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For a person who loves, loves, loves to swim like I do, living in a house with a pool is a dream come true. The flipside, though, which everyone lucky enough to have a pool knows, is that swimming pools are a serious labor of love—and money. Installing a pool is a huge expense, but the real kicker comes in the time and cost of upkeep. There’s the pump, pH levels, chemicals, temperature, water level, and debris and scum, all of which needs to be monitored and maintained....

But within the area of do-it-yourself home improvement, this vast range of choices narrows down to just a few well-defined picks that work within the limited types of uses encountered by most homeowners. Even having a good handle on just the three main features of drywall screws will help: drywall screw length, gauge, and thread. Most drywall installed in homes is 1/2-inch thick. Thickness can sometimes increase or decrease, but only by very little and not very often....

Equipment to Identify Warblers Having the right tools available makes warbler identification much easier. Binoculars: When choosing birding binoculars specifically for warblers, high magnification can make small markings easier to see. A wide lens is also desirable because these birds are most active in shady areas with variable light, and the more light the binoculars can include the better the image detail will be. Camera: Birders with photography experience can use a camera to capture warblers for later identification....

Not only that, but the head (the cross-end) of the square fits neatly over the edge of the drywall and is long enough that you can be assured that the square is perfectly in place. The T-square is by far your largest investment in DIY drywalling, but there is no acceptable substitute. Your consolation here is that the drywall T-square can be used for things other than drywalling. Some drywall T-squares, such as those manufactured by Empire, have a head that adjusts to 30, 45, 60, and 75 degrees....

While you may think spring is the best season for flowers, these beautiful floral arrangements and centerpieces will have you on team autumn in no time. Scroll through for some of our favorite ideas to use in your own home this fall.

To softenTo camouflageTo play up a stylistic theme As a straight-edged hardscape element, the typical wood fence, by its very nature, cries out for some visual softening. This is usually achieved by the use of plants. In the case of other materials used in building fences, your objective may well be to hide them all together rather than simply softening their “rough edges.” Hiding a chain-link fence is the classic example here, as chain-link fences hold no ornamental value whatsoever; you would gladly dispense with them if not for the practical functions they serve....

Soil Test 1: The Squeeze Test One of the most basic characteristics of soil is its composition. In general, soils are classified as clay soils, sandy soils, or loamy soils. Clay is nutrient-rich, but slow draining. Sand is quick draining but has trouble retaining nutrients and moisture. Loam is generally considered to be ideal soil because it retains moisture and nutrients but doesn’t stay soggy. To determine your soil type, take a handful of moist (but not wet) soil from your garden, and give it a firm squeeze....

These baby shower bingo cards can be printed from your home computer in just a few minutes’ time, and since they’re all free, the game won’t cost you a dime. Find more free baby shower games like this one. Below you’ll find baby shower bingo cards in all different styles making it easy to find one that will seamlessly fit into your theme. There are ones geared towards boy or girl showers and some others that will work for both or a gender-unknown shower....

DIY Garden Tool Storage Idea from Newly Woodwards How to Build DIY Garage Storage Shelves from Life Storage Wood Organization Spray Paint Rack from Reality Daydream One Room Challenge Garage Reveal from Sypsie Designs Project Garage Organization from Cherished Bliss Shop Towel Holder from Love Create Celebrate DIY Simple Garage Mudroom from Taryn Whiteaker Wall-Mounted Bike Rack from Gray House Studio Workshop Space Organization from A Beautiful Mess Rolling Tool Cart from My Repurposed Life Make a Concrete Table Top from Lia Griffith Garage and Mudroom Reveal from The Kim Six Fix Garage into Studio Reveal from Sarah Hearts

Design: Simple recliner The price suggests a budget design, but I found the Goplus chair comparable in build and design to others in this category. At just over $50, price-wise this chair was on the lower end of the product segment. Even at that price, I didn’t get the feeling that lots of corners were cut to get the price that low. The zero-gravity category is a fairly new one and it spans a few subcategories such as zero-gravity massage chairs, zero-gravity office chairs, and zero-gravity lounge chairs such as this one....

Growing rice in your backyard or on your porch is a fun project with kids to show them what’s involved in getting a bowl of rice on the dinner table. After growing rice yourself, you’ll better understand the Chinese proverb, “Every grain of rice in your bowl is won by the sweat of the farmer’s brow.” To grow your own rice, upland rice is usually the better choice. One upland variety recommended for home growing is Duborskian rice, which matures in 115 days from transplanting....

Loose connections can cause electrical wiring and devices to heat up and are a potential electrical fire in the making. That’s why safe and secure electrical connections are so important. In order to make these connections, you will need a little advice and a guide to making proper connections on devices, appliances, and the very important electrical panel connections. Properly sized electrical wire and the properly sized circuit breakers connected to the wires are very important....

Unquestionably, innovators decorate their homes differently. And whether you are one, live with one, love one, or aspire to be one, here’s exactly how they design: 1. They Focus on Accessibility Here’s the thing: innovators aren’t just thinking about themselves. They are always thinking about others and what they can do to make their space more visitor-friendly. This translates to adjustable couches, extra room, movability in different areas, and even as far as multiple options to access rooms or entry points for those who may have a disability or need additional mobility support....

Kelly Zies, the marketing and public relations manager at Slowtide, a sustainable artful towel brand, says, “There really isn’t a set number that is right or wrong.” Rather, she adds, “It’s actually pretty situational: What are your needs? Is there a pool in the backyard? If so, you’ll want some beach towels. How many people are in a household? How big is your closet? How many bathrooms are in your house?...

Few other building materials need to be purchased in such excess. When you buy five windows, you only buy five windows—not a few extra just for good measure. This is not a ploy by flooring manufacturers to encourage you to buy more flooring. Instead, buying extra flooring materials is a normal, expected part of installing flooring. You’ll need to do this for nearly every type of flooring—sheet and roll goods, plank flooring, and tiles....

Total electrical capacity of an electrical service is measured in amperage (amps). In very old homes with knob-and-tube wiring and screw-in fuses, you may find the original electrical service delivers 30 amps. Slightly newer homes (built before 1960) may have 60-amp service. In many homes built after 1960 (or upgraded older homes), 100 amps is the standard service size. But in large, newer homes, 200-amp service is now a minimum, and with many newer homes you may see 400-amp electrical service installed....

Most likely, your search for a simple and plain white paint will have you looking through strips and samples. The quest to find a white color that has the clarity of pure white, without the blinding cold of its whiteness is more challenging than it would appear. There Are Many Variations of White Paint There are hundreds and hundreds of white paints available, and most of them are considered white....