Damage to the foundation or rim joist of a house can be potentially dangerous for structural integrity reasons. Generally speaking, the rim joist will be located under an exterior wall and will more often than not be load bearing.

Push fittings tend to be known by the popular brand SharkBite. They are sold in just about any major hardware store and through retailers across the web. You might see them in a variety of other names as well, but SharkBite is often the preferred brand.

 Many homeowners have asked themselves at one point or another: “Can I build a wall myself?” People consider it for many reasons – whether they are renovating a new home, preparing to sell, or trying to create more space for their growing family.

When you are having work done on your bathroom, there are a ton of decisions to be made. They can be huge decisions or ones that feel smaller in nature. More often than not, people tend to not think about their shower drains.

The importance of having a functional chimney should never be overlooked. You need your chimney to usher out the products of combustion that are produced whenever the fireplace is in use. If your chimney is not working as intended, those gases could linger in your home and harm your family.

If you’re looking for your mobile home to count as real property, you may be required to have a permanent foundation. Having a permanent foundation will broaden your financing options and make selling your home a whole lot easier.

Starting the day with a hot cup of coffee is a staple for many people. If this is true for you, too, the unavoidable truth to that is you are then left with a pile of used coffee grounds with every pot you make. As you’re going about your daily routine, it’s easy to get lazy when cleaning everything up.

Are ungrounded outlets safe? No, definitely not. Ungrounded outlets are NOT safe. They’re significantly more dangerous than grounded outlets, and that’s why the National Electrical Code, in 1947,* began requiring certain areas of new constructions to have three-pronged, “grounded” outlets. Ungrounded outlets don’t protect against surges and significantly increase the risk of electrical fires.

A 4-inch backsplash that matches the granite surface was included with my bathroom vanity. Since the backsplash isn’t really exciting to look at, I questioned if I even needed it and whether it would be good to remove it.

The purpose of light switches and dimmers is to open and close electrical circuits, which control the light fixture. Before installing or replacing a light switch, it’s important to ensure that the switch you choose matches the amperage rating and voltage of where it’s going to be mounted. For this reason, you may find yourself asking: What amp light switch do I need?

If you’re a fan of the popular 1960s TV show, The Munsters, then you’re likely familiar with their spooky house. The home is so recognizable that many die-hard fans even strive to recreate the look with their own homes. But, you can leave out the overgrown trees and fear factor and instead achieve a beautiful home ala the Munsters’ style.

A leaky faucet can throw a wrench in your plans and lead to an annoying, inconvenient mess. Many builder-owners replace the valve stems in hopes to stop the leak, but that doesn’t always help. If you’ve replaced your valve stems and the leak is still present, what could be the real cause?

Sprinkler systems make our lives easier in many ways. They water our lawn, do so at the proper time, and allow us to go about our daily lives without concerning ourselves with watering our lawn. The issue comes when you have a sprinkler system, and you find that it won’t turn on. Especially if you have a Rainbird sprinkler system, these are expensive systems, and you need it to work as it should! So what do you do when your Rain Bird sprinkler system doesn’t turn on?

In America today, the average home is roughly 2,600 sqft., compared to an average household size of 2.6. About three people living in 2,600 sqft might seem rather comfortable, yet many people opt for much larger homes. It could be they need the space, or it could be they want to show off a lavish home.

Gutters are the most commonly used system to divert rain away from your home. They are inexpensive, can be installed quickly by professionals, and exceedingly effective. Gutters not only collect and channel water, but they also keep your home free of mud-spatter and help to prevent any water damage from occurring near your foundation.

Toilets are naturally the centerpiece of any bathroom, but this important fixture is also the starting point for bathroom design. Building codes dictate the placement of a toilet with respect to the cabinetry, walls, and other fixtures. When a toilet is placed wrong within the space, you not only feel uncomfortable, but the plumbing won’t work properly.

The right sink can be the perfect addition to tie your bathroom’s design together completely. It’s why so many DIYers have replaced at least one sink in their home improvement careers.

Grout is an integral part of any tiling job. It helps keep tiles straight, prevents moisture from gathering behind the tiles, and adds to the overall appeal of a room. However, if your grout lines are uneven, they’re more likely to be an eyesore than an aesthetic anchor. 

While pulling into your garage one day, you may notice that something’s off. After stepping out of your car to get a closer look, you’ve discovered that your garage is crooked. Your garage is leaning to one side and now you’re trying to figure out what to do.

