Construction & Repair How-Tos
How To: Use QPR's All-In-One Melter Applicator for sealing small cracks
This video provides the operating instructions for the RTH08 All-In-One Melter Applicator, which is a hand-agitated, 10-gallon capacity sealant machine designed to effectively and efficiently execute small crack-sealing tasks. You'll learn about the safety procedures when using this Melter Applicator, startup procedure, sealant loading, heat settings and sealant application on pavement, as well as the shutdown procedure.
How To: Cut a piece of plexiglass without it melting or chipping
Plexiglass is the pleather of glass, and it has disadvantages vs. it's natural cousin. For one, it's much harder to cut because it melts and chips easily. Watch this video to learn how to cut plexiglass safely and accurately.
How To: Clean mildew off of sheetrock
No one likes having mildew on their belongings, and having it on the wall of your house is even worse it threatens the structure rigidity of the sheetrock. Watch this video to learn how to remove mildew from sheetrock walls.
How To: Replace a broken toilet handle
The handle on your toilet is the most common way you interact with the device, and if it breaks your toilet is much harder to flush. Watch this video to learn how to remove the broken handle and install a new one.
How To: Glaze windows so that they hold temperature better
Glazing your windows can provide a nice decorative touch while keeping heat inside in the winter and outside during the summer. Watch this video to learn how to glaze your own windows and get this home improvement job done yourself.
How To: Replace a broken toilet flange
The flange on a toilet is the part that joins the toilet to the ground, and is very important to proper toilet function. If your toilet wobbles, smells bad, or leaks, your flange may be broken. Watch this video to learn how to remove the broken flange and install a new one.
How To: Repair cracks and holes in drywall with Lowe's
In this tutorial, we learn how to repair cracks and holes in drywall with Lowe's. Drywall can be damaged in a number of ways, but can be fixed easily. If you have a medium size hole in the wall, first place caulking on it and then smooth it out. If you have a larger area, you will need to use a sanding strip around it to smooth out the area and all around it. Use drywall compound to fill in the area that is empty. Then, smooth over it with a flat tool then paint over it with the same color pa...
How To: Know the pros & cons of laminate flooring
In this tutorial, we learn how to know the pros & cons of laminate flooring. The difference between laminate floor and wood floor is mainly the cost and quality. Laminate flooring will withstand damage better than regular oak flooring can take. But, laminate flooring does not do well if you spill water on top of it. Once the water gets on the edges and stays there for a while it will end up swelling the floor up so it becomes larger than the rest of the flooring. Other than that, laminate is ...
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: Seal and protect pavement using QPR's Professional Grade Driveway Sealer
Once you've patched all of the cracks and potholes in your home driveway, it's time for protecting it from further damage. Sealing your driveway will protect from further ghastly and bothersome cracks and potholes. Lowe's knows what works best— QPR's Professional Grade Driveway Sealer.
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: Build an industrial size BBQ smoker from an old refrigerator
You can take an old, stainless steel refrigerator and turn it into a vertical smoker. Weld steel plates to make a fire box with a door and a removable ash tray, then reconstruct the frame to make yourself a new addition to your barbecue pit!
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: Make a wooden soda holder that seems to defy gravity
In this video, we learn how to make a wooden soda holder that defies gravity. First, cut a hole into a piece of wood that is large enough to fit the cap of a 2 liter bottle of soda. Now, with the bottle still full, place the bottle into the hole and raise the piece of wood up so it's sitting on the edge of a table. Now, the wood should stay there without you having to hold it. This will look like it's defying gravity, but it is just the soda and wood being positioned perfectly so it doesn't f...
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!