Studs are vertically installed 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 boards that make up the framing of a house. They are the foundation of nearly every home. Studs are attached, often using a hammer and nails, to horizontal boards at the top and bottom. Hammering a nail into a stud is an essential skill for many home-i

Ivy is often welcomed in outdoor spaces where it can give a classic feeling to the outside of a building or a well-designed trellis. Unfortunately, if unwanted, ivy can be a large nuisance for many homeowners. It spreads quickly and can be extremely invasive. While cutting the ivy at its roots may s

If you're gluing stainless steel to ceramic, consider a few potential problems. First, you must find a glue that can deal with both non-porous and porous surface areas. Stainless steel is slick and glue traditionally doesn't adhere well to it. The second problem is that these materials have differen

Wood floors require a finish to protect the wood from damage by water and foot traffic. New hardwood floors require sanding, staining and finish coats of urethane. Older wood floors require scuffing the finish and applying a new finish. Wood floors can be painted to give an infusion of color to a r

A washer pedestal is essentially a box used to raise the height of a washer or dryer. You can buy metal pedestals that can range anywhere from a hundred dollars on up, or you could build one out of wood yourself. With a few pieces of wood, screws and a table saw, you can build yourself a pedestal wi

Linoleum floor is inexpensive and holds up well to traffic, particularly in bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor access areas. Because linoleum is waterproof, it makes for an excellent flooring choice for these home zones. However, because of normal wear and tear there may be a time when the home owner m

Bypass or pocket doors give more space in a room and can be installed in the space where a hinged door already exists, but there are some things to consider. Bypass doors require twice the width of an ordinary door, so you will need to enlarge the door opening unless you are replacing double doors.

Landscaping boulders are rocks of various sizes and consistencies used as accents for landscaping projects. The weight and expense of natural boulders can be prohibitive for property owners who want to landscape on a budget. You can make landscaping boulders in your backyard that will look natural t

Buying new carpet can seem like a daunting task. That's because there's more to it than just picking out your favorite carpet. You also have to be certain that the carpet you're buying is going to mesh with everything that's going to be around it after it's been installed. Since your tile floor is g

It's not difficult to construct a simple wheelchair ramp with fill dirt and fine gravel. A ramp for use with a wheelchair must have a slope no more than 1 foot for every 12 feet, and the ramp must be at least 36 inches wide. Landings must be at least 5 feet by 5 feet and landings with a outward swi

Basements can be scary, but the door leading to it doesn't have to be. Replacing a basement door can make your home more efficient and dress up the room it's in. All it takes to do it right is a little home improvement experience and the willingness to get all your measurements right.

Spring and fall are times when we most want to let the outside in. Unheated and unconditioned air from the outside can flow freely through the house, giving us the best of indoors and outdoors. If a screen is torn, however, the worst of outdoors can come in with the best, the worst being flies and b

Window boxes are a beautiful addition to any house whose owner has a green thumb. Display your favorite flowers in a personally designed wooden window box. If you can build a box and have a few power tools, you are well on your way to adding the personal touch to the windows and the exterior of your

Once you've decided on ceramic tiles for your new flooring, choose a layout as your next step. A diagonal layout creates drama in the room and highlights the floor over the room's more basic structures. Although professional installation of diagonal ceramic tiles ensures correct layout, a homeowner

Grout is the cement that sits between the tiles on a floor, wall, countertop or a tile bath. It spans the spaces between the tiles to give a flat, uniform surface. Grout is more absorbent that most tile, so it's necessary to seal it (and re-seal annually) to lock out moisture and prevent staining. T

Cork flooring is among the sturdiest and easiest type of flooring to maintain. Here's a few ways to keep your cork flooring looking as though you just had it installed. With a little light maintenance, your cork flooring will last for years.

Backyard pond and waterfall materials can be expensive. So many filters and forms offered at garden and home stores cost hundreds of dollars. You can build a cheap waterfall with materials that work just as well, but cost a lot less. The only thing you should not skimp on is the waterfall pump mecha

At first, you may feel overwhelmed when you're trying to choose paint for your bathroom: satin or eggshell; gloss, flat, or somewhere in between. To make matters more confusing, you may choose one type of paint for the walls and another for the trim around doorways and windows. Choosing the ideal ba