expensive, but necessary for anyone who wants to do lots of DIY projects. But once you finally do have a full tool collection and lots of power tools, you might find that organizing and storing your power tools is a whole new challenge you need to overcome.

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How To Hide Cords When Mounting A TV

There are many aesthetic eyesores that most homeowners will do anything to avoid. One such eyesore is the sight of messy TV cords dangling freely around and beneath a nice TV. Understandably, many homeowners struggle with how to hide cords when mounting a TV.

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How To Remove Tile Underlayment (Step-by-Step Guide)

When removing tile underlayment, it can be a pretty extensive process. It goes double for tile underlayment connected to concrete, which we will address with this guide. So, how do you remove tile underlayment?

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How Do You Determine What Size Harp To Get For A Lamp?

Are you creating a DIY lamp, repurposing an amazing flea market find, or needing to make adjustments to an existing lamp? If you’re fixing, making, or buying a lamp, the right size harp makes all the difference. The harp hides the things you don’t want to see, but how do you know what size to get for a lamp?

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How Do I Fix Uneven Grout Lines?

Grout is an integral part of any tiling job. It helps keep tiles straight, prevents moisture from gathering behind the tiles, and adds to the overall appeal of a room. However, if your grout lines are uneven, they’re more likely to be an eyesore than an aesthetic anchor. 

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How To Install Sharkbite Fittings On A Copper Pipe

Repairing or installing water lines within your home typically requires that you use crimpers, adhesives, or solder. However, adhesives can smell awful and be a very messy undertaking. Also, crimpers are pricey, can be challenging to install in smaller areas, and solder requires that you use an open flame to heat the pipes.

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Can You Paint Over Thompson's Water Seal?

If you need to have wood waterproofed, then chances are you’ve applied Thompson’s Water Seal to it. This waterproofing stain is known for being one of the best in the home improvement world when it comes to keeping your materials looking great. Of course, many of us want to make our projects look even better with a fresh coat of paint. But, is this actually doable?

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Why Is My Electric Bill So High?

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?

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How To Clean Gas Stove Burner Caps

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.

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Your Samsung Dishwasher Smart Auto And Heavy Error Codes Are Blinking (How To Fix It)

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?

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Do Mice Hate Lavender? DIY Mouse Repellent Sachets And Sprays

The only time having a mouse in your house is okay is in a Dr. Seuss book (unless you keep one as a pet). Otherwise, it’s safe to say you don’t want mice in your home. But what if you start to see some of the little critters hanging around your abode? Certain smells repel mice; for example, mice hate lavender.

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