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The Best Drywall Lifts to Simplify Construction Projects
I know from personal experience that a good drywall lift can make a world of difference. Without one, hanging drywall...
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How Much Does Wainscoting Cost?
Highlights The average wainscoting cost ranges between $1,050 and $1,600 for a 12-foot by 12-foot room, though most ...
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How Much Does Shiplap Cost to Install?
Highlights The average shiplap cost for a 200-square-foot room is $1,000, though a typical range is $500 to $1,700. ...
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How to Remove Command Strips—Even Tricky Broken Ones
3M Command Strips can be used to hang a variety of items around the home, including pictures, decorations, coats, tow...
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How to Get Crayon Off Walls: 4 Surefire Methods
Life with toddlers can be…interesting. One minute they’re sitting calmly and playing with their toys on the floor, th...
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How to Measure for Wallpaper in 6 Quick Steps
Wallpaper can add so much personality and texture to your space. However, wallpaper projects can seem intimidating fo...
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7 Reasons Why You Should Clean Your Walls More Often—and How to Do it Properly
Think about your cleaning routine. It likely includes chores like vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing the toilets, wiping d...
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How Long Does It Take to Paint a Room?
Q: I want to paint my bedroom, and I’m between hiring a painter and doing it myself. I don’t want to spend the money ...
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Wen Drywall Sander: It Performed with Power and Versatility in Our Tests
Drywall sanding can be unpleasant work. It takes a long time, and the fine dust it creates manages to coat everything...
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9 Types of Ceilings Every Homeowner Should Know
Ceilings typically have been an overlooked part of a room makeover, but homeowners are starting to look up and consid...
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25 Easy Home Repairs You Should Never Pay Someone Else to Do
Making small repairs from time to time is part and parcel of owning a home. While you can spend hundreds, or even tho...
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Trusscore vs. Drywall Cost: 5 Factors That Affect Pricing
Trusscore panels are one of the many drywall alternatives; they’re made from durable PVC and are known for their stre...
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How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Wall?
Highlights It typically costs between $300 and $10,000 to remove a wall from a home. The main factors that affect t...
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How Much Does Sheetrock Cost?
Highlights Sheetrock typically costs between $12 and $20 per panel, and the national average is $15 per panel. The ...
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How Much Does Stucco Repair Cost?
Highlights The cost to repair stucco typically falls between $599 and $2,559, while the national average price sits ...
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Peel-and-Stick Trim 101: How to Achieve a High-End Look for Less
Peel-and-stick trim is becoming a go-to solution for people seeking an affordable and low-effort way to add an elegan...
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The 10 Best Paint Colors for a Brighter Basement
Finished basements can serve all sorts of purposes, whether you’re in need of an extra den or a playroom or you want ...
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15 Basement Ceiling Ideas to Inspire Your Space
Figuring out a basement ceiling design can be trickier than doing a ceiling in any other room in a home. While it can...
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25 Wall Decor Ideas for Every Style and Budget
An empty wall is like a blank canvas, and how it’s decorated tells a story. Items hung on a wall can ground a space, ...
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7 Types of Drywall Anchors Every Homeowner Should Know
Trying to screw directly into drywall without using any type of drywall anchor is not a good idea. Either the screw w...
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25 Types of Nails and How to Use Them
“If the only tool you have is a hammer, it is tempting to treat everything as if it were a nail,” wrote Abraham Maslo...
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How Much Does It Cost to Soundproof a Room?
Highlights The cost to soundproof a room ranges between $1,036 and $2,721, with a national average cost of $1,874. ...
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How Much Does Drywall Repair Cost?
Highlights Drywall repair costs around $294 to $876, with homeowners paying an average of $573 nationally. The exac...
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How to DIY a Board-and-Batten Wall
Board-and-batten has traditionally been the stuff of barns and exterior cladding. Often rough-sawn and ready for the ...
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How to Install Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper Like a Pro
Wallpaper adds character and dimension to any space, but hanging it can be difficult, messy, and time-consuming. Not ...
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Solved! What Does It Mean to Say a House Is Settling?
Q: I recently bought a newly built home, but I’ve noticed hairline cracks in the foundation over the last couple of m...
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5 Classic Wall and Trim Color Combinations—and 5 for Rule-Breakers Only
After choosing the perfect wall color, many default to choosing a white trim paint without giving it a second thought...
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How Much Does Wallpaper Removal Cost?
Typical Range: $420 to $1,190 National Average: $786Wallpaper goes in and out of style, and does so with great gus...
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The Best Drywall Screw Guns
A standard sheet of drywall (or Sheetrock) is 8 feet long by 4 feet wide and weighs about 50 pounds. Trying to hold t...
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Solved! What Are the Signs of Water Damage in Walls, and What Should I Do About Them?
Q: I think I hear water running in my home, and I’m afraid there’s a leak somewhere. How do you know if you have wate...
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The Best Tools to Cut Drywall
Although drywall typically goes up quickly (and is one of the most exciting stages of a project), cutting it accurate...
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The Best Paint Brushes for Trim
Perhaps surprisingly, there is a lot more technology and thought behind paint and finishing brushes for trim than mee...
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Solved! Why Is There a Crack in the Basement Wall, and What Do I Do About It?
Q: I recently noticed a crack in my basement wall, and I’m concerned it’s a foundation issue. Is there a difference b...
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The Best Online Framing Services of 2023
Framed art, posters, or photographs on the walls can make a house feel like a home. A collection of memories adds cha...
