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How can I "seal up" cracks in my wooden shed between wooden slats/floorboards? I've got a new shed being put up this weekend, I want to try to seal it up to keep some of the bugs from taking over. After looking around Focus DIY (large DIY chain in the UK) I found some "wood sealer", which comes in a tube and slots into...	You can seal any gaps with expanding foam spray.
Why should I use advanced nails instead of wood screws for strength? Recently I found that there're some superior nails for constructing hurricane-resistant houses - with very clever design for preventing pulling the nails out and tearing the boards off when the structure is under harsh wind load. I saw similar nails...	On the other hand, nails are very ductile and have a flat head which also resists pulling through the connected member (the tapered head of a wood screw will pull through when the connected member, or plywood, buckles or twists under load).
How can I increase the heating efficiency of a forced air system? What are some DIY ways to increase the efficiency of a forced air heating system? Please answer in Community wiki fashion: 1 tip per answer. As @Jay Bazuzi pointed out, tips can also include ways to increase heat retention or other ways to save money o...	Inspect insulation in your attic/crawlspace (where possible). And of course, make sure you have a clean furnace filter.
How do I connect an air compressor to blow out my sprinkler lines? I want to blow out my sprinkler lines before the freezing weather gets here (I am in NJ). I have an air compressor that I can borrow but how do I attach the air compressor line to the sprinkler system to blow it out? Here is the water line coming out ...	You could probably just chop off the end of an old piece of regular water hose, since it will already have the male garden fitting on it.
What level of electrical service should I order, for new construction? Starting from scratch here. A transformer on the street, no buildings on the land yet. I want to order temporary electrical service now, for use during construction. So we don't have to dig the street up twice, I want to have the wiring installed f...	I would definitely install 200A service in a house >2000sqft, or if there was electric heat/hot water.
Can I use a PVC cleanout plug in a Cast Iron Cleanout? There's a cleanout plug on this pipe that I simply can't get loose. I've tried liquid wrench, PB blaster, heating up the area with a torch, everything I can think of. All that's really left is to go after the plug with a drill and a saw and just pull it apart. Howe...	Another options to the PVC one, in case the threads are damanged or the thread count doesn't match up, would be to use an expansion plug : (I couldn't get the right size for mine at the local store, so
What am I missing when blowing out water from my sprinkler system? I am trying to blow out my sprinkler lines and I put together an adapter to connect the air compressor to the faucet pictured below. The air compressor was charged to 140PSI, and then I turned on a zone and opened the air compressor valve to 40PSI (i...	Most likely, the air inlet valve is not sealing properly.
Is it worth spending extra to get a nicer circular saw? I'm doing some small projects such as building a workbench, and I don't have a saw to cut plywood with. I've got a 12" compound miter saw, so I don't currently need a circular saw for anything other than cutting plywood. I looked around and I think I found a goo...	I think you'd be fine with the cheap saw as long as you're not going to use it all that often.
How do I repair a drywall ceiling when there is blown in insulation above? I was finishing the space above a garage. The space was buried in blown in cellulose insulation and we framed in some walls, laid a subfloor, and finished the room. During framing two different people punched a hole in the drywall ceiling belo...	Cut a piece of scrap drywall into roughly the size and shape of the hole, and screw it into the piece of scrap wood. I would clean out the area around the holes to give myself room to work without being showered with cellulose.
What can I use to drill dowel holes down the end of a long piece of wood? More of a DIY than Improvement question, but here goes anyway. We're building a shoe box with slatted sides and base and were thinking of joining the slats to the corner uprights with dowel (excuse the bad art): The problem we have is getting ...	Buy a self centering dowel drilling jig .
Why do I have blue water coming out of the faucets? We have an upstairs bathroom that we've gutted and are having some contractors remodel. The toilet is the only thing that hasn't been touched. We had a plumber come and redo all of the source and drain lines for the new sinks and the shower. The other day, he turned o...	By the way, it is not at all easy for this to be sewage getting into your water lines, but it might be a problem of siphoning back into your house lines from the toilet tank itself.
What type of space heater is best for an uninsulated garage? I'm planning on applying stain and polyurethane to some furniture I recently built. I've been thinking about getting a space heater for my uninsulated garage, both to help the poly cure, and for my own comfort while working. What type of heater would be best...	If you really don't want to freeze and you're not doing any major paint/finish work in there, using a propane heater will work best - I prefer radiant heat but any gas heater with a fan will work best, unfortunately they are rather expensive.
Is a timed electrical switch causing vent fan to run slower / with less power? I bought this timed electrical switch and used it to replace a standard switch that turned on my bathroom vent fan (I'm always forgetting to turn it off and it often will run all day.) after the install, everything seems to work fine, but...	If you're sure that there's a big difference between before and after installation, it may be that the switch is faulty.
