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Doityourself.com Recent Articles: Exterior Home Improvement
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The Exterior Home Improvement section of DoItYourself.com provides you with a wide range of articles on building materials; gutters and drainage; sidewalk and driveway maintenance; additions; and roofing maintenance and repair.
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4 Effective Garage Shelving Ideas
Garage shelving ideas are only limited to your creativity and imagination. For storage problems in the garage here are four easy, do-it-yourself garage shelving ideas that are effective.1. Wall Mounted CabinetsThe idea of garage shelving is to get things off the floor and give things a sense of organization and control. Wall mounted cabinets bring not only organization to your garage storage problem, but also the ability to hide chemicals, tools, and other items away from children. 2. Self Contained Metal ShelvesA basic garage shelving idea is the common metal unit that stands along the wall. For someone who is...
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How to Trim Wood Square Columns
Square columns provide a formal yet superb design to any space, especially in a sunroom. The addition of columns to a space in the home provides it a distinct appearance. However, the column may be too tall for the space and therefore require some trimming. Trimming the columns precisely, properly and cleanly require some basic woodworking skills, a steady hand, and a good deal of patience. Step 1 – Measure the Height of the Columns When replacing an old column with a new one, remove the old column first from its location. Measure the length of the old column to...
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Framing Shed Dormers: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you have decided to build a dormer on your house to allow for extra light or extra headspace, shed dormers are easier to build than gable dormers. Shed dormers have a flat, pitched roof, set at a complementary angle to the existing roofline. A gabled dormer, on the other hand is not flat, but "gabled" (2 sides coming together in a peak). Either will serve the intended purpose, but each has a different aesthetic effect. Step 1 - Layout After determining the size of shed dormers you would like, using a measuring tape, draw the layout of the dormer...
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How to Build Solar Screens
Solar screens are quite popular as they help reduce energy costs and keep structures cool. There are a wide variety of materials considered as solar screens, and it is not difficult to design and create one for home use. Follow the simple steps below to build your own solar screen. Step 1 – Preparing the Solar Screen Frame Measure the length and width of your old window screen frame. This will be the basis for the size of the solar screen frame that you will be making. Cut the wood frame according to the measured size. Make sure that the...
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6 Tips for Remodeling a Sun Porch
A sun porch can make a nice addition to your home. It is a type of enclosed porch usually located at the front or side of a house. Several windows are installed in the walls which creates the appearance of glass walls. This allows you to enjoy the sun and view outside from an enclosed site. The porch keeps out insects and dust which makes it a comfortable place to relax in the home. A well-remodeled sun porch allows you to enjoy more quality time at home. Comfort, style and functionality are some of the guiding points. Below are...
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Wrapping Decorative Columns
You can easily revamp the atmosphere of your porch or room by wrapping decorative columns. There are a multitude of wrap styles you can choose from that involve various colors and textures. When you’ve selected your favorite design, the wrap can be installed with minimal difficulty if you follow the straightforward instructions below. Step 1 – Cut the Wrap to Size Wrapping for decorative columns can be purchased at various lengths. It’s always best to choose a column wrap that’s slightly longer than the measured length of your structural post because you can always trim it down to size. Measure...
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Installing PVC Column Wrap for a Porch Post
PVC column wraps enhance the appearance of porch post without much problem in there installation and do not cost much. Column wraps add a unique decorative touch. They are installed around an existing porch post. They are superior in endurance and will not rot, will resist splitting and warping. These are practically maintenance free and not affected water or termite. The column wraps can be installed on old wooden posts by wrapping them and joining them together. These column wraps are available in complete kits. The kits comprise 2 each of L-shaped column halves, cap halves, base halves and 4...
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Removing Security Screen Doors
Security screen doors are used as an economical choice to protect your home or business. They are usually made out of lightweight metal bars and are easy to install. Removing them would normally require a specialized tool because they are held in place by one-way screws. You can still remove one if you lack this tool by following these steps. Step 1 - Place the Center Punch One-way screws are just what the name implies. They are designed like this so that potential burglars cannot use a normal screwdriver to remove security screen doors. Place the center punch on the...
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Spray Painting Aluminum Awnings
Aluminum awnings are a popular feature in many homes. The canopy-like structures are installed over windows and exterior doors. They also make good deck covers. This creates shade from the elements. Awnings over windows help to minimize infiltration of sunlight into the room. You get a cooler interior which enhances energy efficiency. Aluminum is a popular material for awnings because of the ease of installation and affordability. The awnings are also amongst the low maintenance types. It is a good idea to paint your aluminum awnings to prevent corrosion. This helps to extend the life of the awnings. It also...
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Suggested Types of Paint to Use for Fiberglass Columns
Fiberglass columns are becoming a common component of most architectural works due to its cheaper price and it is also promotes protection of the environment as it lowers use of wood. It is also quite handy and lightweight thus installation cost is significantly reduced. Some fiberglass columns can be bought as pre-primed by the manufacturers but there are also those which need to be primed prior to painting the desired color. Priming of the fiberglass used for columns is quite essential as it will promote easier paint peeling and flaking in as early as two years. Priming can also...