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The Best TV Wall Mounts for Flat Screens
It’s been decades since flat screens took the place of bulky cathode-ray televisions. Not only will wall-mounting fre...
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The Best Borescopes: Tiny Cameras on Arms to See Inside Walls
Even for DIYers with excellent eyesight, there are certain barriers through which they’ll never see. Whether it’s an ...
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Solved! Can You Hang Wallpaper on Textured Walls?
Q: I’ve found the perfect wallpaper for the guest bedroom, but I’m not sure if I can put it over the room’s orange pe...
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The Best Drywall Primers
Fresh drywall is very dry and can soak up expensive paint like a sponge. It can also make it difficult to drag a pain...
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The Best Caulk Removal Tools for Your Tool Kit
Old caulk has a way of stealing the show—and not in a good way. That dingy, cracked sealant can deter from the clean ...
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How Much Does It Cost to Install Crown Molding?
Typical Range: $567 to $1,870 National Average: $1,218Crown molding (also spelled “moulding”) is like icing on the...
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How to Decorate Shelves in 6 Simple Steps
Shelves and bookcases are the perfect place to display treasured objects while adding visual interest to a space. If ...
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Very Peri: How to Incorporate Pantone’s 2022 Color of the Year Into Your Home’s Decor
Pantone, the global color-matching authority and developer of the Pantone Matching System used extensively by interio...
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How to Build a Closet From Scratch
Few of us ever seem to have enough storage. Freestanding wardrobes are often expensive, never seem to be arranged how...
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13 Genius Products for Fixing Walls and Ceilings Yourself
Cracks in walls and ceilings are eyesores that draw attention in an otherwise attractive setting. Though they’re ofte...
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Supply Chain Shortages Hit U.S. Paint Supply—One Color in Particular
Just about every day, it seems, we see stories on the news about supply-chain disruptions around the world. These sup...
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19 Drywall Alternatives You'll Wish You Knew About Sooner
When most of us think about constructing interior walls, drywall usually comes to mind. It is cost effective and easy...
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The Best Caulk for Baseboards
Many DIYers are familiar with running caulk around their bathroom fixtures, and a number of products are designed spe...
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How to Soundproof an Apartment Without Opening Up Walls
If your neighbor’s taste in music makes you cringe, it’s time for some soundproofing. Fortunately, there are many way...
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How To Hang a Tapestry
Wallpaper, painting, or stencils may not be your thing, or you might want to decorate your walls with deeper, richer ...
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I Tried The New Cutting-Edge Stud Finder―Did It Work?
The idea that a DIYer could see what's within a wall cavity using a smartphone screen is the stuff of science fiction...
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How Much Does Insulation Cost to Install?
Typical Range: $1,400 to $6,300 National Average: $2,900If you’re experiencing a drafty house, high energy bills, ...
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6 Signs of Structural Damage You Should Never Ignore
Owning a home comes with some inevitable responsibilities, including maintaining and repairing problems before they w...
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The Best Wallpaper Remover to Update the Interior of Your Home
Outdated wallpaper can make a room look drab and tired. When it’s time for a modern update, removing old wall coverin...
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The Best Spackle
The strongest walls in a home will inevitably take a beating over the years, leaving pinholes, gashes, and rough scuf...
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The Best Brushes for Polyurethane of 2023
The best polyurethane provides a durable, attractive finish that comes in several formulas, including oil-based, wate...
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The Best Nails for Hanging Pictures
When you hang a piece of artwork, you should feel confident that it will stay put. The wrong hardware can set you up ...
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The Best Thermal Cameras to Identify Issues and Avoid Drilling Holes
Thermal cameras can help detect potential issues in your home, such as a termite nest in the wall or a leak from a pi...
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15 Ideas for Living with White Walls
While it’s true that over the past few years white walls have taken a back seat to walls in trendy gray, deep jewel tones, bright hues, and even black, it’s also ...
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The Best Drywall Anchors Tested in 2023
Drywall—composed of compressed gypsum (a soft sulfite mineral)—creates wonderfully smooth walls. Yet insert a nail or...
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13 Places to Buy Temporary Wallpaper
Here’s where to find fabulous temporary wallpaper that’ll add unique style to any room without the mess, hassle, and commitment of traditional wallpaper.
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7 Types of Wall Texture and the Techniques Behind Them
Modern trends have tended toward flat, blank walls and a focus on color to bring a room together, but adding a unique...
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5 Tips for Building and Using a French Cleat Wall
It may sound fancy, but a French cleat is simply a sturdy beveled support board, a secret that builders and craftsmen...
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General Contractor-Approved: The Best Stud Finders of 2023, Tested
If you’ve ever had to install shelving or hang picture frames, you’ve more than likely had to find out where the stud...
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All You Need to Know About Shoe Molding
Paired with baseboard and stained or painted to match your trim, shoe molding (also known as “base shoe”) is a small,...
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What's the Difference? Shiplap vs. Tongue and Groove
If you’re a fan of modern farmhouse style, or simply watch a lot of decorating shows on TV, you’re undoubtedly famili...
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Solved! How to Fix and Prevent Wallpaper Peeling
Q: We’ve bought our dream fixer-upper and are slowly DIY-ing our way through each room. One of the bedrooms has some ...
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How To: Build a Temporary Wall
If you can't live with the layout of your space, a temporary wall may be just the solution you need. For decades, ren...
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5 Ways to Find a Wall Stud Without Using a Stud Finder
We’ve all been in this situation: "Oh, I just need to find a wall stud so I can securely hang this picture/TV/floatin...
