Common problems that could turn your project into a nightmare—and how to avoid them. Replacing a kitchen sink and faucet is a quick way to give your kitchen a new look, but there are potential plumbing and installation problems to watch out for. Ahead, learn what you should avoid when considering installing a new sink.

Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. There are two big things I’m still getting used to after moving from New York to North Carolina: A lack of good bagels (I said what I said) and the humidity. I’m writing this in mid-April, and I’m already drenched in sweat the second I walk out the door. Sure, the air conditioner feels nice once I walk back in, but that’s not doing much, if anything, to eliminate excess moisture that can create mold and aggravate certain respiratory conditions (not to mention it causes everything to feel sticky).

To decide what to do if your basement is flooded, go by these rules: If the floodwater was clean (think broken pipes, a burst washing machine supply hose or a foundation leak), you can probably dry out and save the carpet, but you’ve got to act fast. If the carpet isn’t dry within 72 hours, it’ll start to grow mold.

Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Lists and reviews of the best lawn mowers still often give gas-powered machines more praise for their power than electric or battery-operated models. However, I was given the opportunity to put my brand-name, self-propelled, 163cc gas mower up against the 80-volt, battery-op Atlas Lawn Mower, and it’s safe to say I’m impressed.

Vinyl siding is durable, attractive, and relatively inexpensive compared to other siding choices, such as brick and wood. It lasts, too. Once it’s up on your house, it’s staying there for about 30 years. But what if you want to add lighting on your porch or above the garage? Do you have to rip off a section of siding? That sounds like a major hassle.

We spoke to Jake Johnson, owner of Stone Ridge Decking, for more insight on what makes a successful above-ground pool deck. Up ahead, check out some of our favorite examples to help inspire your own above-ground pool transformation. You can have an above-ground pool without a deck, but it won’t...

A freestanding bookcase set on carpeting often wobbles and can even tip over. The problem usually occurs because carpet is held in place by tack strips placed along the perimeter of the room. When you set your bookcase (or any other furniture) over the strips, it won’t sit level.

Learn how to prep and clean a stained deck before restaining. Has your wood deck seen better days? Restaining an older deck is a cost-effective, DIY-friendly way to quickly improve the look of your outdoor space. With some elbow grease and a few basic tools and products, your deck will look like new once more. I love re-staining older decks, because the before and after is so gratifying.

Joint compound, also known as drywall mud or plaster, is used is to fill in all the gaps and cracks in your walls. It is a mix of gypsum powder and water that turns into this smooth, paste-like substance. You slap it on with a trowel or putty knife and wait for it to dry. You’ve got a solid surface ready for painting or whatever else you want to do.

These maintenance steps will prevent most refrigerator breakdowns. Cleaning the condensor coils is a very common refrigerator repair. Condenser coils are located on the back of the fridge or across the bottom. These coils cool and condense the refrigerant. When the coils are clogged with dirt and dust, they can’t efficiently release heat. The result is your compressor works harder and longer than it was designed to, using more energy and shortening the life of your fridge.

Spend more time enjoying a backyard pond and less time maintaining it. If your yard has only one spot that will accommodate a pond with a waterfall, don’t worry—you can create a great garden pond in just about any location. But if you have two or three spots to choose from, consider the upkeep factor.

It’s easy to wince thinking about the mass emergence of insects like cicadas. Their numbers can reach millions per acre, creating a near-deafening buzzing chorus. So it’s understandable that questions like, “Will Cicadas eat my plants?” imediately spring to mind. But cicadas are also pretty fascinating and play important roles in the ecosystem.

A new deck is only as good as the materials you use to construct it. These tips from a lumber expert will help you choose your materials wisely. When I first migrated west from my hometown in the Great Lakes region at the end of the previous century (which sounds like a longer time ago than it is), redwood was the material of choice for decks along the coast. It’s naturally weather-resistant, attractive and relatively abundant in the western states, and at the time, it was relatively inexpensive. These days, two-by-six-inch redwood decking retails for $3.50 per linear foot, a lot compared to pressure-treated pine or fir. But it’s still less expensive than Western red cedar, exotic hardwoods and most wood alternatives like PVC and composites such as Trex and Kebony, so it’s considered affordable.

If your ceiling drywall is sagging between joists, sometimes called “pillowing,” it’s probably on the top floor and attached to the roof trusses. If so, there’s a good chance the installers used 1/2-in. drywall instead of 5/8 inch. Half-inch drywall can sag if it’s hung under roof trusses that are spaced every 24 inches. It isn’t strong enough to handle the span, and the weight of the insulation just makes the sagging worse.

Carpenters always talk about 16d common nails or 8d finish nails or 10d sinkers, but nobody ever explains what the heck "d" means. This article does. Understanding “d” sizes Nails For historical reasons, nails are sold both by a number followed by d and (less confusingly) by length. The “d” stands for penny, so 8d refers to an 8-penny nail, 16d to a 16-penny nail and so on. It’s a way to indicate nail length, as you can see in the table below. Now for the obvious question: Where does the sizing system come from and why does “d” stand for penny? The “d” goes way back to the time when the Romans occupied what is now England. The “d” is associated with a Roman coin called the denarius, which was also the name for an English penny. So what’s that got to do with nails? It was associated with nails when they were hand-forged, one at a time. Some say a hundred 3-1/2 inch nails would have cost 16 pennies and thus became known as 16-penny nails. Others say that the number and the “d” indicate that one 16d (3-1/2 inch) hand-forged nail cost 16 pennies. Who knows which version is true, or why the “d” designation persists even in the building codes today, but fortunately, retail boxes of nails are marked with the penny size as well as the length in inches. As you can see in the photo, length is only one factor of many in choosing a nail. Size Conversion Chart Print out this handy reference chart and tape it in your tool box, just in case you forget.

The roof rack that came with your car may look rugged, but most have a load rating of only 100 lbs., the equivalent of just nine 8-ft. 2×4 studs. If that’s all you plan to haul, you don’t need to modify your factory rack. But if you...

Are you bugged by kitchen cabinets that don’t work quite right? Broken latches, loose door hinges, sticking drawers—are they driving you bonkers? Read on for easy kitchen cabinet fixes to these and other common problems. 1 / 9. Adjust Hinges on Misaligned Doors. When it comes to kitchen...

The look, pace, and cost of home renovations have been changing over the last few years. Each year, Houzz performs a study to try to keep up with these changes, helping the home improvement industry better understand the landscape. In this guide, we’ll take a quick look at some of the most significant takeaways from this year’s study, as reported by over 32,000 study respondents.

Shopping for carpet is a lot like shopping for a car. It involves a huge financial investment; all the different types of carpet, styles, colors and brands can make your head spin; and you often end up dealing with high-pressure salespeople. The experience can be so overwhelming that it’s tempting to shop with only a basic color and style in mind and rely on salespeople for recommendations.

Did you see a DIY project on Saturday Morning Projects on At Home with Family Handyman that you just can’t wait to dive into? In case you missed it, here’s a recap of every project featured on the show so you can bring what you saw on TV to life!