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How To: Building a patio enclosure with seating walls

In this how to video, you will learn how to build a patio enclosure with seating walls. You will need measuring tape, a level, a dead blow hammer, a square, masking tape, safety glasses, and work gloves. You will need the courtyard collection as well. First, draw out a plan for the enclosure. Mark the locations of the posts and panels with tape. Openings should be three to four feet wide. Start building walls at posts. Adjustments must be made at corners. Start by placing four corner blocks. ...

How To: Split or cut concrete landscape blocks

This video describes the process of split and cutting concrete blocks. For splitting concrete blocks, a hammer as well as a chisel are required. For cutting concrete blocks, you can either use a skill saw with a masonry blade or a masonry saw. Next, proper safety guidelines and equipment are discussed. For splitting masonry blocks, two types of blocks that are manufactured with splitting notches are shown. To split these blocks, they must be scored with the chisel along the entire length of t...

How To: Building a compost bin out of cinder blocks

blockvideos shows how to build a cinderblock compost bin for recycling needs. The builder will need 20 corner blocks, 36 AB York blocks, 12 AB Dublin blocks, 17 wall caps, 5 fifty pound bags of crushed rock, and and 2 tubes of masonry adhesive. To begin, find a location to build the compost bin and lay out the first layer of back wall and side wall blocks, lining them up straight. Check the dimensions of the layout. Once confirmed accurate, use a shovel to mark the grass around the blocks. Re...

How To: Make a concrete obstacle

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to make a concrete obstacle. Materials required are cement, 1 big receptacle, 1 small plastic receptacle, a cup for measuring, a spatula, 1 mold, WD40, paper towels and protection mask. Wear the mask, spray WD40 on the small receptacle and the mold, and wipe off with paper towel. Pour two cups of cement in the big receptacle, add one cup of water and mix slowly with the spatula. You can add more cement, water and make it to a watery cons...

How To: Build a stackable block post

In this how to video, you will learn how to build a post. Court yard posts create beautiful accents to your yards. They can be used as entry monuments and fence posts. When using corner blocks, make sure the long sides are at the outside of the post. First, place these corner blocks in a square. Align the blocks with the square. Next, place four more blocks on top of the original blocks. Make sure the blocks touch two blocks. Keep on stacking them to the desired height. Add two post caps. Sec...

How To: Build and outdoor couch

This is a video tutorial describing how to build an outdoor couch for your porch. First measure out where you want to put your outdoor couch onto your porch. Then start building the first post. You should use concrete block to build this post. Then build out from the post the back wall of the couch with more concrete blocks. Then build the other post. Then stack the second course onto the first course. Then add the third course to the top of the second course. If you want then you can add a f...

How To: Install a home wall safe

Mary from VLine industries shows up how to Install a wall safe into a closet wall. For this example, she used a DOJ approved Wall Safe from VLine. The first step to the installation is to find where the studs are in the wall and make sure there is no electrical or plumbing behind the wall. Next, after locating the studs with a stud finder or by knocking on the wall, you measure and mark the space you will need for the wall safe. Use your dry wall knife to cut the space for the wall safe out b...

How To: Remove surrounding "haze" from a tile grout patch

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to remove surrounding "haze" from a tile grout patch. Allow the grout to dry and wipe off the area with a dry piece of cloth. Put on gloves, take a bit of grout haze remover on a piece of rag and wipe the floor around the grout areas. This will take the hazing material off. Take more of the liquid and cover more area. Once the rag is dirty, take a clean rag piece and continue the process until all haze is removed. Leave it on for a few m...

How To: Get rid of moss and mildew on your home

Moss and mildew inside your home are breeding grounds for colds and flu..not too mention that horrible damp smell. If you are having a problem with growth in your house, check out this tutorial. In this clip, Ruth S. Foster and her friend Jim, show you exactly how to clean up and eliminate any of that unwanted buildup. In addition to a lesson on how to clean it, learn how to prevent it from happening again in the future.

How To: Remove and clean grout from a tile patch area

To remove grout from a tile patch area, use a scouring pad on a sponge to gently go ontop of the tiles to remove grout and see where you need to rub harder, but dont rub hard on the actual joint. Don't get your sponge too wet. Once you have everything off the tiles, work on the grout. Make sure you get the grout lines to make them look neat and clean. Make sure the seams are tight and flush, run your sponge over it to clean it up a bit. If you have a missing tile filled with grout, use a wet ...