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19 Wainscoting Ideas That Will Add Character to Your Home
Get inspired to add an elevated, custom touch to your home's interior with these charming wainscoting ideas.
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15 Places Water Damage May Be Hiding in Your Home
Building materials and water don’t mix. Insulation, wood studs, plywood sheathing, and subflooring can all degrade, rot, or develop mold when they’re repeatedly s...
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How Much Tile Do I Need? Solved!
Q: I plan on installing tile on my entryway floor and kitchen backsplash. How much tile do I need to buy in each case...
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Joint Compound vs. Spackle: What’s the Difference?
Half of the battle with common home repairs is picking the correct product to use. And when two products have some ov...
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Solved! How to Get Smoke Smell Out of Your House
Q: I recently inherited a beautiful chair from my grandparents. Unfortunately, they were heavy smokers, and the cigar...
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The Case for Picture Rails in Modern-Day Interior Design
Picture rails are 1½-inch to 2-inch strips of molding that adhere to walls and run horizontally around the room, typi...
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7 Things to Know About Lath and Plaster Walls
From the 1700s all the way through the 1940s, lath and plaster was the interior wall construction method of choice. B...
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The Best Interior Paints of 2023, Tested
Whether painting walls, furnishings, cabinets, or trim, quality interior house paint is the key to good-looking, long...
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How to Use Drywall Anchors
So, you want to hang something heavier than an average photo frame from your drywall: Whether you’re putting in a scr...
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How To: Clean Wallpaper
Is your wallpaper looking a little tired? Over time, dust and moisture can discolor, leaving papered walls dingier th...
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How To: Remove Texture from Walls
Texturing walls is a time-honored method of adding character to a wall or covering such imperfections as drywall tapi...
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Solved! The Right Height for Wainscoting
Q: My husband and I are thinking about installing wainscoting ourselves in a few rooms of our house, but can’t agree ...
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10 Wall Paneling Ideas That Don't Look Dated
Whatever your goal—adding oomph to a plain surface, hiding dings and dents, or adding interesting texture—wall paneli...
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The Dos and Don’ts of Waterproofing Basement Walls
Because they’re built below grade, basements tend to take on water. You may notice moist basement walls from time to ...
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Cool Tools: The All-in-1 Fix for Just About Any Hole in the Wall
What do you do when you find yourself staring at a hole in a wall caused by a furniture ding, a too-eagerly opened do...
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The Dos and Don'ts of Building Retaining Walls 
Reducing soil erosion, turning steep slopes into terraced backdrops, creating focal points in the landscape—retaining...
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Solved! How Well Wallpaper Works in a Bathroom
Q: My wife wants to hang wallpaper in our Jack-and-Jill bathroom. The walls could do with some eye candy, but how wel...
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Solved! This Is How Many Coats of Primer You Need for the Perfect Paint Job
Q: I’ve given in to my daughter’s request to paint her bedroom pink. Is primer required for a job like this and if so...
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How to Install Shiplap
Homeowners can’t seem to get enough of the shiplap look! The on-trend design that mimics historic shiplap—the horizon...
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How To: Paint Textured Walls
While an attractive way to update a knockdown, skip trowel, or orange peel finish, attempting to paint a textured wal...
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Solved! How Concerned You Should Be About Cracks in the Walls
Q: I recently noticed a few cracks in our living room wall. I’m not sure if they've been there for a while and I just...
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Board and Batten Siding and Trim: All You Need to Know
Wood siding that consists of narrow vertical strips or battens installed over a flat base or board is known, logicall...
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Solved! Which Comes First: Painting the Wall or Trim?
Q: We're gearing up to repaint my living room, but it’s been awhile since I’ve picked up a brush. Friends and family ...
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17 Times Shiplap Made the Room
You’ve certainly seen it—but you may not know what it's called or how versatile it is. Shiplap is a series of grooved wooden boards joined horizontally to give a ...
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All You Need to Know About Knockdown Texture
The knockdown drywall finish, an early 1990s successor to popcorn and orange peel textures, has remained a hit with h...
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Solved! This is How High to Mount Your TV on the Wall
Q: I want to get my new TV off of its stand and up onto the wall. How high should I mount my TV? Do you have any advi...
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All You Need to Know About Pony Walls
While pony walls aren’t new to the housebuilding scene, they’ve recently seen a resurgence in popularity—even before ...
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How To: Remove a Wall Mirror
Covering your wall with floor-to-ceiling mirror (or, rather, mirror tiles) seemed like such a good idea back in the 1...
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All You Need to Know About Shaker Style
Once in great a while, a style comes along that captures such a wide audience that its popularity is, well, unshakabl...
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All You Need to Know About Limewashed Brick
Despite being one of the most durable materials around, brick very visibly ages.  Its crisp square edges can soften, ...
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How To: Paint Wood Wall Paneling
In a room with wood-paneled walls—particularly if that wood is a veneer—your instinct may be to start fresh, either b...
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What's the Difference? Drywall vs. Plaster
If you’re thinking of taking on a wall construction project in your home, you’ll likely hear of two options: drywall ...
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Solved! What to Do About Mice in the Walls
Q: For the first time in my life, I have mice. I had thought that I dreamed the scratching and skittering sounds I he...
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18 Paint Colors You're Going to See Everywhere in 2018
When it comes to predicting the most popular paint colors of 2018, industry experts are seeing red—and blue, and black, and gold. Strong, saturated shades are poi...
