Hot Construction & Repair How-Tos
How To: Build deck stairs
In this tutorial, we learn how to build deck stairs. First, you need to level out your work space and then use a tape measure to see how high your stairs will be from the top of the deck to the stairs. After you have these measurements, take your pieces of wood and use a framing square to measure out the pieces of the wood for the steps. After you have done this, you will need to place your piece of wood on the sides to create support, then create indentations inside of them. Place the wood i...
How To: Wash, stain & seal an outdoor deck with Lowe's
In this tutorial, we learn how to wash, stain & seal an outdoor deck with Lowe's. First, determine the type of stain for your project, there are four main types of finishes. Check the instructions to calculate the amount of stain you need to purchase. To start, you will need to clean and dry the deck, making sure you cover your body before you begin. You will also need to use sand paper to even out the surface of the deck. After this, start to seal your deck with your choice of color. Let thi...
How To: Fix a leaking faucet
In this tutorial, we learn how to fix a leaking faucet. You will need: a utility knife, screwdriver, Allen key, socket wrench, and adjustable wrench. After you have these, turn off the water to your house. Then, cover your drain so you don't have any parts fall down it. After this, use your screwdriver to take the handles on the faucet off. Then, use your socket wrench to remove the screws from the insides of the handles. Next, use the Allen key to remove the inside gasket from the inside and...
How To: Drill into a wall with the right bit without hitting pipes or wires
Drilling into the walls of your home is intimidating if you don't know what you're doing, but it's really pretty easy to do safely. Watch this video to learn how to choose a bit, know where to drill, and drill correctly.
How To: Kill carpenter ants in your home and keep them out
Carpenter Ants are no good for the structure of a house, but they can be deal with without hiring exterminators. Watch this video to learn what materials you need and how to use them to kill your infestation and prevent another one.
How To: Make a DIY magnetic spice rack that will keep spices from spilling
A wide variety of spices will make your homemade meals taste great, but they are tough to keep track of and messy when they spill. Watch this video to learn how to make a magnetic spice rack out of a sheet of steel that will keep your spices from spilling and looks really cool.
How To: Patch ghastly potholes in driveways with QPR's Pothole Repair
If you've managed to patch all of the unsightly and bothersome cracks in your home's driveway using QPR's Pavement Crack Filler, then you might have some bigger problems to repair— potholes. But don't worry, there's a super easy fix for that, too. QPR's Pothole Repair Products are permanent fixes for ghastly and embarrassing potholes in your driveway.
How To: Fix bothersome cracks in driveways with QPR's Pavement Crack Filler
Your driveway is not perfect and over time, can succumb to bothersome cracks that make driving very uncomfortable. They can even make walking harder, and are unsightly. But Lowe's has the solution to fill them up in a hurry— QPR's Pavement Crack Filler.
How To: Build a Basic Birdhouse
How to Build a Basic BirdhouseMaybe you were outside in your back yard and you noticed that it seemed a little lonely and empty. Our maybe you have young kids that love to experience wild life in their own back yard. Whatever reason you have for searching out this article, you have decided to build your very own basic bird house. I recently built a deck in my back and had alot of scrap 1x6 decking boards left over. Instead of letting all that good material go to waste, I decided to build a co...
How To: Fix the sliding door on your closet
Over time, your sliding closet doors can start to wear down, have a hard time rolling on their track, sticky doors, and more. In this video you'll learn some simple solutions on how to fix your sliding closet door quickly and efficiently using a few things laying around the house.
How To: Lubricate garage door hinges, rollers, and tracks
Garage doors are important and noisy pieces of machinery. If you want your to work as quickly and quietly as possible you should lubricate it's tracks, rollers, and hinges once a year, and this video will show you just how to do it.
How To: Figure out what's broken about your doorbell and fix it
Doorbells are pretty simple machines, but somehow they still break all the time. They are pretty easy to fix usually, and this video will teach you how to figure out what part of your doorbell is broken and then repair it yourself.
How To: Build a legal DIY air conditioner / swamper for your dorm room
A swamp fan is an air conditioning substitute that blows air over cool water to cool a room. If you live in an AC-free dorm room, house, or apartment, it's not too hard to build one yourself, and this video will show you how to do it.
How To: Use stacked stones to reface an old fireplace
Are you tired of your fireplace? It's actually not too hard to give it a fresh new look by refacing it with stack stones. This video will show you exactly how to do it, whether you're starting from brick (easy) or not (harder). If you have brick, you don't even need to modify or remove the existing face!