What are the consequences of building without a permit? Suppose someone decided to build a house without getting the required permits. What are the possible consequences? I'm not talking about slipshod workmanship, or ignoring safety of structure, fire, and sewage. I'm talking about doing good quality work that genera...	One of the consequences of building with no permit is that no inspections were ever done. It would depend on many factors beyond your control.
Why do our baseboard heating pipes make a loud banging noise after a new furnace was installed? We had a new furnace installed about a month ago. The heating in our house is hot water baseboards. Ever since the new furnace was installed, when the heat comes on or turns off, there is a loud bang in the pipes. It's no...	A water hammer arrestor may be the solution to your problem. I had the heating company come back and reverse the zone valves so they operate in the correct direction.
What compound is best to use when skim coating a plaster wall that had wallpaper removed? What kind of compound is best to use when skim coating a plaster wall that had wallpaper removed. Should it be thinned with water? when would one use Toping Compound instead of joint compound. Light weight compound, blue bucket, o...	As said by the others, thin with water and mix well with a large drill and paddle to remove as many air bubbles as possible before attempting to apply. You can use regular "all-purpose" joint compound.
Could home phone wiring cause a one-sided phone call (where I can hear them but they can't hear me)? I have wired my phone from our cable modem to the phone junction box for our home in the basement. I stripped and hooked each of 4 teeny tiny delicate wires to the junction box. For the most part this works, but I'm won...	At any rate you can check your wiring job by plugging a wired phone into the phone jack on your cable modem. It's pretty easy to conclude that this is not a problem with your wiring.
Can I close the garage vent on my furnace? My furnace duct system has a vent in the garage, right over the furnace. Is it necessary for the proper operation of the furnace to keep that open? I'd hate to waste the money heating up my garage, but I don't want to close the vent if it means damage to the furnace. In the p...	There is no reason to leave the vent open, dumping warm air into your uninsulated garage, unless you intend to do some work there on a cold day.
Do I need a separate vent stack for my kitchen sink? The drain line from my kitchen sink drops down through the basement, into the basement floor (Concrete), and I assume under the floor to the main sewer line. The sink tends to drain slowly. Should I have a separate vent at the sink, or is it OK if the only vent is ...	If there is a venting problem, you might hear gurgling when the sink drains, or perhaps see the water dip down in a toilet when you use your sink. Ideally you should have a vent at the kitchen sink too; AFAIK, it doesn't have to be dedicated to the sink so you could hook up to an existing vent if you have one nearby.
Why won't my bathroom light fixture work? Had a surprise this morning when I went to turn on my bathroom light and it didn't work. All the incandescent bulbs (4 of them) appear to be fine, and the fan which is on the switch beside the light switch is working. I've checked and reset all breakers. Before calling an el...	If you cannot reach into the box with a voltage probe, then you will need to turn off the power into the switch box. I had a similar experience and went as far as replacing a breaker.
What are some alternatives for a glass stove top replacement? As quite a few people are these days, my wife and I are in a difficult financial situation. About 5 months ago we got a HUGE break and purchased a Stove, Fridge, LARGE microwave and Dishwasher for $250 (basically a gift as it was all worth well over $3,000)...	You might also call a few local appliance shops to see if they have any ideas on used parts.
What went wrong with my Washer and how do I fix it? For about a month or more my to-loaded washer was getting more and more off balance. Then it started ticking and not spinning, then recently it stopped spinning altogether.Everything else still works...it just doesn't spin (which basically means it's useless). I'm p...	My first guess would be that the belt that connects the motor to the drum either broke or is slipping.
What is "3 inch minus"? My heavy equipment guy said we should put "3 inch minus" down on a new driveway. What is it, and is it a good choice? <Q> It's something that would typically be used as a deep base to support a finer top layer of gravel. <A> A search of the internet reveals that it is "rocks, dirt and stones 3" ...	It means anything that will fit through a 3" x 3" screen grid, including large stones, smaller stones, all the way down to dust. If you driveway has slope that is prone to erosion this is an excellent choice - as it will not wash away in the majority of cases.
Why are 2"x4"'s really 1.5"x3.5"? Just curious as to the reasoning, is it a spec, or is it simply 'backwards compatibility'? <Q> The 2x4 refers to the rough-cut green wood: <S> it shrinks during drying, then the dried wood is planed smooth, so the finished lumber is supposed to end up at 1.5"x3.5". <S> While it doesn...	The Mills took into account shrinkage when cutting way back.
Why has my bathroom cold water tap (but no others) stopped working? The basin cold water tap in my bathroom over the last week has gone from fully flowing, to half pressure, to a dribble, then to a drip and now nothing comes out. The 3 other taps in the bathroom work correctly, including the cold water tap on the bath...	For us it was a frozen pipe.