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Solved! How High to Install a Light Switch
Q: Our screened-in porch is undergoing some updates, including the installation of overhead lights and addition of a ...
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5 Types of Tile Worth Considering in Your Next Renovation
Walk into a home improvement store on a mission to renovate your kitchen or bath, and you may find yourself overwhelm...
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All You Need to Know About Tuckpointing
Bricks provide durable cladding for interior and exterior walls, chimneys, and fireplaces. But the mortar used to fil...
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All You Need to Know About Venetian Plaster
The age-old surface treatment of Venetian plaster is making a comeback in modern homes.  Mostly used on interior wall...
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Cool Tools: An Easier Way to Repair and Finish Drywall
Drywall taping has always been a notoriously messy, imprecise undertaking. In the past, no matter the size of the job...
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Porcelain or Ceramic: Which Tile Type Is Right for You?
When considering a tile refresh for any floor, wall, or countertop, keep porcelain and ceramic tiles top of mind for ...
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Solved! How High to Hang Pictures
Q: I recently framed my son's graduation photo and want to display it in my living room. If I hang it too high, I’m a...
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How to Mud Drywall
"Mudding," the process of applying multiple thin coats of drywall compound to the joints and screw indentations in ne...
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How to Clean Brick, Indoors and Out
The naturally distressed patina of brick adds to its desirability indoors and out, but too much dirt accumulation can...
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14 Reasons to Love Exposed Brick
Exposed brick brings texture, color, and a rustic vibe to interior spaces. The look, which is typically achieved by removing the plaster from a wall to reveal the...
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The Right Way to Fill Nail Holes
If you’re reluctant to rearrange the pictures on your walls because you dread dealing with the nail holes left behind...
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12 Photos That Prove Wallpaper Still Wows
You may have memories of horrible wallpaper haunting you from homes past. But wallpaper has changed. Seriously. Not only have advancements in adhesive technology ...
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How To: Choose the Right Scraper for the Job
This content has been brought to you by Hyde Tools. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Removing old wa...
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The Best Ways to Soundproof a Room Without Tearing Down Your Walls 
Figuring out how to soundproof a room doesn’t have to be difficult. As working from home is becoming more popular, ho...
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All You Need to Know About Crown Molding
It’s the crowning glory of interior design: stylish overhead molding that adds architectural character while producin...
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All You Need to Know About Shiplap
Shiplap has been popping up everywhere lately. The rough-sawn wooden planks arranged as horizontal panels can take an...
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How To: Remove Drywall Anchors
Drywall anchors certainly come in handy when you want to safely hang something heavy on a hollow wall or a spot witho...
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How To: Use a Stud Finder
When hanging heavy mirrors, bracing large furniture, wall-mounting a new television, or erecting shelving, you need t...
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How To: Whitewash Brick
Seems like just yesterday that the red brick in your family room looked perfect, but tastes change with time. Now you...
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How To: Maintain Stucco
Over the course of millennia, builders have used everything from animal horns to whiskey in the making of stucco—an a...
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How To: Spackle a Wall
Maybe there was a mishap while moving a major appliance. Or perhaps someone hung some pictures the old-fashioned way ...
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6 Low-Cost Lifesavers to Make Wall Repair a Cinch
Walls take a beating. Overzealous furniture movers, rowdy kids, and constant doorknob bangs can leave dents, cracks, and holes that mar your walls' once-smooth su...
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Dos and Don’ts of Repairing Drywall
Drywall is tough, but it’s not indestructible. Over time, gypsum-board walls can sustain ugly cracks or holes. Fortun...
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So, You Want to... Remove a Load-Bearing Wall
In the old days, homes were built with a warren of smaller, sharply delineated rooms, each devoted to its own distinc...
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How To: Remove Wallpaper
No homeowner wants to be confronted with ripped-up wall coverings as a day-in, day-out reminder of a job not yet fini...
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How To: Cut In Paint
Any professional painter knows that a successful paint job is only as good as the preparation that comes before it. T...
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Solved! What to Do About Peeling Paint
Q: We painted our bathroom a few months ago and are already noticing areas where it’s peeling. How can we fix this—an...
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The Best Paint Pick for Your Personality Type
Whether you're a passionate DIYer, an exercise enthusiast, or even a light sleeper, there's a paint pick that's perfect for your character. Continue on to find ou...
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3 Fixes for a Hole in the Wall
While drywall is highly durable, it’s not indestructible.  Over the years, interior walls take a beating, speckled wi...
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2 Ways to Make Your Own Wallpaper
Wallpaper is having its moment again—and we're not talking about the stuffy prints you remember seeing in your grandm...
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How To: Install Chair Rail Molding
Sometimes the simplest updates make the most impact in a room—and chair rail molding is no exception. More than an ea...
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How To: Remove Paint from Brick
If you've ever tried to remove paint from brick, you know that it can be a painstaking process. Depending on the scop...
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How to Remove Tile From Floors, Backsplashes, and Other Surfaces
A lot of DIY demolition and renovation can be fun. It provides stress relief, excitement, and fast results. One of th...
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So, You Want to... Install Wainscoting
The term "wainscoting" refers to any type of paneling that covers the lower portion—usually the lower third—of an int...
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How To: Remove Wallpaper Glue
Removing wallpaper is, in a word, laborious. The process takes a great deal of energy and time. And lo and behold, ev...
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9 DIY Ways to Redo Your Wall—Without Paint
The walls of our homes have the power to speak volumes about our lives. Filled walls produce a lived-in look packed with personality, while blank walls suggest th...
