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Architecture : Home & Garden
How to Stop Barn Swallows From Building Nests by Doors
Barn swallows are sparrow-sized birds with pointed wings found mostly in Washington during the spring and fall. Barn swallows typically build mud nests on the ground or attached to buildings. Researchers believe that barn swallows build nests near humans, such as on door and window jambs, to avoid c
How to do rebates at Menards
Menards has a great rebates program where you can get lots of home-improvement tools for free. Read on and find out how easy it is!
How to Antique with Glazing Paint
You can achieve the slightly brown or yellow appearance of aged furniture by exposing it to the sun for years and hoping for the best --- or you can fake the aged look with glazing paint. In order to create this look, you need to layer a slightly transparent glaze over a matte coat of paint. While i
Metal Roof Care
Metal roofs are a popular alternative to asphalt shingles. Metal can be painted with solar reflective paint to reduce cooling costs in hot weather, is lighter than more traditional roofing materials, has a longer life than asphalt shingles and requires little to no maintenance when compared with asp
How to Glaze Your Cabinets
Glazing cabinets is a process in which you dilute paint and apply it to give the cabinets an aged or antique look. It is an easy way to customize cabinets, since you can select the glazing color and then lighten or darken it to suit your decor. Preparation involves removing the cabinets and cleaning
How to Thermal Mass Concrete Floor
Thermal mass is not something that can be added to building materials; it is a quality of the building materials, themselves. The term refers to the capacity of a particular building material to store heat. Materials with high thermal mass can store heat and release it later, moderating extremes of
DIY Grouting for a Slate Tile Backsplash
The slate backsplash behind your kitchen sink is there to protect the wall from moisture and to provide a visual element on the wall. Grout is crucial to both goals. Grout is a thin cement that sits in the spaces between the slate tiles, turning them into one solid surface that looks coherent and pr
Rotten Egg Smells in Water Heaters
Turning down the temperature of your hot water heater can help you save energy and money. It could have consequences, like a rotten egg smell in the heater and your hot water.
Should an Old Roof Be Removed Before Re-roofing?
At some point in every home's life, it will be time for a new roof. Homeowners get a lot of conflicting information when it comes to putting a new roof on the home. One area where there is particular confusion is whether new shingles can be placed over top of an old roof. While this is certainly don
How to Kill Silverfish Naturally
Silverfish are insects most commonly known for their presence in houses in very moist, heated areas. The first part of their name comes from their exoskeleton, which looks silver and metallic. The second part of their name comes from the motion by which they move, which resembles the back-and-forth
Will a Metal Roof Work on a Flat Roof?
No flat roof can be really flat; it would never drain. Roofers and building codes generally consider a flat roof as one with a 3-inch rise per foot (3/12) or less to be flat, although a 3/12 roof actually slopes at a 15-degree angle. The practical minimum flat roof is 1/12, rising 1 inch per foot of
Do it Yourself Plans for a Banana Hanger
The purpose of a banana hanger is to keep fresh bananas off of flat surfaces, where they can become bruised as they ripen. By hanging fresh bananas in the air in bunches by their stems, they can be kept fresher for a longer period. Bananas can quickly ripen from an enjoyable state to an overripe sta
How to Build a Tornado Safe Room
So you have assessed your risk and decided to build a tornado safe room, also simply called safe room or storm room.A storm room is a wise investment. They are relatively inexpensive, typically ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, a small price to pay for the safety and well-being of your fam
Design Ideas for Old Colonial Homes
Colonial Home Designnew england colonial home. image by Tom Oliveira from Fotolia.comThe American Colonial style, which became popular in the 17th Century and remains a favorite architectural style today, showcases the beauty in simplicity. Early Colonial homes were built for function and...
How to Install Vinyl Baseboard Trim
Vinyl baseboard trim is an inexpensive, resilient and attractive solution to seal the joint of your flooring against the wall. Unlike wooden baseboard and trim, vinyl is waterproof and won't warp due to the weather. In addition, it is easy to install using some baseboard adhesive and a utility kni
About Measuring Tape
The world is divided into measurements so that the average human can go about life with a certain amount of ease. However, learning how to measure all that pertains to life requires an understanding of mathematical equations. Fortunately, we have measuring devices that help keep us going. Measuring
How to Fix Up Old Concrete Floors
Concrete is a tough and resilient surface that can withstand the use of many different cleaning solutions. Thus, it is easy to care for as long as it is intact. Old concrete floors will often have cracks running through them. The ground under the concrete floor can settle and shift because of temper
Ideas for Sitting Rooms
A music room in the sitting room area brings heart to the house.Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty ImagesIf your sitting room is set up as a traditional living room but not often used, select other ideas to make better use of the space. Many sitting rooms are conveniently located on the...
Fresh Colors in a Kitchen
Kitchen design incorporates more than the appliance positioning, countertop fabrication and cupboard materials. Color is vital to the finished look of a kitchen and is the design element that should be primary when selecting other components. Fresh, light colors contribute to the kitchen becoming an
How to Put a Fireplace in a Mobile Home
A fireplace adds an economical heating source to your home as well as an aesthetic value to your home. While it is a job best left to professionals, if you take great care, it is possible to complete this task on your own. If you have any questions as you go through the process of installing a firep