How do I replace a bricked in mailbox? My in-laws have a Mailbox that's a normal looking metal mailbox that's in a brick enclosure. It appears that when it was built, someone just put down mortar, set the mailbox in it, covered the mailbox in mortar and then bricked around it. Fifteen years on the box is rusting and ...	The other solution is to cut in out (after measuring it), chip out the mortar until you can slide the new one in then affix it with some screws or caulk and re mortar or use mortar
Can you help me find this bulb? I need to replace the light bulb in my ceiling fan but the part\model number is warn off and I can't find it anywhere! I can read "Philips," "Plus," and "G5" but nothing else. Please see the attached photo. Can you tell me what the part\model of this bulb is and where I can find one (pre...	Probably your best bet would be to take the burnt bulb to a big box home improvement store.
How good do I need to make my primer coat? When doing a primer coat do I need to get everything or can I pretty much fly through it leaving it kinda blochy? <Q> I find that primer dries so fast that you have to do the job quickly, but it's worth it in the long run to get it somewhat even: any time saved by doing a poor...	The primer coat doesn't have to be perfect, but it should cover the surface (no bare spots) and it shouldn't be so blotchy that you get drips or visible unevenness.
How do I wrap pipe threads with teflon tape? When wrapping pipe threads with teflon tape ( thread seal tape ), what is the direction and recommended number of times to wrap the tape around the threads? Any other recommendations or tip/tricks when applying teflon tape? <Q> Wrap clockwise - i.e. in the same direction ...	For the correct number of times to wrap the tape, check the instructions on the tape package (that tiny little printing in white plastic you can barely read).
What's a good general purpose light-use drill? I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a decent general purpose light use drill for around the home? It's not going to get a whole lot of use. When it does get used most of the time it'll probably be used to put a screw into some wood, or drilling a hole into a ...	I would definitely recommend a cordless drill for the intermittent use that you are describing. If you are looking for the cheapest solution, it would be hard to beat the Harbor Freight variable speed drill .
How do I remove an oil stain from my concrete driveway? Anyone have tips for removing oil stains from a concrete unpaved driveway ? The spill was from a leaking car, now fixed, and they are a few months old. There are so many products and spurious reviews at Amazon. I'm not sure whom to trust... Does anyone have...	What you can try is a long therapy with a high power steamer (heats, liquefy and mechanically strips the oil, hopefully) and something adsorbing, with low polarity and high pores, like cat litter, but also normal sand.
Can I extend my loft hatch opening? I am hoping to extend the opening for my loft hatch using the following method. I want to move the cross piece from position Q to position P. I intend to screw a temporary support across the top of the joists at position P. Then remove the cross piece at position Q, cut joist B wher...	Your plan sounds fine. If it were me, I would likely do the temporary support from beneath (a temporary stud extending from the floor below, intersecting the ceiling at the intersection of B and P).
Can I run a dehumidifier pump to a washer stand pipe? I have a very humid basement, in which I run a dehumidifier often. To allow for a more constant run, I purchased a dehumidifier pump . It says to run the pump out through a window or to a sink. I don't have a sink and I am worried about using the window in the w...	You should simply put the pipe from this pump along side the washer pipe in the same way - do not attach it with fittings, otherwise you risk water from the pump going into your washer, or more likely, drain water from the washer going into the pump.
Why is there white crust on my dishes after they are washed in the dish washer? Recently my dishes have been coming out of the dish-washer with a lot of white powdery-crust all over them. It's extremely hard to scrub off and often the only way to remove it is to soak them in vinegar. What could be causing this and how...	Switching to a detergent that disolves better might help, or use a little less.
Am I having trouble finding studs because my walls are lath and plaster? I picked a TV mount from Ikea. The TV itself is being mounted to some paneling which in turn is mounted to set of wooden draws. In addition, it gives you hardware to mount the panels to the walls. It's not really meant to support any weight, just ...	A single magnet will help you find studs (namely, the nails and screws in the drywall or lath), and help you avoid nailing into other nails and nail plates (or piercing your wiring). A lot of stud finders work by detecting the change in the dielectric constant of the wall as you move horizontally across the wall. Somet...
How to heat my workshop? I want something that can warm it up fairly quickly. I may only be out there an hour or 2, but when I decide to work on a project I don't want to wait an hour or 2 for it to heat up. Right now I have a cheap portable oil heater and it takes a long time. Would prefer something cheap if possible....	I like my ceramic space heater ; it warms up the otherwise unheated spot in my basement quickly.
What are the "must do" tasks before winter hits? I've had my furnace serviced in time for winter, but what other things should I consider doing before the snow and the ice come? <Q> Clean your gutters <S> Make sure your chimney is clean <S> Install storm windows <S> Empty the gas from your mower and <S> Rev...	Make sure I have plenty of anti-freeze Make sure you top up the washer fluid Check the tires. If you have a fireplace - get the chimney swept/inspected. Take the battery out of yourlawnmower. Clean all gutters & check downspouts Store away deck/outdoor furniture. Lubricate all points on the tractor.
