Home Improvement

Home improvement is much easier when you are well-informed. Learn about home improvement, home safety and home maintenance.

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Water generators have been around for a long time, but they use a lot of energy. Enter the atmospheric water generator, cleaning your water one drop at a time.

By Sara Elliott

The VOC content of paint is listed on the front of the can, but that number may not be telling the whole story.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Your deck can begin to deteriorate after just one season, but there are ways to protect your outdoor space for years to come.

By Sara Elliott

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Spray paint has left an indelible mark on world culture. How did it go from home-improvement solution to cultural icon? Find out in How Spray Paint Works.

By Lance Looper

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can make you dizzy and give you a headache. How long will these gross gasses hang out after you're done painting?

By Emilie Sennebogen

To pick a lock you'll need some picks (or paper clips) and a tension wrench. Learn what lock-picking tools you need to pick a lock in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

A sturdy desk and comfortable chair are basic home office furniture and can be bought secondhand. Learn about what type of home office furniture to buy from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

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Construction work requires power tools that can do the heavy-duty work as quickly and easily as possible. Learn what type of nail gun is best to install floor studs in this article.

By John Perritano

Machine screws come in a variety of materials. Learn which type of stainless steel is the most common for machine screws in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

While drilling through plastic can be done using any power drill, it’s important to have the correct drill bits so you don’t chip or crack the material. Learn about the type of drill bits you need for plastic from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Used in a variety of everyday applications, adhesives come in many forms, including glue, tape and sealant. Learn more about what makes adhesives sticky from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

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There is a wide range of adhesives available for installing vinyl floors. Learn more about the best types of adhesives for vinyl floors from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

To cut concrete with a circular saw, you need an abrasive blade. Learn about the best type of blade for sawing concrete in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

You need a circular saw blade with fine teeth to cut through laminate countertops. Learn how to choose the right circular saw blade for cutting laminate kitchen countertops.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Start with a moderate grit and move to a finer grit of sandpaper when working on walls. Learn about the best type of sandpaper for walls from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

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A swimming pool cover pump removes unwanted rainwater from the pool cover quickly and effectively. Learn more about the purpose of a swimming pool cover pump from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Socket wrenches come with long handles to which different size sockets can be attached for tightening different size fasteners. Learn more about the size order of socket wrenches from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Drywall screws pop out due to shrinking and warping of the wood behind them. Learn why drywall screws pop out from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Natural products such as vinegar or baking soda can be used to safely separate substances that are stuck together by breaking their adhesive bonds.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

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Steel wool is made in part of iron, and iron is prone to rust. Learn what makes steel wool rust in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

You need to choose sandpaper grit size according to the material you're preparing to prime. Learn more about what sandpaper grit you should use before priming from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Internal cuts are made in wood from the center. Learn the two ways to make internal cuts using a saber saw in this article.

Use a carbide-tipped abrasive cutoff wheel circular saw blade for cutting metals. Learn what type of circular saw blade you need to cut metal in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

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There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to hire professionals to install your carpeting or to do it yourself. Find out whether you should call on professional carpet installers in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

A crescent wrench is similar to a monkey wrench except its jaws are parallel to the handle. Learn what a crescent wrench looks like in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors