Construction & Repair — diy help for homeowners and builders « Construction & Repair

How to Build a Shed, Part 15: Installing Exterior Wood Trim

In this video Henry shows you how to finish all the exterior trim on the shed. This video includes lot of tips to make the finish carpentry in this video easy and accurate.

How To: Adjust the Alignment of Cabinet Doors

Poor alignment of cabinet doors will cause a kitchen to look run-down and may be embarrassing to the homeowner. Luckily, with a single screw driver and a little ambition, the door alignment can look brand new.

How To: Remove a Shark Bite Fitting Without a Special Tool - Adjustable Wrench Trick

Here's a fast easy way to remove and disconnect your Shark Bite quick connect fitting, without a special tool to do it. We'll show you a awesome little trick using an adjustable wrench. This will work an all different size Shark Bite fittings.

How To: Build and install a cheap dumbwaiter in your home

Home improvement expert Danny Lipford shows how to build and install a cheap dumbwaiter in your home in this video tutorial.

How to Build a Shed, Part 9: Building & Installing Gable Ladders (Rakes)

Using ladders (Rakes) to build your gable overhangs on the shed is one of the fastest and easiest ways to do this. Henry shows you how to layout, build and install the ladders on our shed.

News: Careful. Swim off the Edge, Fall 55 Stories to Your Death

This is one serious example of trophy architecture. Extreme engineering in prosperous countries like this one in Singapore is meant to stir envy. The Marina Bay Sands infinity pool opened this month, and is located 200 meters off the ground, 150 meters in length. The entire hotel complex is part of a $5 billion investment, and the opposite of a DIY sensibility.

How To: Build an Awesome Grind Box!

How to build a really easy, but AWESOME Grind Box.! A grind box, or a skate box is a must for any skater. The grind box in this video is not only very easy to build but it can be made in under a day and with minimal tools. This grind box also has wheels that makes it incredibly easy for the kids to move around. The coping is galvanized steel with a slightly rounded formed edge. This makes for an ultra smooth grind! The skate surface is thick plywood, which makes for a very solid and tough gri...

How To: Build Two Different Underwater Viewers with ABS and Lexan

I have just finished making this 20 minute detailed video that shows you exactly how to build two different sized underwater viewers. One is 12" x 3" and the other is 24" x 4", but you can make them any size you like. These are ideal for gold prospecting, fishing (seeing what the fish are up to) and just for fun—kids love them. IMPORTANT NOTE:

How To: Install patio doors in a brick wall

If you've got a brick wall and you're thinking of installing a door, you may have thought you were out of luck. Not so! This helpful how-to walks you through the steps so you can see how it's done. First off, know that this is not a simple task, so be prepared to wield a brick cutter, which is a serious tool in itself. After that you'll be framing out the door, shimming it up, and installing the door. Go for it!

How To: Install Laminate Flooring on Stairs

Installing Laminate Flooring on Stairs Laminate flooring can be installed on a flight of stairs, and this process can also be used when installing laminate on a floor and having to drop down a step to a sunken room.

How To: Do a 16 inch layout on stud wall

Bob Schmidt from Home Remodel Workshop demonstrates how to frame a wall 16 inches on center. His tutorial is especially helpful, so pay attention to his tips, tricks, and specific techniques.

How To: Install post and dowel fencing

My how-to on Post and Dowel Fencing. My buddy Sven and I, with the help of landowner Rex, installing a massive post & dowel Fence. You need a level, post hill driller, rock bar, and stakes. There are terminator, corner and line posts that have holes specifically for its position in the fence. It's like Lincoln logs that snap together. Lengths of the post vary, but you want 1/3 of the post underground. This is great for lining your property or farm.

How To: Check out foundation cracks below your carpet

Danny Lipford shares some tips on foundation cracks. Watch this video tutorial to see how to check out foundation cracks below your carpet.

How To: Lay Straight Tile with a Crooked Wall

Tiling always looks so easy when you see it done on a straight wall! But how do you do it with a crooked wall? Use a Measureright Pro to get the angle right. So if you've tiled from a straight right angle and you're just reaching the 'odd' shaped spaces between your last row of tiles and your crooked wall, you can use the tool to mark your final row of tiles so that when you cut them, they will fit right into the irregular shaped spaces between your final row of tiles and the slanting wall. T...

How To: Install steps in a retaining wall

This video tutorial shows you how to add steps to a retaining wall system. This video is a must-watch for everyone in the construction business.

How To: Install a window in a metal frame

A good way to install a window in a metal frame construction is to use some light gauge angle and screw it onto the sides of the window leaving a 10mm space for plaster. A flat head, self tapping screw is used to fix the window to the frame. Watch this video tutorial for a demonstration on how to install a window in a metal frame.

How To: Use cut nails to drive through wood and concrete

Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, demonstrates how to drive a cut nail through a 2x4 piece of wood, and into a concrete wall. This will help save you time and money in your house repair projects.