Drain lines carry dirty water and other liquids away from the fixtures you have installed throughout your home. They handle a very unpleasant job for us and we need them in good shape all the time. If your drain lines are clogged or damaged, you will be able to tell quickly.

Finding a showerhead that is glued on is rare. Almost all showerhead installations in the US use threaded fittings to connect the showerhead arm and the showerhead. What you think is glue is probably a combination of the plumber’s Teflon tape and mineral buildup from your water.

Sheds are convenient for extra storage, holding everything from tools to lawn care equipment and sports gear. However, nowadays, sheds can be a lot more than just a place to stash your stuff. People use them as cabanas, workshops, small playrooms, and much more. 

A brick wall is usually known for its structural integrity. If you’ve noticed one of your brick walls has shifted, this can be a cause for concern. It is vital to fix the brick wall as soon as possible. Except, how exactly do you do that?

House projects can get set on the backburner. Especially if the job at hand is a major remodel, you will need to set aside the time and money to make sure the end result is exactly what you want. Before you finally roll up your sleeves to begin a bathroom renovation, the first question to ask is: “Do I need a permit for this?”

Outdoor lighting really adds glamor to your home’s facade if you design it right. But just as with lighting the inside of your home, exterior lighting is a bit complicated, and there are many ways you can go astray. When it comes to flood lights, for example, there are definite do’s and don’ts to consider when installing and positioning them.

Both Sakrete and Quikrete are name-brand concrete mixes. Which leads us to the question, when fixing up your home, which brand should you go with? Is there one that’s better than the other? If so, in what ways?

Shingling a roof can be far more complicated than you may have realized. Because of the various materials involved, there are certain specifications that must be met to ensure that the roof and shingles are properly installed.

The height of your shower valve has less to do with comfort and more to do with your shower’s plumbing setup. Shower valves are not universal, and it can be difficult to figure out the ideal height for your shower. So, what is the standard shower valve height?

Many people use the words “basement” and “cellar” interchangeably, but do they really mean the same thing? By definition, basements and cellars have contrasting purposes and varying legal uses. But what is the difference between the two?

For the do-it-yourselfers out there, building a new roof can be a way to save thousands upon thousands of dollars. Whether it is for your home or a new structure going up, a roof can be an expensive proposition.

If there is one thing that homeowners dread, it’s water damage. Water damage can warp wood, destroy particle board, and also cause mold to grow throughout your home. That’s what makes flooding such a nightmare to deal with. If you have particle board cabinets that have been affected by water damage, it’s easy to panic and worry that you will have to replace them. Good news: you might not have to.

The design of your bathroom can minimalistic and efficient to farmhouse or vintage. Oftentimes, the bathtub hardware that you choose is influenced by the specific bathtub design, your budget, and the style that you’re going for in your bathroom space. In addition to creating your dream space, the faucet you select impacts water flow, which ultimately affects the quality of the soak that you enjoy in your tub.

A neutral and ground refer to wires that are part of an electrical system.

When people first walk into your home, one of the first things they’ll notice is your flooring and your trim. However, if there’s a gap between the trim and the floor, it’s going to stand out like a sore thumb. If this happens, you likely didn’t use shoe molding or quarter round to finish your trim or flooring project.

Making the switch to solar is one of the biggest decisions in a homeowner’s life. Whether you want to save money on your electricity or get completely off the grid, there are options for you.

Completing a new room often involves installing some kind of material over the bare walls and the ceiling. Many homeowners opt to use drywall for that specific task because it can cover up the space while introducing some useful benefits. Drywall being fire-resistant, easy to work with, and affordable means it can be a positive addition to your home.

Window wells are an often overlooked, but very important, part of protecting the interior of your basement. If you have water leaking into your basement, the problem may be caused by your window well or lack thereof. Whether you don’t have window wells installed around your basement egress windows or need your existing ones replaced, you may be wondering how much it costs.

If you’ve ever been to a home that’s looked a little worse for the wear, chances are the first thing you noticed was that the house’s fence gate was a little droopy. Maybe it sagged so much, you actually had to lift the gate up in order to open or close it. It’s a common problem, but thankfully, it’s one that can be easily avoided if you know how to properly build a gate.

It can be frustrating when a piece of equipment is not operating correctly. One of the most annoying things I can think of is when a self-propelled lawnmower will not pull. You try to push it forward or backward, but it just won’t budge. So, in this circumstance, how do you fix the issue?

We are blessed with one of the most reliable and trouble-free electrical grids in the world. We often take the quality of the electrical service we receive for granted. However, we still are subject to problems with the power on occasion. One of these problems is power surges that can damage or destroy appliances and electronics. Many people wonder if their GFCI outlets protect their electronics from power surges.

