HowToDoThings.com Home Maintenance & Repair

How To Grout Tile

Grace170 — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 05:27:00 -0600

Grouting is the second to last step in the process of do-it-yourself tiling. It is also the messiest part of the job. Grout is the material that is visible between tiles on a floor, backsplash, in a bathroom, etc. It fills the space between the tiles and supports them-almost like glue. Here are some tips on how to grout your tiling project.

How To Compare Replacement Window Prices

Grace170 — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 05:15:00 -0500

If you are in the market for new windows, there are a few important factors to consider. Replacement windows can be a huge hassle if you do not do the proper preparation work and research. Replacement window companies have gotten the reputation for being one of the pushiest kinds of salespeople-but this is not always the case. Here are some tips to help you get a product deserving of your home, and wallet.

How To Paint Brick

Grace170 — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 06:03:00 -0500

If you have a brick house that needs a facelift, before you pick up a brush and paint can, read below. Although you can paint brick without causing damage to the surface, there are certain things you should know about the process prior to heading out to the paint store.

Why Paint Brick? People choose to paint their homes if the brick is damaged or is of inferior quality. White stains and areas of discolored brick can be eye sores that beg to be cleaned up and covered. Elastomeric paint can do wonders to the look of faded/damaged brick because of its thick coat and elasticity.

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How To Mix Cement

Grace170 — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:20:00 -0600

Think mixing cement is easy? Think again. While mixing cement is not brain surgery, it is can be an arduous task that requires some degree of precision for peak performance. Cement is a bonding agent used in conjunction with sand, water, and aggregate (crushed stone) to create mortar and/or concrete. You need cement for a variety of projects--to set footings for decking or fences, to fill a sidewalk, or to patch a blemish in your house's foundation. If you are doing a project that requires concrete or mortar application, you will need to know how to mix the cement that bonds the materials together. Here is how you mix cement.

How To Clean Up Cat Urine

Staff468 — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:10:00 -0500

As any cat owner will tell you, cat urine has a particularly intolerable - not to mention resilient - odor. On top of that, cat urine can stain carpet and hardwood floor alike. There are many reasons why cats might urinate in improper places - stinky litter boxes, stress, age and illness being among the common reasons. You'll be able to clean up stubborn cat urine using the following techniques.

How To Get Rid of a Beehive

Staff468 — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:17:00 -0500

Who doesn't enjoy watching honeybees traipsing from flower to flower as they conduct their vital duties? It reaffirms our faith in the order and elegance of our natural world. Who doesn't enjoy it, you ask? To those of us who have intense allergies to a bee sting, the scene may not seem so idyllic.

Sadly, honeybees fall victim to parasites and other insects as they go about their business, so we should avoid killing them if at all possible. And wasps like yellow jackets can give people the impression that all bees are similarly vicious (in truth, yellow jackets aren't "bees" at all). We must be judicious whenever we figure out how best to get rid of a beehive.

How To Buy Kitchen and Bathroom Tile

Grace170 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 05:06:00 -0500

Tiling-to many in the profession, is an art. While there is certainly a learning curve for advanced tiling techniques, an average Joe can lay tiles if he knows how to do it, but perhaps more importantly, what to buy. If you are thinking of embarking on a tiling project in your kitchen or bath, here are some tips on what kind of products you should buy.

How To Install a Sump Pump

fester1 — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 11:28:48 -0500

The two types of household pumps that are the most common for homeowners to deal with are sump and ejector pumps.

How To Get Rid of Cockroaches

Brian263 — Wed, 02 May 2007 14:20:00 -0500

Sometimes a description just can't ever capture the sheer horror of a particular event. For example, if I were to describe what it's like to step on a cockroach barefoot on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night - the unexpected crunch as the smooth exoskeleton shatters against your soft skin, the tiny little legs perhaps barely perceptible, antennae quivering, bits of the body stuck to the roach goo on your heel - anyone with a cockroach problem could tell me that it pales in comparison to the real event.

How To Unclog a Toilet

Brian263 — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:24:27 -0500

Are you tired of reporting to your building repairman or housemate that “someone” clogged the toilet? Most of us hate to admit when we clog a toilet, mainly because we fear what others might think of us, but also perhaps because we don’t want to believe we’re capable of such a thing either. And yet at some point in our lives, whether due to our diets, the person who used the toilet before us, or simply the temperament of our mutual porcelain friend, we’re all bound to encounter a clogged toilet at some point in life.