How to Install a Storm Door

Set the Placeholder Screw

Hold the hinge tight to the trim and drive a screw in the top hole. Leave a 1/8-in. gap between the screw head and the trim. Remove the hinge rail.

Article source here: How to Install a Storm Door

Article source here:

8 Best Entertainment Centers for Any Room

Why Go All Out With an Entertainment Center?

Entertainment centers are an outstanding way to keep TV, media players, video game consoles and speakers hidden when not in use. They also conceal unsightly electrical cords and tangled wires while providing an attractive place to display books, photos and other decorative items.

If you’re seeking a space-saving storage solution to keep your living room or den neat and tidy, an entertainment center is the answer. Here are eight entertainment centers for you to consider.

Article source here: 8 Best Entertainment Centers for Any Room

Article source here:

8 Best Dog Beds for Every Dog

Buying a Dog Bed

When it comes to beds, your dog probably cares more about its proximity to wherever you hang out over how plush or supportive it is. Still, you want to make sure you select a bed with the features that enable your beloved pet to sleep well, night after night.

Some dogs require orthopedic beds. Others prefer the security of small, donut-shaped beds. A lively pup might enjoy a whimsical bed that doubles as a place to play, while a basic bed free of bells and whistles is perfectly acceptable to the average adult dog.

But even if you have a general idea of what type of bed would be best for your dog, there are so many options within each category that it can be tough to narrow it down. That’s where we come in!

Here is our list of eight of the best dog beds out there.

Article source here: 8 Best Dog Beds for Every Dog

Article source here:

How Does a Gas Furnace Work?

Derived from the Latin word fornax, meaning oven, a furnace is a large heating appliance designed to evenly distribute heat throughout a building. Furnaces accomplish this by burning fuel internally to warm air, water or steam, then directing this warmth into various parts of a building to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

Most furnaces are called forced-air furnaces because they direct heated air into different rooms with a blower. Although some furnaces generate heat through electricity, or by burning wood, coal or oil, they most commonly burn natural gas or liquid propane gas (LPG). If you own a gas-burning forced-air furnace or are thinking of buying one, understanding how they work is an important first step.

How a Gas Furnace Works: The Heating Cycle

Let’s begin by understanding the heating cycle. A pipe entering your home from the outside connects the source of the gas to the furnace. LPG burning units need an outdoor storage tank, while natural gas models feature underground connections to a natural gas pipe network.

• After the gas enters your furnace from a storage tank (LPG) or the local gas supply network (natural gas), the burner lights it.
• Cold air from your house enters the furnace, where the burning gas warms it within the heat exchanger.
• Exhaust from the combustion is piped out of the furnace through the vent and exits the home via an exhaust pipe.
• The warm air is directed into various parts of your house by the blower fan, depending on where thermostats detect the need for heat.
• The internal air temperature gradually increases as the warm air is distributed. Cold air is redirected to the furnace through return ducts.
• Once the thermostat senses the set temperature has been reached, it switches off the gas valve to prevent the flow of warm air.

Parts of a Gas Furnace

Thermostat: An electronic device that measures and controls indoor temperature, regulating the furnace’s heating cycle according to its set point. (The thermostat is located remotely and hard-wired to the furnace.)

Control board: A small circuit board designed to interpret various electrical signals from inside and outside the furnace. It sends signals in response, causing various things to happen, like opening the gas valve and turning on the burners and blower fan when the thermostat calls for heat. (Not shown in illustration.)

Burners: Small outlets where gas emits within the furnace and is ignited into even, controlled flames.

Igniter: The device responsible for lighting the gas emitted from the burners. Furnace igniters work by creating a spark to cause ignition, or by producing an extremely hot surface that ignites the gas as it passes.

Blower fan: A small electric fan and motor that directs warm air from the furnace to various parts of the home according to heat demands.

Flame detector: Designed to prevent gas from building up dangerously if the igniter fails, flame detectors shut off gas flow if no heat is detected.

Heat exchanger: A series of thin-walled metal tubes that keep the combustion process separate from the air entering the home via the blower fan. Cold air is blown over the outside of the heat exchanger, warming it before it is redirected into the home.

Plenums: The supply-air plenum distributes warmed air to the ducts. The return-air plenum carries air from rooms back to the furnace to be heated.

Gas valve: Regulates the pressure of gas entering the furnace from an outside source, either a tank of LPG or a natural gas supply line.

Air filter: A membrane designed to keep dust and debris from entering the furnace with the cool air.

Transformer: These supply electricity to the furnace and regulate it down to the correct voltage.

