Learn How To DIY:
NEW! Ultimate Fix-It-Yourself Manual
Redesign, Restore, Renovate your House / Home, Apartment, Office, or Small-Business Building
Electrical Wiring for Residential
- Standby Power Systems
- Dryer Outlet, Lighting and Receptacle Circuits for Laundry, Powder Room, Rear Entry Hall, Attic
Tip Of the Day: For sinks, use a hand snake first. Remove the stopper and force the snake down into the drain as far as it will go. For tough clogs remove the trap below the sink or tub. For toilets, a plunger works best. Make sure that the plunger seals well and use short quick strokes.
DIY Home Security:
- The Basics (fundamental, low-cost measures anyone can implement immediately in any house or apartment)
- Electronic Security Alarm Systems
- Livin' the Safe n' Secure Country Life
- Home Invasion
- Violence in the Home
- Violence Against the Elderly
- Preventing Fraud
Glossary of Home Construction terms:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Glossary of Building and Construction Materials terms by topic
Guide to Attics and Basements:
Projects
- Getting Started
- Basic Framing
- Planning the Framing
- Building Basement Floors
- Building Attic Floors
- Covering Basement Walls
- Framing Soffits and Chases
- Building Partition Walls
- Building Attic Kneewalls
- Framing Attic Ceilings
- Framing Doors and Windows
- Enlarging Basement Window Openings
- Trimming Basement Windows
- Mechanical Systems
- Planning Your Systems
- Adding a Basement Bath
- Installing Countertops and Sinks
- Installing a Toilet
- Macerating Toilets
- Installing a Shower
- Installing a Whirlpool
- Wiring a Room
- Incandescent Light Fixture
- Recessed Light Fixtures
- Track Lighting
- Baseboard Heaters
- Providing Heating and Cooling
- Forced-air Systems
- Finishing Walls and Ceilings
- Installing Insulation
- Insulating and Ventilating Roofs
- Soundproofing Walls and Ceilings
- Installing and Finishing Wallboard
- Installing a Suspended Ceiling
- Paneling an Attic Ceiling
- Installing Doors and Windows
- Installing a Pre-hung Door
- Installing Windows
- Installing a Skylight
- Installing Door and Window Casing
- Installing a Wet Bar
- Installing a Recessed Kneewall
- Installing a Gas Fireplace
- Installing Radiant Floor Heating
How to Build Additions:
Simple Room Additions
- Building the Foundation
- Preparing to Frame the Floor
- Building the Floor System
- Preparing to Frame the Walls
- Building the Walls
- Framing the Roof
- Applying Roof Sheathing
- Installing Roofing
- Installing Skylights
- Installing Sheathing and Siding
- Access to the Room Addition
- (below content...coming soon...)
- Installing Wiring
- Insulating the Addition
- Installing Wallboard
- Installing Doors
- Finishing the Interior
Kitchen and Bath Additions
Complex Ground-Level Additions
Multistory Additions
Houses:
- Materials Manufacture
- Building Materials
- Basic Construction
- Mechanical Systems
- General Guide to Home Improvements and Renovations
- Houses and their Environmental Hazards
- Common Problems of Houses
New! Plan and Design Home Additions
Green Renovation and Remodeling:
Job Site and Landscaping
- Intro
- Minimize Construction Site Disturbance
- Minimize Renovation Construction Health Risks
- Reduce Construction Waste
- Implement Resourceful Landscaping
- Minimize Storm Water Run-off
Location of Houses (topics include):
- Community
- Economic Base of the Community
- Government and Municipal Services
- Education
- Convenience and Recreation
- Taxes
- Neighborhoods
- Definition of Neighborhood
- Boundaries and Streets
- Physical Characteristics
- Urban Neighborhoods
- Neighborhood Life Cycles
- Quality of Neighborhood Life
- Fair Housing
- Land-Use Planning
- Nuisance Laws and Litigation
- Private Covenants
- Zoning
- Zoning History
- Zoning Goals Today
- Land Usage
- Variances
- Special Exceptions
- Special-Use Permits
- Non-zoning
- Site and Site Improvements
- Size and Shape of the Site
- Utilities
- House Location and Orientation
- Topography
- Grading
- Landscaping
- Driveways and Parking Spaces
- Walks
- Exterior Stairs
- Security and Privacy
House Types (topics include):
- One-Story
- One and One-Half Story
- Two-Story
- Two and One-Half Story
- Three or More Stories
- Bi-Level, Raised Ranch, Split Entry, Split Foyer
- Split-Levels
