A fire in a wood-burning fireplace is a friend you can never trust. It’s a friend because it offers light, warmth and coziness in the dark, cold and sometimes un-cozy winter. But that fire roars only inches away from your carpet and oak floor. One minute you’re enjoying the bright, pretty, dancing flames. Then one little pop and spark and you’ve got flames where they’re not supposed to be, risking injury and serious property damage....
Over the years, you acquire a few tools that make you wonder how you ever survived without them. As a cabinetmaker who’s worked residential and commercial for years, I found my first dead-blow hammer to be a major game-changer. Dead-blows are great for striking objects with power and control without damaging them, similar to chisels, punches and other sharp objects. My first, purchased long ago, helped maneuver a group of heavy, custom laminated panels on an Iowa construction site....
If you’re thinking about roaring fires in a campground firepit or your fireplace at home, you’re probably thinking about buying wood to burn. As you probably know, wood from a newly-felled tree is considered green and essentially worthless as firewood, because the water content hovers around 60 percent. Typically, green wood can be dried two ways: naturally seasoned or kiln-dried. Is one better than the other? Well, yes. What Is Seasoned Firewood?...
To enclose a deck, Trex deck railing options provide the same durability, wear-resistance and low-maintenance properties that the company builds into its Trex composite decking. As with Trex decking, the railings break into three lines encompassing different materials and options. Trex calls these lines Trex Select, Trex Transcend and Trex Signature. Trex Railing Collections As the most economical choice, Trex Select railings (shown here) offer a single, clean-looking profile in white with black aluminum balusters (spindles)....
Plastic grocery bags were first introduced in U.S. stores in 1977. By 2018 — 41 years later — the Environmental Protection Agency estimated about 4.2 million tons of plastic bags, sacks and wraps were generated in the U.S. alone. Alarmingly, the EPA also estimates that just ten percent of that plastic was recycled. Because so few people recycle them, every year millions of tons of plastic bags are produced, used once and disposed of....
In houses built before the age of streaming, it’s common to find multiple rooms set up for cable TV and ethernet, with all their cables and wires stripped across unfinished basement ceilings. But with streaming on the rise and wireless internet access increasing, cable TV cord-cutting is on the rise, and our home’s wiring needs are changing. If you’ve never touched the junction box, don’t use cable TV, and have strong enough WiFi to skip the ethernet hookup, it might be tempting to ditch all those unsightly cords....
Though the days of toilet paper shortages are probably over, many people have embraced the idea of bidets as toilet paper alternatives. These brilliant toilet attachments can be a DIY project, and the Hello Tushy Bidet is one of the easiest versions to install — and at an affordable price. What Is a Tushy Bidet? What is a bidet, anyway? These nifty bathroom fixtures shoot a stream of water that leaves your bottom squeaky clean....
Sandpaper is ubiquitous in the wood shop, and there are so many variations it can be overwhelming to a beginner. Is it best to sand to 180 or 220? What are those spongy sanding blocks for? Why are some sandpapers different colors? The world of abrasives can be vast and tricky to grasp, but let’s stick to what’s generally useful in the wood shop. I’ll give you all the information you need to be successful in your sanding endeavors on your next project....
New Africa/Shutterstock Laminate countertops have come a long way over the years. Today’s laminate countertops resemble everything from granite, quartz and marble to wood, brick and even leather. Because laminate holds up quite well and is far less expensive than other countertop surfaces, it has remained a viable countertop surface option for so long. Whether you have a Formica countertop, a laminate design from Wilsonart or any other brand of laminate, here’s how to clean your laminate countertops....
Just the other day, I paid $15 for 30 crocuses that will yield red strands of saffron, the world’s most expensive spice. This is the second time I’ve grown saffron. The last time I harvested the saffron threads, dried them and placed them in small glass jars to give to my foodie friends and family. A loosely packed tablespoon holds about one gram of saffron, which can cost up to $50 depending on the quality and country of origin!...
