How-To Guides about Home & Garden

If you don't work in construction or are a woodworking master, you probably aren't entirely sure what all those marks are on a tape measure. Sure, you likely know the basics, like there are 12 inches to a foot, but what are all those little tick marks for? Don't let all those little lines dissuade you from using a tape measure. Follow these guidelines to help you read all those little ruler marks.

Let Home Depot show you what it takes to install a split jamb door and the tools needed for this relatively easy job. Go step-by-step in this straightforward project, from centering and leveling the new door to placing shims and where to drive the nails. For more, or to get started on your own split jamb door installation project, watch the video on Dailymotion.

If you've ever gotten super glue stuck to your fingers, you know what a pain it can be to get it off again! Don't worry - there's a simple household item you probably already stock that can take care of your super glue super mess!

Use this safe and easy technique next time you need to replace a shattered light bulb.

The tools required for this project are: an electric hand drill, a drill bit of the appropriate size and goggles to protect the eyes from falling debris. You will also need a ceiling hook kit, available in most major home stores. In the kit, there is a hook; a spring-loaded anchor; a threaded shank or screw, which is threaded on both ends; and another threaded shank or screw, which is threaded on one side and has screw thread on the other side for wood installation. To install in a sheetrock...

One of the most prominent appliances in any kitchen is the refrigerator. Unfortunately, over time, any refrigerator will begin to build up dirt and grime on the exterior. Watch this informative video to learn the best ways to clean the exterior of your refrigerator.

Silk flower arrangements never die. Make something that you can have forever with this free floral arrangement video series about arranging silk flowers.

Mark Donovan is remodeling a ceramic tile shower, and shows how to install a mortar shower pan. First consider the framing of the shower. Plywood, 2x4's and 2x6's provide a good foundation for the weight of the tile. Then remove the cover from the drain. Use duct tape to cover the drain hole. Staple 15-pound felt paper onto the floor of the shower, and up about an inch on the sides, trimming around the drain, to protect the wood from moisture. Then staple down metal lath to reinforce the floor...

Tiling always looks so easy when you see it done on a straight wall! But how do you do it with a crooked wall? Use a Measureright Pro to get the angle right. So if you've tiled from a straight right angle and you're just reaching the 'odd' shaped spaces between your last row of tiles and your crooked wall, you can use the tool to mark your final row of tiles so that when you cut them, they will fit right into the irregular shaped spaces between your final row of tiles and the slanting wall. The...

Sweet potatoes are a popular side dish, especially around the holidays. Save some money and start growing sweet potatoes at home. Not only will they be cheaper, but you'll be able to enjoy them year-round.

Getting hot and steamy can be awesome, as illustrated in the 1997 smash hit Titanic.

Learn how to separate two glasses that are stuck together with this Howcast video tutorial.

For anyone who lives in a space that may frown upon making holes in the walls, or for anyone who may not want to take on such a task, there's a simple alternative to hanging curtains or drapes. And the answer is brilliantly simple.

This video will show you how to stop a toilet from constantly running and what to look for.

G'day Knuckleheads and welcome to Episode 35! With the wall and floor tiling completed it's time to grout the tiles. In this episode Justin takes us through the tips and tricks of applying the wall and floor grout. Grouting really finishes the job off and is a job that any DIY'er can do by themselves. Check it out and let me know what you think :-)

G'day Knuckleheads. In this Owner Builder Series Episode we're up to doing the wall tiling in the bathrooms. Justin gives out some very handy tips on how to lay wall tiles in the bathroom. Check it out and let me know what you think.

In order to sand and repair drywall, you will need the following: 100 grit sanding sponge. After you have applied mud to the walls evenly, you will need to sand the walls until they are smooth. Hopefully, you minimized or mitigated most of the need for sanding in the application of the mud, by using feathering and thin layering. When the mud is completely dry, you will need to choose a good sander. It is recommended that you use a 100 grit sanding sponge. Place the sponge against the wall, and...

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a mini greenhouse milk jug. Begin by cutting the milk jug in half. Make sure to leave one side uncut, leaving the top of the jug on. Then pour some potting soil into the milk jug and plant some seeds into the soil. Make sure to plant the seeds deep into the soil and then pour some water onto the soil. Now tape down the top of the milk jug. This video will benefit those viewers who enjoy planting and gardening, and would like to learn how to make...