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Personalize Your Home with 10 Foolproof Stencil Projects
Looking for a finishing touch for your painted wall? Just add a stencil. This trendy technique offers an easy, inexpensive way to turn any surface into a statemen...
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How To: Hang Picture Frames on a Brick Wall
Although exposed brick offers a warm, appealing aesthetic redolent of history, many homeowners are puzzled by the que...
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How To: Patch Drywall
Sooner or later, most of us need to patch drywall, whether for purely cosmetic reasons—filling nail holes, for exampl...
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9 DIY Wood Wall Treatments
Wood is found inside every home, from the framing to the floor. With the exception of floors, molding, and trim, however, most of it is covered by drywall, paint,...
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Repair Drywall with Less Hassle
Let’s be honest. Drywall repair is not something most people look forward to. Although it’s relatively straightforwar...
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Framed! 18 Picture-Perfect Gallery Walls
Candid vacation snapshots. Formal family portraits. Contemporary art. Flea market finds. Your most prized pictures and artistic expressions deserve a special plac...
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How to Tile a Bathroom Wall
When it comes to durable bathroom materials, few surpass the utility and great looks of tile. While tiles are frequen...
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How To: Texture Walls
Learning how to texture walls does more than transform boring-to-look-at surfaces into pitted, peaked, and otherwise ...
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What Would Bob Do? Dealing with Bulging Drywall Seams
Q: Many of the drywall seams on my 40-year-old house are bulging. It doesn't appear as if the joint tape is pulling a...
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Add Visual Interest with Board and Batten
A striking dimensional finishing treatment, board and batten, is enjoying renewed popularity, with homeowners install...
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How To: Paint Brick
There are a host of reasons that homeowners choose to paint brick:• If a brick fireplace is out of sync with the deco...
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All About Radiant Wall Heating
This article has been brought to you by Warmboard. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Think “radiant h...
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What Would Bob Do? Cutting Drywall
I've got to remove some drywall in a room so I can nail studs behind the wall for anchoring purposes. What is the bes...
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10 Ways to Unleash the Potential of Your Blank Walls
Do your blank walls bore you to tears? Try to look at them as if they're canvases, just waiting for your inspired touch.
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How To: Remove Crayon Stains
 If you have kids, you know that crayons can cause some serious damage to any paint job. Here's how to tackle tough c...
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Stone Veneer 101
The pharaohs capitalized on the beauty and strength of stone, overseeing the construction of architectural gems whose...
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Quick Tip: Drywall vs. Blueboard
 When choosing wallboard, remember the difference between drywall and blueboard. Drywall panels are covered with pape...
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How to Install Beadboard
Beadboard is a type of wood paneling that has raised half-round vertical beads milled between flat lengths of board. ...
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4 Ways to Identify a Load-Bearing Wall
Structural renovations can make a huge impact on the flow and feel of a space. However, they require removing walls, ...
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All About Skim Coat Plastering
Traditional plastering consists of three separate coats of plaster. The first two, called the brown and scratch coats...
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Top Tips for Installing Drywall
You've probably hung some 'rock over the years, either at home or helping a friend refur­bish a room. So you probably...
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How To: Rebuild a Wall with Three-Coat Plaster
On the Manhattan Brownstone project, Bob, Chris Vila, and architect Brian O’Keefe discovered an intact ceiling cornic...
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Blueboard and Veneer Plaster Offer Old-Style Look
Everyone knows drywall and you can’t beat its cost. But almost no one loves drywall, a leading cause of contractor ca...
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Top Tips for Installing Tongue-and-Groove Paneling
Install wood paneling in any room to inject architectural detail, warmth, and character into your home. Traditionally...
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How To: Paint Masonry Walls
Hurricane Sandy proved to be a trial for many of us. My wife and I were fortunate, and our home suffered no major dam...
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5 Favorite Picture Hanging Tricks
Hanging a picture is about as DIY as many homeowners get. But although it may seem easy, hanging a picture properly i...
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How To: Clean Painted Walls
Cleaning painted walls may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple, albeit somewhat time-consuming....
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How To: Install Floating Shelves
Before hanging anything, it’s important to find out what your wall is made of. Ideally, you should attach floating sh...
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How To: Patch Plaster Walls
Finishing a new wall or room with plaster or joint compound takes practice. If you have no experience with plaster or...
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How To: Finish Drywall Joints
Most of the time finishing drywall joints isn't one of those jobs that has people jumping up and down with excitement...
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Insulating the Roof and Installing Mold-Resistant Drywall
The roof of the new addition is being insulated – in an environmentally conscious way – to retain the heat from the radiant heating system. Moisture- and mold-res...
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Building a First-Floor Slab and Walls with Concrete
The home's concrete-slab floor is constructed with foam decking and connected to PEX tubing that will heat the home. The ReddiForm foam blocks enable a single con...
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Building with Polystyrene Forms and Concrete
Bob explores innovative construction technologies – Insul-Tarp and ReddiForm polystyrene blocks – as the structure is reinforced and the first-floor walls start t...
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Building a Metal Stud Wall in the Basement
Bob meets carpenter Danny Ruffini to see how a metal stud wall is built in the basement.
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Installing Stud Lumber Partitioning for the Bathroom
Bob reviews plans for the kitchen remodeling and visits the second floor, where one of the bedrooms has been removed to accommodate his and her bathrooms. He help...
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Installing Paneling in the Master Bedroom Closet
Bob joins carpenter David Ives, who is installing the paneling in the master bedroom closet, and then checks in on artist Kim’s faux finishing work on the walls.