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How to Tell the Difference between Load Bearing and Decorative Porch Columns
Learning how to tell the difference between load bearing and decorative porch columns is an absolutely necessary procedure before you even think of attempting to replace the column or remodel your porch. Load bearing columns contribute to the structure of your porch and the overhanging roof so if these are removed without proper backup support, an entire section of your house may crumple in the worst case scenario. Follow the guidelines below to identify the function of your porch columns. Look at the Building Plans If you have the building plans of your home accessible to you, this should...
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Framing a Screened Porch
A screened porch is an added advantage to your house. Screened porches allows you to enjoy the outdoor environment, watching day fall or sunrise without being disturbed by insects or bugs. Screened in porch have to be well designed, such that they are able to accommodate any furniture. Therefore framing a screened porch requires some planning, before implementation. Framing a screened porch is a task made easy if the steps given below are followed. Step 1 - Framing the Deck Initially , decide the shape of the deck where the screen porch is to be built. A square or rectangle shape is recommended. Now fix...
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Repairing vs. Replacing Rotting Porch Columns
Evaluating porch columns for structural faults or damage is a good way to assess if they need to be replaced or just repaired. Replacing or repairing one does not require you to have a building permit if you are using the same material to do it and do not modify its structure in any way. Professionals will employ the use of heavy equipment, scaffolding and will have the necessary permits to make and approve any structural changes. There are a few things you can look for when deciding whether you want to replace your porch columns or just touched...
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How to Remove Paint from Porch Railings
Porch railings, especially wooden ones, will require a lot of maintenance. Part of this maintenance will be to remove paint and repaint or refinish occasionally. There are several ways to make your painted porch railings look new and not be an eyesore to your home. Step 1 - Removing Peeling Paint If the current layer of paint on your porch railing is peeling and unsightly, you may want to remove the peeling paint so you can repaint the railing. Use the paint scraper to scrape all the loose and crackled paint that is on the wood. Apply a bit of...
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Types of Outdoor Privacy Screens You can Make at Home
Outdoor privacy screens provide home owners with a means of securing their personal space outside. They can be made in a variety of sizes, styles and colors to match any landscaping décor. These landscaping additions are particularly common in urban areas where homes are situated more closely together. Screens can also provide areas of shade depending on their installation location. Deciding on the best type of outdoor privacy screen for your situation can be challenging but by taking the time to consider all of the aspect the task can become less daunting. Styles There are three basic types of...
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How to Update Front Porch Columns
Porch columns that start to rot or are affected by insects will eventually require you to update them. Normally having construction work done to a supporting pillar or column implies that you don’t make any changes in its material type or dimensions. Changing either material or dimensions should only be done by professionals and may require a permit. You should also hire a professional if you have a double story-supporting column as this might interfere with the support of the upper deck and will probably require scaffolding and temporary support beams. Here are the tools and materials you will need...
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Easy Solutions to Make a More Energy Efficient House
Energy efficient houses can be created through highly-expensive modifications and completely new buildings, but very few have that luxury. The average homeowner can dramatically reduce their energy consumption and increase the efficiency through a few easy projects. Though some output of funds is necessary, it is very manageable and sometimes quite minor. Phantom Loads These occur when an electronic device uses power while not running. This may sound odd, but it is more prevalent than most realize. It is estimated 75% of a home's electric bill occurs from phantom loads. Appliances with 'ready lights' which are always on, laptops...
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How to Repair a Sliding Patio Screen Door
The first sign of a patio screen door that needs repair is often improper rolling on the door track. A few simple steps can be taken to correct this problem. Another common repair need is screen material that has become worn or ripped. There are 2 different types of screening material: aluminum or fiberglass; each of these need some special considerations if replacing screen material is part of this DIY repair project. Step 1 - Remove the Door and Clean Tracks Carefully remove the screen door by holding the door firmly on either side, lifting up, and tilting the bottom edge outward towards...
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How to Determine Proper Lumber and Size when Building a Patio
Building a patio is a home improvement job that you can do yourself with the right tools. You will also need to plan out your patio before you begin in order to determine type and the amount of lumber you will need. Planning the Deck Determine where you would like to install the deck. Determine the size of deck you would like to build. You will need the length and width dimensions. You will also need to determine whether the deck will be installed on the ground or on supports. A deck that is built on supports will also...
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How to Make an Insect Screen
Every door and window of a home or building in a mosquito-infested areas should be equipped with an insect screen. Installing an insect screen will allow you to enjoy fresh air while prohibiting the entry of insects such as bugs, flies and mosquitoes. Insect screens are often made up of metal wire, fiberglass or synthetic fiber mesh that is stretched between a frame made of wood or metal. Although there are a number of available ready-made insect screens to choose from, you can also create your own. An insect screen is quite easy to assemble, and the materials needed are...
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