Construction & Repair How-Tos
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: Polish and repair scratched plastic
Plastic has a lot going for it, but it's not known for looking great in the long-term. It scratches and smudges easily, and ages a lot faster than glass and other materials. But in this video from Tap Plastics, you'll learn how to polish your plastic and keep it looking good for a long time to come.
How To: Repair and glue polyethylene and seaboard
Polyethylene is a widely-used plastic that is impervious to water. But that very imperviousness also makes it impossible to repair using most glues. In this video the folks at Tap Plastics walk you through the use of TAP Poly-Weld Adhesive to repair polyethylene and seaboard.
How To: Build a box with plastic
Knowing how to build a box out of plastic is a highly useful skill. In this video, the folks at Tap Plastics show us how to do it. The example they use is how to make an organizer for your cutlery drawer, when organizers from the store won't fit. But there are many other possible applications for plastic boxes.
How To: Caulk a shower stall
If you're planning to re-caulk a shower stall, there are things you shield know before you dive into the project. For one thing, it's essential to remove all of the old caulk, since caulk will stick to almost everything except itself. Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com talks you through somber info you'll have to know before you caulk your shower.
How To: Adjust sliding glass doors
Glass doors are both stylish and practical… Until they jam up and stop sliding, at which point they become a big pain in the neck. But getting them sliding in their tracks again isn't a really complicated process. In this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows us how to keep our sliding glass doors sliding.
How To: Stain wood
Staining wood can give it a really dazzling effect. In this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows us how to revitalize old wood and make new wood look better with staining. Before you stain, it's important to know what you're doing. After all, if you stain something badly, it can be tricky to clean it up.
How To: Install foam sealant insulation
Need to install some foam sealant insulation? In this tutorial, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows you how to install foam sealant installation between window and door jams. Traditionally most contractors would stuff batting insulation into jams by hand, a process that takes a lot of time. Here, we learn a better way.
How To: Install baseboard trim
In this video tutorial, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com walks us through how to install baseboard trim. Baseboard trim can make a big difference in a room, if you do it right. Of course, if you do it wrong, it can make the wrong kind of difference!
How To: Install crown molding for your home
Some good crown molding can make any room really pop. In this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com takes us through the basics of crown molding. He shows us a few examples, and walks us through installing it.
How To: Fix a squeaky door in seconds
Is a squeaky door in your house bringing you down, and making the house seem haunted? Well, it's a simple solution to fix. As Phillips Woodworking shows us, it's merely a matter of greasing the hinges. Once you get some WD-40 and apply it correctly, your door will make no more noises.
How To: Mix and use sanded floor grout
Before you grout a floor, take the time to be sure that you really know what you're doing. Mistakes you make now can come back to haunt you later. A lot of people try to use wall grout, for instance, which doesn't work well and eventually cracks. What you really want top use is sanded grout. In this 4-part tutorial series, Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, demonstrates how to mix up and use sanded grout when you're putting down a tile floor.
How To: Keep your grout lines straight when laying tile
If you knock down a wall, planning to extend an existing tile floor, you'll face a real problem trying to keep the tiles straight. In this tutorial, Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, demonstrates how you keep your lines straight when laying tile. It's not complicated or expensive. All you need is some chalk and a bit of string.
How To: Install ceramic tile on concrete using thinset mortar
In this video, Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, shows you how to install tile on a concrete floor. As Carter explains, you want to use thinnest to apply the tile. But before you do, be sure to clean the concrete first with a wet sponge. A lot of floor installers don't do this, and the floor is still dusty when they put the thinnest down. This can create problems later.
How To: Use thinset for ceramic tile floors
Many people use mastic when applying ceramic floor tiles, not realizing that mastic will never completely set and is thus vulnerable to cracks if you put a lot of weight on it. Thinset is actually a much better product for a job like this. In this video, Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, will show you how to use thinnest to apply floor tiles.
How To: Remove drywall without damaging connecting walls
In this video, Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, will show you a quick tip for how to remove drywall so you can demo a wall without damaging the walls around it. All you need is a razor knife. If you just take a minute to trim the seam along the wall, you can save yourself from having to repair a whole of expensive damage later.
How To: Determine if a wall is load-bearing before removal
Before you remove any wall in a home remodeling project, it's essential to determine if it's a load-bearing wall or not. If you rush ahead without making sure first, you just might bring the roof down on your head! In this video, Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, will show you how to determine of a wall is load-bearing or not before you remove it.
How To: Repair blacktop driveway cracks
A cracked driveway blacktop isn't just an eyesore. If you leave little cracks in your blacktop driveway alone, they can become bigger problems later. In this video, Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, will teach you will teach you about blacktop repair.
