May 7, 2008

Terry has a 35 year old water boiler driven radiant heat system with leaky copper pipes in a concrete slab. He asked a question about installing plastic pipe on top of slab and a wooden floor on top of that. Here is our response.

May 5, 2008

In recognition of National Electrical Safety Month and the first ever Wood Workers Safety Week (May 5 through May 11) we have produced an episode on Home Workshop Electrical Safety. Electrical safety is important for the prevention of fire and electric shock. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, 50,000 electrical fires occur in homes annually resulting in 500 deaths every year with electrical wiring being the dominant cause.

 

In addition, another 400 deaths occur each year due to electrocution. So, follow electrical codes and follow safe practices in you home workshop and throughout your home.

April 9, 2008

Mickey has a cabin in Saskatchewan which is used only a few days at a time during the winter and for more extended periods during the summer. It goes unheated when it is unoccupied. She asked us about her plans to insulate the floor and install hardwood flooring. Check out our response.

March 28, 2008

The final episode of the Standing Floor Mirror series has been posted. To watch the episode, click here. To see detailed pictures of the mirror go to Working Wood For You.

March 26, 2008

We are working on the final episode of the Standing Floor Mirror series. It will be posted soon. The first episode covered the design and rough cutting while the second episode the mirror frame boards were hand planed into a convex shape.

 

Also, we are working on a series of episodes on wainscoting. The first episode covers "faux" wainscoting which is a technique using minimal materials to create a wainscoted look. Another episode will cover the making of wainscoting panels and a yet a third will address the purchase of wainscoting in various degress of completion leaving the do-it-yourselfer with a simple installation job.

March 14, 2008

We have added a new episode to our series on dimmer switches. This episode contains do-it-yourself step-by-step installation instructions for a 3-way dimmer which is used in the case where two switches control one or more light fixtures. There is a simple but important key to a successful installation. Learn that and more by clicking here.

March 11, 2008

Brenda asked about installing a wooden floor over an unheated basement and whether or not she should carry it through all three adjoining rooms. Insulating the ceiling of a basement is a good do it yourself home improvment project. See our advice on this and more.

March 3, 2008

Dawn is a do it yourself kitchen cabinet maker. She asked us what thickness of plywood to use for the cabinet sides. See our response.

February 27, 2008

We have added our first full do it yourself electrical home improvement episode - Installing a Dimmer Switch. It comes in two versions. The complete version which includes description of dimmer switch functionality and the short version gets right into the step-by-step installation.

February 20, 2008

Do it yourself Greg, asked us for some ideas on repairing stripped out screws on his kitchen cabinets. Check out our response.

February 19, 2008

For do it yourself woodworkers - we have posted the second episode in a series on building a standing floor mirror. Check it out!