How To: Repair and seal an asphalt driveway

An asphalt driveway looks good when new but over time, wear and tear will show. This video by Lowes.com shows you how to clean, repair and reseal your driveway to maintain it and make it last. Before starting the job, check the weather for a few dry days. Tools and materials needed are listed highlighting safety equipment to be used and precautions to be taken. Weeds, stains and dirt are removed and a low pressure is used to rinse the driveway clean. Crack sealant is used to repair smaller cr...

How To: Lay a wooden floor at home

Want to lay a hardwood floor yourself? It's easy. Provided, that is, you have all of the following materials: wood panels (preferably with built-in foam underlay), plastic sheeting, duct tape, tapping blocks, a hammer, a crowbar, a straight edge, a miter square, a pencil, string line, some spacers, and a saw. For complete instructions on putting it all together and installing your own custom wooden floor using panels, watch this free DIY guide.

How To: Build a photo set

Need to build a for a set for a film, TV, stage or photo production? This free video tutorial will walk you through the entire process, from design and sketching to fabrication and assembly. For detailed instructions, and to get started building your own professional quality sets, watch this free set designer's guide.

How To: Fix your own garbage disposal

Has your broken garbage disposal got you down in the dumps? Be your own repair man with this free handyman's guide, which will help you troubleshoot and repair a broken garbage disposal. For more information, and to get started diagnosing and fixing your own broken disposal, watch this handy how-to.

How To: Install a door and sidelights

So you'd like to know how to install a door with sidelights, would you? Well, you're in luck. This handy handyman's guide will show you precisely what you'll need to know to get the job done (and well at that). For more information, including a step-by-step breakdown of the project, watch this free video home DIY tutorial.

How To: Build an outdoor kitchen

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to build an outdoor kitchen. You can build it yourself using the AB courtyard walls collection. You should have all tools as per How-to sheet #341 before you begin. Determine the location of your outdoor kitchen and with a measuring tape mark the location of the back wall. Mark the line with masking tape. Begin the 1st layer by placing a corner block in the corner. Then place a large piece of a split block next to it. For information on ...

How To: Build patio walls with posts

Instructions for building wall panels and posts using Alan Block materials. This is How-to Sheet #190, for the Courtyard Collection. Combine walls and posts in a three step process: build a post, build one wall off the post, then build a second wall off the first. Corner blocks help make perfect corners, and have one long and one short side. Offset the vertical seems by alternating. Blocks used for the wall include Dublin center-split, Dublin end-split, and York center-split. You will need to...

How To: Control flies around your home

In this video, we learn how to control flies around your home with Rick Steinel. The common house fly can be found everywhere in the house and are full of disgusting germs. We can now make a type of liquid that attracts flies and kills them. These are safe for humans so it won't hurt your home or you. This liquid can also be placed inside of a container which will collect the flies outside, before they have a chance to enter your home. They are also very easy to install and it's very easy ins...

How To: Install kitchen tile and apply grout

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to install kitchen tile and apply grout. Take measurement of the area that is to be tiled. If you want to make a mosaic with the tiles, cut the tiles as per the design and layout the mosaic on a flat surface. Apply setting compound on the surface and fix the tiles as per the design. If there are diagonal cut, use a speed square to establish 45 degree angle. To bridge the thickness difference between glass and ceramic tiles, use the lamin...

How To: Conceal screw heads

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to conceal screw heads. This video is from www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk. It is very easy to do. You will need a kit called screw digger and plug cutter set for size 8 or size 10 wood screws. Using the drill bit from the set, drill the hole. This will drill a hole for fitting a plug in addition to the hole for the screw. Now take a piece of similar wood and cut out a plug with the plug cutter tool as shown in the video. Drive the screw in t...

How To: Prevent yellow jackets from nesting in your home walls

Rick Steinau with Ask the Exterminator demonstrates how to prevent yellow jackets from nesting in your home's walls. In mid to late summer yellow jacket populations increase. Yellow jackets can find spaces in the veneer or in cracks in bricks or siding. You can hear scratching noises in your walls as the wasps move. Observe wasp activity late in the day when they return to their nest for the night. Treat reachable holes with pesticide dust and a bellows. Leave the hole open to let the wasps f...

