DIY Home Improvement Project Guides

How to Prep Wood for Painting?

If you need to paint wood trim molding around walls and ceilings, taking time to prepare the surface properly will reward you with a beautiful, durable finish for years to come. Whether your trim is bare wood or it has been painted before, you will need to be sure the surface is smooth and all holes and gaps are filled before the finish enamel is applied.

How to Frame a Partition Wall?

According to the International Residential Code the spacing of the studs in any particular wall will vary depending on whether it is load-bearing or not, its height, and the size of the lumber used. Studs in a non-load-bearing wall may be up to 24 inches apart for 2x4's, and up to 16 inches for 2x3's.

How to Do Sponge Painting?

Sponge painting is one of the easiest faux finishes to do for beginners and ranges from the ultra-simple to the fairly complex. These effects can be used to decorate walls, furniture, or just about any paint-able surface and they are particularly well suited for hiding rough wall surfaces. There are basically two different techniques that can be used to create these effects: positive sponging and negative sponging.

How to Clean Carpets and Rugs?

If your carpet needs a major cleaning and you want to do it yourself, you have two basic methods to choose from. You can use a cleaning product that is applied and then vacuumed up using your household vacuum cleaner, or you can get a specialized machine that will apply the cleaner and vacuum it up, or extract it, at the same time.

How to Repair a Window Sash Cord?

This diagram illustrates the anatomy of a double-hung window and the pulley/weight system used to raise and lower the sashes. All these types of windows work in the same way, a cast iron weight is attached with a cord to both sides of each sash. The cord runs up to the top of the window jamb, through a pulley channel, and down to the weight inside the jamb.