How To: Repair stucco cracks
Stucco cracks aren't just unsightly. They can also create structural problems for your home. In this tutorial, you'll learn a few of the different ways to repair exterior stucco cracks. Doing a small repair now can save you a whole lot of trouble later.
How To: Do a knockdown repair
No, despite how it sounds, a knockdown repair doesn't involve repairing things that have been knocked down. A knockdown in this case refers to a knockdown wall texture. In this simple video tutorial, you'll learn how to repair a knockdown texture that's been damaged.
How To: Apply stucco
Using stucco, you can completely transform the look of your indoor or outdoor space. The process can look intimidating at first, but it' really pretty simple once you know what you're doing. In this short video from the DIY Network, Rock Solid hosts Dean Marsico and Derek Stearns explain how to apply stucco.
How To: Build a deck step by step with Lowe's
If you're not an everyday woodworker, then building a deck may be a challenge for you. But it's not as hard as it might seem. If you follow all of the required steps for deck building, you'll have one of the best ones on the block, and be pretty darn proud of it, too!
How To: Lay bricks with joint spacers
Using joints spacers to lay bricks makes things a lot easier and perfect. You'll get that perfect 3/8" mortar joint every time. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to lay bricks with joint spacers.
How To: Unclog a garbage disposal
Holidays such as Thanksgiving are doomsday for most garbage disposals due to clogs. If you're garbage disposal is clogged, check out this video to see some helpful tips on how to fix it.
How To: Patch a small hole in drywall
While drywall is an inexpensive building material, it's not the sturdiest. Luckily, repairing the inevitable holes is a quick and easy process.
How To: Repair a chimney cap on your home
YouTube's hardwarehelper teaches you how to repair a chimney cap on your home. At worst, you'll have to caulk the edges, but this is a nice, fairly permanent solution to capping a chimney.
How To: Install an interior pre-hung door in your home
Have a new door that needs installed? Well, first thing you're going to have to do is remove the old one, then you're ready to go! Check out this home improvement video tutorial on how to install an interior pre-hung door in your home.
How To: Completely remove an interior door in your home
Have a new door that needs installed? Well, first thing you're going to have to do is remove the old one! Check out this home improvement video tutorial on how to completely remove an interior door in your home.
How To: Repair nail pops
This video demonstrates how to repair nail pops. From the people who brought you the Dummies instructional book series, brings you the same non-intimidating guides in video form. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to repair nail pops, For Dummies.
How To: Hang things on hollow walls
This video demonstrates how to hang things on hollow walls. From the people who brought you the Dummies instructional book series, brings you the same non-intimidating guides in video form. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to hang things on hollow walls, For Dummies.
How To: Caulk windows
This video demonstrates how to caulk windows. From the people who brought you the Dummies instructional book series, brings you the same non-intimidating guides in video form. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to caulk windows, For Dummies.
How To: Spot a dishonest contractor for home repair
Learn how to spot a dishonest contractor for home repair. It’s no accident contractors have such a bad reputation – they get more fraud complaints than any other workers! Here’s how to find a reputable one – and skip the scammers.
How To: Hang a door properly
Hanging a door evenly isn't easy, and if you screw it up, you'll probably have to start over with a brand new door. Master this skill, however, and save a bundle in installation fees.
How To: Fix a door that sticks
Instead of pushing, pulling, and cursing, why not fix that door that sticks? You Will Need
How To: Easily tighten screw hooks and eye hooks
Get some simple home repair and improvement advice from the H.O.W. TV team. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to tighten screw hooks and eye hooks.
How To: Mix concrete by hand
Whether you want to pave your patio or give someone cement shoes, here's how to mix concrete like an expert. Learn how to mix concrete by hand with this instructional video.
How To: Board up a window
Board up a window for protection against strong storms and hurricanes. Learn how to board up a window.
How To: Build a light post for your landscape
Learn how to build walls with Allan Block in this video tutorial. See how to build a light post for your landscape, which is great for your front lawn, made with Allan Blocks.
How To: Build a patterned retaining wall with Allan Blocks
Learn how to build walls with Allan Block in this video tutorial. See how to build two-sided patio walls for your landscape, which is a patterned retaining wall, made with Allan Blocks.
How To: Make a wind-powered generator with MAKE magazine
MAKE magazine never fails to amaze. And this time, John Park tackles a DIY wind-powered generator—and he shows you how to do it! Before you start watching the video tutorial, make sure to download the PDF of this project for reference.