Furnace Maintenance and Safety

As with all combustion-based home heating appliances, gas furnaces require some regular maintenance and safety precautions.

• Keep all flammable items well away from the furnace.
• Schedule regular cleaning and maintenance calls with a certified technician.
• Change the air filter often. During regular use, swap it out at least every three months.
• Outfit your home with at least one carbon monoxide (CO) detector. Test it regularly.
• Keep furnace registers (louvered openings in walls or floors where warm air from the furnace enters the home) clean and clear of obstruction, and don’t close too many at once. Keep at least two-thirds of them open at all times to avoid excessive heat buildup in the furnace.

Article source here: How Does a Gas Furnace Work?

Article source here:

How to Install a Storm Door

Set the Placeholder Screw

Hold the hinge tight to the trim and drive a screw in the top hole. Leave a 1/8-in. gap between the screw head and the trim. Remove the hinge rail.

Article source here: How to Install a Storm Door

8 Best Entertainment Centers for Any Room

Why Go All Out With an Entertainment Center?

Entertainment centers are an outstanding way to keep TV, media players, video game consoles and speakers hidden when not in use. They also conceal unsightly electrical cords and tangled wires while providing an attractive place to display books, photos and other decorative items.

If you’re seeking a space-saving storage solution to keep your living room or den neat and tidy, an entertainment center is the answer. Here are eight entertainment centers for you to consider.

Article source here: 8 Best Entertainment Centers for Any Room

8 Best Dog Beds for Every Dog

Buying a Dog Bed

When it comes to beds, your dog probably cares more about its proximity to wherever you hang out over how plush or supportive it is. Still, you want to make sure you select a bed with the features that enable your beloved pet to sleep well, night after night.

Some dogs require orthopedic beds. Others prefer the security of small, donut-shaped beds. A lively pup might enjoy a whimsical bed that doubles as a place to play, while a basic bed free of bells and whistles is perfectly acceptable to the average adult dog.

But even if you have a general idea of what type of bed would be best for your dog, there are so many options within each category that it can be tough to narrow it down. That’s where we come in!

Here is our list of eight of the best dog beds out there.

Article source here: 8 Best Dog Beds for Every Dog

How Does a Gas Furnace Work?

Derived from the Latin word fornax, meaning oven, a furnace is a large heating appliance designed to evenly distribute heat throughout a building. Furnaces accomplish this by burning fuel internally to warm air, water or steam, then directing this warmth into various parts of a building to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

Most furnaces are called forced-air furnaces because they direct heated air into different rooms with a blower. Although some furnaces generate heat through electricity, or by burning wood, coal or oil, they most commonly burn natural gas or liquid propane gas (LPG). If you own a gas-burning forced-air furnace or are thinking of buying one, understanding how they work is an important first step.

How a Gas Furnace Works: The Heating Cycle

Let’s begin by understanding the heating cycle. A pipe entering your home from the outside connects the source of the gas to the furnace. LPG burning units need an outdoor storage tank, while natural gas models feature underground connections to a natural gas pipe network.

• After the gas enters your furnace from a storage tank (LPG) or the local gas supply network (natural gas), the burner lights it.
• Cold air from your house enters the furnace, where the burning gas warms it within the heat exchanger.
• Exhaust from the combustion is piped out of the furnace through the vent and exits the home via an exhaust pipe.
• The warm air is directed into various parts of your house by the blower fan, depending on where thermostats detect the need for heat.
• The internal air temperature gradually increases as the warm air is distributed. Cold air is redirected to the furnace through return ducts.
• Once the thermostat senses the set temperature has been reached, it switches off the gas valve to prevent the flow of warm air.

Parts of a Gas Furnace

Thermostat: An electronic device that measures and controls indoor temperature, regulating the furnace’s heating cycle according to its set point. (The thermostat is located remotely and hard-wired to the furnace.)

Control board: A small circuit board designed to interpret various electrical signals from inside and outside the furnace. It sends signals in response, causing various things to happen, like opening the gas valve and turning on the burners and blower fan when the thermostat calls for heat. (Not shown in illustration.)

Burners: Small outlets where gas emits within the furnace and is ignited into even, controlled flames.

Igniter: The device responsible for lighting the gas emitted from the burners. Furnace igniters work by creating a spark to cause ignition, or by producing an extremely hot surface that ignites the gas as it passes.

Blower fan: A small electric fan and motor that directs warm air from the furnace to various parts of the home according to heat demands.

Flame detector: Designed to prevent gas from building up dangerously if the igniter fails, flame detectors shut off gas flow if no heat is detected.

