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Hot Construction & Repair How-Tos

iOS 17 Tips, Tricks, How-Tos, News

How To: Roll Up an Extension Cord. Good One!

How to roll up an extension cord. Rolling up an extension cord. Extension cord. It sounds like a basic skill but it's amazing just how many people just don't know how to roll up an extension cord. For the DIY'er and tradesman alike there are probably two main methods. There's my way of doing it (which l show in this video titled how to roll up an extension cord) and the other is similar to the method used by skydivers to roll up their parachute cords. They are both good and you could use eith...

How To: Install a piano hinge on a side door

A piano hinge is also called a continuous hinge, and is a popular hinge to use on side doors and other small doors. This tutorial shows you the proper method of installing a piano hinge on your current project. Besides the door and the hinge, you will also need some basic hardware: a drill and some screws, as well as a chisel to carve out an inset for the hinge to rest. Make sure you always measure carefully before cutting anything!

How To: Build a shadowbox style privacy fence

The video begins with a finished fence being shown as an example of what your final product should look like. The first step is to lay out straight lines with string to create the outline of fence parameter. To set the first post you must dig a five inch hole in the ground which the post is placed in. The post will be set along the string line spaced out about four inches evenly along the parameter. the holes must be filled in with rock or cement to set them securely. You must then nail board...

How To: Build plumb walls

In this tutorial, we learn how to build plumb walls. A plumb bob is a weight that you can use to make sure your walls are plumb. This tool is the most accurate tool you can get to plumb up any wall. Your level is only good until it's dropped, this won't be ruined and will always be accurate. When using a plumb bob, you have to get up close and personal to the floor and the ceiling. You will need someone on the floor and someone on the ladder to make sure you get the bob exactly on the line. T...

How To: Tape and finish textured drywall

Tim Gibson teaches us how to tape and finish textured drywall in this tutorial. To begin, use a scraper to scrape off any texture around the join. This will leave 4-5 inches to replace the joint. If it doesn't come off easy, use a sponge to wet the area on both sides before you scrape it. After this, use either fiberglass tape or paper tape with drywall joint compound. If you use the compound and paper tape, you have to put a thin layer of compound down before you place the tape over it. Let ...

How To: Install an interior door set on a pre-bored door

This video tutorial is in the Home & Garden category where you will learn how to install an interior door set on a pre-bored door. For this you will need a tube latch, straight plates, door plates, two knobs, two sets of ring guides and a spindle. You will also need a tape measure, ruler, screwdrivers, a drill and safety glasses. A pre-bored door has a face and an edge bore. First install the tube latch through the edge bore ensuring that the angle side of the tube face is towards the door ja...

How To: Sand and save a wood floor

Over time, a wooden floor can sustain a heavy amount of damage thanks to the weather, heavy foot traffic, and things constanly falling on it. So, it's always a good idea to refinish a floor every few years or so to make sure that it will last longer. This tutorial will show you how to sand and save a wood floor. It's a difficult task, so make sure you have the time and patience to do it. Enjoy!

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: 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: Caulk your bathroom floors

This video shows the viewer how to caulk a bathroom floor – this is where some type of sealant is used to fill the joint between the surface of the floor and the side of the bath. The first stage is to select a suitable sealant, the video recommends a sealant that can be painted as it is useful if you every need to redecorate. Squeeze a liberal amount of sealant into the crack. Then using a dampened finger press the sealant into the corner whilst simultaneously scraping the excess away. Final...

How To: Easily cover screws and nails using drywall mud

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to cover screws and nails with drywall mud during drywall installation. Users will need a taping knife tool. Apply the drywall mud over the screw or nails and use the taping knife to flatten the mud over the screw or nail. Use the knife to take off any excess mud. Apply 2-3 layers of drywall mud over the screw, depending on how long the screw head is. This video will benefit those viewers who are in the construction trades or doing home renovation and...

How To: Caulk a home window

This video demonstrates how to caulk windows. For this project, you will need the following: a tube caulk, a putty knife, scraper, a knife or scissors, paper towels, a long hanger or a nail, a caulk gun, a small plastic spoon or a popsicle stick.

