Hot Home & Garden How-Tos
How To: Choose the right frame for a picture
Stumped on what frame to use for your favorite piece of artwork or photo? The perfect frame will make your painting, photograph, or piece of artwork stand out on your wall. Here's how to find an ideal match.
How To: Stock a small kitchen with everything you need
Feel you have too small of a kitchen to keep everything you need inside it? Not true. Even if you have a small kitchen and a small budget, you can still save money by stocking it efficiently.
How To: Use compression fittings on copper pipe
Copper pipe is perhaps the most versatile of all piping types in that you can use virtually any fitting with it. Copper pipe, however, is not particularly flexible, which can make it a little unwieldy to work with. Simplify your copper piping projects by using compression fittings. This home plumbing video tutorial shows you how. For detailed, step-by-step instructions on using compression joints in your copper plumbing projects, take a look.
How To: Join copper pipe without solder using "Just for Copper" pipe glue
Tired of soldering? Well, there's a solder-less solution to joining pipes together. Check out this handy video tutorial on how to join copper pipe with "Just For Copper" pipe glue. Just For Copper is a solderless bonding solution for copper pipes and fittings. This is very useful in areas where a blowtorch cannot be used.
How To: Cut and join plastic pushfit pipes
Learn how to cut and join plastic pushfit piping using pushfit connectors and compression fittings. While plastic piping has its drawbacks and, depending on its application, actually be carcinogenic, it is, at least, very easy to work with. For step-by-step instructions on cutting and joining plastic pushfit pipes, watch this home plumbing tutorial.
How To: Restore rusty ceiling grid systems
Update your nasty, ugly ceiling grid in your home or office. With this video tutorial, see how to restore rusty ceiling grid systems. Ceiling Armor Grid Cover will update rusty and discolored ceiling grid systems for a fraction of the cost of replacement. This unique cover snaps on to a standard grid system without any special preparation. This washable solid vinyl cover is suitable for standard ceiling grids in kitchens, restaurants, bakeries, pools, rest rooms and outdoor ceiling locations.
How To: Restore water stained ceiling tiles
Are there dastardly, ugly chilling tiles in your home or business that have been rind by water damage? It happens sometimes, and the ceiling tiles will look awful, either needing replaced or fixed. Well, this video will show you how to restore water stained ceiling tiles. Hide those ugly stains instead of buying a whole new tile! Save a trip to the home repair shop.
How To: Clean a toaster oven
Cleaning a toaster can be tricky if you've never done it before, but this appliance only requires a little bit of your time to keep it clean, safe, and functional.
How To: Paint your kitchen cabinets
Need a change? Brighten up your kitchen and give your cabinets a new look with a fresh coat of paint. In this tutorial, learn how to paint your kithcen cabinets a fast and efficient way.
How To: Choose the best burglar alarm system
Looking to up the ante in the home secuirty department? If you are concerned about the safety of your family and home, consider purchasing a burglar alarm system by following these helpful tips.
How To: Clean a clothes dryer filter
Keeping the filter clean improves your dryer’s performance and avoids the risk of fire from lint buildup. By leaving your lint filter full, you run the risk of also breaking your dryer, leading to an expensive repair or an expensive new dryer.
How To: Bleed radiators
Sometimes you'll find that your radiator is warm at the bottom and warm at the top. If that happens, your radiator probably needs bleeding. Fortunately, it's easy to do. For step-by-step instructions, as well to get started bleeding your own radiator, take a look.
How To: Re-pressurize a combination boiler
Wondering how to repressurize your home boiler? In this DIY video tutorial, you'll learn how to fill or repressurize a combination (or "combi") boiler. For more information, including step-by-step instructions on the pressurization process, take a look.
How To: Install motion detector lights
Looking to take some safety precautions for the exterior of your home? Motion detector lights are a good way to ward off unwanted intruders. Installation of motion detector lights isn’t as difficult as it sounds, since most are pre-wired and preassembled.
How To: Clean and sanitize the kitchen
Looking to give your kitchen a good cleaning this spring? Don't go out and spend a ton of money on sanitizing sprays and cleaning equipment. Cleaning and sanitizing your kitchen is easy, effective, and inexpensive, because everything you need is likely in your kitchen!
How To: Make your own fruit & vegetable wash
In this tutorial, learn how to wash your fruit and vegetables with a DIY mixture you can make in your kitchen. Wash your fruit and vegetables with this environmentally friendly and economical mixture.
How To: Choose wall paint colors
Looking to spruce up your living room or bedroom? Learn to combine a vivid imagination with good paint sense to choose the right colors for your walls and feel good about your surroundings.
How To: Save water in six easy ways
Are you aware of your water usage? Are you really doing all you can to conserve water, our most precious resource? Here are some simple ways you may not have thought of and some facts about the amount of water wasted on a daily basis in America.
How To: Polish out aluminum
In this DIY video tutorial, learn how to polish aluminum using greasless and greased abrasives. It is extremely important to have the right equipment and a well-made breathing respirator as this process can be very dangerous and toxic. The products and tools used in this video to polish a piece of sand blasted aluminum, can be found at www.englishcustompolish.com.