When maintaining a home shower, we tend to focus on the showerhead, its fixtures, and the walls. Don’t forget about the shower pan though because it’s an important element of the entire setup. Neglect that part of your shower and it could start presenting serious issues and leaking is among the possibilities.

Having an automatic garage door does not mean much if the opener will not work. For some reason, the Sears Craftsman garage door opener remotes just stop working after a while. This means you have to buy a new remote. Or does it?

Some home improvement projects require the help of a professional. In some cases, the project is just too big for one person. In others, the project involves dangerous circumstances that require a licensed individual. Or maybe you just don’t have the expensive machinery necessary to perform the job.

Building your home often means taking on expenses that you might not have seen coming. For example, while laying a foundation or building new walls, you might have assumed that concrete will suffice. More often than not, however, you need to support those concrete structures with rebar.

When I most recently went to parts of the Jersey Shore that were seriously ravaged by Superstorm Sandy, I noticed that something was a little different from how things used to be. The homes started to look a bit…different? Yeah, that’s the word. Apparently, island basements became part of the building code in many towns. But, what did that even mean?!

It is crucial to ensure that wiring is appropriately sized for the amperage rating of the circuit. Whenever you need to extend a circuit, rewire it, or install a new one, using the correct gauge wire is essential. So, that being said, what gauge of wire would you use for a 50 amp 220v?

Are you laying out new tiling in your home? Flooring installation can be costly, time consuming, and downright overwhelming. There are so many materials, colors, and styles to choose from. If you’ve decided to use wood look tile for your home, you’ll want to make it strong and looking seamless. This is where grout comes in. 

Like any other outdoor room, porches are simply a continuation of your living space. Although all porches provide a space that bridges the gap between the outside world and the inside of your home, not all porches are created equal. Some porches are meant to greet visitors, while others are designed more for relaxing and enjoying the outdoors in an enclosed area.

Metal roofing is perfect for sheds because of its low cost and how easy it is to install. Still, many home improvement enthusiasts and building-owners have not installed metal roofing on a shed before and want to know how it can be done properly. So, how exactly do you do it?

Choosing the right ladder can be tough because there are so many brands that make them, and many are similar. Good ladder manufacturers not only create a wide variety of ladder heights, but also several options for materials and purpose.

Hopeful homeowners looking to buy in California may have wondered; where are all of the basements? At first glance, none of the houses on the market may come with a basement. Homeowners seek ought basements often, so why doesn’t California have basements?

The swimming pool that serves as the centerpiece of your yard should be a constant source of fun for your family. Unfortunately, accidents can happen near the pool and the people involved can get seriously hurt. You must keep that area safe at all times and building a new pool fence will help with that goal.

Radiant barriers are classically located in attics and are excellent at reducing the amount of heat and reducing cooling costs. While it may not be as typical, you can also install radiant barriers in stud walls. With this short guide, you will be well on your way to understanding how to go through this installation.

For many years, laminate flooring has been one of the most popular alternatives for hardwood used by homeowners. It is designed to mimic real wood, but is more affordable, DIY friendly, relatively easy to clean and maintain, and scratch-resistant than traditional hardwood.

Rainshower heads transform an ordinary bathroom into an extraordinary spa experience. The fixtures have an aesthetic and functional appeal that is hard to resist.

Painting your house is a huge undertaking. And you probably don’t want to do it twice. So, choose the best color for your foundation the first time. Then, update the style every few years.

Maple hardwood flooring has been around since Colonial times. As a part of the all-American aesthetic, maple flooring remains popular throughout the United States. Of course, part of the reason it’s so common is that maple was one of the only hardwoods Colonial folk had available to them. However, things have changed. So, is it worth getting your flooring done in this wood style anymore?

Noise pollution can make life incredibly difficult. If unwanted noises are reducing your quality of life, you may want to consider soundproofing. Whether it’s a noisy neighbor, busy main thoroughfare, or simply obtrusive sounds traveling between rooms, you can soundproof a room to help decrease the amount of sound disturbance.

Recessed lights are a visually appealing and modern way to add depth to a room. You can change the aesthetic of a room completely when you install recessed lights, that is when they work. So, what does it mean when my recessed lights are not working?

Having glass shower doors is great, but it can be a pain too. Sometimes, that glass is accidentally broken, not only causing a huge mess but also a problem. You are going to have to replace that glass. But, is this even possible?