The bee population is in trouble. Colony Collapse Disorder is a mysterious malady that is decimating bee colonies all the country and could kill them completely, which would leave all of the plants and honey-loving people of the world in serious trouble. This video will give you some tips for encouraging the bee population, which is really one of the most green things you can do in this, the bees' time of need.

Growing whatever food that you can yourself is tremendously good for the environment because industrial food production has all sorts of ecological problems. If you live in an apartment, it might seem impossible to grow your own food. Think again! This video will show you how to make a window garden in your apartment and use it to grow herbs and other small crops, decreasing your carbon footprint and making your meals more green.

Cockroaches are one of the most durable and and irritating forms of life on Earth. Many turn to toxic chemicals to get rid of them, but that's not very green is it? This video will give you some eco-friendly tips for preventing infestations, trapping insects, and disposing of them once you've caught them. Yes, cockroaches are part of nature. No, that doesn't mean we're not going to kill them.

Bathing is one of the most enjoyable and least environmentally responsible part of many people's days. Fortunately, showers use less water than baths, so we're better off than we used to be. This video will show you how to green your shower even further, reducing your water usage as well as your water and heating bills, and increasing the longevity of our water supplies and planet.

Learn how to replace the sash lock on window. This repair will help fix a drafty window, or may even help to fix or prevent a window from rattling or shaking in the wind.

This video will show you what to look for if you dishwasher stops turning on or filling with water.

Ok, let's pretend that you just got back from the store with a $200.00, maybe $300.00 silk blouse. You put it on, it looks perfect. You go out on the town, everyone else loves it, you're the center of attention. Then you come home, you go to hang it up, and there is a huge stain on the back. This how to video tells you how can save that $200.00 blouse for only $1.50.

There have been numerous chairs made out of recycled or reclaimed cardboard. This week on the GreenerBusiness Podcast, we attempt to build our own unique comfortable cardboard chair.

Prior to painting, pour some vanilla extract into the paint. The vanilla doesn't stain the paint, and the room won't smell like paint fumes.

Plywood is flat, stable, and comes in lots of varieties. You can even use your plywood as a base for exotic veneers. But there is a consistent problem with plywood: how to treat the edges. This how-to video teaches you how to apply edge banding so it will hold up to wear and tear. All you need is iron edge banding, roller, sandpaper and an utility knife.

The most basic way to to cut back energy costs is to keep your house from losing heat in the winter or getting too hot in the summer. Curtains, awnings, ventilators, and weather stripping are all simple changes that can keep the heating costs down, while florescent bulbs can last longer and use less power than traditional light bulbs. Watch this video home improvement tutorial and learn how to save energy at home.

If you have a blocked sink, there are multiple solutions. This video tutorial will see to it that you find the right fix for your clog. For more information, as well as to get started unblocking your own sink, watch this helpful plumbing tutorial.

If you want to propagate plants from cuttings, this horticultural how-to will show you how. Make certain you prepare your pot with a propagating mix and make a small hole with your finger. Take the cuttings and strip your leaves. Next, dip your cutting into a hormone gel or powder before putting your cutting into your pot. For more, including complete step-by-step instructions on the propagation process, take a look.

To keep your lawn healthy, you'll want to fertilize it twice a year: once in fall and once in spring. But what type of fertilizer should you use? The answer, of course, has to do with the type of lawn you have and the sort of results you want to see. For more information on choosing the right fertilizer for your own lawn, watch this home landscaping tutorial.

After finishing up your paint job, you're going to want to clean the paint of your brushes and rollers to save money on replacement. Depending on the paint you used, either oil-based or water-based, you're going to need either water or turpentine to clean off the paint. Watch this video home improvement tutorial and learn how to clean paint off of paint brushes and rollers.

This video will show you how to remove broken nails without a nail head from a piece of wood, or your wood siding project.

This video will show you how to fix a wood pecker hole in the side of your house.

Tip: If you'd like to wax the chair for an ultimate repair, you can find the 'wax chair' instructions in this video.