What substances should you avoid contact with your bare hands? I started thinking about this yesterday because I currently have a weird feeling second skin from the polyurethane adhesive I used to attach my kitchen backsplash on Sunday. I foolishly assumed since the instructions say "cleans up with mineral spirits" th...	If you are going to use paint remover use the good heavy duty vinyl gloves, not the cheap latex ones.
How do I close and seal an old external vent? I was removing some ancient hanging cabinets in my small laundry room when I found an old vent of some kind. It had been completely hidden behind the old cabinetry. My dryer vents out through the roof so I want to close and seal this opening, especially before it gets reall...	I would probably use some rigid foam insulation (2 or 3" is probably good, it's generally rated at R7 per inch - and you can stack it, it doesn't have to be a solid piece), and then use spray foam to seal it up around the edges and hold it in place. You don't want water coming in and getting into your walls.
What should I check for before turning on an OLD dish washer for the first time? We recently purchased a house with a REALLY old dishwasher. The inspection report says that it "appears to be in working condition" but I'm paranoid of having a plumbing mess if we start using it. What should I check for before turning it...	Check the water line connections.
How should I drain fuel from my mower? I have a Honda lawn mower ( HRX217K2VKA ) and I want to drain the fuel for winter. How should I do this? Three options spring to mind: Run the engine until the fuel is gone. Tip the mower to pour the fuel out. Siphon the fuel. The manufacturer's manual ( see page 13 ) recomm...	Alternately look for the line that runs from the bottom of the fuel tank to the carburettor. I personally would not recommend siphoning it.
How do I repair a curtain rod anchor that was ripped out of the wall? My children managed to pull on the curtains hard enough to yank the bracket which attached the curtain rod to the wall out. What is the best way to repair this? Here's what it looks like: <Q> There's several ways to fix this, depending on a few thi...	I agree that toggle bolts are the best solution in this case.
How do I fix a wobbly mailbox post? This evening, I had the unfortunate luck of someone completely taking out my wooden mailbox with their side-view mirror, leaving only the post. It was a total accident, and he was quite apologetic, and I had my mailbox back up in about an hour with the help of some 1 1/4" brads. Th...	Of if the existing post isn't too damaged, maybe dig around it and pour some post hole cement in. I'd replace the post with a new one or cut off the rotten part.
How do I protect a coax cable junction from outside weather? I'm planning to re-arrange some coax cable lines in my house which will effectively require me to connect them to a 4-way splitter. The wifey would prefer these connections to take place in a discrete location outside of the house. My concern is that issue...	If you have to locate the splitter in a location where it is more directly exposed to the elements (eg, not underneath a soffit or something), you might want to get a PVC box, and then put waterproof box connectors on it, which have a gasket that seals around any kind of wire.
What is the best tool/method for vine removal? i recently bought a 108 year old house with an ancient garage that has vines growing up the back of the entire structure. the vines have started getting into the gutters and even inside the garage. i want to rip them all down but i'm not sure of the best tools to make th...	I grab handfuls at a time, and hack away at the vines until the ground is clear enough to dig out roots.
Should I cover my air conditioner for winter? Should I cover my air conditioner for winter? It's difficult to find an appropriate cover, but finding a cover for an evaporation cooler is easy (and because they allow for air flow from the outdoors, it makes sense). See this answer for things to do before winter hits, ...	If your air conditioner is subject to falling ice or other debris, you could cover its top with a piece of plywood, plastic or metal held in place by a weight.
How can I speed up the rate at which putty dries? We're (slowly) renovating the sash windows in our house and the current window is causing problems. What should have been a quick job (especially at this time of year!) has turned into a marathon because the putty won't dry. We had to replace a couple of panes of glass...	You can buy rapid setting putty where you mix in a powder that makes it skin in about 3 days or mix in a small amount poly-filler.
Is there a standard way to block sunlight from a non-rectangular window? I'm not a DIY home repair guy but I'm handy with tools. I have a semi-circular window about six feet in diameter. It's right above my home office desk. In the afternoon, the sun often shines through the window and makes a terrific glare on the ...	The most common solution I've seen to this is custom planation shutters. I used the leftover liner from the blackout curtain panel used to upholster the valance box. (Note the dimensions of the window drawn onto the plywood for reference.) pneumatic brad nailer Hot glue gun Three layers of batting and one layer of fabr...
How do I stop the dripping noise from my gutters? It has just recently started raining where I live, and I am new to this house. When the rain ceases and the water is dripping from the gutters through the drain, I can hear the dripping from inside the house. It is REALLY loud and is driving me crazy. The gutter drains ...	Stick a sponge at the bottom the drips will land quietly on it and when it pours the water still flows through.
How do I install cabinets on a floating hardwood floor? We just purchased a bunch of cabinets for installation of a bar / kitchenette in the basement. There are 4 wall cabinets and four base cabinets. These are going to be installed on the existing hardwood floating floor, which are sitting on top of a pad and then ...	The proper installation would be to install the cabinets and then install the flooring around the cabinets.
