Historically and traditionally, a wooden batten would be placed over a seam between the wide boards, creating a stronger and more energy-efficient siding. Because it was inexpensive and easy to assemble, board and batten was used for structures such as barns and garden sheds. Board-and-batten siding is sometimes called barn siding because many barns in North America are constructed this way. Even today, this type of siding on a house exudes a comfortable informality....

Water Concerns With Brick Kitchen Floors The biggest problem you will encounter having a brick floor in a kitchen is that it is fairly porous, meaning if you spill water, it can penetrate down into the brick and cause damage to the subfloor below. If colorful liquids are spilled on untreated brick, they can leave stains deep in the material. The solution to this is to use a high-quality sealing agent to protect the surface of the bricks by creating an invisible layer over its pores....

Additionally, exterior doors are always solid (though not made from a solid piece of wood), which makes them better for soundproofing than hollow-core interior doors. Is it ever advisable to put an exterior door on an interior door frame? If so, what is the basic process behind doing this and how much work is involved? 7 Considerations For Using an Exterior Door on the Inside It is possible to use an exterior door on the interior, though there are few practical reasons for doing this....

Caradonna salvia plants are herbaceous perennials. Characteristics of the Plants Caradonna salvia plants reach about 2 feet in height, with a similar spread. However, foliage comprises only about 1 foot of that height: the rest is taken up by the exquisite flower spikes, which tower above the foliage. The small flowers that mass along the spikes are a deep, purplish-blue in color. The spikes are relatively narrow, giving them a delicate appearance....

Waffle weave fabric isn’t a new textile, but its current popularity has piqued many interests, including my own. From blankets and throw pillows to dishcloths and bath sheets, you can find waffle-knit products to fill your entire home (or linen closet). I decided to explore the latter and took home a pair of Casaluna Waffle Bath Towels. Color options include light gray, dark gray, white, and light blush. As a member of Generation Y, I couldn’t resist the pale rosy hue (AKA Millennial pink)....

What happened? How could it reappear? There are two possibilities reasons for the reappearance: soiling or wicking. Types of Stains Soiling occurs when residue is left behind on the carpet fibers from the carpet cleaner used to treat the original stain. If not completely rinsed and blotted, the residue becomes sticky and attracts dirt and soil to the same spot, which can cause look like the stain has returned. The other common cause of reappearing stains is something referred to as wicking....

Powder Toilet Cleaners: Powder Toilet cleaners are designed to scrub a toilet without scratching it. These cleaners are a good choice when staining of the toilet bowl is an issue. Toilet Brushes: Toilet brushes are bristle brushes that usually come with a storage container. Many companies market the toilet brushes to match bathroom decor. Eye and Hand Protection: Even the most experienced toilet cleaner can occasionally splash water and or cleaner during a good scrubbing....

Despite the strength and intelligence of these birds, however, eagles are also exceptionally vulnerable to different risks raptors face because of their long reproductive cycles and slow population growth. More than 30 eagle species—nearly half of all species of eagles—are considered vulnerable, threatened, or endangered. Knowing which species need extra protection is the first step toward protecting all of these noble raptors. Types of Eagles While none of the different types of eagles are officially designated, these birds’ names often help sort them into different unofficial classifications....

There are several types of herbicides available to homeowners and it pays to know both what type of plants you want to get rid of and what type of herbicide you are using. Some herbicides are very targeted and others will kill any plant with which they come into contact. Since sprays can often drift while being applied, you can do a lot of unintended damage to your yard and garden with an herbicide....

But, there’s something to be said for not following all the trends. (Yeah, I said it.) Maybe you’re exhausted from trying to find the ‘perfect’ workspace hack, or maybe you’re just plain sick and tired of trying to keep up with the latest and greatest organization crazes. Regardless of how you feel, here are four counterintuitive ways to organize your workspace that might actually help you find your groove....

Insulation installation isn’t hard, but you should wear gloves, a mask, and long sleeves if you’re putting in fiberglass insulation yourself. If your garage door isn’t insulated, you can use a foam board insulation kit from places like Lowe’s or Home Depot. We’ve used slat wall to store smaller pieces of equipment without problems, but everyone’s needs are different, so racks are a great option as well. Having open space actually to work is probably the most important part of getting set up, so putting a solid plan of organization together should be a priority....

“Do you think if I paint it really bright colors, the fairies will come to visit me?” That was the question my 8-year-old daughter asked right before we opened the box to the Creativity for Kids Enchanted Fairy Garden Craft Kit, a kid-appropriate DIY fairy garden that kids can paint, decorate, and then watch as it grows. My child loves gardening, creating, and reading about mystical creatures, so I was excited to try out this kit with my daughter, which combines all three....

The Wilderness collection features three new colors and striped patterns, and each bundle comes in two options: The Basic Bundle ($377) includes a duvet cover, a pair of matching pillowcases, and a white fitted sheet.The Bedtime Bundle ($535) contains everything in the basic package, plus a pair of white pillowcases and a white flat sheet. The line is already live on Piglet’s website. But, before you grab your credit card, take note: To celebrate World Sleep Day, the company is offering 20 percent off bedding from March 19 to 21 with the promo code SLEEP20....

General Wisdom for Planting Depth Although there are plenty of opinions on this, common gardening wisdom advises not to plant any seed deeper than twice its diameter. The classic “quarter-inch” planting depth found on many seed packets is too deep for many small seeds. Information on Seed Company Websites If you know which type of seeds you have, look for that seed variety on major seed company websites. Many sites include information about the best seed planting depth along with the descriptions of the seeds they sell....

What Type of Vegetable Seed Should You Choose? How can you be sure that the hybrid vegetable seeds you grow aren’t genetically modified? Would you be better off sticking to heirloom vegetables or are they modified, too? Here’s a breakdown of each type of seed. Heirloom Vegetables Heirloom vegetables are not a special species of plants. The term heirloom vegetable is used to describe any type of vegetable seed that has been saved and grown over many years and is passed down by the gardener that preserved it....

Most sewer snakes can be rented by the hour, day, or half-day at a tool and equipment rental location and home improvement stores. A sewer snake rental machine can be used to clear a main line as long as you get the right machine and you know how to use it. When to Use a Sewer Snake A plunger is usually the first line of defense when it comes to unclogging any type of drain....

If your current mattress leaves something to be desired, a memory foam topper is an easy way to give your bed a refresh. Looking for something that’s both comfortable and cost-effective? The 2-inch Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper from DreamFoam by Brooklyn Bedding is an excellent option. Made in the United States, this topper’s gel-swirl memory foam provides pressure point relief by molding to your body. It’s also CertiPUR-US®-certified, which means it’s made without the harmful materials or chemicals found in many foams....

Drywall finishing requires a good deal of craftsmanship, which is why the gypsum wallboard industry and drywall professionals have codified a set of professional standards that breaks the process of finishing drywall into five distinct levels. Serious do-it-yourselfers should take note of finishing levels if they want their finish to look as professional as possible. Drywall Finishing Levels Level 0: Level 0 implies that no finishing of any type has been done....