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Home improvement and renovation tips

Painting and refinishing tricks

Here are some tips and ideas from our painter and refinishing friends. To keep air from getting into a paint can and forming a film, store the can upside down.Painting windows and don't want to mask? Spread some petroleum jelly around the edges of the glass. Or wet some strips of newspaper and place these ...

Paint rollers – rolling it on smoothly

Last time we chose a roller; now it's time to paint. Pour enough paint in your tray to cover the bottom reservoir only. Roll your roller in the paint to cover the entire nap. Then even it out by lightly rolling it on the shallow area of the tray. Don't squeeze out the paint; the ...

Paint rollers – how to choose one

Once you've cut in your corners with a paint brush, it's time to switch to a roller: you'll cover more area in less time. But the type of roller and cover will vary with the job.When buying an all-purpose roller, the kind that looks like a birdcage is your best bet, because it's good for ...

Give your basement floor a "tiled" look

If you like the idea of a tile floor, nothing beats the real thing for warmth, beauty and texture. But here's a low-budget alternative which gives the impression of a tile floor in a lot less time.If your basement concrete floor is sound, reasonably smooth and warm, you can simply paint on the tiles.Choose a ...

How to stain decks and fences

Most manufacturers recommend applying stains and finishes when the temperature is somewhere between 50 F (10 Celsius) and 95 F (35 Celsius). Problem is, they mean surface temperature -- not air temperature. Wood absorbs and stores heat from the sun, and the deck surface may be 40 degrees F hotter than the air temperature.If the ...

Mantel ideas for gas or wood fireplaces

After going to the expense of putting in a gas or wood fireplace, many people don't give a lot of thought to spending more on the finishing touches. But a mantel needn't cost a lot, and can add a lot of traditional warmth to your room.At its most basic level, a mantel is a sturdy ...

Six steps to repainting trimwork

Need to touch up some paint on some old woodwork, or thinking of painting over it? Here are some pointers.1. Check for lead. Gently scrape a chip of paint from the woodwork, and test it for lead using a home testing kit. Test both sides, and the layer underneath the chip, if there is one. ...

Woodwork painting tips

Rolling paint on a wall is quick and easy. Then you have to do the trim and other woodwork. Actually, it's not that difficult either, if you follow the right steps.First off, leave it till you've painted the walls. It's easier to cut in toward the walls than vice versa. Also, it's easy to splatter ...

How to remove even the most stubborn wallpaper

If your wallpaper won't easily strip from the wall, you have a couple options. Dissolving the glue and removing the wallpaper is the most obvious choice.You might be able to do this with water. Turn off circuits which reach outlets or switches on the wall in question and wet down the paper by applying warm ...

How to remove wallpaper

You're ready to get rid of that circa 1975 wallpaper. Where do you start?First off, decide if you even need to remove it. If it's well-attached and has good smooth seams, you can simply wallpaper over the existing layer.To determine whether this is an option, rub your hand over the wall. If it crinkles, the ...