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Architecture : Home & Garden
Do it Yourself Insulation of House Walls
The easiest and most effective way to insulate a wall in your home is to staple up paper-backed fiberglass insulation between the studs while the wall is open for new construction or remodeling. But if that moment has passed and you're dealing with a closed, hollow wall, the next choice is to blow i
How to Install Stair Spindles
Stair spindles help to support the hand railing and offer added safety to avoid falling and slipping between the hand railing and staircase or floor. Stair spindles also add style and elegance to your staircase. Whether your current spindles need replacing or you are installing spindles from scratch
How to Fix Drywall Around a Light Socket
Incorrectly fixing drywall around a light socket can leave the light socket wobbly. Additional problems include leaving gaps between the drywall and the casing. Correctly repairing the drywall ensures that the socket remains firmly fixed in the wall and the drywall fits flush around the entire socke
How to Stage Backsplash Tiles in Kitchens
The kitchen is probably the most used room in a home and the place where a family gathers for meals and celebrations. For these reasons, it is a room that is often updated with new flooring, counters, cabinets and backsplash. Installing a new tile backsplash is uncomplicated process, but it requires
How to Use Plywood for Cabin Flooring
Plywood was once a common subflooring material in residential construction, but it has been widely replaced by various Oriented Strand Board (OSB) products, which are less expensive and more weather-resistant. OSB lacks the attractive real-wood appearance of plywood and therefore always requires an
Normal Indoor Radon Levels
Radon is a naturally occuring radioactive gas that emanates from the earth and can sometimes be found in water. You cannot see, smell or taste radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in my most countries across the globe, including the United States. Any exposure increases one's cha
Examples of Tile Backsplashes
Large tiles are perfect for contemporary spaces.Kitchen image by armanxo from Fotolia.comA tile backsplash is an ideal way to finish the kitchen design. Tiles are installed in backsplashes in any number of patterns, materials or colors. While the choice is purely personal, a number of...
Alternative Home Insulation Ideas
Insulation is critical to a house's efficiency.spiraling insulation image by jbattx from Fotolia.comIt's important to reduce the environmental impact of home insulation, but in the dead of winter it's just as important to stay warm. New and innovative forms of home insulation need to be...
How to Lay off an Employee Over the Phone
When the time comes to lay off an employee because business income is down or the company needs to trim costs, it's helpful to understand what to communicate and what to avoid. It's much better to handle this type of conversation in face-to-face scenarios, but that isn't always possible. When you ha
How to Install an Over the Top Handrail
Over-the-top handrails sit on top of newel posts. This gives the handrail a continuous look as it runs down a staircase or along a balcony. Once the newel posts have been set in place, you can install the handrail. To do this, you will need to attach the handrail to fittings. This will keep the hand
Idaho Manufactured Home Installation Standards
As with any construction, Idaho has state standards for manufactured home installation. Although your contractor will be familiar with the state's criteria, as a consumer it's wise to know the standards for the installation of your new home.
How to Measure for a Countertop Template
Countertops are sold by the square foot, but you have to know the linear measurements needed for the new fixture before you can order it. By sectioning your counter into rectangular sections, you can obtain an accurate measurement that can be transferred to a template. Take your measurements and the
How to Drill Holes in Wood Paneling
Paneling is actual wood that covers the wall from top to bottom, so you shouldn't be able to see any of the product behind the paneling. However, if you plan to drill holes into the wood it helps to know what is behind the paneling. It could be drywall, more wood, brick or concrete. The material beh
Framing Techniques for Garages
Any house-building technique will work equally well for garages. Framing techniques are identical in most ways. In practice there are a few differences in technique due to differing material and material sizes commonly used in garages.
Remodeling Ideas for a Striking Bathroom
When homeowners view the bathroom as a sanctuary instead of a utilitarian space, they desire that it be more aesthetically appealing. To respond to this desire, each year designers and manufacturers introduce new bathroom products that help the bathroom serve as an extension of the home's...
DIY Parquet Floor Silencing
You're going to install an elegant parquet floor and you don't want to discover that it makes a lot of noise when you walk around, or possibly even creaks all by itself. Noisy parquet floors are disappointing, but there's no need to despair because they can be made quiet and smooth as well as beaut
How to Remove Old Vinyl Floors
After years of wear and tear, it may become necessary to replace old vinyl floors. Removing worn vinyl floors can be a challenge for anyone but it can be done. It will require time, patience and work to get the job done the correct way. When removing old vinyl floors, it is necessary to be careful n
How to Repair Ceramic Molds
Ceramic is wonderful mold-making material: it is easy to work with and inexpensive. However, ceramic molds are notoriously fragile once they have dried. Fortunately, ceramic molds often break along a clean line, so it is usually possible to repair a broken mold. If you have a ceramic mold with a cle
DIY Wood Beam
Many people live in homes with large or vaulted ceilings to which they would like to add architectural detail. Options include installing crown molding, however, it can have a small footprint that may not seem appropriate in size. Another option is to add decorative box beams that have a much larger
Splash Back Alternatives
Because tiles are waterproof and durable, they are commonly used for splashbacks.tiles image by charles taylor from Fotolia.comWhen most people plan a splashback (the wall surface behind the sink in a kitchen or bathroom, or any room in which taps are used), they automatically think of...