Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Paint with a Brush
A lot of residential and commercial painting jobs involve painting brushes. If you're planning a DIY painting work, here's how to do it properly: To avoid messing up the paint…
Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Rub Down a Surface for Better Paint
To get the best results from paint or varnish, it should be applied to an even surface which has been very slightly roughened. The process of providing this even surface…
Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Prepare New Surfaces for Your Home
Thorough surface preparation is the key to successful decorating and though it might seem a poorly rewarded chore, it should be approached with vigour and enthusiasm. Surface preparation means the…
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How to Put up Wall Tiles
In general terms, decorating with materials in tile form is easier than using materials off the roll, since you are always handling something quite small. But against that is the…
Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Prepare Old Paintwork
Old paintwork generally falls into one or more of the following three conditions: sound, with no flaking, chips or blisters in fairly good condition, but with small areas requiring some…
Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Remove Old Paint
There are two main methods of removing old paint - with heat from a blowlamp or gun or by using a chemical paint stripper. Both methods work by softening the…
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How to Tile a Ceiling
Tiling a ceiling is an alternative to papering for disguising a ceiling surface that is rough or cracked. By far the most common type of ceiling tile is made from…
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How to Use a Roller in Painting
To use a roller, you must transfer paint from the can into something the roller will lit into. Special roller trays are available which have a raised back and a…
Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Use a Spray Gun
Spray guns are most suited to spraying cellulose paint but can be used for emulsion and oil-based paints as well - sometimes, these require a different nozzle. Most spray guns…
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How to Age Wood
Many a times it happens that one wants to make something using old wood but the wood which is available is new. You want the wood to antique as if…
Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Age Brass
The polished look of brass appeals to many people and it is one of the oldest materials which were used to make home furnishings. The warm look of the brass…
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How to Clean a Concrete Floor
Concrete flooring is practical and efficient in many applications: garage floors, basement floors, and porches. But with use these floors acquire stains that need cleaning. Fortunately, good concrete needs little…
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How to Clean and Repair Gutters
Gutters that collect rainwater running off the roof and channel its flow groundward often get inadequate care for many seasons until problems occur. Downpours destroy plants and lawn below the…
Posted inPets & Animals
How to Control Termites
Termites are among the most common, destructive enemies of the house. If you've spotted damage by these pests, or suspect their presence, you can hire a termite control or termite removal…
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How to Open a Stuck Window
Double-hung wood frame windows are prone to sticking open or shut. Unsticking them can be a difficult task unless you know the techniques for opening them without damage to the…
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How to Repair a Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans, widely popular in humid climates before air conditioning appeared, have returned to many homes as an efficient method of circulating heated or conditioned air. They work as great…
Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Repair a Dishwasher
Automatic dishwashers are easier to troubleshoot and repair than you might think. Simply consider the appliance as a group of parts, each one designed to do a specific job. If…
Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Repair a Dryer
The electric or gas clothes dryer is quite a simple appliance that, in many cases, can easily be repaired by the handy homeowner. With a screwdriver, pliers, volt-ohmmeter or continuity…
Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Repair a Washer
The washing machine is certainly not the most romantic appliance in your home, but try to go without it for a few days and you'll see how much you love…
Posted inHome & Maintenance
How to Repair Leaky Roof
According to a roofing company, even a small leak or hole in the roof can cause considerable damage, and it may call for an immediate roof repair from a reliable leak…