Home Improvement Tips & Ideas
Explore these how to topics for a wide range of easy fix-up projects around your house and let your next home improvement adventure begin!
From corn growing in the gutter to light switches on cabinets, home inspectors have seen it all! Check out these DIY horror stories that will keep you up at night, courtesy of The American Society of Home Inspectors. Photos provided by the following home inspector members of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors: Going Green …
Do it Yourself? More like DON’T it Yourself! From wooden circuit breakers to bird-nest insulation, these home improvement fails will make you cringe AND chuckle at the same time. Courtesy of the American Society of Home Inspectors. Photos provided by the following home inspector members of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors: Creative Plumbing, …
At The Money Pit, we love DIY projects and solutions, however some people like to take it WAY too far! Check out some of the most cringeworthy DIY mistakes discovered by The American Society of Home Inspectors. Photos provided by the following home inspector members of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors: Control top recommended …
If you thought the mountains of paperwork, home inspections, and mortgage applications were the end of the new house buying experience, wait until you get settled into your new home and stuff starts breaking. For first-time homeowners, the lead-up Moving Day in is full of anxiety, confusion, and stress. The ownership part of home ownership …
Adulting 101: Essential Home Maintenance Checklist for New HomeownersRead More
Do-it-yourselfers buy and use a wide array of chemical products and accompanying safety equipment for their home projects. But many weekend warriors don’t know that a particular class of paint strippers containing two toxic chemicals: methylene chloride and NMP, pose major dangers even while using your typical safety equipment. Luckily, these toxic chemicals may soon …
DIY Shouldn’t be Dangerous: How to Find Safer Paint StrippersRead More
Imagine waking up and seeing the morning light covering the walls of your bedroom – except for a dark shadow in one spot – that begins to MOVE! House centipedes travel at night and are frequently visible on walls, floors and ceilings. And while they have many beneficial qualities, these so-called “hundred-leggers” or “thousand-leggers” …
How to Get Rid of Thousand-Leggers Without Getting Grossed OutRead More
Keeping your house looking spiffy all year round is no small chore. Yet, nothing feels better than coming home to a tidy clean home. It actually helps with stress levels when your home is uncluttered and fresh. You may think with your busy schedule, three kids, and a dog that keeping the house in order …
Keep Your Home Spiffy Year Round with our 12-Month Cleaning GuideRead More
Home inspectors see it all, the good, the bad and the truly amusing! Here’s a dozen “DIY Don’ts,” courtesy of the American Society of Home Inspectors. How many boots does it take to flash a plumbing vent? Springing a leak or first sign of Spring? How convenient, an asbestos blower to make sure it reaches …
QUIKRETE Zip & Mix Repair Mortar is a multi-purpose concrete repair material that can be mixed and used right out of its innovative resealable pouch. Zip & Mix repair mortar is formulated with special polymer resins that allow the material to be molded and shaped to match the contour of the surrounding concrete without sagging. …
Repairing Concrete with Zip and Mix Repair Mortar | VideoWatch Now
Repairing broken concrete edges and corners requires a special fast-setting repair material that can be molded and shaped to match the contour of the surrounding concrete, without sagging. QUIKRETE Quick-Setting Cement, along with QUIKRETE Acrylic Fortifier, is designed specifically to repair broken edges and corners on concrete steps, curbs, slabs and walls, quickly and permanently, …
Concrete expansion joints are cuts in concrete slabs that go completely through the slab to the base material. Expansion joints can also be the joints between walls and concrete slabs. The purpose of an expansion joint is to allow the concrete slab to expand and contract with temperature changes without cracking the slab. Concrete expansion …
Repairing and Sealing Vertical and Horizontal Expansion Joints | VideoWatch Now
Over time and exposure to the elements, exterior concrete can develop cracks, due to temperature changes, ground movement, improperly placed joints and excessive loads. Once a crack develops, it is important to seal the crack from water, to prevent further deterioration from water. QUIKRETE Polyurethane Concrete Crack Sealant is a non-sag, flexible sealant that will …
Concrete is one of the most economical, versatile and durable building materials available. Regardless of your skill level, building a sidewalk, patio or floor with QUIKRETE Concrete Mixes can be successfully achieved. Before pouring concrete into the forms, make sure your forms are level. Place three to four inches of QUIKRETE All-Purpose Gravel and spread …
Project Instructions When working with mixing mortar, always wear eye protection and waterproof gloves. Step 1 Measure the recommended water amount for the number of bags to be added to the mixer and pour half of the water into the mixer (an 80-pound bag of Mason Mix will require about 5 quarts of water). If …
Over time and exposure to the elements, damaged concrete can become worn or develop surface scaling and cracks. With proper attention to surface preparation and material selection, durable repairs can be made to the damaged area, extending the life of the concrete. The first step in repairing damaged concrete is proper surface preparation. A solid, …
QUIKRETE Concrete Mixes can be successfully mixed by hand or machine mixed. For larger projects, machine mixing concrete is often the best method. When working with cement-based mixes, always wear rubber gloves and safety glasses. During concrete mixing and placing procedures, machine mixed concrete should be mixed in a barrel mixer mixing. Blades in a …
The addition of veneer stone can turn an ordinary wall, column or fireplace into an elegant and distinctive home feature. Natural stone or lightweight manufactured stone veneers can be applied over a wide range of substrates including masonry block, poured concrete walls and plywood sheeting. With a little careful planning, creativity, and puzzle-solving skills, stone …
Building a stucco wall has proven to be one of the most enduring, versatile, and weather-resistant exterior wall finishes available. With its variety of colors and textures, stucco continues to be one of the most popular wall systems. Stucco can be applied over standard, wood frame walls in a three-coat process and over masonry and …
QUIKRETE Concrete Mixes can be successfully mixed by hand or machine-mixed. For smaller projects, hand-mixing is often the best method. When working with cement mixes, always wear rubber gloves and safety glasses during concrete mixing and placing procedures. Hand-mixing can be done in a plastic mortar tub or wheelbarrow with a shovel or hoe. When …
When building decks or other permanent structures, local building codes typically require the use of concrete footings. Before proceeding with your deck construction, consult with your local building department to determine requirements for the specific deck footings for your area. These requirements will include minimum diameter and minimum depth of the footings. Footings, typically, must …
An outdoor bar is a great focal point of any backyard patio and ideal for entertaining throughout the year. The bar can be a simple design or as elaborate as you can imagine. Even with a built-in refrigerator, a BBQ Grill, shelves and even a sink, but either way, it can be customized to fit …
How to Build an Outdoor Bar with Concrete Block | VideoWatch Now
Building a garden wall, a planter, mailbox enclosure…or even an outdoor kitchen, can be as easy as stack and stucco with QUIKWall Surface Bonding Cement. The construction process is quick and easy for even the novice do-it-yourselfer with professional results. QUIKWall Surface Bonding Cement is a special fiberglass reinforced stucco that is simply troweled over …
Building a Dry Stack Block Wall with QUIKWall | VideoWatch Now
There is no better way to add curb appeal and value to your home than adding a concrete lawn border. Concrete borders can be used to define your lawn, flower beds and pathways, adding a clean, finished look to your home’s landscaping. Concrete lawn borders can be poured at virtually any depth or width and …
Building a concrete block wall is one of the more involved building projects, requiring careful planning and a little heavy lifting. Regardless of your skill level, a successful result can be achieved. Every block wall, regardless of whether it is going to be a structural wall or a non structural wall, requires a solid footing. …
