How to Tile a Bathroom, Shower Walls, Floor, Materials (100 pics, Pro-Tips)
Welcome back to our latest Pro-Follow update. Last time we left off, Steve Wartman and his crew had finished installing the bathroom fan, and the previous day they had hung concrete board in the shower and Fir plywood over the subfloor. At this point, the bathroom is ready for tile, and Steve called in Rick Smith and his crew to tile the shower and bathroom floor. Rick brings over 30 years of experience, and coincidentally Rick is the contractor that tiled my master bathroom several years ago. If you enjoy our Pro-Follows and learning how professional contractors complete home improvement jobs, ...
How to Repair a Medium-Size Hole in Drywall
Repairing drywall is a great do-it-yourselfer task because tools and materials are cheap, and there's very little risk (to you or the house). Plus, if you can master the repair, it's a skill that will serve you well no matter if you own or rent. So before you call the local handyman next time, give yourself a chance to tackle this basic, home improvement project. Materials List Drywall (see below) Mesh tape (see below) Setting compound (see below) Backer boards (see below) 1-1/4" Drywall screws Drywall: Also called sheet rock or gypsum board, drywall is available in several sizes and thicknesses. Purchase a piece bigger than the ...
How to Build a Deck (with 120+ Pics, Diagrams, Pro-Tips, & Helpful Links)
If you're a regular reader, you know this detailed guide is the culmination of many days shadowing expert general contractor and carpenter Steve Wartman. I was on-site as he and his crew built this deck, taking pictures of the progress, documenting the work and discovering tips and tricks. I'm convinced that there's no better way to learn how to tackle home improvement projects than following a licensed contractor through a build. If you enjoy this article, check out our other Project Guides. To stay current on all our Pro-Follows, subscribe via RSS or email. If you live in the greater Baltimore area and ...
The Best Compact Drill Drivers: We Test Five Popular 18V Models
If you read press releases or simply watch commercials around the holidays, you know that just about every tool manufacturer makes some sort of "best in class" statement regarding their product. Consumers don't know who to believe anymore, and besides, what does marketing hype actually mean for the contractors and DIYers in the field? Who really has the best tool for the job? To dig deeper, we've pitted five popular drill/drivers against each other to find out who has the smallest, lightest and longest lasting product available. The numbers we share are the results of our own independent, unbiased testing. ...
Make His and Her Artwork for Your Bedroom
When Ethan and I went to the Urban Oasis tour in Chicago, we saw some amazing inspirational art and decor. So I wanted to make wall hangings for our bedroom makeover with flavors and elements pulled from the real style makers. I thought they turned out pretty incredible and only cost about $6! When envisioning the room, I wanted a neutral palate, using grays and whites while adding fresh green accents through out the room. The letters on the wall art match the green in the DIY lampshade and our window panels. Local thrift stores are a great resource for crafty projects, and ...
Striving to be the best home improvement guides on the web. We follow the pros and share their (and our) real life experiences with you.
Edited by: Ethan (email Ethan) | Meet the Pros
Continuing my foray into the world of woodworking, last week I made a wooden planter box, and I’m really pleased with how it turned out. The box is functional, looks good and all the joints are nice and tight. Much like the wooden beer tote I made, if you change the dimensions, this planter box can be used for many other purposes (like a casserole dish). It was a fun woodworking project, and here’s how I put it together. Materials: 1 x 10″ x 6′ Oak 1/4″ plywood Wood filler Wood stain Polyurethane Handles Plants 10×14″...
Trustworthy tool reviews and news direct from our workshop and the contractors we follow.
Edited by: Fred (email Fred)
By now you all must realize how much I love good storage and organization. Why else would I have spent so much time working on pegboard, a lumber rack, workbenches, and storage shelves? So I was excited when Racor offered up a few storage items because, let’s face it, building your own bike lift just isn’t practical. Racor manufactures a wide variety of storage solutions, and what I’m about to show you is just a small snapshot. GaragePro Similar to the Craftsman and Gladiator hanging wall systems (and about the same price),...
Make your home beautiful with design ideas and crafts for every room and season.
Edited by: Jocie (email Jocie) | Jocie on Pinterest
If you’re a relatively new reader, you might not realize that we give away a lot of free stuff. For instance, right now in our Rewards Center we have 10 items up for grabs (with several more queued up for the near future). Plus, the stuff we giveaway is really nice! Here’s a quick overview of what we have to offer right now. How it Works Project Rewards (click here for full details) is a reader appreciation program, and for a shot at all these freebies, you need to: Register: All you have to do is pick a username and provide...







