Repair and Improve - All About Home Repair and Home Improvement

Installing 3-way Switches

Bill Lewis — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:50:26 -0600

You can turn the lights on here and off over there, and you can do it yourself once you know the trick. It's not exactly simple, but it's far less complicated than most people assume.

Natural Light from Fluorescent Lamps

Bill Lewis — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:50:51 -0600

Many of us like using fluorescent lamps for saving energy, but we haven't cared for the quality of the light they produce. The fact is, though, that some fluorescent lamps can, and do, produce the best color rendering available from artificial light.

Updating Your Kitchen Cabinets

Jake BJ — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:23:28 -0500

There are four basic ways to update your kitchen cabinets - refinishing, painting, refacing, or replacing. The method that will work best for you depends on several factors, including the time and money you would like to invest in the process. Most importantly, though, it depends on what you have now and what you want to have when you're done:

Clean the Toaster

Bill Lewis — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:39:43 -0600

Electric toasters with slots in the top for the bread all have one thing in common: they collect bread crumbs and dust, and need to be cleaned regularly.

Cleaning an electric toaster is not merely good sanitation. It is also fire prevention.

Protect Outside Faucets from Freezing

Bill Lewis — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:14:35 -0600

Just follow these simple steps to cut off the water to your outside faucets to protect the faucets from freezing:

Install a New Mixing Faucet on a Sink or Lavatory

Bill Lewis — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:06:46 -0600

You can do it yourself with the right tools and knowledge. Then you will know it's done right and you save a lot of money.

Basic Home Repair Tools

Bill Lewis — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 10:20:35 -0600

Everyone needs a few tools around the house. In all likelihood, though, most people probably don't need one of those handy-dandy "homeowner tool kits" that seem to be designed more to sell dubious hardware than to provide you with the right tool for the job. So, what do you need?

Natural Light from Incandescent Light Bulbs

Bill Lewis — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:52:21 -0600

Indoors, there are two entries in the color competition worth considering.

Quick Tips for Changing Light Bulbs

Bill Lewis — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:48:30 -0600

The way you change a non-flourescent light bulb can help determine the life of the bulb, the quality of the light you get and the ease with which you can change it the next time.

Before You Buy Recessed Lights

Bill Lewis — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:46:40 -0600

Before you decide to add a recessed light, or decide which light to install, there are a few things you might want to consider: What do you want to light? What size fixture do you want? What kind of light bulb do you want to use? Do you need a remodel fixture, or can you install a new-construction housing? What about the wiring, and ceiling support? Very importantly, determine whether you need an IC (Insulation Compatible) fixture.

Choose A Light Bulb

Bill Lewis — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:43:30 -0600

There are a lot of different light bulbs available now. Choosing the right one can seem daunting, and figuring out the differences between them can feel bewildering or not worth the effort. Here are some tips that should help you make better choices without wasting a lot of time.

Choose an Incandescent Light Bulb

Bill Lewis — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:37:20 -0600

The standard incandescent light bulb is known as an "A" lamp. This is the most common type used in lamps and fixtures. For most uses, then, we just buy and use standard "A" bulbs in the wattage we find gives us the best level of light. If the light fixture is closed by a glass globe or shade, or if it is recessed into the ceiling, it is critically important to install incandescent bulbs that do not exceed the maximum wattage rating for the fixture, in order to avoid damaging the wiring by overheathing. Here are some options in incandescent lamps that can improve the results you get.

Choose a Light Bulb Size

Bill Lewis — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:35:06 -0600

Before you buy light bulbs, consider size and wattage restrictions. For screw-in bulbs, note the size of the socket before you buy the bulbs.

Broken Bulb

Bill Lewis — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:32:27 -0600

How to remove the base of a broken light bulb from a light fixture:

Most of us have had to deal with one of these at some time, or we will. They're always a challenge, but here are some tricks that can make removing the base easier:

Fluorescent Lights - Advantages

Bill Lewis — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:29:35 -0600

Compact fluorescent bulbs are generally more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but they have several advantages that may lead you to choose to use them in some locations.

Make Interior Stain - Do-It-Yourself

Bill Lewis — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 15:17:47 -0600

You can make your own wood stain -- it should be easy if you follow these simple steps. You can save money and get the exact color you're looking for. Here's how.

At the paint store, buy latex paint the color you want the stain to be. To make future matches easier, try to choose paint from an established manufacturer, and keep your color choice within their guidelines. Buy half as much paint, or a little more, than it would take to paint the project. Since you are going to be thinning it, you may want to make the color a little stronger - richer, deeper, etc. - than you would for painting. Also buy an empty can the same size as the can of paint you are buying.

Before You Paint a Room

Bill Lewis — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 15:15:35 -0600

Painting a room is one of the most common home improvement projects most people undertake. Here are some basics you need to know before you paint a room.

Removing Old Treatments

Bill Lewis — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:59:07 -0600

You'd like to paint or paper one of your interior walls, or a ceiling. The problem is that that particular wall or ceiling has already been painted, papered or textured. You need a smooth surface to start from, so you've got to do something with the finish that's there now.

Removing Textured Finishes

Bill Lewis — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:54:37 -0600

You want to paint or paper a wall or ceiling, and you want a smooth surface to work on. The problem is, someone has sprayed, brushed or rolled a texture onto it. What you need to do and how difficult it will be depend on what you're faced with: sand paint or a "popcorn" ceiling, or something in between. The good news is that you can probably do it yourself, so long as there's no hazardous material in the texturing.

Repairing Nail Pops

Bill Lewis — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:50:38 -0600

You're preparing to paint or paper a wall or ceiling made of gypsum wall board - also known as "drywall" or "Sheetrock®" ("Sheetrock" is a registered trademark of the United States Gypsum Company, or USG). You need a smooth surface. You've removed any and all old wallpaper and sizing, so you're looking at the face of the drywall, or the surface of the old paint. It looks ready to prime or size, except for one thing - there are a few small "bubbles" or "mesas" sticking up, telegraphing that some of the nails have started to back out. It's easy to fix those, and you can do it yourself.