Read on to understand the causes of common paint problems and how to repair them and avoid future issues. Cracking, Flaking, and Clumping Vein-like lines that appear through at least one coat of paint may be faint initially, but these cracks tend to grow and deepen into dry, jagged flakes. Such unsightliness can strike a variety of surfaces, indoors and out, from plaster to wood and siding. What causes paint to crack?...
1. Lightweight and water stingy 1600 PSI Electric Pressure Washer This compact, 29-pound washer uses just 1.3 gallons of water per minute to blast away grime from hard surfaces. The spray gun comes with a 25-foot hose, a 35-foot power cord, four quick-connect nozzles, and an onboard soap tank for cleaning solutions. All parts store neatly on its rolling cart. $170; Worx 2. Smooth wood and seal it DAP Premium Wood Filler Use it to fill holes and wood grain, as well as seal them....
Spring Clamps Spring clamps, also called pinch clamps, are inexpensive and useful for a wide range of light-duty clamping jobs. Quick Clamps Quick clamps can be operated with one hand and many models have reversible jaws for use as a spreader to push apart pieces. Pipe Clamps When greater clamping strength is needed, consider using pipe clamps. Buy pipe clamp fixtures and slip them onto black-iron pipe. Pipe clamp fixtures are commonly available for use on ½-inch or ¾-inch-diameter pipe....
What Are Shipping Containers? in the 1950s by visionary truck driver Malcolm McLean, shipping containers transformed international trade, and their versatility has made them viable, popular structures for storage units, backyard offices, and even homes. How to Use a Shipping Container for a Building The first step is to be sure your local building codes and neighborhood rules allow for structures to be built of shipping containers. A building can be designed with one shipping container or more, depending on the use....
AFTER: Adding steel beams allowed for an expansive open space; exposed ceiling joists and shiplap walls, all coated bright white, plus a dozen ceiling lights create a fresh, airy feeling. The polished concrete floor reflects light—and saved money. Painting an exposed duct pink and echoing the color in whimsical wall art amped up the fun factor.TV media cabinet: Blu Dot But turning the 591-square-foot living space into an airy, free-flowing hangout meant significant structural work....
Few things irk a professional designer like living with a drab, dysfunctional interior. For Cillesa Ullman, one sore spot in her 1960s post-and-beam home in Oakland, CA, was the tiny, no-frills guest-room bath on the lower level. “I could not wait to tear it out, so I literally did most of the demo myself,” she says. Her plan: Enlarge the space by relocating a laundry room and bedroom closet, and move the doorway so the bath could serve the entire floor, which was renovated to create another bedroom....
Hardwood vs. Softwood Wood is classified as either hardwood or softwood. Hardwood comes from deciduous trees (those that drop their leaves in the fall), and softwood comes from evergreens like pine and spruce. The sap in softwoods creates an instant hot fire, but overuse causes creosote buildup in your chimney. Creosote is a sticky substance that adheres to the chimney or flue liner as the wood smoke rises. Comprised mainly of tar, creosote is highly flammable and is the primary cause of chimney fires....
There are a wide range of home security providers available in Tucson, but they differ in the packages and equipment they offer, how they’re installed, their cost, and more. To help you decide on the best security solution for your Tucson home, the This Old House Reviews Team evaluated the best home security systems in the area. Read on to find out about our top home security recommendations in Tucson, Arizona....
Want to save these ideas for later? Create your own holiday gift list to share gift ideas with family and friends. Sullivans Ceramic Vase Set Shop Now To help your host display natural or artificial plants, consider gifting this vase set. These ceramic vases are available in multiple colors. They come in three sizes to hold short and tall plants. However, they can also be used without plants as a standalone decoration....
These 10 spots can lay claim to some pretty nifty pasts—from Civil War battles to Saloon-style shoot outs—guaranteed to keep the History Channel set enthralled. Quaker Hill, Wilmington, Delaware Quaker Hill, a charming, landmarked historic neighborhood and one of Wilmington’s first, has the same type of colonial-era and Federal rowhouses found in nearby Philadelphia, but at far lower prices. The neighborhood dates to 1738, when Quaker couple William and Elizabeth Shipley came here to build a home, and other Quakers followed....
The This Old House Reviews Team has researched and rated some of the best pest control companies on the market for you. Keep reading this round up to see how the top Milwaukee pest control companies compare on plans, prices, and services. Top Pest Control Companies in Milwaukee Best of the Best Milwaukee Pest Control Companies We named Terminix “Best Overall” because of its affordable plans and top-tier specialty pest solutions....
In this episode: Nathan demonstrates a sanding kit with different profiles on it to make hand sanding easier; Heath clarifies the temperature rating system for ceiling lights and then installs one for a homeowner; Mark explains the purposes and uses for different types of trowels; Tom and Kevin build a tool storage shelf out of leftover lumber from other Build It projects. Testing a Specialty Hand Sanding Kit Nathan demonstrates a sanding kit with different profiles on it to make hand sanding easier....
Art Tile Thanks to its dramatic look, this ceramic square is meant for the spotlight. A custom frame offers even more impact. About $58 (without frame); Motawi Tileworks Gold-Hued Paint Dress up walls with a deep, earthy yellow. Duration Home Interior Latex in Saffron Thread, about $34 per gallon; Sherwin-Williams Tiffany-Style Pendant Brighten a room with dark wood by hanging a stained-glass lamp with a nature-inspired motif—a hallmark of the Arts and Crafts movement....
3 Ways to Make a Guide for a Circular Saw 1. Use a Board as a Straightedge The first and most obvious way to create a guide is to clamp a board to the plywood and run the saw along the edge. The key is to use a wide board so that you can keep your clamps clear of the motor of the circular saw. The downside of this method is that you have to account for the offset of the blade to the edge of the saw’s base, and it can take a while to set up each time because you may need to make repeated adjustments to properly locate the board before making a cut....
This is an easy, straightforward project to build. Working together, TOH general contractor Tom Silva and TOH host Kevin O’Connor managed to complete it in just a few hours, using materials readily available at many home centers. The base is a sheet of ½-inch birch plywood backed by 2x4s, and the rough-sawn boards covering the plywood are stained, kiln-dried poplar from Weaber Lumber. Conveniently packed in boxes, these weathered wallboards are free of the bugs, fungi, and peeling paint that you might find in boards actually salvaged from abandoned barns....
For the deck frame, including the ledger board, rim joists, and posts, make sure you use pressure-treated wood which is designed to withstand rot. The proper use of waterproofing flashing is also integral to the structural soundness of an attached deck. Without flashing, the wood is vulnerable to decay, rendering deck-to-house joints dangerously loose. Here are the steps for attaching a deck, depending on whether you’re working with a new or old one....
Before You Start Building Check with your local building department to see if there is anything you need to do to meet local codes. Typically, there are no building codes governing outdoor gates, unless the gate will be part of an approved enclosure for a pool. Even if there are no special requirements for gates where you live, if it is being used to keep pets or small children safe, you will want to install a childproof latch and make sure the gaps in the gate are small enough that kids or animals won’t be able to fit through....
Since wine perishes, and the way in which it’s stored impacts its flavor, proper storage is essential. In fact, storage and handling affect wine’s taste just as much as the way it’s made does. The trick is to maintain optimal temperature and humidity. What Is Needed for a Wine Cellar? Missing any of these elements jeopardizes the integrity of your wine. Other Considerations: Before picking up your hammer, assess the available space....