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Applying Decorative Painting Techniques
Bob meets with faux-painting expert Kim Sweet, who is applying a gold parchment effect on the master bedroom walls. Bob tries his hand at applying some color.
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Installing Wall Paneling in the Entranceway and Visiting the Completed Tiled Shower
Inspired by designs found in the Isaac Bell historic house, paneling is installed on Bob’s entrance door to the living room. Bob looks at the completed tiled show...
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Touring the Isaac Bell Historic House
Bob takes a tour of the Isaac Bell historic house in Newport, RI, exploring one of the finest examples of the Shingle Style to be found anywhere.
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Installing a Chair Rail and Restoring a Corner Cupboard
In the dining room, carpenter Bob Ryley installs a chair rail and works with carpenter Danny Ruffini on the glass doors that will be added to the corner cupboard—...
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Repairing Plaster and Installing Ceramic Shower Tiles
Bob heads to the library to discuss the plaster patchwork in progress, and then visits the second floor, where ceramic tile is being installed in a guest bathroom...
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Building a Kitchen Staircase
Furniture maker Todd Allen builds a staircase from scratch, which will run from the basement to the kitchen, using a technique that is a couple of centuries old.
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Looking Behind the Walls and Installing a Pocket Door
Before putting on the blue board, Bob looks at what goes behind the walls: wiring, light fixtures, heat ducts, water lines, and a pocket door frame.
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Applying a Veneer Coat of Plaster over Blueboard
Bob interviews Carlos Londono, a plastering contractor, who demonstrates how to apply a veneer coat of plaster over blue board.
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Replacing and Installing Windows and Costs of Finishing a Basement
An old basement window is replaced, and experts explain the costs of the Owens Corning finishing system.
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Completing the Basement Finishing System and Repairing the Basement Stairs
Bob talks with Owens Corning experts about the basement finishing system and discusses staircase repairs.
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Recapping the Remodeling and Converting an Unfinished Basement into Living Space
Bob recaps the project and the installation of a new ceiling and walls begins.
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Installing a Basement Half-Bathroom
Bob discusses the installation of a basement half-bathroom, including wiring, plumbing, and radiant heating.
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Fiberglass-Faced Wallboard Combats Mold and Moisture
Bob meets Thad Goodman to install fiberglass-faced wallboard.
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Reviewing the Work Involved in Building a Hurricane-Resistant Home
Bob meets with Leslie Chapman-Henderson from the Federal Alliance for Safe Housing (FLASH) and Randy Shackelford to discuss an assortment of storm-resistant roof ...
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Removing the Concrete Wall Forms and Planning the Plaster Finish
Mark Newton and Jesse Gonzales explain what happens when the metal frames are removed from the poured walls, then they apply a three-coat plaster.
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Metal Stud Framing
Dino Koukoudakis of Dino's Construction prefers using metal studs, because of their light weight and resistance to warping. Easy to cut and fasten, metal studs to...
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Fast-Pace Drywall Installation and Mold-Resistant Interior Siding
Bob spends a moment with the drywall contractor before speaking with Thad Goodman of Georgia Pacific. Mr. Goodman tells Bob about the unique, mold-resistant prope...
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Mixing Plaster and Installing the Skylight
Bob and Chris Vila visit the plastering contractor and receive a lesson in plaster mixing. Next, they talk to Dino from Dino's Construction, who's installing the ...
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Applying Marmorino Plaster
Bob discusses the custom wall finish with designer Jonas Everets, who is using marmorino, a centuries-old lime-based plaster, on the kitchen walls of the top-floo...
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Waxing Venetian Plaster
Bob looks on as custom wall finisher Jonas Everets demonstrates the process of waxing a surface plastered with marmorino, a Venetian plaster.
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Reviewing the Penthouse Living Area & Kitchen
Bob surveys the interior decorating of the penthouse apartment, as well as the top-quality materials and appliances in the kitchen. Also, Bob learns about the dif...
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Advantages of a Pre-cast Foundation System
Chris Vila discusses the benefits of a factory-built foundation system with Mel Zimmerman of Superior Walls.
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High-Speed Drywall Finishing
Bob witnesses high-speed drywall finishing taking place in the Simplex modular home building plant.
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Installing Windows and Engineered Siding
Pella windows are being set into the modular home, one section of which is being sided with a board-and-batten product from Georgia-Pacific.
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Reviewing the Modular Home's Exterior
Bob surveys the modular home project in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts, paying special attention to the products used on the exterior of the house.
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Elm Court's Unfinished Restoration
Bob goes on a behind-the-scenes tour of Elm Court.
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Drywall Installation
Bob walks through the farmhouse interior and points out some of the challenges the home's design posed for the drywall contractors.
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Exterior Painting With an Airless Sprayer
Latex paint is being applied on the exterior of the Vermont farmhouse by workers using airless sprayers.
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Applying Glazed Wall Tile in the Bathroom
Rob Shedrofsky from Davinci Stone explains the tiling process to Bob as the Porcelanosa wall tile is installed in the bathroom
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Antique Brick Work at the Burtch-Udall House and Sumner Mansion
Bob and Professor Tom Visser (UVM) visit the Burtch-Udall house in Quechee, VT, and the nearby Sumner Mansion-- suitable locales for a running discussion on prope...
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Installing French Doors
Bob talks with Ray Adam (from Pella Windows) about the new French doors to be installed in the library. It's an active/inactive door with all hardware. The most i...
