How do I remove this strange glue from my previously carpeted hardwood? [more inside]
posted on Jun 29, 2008 - 5 answers

Help me diagnose repeated failure of my lighting dimmers. [more inside]
posted on Jun 26, 2008 - 20 answers

Home DIY pros: I've just moved to a new house, the upper floor of which has exposed rafters. How can I use these to store my stuff? Details to follow. [more inside]
posted on May 22, 2008 - 5 answers

What's the best home-repair / fixit manual for someone with little-to-no experience in such matters? Also, web sites and / or blogs in the same vein? [more inside]
posted on Apr 25, 2008 - 19 answers

What set of power tools can I assemble that will allow me to build things out of wood and will store in a closet? [more inside]
posted on Jan 22, 2008 - 23 answers

Will you help me set up a simple yet functional home recording studio? [more inside]
posted on Dec 29, 2007 - 13 answers

I need to locate two light fixture mountings that have been plastered over in the ceiling of my condo. [more inside]
posted on Aug 22, 2007 - 10 answers

How Much to Replace Copper Gas Lines in a small house? [more inside]
posted on Aug 7, 2007 - 14 answers

Does unused wallpaper expire? [more inside]
posted on Jul 30, 2007 - 7 answers

We are replacing a section of our white wood picket fence that someone's car hit and want to give the whole thing another coat of paint while we're at it so that the new section will blend in with the old section. What do we need to do? [more inside]
posted on Mar 27, 2007 - 5 answers

I love Aquafina bottled water. There's something in it that makes it taste much different than other bottled waters. Still, it gets expensive. What's in it that makes it taste so nice and can I make my own at home? [more inside]
posted on Feb 21, 2007 - 31 answers

Please help save me from garage door torsion spring hell! [more inside]
posted on Oct 24, 2006 - 9 answers

I know, I know, light bulbs seem to fail in clusters, but I don't think this is to do with putting a bunch of lights in at the same time. This week for instance, I got up and turned on my kitchen lights (8 x 50w small spots) and one blew and tripped my Ground Floor Light fuse. A day later and I get home and turn on the same lights, another goes and trips the lights circuit again. Later in the week, another goes in my study. I replaced all the bulbs today. I turn them on, everything is fine, I go outside and turn on the porch/side lights (3 x 60w) and two of them blow. I nearly always have an inop light or two. My question is this : Is there an electrical fault which might explain this pattern of failure ? Thanks
posted on Oct 7, 2006 - 11 answers

Our water heater pilot light won't stay lit. Is it time to call a repair man? [more inside]
posted on Sep 20, 2006 - 9 answers

What things are worth the time and cost of doing/making myself? For example, tomatoes from the store are miles below the ones I grow in my garden. Fresh-baked bread is amazing. But knitting socks or a sweater seems hardly worth it, despite the fact that I can customize it, because of the high cost of the time and materials. [more inside]
posted on Sep 20, 2006 - 48 answers

can anyone recommend a good DIY/home improvement guide on-line? [more inside]
posted on Aug 19, 2006 - 4 answers

I'm building a small DIY house. Where's my online community? [more inside]
posted on Mar 8, 2006 - 8 answers

Hi all. Does anyone know of a good place to buy furniture kits? What I mean is unassembled, unfinished furniture, preferably shipped to your door. In particular I am looking for a "breakfast bar" or "kitchen island." Is there a store like this?
posted on Oct 26, 2005 - 10 answers

What might cause a hot water boiler's pilot light to repeatedly go out? We've replaced the thermocouple, inspected the pilot assembly, and had the boiler cleaned. Twice. [more inside]
posted on Aug 17, 2005 - 6 answers

My kitchen sink is very slow to drain. The pipes are clear and the garbage disposal is new. When I run the disposal, all the water/other stuff in the sink drains out without too much trouble. Is there some way to adjust the spinning element in the disposal to make sure the drain holes inside it are fully open? [more inside]
posted on Apr 22, 2005 - 12 answers

PartsFilter: I foolishly felt pity for a widow and purchased, alakazam, a metric ton of stuff. Bolts, nuts, screws, washers, doohickeys, whatchamacallits, whozits, and whatnots. [more inside]
posted on Feb 24, 2005 - 17 answers

The windows in my flat do a lousy job of keeping heat in and cold out. Is there a way to improve the insulating properties of window glass without installing double glazing? Ideally it would be something I could install myself (and if necessary remove when I move out of my rented flat.) Googling turned up various window films, both do-it-yourself and have-somebody-do-it-for-you. Any experience with these or similar products? Any other suggestions?
posted on Feb 21, 2005 - 12 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? (+)
posted on Jan 22, 2005 - 14 answers

Drywalling: putting up gyproc over an insulated interior wall. From cutting to affixing to mudding, what tips and tricks have you learned? Aside from learning to pay someone else to do it, though I suspect that's ultimately the lesson...
posted on Oct 21, 2004 - 14 answers

Spackling: What are the tricks to spackling and sanding (relatively small, no mesh or such required) holes or dings, getting a nice smooth patch, prior to painting? There are generally little tricks to anything handy, but after all these years I'm still not learning them and I just can't get the knack.
posted on Sep 11, 2004 - 7 answers

You are building a new home. What networking will you provide between your office/computer/router and a media closet in your living space? Between your office and a living room desk? Between that desk and the media closet? Details ?
posted on Feb 3, 2004 - 7 answers