My very dark strand woven bamboo hardwood floors have a semi-glossy finish. Even after they've been freshly mopped, every speck of dust is visible and they'll look dirty the minute someone – wearing socks fresh out of the laundry, even – walks across the room. Is there any way I can change their finish to matte?
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posted by halogen
on Jan 15, 2013 -
6 answers
We live in a 160 year old stone house in Scotland that is really cold in winter. Please help me make it warmer? I've been told it's easy to take down the drywall/plasterboard, install insulation, and put more drywall/plasterboard up again. But is it?
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posted by hazyjane
on Jul 14, 2012 -
23 answers
I am installing 2 remodel canister lights. Everything is wired up and ready to go except I can't get the clips to snap down.
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posted by rdurbin
on Dec 7, 2011 -
2 answers
I'm home over Thanksgiving break and my mom wants some house work done. Fun! But, I don't know how to do it. So, dearest MetaFilter, how do I install molding on the corner of a wall? (Picture on the inside.)
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posted by 47triple2
on Nov 25, 2011 -
13 answers
What's the Ask This Old House of podcasts? Looking for good DIY focused podcasts: carpentry, woodworking, electrical, plumbing, gardening - I'd be interested in anything along these lines.
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posted by pilibeen
on Oct 12, 2011 -
3 answers
What kind of sander should I get to sand a variety of household projects? This weekend, I’ll be sanding the untreated pine interior of some fixed cupboards and shelves, with lots of tight, awkward corners. I'll also be sanding back spakfilla on masonry walls where I’ve filled in nail holes. I’m sanding so I can paint. Later on (in a few months) I might sand down some wood furniture. I don’t think I’ll use the sander for any exterior work. What kind of sander should I get AskMe – and why?
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posted by t0astie
on May 19, 2011 -
8 answers
DIY: is it easier to go a good DIY job painting walls (interior) or installing laminate floors?
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posted by lollusc
on Apr 22, 2011 -
32 answers
My apartment's back exit has a windowed door (similar to
this, although it's only a single door) and no storm door. It's drafty and I'd like to insulate it as much as I can,
sans all but the most rudimentary carpentry skills. What's my best temporary solution?
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posted by Knicke
on Nov 10, 2010 -
10 answers
The hinge on our kitchen cabinets has come apart, and I don't know if I can repair it. Replacement is only $6 or so, but I'll have to wait on delivery.
It's a salice hinge, and there are 2 pieces, one on the door and one on the cabinet. There's some linkage that hooks the two pieces together, but I didn't install them so I have no idea how they fit together.
Here is a picture of a similar hinge, with an annotation of where the separation has happened.
Anyone familiar with salice hinges? Anything I can do, or should I just replace and be done?
posted by ivey
on Aug 31, 2010 -
6 answers
As suggested in
this AskMe, I'm going to use Polyfilla Plug It to screw curtain railings into a concrete ceiling. (I'll be following
these directions.)But once I screw the screw into the Polyfilla -- will I be able to unscrew it in the future if I want to take down the curtains? Or will the screw be permanently fixed in place?
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posted by yankeefog
on Jul 1, 2010 -
2 answers
Should we lay a tile border around our sink so we don't ruin our new birch countertops? If so, what do you wish you had known about tiling before undertaking your first project?
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posted by joshuaconner
on Jun 19, 2010 -
10 answers
I want to build a desk into a recessed area along a wall. It seems like a simple procedure, but I have a few questions. DIY-Fites, set me straight!
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posted by Willie0248
on Mar 15, 2010 -
16 answers
Bathroom DIY Filter: Tiling our one full bathroom. Is it okay to do one wall of tile, cover it with plastic, and take a shower? It's really the only way I see of doing this and having a normal life in the process. Or we're gonna be some stinky people.
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posted by littlerobothead
on May 27, 2009 -
12 answers
I'm trying to create a convincing sofa/chaise out of a twin mattress, particularly one that resembles DWR's Vegas couch. I'm pretty lacking in crafting talent, but am willing to try anything.
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posted by arnicae
on Apr 30, 2009 -
8 answers
Should I paint my untreated pine shelves then assemble? Or assemble then paint?
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posted by t0astie
on Oct 25, 2007 -
15 answers
Is there a blog for doing home improvements and renovations with salvaged and unusual materials? Sort of a cross between This Old House and
Inhabitat, with a scavenger bent?
posted by LarryC
on Aug 19, 2006 -
5 answers
Futon mattress alternatives? I have a lovely futon frame with a nasty lumpy old futon mattress. I'd like to get rid of the mattress and keep the frame, using it with my air mattress for overnight guests. Does anyone make sofa-type cushions that I could put on the frame to make it more of a couch? Could I make them myself? (+)
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posted by CunningLinguist
on Jan 22, 2005 -
13 answers
HomeImprovementFilter: We are about to start the finishing work on an addition, and we're trying to decide what type of flooring to buy:Laminate, or pre-finished hardwood? We've looked at both, and I think I like pre-finished hardwood better, but I wanted some real-life commentary, rather than my speculation. Any laminate horror stories? Successes? Pre-finished camp have anything to add?
posted by Medieval Maven
on Jan 17, 2005 -
28 answers
Home Improvement: I have a door which isn't fitting into its frame. Basically, the top part is a little too tall, probably 1 cm or so. Is there a tool or method which will allow me to shave the top cm from the door?
posted by chaz
on Jan 4, 2005 -
9 answers
Hairline cracks in my house. I bought a new home last year, and it's barely over a year old now, but we've noticed 3-4 hairline cracks (
like this one, which is just above a sliding glass door) around a couple of the windows on the downstairs level. I've lived in a lot of old homes featuring cracks and figured that it was mostly normal house settling and we could easily patch the drywall when it comes time to sell, but my partner thinks it's a big deal and may point to problems with the foundation or construction. So I have two questions: 1) Should we be concerned? 2) If so, who exactly do you call to "fix" it or get to the bottom of it?
posted by mathowie
on Dec 5, 2004 -
28 answers
I prefer cooking with gas over electric and would like to replace the electric range that came with my house with a new one. But I've also got high vaulted ceilings, so I'm thinking downdraft is the only way to make a hood work. Anyone ever do this kind of upgrade before? [more inside]
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posted by mathowie
on Sep 16, 2004 -
14 answers
