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Resources: Heath described the best style of electrical box for various uses. In general, he recommends plastic boxes for switches and receptacles and metal boxes for light fixtures. Metal boxes are required when the existing wiring in the home is metal clad cable and must be bonded to the ground wire. All of the boxes Heath demonstrated are available at home centers and electrical supply houses. Special assistance with this project was provided by Eaton and Eastman Electric....

At the very least, you should deep clean your grill at the beginning and end of each grilling season. Check out these easy steps to learn how to clean your grill the right way. What You Need to Clean Your Grill Before you begin cleaning, make sure the grill is completely cool, including the grates, ash box, and all components. You can heat the grill for 15 minutes before you start cleaning it in order to burn off excess debris on the grates, but make sure to let it cool down until it’s warm, and use a grill brush to scrape off ash and loosened debris....

Sediment sometimes looks like sand, but it is made up of minerals from your home’s water supply. These minerals don’t dissolve, and subsequently, turn into particles inside your unit. Unfortunately, this build-up can cause significant problems if left unchecked—costing you time and money by shortening the unit’s efficiency and functionality, and potentially causing the water heater to fail prematurely. In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey explains how to drain and flush a water heater....

Steps for Fixing a Sinking Drywell Resources Mark raised a drywell in a driveway that sunk below grade. After using a chipping hammer and chisel to break away the sunken asphalt, Mark removed the grate and added gravel. He chose to use EZ Street ready-to-use asphalt and ProMasonry Type S Mortar mix to level out the drywell. All About Sealcoating a Driveway Shopping list Mortar mix Bricks Crushed stone Asphalt patch...

Steps for Installing Precast Concrete Stairs: Back at the homeowner’s, the steps are delivered and set into place. Step 1: Remove the steps The easiest way is by using a jackhammer. Some things to keep in mind: Safety—first and foremost, this is a heavy piece of equipment that needs to be controlled at all times. Make sure to wear ear protection for the sound, eye protection for the broken pieces of stone, and a dust mask for the debris....

Steps for Installing Radiant Heat Tools Radiant Floor Heating: Why It’s Worth It

Jensen’s business is booming, thanks to the proliferation of hungry deer in American towns and suburbs. Their population is at an all-time high—“more now than when the Pilgrims landed,” says Michael Conover, a professor of wildlife at Utah State University. He cites the decline of hunting as a major reason that deer are encroaching onto residential lots: “Deer have lost their fear of man, basically.” Handsome as they are, deer really don’t belong around your house....

Steps for Keeping Window Box Plantings Fresh in Winter 1. Start by Rehydrating Clippings When You Gather Them Cut stems at a 45-degree angle to maximize water absorption and place them in a bucket of water for 1 to 3 hours. 2. Spray with an Anti-Desiccant Wilt-Pruf works well to seal the pores of leaves and needles and protect against drying. Jenn likes to mix broadleaf evergreens such as holly, magnolia, boxwood, and andromeda; needled evergreens like spruce, fir, pine, incense cedar, and juniper; and red-twigged dogwood, winterberries, juniper berries, and pinecones for interest....

Chimneys have tough lives. They live outdoors, and they’re always exposed to the elements. After a while, their joints and bricks can begin to fail, allowing them to take on water in inclement weather. But homeowners can avoid further damage by recognizing common chimney issues and repairing them before they go too far. 4 Signs Your Chimney Needs a Checkup Common Chimney Problems There are a few ways that chimneys can fail, but some are much more common than others....

Steps for Painting Aluminum Siding 1. Inspect the Siding for Mildew, Powdery Paint Pigment, and Mildew Rub siding with cloth to check for powdery paint pigment and mildew. Cover ground and nearby shrubs with drop cloths. Test old siding paint for lead using a lead test kit; if lead is present, contact a licensed lead abatement specialist. 2. Create Your Solution and Clean the Siding Wear gloves, then mix in a bucket a cleaning solution of one cup chlorine bleach, one cup TSP and one gallon of water....

This Old House painter Mauro Henrique says: Cedar resists rot and insect damage, so it will be worth your while to get your railing back into shape. Paint is a good choice for your railings; it will withstand sun and weather exposure better than other exterior coatings. Watch as Mauro paints an outdoor railing to match the original railing around a homeowner’s deck. Steps for Painting Exterior Railings Pro Tip: While Mauro usually relies on his brush skills to keep paint off adjoining surfaces, he always masks off around post bases with painter’s tape to create a clean line....

Whether it’s by accident or intent, sooner or later, a wall or ceiling gets gored and has to be patched. Many people don’t know where to start when they’re learning how to patch a large hole in drywall. Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to make a solid, virtually invisible repair. You don’t even need to buy a repair kit. What Do You Need to Patch Drywall? There aren’t any special tools needed for drywall repair....

Steps for Performing a Whole-House Energy Audit:

How to Remove Different Types of Wallpaper The term “wallpaper” includes many, many types of wall finishings. Three of the most common wallpaper types today include peelable, strippable, and vinyl. The removal methods vary slightly depending on the type of wallpaper, but this guide will explain how to get the job done. Determine the Type of Wallpaper First, determine the type of wallpaper at hand. Take a putty knife and attempt to peel back a corner at one of the seams....

Steps: Carefully dig up all plants that are close to the damaged fence post. Wrap the plants in burlap and set off to the side. Use a pointed shovel to dig around the old, rotted fence post. Dump the dirt onto a burlap sheet spread onto the ground. Remove the old fence post, then enlarge the hole with post-hole digger. Again, dump the dirt onto the burlap. Cut a new fence post to proper length with a chainsaw....

Steps: On bare wood, lightly sand the surface with 150-grit sandpaper to remove nicks, scratches, and to open up the pores of the wood grain. Wipe off the sanding dust with a tack cloth. Brush on wood conditioner prior to staining. Allow the conditioner to dry for 15 minutes. Put on rubber gloves and open a can of oil-based penetrating stain. Stir the stain well, then use a clean cloth to rub the stain into the wood in a circular motion....

Steps: Tools:

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Steps on Making a Half-Lap Joint 1. Clamp two boards side by side with their ends even. Measure a distance in from the ends that’s equal to the width of one board, and mark a square line across both boards. Set the depth of cut on the saw to half the thickness of the boards and make a cut along the line to form the shoulder of the joint. 2. Next, cut a series of closely spaced saw kerfs across the boards....

Set Your Deck When deciding how short to cut your lawn, you shouldn’t focus purely on aesthetics. Unlike a haircut, mowing doesn’t only affect your lawn’s appearance; it also impacts the health of your grass. You don’t want it to get too long and unruly, but if you trim it too short, you can potentially “stress” and weaken your grass and root system. Especially in late spring and summer months, a good rule of thumb is to set your deck to around 3 inches, or as high as recommended for your particular type of grass....