Home improvement and renovation tips
Outdoor and indoor lighting should be more than functional. It can make your home more attractive and set a mood. But it can also work to your disadvantage if turning on a few lights makes your house look a prison during a jailbreak. Here are some tips to keep your lights doing their jobs without
Read more in Exteriors
If you have condensation on your toilet tank, you could be damaging your tiles or causing rot in your subfloor. This “sweating” occurs when moist air hits the cold sides of your toilet tank, so it stands to reason that warming up the sides of the tank will cure the problem. Of course, you could
Read more in Plumbing
Home repair jobs can be “quality time” with the kids — and you get a helper thrown into the bargain. But while safety on the job is always important, take extra care with kids. Start by teaching them how tools work and how to use them safely. Show them how to safely carry and pass
Read more in ToolsEric Z, a long-time reader, experienced renovator/builder, and former owner of a large building supply store in Toronto, had some smart suggestions after reading our reno-demo checklist. “I lost an entire renovation,” he writes. “$40,000 in damage – due to a shut-off valve failing in the night the day before the new sink was to be installed.” As you can see from this photo, during the entirety of our long
A recent kitchen renovation reminded me, in some cases a little too late, about some key areas to cover up during a demolition or drywall mudding/sanding. Here you go. Mask doorways into other areas of the house Well, duh. Okay, I did remember this one. For a major old-house plaster demo or drywall sanding, 6 mil plastic and painter’s tape do the trick to seal the openings well. We stapled
Now that we’ve installed a toilet, we’ll review a few tips to help you do the job with finesse. 1. It’s a good idea to pick up an extra valve just in case your soldering attempt isn’t up to snuff… particularly with a ball valve. Or do the job while the store’s open. 2. Use a MAPP gas torch when soldering such a valve. 3. When tightening the supply hose