Home improvement articles
Showing page 17 of 36 - There are 1052 Home improvement articles
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Add a room to your home with a patio awning
- Do you need a patio awning for your lovely patio off of your backyard that only gets half the use it could because of rain or far too bright sun? Installing a patio awning to shade and protect it can be almost as good as adding a room to your home!When choosing a patio awning, you'll need to consider a number of things ? the area that needs to be covered, the structure on which the awning w...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Shopping for carpet
- The allure of carpet lays not only its soft and luxurious texture, but also in its ability to enhance and match any décor. It is suited to both formal and casual environments, while offering a palette of colors that cannot be found in any other flooring material.The interior of your home should be designed as an interrelated unit. When choosing a color scheme, consider the ...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - The $27,000 toilet seat - funny diy story
- This story was told to me by a plumber I know and it brings home the reason why there are times to call a professional.I received a call from a homeowner asking for someone to come estimate some repairs. When I asked the sort of repairs, he said it would be too many to enumerate, but much easier if I just came out to the house and looked. I went. It began like this...Old Joe wanted t...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Replacing steel casement windows
- I have been getting quite a few emails from homeowners wanting to know how to replace their old steel casement windows. Those are the type with the handle that you crank and the window opens outward. My instructional video didn't cover these windows, so I am going to dedicate two articles to this subject. This first article will cover the removal procedure and measuring for your vinyl windows. Nex...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Fixer-uppers: what to fix
- You've bought a house, a fixer-upper you can make some money on. What improvements and repairs should you make? First of all, you need to know this before you buy, as I explained in another article. Before and after you buy, though, you need to have some simple rules with which to start analyzing possible fixes.Return On InvestmentA young couple was very disappointed when I to...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Vinyl replacement window terminology
- With so many homeowners in the market for more energy efficient windows and doors for their home, I thought I would use this week's article to cover the more common terms used to describe a window's ability to insulate your home from the elements. There is an organization called The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). Their purpose is to test each window manufacturer's product to independ...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Cordless impact wrench - not the same tool as your cordless drill
- The cordless impact wrench is quickly gaining in popularity among professional mechanics and the hobby mechanic as well. You may be thinking "I already have a cordless drill that I use for impact applications, why do I need a cordless impact wrench as well?". I thought the same thing. The first difference is on the inside. A cordless drill creates continuous in-line torque. A cordless impact wrenc...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Bathroom wall cabinets ? create extra space with a touch of style!
- Is your bathroom looking cluttered? How about fitting new bathroom wall cabinets to store all your toiletries and appliances? These days we all tend to have a myriad of lotions and potions to keep us looking our best, but the result of having so many bottles in our bathrooms is that our bathroom vanity surfaces can become untidy and crowded. Adding more bathroom storage cabinets can give you welco...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Conservatory planning permission in the uk
- It is quite unusual in the UK for a new conservatory to require planning permission. However, as we shall continually state in this article it is always sensible to check with your local authority. As there is always some element of the project that is quite unusual it is prudent to get permission. If in any doubt at all you should contact your local authority for confirmation. This is particularl...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Manhatten paving-asphalt paving seal coats
- Why should you even consider sealing your asphalt driveway?Seal your existing parking lot to:Establish all weather surfaces that are maintenance and dust free, thus saving you overall asphalt maintenance costs in the future.Maintain the existing pavement in its present condition by delaying or eliminating further aging due to water, sun, heat, and humidity.Change asphal...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Consumer guides: finding a quality contractor and power washing tips
- Power washing is the application of high pressure water spray. Some of the most popular services include the cleaning of concrete patios, sidewalks, decks, house siding, entrance ways, and driveways. In the hands of a qualified pressure washing individual, the results can be astonishing, and well worth the investment.However, in the hands of an unqualified person, the results can be quite d...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Beat the summer heat - what size a/c do i need?
- A larger air conditioner will not always provide more cooling. It should be sized for the room area. If properly sized it should operate long enough to remove moisture from the air. It is the moisture removed from the room which actually produces the feeling of cooling. Unfortunately many people in their rush to purchase a window air conditioner buy too large a model.Too large a unit can ac...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Reviewing and evaluating laminate floors
- Since the introduction of laminate flooring into the US in 1982, the sector has experienced growth of up to 20% per annum at the expense of other floor types, making laminate the fastest growing floor type in the country. The appeal lies not only in its aesthetic value of its representation of real hardwood, but also due to its incredible durability and ease of maintenance.Pergo were the fi...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Router bits basics
- A router bit is a tool for woodworking giving a quality finish to woodwork. It cuts wood providing a way to give a clean and even a decorative edge to woodwork. The following is some basic information about router bits to get you started in your woodworking efforts.The Parts of a Router BitHere are the there main parts of a router bit:1) The shank- the part of the router bit that...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - I need what part?