Why does my furnace need frequent power resets? I have a NOMA Programmable thermostat attached to my furnace. The set point is usually around 21 degrees, and the room temperature is reading around 17 degrees. The furnace is not coming on. However, If I go down to the basement, and flip the power switch off and on, th...	When I've seen this, it's usually been one of two things: A bad ignitor - if the furnace doesn't detect that the ignitor has turned on, it will shut itself down.
How do I stain pine without streaks or blotches? I did some test staining on pine scraps, and I ended up with a cross grain arc that's darker than everything else. Where did I go wrong? (Or is it just the pine?) (Related to this question , as a follow-up. I realized I had already accepted an answer to the original, s...	Having a good surface to stain is pretty much essential as the stain will highlight even the smallest imperfections.
What should I know about radon levels at home? What levels are safe and do they affect resale value? My wife and I are looking to buy our first home. We recently found one, but a report says the radon levels inside the home are unsatisfactory. I've never really been aware of radon levels in homes before, but of cours...	As long as you can get a radon system installed without significantly destroying the home, and the radon levels aren't insanely high (100+ pCi/L), radon is not the end of the world.
How do I remove or paint over graffiti? Recently some graffiti appeared on the side of my house. I knew I should have done something right away but I didn't, and now there is more. Here is a picture: I read this article . I think I just want to paint over it. Someone told me to use dry lock. Is this the best thing t...	A good exterior paint will cover the graffiti well enough.
How do I diagnose voltage fluctuations that affect my receiver? I recently moved into a town house and have noticed that my home theater, in particular the receiver seems to freak out and show only snow when I turn on and off fans and other electrical appliances. The snow lasts until I switch the input source on the re...	If you want to try looking for a voltage problem, you could get a simple multi-meter, stick the probes into the outlet and then watch it while someone else fiddles with other devices. It could be a grounding problem -- electronic devices are often very sensitive to the quality of the ground line.
What kind of backing should I use for a glass mosaic backsplash? I want to install a glass mosaic backsplash. These are a bunch of small square tiles of different colors on a mesh. Each meash measures 13 x 13. They are so thin, that I want to put some plywood or 1/4 inch tile backer board over the drywall first because...	Do the job right and use cement board, when you don't have any problems and you can enjoy the tile for years to come you will never regret the decision.
Are there any built in cabinet 'kits' available? I am wanting to do cabinets between a wall and a fireplace. This would separate our living room from our dining room, so I want to build media cabinets (A/V equipment, DVD shelves, and a full ceiling to floor 'closet' to store big equipment like Rock Band guitars. On the...	I'm guessing it wouldn't be too hard for you to find pre-built kitchen cabinets at Menard's or Lowe's that would be of better quality than you'd find in "modular" closet systems or cabinet kits like Shane mentions at IKEA.
Does it make sense for a freezer to work , but the refrigerator to not work? We have a relatively new fridge (~2 years). Its got the double door over/under freezer, but the door has a weird way that it closes in that it can get stuck open very easily. The fridge was left open most of the day by out of town house gues...	I wonder if it's just a thermal mass issue; the fridge isn't really optimized for cooling a whole load of items at once (a high thermal mass to cool).
Sources for small metal tubing? This is more a DIY question than a home improvement one but I can't seem to find a beter place to ask: I'm looking for small diameter metal tubing , specifically 0.159 ID, ~3/16 OD (the inside diameter is the critical dimension) in stainless steel or steel (or if anyone make it, any gr...	drawn brass tubing from K&S engineering - Chicago
How do I weatherize an MDF shed? I had some spare MDF lying around, and didn't have much to do with it. We needed somewhere to shove our grill and gardening tools, so a couple of screws later I now have a reasonably unattractive MDF shed, built as a 3:4 triangle to fit under the stairs of the apartment above us. I jus...	You could try painting it, probably with a latex paint, but in my experience there's nothing you can do to get MDF to hold up to moisture.
Is there a "safe" sub-floor leveling compound? I have some gashes in my sub-floor that I'd like to fill/level before placing laminate flooring down. Upon checking at my local home depot, I found some floor leveling compound but quite frankly, I'm scared to use it. There are very large warnings on it confirming that th...	The next option would be to put down something like this - again, you're not going to have to worry about any gashes in the subfloor.
How do I frame a 2" (1.5") thick wall? How would you put up/frame a wall where the 2x4 studs are turned flat to make the wall 2" thick? One especially tricky thing is that (it seems that) all nails must be toenailed since a 3.5" long 16d nail isn't long enough to attach the 3.5" tall plates to the studs. Are there any ...	Just straighten the wall as you nail it down or tapcon it or whatever then staighten the top to your line and nail to the joists or blocking. I recommend installing a separate plate on the floor or across the upper joists first.
