House Renovation Tips

Use a chisel to split the defective shingle, then pull out the sections. Slide a flat bar up and flatten the nails with a few hammer blows.
Trim a replacement shingle to fit by allowing a 1/4-inch space on each side. Tap it into place with a hammer. Stop when the butt is about 1/4 inch [...]

Pry off the stops that hold the lower sash in place. Remove the old rope from the sash. Then lower the upper sash and pull out the parting strip. Also, remove the upper sash if its rope is broken. Unscrew the sash weight access panel in the side jamb. Remove the weights and old cords. [...]

Position the new glass in the opening. Lay glazing points about 6 inches apart against the glass. Use a putty knife to wiggle them into the frame. Knead glazing compound to make it warm and pliable. Then roll it into a snake shape and press it in place. To smooth the compound, start at one [...]

Wearing gloves, pull out the glass shards. Remove the old glazing compound (soft, putty-like material that seals glass to window sash and sometimes to doors) one of these ways:
Rolling: Ease the corner of a scraper between the putty and the sash. Gradually roll the blade deeper till the putty gives way.
Scoring: Run a utility knife [...]

Neatness counts
To keep a linoleum or vinyl floor clean, vacuum or dust mop it often. That way you’ll pick up loose dirt before it scratches the surface.
Don’t use a rubber, or foam, backed mat or rug on a linoleum or vinyl floor. Rubber and foam can cause discoloration.
Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to a pail [...]

Before sweeping a large concrete floor or patio, sprinkle slightly damp coffee grounds on the surface. They will keep the dust down and pick up the dirt.
To get dried raw egg off a concrete floor, scrub the egg with a scrub brush while pouring on boiling water. Wear heavy rubber gloves for this process and [...]

Treatments for discolored glass
To clean severely discolored glass or crystal, soak the item in a solution of ammonia and water for several hours, then wash and rinse.
Another way to clean badly discolored glass is to soak it in vinegar with the contents of a tea bag, then wash and rinse.
Sometimes badly discolored glass can be [...]

Stains on suede
To get rid of stains on suede, rub them out with an art gum eraser.
Rubbing with a nail file will remove small spots from suede.
Treatments for removing stains from leather
To remove white water spots on leather, cover them with a thick coat of petroleum jelly. Leave the petroleum jelly in place for a [...]

Rust-free fabric
Rust stains on fabric sometimes can be removed with lemon juice and salt. Put the mixture on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Next, stretch the area of the stain over the sink and pour boiling water through it until the stain is gone. (This is best done by two [...]

When you start to make concrete plans for a project, there are three considerations in buying concrete. The right choice depends on the amount you will need, how many people you can muster to help and how complicated it will be to do the placement and finishing.
Concrete mixes vary in strength depending on how many [...]