How To: Build a fire pit out of cinder blocks

In this how-to video, you will learn how to build a fire pit. This will be useful if you want to enhance your backyard. You will need the required fire pit tools such as 55 york blocks, 25 wall caps, two tubes of masonry adhesive, ten 50 pound bags of crushed rock, 6 50 pound bags of decorative rocks, and one metal fire ring. First determine the layout of the pit. Lay the blocks to the layout and adjust for a tight fit. Use a shovel to mark where the soil and grass will be removed. Remove the...

How To: Tape corner to drywall and top coat

In order to mud and tape the corners with new drywall you, you will need spackle, a sturdy ladder, and a putty knife. Scoop out a dollop of spackle (i.e. mud) with your putty knife. Place your putty knife where the ceiling and the wall meat. Spread the putty evenly, as you extend your arm left to right or right to left. Make sure that you apply putty all the way up to the corner.

How To: Replace a shower drain cover

To replace your old rusty drain cover. First, some masking tape over drain cover, to prevent screws from falling into drain. Sweep debris away, as so not to clog up the hole. Remove old shower drain cover to measure, take it to the store, to get the exact size. It's best to take along the screw too, just in case there isn't a screw thats of the same length. Chip away debris from old drain cover, as to make new drain cover fit in easily. If you follow this video, you'll able to replace your ol...

How To: Plaster a wall in your home with Ron the Builder

Ron the Builder demonstrates how to plaster a wall. Mix the sealant with water to achieve the right proportions and spread evenly over the wall with a paint roller. Once the sealant is dry, you may begin plastering. Combine half a bag of plaster with the appropriate amount of water in a large bucket with an industrial mixer. Mix until the plaster is smooth. Pour the plaster onto a flat board. Using a trowel, scrape some plaster onto your hawk. Then, using a flick of the wrist, quickly scoop s...

How To: Step down or end your patio wall

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to step down or end your patio wall. This video is from www.allanblock.com. Get the installation details and the location of the nearest dealer from the website. The instructions are on How-to sheet #160. The easiest way to create step down is to create corner blocks. Simply place corner blocks at the end of each course overlapping the block as the wall steps down. Finish the wall with wall caps. Once the wall caps are in place, you can ...

How To: Install an inside corner paper ceiling patch

Video Joe Knows demonstrates how to install an inside corner ceiling patch when installing drywall. First, give the paper tape a definitive crease. Then, wipe quick set on the ceiling and the wall. Make sure you get enough material behind the paper tape. Have more quick set on than you need because you can wipe off the excess. Build it up on the edges using a three or four inch knife. Next, apply the tape by pushing it into the corners of the desired area. Finally, wipe off the excess quick s...

How To: Use a Window Insulation Kit

Winterizing your windows is a good idea. It helps you save energy and is cost effective. It can be pricey to hire a professional, but in this tutorial, you will learn how to insulate your windows yourself with a window insulation kit. Window insulation kits are easy and cheap alternatives to replacing your windows for the wintertime. So, in the colder months this year, try this method and stay a little bit warmer. You will be happy when you see your lower heating bills! Window Insulation Kit ...

How To: Snap a diagonal chalk line

If you need to snap a diagonal chalk line on a sheet of plywood, you could hope that the hook will hold when you pull on it or try to find a third hand – or you can follow this video guide, which demonstrates a method for snapping chalk lines using a utility knife. For a complete overview of the technique, watch this free DIY tutorial.

How To: Inflate a tubeless tire

If one of the tubeless tires on your hand truck or wheelbarrow has gone flat, sure, you could take it to a gas station and pay someone to fix it — or you could repair it yourself. For complete instructions on how to patch and inflate a flat tubeless tire, watch this free DIY guide.

How To: Soundproof a bedroom wall

In this video, professional remodeler Matt Risinger shows you how to soundproof a wall. In this particular lesson, Matt soundproofs a wall between a noisy living room and a quiet bedroom. Follow along and get some helpful hints on installing a similar wall in your own home.