Home improvement, made simple

Get it right the first time.

Clear, step-by-step guides and product picks for every job around the house, from plumbing and painting to floors, doors, and the tools that get them done.

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Painting & Finishing 153 guides Water Heating 86 guides Toilets 78 guides Showers 72 guides Doors & Windows 68 guides Sawing 56 guides Water Filters & Dispensers 43 guides Drilling 40 guides

Painting & Finishing

close up of a White stucco wall

How to Apply and Remove Orange Peel TextureFlat walls looking dull? A few passes of orange peel can hide the flaws.

Paint cans with spilling paint

How to Remove Latex PaintThat drip on the floor is not permanent, and water-based paint is on your side.

Man on lifting platform painting the house wall exterior yellow with roller

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Two-Story House?Planning to repaint up top? Here's what a two-story job really runs.

Male hand measuring thickness of the car paint coating with paint thickness gauge

How to Smooth Out Touch-Up Paint on a CarThat paint blob does not have to be permanent. Here's how to level it flat.

Doors & Windows

Wooden interior

How to Block Heat from WindowsYour windows are letting the summer in. Here's how to shut it out.

Man installing window blinds in a house

How to Remove Window BlindsNearly every blind lifts off its brackets, no drill required.

Workers are installing lift gates in the garage.

How to Lubricate a Garage DoorA grinding, squeaking door usually just means it is thirsty for grease.

Closeup of a door hinge

How to Fix a Squeaky Door HingeThat eerie creak every time the door opens? Here is how to hush it for good.

Water Heating

Water sputtering from faucet to a glass

How to Fix Air in a Hot Water LineOne spitting faucet or all of them? The answer changes the fix.

Boiler repair, replacement of broken water heating element

How to Clean a Water HeaterPops and rumbles from the tank? That is sediment. Here is how to flush it out.

Mounting of house rainwater filter system. Borehole drilling and

Does a Tankless Water Heater Need a Filter?Skip the filter and hard water quietly eats your heat exchanger.

repair electric boiler

How to Test a Water Heater ThermostatCold showers again? The culprit is often one cheap part behind the panel.

Showers

Plumber hands fixing shower mixer on modern water tap.

How to Remove a Shower HandleStuck, screwless, or seized on? Here is how the handle finally comes off.

Remove flow restrictor from shower head

How to Remove a Flow Restrictor From a Shower HeadTired of a trickle? One little plastic disk is usually the culprit.

Close-up of a shower rod with hanging curtain

Best Shower RodsTired of curtains hitting the floor? Find a rod that actually stays put.

Dirty shower floor drain in an old shower

How to Remove a Shower DrainThat drain cover comes off easier than you think.

Toilets

Home construction with new white toilet in bathtub renovation house

How to Remove a Toilet SeatWobbly seat or seized bolts? Here's how to get any toilet seat off.

Person flushing toilet

Types of Toilet Flush SystemsEver wonder what actually happens when you press the handle?

Flushing white ceramic toilet

Why Does My Toilet Leak When I Flush?Water pooling only when you flush usually points to one worn seal.

Plumber unclogging a tub drain with an electric auger

How to Use a Toilet AugerSkip the plumber call. The fix is a ten-minute crank away.

Woodworking

Special carpenter workshop

How to Find Your Ideal Workbench HeightThe wrong bench height wrecks your back. Here's how to nail the right one.

Carpenter hands at work with clamp

How to Join Two Boards LengthwiseTwo short boards, one long one. Here's how to make the joint last.

Person treating hardwood with a paint brush

How to Get a High Gloss Finish on WoodThe hardest part of a glass-like finish is the prep, not the topcoat.

Varnishing hardwood floor with a paint brush

Types of Wood StainsOil, water, gel, or dye? Here is how to pick the right stain the first time.

Welding

Man in a protective mask welding metal construction outside

66 Welding Project IdeasTurn a few sticks of steel into furniture, art, or a side hustle.

Welding copper

How to Weld CopperCopper drinks heat like a sponge. Here's how to keep your puddle alive.

Spot weld cutting on car

Best Spot Weld Cutters for Panel RemovalPop welds, not panels. The cutters that lift sheet metal clean.

Flux core wire for welder

Best Flux-Core Welding WiresNo gas tank, no problem. Burn through rust and wind with the right spool.

Water Filters & Dispensers

Uses of distilled water

10 Uses of Distilled WaterYour steam iron is just the start of what pure water can do.

Pouring alkaline water for drinking

How to Make Alkaline Water at HomeThose pricey bottles? You can raise your water's pH at home for pennies.

water jug cooler

Best Water Jug CoolersFrom the dugout to the campsite, the jug that keeps your crew in cold water.

Best Alkaline Water Brands

Best Alkaline Water BrandsDoes a 9.5 pH bottle really beat water that got its pH from rock?