How To: Use a Rockwell reciprocating saw
Mark Donovan of Home Addition Plus goes over the key features and benefits of the Rockwell reciprocating saw with active vibration canceling technology. A reciprocating saw is a type of saw in which the cutting action is achieved with a push and pull reciprocating motion on the blade. A positive feature of the Rockwell is that there are no tools needed to replace the blade and it acts great with all materials including wood, metal, plastic, and/or aluminum.
How To: Polish and repair scratched plastic
Plastic has a lot going for it, but it's not known for looking great in the long-term. It scratches and smudges easily, and ages a lot faster than glass and other materials. But in this video from Tap Plastics, you'll learn how to polish your plastic and keep it looking good for a long time to come.
How To: Repair and glue polyethylene and seaboard
Polyethylene is a widely-used plastic that is impervious to water. But that very imperviousness also makes it impossible to repair using most glues. In this video the folks at Tap Plastics walk you through the use of TAP Poly-Weld Adhesive to repair polyethylene and seaboard.
How To: Build a box with plastic
Knowing how to build a box out of plastic is a highly useful skill. In this video, the folks at Tap Plastics show us how to do it. The example they use is how to make an organizer for your cutlery drawer, when organizers from the store won't fit. But there are many other possible applications for plastic boxes.
How To: Caulk a shower stall
If you're planning to re-caulk a shower stall, there are things you shield know before you dive into the project. For one thing, it's essential to remove all of the old caulk, since caulk will stick to almost everything except itself. Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com talks you through somber info you'll have to know before you caulk your shower.
How To: Buy a good extension ladder
When buying extension ladders, you have various options. There are metal ones, fiberglass ones and (increasingly rarely) wood ones. Each kind has its own plusses and minuses. In this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com talks you through what to look for when shopping for an extension ladder.
How To: Wire a combo switch outlet with constant power
Doing electrical work is one of the most intimidating tasks for a novice home repairman. But if you know what you're doing, the risk is pretty minimal. In this clip, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows us how wire a combo outlet with power.
How To: Use a floor sander to sand a deck
If you don't know what you're doing, sanding a deck can be many hours of back-breaking work. But in this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com demonstrates how to use a floor sander. By using a floor sander correctly, sanding a floor can be a much simpler process.
How To: Adjust sliding glass doors
Glass doors are both stylish and practical… Until they jam up and stop sliding, at which point they become a big pain in the neck. But getting them sliding in their tracks again isn't a really complicated process. In this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows us how to keep our sliding glass doors sliding.
How To: Install a tool rack
A tool rack doesn't need to look great, it just needs to keep your tools organized. But having your tool rack look its best can really improve the whole look of your tool storage area. In this video tutorial, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows us how to install a level, good-looking tool rack.
How To: Stain wood
Staining wood can give it a really dazzling effect. In this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows us how to revitalize old wood and make new wood look better with staining. Before you stain, it's important to know what you're doing. After all, if you stain something badly, it can be tricky to clean it up.
How To: Install foam sealant insulation
Need to install some foam sealant insulation? In this tutorial, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows you how to install foam sealant installation between window and door jams. Traditionally most contractors would stuff batting insulation into jams by hand, a process that takes a lot of time. Here, we learn a better way.
How To: Install a mailbox post and mailbox
A mailbox can be the first thing people see on your property, so it's important to get a nice one and install it correctly. But installing a mailbox post and mailbox can be a surprisingly tricky project, involving making holes in the ground and trying to get the post to stand at just the right height. In this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows us how to install a mailbox the right way.
How To: Install solar lights in your yard
Solar lights are a great way to light up your garden. They are both inexpensive and eco-friendly, relying on solar power instead of electricity. In this short video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows you how to set up solar lights.
How To: Use boom lifts for exterior painting
Ladders can be very useful when painting exteriors, but they have their limitations. In this video tutorial, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows us how to use boom lifts to paint exteriors. Using a boom lift, you can go places you'd never be able to reach with a ladder.
How To: Install baseboard trim
In this video tutorial, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com walks us through how to install baseboard trim. Baseboard trim can make a big difference in a room, if you do it right. Of course, if you do it wrong, it can make the wrong kind of difference!
How To: Buy jigsaws and jigsaw blades
A jigsaw is a powerful piece of equipment, and it can make your home repair projects go a lot faster. But what should you look for when buying a jigsaw? In this tutorial, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com explains what you should look for when you are going to purchase jigsaws and jigsaw blades.
How To: Use compact fluorescent bulbs to save money
Switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs doesn't just benefit the planet. It will also benefit you personally. Compact fluorescent light bulbs last a lot longer than regular bulbs, and they burn much less power. That adds up to save you a lot of money in the long run. In this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows us a few of the benefits of using these bulbs.
How To: Install crown molding for your home
Some good crown molding can make any room really pop. In this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com takes us through the basics of crown molding. He shows us a few examples, and walks us through installing it.
How To: Use ceramic tile nippers to cut tile
In this short video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows you how to cut ceramic tile using nippers. Nippers are good for cutting tile in an arc or for cutting irregular tile. Using them, you can trim your tile to the precise dimensions you need for your floor.
How To: Fix a squeaky door in seconds
Is a squeaky door in your house bringing you down, and making the house seem haunted? Well, it's a simple solution to fix. As Phillips Woodworking shows us, it's merely a matter of greasing the hinges. Once you get some WD-40 and apply it correctly, your door will make no more noises.