How To: Learn the basics of a pressure washer

Pressure washers are a great way to clean a brick patio - if you do it right! The pressure washer can harm the surface you are cleaning or even yourself. The basic operation of the pressure washer is to take the low pressure from you garden hose and increase the pressure with a special pump. The pump uses either a gas powered engine or an electric motor to boost the pressure.

How to Build a Shed, Part 11: Installing Fascia Boards & Soffit Materials

The fascia boards and soffit material installation is very important. This is the finishing part of the shed. Henry shows you how to do this in great detail and get perfect results. In this video he shows you how to use his exclusive jig to make it easy to install long trim without any help!

How To: Build a retaining wall with an outside 90 degree wall

This video tutorial shows you how to build a retaining wall system with an outside 90 degree wall. This how-to video is a must-watch for everyone in the building and construction business.

How To: Lay Masonry Blocks and Bricks

Build a concrete "footer".

How To: Install a ceramic or porcelain tile floor with Lowe's

In this tutorial, we learn how to install a ceramic tile floor. Before installing, you need to prepare a solid base. First, you want to take off the trim, then calculate the area of the room. Prepare the floor by inspecting low or high spots. You will want to apply mortar, then set the backer boards into place. Screw these into place, then finish covering the floor with seam tape. Apply mortar over these then let dry. Now, you can start laying your tile onto the top of this! Once you are fini...

News: The World's Biggest Machine

Introducing the Bagger 288, built by Krupps in Germany. Weighing in at 45,000 tons, this bad boy is the biggest moving machine on the planet.

How To: Clean and Maintain Your Tape Measure

Recently I was working outside forming a driveway in the rain. Working in and around the wet sand was not friendly on my tools, especially my tape measure. About halfway through the day my tape measure would need "encouragement" in order to retract to the closed postion. Not too much later, with force applied, it would remain standing out at 1ft. and the problem progressively got worse.

How To: Add a door In an exterior brick wall

If you've got a brick house and are looking to install a door in the brick, this how to will get you there. Be prepared, it's a big job and you'll need to be comfortable wielding several power tools. Are you ready to take the challenge?

How To: Adjust the Carburetor Idle on a Snowblower with Tecumseh Engine

This video will explain how to adjust the carburetor idle on your snowblower equipped with a Tecumseh engine.

How to Build a Shed, Part 4: Building Homemade Trusses

Henry shows you how to build homemade trusses. This video includes instruction on how to layout your truss jig to make sure all trusses are identical. After you watch this video, you'll see how easy it is to build your trusses!

How To: Attach Timber to Concrete Using Concrete Anchors

How to install concrete anchors.How to attach timber / wood to concrete or any other SOLID masonry surface using masonry anchors / DynaBolts. DynaBolts (that's the name for this particular anchor in Australia. They are know by other names in other countries) are the ideal anchor for attaching almost anything to solid masonry such as concrete. This video will look at attaching timber to a concrete floor.

How To: Remove a threaded stud from a threaded hole

Ultimate Handyman demonstrates how to remove a threaded stud from a threaded hole. You will often find threaded studs when you are doing car repair. First, remove the nut from the stud. Then, spray it with lubricant. Next, screw the nut back on the stud. Screw another nut on top of the first nut. Grip the bottom nut with a wrench while tightening the top nut. Grip the bottom nut and turn it in a counter clockwise direction. The stud should then pull out of the threaded hole. It may be difficu...

How To: Remove the air from your boiler or heater

If you hear a lot of banging coming from your boiler or heating system, you may need to perform a little repair. The banging could be the result of not enough water in your system, but it could also mean there is too much air in your expansion tank. And expansion tank is attached to your boiler and helps regulate the air to water ratio for optimum performance. If the air in your expansion tank expands too much, you may need to release some of the air in order to use your tanks properly and st...

How To: Cut masonry with a bolster chisel and club hammer

Interested in cutting masonry like concrete flags and bricks? This construction lesson will show you how, using a bolster chisel and club hammer. For detailed, step-by-step instructions on cutting your own masonry quickly and effectively using simple hand tools, watch this how-to.

How To: Build a retaining wall with an inside radius curve

This video tutorial shows you how build a retaining wall system with an inside radius curve. This video is a must-watch for everyone in the construction business.

How To: Stack bricks to prepare for a job

This video explains how to properly stack bricks as a part of loading out the job. This is an essential step to do before starting your brick laying.

News: Stone Workers Play Dominoes with Bricks to Create Perfectly-Aligned Wall Cap

Usually, when I see a video that is captioned "wait for it," I'm quick to dismiss what could possibly come at the end of the clip. In this case, however, I was totally wrong and the final result was definitely worth the wait.

How To: Install a Timber Floor

G'day Knuckleheads. In this Owner Builder Episode we look at laying the timber floor. You'll see in this video the team showing you how to lay a timber / wooden floor. The timber or wood l used for the floor was a species of timber called Blackbutt. It's a solid 19mm x 130mm board which is very hardy and should stand up to a fair bit of abuse…which it will get at my place :-) Timber floors really give a warmth to your property and are well worth the effort.