Posts

Dimensional Lumber Basics Dimensional lumber is sawn, planed, and sometimes further smoothed to make it immediately ready for many applications. It’s the most common type of lumber used for building because its consistent sizing allows builders to use it interchangeably throughout the home. Standardization also means that builders or do-it-yourselfers throughout the entire country are using lumber that is sized the same way. A 2x4 with an actual measurement of 1 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches in one state will be exactly the same as a 2x4 across the country....

Common Duckweed (Lemna minor) keeps water clean, prevents the overgrowth of algae, and generously feeds fish. Plants measure 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long. Each plant has one to three light green leaves that are flat and oval in shape. Each leaf then has one hair-like root that hangs down in the water. Miniature air sacs keep the plant afloat. Common Duckweed has a short lifespan, but it carpets rapidly and can even become invasive....

Types Of Rubber Flooring Recycled Rubber Floors These are the most environmentally friendly rubber floors. Made from recycled rubber such as that found in old car tires, this material helps to eliminate the build-up of waste making it a low impact floor covering choice. The process of manufacturing is low cost and requires less energy than is used in the creation of most other resilient floors. In many cases, it is also the least expensive rubber flooring option available....

Bathroom remodels are also one of the hardest of all remodeling projects for which to estimate costs, since there are so many variables at work and because the materials are available in such a wide range of quality. When you can spend as little as $100 on a new toilet or as much as $10,000, is it any wonder that remodeling costs can vary enormously? Industry Cost Surveys In a 2021 survey by Home Advisor, a digital marketplace that allows homeowners to explore home improvement costs and contact prescreened professionals, the average bathroom remodel in 2021 cost $10,797, with most falling between $6,155 and $15,440....

I would venture to guess this has happened to a great number of us. So would Cas Aarssen, the creator of the popular Clutterbug method for taming mountains of mess in spaces around the world. Aarssen once was like the masses: Drowning in clutter and no hope in sight. But she had a revelation that led to her Clutterbug system of organizing by personality, and she shares several tips on getting organized that probably had never even crossed your mind....

The Hidden Danger First off, the language is problematic. “‘Cleaning’ implies that you’re using water as a solvent," says Deane Biermeier, a renovation and repair expert with 30 years experience. “Water and electricity just don’t work well together. This is extremely dangerous if you’re using a corded drill, but still a hazard when using a battery-operated drill. At the very least, you run a big risk of damaging the tool beyond repair....

Picket fences, widely associated with English cottage gardens, bring a homey feeling to a landscape that few other fences can match. But in this landscaping photo, the homey feeling is due to more than just the choice in fences. The pachysandra, shrubs, vines, and trees all give the yard a welcoming feel. Picket fences come in several styles, determined by a variety of criteria. In this collection of fence pictures, notice the shape of the board at the top of each picket....

It should be noted that when dismantling or recycling any wood products, use care and watch for nails or large staples which could ruin your cutting tools and make this free wood, not-so-free in the long run. Important Firewood Scavenging Rules Dead or Dying Trees You’ll often see dead trees on commercial or residential property, or near nature trails. In many cases, the property owner does not have time or money to have these removed....

However, the blades of the disposal, as well as the drain pipes that run throughout the home, can become prone to clogging if the garbage disposal is not used correctly or maintained regularly. These tips for garbage disposal maintenance will help you operate your garbage disposal so you can avoid clogs and other common problems like rusting. Always Turn Off the Disposal During Maintenance Garbage disposals are dangerous appliances that need to be used appropriately to avoid injury....

Along with its many advantages, standard sizing is one of the drywall’s best features. With each sheet of drywall, you know in advance its exact size, down to the millimeter. Predictable sizing allows builders and homeowners to plan their projects and hang drywall with complete accuracy. Drywall Length and Width The length and width of drywall sheets are usually in multiples of 4 feet—most commonly, 4-foot by 8-foot, 4-foot by 12-foot, or 4-foot by 16-foot sheets....

Feed the Pumpkin To play this game, draw a large pumpkin on a piece of poster board. Cut out a large mouth and then paint or color in the rest of the pumpkin. Prop the pumpkin poster board so that it stands at an angle in such a way that things can pass through the mouth, or attach your pumpkin picture to something like a homemade cornhole game board. Give each player three ears of corn....

To help guide you in your search, we asked our editors to share their must-have items. Here are our top picks—on sale now until May 30.

The non-native tree can be a bit messy and offers little in the way of vibrant fall foliage, but it makes an excellent choice to line streets or provide some shade from the sun. Considered both a shade and an ornamental tree, the horse chestnut features a lush, spreading canopy that’s more than capable of blocking sunlight while adding both visual interest and beauty to landscaping. The horse chestnut tree will lose its leaves seasonally....

Learning how high to mount your TV or other type of screen is the first step toward comfortable, immersive viewing. Experts recommend that the middle of your TV should be at eye-level while seated. This equates to about 42 inches from the floor to the center of your TV. As with other things, you’ll find that there is a general rule that can be applied to most, but not all, situations....

Go Natural Anastasia Casey is the founder and CEO of The Identite Collective and frequently chronicles her own home design and upgrades on Instagram. Reflecting on past Thanksgiving setups, she shared, “My favorite tablescape was actually our moss covered table! We rolled out a kraft paper runner, used spray glue and dried moss.” Best of all, Casey was able to handle all of the prep work ahead of time, “We set this out five days before and it looked perfect the day of,” she noted....

Why We Love Juncos Dark-eyed juncos are a type of sparrow distinct for their pale bills and white outer tail feathers. These perky birds are active and energetic as they hop with both feet to forage, and they are welcome at many feeders as energetic winter guests. While juncos do stay year-round in some parts of North America, they are much more widespread during the winter months when they are more likely to visit feeding stations....

Types of Winter Finches The birds typically called winter finches are small finches that prefer northern climates and boreal or Arctic habitats. In the harshest, coldest part of winter, these birds’ southern migration brings them into yards in more temperate areas. They may also experience periodic irruptions even further south, much to the delight of birders who do not have the opportunity to travel to northern areas for birding. The exact winter finches that may appear in any yard can vary depending on the harshness of the weather, food supplies in northern areas, predator populations, and other factors....