Home DIY

What is this bumpy stuff on my ceiling that looks like popcorn or cottage cheese?

Most of us are entirely dependent on electricity, so a power outage can become seriously annoying. Learn about the generators and inverters that can put an end to home power failures.

By Marshall Brain

A fascinating look inside a combination lock!

By Marshall Brain

Each time you flush the toilet or wash something down the sink's drain, you create sewage (also known in polite society as wastewater). Find out where it goes and how it's treated before it flows into a river near you!

By Marshall Brain

As the saying goes, "Where there's smoke, there's fire." Smoke detectors are amazing: They're pretty inexpensive, but they save thousands of lives each year. Learn all about nuclear and light-sensing smoke detectors.

By Marshall Brain

In places where uranium is common in the soil, radon is a popular topic of discussion. Even though radon is "completely natural," it can be a real health hazard. Learn how radon forms and why it is so dangerous.

By Marshall Brain & Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

In movies, burglars can open a lock using a paper clip. Is it really so easy? The basic process of picking a lock is simple, but it takes practice to get it right.

By Marshall Brain & Tom Harris

The United States has nukes, and so does Russia. Iran and North Korea have conducted nuclear tests, as well. In the event of a nuclear attack, what are you supposed to do?

By John Fuller

Aging brick and concrete home elements may require repairs. Save money when you follow these easy instructions to repair mortar and loose bricks, fix concrete stairs, and fill cracks in walls or potholes.

By Editors of Consumer Guide

Asbestos has been used for thousands of years, dating as far back as the ancient Greeks. Its ability to withstand heat and erosion made it attractive to builders, and it was even used in some clothing because of its fire-resistant qualities. So why is it so dangerous?

By Tiffany Connors

Staining wooden furniture isn't just a matter of stripping off one finish and applying another. The finish is only as good as the preparation for it. Learn how to stain wooden furniture.

By Editors of Consumer Guide

Repairing wooden furniture is a process that can take many forms. There are numerous types of wooden furniture, so the types of repairs are similarly varied. Learn how to repair wooden furniture.

By Editors of Consumer Guide

Is Grandma's hand-me-down hutch looking a little worse for wear? Instead of tossing out those favorite furniture pieces, why not take on a refinishing project? Find dozens of tips in this article.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Laminate flooring is cheaper than wood, doesn't need to be nailed, sanded, stained or finished, and is quite resistant to scratches, denting, fading and stains.

By Richard Winter

Today's dog houses can go way beyond four walls, an arched doorway and a peaked roof. With a little time and the right materials, you can build a palace for your pooch.

By Sarah Siddons

Wood stoves have evolved quite a bit from their potbellied ancestors. Today's wood stoves are clean and efficient, and have several environmental arguments on their side.

By Eleanor Duse

A router might just be the most versatile tool you can own -- but in a world without router bits, it would be nothing more than a spinning motor.

By Elizabeth Abbess

Repairing driveway cracks is a simple and rewarding project. Find out the keys to repairing driveway cracks to stop a smaller problem from becoming a larger one.

Have you ever wondered how a house is built? Or what holds up the ceiling and walls? And how do you keep the rain out? It's a complex process that involves quite a bit more than you may think.

By Marshall Brain

Today's high-tech panic rooms are a far cry from fallout shelters of the past. You can have a basic reinforced closet -- or a luxury security den with an arsenal of weapons.

By Tiffany Connors

People use safes to keep their valuables, well, safe. But in movies, thieves can open one using a little concentration and a good ear. Could you crack a safe that easily?

By Robert Valdes

A forced-air distribution system is just what the name implies. Air is forced from the furnace through ducts to registers in various rooms. Learn to troubleshoot a forced-air distribution system.

By Walter Curtis

Repairing floors is easy if you know what you're doing. From annoying squeaks to sanding hardwoods, learn how to do it yourself when it comes to floor problems.

By Walter Curtis

Windows are a major source of heat-loss in most homes. They also may stick shut when they're painted or swell shut from humidity. Learn tips on how to keep your windows working properly.

By Fix-It Club

Painting can be a task that takes a couple of hours, a half day, or more. Whatever the size of your painting job, the techniques remain the same. Learn how to paint a room.

By Walter Curtis