Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Here are six simple do-it-yourself projects that can solve some common home improvement problems around your home. Read on to find out how to coat a garage floor, replace a security light, install bifold closet doors, refurbish an entry door, replace a showerhead, and install a tile floor. Read in full.

Jig-A-Patch is a sprayable spackling that’s a fast and easy way of repairing drywall holes. Spray it in the hole, allow it to sit for a few minutes, then even the spackling out using the built-in putty knife. After the patch has dried, use the supplied sanding pad to sand the surface smooth. Jig-A-Patch is available at The Home Depot. Watch this video.

Lead based paint was used in many homes built before 1978 and can cause a number of health problems. An inexpensive, do-it-yourself test can be preformed to find out if your house is contaminated. Watch this video to find out how. Watch this video.

One of the best ways to save energy in your home is by caulking any cracks around windows and doors. While caulk alone can be applied to narrow cracks, gaps wider than ¼” should be filled with foam backer rod first. These flexible foam tubes are available at building supply stores in several diameters. Simply push the rod into the gap with a putty knife or painter’s tool until it is just below the surface then caulk over it. Watch this video.

Spray painting is usually confined to the outside of your home, but it can be employed inside if you take the time to cover cabinets and other items you don’t want sprayed with sheets of plastic. Spraying not only saves time but gives trim work a silky smooth finish. Watch this video.

Recycling is a lot more than just remembering to put your newspapers by the curb every week. Another important component is reusing existing items rather than disposing of them or buying new ones. Here are five nifty ideas for reusing and recycling items that might be cluttering up your closet or garage. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Ilona asks, “At what temperatures does it become too hot (or cold) to paint your house?”

The maximum and minimum recommended temperatures for exterior paint vary depending on the type (oil or latex) and specific brand of paint used, but a general rule of thumb is that oil-based paint can be applied when the temperatures are between 40°- 90° F and latex between 50°- 85° F. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Finishing trim molding, such as door facings and crown molding, is often easier to do before installation. Lay the molding to be finished on sawhorses to prevent drips and runs. Rather than finishing with a standard bristle brush, try using a small foam roller. Once the finish has been applied, go over it with a foam brush to smooth the finish and remove any bubbles. Watch this video.

To finish the legs on a chair or table, turn the piece of furniture over, drill a pilot hole in the bottom of each leg, and insert drywall screws to hold the legs up off the floor. Remove the screws once the finish has dried. Watch this video.

High-quality 100% latex acrylic paints have performed beyond expectations, but there’s a new kid in town: ceramic paints. These aren’t used to paint pottery and china plates, but instead, are latex paints that contain something called, ceramic microspheres. Read on to find out more. Read in full.