- Mansion
- Hillside Ranch
- Other
Interior Design (topics include):
- Zones Within a House
- Poor Floor Plan
- Living Room
- Location
- Size and Layout
- Storage
- Ventilation
- Heating
- Lighting
- Conversation Areas
- Kitchen and Dining Room
- History
- Location
- Size and Layout
- Counters and Cabinets
- Inadequate Kitchens
- Dining Room Versus Dining Area
- Bedroom
- Number
- Location
- Size and Layout
- Lighting
- Closets
- Bathrooms and Lavatories
- History
- Number and Location
- Size and Layout
- Ventilation, Heating and Windows
- Accessories and Storage
- Family or Recreation Room
- History
- Location
- Size and Layout
- Lighting
- Patios
- History
- Location
- Size and Layout
- Porches
- Laundry
- History
- Location
- Size
- Storage Areas
- Indoor Storage
- Outdoor Storage
- Garage Storage Area
- Other Storage Areas
- Garages and Car ports
Home and Building Water / Moisture Problems, Solutions and Prevention:
- Basements
- The Rest of the House
- Water in Your Home
Converting Space: How to Transform Areas of Your Home to Usable Home-Office Space
Reviving Old Houses: Over 500 Low-cost Tips and Techniques:
- Introduction
- 1. Reviving Your Old House
- 2. First Steps
- Finding the Right House
- Checking the House Out
- Mulling it Over
- 3. Organizing For Work
- Planning Ahead
- Tools
- Collecting Old-House Treasures
- 4. Weatherization and Exterior
Revival
- Weatherization for Your Old House
- Restoring Masonry Surfaces and Painting Wood
- Shutters, Windows, Doors, and Porches
- Chimneys and Roofs
- 5. Creative Ways with Interiors
- New Space for Old Houses
- Basements and Their Problems
- Interior Renovation
- 6. Landscaping for the Old House
- Glossary
Home Construction Visual Guide: Use this visual guide to identify components and parts of appliances, home-construction materials, and do-it-yourself supplies. The Guide is divided into the following categories:
- Basic Building Materials and Covering Materials
- Insulating Materials
- Door Hardware
- Bathroom and Toilet
- Plumbing: Faucets
- Plumbing: Garbage Disposal Sink and Gas Water-Heater Tank
- Plumbing: Examples of Branching: How to connect a washer or dishwasher
- Plumbing Tools
- Plumbing: Mechanical Connectors and Fittings
- Ladders and Step Ladders
Do-it-Yourself Manual:
- Door (Wood)
- Drywall Construction
- Foundations
- Ground (Electrical)
- Illumination
- Heating Systems and Human Comfort
- Hot Water Supply Systems
- Insulation
- Building Code
- Building Load
- Septic Tank Systems
- Plumbing
- Basic Systems
- Water Supply
- Pressure Tanks and Wastewater Systems
- Septic Systems
- Plumbing Tools
- Unclogging Fixtures /Sinks and Tubs
- Unclogging Fixtures / Toilets
- Toilet Tank Problems and Troubleshooting
- Sink and Tub Pop Stoppers
- Plumbing Noises
- Protecting Pipes
- Pipes and Pipe Fittings
- Water Filters, Water Softeners, and Water Devices
- Roughing a Half Bath
- Replacing a Toilet
- Installing a Vanity
- Installing Tubs and Showers
- Installing a Dishwasher
- Installing a Garbage Disposer
- Electricity
- Understanding How It Works
- Testers and How to Use Them
- Wire Strippers
- Wires and Connectors
- Electrical Boxes and Sizing
- Switches
- Connecting Wires
- Receptacles
- Adding or Extending a Branch Circuit
- Mounting Boxes
- Installing a Floor Outlet
- Running Cable
- Fishing Cable
- Surface Wiring
- Wiring Variations
- Lighting Basics
- Lighting Fixtures
- Outdoor Wiring
- Low-voltage Outdoor Lighting
- Doorbells and Chimes
- Home-security Systems
- Home-automation Systems
- Communication Wiring
- Older Phone Systems
- Antennas, Dishes, Lightning Protection
Ceiling Fans know-how:
Earth-friendly products for home and office -- Offering Sustainable Living and Environmentally-Conscious Products and Information
Basement Waterproofing — Whether you choose to waterproof a basement yourself or hire an outside contractor, we've put together a some tips you may find useful.
[coming soon] Carpet Cleaning Tips and Carpet Cleaning Machines — Learn about techniques and equipment before you buy an expensive machine or hire a cleaning service.
[coming soon] Cermaic Floor Tile — Learn about Tile Design and Installation.
[coming soon] Indoor Air Filtration — Improve the quality of the air in your home using modern tools and techniques.
