Tools & Materials
Most home repair and renovation projects depend upon choosing and using the right tools and materials. See how to shop for power tools and hand tools. Learn how to use and maintain tools safely and responsibly. Gain knowledge about the variety of materials, fasteners and other hardware available for home projects.
11 Uses for Old 5 Gallon Buckets
Old 5 gallon drywall mud buckets are too useful to be thrown out. Here are 11 suggestions on what to do with an empty joint compound (drywall mud) bucket.
Best Choices in Electric Space Heaters
Shopping for a new electric space heater can be confusing. Learn which types of heaters work best for your home.
BucketVac Wet Dry Vacuum Review
A review of the BucketVac wet/dry vacuum from SpeedClean.
ParkingTarget Review
A review of the ParkingTarget from Innovative Products International.
Drymate Garage Floor Mat Review
A review of the Garage Floor Mat made by Drymate.
Nine Great Gift Ideas for the Home Workshop
Whether it is for a holiday, birthday or other special occasion, every do-it-yourselfer needs some basic tools to help accomplish his or her projects. And everyone shopping for that DIYer needs some great gift ideas to help them find the perfect surprise. Here are nine great gift ideas that are sure to please anyone who enjoys tinkering around...
Shopping for a Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector
Tips for choosing the best smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector for your home.
How To Choose a Fire Extinguisher for Your Home
Advice on how to choose the right fire extinguisher for your home.
Cleaning Saw Blades
Clean saw blades cut better and last longer. Here's how to keep them clean.
How To Make a Long Circular Saw Guide
How to make a circular saw guide for easy, straight cuts on plywood and MDF.
A Must Have DIY Saw Guide for Accurate Crosscuts
How to make a simple, low-cost saw guide to use with your circular saw.
DIY Stud Finder
How to make a powerful magnetic stud finder yourself, in just minutes and using readily available materials.
Drywall Tools for Taping and Finishing
Once the drywall has been installed, you will need the right drywall tools for sealing joints and filling nail holes. You won't need to buy many tools for this job. Here is what you will need.
How To Choose and Use a Stud Finder
Finding studs in your walls is easy if you use the right tools. Here are some tips.
Choosing the Right Drywall Tape
How to chose the right drywall tape for your drywall job.
Choosing the Right Joint Compound
How to choose the right joint compound (mud) for your drywall job.
How To Compare Types of Drywall
How to choose the right type of drywall.
Choosing the Right Drywall Sizes
Choosing the right drywall size for your needs.
How To Operate a Circular Saw
How to operate a circular saw safely and efficiently.
Buy a Circular Saw
Tips on how to choose the best circular saw for your home workshop.
Must-Have Tools for the Home Workshop
You can accomplish many home improvement projects with just a few basic tools. If you plan to spend some time building and repairing things in the garage or need to make your house more useful and better looking, this short list of tools will get you started.
With careful shopping, you should be able to fill this list with good-quality, long-lasting tools for less than $300. That's money …
Buy a Carpenter's Level
Tips for choosing the right carpenter's level for your home improvement projects
Online Shopping for Shelving Hardware
Find the biggest selection of shelving standards and brackets online
Top Choices in Home Remodeling Magazines
Everybody interested in learning about home remodeling has to start some place. For me, the best place to start is with some good, DIY-friendly magazines. Below you will find my favorites among the many home remodeling magazines available on newsstands.
Tips from Experts on Space Heater Safety
Space heaters are handy, but they can be dangerous. Learn how to choose a safe space heater, and how to operate it safely.
Winter Tool Storage Suggestions
Winter temperatures can damage valuable tools stored in a garage, shop or shed. Learn how to protect your tools when the weather turns cold.
Twist Tops for 5 Gallon Buckets
Transfer old 5 gallon buckets used for drywall mud (joint compound) into resealable, air- and watertight storage buckets with these handy twist top accessories.
Pros and Cons of a Gravel Driveway
Thinking about installing a gravel driveway, or just concerned with how to take care of one? Here are quick answers to your basic questions.
Keep Driveway Cost to a Minimum with Loose Materials
Find out how to save money on a new or replacement driveway using loose materials.
How To Choose the Right Driveway Pavers
Learn how to choose the right type of paver for your driveway.
How To Resurface Concrete
Old, worn concrete surfaces (driveways, sidewalks, garage floors, patios) can be given a brand new look with concrete resurfacer. Learn how any DIYer can do the job.
Concrete Resurfacing FAQs
Thinking about resurfacing a driveway, garage floor or other concrete surface? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about concrete resurfacing.