Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Thompson’s Exterior Multi-Surface Cleaner with oxy-foaming action is formulated to remove dirt, mildew, and other stains from a variety of outside surfaces including wood and composite decks, concrete, masonry, and even some fabrics. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

Let’s face it, there are a lot of downright ugly, outdated bathrooms, which is why renovating the bath is one of the most popular home improvement projects around. While you can go all out and spend a bundle on your bath, you don’t have to break the bank to make it look like new. Read on for some ideas for making the most of your budget whether it’s big or small. Read in full.

Painting a room is a common do-it-yourself project around the home. While it’s not that difficult to do, it’s important to know the tricks of the trade on how to go about it before you break out a roller or brush. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

The plastic caps on the end of an extension ladder can scratch paint or siding when they are leaned against your house. A simple way to protect your siding is to wrap the ends of the ladder with scraps of carpet, then hold them on with duct tape. Watch this video.

Byrnes asks, “Our front door is galvanized metal and the paint is popping off. What is the correct way to remove the old paint and repaint it?”

If the door is peeling badly, you may need to use a stripper to remove all the paint. If only a few places are causing problems, you can probably get by scraping and lightly sanding the door to remove any loose or peeling paint. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Bob asks, “I left a wet glass on the top of my walnut coffee table. How do I remove the water stain?”

There are two types of water stains on furniture, and each requires a different method to remove them. Read on to find out how. Read in full.

J.D. asks, “I have a set of maple cabinets that I would like a bit darker while still keeping the natural wood look. Is there a way to darken them without removing all of the finish?”

If the two finishes are compatible, you could apply a tinted varnish over the existing finish. Each coat of the tinted varnish will darken the wood a bit more while making the wood grain more opaque as well. Read on to find out how. Read in full.

Abbey asks, “How do I go about priming and painting galvanized valleys and flashing on my roof?” -Abbey

If galvanized metal is not prepared and painted properly, it will tend to peel over time. Read more to find out how to go about it. Read in full.

Patricia asks, “We bought a 1910 house with heart pine floors. The person we hired to sand and refinish them said that since the floors had been finished at one time around the area rugs, he could not get rid of the rug image. Is this true?“

Most stains and differences from previous finishes should come out if the floors are thoroughly sanded, starting with coarse sandpaper and working up to finer grits. This may not be possible, however, if the stains are too deep or the floors have been sanded several times, leaving the wood above the groove too thin. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Aaron asks, “I am planning to paint my shed. Could I use some leftover primer as the exterior finish coat?

Primer is not formulated to stand up to the elements and should be topcoated within several weeks to ensure proper bonding. Read on to find out more. Read in full.