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Skylight and Gable Window Installation
Bob goes up to the attic of the Victorian project house, where an ODL tubular skylight is being installed. Also, Bob looks back at the installation of windows on ...
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Blowing In Cellulose Insulation
Bob joins Joe Sheridan (from Energy Guard) to learn more about the US Greenfiber Cocoon cellulose insulation being used in the barn.
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Drywall vs. Blueboard Explained
In the barn of the Victorian restoration project house, Bob talks with a rep from US Gypsum about the new technology that makes blue boards stronger and lighter t...
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Installing Drywall with Wallboard and Taped Joints
A crew from US Gypsum is installing drywall in the barn of the Victorian restoration project house. This is a traditional installation with drywall wallboard and ...
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Patching With Plaster
Chris Borovka (from US Gypsum) joins Bob to explain about patching with plaster.
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Building Walls With Structural Insulated Panels
Bob visits the site to watch the Steve Thompson and his crew from Premier Building Systems raise the SIPs walls. Jim Tracy (from Premier) provides SIPs details.
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Tour of the Premier Building Systems Factory
Bob tours the Premier Building Systems plant with general manager Steve Thompson.
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Manufacturing the Engineered Wood Floor Joists
Bob visits the Willamette I-Joist Mill in Woodburn, OR, before returning to Yonkers where the crew is assembling the second floor walls with structural insulated ...
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Plastering the Walls
Tim Smyth, the plastering contractor, provides a drywall update and offers a few tips on quality, speedy installation.
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Decorative Painting Techniques With B. Smith
Decorator B. Smith paint a lavender stripe pattern on a bedroom wall.
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Discussing the Building Materials and Wall Layout
Bob discusses the wall layout with carpenter Bob Ryley and, with Bryan Readling (from the Engineered Wood Association), the talk surrounds the use of laminated ve...
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Applying Veneer Plaster to the Stairway Walls
John Galvin is applying veneer plaster to the walls along the stairway.
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Interior Trim Tips
Carpenter Bob Ryley and the finish carpenter install interior trim in the dining room.
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Aluminum Replacement Window Installation
Carpenter Bob Ryley and Bob George (from New England Window) install a bronze aluminum replacement window in an arched-top masonry wall.
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Hanging Blueboard and Installing Corner Beads
Bob interviews Brian Dauphinee, who's hanging blue board, installing corner bead, and applying the scratch coat of plaster.
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Installing a Mirror and Glasswork
Bob observes Bill Brody (from Classic Glass) installing a large mirror, a glass shelf, and a glass partition wall.
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Installing a Bathroom Grab Rail
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley put up a grab bar in the bathroom to facilitate a wheelchair-bound person's maneuvering.
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Flooring, Plumbing, and Plastering
The old flooring in the Gothic Carpenter-style home in Elmwood has been removed. Bob outlines the process of installing the new floor and discusses the new suppor...
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Installing Insulation and Plastering
Carpenter Bob Ryley and Tim Grether (from Owens Corning) install insulation and vapor barrier in the bathroom. And Jim Larson (from Georgia Pacific) installs a sp...
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House Seven: Shingle-Style Renovation
The seventh Elmwood neighborhood project house has rotting sidewall and old asphalt roof shingles in need of replacement.
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Discussing Cedar Shingle Siding
Homer Earl (from the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau) explains what makes a quality shingle. The group takes a look at Sikkens Cetol shingle stain products, and Bo...
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Framing Begins on the Miami Home
As part of a Miami kitchen renovation, Bob frames a partition wall made to resemble a banana leaf. He also pours concrete to patch a floor.
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Pouring Concrete for the Home Addition
Bob watches a concrete slab foor being poured, and looks on as sets of insulated forms are filled with concrete to make walls.
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Applying Stucco
Bob meets with stucco contractor Angelo Dattini, who walks Bob through the first steps of stucco application.
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Mixing Stucco
Bob meets with stucco contractor Angelo Dattini, who is mixing Rinker-brand stucco with Pompano sand in a wheelbarrow.
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Framing a Partition Wall
Bob helps frame a partition wall that will resemble a banana leaf.
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Plaster Repair Over Drywall
Bob interviews Mike Casas, a plastering contractor applying plaster over drywall and metal lath over wood lath.
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Installing Clapboard Siding on the Front Porch
Bob and carpenter Cortney Lofton install clapboard siding on the front porch of the bungalow. In addition, they reinforce the gable to correct an existing sag, th...
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Tour of the Home's Remodeled Exterior
Bob tours the home's exterior, noting that the crowned gates are complete and that a locking latch has been added to secure the pool. Bob also remarks on the land...
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Removing and Relocating Windows
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley look at the corner of the house, where the sidewall has been removed to reveal the plywood and Douglas fir sheathing. Next, Bob helps ...
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Putting Up the Second Floor Exterior Wall
Bob assists the crew installing sidewall on the second floor of the addition.
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Building Interior Wall Partitions
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley demonstrate how to lay out and build interior partitions.
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Wall Demolition to Create a Doorway
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley demolish a wall on the second floor in order to connect the framed-in addition to the existing house.
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Architects Tour the Newton, MA Project
Bob meets with the architects, Mark and Geoffrey, who visit the project site every two weeks in order to check on progress, and to make sure their plans are being...
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Applying Plaster to Blueboard
As he watches the plaster being applied, Bob discusses the advantages of using blueboard and plaster, instead of drywall.
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Shingle Siding
Bob joins carpenter Bob Ryley, who is putting sidewall shingles onto the exterior of the new addition.