How To: Lay ceramic tile with drywall spackle

Tree Climbing Man demonstrates how to lay ceramic tile with drywall spackle. You don't need to rip up your existing floor and put down plywood or a sub floor to lay down a new floor. You can put ceramic tile right over existing linoleum with less work, less heartache and less problems. First, spackle the back of each tile and lay it down. You can also use a stapler and tape to fix problem areas. You don't need to go crazy with the adhesive. Spend your money on quality tile. You can use clay f...

How To: Fix and repair a dripping faucet

James from J&C Home Repair explains how to fix a bathroom faucet. He shows how to turn off the water supply to the faucets and tells you exactly what tools you will need. He demonstrates how to remove the faucet handle and the valve using common household tools, and recommends taking the parts to the hardware store to make sure you get the correct replacement parts. This video shows that repairing a faucet is a simple job that anyone can do. You don't need to call a plumber for this!

How To: Patch a hole in the wall

A hole in your wall may in fact be easier to fix than is seems. After cutting a rectangular piece of drywall to patch up the hole, cut out another thin piece of drywall to use as a backing. By inflating a balloon and placing it in the back of your hole, the pressure caused by the balloon will allow you to put your backing and piece of drywall in place effectively, allowing you to cover up and sand over any holes in your wall. Using this innovative method, anyone will be able to fix holes in t...

How To: Drill a shank hole or clearance hole

Drywall screws were originally created specifically for drywall projects. But they have become increasing popular for woodworking projects because you can often screw them into a soft piece of wood without having to drill a pilot hole. But because they have threads all the way up to the head of the screw they will not pull two pieces of wood tightly together. So to get the drywall screw to hold two pieces of wood tightly together you have to drill a shank hole through the first piece of wood ...

How To: Clean a faucet aerator

Ron Hazelton describes how to clean a faucet aerator to get a sputtering faucet flowing freely again. First unscrew the aerator housing, then remove the black rubber gasket and the aerator underneath. Next remove the screen from the housing. Rinse out the screen from both sides to remove debris. Use a needle to clean particles from the aerator holes, then rinse the aerator. Reassemble the housing (screen, then aerator, then gasket). Lastly, screw the housing back onto the faucet for a smooth ...

How To: Restore water stained ceiling tiles

Are there dastardly, ugly chilling tiles in your home or business that have been rind by water damage? It happens sometimes, and the ceiling tiles will look awful, either needing replaced or fixed. Well, this video will show you how to restore water stained ceiling tiles. Hide those ugly stains instead of buying a whole new tile! Save a trip to the home repair shop.

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: Fix a stuck drawer

Every house has a drawer somewhere in it that gets stuck, requiring you to struggle, yank, or shove to get it open and closed. In this quick how-to video clip, professional do-it-yourself-er Ron Hazelton shows you the best ways to overcome sticky drawer syndrome. There are three ways to help keep those drawers running smoothly. Watch this video home improvement tutorial and learn how to fix a stuck drawer.

How To: Build a straw bale house

In this video series see how to plan an environmentally sound home from a professional environmental decorator. Learn what kinds of materials go into building and environmentally friendly home in this series of videos. The expert will focus on building straw bale houses. Straw bale is actually the dry leftover part of the plant after harvest. Wheat, oats, barley, rye, rice and others are mostly used in straw bale houses to construct walls which are then covered by stucco. She will go through ...

How To: Lay Wall Tiles

G'day Knuckleheads. In this Owner Builder Series Episode we're up to doing the wall tiling in the bathrooms. Justin gives out some very handy tips on how to lay wall tiles in the bathroom. Check it out and let me know what you think.

How To: Grout Wall and Floor Tiles

G'day Knuckleheads and welcome to Episode 35! With the wall and floor tiling completed it's time to grout the tiles. In this episode Justin takes us through the tips and tricks of applying the wall and floor grout. Grouting really finishes the job off and is a job that any DIY'er can do by themselves. Check it out and let me know what you think :-)