Expert Advice on Home Improvement

To make it easy to find your safety equipment—such as earplugs, dust masks, and safety glasses—store it in a gallon size resealable plastic bag clipped to the pegboard in your workshop. Not only will it be easier to find, but the bag will keep the items clean and protect the glasses from scratching. Watch this video.

To keep pictures level on your walls, add self-adhesive rubber bumpers (available at hardware stores and home improvement centers) to the bottom corners on the back of the frame. Not only will your pictures stay put, but the bumpers prevent the frame from marking the wall and can keep dust from collecting behind it. Watch this video.

Painter’s tape is a great way to protect trim from drips and runs when painting interior walls. To keep the tape handy when you need it, make this simple belt holder from a piece of coat hanger wire. Watch this video.

When attempting to drill into ceramic tile, the glazed surface of the tile can cause the drill bit to wander. To solve this problem, apply two layers of masking tape to the spot to give the bit a surface it can grab hold of, then use carbide tipped masonry drill bit to drill into the tile. Watch this video.

Since it’s often the busiest room in the house, the kitchen is an ideal place to leave messages. But rather than plastering the walls with sticky notes, consider painting the inside of a cabinet door with chalkboard paint to turn it into a permanent, erasable message center. Watch this video.

When caulking around a tub, start by lining both sides of the joint with masking tape. After applying a bead of caulk, run the rounded edge of an expired plastic gift card along the joint to wipe off any excess caulking. Carefully remove the tape before the caulking hardens. Watch this video.

See how easy it is to cut sheets of drywall to size using only a tape measure and utility knife. Watch this video.

To increase the capacity of a wheelbarrow, a shelf can be added to the space between the two handles. Watch this video.

The joints between patio pavers are usually filled with sand, which has a tendency to wash out of the cracks over time. PowerLoc Jointing Sand from Quikrete is a polymer based product that prevents it from washing out or cracking. Simply pour it out and sweep the jointing sand diagonally into the cracks with a push broom. To lock it in place, mist the surface down with water from a sprayer, going over it three times within an hour, and let dry. Watch this video.

Outside corners on walls take a lot of abuse and can become dented and damaged over time. To repair, use a hacksaw to cut through the damaged section of the metal corner bead, then score along the edge of the bead about 1¼” back from the corner. After prying the bead off the wall, cut a new piece of corner to fit, and nail it in place. Apply several coats of joint compound to the repair, allowing adequate drying time between each coat. Sand the joint compound smooth, and prime the repaired section before painting the wall. Watch this video.