Last year, my son and I bought a 25-year-old, rundown foreclosed house, really cheap. Part of the remodel (a.k.a., a complete rebuild) was of course replacing the kitchen. There really wasn’t much to replace because the previous owners had already ripped out the old kitchen. Plus, we had torn out and replaced all the old walls so the kitchen footprint was completely new as well. So how to plan the new kitchen?...
For even more deals, check out our weekly Deals We Love column. Luxury Hypoallergenic Sheet and Pillow Case Set via amazon.com This wildly popular HC Collection bed sheets set is made from double brushed microfibers that are rumored to be softer and more breathable than Egyptian Cotton. Shop Now Semi-Flush Mount Ceiling Light Fixture One easy way to transform a room is to update the lighting. This semi-flush mount ceiling light has a classic matte black finish and seeded glass shade that blends well with most décor styles....
One of the simplest yet most versatile tools around, sledge hammers come in many shapes and sizes, but share a common purpose — striking an object, hard. What Is a Sledge Hammer? Sledge hammers are large, long-handled striking tools designed to deliver as much blunt force as possible to an area or object. Much larger and heavier than hammers meant for driving nails, sledge hammers are most often used for demolition, or driving objects too thick and heavy to be driven with a regular hammer....
If you regularly use a clothes dryer, odds are you’ve probably used dryer sheets or seen them lying around your laundry area. There are several good reasons to incorporate them into your regular laundry routine. Here’s how they work. What are Dryer Sheets? Have you ever gotten a little electric shock trying to pull socks or sweaters out of the dryer? Dryer sheets help eliminate that. On This Page “Tumble drying makes clothes rub against each other, so (it) can result in a build-up of static electricity that makes your sweaters and socks cling together,” according to Maytag....
Maybe you’re a fan of Friendsgiving, or maybe you’ve never heard of it! An alternative to Thanksgiving and sort of a kick-off to the holiday season, Friendsgiving brings together friends on or around the Thanksgiving holiday, typically for a festive meal. But 2020 means those in-person parties may not be possible. Instead, try these nine Friendsgiving ideas to celebrate the joys of good friends. Pick a Platform The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued clear recommendations against in-person holiday gatherings this year....
There are lots of these products available, and the best smart display for you depends on how you plan to use it. You’ll want to consider things like its operating system, compatibility with other devices, privacy features and screen quality to find the best option for your home. Best Overall One of the best all-around smart displays is the Google Next Hub Max, which costs $229. Powered by Google Assistant, this smart gadget has a 10-inch, high-definition screen, powerful built-in speakers with a three-inch woofer, plus a built-in Nest camera....
Years ago, I spent a few months working for a plumber who spat out pearls of plumbing wisdom like a Pez dispenser. Here’s one of his best maxims: “Always dope everything.” Translation: Use dope (pipe thread sealant) on plastic, rubber or metal, on washers, rings or gaskets, and especially, on anything that has threads. Even if the threads don’t actually form the seal (as on washing machine hoses), they screw together easier and come apart easier later....
Good gardeners know the benefits of good bugs. Most insects, spiders and other invertebrates lumped together into the generic “bug” category can really be beneficial in the garden. Take a look at why you want these in your yard. (Speaking of things you want, check out these must-have garden products). Good Bugs For Your Garden Predatory Beetles and Bugs Among the hundreds of thousands of species in the Coleoptera (beetles) and Hemiptera (true bugs) insect orders are many predatory creatures which dine on their plant-eating kin....
Knowing how to change a tire on a car is an essential life skill. Flat tires usually come with little or no warning, and they can happen at the worst possible time. There are also non-emergency scenarios where knowing how to change a tire can be incredibly useful. If your winter tires are mounted on wheels, think of the money you’ll save by swapping out your regular tires or rotating your tires yourself instead of taking them to a shop....
Sponsored by UGL Concrete Stairs Before New concrete is expensive, and new concrete stairs are really expensive. That’s why I was anxious to try NuDECK by UGL—the same folks who make DRYLOK masonry waterproofer—to improve not only the aesthetic appeal of my aged concrete stairs, but also to seal the concrete from the freeze/thaw cycles of Minnesota winters. These stairs were showing the initial signs of deterioration, so the time was right for a NuDECK coating....