- One of the first things you learn as a homeowner is that you may own your home, but you don't actually live in it full time. You get to spend the rest of your time living in the hardware store or hardware dept of your local retail store. Unfortunately the older the home the more frequent you visit this vast place with aisles and aisles of thingies and who whos, that previously meant little more th...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - The motors best friend
- The starting current of motor can become 3 to 6 times the normal running current! That's normal for motors. The motor can experience this high current for a period ranging from 20 to 50 seconds.A fuse will not be very useful in protecting a motor from this type of overload condition. A selected fuse large enough to permit passage of the necessary starting current would give little or no pro...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Successful motor protection formulae
- As we have discussed before, all overload relays have one major limitation - because they operate on line current, they do not directly sense the motor temperatures.However, with proper heater selection and careful attention to the factors that affect heater performance, the overload relay can work extremely well to protect the motors.Some of these factors that need close attention a...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Getting the power to control
- One of the advantages of using machines to control processes for you is that you can harness tremendous amounts of power and energy which humans do not possess.By a flick of a switch, huge sliding flood gates can move to allow large quantities of water to flow out of a dam. With just a slight twist on a handle, supertankers weighing hundreds of thousands of tons are able to turn because of ...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - About lighting your home
- Lighting is such a critical part of any home improvement project. Whether it's a kitchen remodel or a brand new home, the lighting plan should be well thought out. In so many cases time and energy is spent on so many aspects, leaving the lighting on the back burner. It shouldn't be. Without proper lighting all the great floors, walls, cabinets and crown moldings could end up looking just average....
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Kitchen design online ? understanding the work triangle and kitchen layouts
- Good kitchen design online means having a layout for your kitchen that provides an efficient and pleasant area in which to prepare meals and do related tasks. Understanding the kitchen work triangle concept and basic kitchen layout types is a valuable starting point to design a kitchen online that you like.The kitchen work triangle consists of the distance between the sink, refrigerator and...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - How to install a ceiling fan - a simple guide
- A Complete manual on how to install a Ceiling Fan may take more than just an article; it may all even take up an entire booklet. Let me just give you a simple, no-nonsense essential guide in installing a ceiling fan. Anyway, your ceiling fan manual will do the detailed explaining for you.Speaking of a ceiling fan manual, all ceiling fans come with a manual (especially the new ones). The man...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Log homes - is a log home in your future?
- Many people dream about a log home in their future but never get around to making their dream come true. Here's how to get past the hurdles and start living your dream.Finances are one of the most common reasons many people never live their log home dreams. The reasons may only be perceived or they may be real. But even if real, it may be possible to overcome the obstacles.First, you...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Persian carpets - popular styles
- There are numerous styles of Persian carpets. In fact there are over 300 different variations. The following is a summary of some of the most popular ones:1. Tabriz - these rugs are known worldwide for their exceptional quality. They have many unique designs, but the typical pattern is filled with dense floral motifs, large palmettes, vases, or vivid hunting scenes or pictorials in the fiel...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Repairing your faulty upvc double glazed windows and doors
- It is an amazing fact that uPVC double glazing was sold by the industry as a maintenance free product. While it is true the uPVC frame will last approximately 10,000 years before degrading, the mild steal and cast Zink moving hardware parts will last an average of 10 years before they start to fail.The problem with window company guarantees:i) Many window companies have gone out of b...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - What two words will double the space in your home?
- Just two words and a bit of explanation about them will help you to double, maybe even triple, the space in your home now. Those two words are "Go vertical."FUNCTION FIRST, LOOKS SECONDThat means that when you buy bookcases or other types of furnishing with shelves, make sure these items have five or six shelves. Two or three shelves per item are just wasted space. When it comes to h...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Choosing a vinyl replacement window contractor
- Whenever I write an article, it's usually tailored to the do-it-yourself homeowner to help them save some money on the high cost of labor these days. This article is for the "not so handy" homeowner who wants to have new vinyl windows installed in their home. So, where do you begin? Well, the first step is to get estimates. You should always get 3 estimates. Keep in mind that the price you are quo...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Dual pane window glass repair
- For the past few weeks, I have been explaining how to repair a broken window pane in your home. But, what if you have dual pane windows? Is the process the same? Well, pretty much, except for a couple of variations. So, let's review the single pane repair process, and I will point out the differences regarding dual pane windows.When we start talking about dual pane windows, one of the first...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Laminate flooring - cleaning & maintenance
- One of the biggest advantages of laminate floors is that they are made to look good for many years with a minimum of effort. Most laminates come with a 10 to 25 years residential warranty against staining, wearing and fading, depending on the brand. All you really need for cleaning are a vacuum cleaner, a dry mop and a damp towel for more difficult stains. Laminates are built to stand up to wear, ...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - How to select the best laminate flooring for you
- Hardwood flooring - its' traditional look is almost timeless, its' beauty is unmatchable. However, it's pretty hard to maintain a hardwood floor, not to mention the price you have to pay for it. Even with the most recent floor treatments they will still scratch, fade, dent and stain in a rather small amount of time. That's why laminate flooring was invented. Because it's machine made and its' top ...
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- 2007-11-13 22:16:19 - Save time & money doing your own basic electric wiring
- Hiring a professional electrician can be very expensive and is often the reason why people try doing their own basic electric wiring themselves.I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly results of these efforts and I have come to the conclusion that basic electrical wiring is not something anyone should do without proper guidance, tools and confidence.It is so important that before ...