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Plaster Cornice Reconstruction
Bob surveys the plaster cornice in the project home. Water damage has ruined a large section and much of the remaining plaster needs repair. Bob and restoration c...
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Adding Detail to the Plaster Cornice
Bob observers the expert plasterer add detail to the cornice, which is under reconstruction due to water damage.
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Plaster and Cornice Work
Bob joins restoration contractor Richard Marks to see how the existing plaster and cornice work is blended with the new drywall.
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Stucco Walls
Bob meets with John Clancy who is applying "California" stucco inside the greenhouse. A tint is applied to the mix to match the interior, and a latex bonding mate...
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Framing and Erecting the Second-Floor Walls
The second-floor walls are framed and erected at the Malibu beach house.
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Cellulose Insulation Installation
Contractor Rick Davenport demonstrates the installation of wet-spray cellulose insulation. Jets of water moisten the insulation as it leaves the blower hose nozzl...
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Exterior Stucco Finish
Contractors explain their methodology as they apply stucco finish to the Malibu beach house in a multiple-step process.
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Applying Mortar Scratch Coat for Shower Wall Tiles
Bob visits with plaster sub-contractor Mike Bennet, who is floating mortar bed walls in the shower space of the beach house bathroom.
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Installing Insulspan Structural Insulated Panels
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley review the Insulspan structural insulated panels (SIPs). These Styrofoam panels save steps in construction, since they include struct...
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Hanging Drywall Inside the Skylight
Bob interviews drywall contractor Mark Richardson, as he hangs drywall inside a skylight and attaches the corner bead.
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Finishing the Interior and Exterior
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley install southern yellow pine plywood on the interior of the garage. On the exterior, Bob talks with Greg Binford about adding a stain...
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Touring the Interior of Chateau-sur-Mer
Bob tours the lavish interior of Chateau-sur-Mer in Newport, RI. The entrance walls are painted canvas and the ceiling is adorned by a fresco. Hand-carved walnut ...
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Building a Victorian-Style Breezeway
Contractor Bob Ryley is creating a Victorian-style breezeway using modern materials, which will bridge the old and new wings of the home.
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Installing Cedar Shingles
Bob meets with carpenter Ron Jackson, who is installing Atlantic white cedar shingles and sidewall flashing.
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Victorian-Style Wallpaper
The wallpaper installers, Jim and Tracy Matheson, show Bob how wallpaper is measured, cut, and applied.
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Adding a Door to a Wood-Paneled Wall
Bob reviews progress in the kitchen, which includes the installation of a pantry, and contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates how to build a door into a wood-paneled wa...
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Window Trim and Scalloped Shingles
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley confer about adding trim to the curvilinear top edge of an arched window. After sheet lead is installed as flashing, Ryley attaches s...
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Touring the Home Addition
The designer shows Bob around the addition, pointing out certain highlights, such as the breezeway with exposed studs and the Victorian-influenced lighting design...
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Home Addition and Construction Timeline
Bob remarks on how much progress has been made in one week of work on the Wayland project home. The footings have been established and the crew has begun building...
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Shirley-Eustis Colonial Governor's Mansion Tour
Bob meets with Lynn from the Shirley-Eustis Colonial Governor's Mansion Association. Together they tour the Federal-style home, noting an Irish crystal chandelier...
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Blueboard and Plaster
Bob joins plastering contractor Bob Fragakis, who will install blueboard, then apply a skim coat of plaster over it. Fragakis explains the tools and materials use...
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Constructing a Clapboard Sunburst Fan
Bob joins siding contractor Brian Quinn, who is constructing a beautiful gable-end sunburst fan from clapboard siding. Quinn explains how to lay out the center mo...
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Selecting and Hanging Wallpaper
The interior decorating process has begun. Bob receives some tips on selecting and hanging wallpaper.
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Installation of Paneling in the Basement
Refinishing the basement continues with the installation of wood paneling.
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Reviewing the Home Exterior
Bob and carpenter-contractor Bob Ryley review the exterior of the home, pointing out the new trellis and the new entryway. Next, they move inside to have a look ...
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Hanging Ceiling Drywall
Bob interviews Larry Lelflar (from Bonita Drywall) as he and his team hang drywall on the ceiling, then apply the first coat of tape and compound.
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Finishing the Drywall Ceiling
Bob tours the interior of the in-progress Naples project, discussing the installation of ceiling boards with the drywall contractor.
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Using Metal Wall Studs in the Kitchen
General contractor Ron Gan explains the advantages of metal wall studs, as the studs are cut and installed in the kitchen, complete with plywood backing plates fo...
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Framing the Walls
Bob works with the crew on framing the walls of the Cape Cod house.
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Applying Cedar Shingles
Sidewall contractor Dean Fraser shows us how to apply cedar shingles.
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Drywall Techniques
Plaster contractor Claude Daigle demonstrates his preferred drywall techniques.
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Pine Interior Paneling
Carpentry contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates how to put up the pine interior paneling in the living room.
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Installing the Parallam Beam
The crew installs a Parallam beam in the living room along with iron beams on the back masonry wall.
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Plaster and Drywall
Bob looks on as plaster contractor Sabino Lux performs plaster patching and adds drywall details.
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Vinyl Siding
Contractor Carleton Bergere explains the advantages of vinyl siding and demonstrates how to install it.
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Exterior Cladding
Bob looks on as general contractor Tim Berky clads the Queen Anne Victorian project house with clapboards, taking cues from the home's original 1890s exterior.
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