What is this knob on our fireplace? Dumb question, probably, but you guys have come through for us in the past... Our house has a fireplace installed by the previous owner with two sliding knobs. Our question is, what are these? http://oi52.tinypic.com/dzj7ec.jpg The top slider is probably the flue. If so, is conve...	The upper knob is logically the flue control.
How can I run an additional electrical circuit to a wall mounted TV? I am in the in the planning phase of mounting my 50" plasma in my living room. The wall the TV is going on is an exterior wall (it should have insulation) and the interior side is already finished so I don't have full access for running new electrica...	If there is another outlet nearby (directly below would be ideal), fish a wire to it, and attach it to that circuit. I'd be nervous about any contraptions that attempt to get power to this circuit otherwise.
How can I make a nail-strewn lawn safe for bare feet? Our landlord replaced the roof (cedar shingle) and now there are old nails hidden in the grass all around. My children loved to run around barefoot, but now I'm worried about them getting a nail through the foot. The landlord used a magnetic floor sweeper and that ...	A more lo-tech approach would be to use a moss rake, but the prongs might be too widely spaced to guarantee finding all the nails.
How do I keep drawer knobs from loosening over time? I see knobs like this on cabinets, dressers, and closet doors. They are held in place with a single wood screw. Very often they are loose. I guess when we grab them we often impart a slight twist. Also, temperature and humidity changes cause the wood to swell and sh...	I'd recommend going with a metal knob that's held in place by a machine screw. Put a lockwasher between the nut and a regular washer (inside the door).
How can I get rid of a mouse in my house? There is a mouse in my house. What's the most effective way to get rid of the mouse (and any "friends" it might have) and ensure that it doesn't come back. <Q> Get a kitty : <S> (Thanks to Wikipedia for the image) <A> Use a mouse- or rat-trap: <S> (Thanks to Wikipedi...	What I've found works the best, by far, is The Better Mouse Trap
Why is one bedroom always colder than the rest of the house? We have a two story home with 3 bedrooms upstairs. Home is 7 years old. One of the bedrooms is always around 5-6 degrees Fahrenheit colder than the rest of the house (when compared to the thermostat temp). Currently it is the baby's room and we placed a hea...	Electrical outlets on exterior walls are also sources for cold air infiltration because builders don't always do a good job of sealing the outside of the box holding the electrical wires. You can use it as a stop gap until you figure out what permanent fixes you need to make. Your better equipped hardware stores or con...
How much of a window should be replaced? My kids threw something in the house and broke a window. Only the inner pane of the double-pane window is broken. My questions are: What needs to be replaced? Can I replace just the glass that's broken? Should I replace both sides of the double-panned glass? Or do I have to rep...	I'd also suggest contacting your window manufacturer. The two panes come glued together as a unit. It might be possible to replace the broken pane, but you would be losing all the other benefits of a double-paned window: insulation, soundproofing and blocking heat and UV from sunlight. Even if the windows were installe...
What's the least intrusive way to find out what's in a wall? I'm getting ready to mount a flatscreen TV on our living room wall and would like to route various cables through it (e.g. surround sound speakers, HDMI, etc). I appreciate the AWESOME tips here , but I think I'm missing something important: How can I find o...	If you can, look at the base of the wall from your basement or crawlspace, and at the top from the attic, which might give you some more information. There are some electronic inspection cameras on the market. If everything looks clear enough to run a cable that's all you need to do. If the photos aren't working well e...
Why does my ice maker make a knocking sound and not produce ice? My ice maker is making knocking noises every few hours and rarely produces ice. Every now and then (once a month or so) it actually starts making ice and the noises stop for a day. It's a GE french door with bottom freezer. Any ideas on why it knocks ...	The tap connection can get clogged and not let any water into the ice maker, which would cause a lack of ice production.
How do you break in a new air compressor? Just got a new craftsman air compressor (33 gal). I have read that it is important to "break in" the unit by running it with the pressurized chamber open (so that there is no load on the motor). How long do I do leave it running in this state? Is there anything else you woul...	Not so sure about needing to break in the unit, but if it is an oiled compressor then make sure you change the oil after the first 10 hours (or about that). The compressor I have ( Sears Craftsman 3 gal., 1 hp, Horizontal Tank ) has a 50% duty cycle so it should not run more than 30 minutes in any one hour.
Should I release the pressure out of an air compressor when it is not in use? Just got a new compressor and I wondering if I should be releasing all of the pressure out of the unit when it is not in use? Or is it better to leave the pressure in so that the unit does not have to work as hard to build up the pressure ne...	Release the air and open the drain valve for a while to let out any condensation.
How do I put on siding above a slanted roof? We're replacing siding on our two-story house currently. We can do most of it okay, but our two-car garage has a slanted roof, which mean you can't just put a ladder up there. We're thinking about just hiring it done, but it'd be a lot nicer it we could do it ourselves someh...	First you need a step ladder, extension ladder, a walk board, and a ladder jack.