How To: Install a beadboard wood ceiling in your home
Beadboard is a good-looking, tough, rustic material for ceilings, but it's actually pretty easy to install as far as ceilings go. This video will show you how to install a beadboard ceiling in a smallish room, giving it a whole new look that should last for many years.
How To: Drywall partition with Fermacell
In this tutorial, we learn how to drywall partition with Fermacell. This is a great alternative to plasterboard and is environmentally friendly with no plastering required. First, measure out the floor and mark it using chalk. After this, make sure the walls are level, then measure them out. Mark out doorways and any other special requirements after this. Now, layer a resilient layer between the slats. Then, these are placed into the floors using drills and nails. The rest of the studs will b...
How To: Prepare the concrete floor of your garage for staining
If you're tired of the cement-and-motor-oil coloring you're currently rocking on the floor of your garage, you've come to the right place. This video will show you how to prepare the concrete floor in a garage for staining by etching and degreasing it, ensuring that it is clean and ready to hold the stain.
How To: Install wood decking and lay deck boards
If you've been thinking about installing a new deck on your house, but aren't sure where to begin, you've come to the right place. This video will show you how to install decking and lay deck boards. It doesn't go into too great of detail, but the tips they provide are invaluable as far as tools and techniques.
How To: Lay / install custom, cheap, durable bamboo flooring
Bamboo flooring is cheap, durable, pretty, and much more renewable then most other hardwood floor options. If you've been thinking about getting rid of your carpet or your current hardwood is worn out, try bamboo! This video will give you tips on installing it yourself and revitalizing your home.
How To: Build DIY custom open upper shelving for storage in your home
Open upper shelving is an efficient and esthetically pleasing way to add storage to your home, and isn't to hard to build yourself. This video will show you how to make custom DIY wooden upper shelves that can fit in any space and improve nearly any room.
How To: Choose the right type of wall anchors and install them in drywall
Drywall is all over America, and that means wall anchors are also pretty ubiquitous as a means of keeping our pictures and shelves from destroying these fragile walls. This video explains the different types of wall anchors you have to choose from and how to install them yourself.
How To: Install a deadbolt lock in a wooden door
Deadbolt locks are some of the safest and simplest locks you can get. If you have a wooden door that lacks one, you're in luck, because this video will show you how to install a deadbolt in any wooden door using a template, a large drill, a screwdriver. and a router or chisel.
How To: Install dry acoustic flooring with Fermacell
In this video, we learn how to install dry acoustic flooring with Fermacell. To start, you will level the floor and apply compound if you need. Next, you will lay the Fermacell around the room on top of the leveling compound. Push the flooring tightly together so there are no spaces in between them. You may need to cut the flooring to make sure it's the correct shape for the wall. After this, apply flooring adhesive to the seams to make sure they are secure as they are laid down. After this, ...
How To: Install a bath fan
In this tutorial, we learn how to install a bath fan. When you take a shower and don't have a bath fan, you are more likely to have mold or mildew in your bathroom. First, you need to determine the correct CFM for your bathroom, then you need to find a fan that is as loud or quiet as you want it to be. Choose if you want a quiet or loud one. After this, you will need to find out where to put the bath fan or check your current one to see if a new fan will fit inside!
How To: Repair a defective ceiling fan light switch
In this video, we learn how to repair a defective ceiling fan light switch with Richard Wright. There are two types of switches: two wire and three wire, grab the one you need and tools to help you replace your light switch. Now, disconnect the power at the breaker panel and get started by removing the weighted poles on the chain. Next, remove the globes and bulbs, then set aside. Get inside the light by inserting your screwdriver into it and pulling the light kit apart. The inner workings wi...
How To: Repair stripped screw holes in wood
In order to repair stripped screw holes in wood, you will need the following, a hammer, screws, matches, awl, a flat headed punch, a utility knife, and side cutters.
How To: Install Warmup's underfloor heating cable system
In order to install Warmups Underfloor heating system, you will need the following: a Warmup Thermostat, a Warmup Kit, RCD, a multimeter, a permanent marker, measuring tape, tape, and scissors.
How To: Prevent burglars from breaking into your house through the garage door
If your home has a garage with a fairly standard garage door opener, that garage door is probably the easiest way for a burglar to gain entrance to your house. If you want to secure your home against such breakins, watch this video. It offers tips for securing your garage door so that thieves cannot gain access to your property and your family.
