House Renovation Tips

There are several possible reasons why a door might bind. The screws may no longer hold the hinges securely, one or both hinges may be set in a mortise that’s too deep or too shallow, the door itself may have warped, or the jambs may go out of square as the house settles. The problem [...]

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 [...]

Leaking or poorly insulated ducts are a common and serious problem in forced air systems, affecting comfort, health, and economy.
Start by inspecting all of the ductwork in your system. If you find places where the duct was never installed or connected, or has broken free from the adjoining duct or register, call a competent contractor [...]

Big or small stove?
Are you trying to choose between one large wood stove and two smaller ones? Usually one large one works better. It takes larger chunks of wood, can burn longer fires and cuts maintenance and cleaning time in half. In some cases, though, such as in a ranch-style house, two stoves are necessary [...]

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 [...]

The sequence of stair assembly is this:
- First, put up the stringers.
- Second, nail on the risers.
- Third, put on the skirt boards - the baseboards, cut to fit the stair steps-tight against the risers.
- Finally, put on the treads, starting at the bottom so you can reach behind the risers and nail them to [...]

Old chimneys were built without flue liners. The mason simply applied a layer of plaster to the inside of the chimney as he built it. If you have an old chimney that’s in need of repair, consider adding a flue liner instead of rebuilding the chimney. The former approach is much less expensive than the [...]

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 [...]

Holes and cracks in concrete only get worse if left alone, especially in colder climates with freeze/thaw cycles.
As long as you’re patching a hole, it’s a good idea to clean and seal the concrete too. Clean one section at a time, do your repairs, then apply a water seal. Since concrete’s worst enemy is water, [...]