Heat exchanger: A series of thin-walled metal tubes that keep the combustion process separate from the air entering the home via the blower fan. Cold air is blown over the outside of the heat exchanger, warming it before it is redirected into the home.

Plenums: The supply-air plenum distributes warmed air to the ducts. The return-air plenum carries air from rooms back to the furnace to be heated.

Gas valve: Regulates the pressure of gas entering the furnace from an outside source, either a tank of LPG or a natural gas supply line.

Air filter: A membrane designed to keep dust and debris from entering the furnace with the cool air.

Transformer: These supply electricity to the furnace and regulate it down to the correct voltage.

Furnace Maintenance and Safety

As with all combustion-based home heating appliances, gas furnaces require some regular maintenance and safety precautions.

• Keep all flammable items well away from the furnace.
• Schedule regular cleaning and maintenance calls with a certified technician.
• Change the air filter often. During regular use, swap it out at least every three months.
• Outfit your home with at least one carbon monoxide (CO) detector. Test it regularly.
• Keep furnace registers (louvered openings in walls or floors where warm air from the furnace enters the home) clean and clear of obstruction, and don’t close too many at once. Keep at least two-thirds of them open at all times to avoid excessive heat buildup in the furnace.

Article source here: How Does a Gas Furnace Work?

The Homeowner’s Guide to Pergolas

Like many words borrowed from Italian, “pergola” rolls off the tongue, conjuring up images of al fresco meals served beneath a canopy of heady bougainvillea or jasmine vines.

Judging from Google Trends, Americans have caught pergola fever over the past year. Searches for the term in 2020 doubled compared to the average over the entire previous decade, as families stuck at home looked for new ways to make their outdoor spaces more livable.

Outdoor living will continue to be an important part of life for the near future, so now may be the perfect time for you to look into adding a bit of Mediterranean flair to your deck or patio.

What Is a Pergola?

A permanent garden feature known as a hardscape structure, a pergola is composed of columns or pillars that support an open crossbeam roof. The columns and roof are designed to serve as a framework for climbing vines or flowering plants. The pergola as a whole can be freestanding, extend out from a building or home, or connect two buildings.

Contemporary pergolas sometimes forgo the greenery for chic bare crossbeams or more roof-like coverings like bamboo cane, clear vinyl or even fabric.

Why Get a Pergola for Your Deck or Patio?

A pergola is a great way to extend your living space outdoors. The cross beams and greenery or roof provide enough shade to make your deck or patio comfortable during the hottest hours of the day, while allowing a breeze and sunlight to filter through.

If you cover your pergola with a waterproof material, or are patient enough to wait for your vines to form a thick, impenetrable canopy, a pergola can even be a functional outdoor space under a light rain shower.

Pergolas also offer additional privacy so you can relax outdoors without worrying about prying eyes. A traditional pergola is an open-sided structure, but you can add fabric panels, vine-covered latticework or even billowing outdoor curtains to one or more sides to create an open-air retreat.

Although they are permanent hardscaping, pergolas are relatively inexpensive and easy to build from scratch, or with a pergola kit that includes pre-cut wood and all the required hardware. There are a vast variety of materials and designs to choose from to fit your budget and complement the style of your home while creating a stylish centerpiece for your yard.

Finally, pergolas create a defined space that you can decorate for outdoor dining and entertaining as if it were an indoor room. With glowing lights, comfy couches and armchairs, soft outdoor rugs, hanging flower pots and other personalized accessories, you can create the inviting feel of an open-air living room.

Types of Pergolas

Once made exclusively out of wood, pergolas today are made from a multitude of materials:

• Cedar or redwood: One of the most popular options, cedar and redwood are naturally insect-resistant. They can be stained and sealed to retain their color or left untreated to naturally weather over time.

• Teak or exotic woods: These hardwoods are particularly durable, resisting rot and cracking more than softwoods like cedar or redwood. They also cost significantly more.

• Pressure-treated pine: Although reasonably long-lasting, pressure-treated wood can warp, crack or split in dry climates or when exposed to the elements. Pergolas made from this material are generally the most affordable, but must be stained or painted and carefully maintained.

• Composite decking boards (Trex): More durable than natural wood but with an authentic wood-like look, composite decking boards won’t splinter or rot and are weather resistant. This popular DIY material does, however, cost more than pressure-treated pine.

• Alumawood: This aluminum material, painted and embossed to resemble wood, is more resistant to the elements and less expensive than wood. It can fade in the sun and is easily dented, thus requiring periodic maintenance. Alumawood pergolas are generally only available in kit form.

