Home Improvement DIY

It costs between $200 and $3,000 to set up a basic podcast studio at home. Your setup will be cheap if you already have a computer. Of course, you can spend more once you expand, especially if you add a video element to your podcast. The cheapest route is to simply use a USB microphone that plugs into a laptop.

Textured walls had a moment of popularity not too long ago. The method of swirling highly textured paint onto the drywall was an alternative to wallpaper and a departure from the smooth wall. It is, after all, a great way to hide imperfections in the wall.

A recliner can be the ultimate relaxation destination within one’s own home. Unlike a couch or a standard chair, which remains stationary, a recliner does just that: reclines. From time to time, however, the recliner footrest may stop working. Instead of tossing it away when it stops working, there is a fix that can be implemented. 

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.

Mounted wall cabinets are perfect for those who are looking to maximize storage and wall space. They can add a level of depth and sophistication to a kitchen. Wall cabinets can also help you keep a garage or laundry room clean. But that last thing you want is to spend all the time and money to mount the cabinets, only to watch them fall to the ground due to poor installation.

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.

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?

Constant noise and movement can stop you from getting comfortable in your duplex. This is especially annoying if you’re a renter and can’t renovate your duplex to fortify the walls. Many people struggle with how to reduce noise in a duplex.

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.

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.

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.

Noise pollution can make life incredibly difficult. If unwanted noises are reducing your quality of life, you may want to consider soundproofing. Whether it’s a noisy neighbor, busy main thoroughfare, or simply obtrusive sounds traveling between rooms, you can soundproof a room to help decrease the amount of sound disturbance.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In the not too distant past, satellite dishes were incredibly large. If you happen to have a large old satellite dish still, you are probably wondering what you can do with it. With this guide, we hope to answer that question.

If you can’t seem to stop a cold draft from entering through tiny cracks around your window, you might feel compelled to do something about it then and there.

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.

Building a structure like a barn or shed doesn’t feel like as big of a deal as building a livable structure to many. However, Building Departments throughout the country value safety and expect you to comply when you build a barn. So, what happens if you build a barn without a permit?

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.

If you recently purchased a home and have fallen in love with the DIY world, you probably have tools on your mind. There is a tool for pretty much everything you can think of, and even for things you don’t even know exist. 

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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?

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?

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?

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. 

Your air conditioner is a real savior in the hottest months. One AC unit can turn a completely unbearable sunrise into a pleasant morning in bed under the covers. There is so much to be thankful for when it comes to having the modern convenience of temperature and humidity control. But sometimes air conditioners are very loud. In fact, an AC unit can get so loud, it is hard to concentrate on anything else. But how do you quiet a noisy air conditioner?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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?

Not too long ago, the essential oil craze took hold in suburban America. This craze offered up a lot of benefits, including the fact that people started to look into natural health options more frequently. Unfortunately, this eco-friendly trend did have some kind of casualty here: furniture and clothing.

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?

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?

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?

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.

If you are working on a project that involves drilling screws into a hard surface like a hardwood or even metal, you probably need a drill bit. You don’t want to drill the screw right into the hard material, as there are all sorts of bad things that can happen. Drilling pilot holes is an important and simple process. It does, however, involve some planning and research. So, when you plan on using #8 screws you need to find the perfect size drill bit to make pilot holes.

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.

There’s nothing like a hot shower until someone barges in to use the bathroom, or your toddler rushes in to ask a question. Suddenly, your beautiful glass-door shower seems a little too…revealing.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Some home improvement projects require the help of a professional. In some cases, the project is just too big for one person. In others, the project involves dangerous circumstances that require a licensed individual. Or maybe you just don’t have the expensive machinery necessary to perform the job.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.