Latest Trending Tech & Gadgets Lifestyle Apple Android

Construction & Repair How-Tos

iOS 18 Tips, Tricks, How-Tos, News

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.

How To: Make an insulated attic stairway box

Save some money on your energy bills by making an attic stairway box. For less than twenty five dollars, all you need is caulk, UL181 masking tape, insulated sheathing, and rubber foam sticky tape. Measure the width, the length, and the depth of the attic stairway opening. Lay the insulated sheathing down on the floor and get a straight edge. Take those measurements and create a rectangular box. Mark out six pieces to create the parts of the box – two large top pieces, and four shorter side p...

How To: Quickly cope inside baseboard corners

When installing baseboards, the inside corners are the trickiest part. In this tutorial, follow along with Bob Schmidt as he shows you how to cope with inside corners. This video will show you a shortcut that you can use next time you are installing baseboards or skirtboards or any other trim with flat area on it.

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: 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: Make a concrete countertop mold

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to make a concrete counter top mold. Fu Tung Cheng from Concrete Network presents this video. For making different edges on your counter top, a compound called polyurethane is used for making the mold. It is a two part compound mixed together to form a rubbery substance. While using polyurethane follow the manufacturer’s recommended dosage, time, proportion and also use the recommended release agent. Take a piece of the molding wood and ...

How To: Caulk your home to save money on energy bills

All around your house there small cracks and spaces that are letting air out of the house. You can stop the air leaks through an inexpensive way saving money from being wasted, it's called caulk. You have to select the right one for what you need, there are many different types for different applications so be sure to pick the right one. Clean the area you want to apply the caulk in and then put the caulk in the device with which you're going to use it. Push the plunger until it stops and cut...

How To: Tape drywall and prep for painting

Taping drywall requires a spreader or a spatula, compound and drywall tape. Spread the compound over the nails and the seams smoothly to apply tape over later. Next, the tape is applied to the wet compound on the wall directly over where the seams were. Then, another layer of compound is placed on top of the tape. After it is dry, a second layer of compound is placed on top of this layer. This process will continue until all the seams are covered with the compound, taped over the seams on top...

How To: Install a bathtub and shower surround with tile

In this video, The Home Depot shows us how to tile the surrounding walls of a bath or shower. Since these walls stand up to a lot of wetness from daily showers, they need to be sound and waterproof. Ceramic tiles are a great way to go. In this demonstration, the tiles are attached to backer board. Protect your tub with a cardboard inlay before you begin. Then seal the edges of the tub with asphalt roofing cement. Then staple 15 pound felt to the studs, embedding the bottom layer to the asphal...

How To: Remove carpet to install concrete floors

Bob Harris of decorative concrete institute explains how you can remove your tiled or carpeted flooring for a concrete substitute. He suggests when your removing carpeting that it can be very heavy and advises you to hire someone who can lift and carry it out, or rent a dumpster for easy take away. He states that after the carpet is removed you'll need to remove the adhesive from the floor. You can do this by stripping or grinding, and at other times the use of harsh chemicals may be needed. ...

How To: Repair cut leather on your own

In this how-to video, you will learn how to make a repair in cut leather. This is useful if you have damaged leather you would like to repair yourself. Make a knife cut in the leather, and then cut and place a sew patch into the leather. Push it underneath the leather. Now, glue the sew patch in place with inexpensive craft glue. Rub it around the leather and edges of the cut. Wipe off excess glue with a damp cloth and wait until it dries. Place something heavy on it for a good amount of time...

How To: Caulk your shower with a mold inhibitor

To start caulking your shower please ensure that the shower is clean, dry and all caulk joints are also clean, dry and free of any old caulk. Start by taping the 'to be caulked' areas with blue painters tape, making sure you are following the contour of the shower and pressing firmly on the tape to prevent any caulk from getting under the tape. Once the taping is completed now you can start caulking. Start by using a caulking gun from one end of the shower to another, using small amounts of c...

How To: Repair spalled concrete

This video illustrates us how to repair spalled concrete. Here are the following steps:Step 1: First of all take cement and sand'Step 2: Mix it in the ratio 1:3 that is cement one part and sand three partsStep 3: Now add water and mix the mixture well.Step 4 : Now apply this mixture for filling the spalled concrete.Step 5: Polyurea can also be used to fill the crackStep 6: Let the repair work done dry.Step 7: After around 28 days apply a water proof primer on the repaired work to prevent furt...

How To: Install new windows in a new construction project

Steve with Eikenhout Educational Video Series and Paul Griggs with PGriggs Construction demonstrate how to install new windows during a new construction application. You will need a level, a utility knife, a caulk gun and a hammer to install the windows. First, cut the house wrap away from the area where the window will be placed. Next, properly flash the opening to protect it from water by starting at the window sill. Next, verify that the sill is level. Next, caulk around the window opening...

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.