• Vinyl (with a wood or metal core): Needing little or no maintenance and uniquely durable, vinyl is a top choice for pergola kits or assembling a custom pergola with pre-cut parts. A power washing every couple of years will keep most quality vinyl looking like new for decades.

• Fiberglass: Generally the most expensive option, fiberglass pergolas offer significant perks. Light and strong, they are ideal for adding to an existing deck or patio because they require fewer columns and shallow footings. If you opt for fiberglass, however, you’ll need to go with a kit or order a custom pergola with pre-cut and formed parts because this material isn’t available for DIY projects.

What to Know Before Adding a Pergola to Your Deck or Patio

Wooden pergolas require regular maintenance. How often depends upon the type of wood, how it was initially treated or sealed, and where you live. Plan on cleaning, treating and/or repainting your pergola at least once every two years to keep it looking fresh, as well as checking regularly for signs of mildew or termite damage.

If you have a traditional pergola covered in greenery, you also need to trim it regularly so the pergola isn’t weighed down and the vines stay healthy and lush.

How Much Do Pergolas Cost?

The cost of building a pergola depends upon the material, size and placement. The average ranges around $3,600 for a 10-ft. cedar pergola, including materials and labor, although you can find quality DIY kits for less than $1,000. High-end custom pergola kits cost up to $10,000, plus $500 to $1,000 in installation costs.

Should You Build or Buy a Pergola?

A custom pergola is an expensive project, especially if you hire a hardscaping company to take care of the design and labor. That said, a custom pergola has the distinct advantage of complete flexibility as far as the size, material and style. If you have a quirky outdoor space where a standard pergola won’t fit, designing one yourself or with professional help may be your only option.

Assembling a pergola from a kit is generally a less expensive option. With all the pre-cut wood and hardware included, it can be built in a day. Kits offer limited choices of sizes and styles, however, as most stick to a fairly standard square or rectangle shape and traditional Mediterranean design. Some kits come with retractable covers, a convenient feature if you need more shade and prefer to avoid the hassle of ordering a cover to fit a custom pergola.

Here are your five main options for adding a pergola to your yard:

Custom Pergola Assembled Professionally

Pros

• Limitless choice of materials;
• Sized to fit your space;
• Designed by experts for structural stability;
• All-inclusive from materials and hardware to final build.

Cons

• Most expensive option.

Custom Pergola with DIY Assembly

Pros

• Freedom to choose materials and sizes;
• Stability of a professional design;
• No labor costs.

Cons

• Level of customer support for troubleshooting during assembly may vary;
• May require specific tools or hard-to-find materials;
• May require two or more people for assembly.

Pergola Kit Assembled Professionally

Pros

• Generally less expensive than custom designs;
• Stability of a professional design;
• Pieces and hardware included;
• Professional builders with experience and tools.

Cons

• Labor increases final cost;
• Less choice of materials;
• Standard sizes won’t fit some spaces.

Pergola Kit with DIY Assembly

Pros

• Least expensive option with no design or labor costs;
• Stability of a professional design;
• Pieces and hardware included.

Cons

• Limited choice of materials;
• Standard sizes won’t fit some spaces;
• Level of customer support for troubleshooting during assembly may vary;
• May require specific tools;
• May require two or more people for assembly.

DIY Pergola from Design Through Build

Pros

• Limitless choice of materials and style;
• Sized to fit your space;
• Careful sourcing of materials;
• No labor costs.

Cons

• Stability may be compromised if you don’t have design experience;
• Time and hassle of purchasing materials;
• You’re on your own for troubleshooting during the build;
• May require specific tools;
• May require two or more people for assembly.

Article source here: The Homeowner’s Guide to Pergolas

Article source here:

21 Genius Uses for Hand Sanitizer You’ll Wish You Knew Before

Hand It To Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizers can come in handy during cold and flu season and in extremely germy places like hospitals, medical clinics and doctors’ offices. And while dermatologists caution against overusing the gel on your hands — it can really dry them out — there are plenty of other uses that you may never have thought of. Pandemic or not, keeping hand sanitizer around the house is a great idea.

Plus, here’s how to make a quick and simple hand sanitizer with common household ingredients.

Article source here: 21 Genius Uses for Hand Sanitizer You’ll Wish You Knew Before

Article source here:

8 Best Dish Racks for Your Kitchen

How To Choose the Best Dish Rack

Whether you hand wash a plate or two occasionally or suds up your dirty pots and pans after every meal, if you’re like us you prefer air drying your dishes. When deciding which type of dish rack to buy, consider how much counter space you have, how many folks live in your household and the size of your sink.