How To: Figure out the placement of your skylight
If you plan on installing a skylight to your home, then you need to figure out where to place it and how big it needs to be. There are many ways to do this, but with this tutorial, you'll find out how to figure out the placement of your skylight. This isn't very difficult and will help determine just where your skylight will be. So good luck and enjoy!
How To: Prevent leaks by putting shingles on properly
If you plan on installing a skylight to your home, there are something that need to be accounted for, including the shingles. With this next quick tip tutorial, you'll find out how you can prevent leaks by installing shingles properly on your roof. This is especially important when installing a skylight since you're putting a hole in your roof. So check out the video above and good luck!
How To: Properly waterproof a skylight
Adding a skylight to your home can not only be a great way to bring light into your home, but also a smart investment. That is, if you are able to install one properly. Installing a skylight is no easy task and require hard work and the appropriate materials to do so.
How To: Buy a skylight flashing kit for your home
If you plan on installing a skylight to your home, then you'll need to know what to buy. This tutorial covers some pretty information about skylight flashing kits and how to buy them. Purchasing and using the wrong stuff can lead to a poorly constucted project that may lead to other issues as well. Avoid that by watching this tutorial. Good luck and enjoy!
How To: Install a skylight with proper insulation
If you plan on installing a skylight in your home, there are some rules that need to be followed. Not following them can lead to something that was poorly put together and can damage the interior of your home. So check out the tutorial for some helpful tips, pay attention, and good luck!
How To: Insulate an attic pull down
In this video, we learn how to insulate an attic pull down with Roy Honican. Doing this can help keep your home warmer and more energy efficient. First, measure around the top of the attic so you can build a box that will stand on top of it. To build the box, use foam board that is 1" thick. Cut the size to the sizes you just measured. After this, use foam tape to tape all the pieces together. Once you're done with this, you will have a large box and you will be ready to go back upstairs. Pla...
How To: Build an outdoor dog house
In this tutorial, we learn how to build an outdoor dog house. Start off by making all the measurements for your dog house and cut out your wood. After this, use a metal frame piece to drill into the wood and this will be the base of the house. After this, connect all the metal pieces on the dog house to make the basic outline of the house. When you are finished with this, place wood on the frame of the house and drill it into place. When you are done with this, you can paint the house if you ...
How To: Install gutter screens with Lowe's
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to install gutter screens. The materials required for this task are: tape measure, tin snips, drill with bits and sheet metal screws. Begin by measuring the gutter to determine how many screens to buy. Start at one end of the gutter and slide the back edge underneath the shingles. Then snap the edges in place and continue down the length of the gutter. Now drill holes in the edges of the screens and screw in the sheet metal screws to secure the gutter...
How To: Make a poplar wine rack
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a poplar wine rack. First, cut the top, bottom, and sides of the rack. Then, use a router to cut out the center of it. Now, assemble the rack together by using wood glue. After this, measure the length of the diagonals, then add in pieces of wood that are criss crossed throughout the box. Next, keep these in place with some wood glue and then place wine bottle on the inside of them. This will make a great wine rack for any home and you can paint it as we...
How To: Install a kitchen backsplash with glass tile accents
This video tutorial is in the Home & Garden category where you will learn how to install a kitchen backsplash with glass tile accents. A tile can be attached to walls with the help of mastic. It doesn't require mixing and it is stronger than mortar. Before applying mastic, sand the wall surface lightly. Don't sand away the paint. Clean the surface with damp cloth. Layout the tile pattern below the space and measure the dimensions. Do the marking on the wall of the centerline. Apply a thin lay...
How To: Drywall your attic & loft with Fermacell
In this tutorial, we learn how to drywall your attic & loft with Fermacell. First, you need to consider the nature of your build and how much you will need to drywall. It is recommended that you install a film to ensure air tightness. You can place this down with a staple gun and tape it down as well. Large holes should be properly sealed as well, to enforce building regulations. Once you do this, you can add the boards on top of what has already been installed. Insulation will be now place o...
How To: Replace bathtub caulk with the Master Handyman
In this tutorial, we learn how to replace bathtub caulk. First, fill your bathtub halfway full with water, then grab your caulk and caulking removal tool. After you have done these steps, apply your caulk remover. Next, scrape it with the remover tool. After this, use bleach and a toothbrush to remove any excess. Now, use rubbing alcohol on a towel to clean the edges of the bathtub. After this, apply mold resistant caulk, then smooth it evenly. Next, wipe the excess caulk with a clean washrag...