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Can Paint Freeze?
The short answer is yes. The more nuanced answer is that it depends on the paint, and how cold it gets inside your garage. Home paints can generally be divided into latex or oil-based paints. Latex paints contain water, while oil paints contain an alkyd resin and a petroleum product, such as naphtha. These two types of paint react very differently to cold weather.
What Is the Cost of a Home Security System?
Walking into your home after a long day should bring a sigh of relief. Kick your feet up! You’re home. But opening the door to find the aftermath of a break-in? There’s nothing more unsettling. Increasing your home security is a great way to keep intruders out. But how? There are a lot of choices out there.
How Much Does a Whole House Surge Protector Cost?
Electricity is the miraculous force of nature upon which modern civilization is built, but too much of it can be a bad thing. Imagine what would happen if the high-voltage signal in the power lines, or the immense energy of a lightning bolt, were to pass directly into your home appliances.
Upholstery Repair: How to Sew a Ripped Seam
How to fix a ripped couch seam the right way. Learn how to sew a ripped seam, a vital DIY upholstery repair that will keep your furniture looking beautiful for years to come. The most common upholstery repair is fixing a frayed or pulled-apart seam. Frayed seam damage usually occurs over time due to natural wear and tear. We usually only think of fixing torn upholstery after we are tired of looking at it. The good news for DIYers is that you can fix frayed or pulled-apart seams without taking apart the piece of furniture.
How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?
The cost of tree removal is a key consideration when deciding whether to remove a tree from your yard. In addition to beautifying your landscape, filtering the air, lowering energy bills and making us happier, healthy yard trees can add up to 20 percent to your home’s resale value, according to a 2021 study conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Bureau of Business Research.
9 Home Theater Lighting Ideas
An ideal home theater has big cushy seats, a huge screen and an impressive sound system; but don’t overlook the lighting design! The right lighting is pivotal to creating ambiance and improving your viewing experience. Home theater lighting often combines task, accent and ambient lighting. Each lighting location should...
What To Know About Electrical Box Extenders
When your house or apartment was being built, electricians like me installed the boxes that hold receptacles and light switches in your walls. They nailed or screwed electrical boxes right to the studs, so the boxes (and the electrical devices they now hold) can’t move once the wall is finished.
How to Get Rid of Houseplant Gnats
The first time I encountered houseplant gnats was after I repotted a night-blooming jasmine. Because I had grown the plant from seed, I was particularly attached to it. But there were so many gnats around it, I could barely stand to get close. Time to figure out how to get...
10 Gravel Landscaping Ideas for Your Patio
Installing a new patio is expensive, time-consuming, and often requires hiring professionals. But what if we told you there’s another option? A type of patio that can make your outdoor entertaining dreams come true, on a budget. Affordable and DIY-friendly, a gravel patio is an outdoor entertaining space made...
How To Make Your Own Laundry Detergent and Other Laundry Essentials
Get rid of harsh chemicals by making your own DIY laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets. Here is how to make your own laundry detergent at home that is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Tools Required. 1 - quart jar. 2 - gallon jars. Measuring cups. Tablespoon. Materials Required.
Incandescent vs. LED Lighting: What’s the Difference?
Buying light bulbs today can be confusing. Gone are the days when your only decision was between a 100-watt and a 60-watt incandescent. Instead, there are all kinds of lighting options at the home improvement or hardware store, from vibrant colors and designer shapes to smart bulbs you control from your phone. I’m a licensed electrician, and I get confused by the options sometimes even though I’ve installed thousands of lights.
How to Replace a Light Fixture
Here is how to replace a ceiling light fixture in an hour or two. We'll show you how to replace a light fixture in a ceiling to instantly transform the look and feel of any room. Tools Required. Flat screwdriver. Philips Screwdriver. Stepladder. Voltage tester. Wire strippers. Materials Required. Light...
How To Remove a Stopper From the Bathroom Sink
My first encounter with a broken drain stopper occurred the day I bought my own home. Ready to do some cleaning, I ran the bathroom sink and lifted the stopper rod. It immediately broke free and flew into the air, spraying rusty water across the mirror. Staring at my reflection, now crisscrossed with red-tinged water and looking like a horror-movie outtake, I could only wonder, “What have I gotten myself into?”
How to Hang a Plant From the Ceiling
Hanging a plant from the ceiling is an easy DIY task. Here are the steps. Hanging a plant from the ceiling is all about establishing a rock-solid anchor point to support its weight. Here's how to hang a plant from the ceiling properly. Tools Required. Assorted drill bits. Drill. Stud...
8 Inspiring Ideas for Decorating Your Kitchen Island
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and the kitchen island is the focal point of the kitchen. So styling your kitchen island is essential to a well-designed and balanced space. Keep the decor simple, so the island is still functional. “My favorite way to style a kitchen island...
This Jewel-Toned Albany Park Kova Sectional is ZZZ-Worthy
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Some folks prefer hiking, pickleball or grabbing a beer at the local bar on Saturday nights. Not me. My family, comprised of my husband, myself and our two rambunctious cats, is a very tight-knit brood. Coined “the cuddle puddle,” much of our free time is spent snuggled up rump-to-rump on the couch while we take in the latest cinematic offerings on HBO or Prime. I wouldn’t say I’m lazy per se, I just know how to appreciate a night in. Almost every night, in fact.
8 Bulbs to Plant in Spring
Not to worry if you missed fall planting. From lush lilies to dazzling dahlias, here are bulbs to plant in spring and how to grow them successfully. Most bulbs need to get cold over the winter in order to produce spring blooms. But there are a few that actually do better when planted in spring. These bulbs are great for situations where it’s not practical to overwinter bulbs, like container gardeners who need their pots to do double duty with winter decorations. Plus, many spring bulbs are quite stunning and long-lasting.
Electrolux Vacuum Review: We Tried the Ultimate 700 Series
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. As a longtime apartment dweller, I’ve tried many of the best vacuum cleaners to find one that works for my living space. I’ve had my hands on Dysons, Bissells and Dirt Devils (plus a few robot vacuums) and I’ve loved them all. That said, I think I found my new go-to dust sucker: The Electrolux Ultimate700 Vacuum.
Ruggable Review: We Tried the Internet’s Most Popular Rug System
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. When it comes to furnishing your home, one of the most surprising expenses is rugs. From area rugs to runners, outdoor rugs to kitchen and bath mats, covering your floors can take up a big chunk of your decorating budget. So, it’s important to go with a rug that is functional, durable and fits your home decor.
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