How do I secure my house against intruders? What are some suggestions for securing your house from an intruder? Right now we have a GE Simon XT alarm system, but it doesn't cover breaking a window. We put some PVC pipes in the tracks of the lower floor windows as well. What other suggestions do you have? EDIT: I also ...	If you have neighbors that are home during the day, it will make your house a riskier break-in. It may sound odd, but make it very hard for anyone to get out of your doors without the key and don’t leave the key buy the doors – e.g stop the doors from being easy to open from the inside when they are locked. In addition...
What material should I use to insulate floor over a bumpout? My dining room has part of it bumped out about 2 feet overhanging from the foundation. The floor over this overhanging part gets cold in winter and I'm thinking about insulating below it. I've done a lot of work installing kraft-faced batts in the attic ins...	The real advantage to foam is the great total seal and air infiltration blocking.
How can I insulate my garage door? Over the past year I've been converting our integrated garage so that it's a usage space. I've painted the walls, got lighting, power and water connected (To allow for a washing machine to be installed) plus floor is now carpeted using tiles. Also I've installed lots of shelving and...	I insulated the garage door by cutting pieces of rigid insulation foam to fit into each piece of the garage door.
How do I determine the "hand" of the door? I apologize in advance if this post is confusing. Let me know if additional clarification is needed. =) I'm planning to install a new front door and am confused on what the appropriate "hand" orientation of the door would be. The schlage handleset I'm planning to get comes...	I think you would be safe ordering the LH handles.
Is it safe to put a clothes washer outdoors? I will be short on usable indoor space for a while, but want to be able to wash clothes on site. Are there any issues with putting a washer (and perhaps, a dryer) outdoors? Perhaps it needs to be protected from the rain. Would an EZ-UP style canopy be sufficient? <Q> I ha...	As long as you protect it and all the electrical cords from the elements, I don't see problem with a washer being outdoors.
How do I take a live wire off of a two way switch? if I know how to take the live wire off then my job is easier. <Q> Never, ever, work on live electrical wires. <S> Turn the power off at the breaker/fuse. <S> You should have a voltage detector to verify the power really is off, like one of these: <A> First of all,...	The only safe way to work on anything electrical is to turn the circuit off at the service panel, and then check that there really is no power at the fixture before starting work.
Why do my kitchen cabinets' magnetic door catches keep breaking? As per the title, my kitchen cabinets use those little magnetic door catch devices. Where there is a small plate on the door, and a housed magnet mounted to the frame of the cabinet to hold the door closed - instead of spring loaded hinges. My high-use ...	I found a really easy fix by just attaching a small (but powerful) magnet to the plate on the door.
Should I put weather stripping on my unsealed windows and doors? I currently live in a rented apartment and the windows in my shower are not sealed, so it gets pretty cold there. The front door of the house also has a sealing problem. The thing is, I'm not going to stay in this apartment more than a couple of months. ...	If your leaking problem is from loose fitting window sashes or a poor fitting door, the simplest and cheapest method would be to purchase some self-adhesive foam weather stripping.
Can a locksmith open a deadbolt lock? I wonder how secure my deadbolt lock is. How difficult is it for a professional to open such a lock? <Q> Any lock can be opened. <S> The questions are: How long will it take? <S> How much skill is required? <S> What tools are needed? <S> Depending on the particular de...	If it is a standard lock they can usually just pick it or bump key it.
What is the right way to strip power wires? I've been working with electrical circuits as a DIYer for years, including electronics and powerline work. But one thing I always feel like I do a terrible job at is stripping wires: both the outside jacket and the insulators from the conductors... Perhaps I'm being over pa...	I've always had good results with a Wire Ripper like this, for removing the sheathing.
Is there a way to prevent sliding window from freezing? I have a window that slides to the side, and each time temperature outside drops below 0*C it freezes and there is no way to open it (not that there is ice all over it, just moisture from the room freezes somewhere inside I guess). Are there any (easy) solutions ...	Then I would use a clean rag and wipe all the areas where the window contacts the frame with a good quality silicone lubricant. Make sure there is adequate air flow (open vents & curtains) in the room.
How do I troubleshoot a water-heater? Lately our hot water has been running out very quickly, a lot quicker than it used to. I have an Whirlpool electric water heater with 2 elements with the top element has a reset switch. I followed this guide to troubleshoot. I checked the resistance of each element by removin...	Check for crossed connection by turning off water supply to water heater.
How do I cover large gaps in drywall? We've just completed our first drywall project and the outcome wasn't so great in places. There are a couple spots in particular that have 1/2-1/4" gaps. I was wondering, is there a nifty way to close these gaps or do we have to pull the panel down and try again if it is too bad?...	If you want a perfectly flat seam, you under fill and finish off in a traditional drywall sense with tape and taping compound feathered out to the edges. You could try filling in the gap with one of several materials: I took a 2.5 inch wide piece of drywall doubled scored in the middle of the backing for 1/2 inch for t...
