Posts

Is It Worth It to Epoxy Garage Floor? It’s worth it to epoxy your garage floor because epoxy not only tops off the pro look but also resists oil stains, beads water, and wipes clean like a kitchen counter. Color chips and custom paint colors hide annoying imperfections in the concrete, and anti-skid additives give you the grip you need on a snowy day. As This Old House technical editor Mark Powers shows you in the steps below, you just need a weekend to sweep the dirt out and paint the epoxy on....

Paint: Valspar’s Royal Garnet Cocktail Hutch Overview Download the cut list. CUT LIST TO BUILD A COCKTAIL HUTCH 1x15 box sides: 2 @ 72 inches 1x15 shelves: 4 @ 18 inches 1x15 wine-rack insert pieces 2 @ 26½ inches between the long points of their 45-degree beveled ends. 1x3 support strips: 2 @ 14½ inches 1x2 stiles: 2 @ 72 inches 1x5 rails: 2 @ 16½ inches ⅝-inch square dowel for the glass rack nailing strips: 4 @ 15 inches ⅜x3-inch lattice strip for the glass rack: 4 @ 15 inches Baseboard: Custom miter 3 to size....

Recently, my husband and I realized our dream of putting in a swimming pool, which we surrounded with a composite deck. And since we ended up with lengths of leftover decking, I saw an opportunity to put them to use by building a pair of lounge chairs. The design I came up with has backrests that fold down flat, angled legs for a modern look, and a long, slatted seat so we can put up our feet while watching the kids....

The stand is easy to assemble—slotted construction means no nails or screws—it’s sturdy and colorful, and it comes apart quickly for storage. There’s even a bonus: If kids need to display a science fair project or perform this week’s puppet show, the table works just as well inside. Building a Lemonade Stand: Overview This sturdy stand holds together the same way cardboard store displays do, with slots that fit into one another....

WHERE> Sterling, Mass. WHAT> Wanted a handmade storage rack worthy of her collection of TOH magazines. April Monroe can’t bear to toss old magazine issues. “There are so many great projects I want to try,” she says. Although plastic magazine holders are inexpensive enough at office supply stores, she doesn’t like the idea of placing pages full of design and remodeling ideas in holders with such little personality. So April turned to TOH general contractor Tom Silva to help her build a container more in the spirit of the magazines it’s meant to hold....

Resources: Mark demonstrated a variety of masonry trowels, which were all manufactured by The Bon Tool Company.

Tom also shares some tips for identifying a load-bearing wall, but ultimately cautions that a structural engineer is the best person to consult. Tools:

What Can I Use to Cut Fiberglass Insulation? You can use a sharp utility knife to cut fiberglass batt insulation. You’ll also want to have a scrap piece of plywood handy to help speed up the process and produce a clean, neat cut every time. How to Cut Fiberglass Batt Insulation How to Install Fiberglass Insulation How to Insulate an Attic with Fiberglass

And if you’d rather not fuss with the installation, you can opt for a free-standing swing or a seat that hangs from the ceiling via a piece of hardware. Either way, make sure your securing indoor option to a sturdy framing, and using these tips for outdoor installation: The 5 Best Hammocks (2022 Review) Look for healthy hardwood trees at least 38 inches in circumference. The trees should be spaced so the hammock is taut when you hang it—a distance at least one foot longer than your hammock should suffice....

Whether you’ve spent the last few months diligently tending a veggie patch or were too busy to even begin, this advice will help you get an autumn garden going. Go ahead and sow some fall-friendly seeds now, and you may be harvesting as early as homecoming and perhaps still picking by the holidays. What to Know Before You Start As a general rule, fall crops flourish when daytime temperatures are 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures in the 50s....

TIP 1: Remove outlet and switch-plate covers, and mark their location on painter’s tape. Stick the tape on the back of the cover with the screws to keep the pieces together. Keep all the covers in a resealable bag so that they’re easy to find, and re-install, later on. TIP 2: Speed up prep time by cleaning the excess patching compound around the hole while it’s still wet. Once it’s dry, use a sanding sponge or a damp sponge to quickly smooth what little is left....

Steps for Quieting a Steam Radiator: Shopping List: Furniture pads, used as shims to level tilting radiator Air vent, for replacing the existing air vent Teflon tape, for sealing the threads on the new air vent Tools: The Pros and Cons of a Steam Heating System

Where Do Glass Scratches Come From? Window scratches can come from just about any wear and tear your home sustains. Often, scratches become apparent over time, and their source is a mystery. No matter what their origin, however, you can repair light scratches easily. If the damage is deep—for example, if there is a groove in the glass you can feel with your fingernail—you may want to consult a professional glass repair service....

How Do You Keep Outdoor Spigots from Freezing in Winter? With your average spigot, the washer sits on the outside of the house, so in the winter, water is prone to freezing if it is not shut off and drained. Instead, Richard advises using a frostproof spigot. It has a longer stem that reaches inside the house, meaning the washer end is far enough away from the outside, so it is safe from the cold and will prevent a frozen pipe....

About the Basin Wrench Invented by plumber Arthur Andree in 1920, this wrench enables plumbers to reach otherwise inaccessible nuts in the tight spaces under sinks. Its single jaw applies torque in only one direction, but because the jaw head pivots, the tool can both loosen and tighten. Resources: Richard installed a Pfister Pasadena faucet in a brushed nickel finish. The faucet also came with a stopper, drain pipe, and an installation tool to do all the work....

Steps for repointing a stone foundation Tools

Steps for retrofitting a home for accessibility

Those wishing for a fast, easy, non-toxic way to get it done may be considering steam cleaning, which has become a go-to technique for cleaning (and disinfecting) lots of household surfaces. So, can you effectively steam clean your oven? The answer is possibly—depending on the type of oven you have, the steam-cleaning method you use, and the amount of gunky buildup you’re contending with. Read on for three approaches to steam cleaning the oven....

Resources: Richard installed the InvitaTM Wifi Thermostat 564, which is manufactured by Tekmar Controls. Shopping List: Smart thermostatThermostat wire Tools: