Denim Insulation Installation

Much has been written about alternative insulation materials and this houseblogger gives a thumbs up to denim insulation. They found it easy to use, easier to install, and effective.

  July 21, 2008 | Comments ()

Walls Transformed: Metallic Leaf

Inspired by the lovely display captured here, we've found a project post dedicated to the art of applying a combination of metallic paints and hologram foil, available online, to create a shiny, textured wall that becomes a standout interior surface in a bedroom or another room of the house.

  June 19, 2008 | Comments ()

Interior inspiration

Photo courtesy of Behr Paints

After you've finished constructing an interior wall, you have the luxury of a sturdy blank canvas on which to apply a vast array of painting, papering and other decorative techniques.

  June 16, 2008 | Comments ()

Wall Anchors for Every Situation

These aren't the wall anchors we had in mind but they certainly fit the description. Today Nathaniel from Garbers Hardware shares his favorite wall anchors for any wall or weight you'll come across. And remember to sign up for our newsletter to be eligible for the Garber Giveaway (Klein Toolbags) and 10% off in-store purchases.

So, you just got home with your brand new Floating shelf system/Pot rack/Bike hanging system/other wall mountable thingy. Superb; mounting things on the wall means more room on the floor, a net gain for the total square footage of your apartment. You're all set to install your new wall mountable thingy. You follow the directions precisely. You drill the correct size hole in the wall using the proper bit. You install the wee, plastic anchors provided with your new thingy. You attach your thingy to the wall, screwing through the mounts and into the plastic anchors you stuck in the wall. All is right with the Universe. Then, you return home a few days later and it looks as if there's been a small earthquake. The epicenter? Thingy central.

  May 23, 2008 | Comments ()

Soundproof a Room for the Guitar Hero in You

We've covered some basic tips for soundproofing a room but the Wiki HowTo at Wired.com has a few other suggestions that are easy to do and in no time you'll have your rockband blasting away!

  April 18, 2008 | Comments ()

Picture-Perfect Ideas

Sure, hanging a picture seems like the easiest of decorating tasks. But as easy as it seems, people often get the process wrong. Using the incorrect hangers and putting unnecessary holes in the walls are common mistakes. Picture nails and hooks are most commonly used, but if the picture or object you're hanging is heavy, it's helpful to insert plastic anchors or bolts that are designed to fasten into the hole.

  March 31, 2008 | Comments ()

Wall Anchor System: Toggler and Snapskru

A friend recently inquired about installing a computer monitor on his wall where there was only drywall with no backing studs. Togglers are the first thing that came to mind for this application and it guided us to their website which is one of the nicer product websites we've come across. Besides the Toggler wall-anchors the Snapskru is a great choice and they have an informative video to show just how it works.

  February 5, 2008 | Comments (1)

Techniques for Cleaning Tile Grout

We've found that oxygen bleach and water work great for cleaning tile grout but to thoroughly clean your tile you'll need to take the time to remove the top layer of old grout then re-apply new grout. This is a time consuming process and you must be careful as to not scratch your tile but you'll have a bathroom or kitchen that looks brand new.

  September 4, 2007 | Comments ()

Broken Window Tip

Here's a tip from Bob Vila for handling broken windows.

Always wear thick gardening gloves when handling broken glass, and use goggles if you have to break any glass. Carefully crisscross pieces of masking tape over a broken windowpane. Cover the glass with a heavy cloth, then tap with a hammer to break away the pieces from the window without splintering. Dispose if broken glass in newspaper.

  September 6, 2006 | Comments ()

Drywall Dilemna

Drywall, sheetrock, wallboard, whatever you call it, its all around you. We recently had an AC unit in the attic leak and cause major damage to the ceiling in our bathroom. Fortunately when the drywall fell through no one was underneath and it was in the bathroom which made cleanup much easier.

We know what Bob Vila has to say about drywall repair and here are some more resources for diagnosing and fixing your wallboard.

Drywall Patching [Popular Mechanics]
Replacing a Section of Drywall [Hammerzone]
Hanging Drywall on 10' Ceiling (w/one man) [Youtube]
Drywall Repair [Expert Village via Youtube]
Anatomy of a Wall [HomeTips]
Drywall Repair Clips [Rock-It Clip]

update: A regular visitor recently pointed out the need to distinguish between straight 'ol drywall and it's variations. You definitely need to choose the right material for the job, especially if you are working in a high moisture area such as the bathroom.

  August 27, 2006 | Comments (3)