Is there a safe way to de-ice an unsealed driveway? My girlfriend had a new driveway put in this fall, but the weather turned bad before she could get it sealed. I guess now it's too late... The driveway is incredibly slippery and has lots of ice at this point, but she's worried that using rock salt on the driveway ...	Sand is cheap too, especially if your town maintenance department lets you use their supply.
Can I connect an outdoor wood stove to my current HVAC system? How do I install a wood stove as an auxiliary heat source? I've read this question, it doesn't really answer what I need to know. What I would like to do is install a wood stove (the old pot belly iron kind that you can get used for $300-$500) outside. I...	If you have the space, I think it's a better plan to put the stove in the basement.
What is the best way to secure a set of folding attic stairs? My company is opening a new office in an existing office building. While inspecting the office prior to move-in, I noticed that the attics between all suites in the building are open to each other. Someone from another suite could easily gain access to ours ...	If your goal is to stop someone from entering your office through the attic, you just need a mechanism that is only accessible from below.
How do I remove moss from an outdoor brick walkway? I've got a brick walkway that has parts that are in shade most of the day. Our winters are wet and cloudy and during these times it's not uncommon for the shady parts of the walkway to grow a fair amount of moss on the bricks and grout (see the photos below). Come su...	Copper flashing might work too, but they sell zinc strips specifically for roofing applications, where moss and algae tends to grow on roofs. A power washer (powerful one) just water, gets them clean like brand new bricks.
What kind of drill bit can I use for a small hole on Silestone countertop? I need to drill 2 small holes on the underside of my Silestone countertop to secure a new dishwasher. What kind of drill bit can I use? AFAIK Silestone is some kind of artificial quartz, but I wonder if it's too hard for normal masonry bit. <Q>...	You'll need a diamond coated bit like this one ; it's a tiny hole saw where the rim is covered in diamonds:
How do I remove (food) oil stain from a wood table? Spilled some oily salad dressing on a wood table that was not varnished or sealed in any way. Not sure the type of wood - it almost looks like teak, but I don't believe it is. We used water on the spill right away, but some of the oil seeped into the wood and has no...	I have used Mineral Spirits before to remove oil stains.
Do I need to do anything to protect my pool during a rare freeze? I have an small inground pool in the backyard. I live in central Florida, so it doesn't get too cold around here very often. However, tonight there is supposed to be a hard freeze (24°F for 4-7 hours) and I'm a little worried about the pool. If I do not...	As long as you keep that above-freezing water going through the pump, it will be fine.
Do I need to do anything for my external spigots during a short hard freeze? Like the questioner in Do I need to do anything to protect my pool during a rare freeze? I live in central florida and its going to be a hard freeze tonight. Do I need to let the spigots drip or cover them for a short period of time? It is m...	For rare freezes, you can turn on the faucet slightly, to drip a little.
Why does my dishwasher back up into the sink, but running the disposal allows it to drain? When my dishwasher runs the kitchen sink backs up. I have a two tub sink and only the side nearest the dishwasher with the garbage disposer backs up. Running the disposal for a few seconds causes the sink to drain. I'm not sure ...	There should be a clear hose that goes from the dishwasher to your disposal.
Can I keep unused paint in the roller tray? I've partway through a multi-weekend project involving turning two free-standing metal shelving units into a fully enclosed workshop-cupboard. The enclosing material is MDF and since this will be on my balcony, the MDF needs some weather-protection. So I'm painting it. Natur...	You can however seal your roller covers in a plastic bag. Tray liners are so cheap, use them.
How do I work around a tree in my fence line? I have a fence that was built about 4 years ago. There was a large oak tree that I wish to keep on the fence line. The fence was built around the tree; it not only removed the tree from my yard, but I didn't like the look of it: (not to scale, obviously) fence--> -------...	I had a wood privacy fence up to within three feet either side of the tree and closed the gap with the tree with chain link and planted flowering vine on the chain link portion.
Will wrapping the stove pipes with copper pipes increase wood stove efficiency? I've heard that wrapping my wood stove's chimney - the parts inside the house that go from the stove the the actual chimney - with copper pipes will increase the amount of heat generated. Has anyone ever tried this? What diameter copper...	You cannot use copper or anything else to manufacture more heat than that provided by the fire.
How do I install a pre-hung door in a rough opening that's too wide? I'm replacing an interior door -- including the original jamb -- in my house with a new 30" pre-hung door. With the jambs, the new door is 31 3/8" wide. However, the original rough opening is between 32 1/2" and 32 3/4" wide, leaving me a big gap be...	I'd put the new frame in without fixing it and then shave the wood to fit the gap on the other side.

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