And while some racks fold up so they can be put away when not in use, we mere mortals tend to leave our dish racks out all the time. So style can be just as important as functionality.

Along with slats to prop up plates, racks generally come with standard features like a flatware baskets, cup and glass prongs, and a drain tray and/or a tilted design to direct water into the sink.

Here are the dish racks we like best in a wide range of categories.

Article source here: 8 Best Dish Racks for Your Kitchen

Article source here:

8 Best Laundry Room Storage Cabinets

Best Wall-Mounted: Topeakmart Home Wall Mount Cabinet

Sturdy and reasonable priced, the Topeakmart Home Wall Mount Cabinet features inner shelves that are more than 10 inches deep, providing ample space to store laundry supplies. These wall-mounted cabinets measure 23.4-in. wide and tall, and the shelves can be arranged at different heights depending on what you’re storing.

“They look and feel like quality cabinets,” wrote one reviewer, who used the cabinets in a laundry room. “Easy assembly, really nice paint finish, nice soft close hinges and metal door handles.”

Shop Now

Article source here: 8 Best Laundry Room Storage Cabinets

Article source here:

The Homeowner’s Guide to Pergolas

Like many words borrowed from Italian, “pergola” rolls off the tongue, conjuring up images of al fresco meals served beneath a canopy of heady bougainvillea or jasmine vines.

Judging from Google Trends, Americans have caught pergola fever over the past year. Searches for the term in 2020 doubled compared to the average over the entire previous decade, as families stuck at home looked for new ways to make their outdoor spaces more livable.

Outdoor living will continue to be an important part of life for the near future, so now may be the perfect time for you to look into adding a bit of Mediterranean flair to your deck or patio.

What Is a Pergola?

A permanent garden feature known as a hardscape structure, a pergola is composed of columns or pillars that support an open crossbeam roof. The columns and roof are designed to serve as a framework for climbing vines or flowering plants. The pergola as a whole can be freestanding, extend out from a building or home, or connect two buildings.

Contemporary pergolas sometimes forgo the greenery for chic bare crossbeams or more roof-like coverings like bamboo cane, clear vinyl or even fabric.

Why Get a Pergola for Your Deck or Patio?

A pergola is a great way to extend your living space outdoors. The cross beams and greenery or roof provide enough shade to make your deck or patio comfortable during the hottest hours of the day, while allowing a breeze and sunlight to filter through.

If you cover your pergola with a waterproof material, or are patient enough to wait for your vines to form a thick, impenetrable canopy, a pergola can even be a functional outdoor space under a light rain shower.

Pergolas also offer additional privacy so you can relax outdoors without worrying about prying eyes. A traditional pergola is an open-sided structure, but you can add fabric panels, vine-covered latticework or even billowing outdoor curtains to one or more sides to create an open-air retreat.

Although they are permanent hardscaping, pergolas are relatively inexpensive and easy to build from scratch, or with a pergola kit that includes pre-cut wood and all the required hardware. There are a vast variety of materials and designs to choose from to fit your budget and complement the style of your home while creating a stylish centerpiece for your yard.

Finally, pergolas create a defined space that you can decorate for outdoor dining and entertaining as if it were an indoor room. With glowing lights, comfy couches and armchairs, soft outdoor rugs, hanging flower pots and other personalized accessories, you can create the inviting feel of an open-air living room.

Types of Pergolas

Once made exclusively out of wood, pergolas today are made from a multitude of materials:

• Cedar or redwood: One of the most popular options, cedar and redwood are naturally insect-resistant. They can be stained and sealed to retain their color or left untreated to naturally weather over time.

• Teak or exotic woods: These hardwoods are particularly durable, resisting rot and cracking more than softwoods like cedar or redwood. They also cost significantly more.

• Pressure-treated pine: Although reasonably long-lasting, pressure-treated wood can warp, crack or split in dry climates or when exposed to the elements. Pergolas made from this material are generally the most affordable, but must be stained or painted and carefully maintained.

• Composite decking boards (Trex): More durable than natural wood but with an authentic wood-like look, composite decking boards won’t splinter or rot and are weather resistant. This popular DIY material does, however, cost more than pressure-treated pine.

• Alumawood: This aluminum material, painted and embossed to resemble wood, is more resistant to the elements and less expensive than wood. It can fade in the sun and is easily dented, thus requiring periodic maintenance. Alumawood pergolas are generally only available in kit form.

• Vinyl (with a wood or metal core): Needing little or no maintenance and uniquely durable, vinyl is a top choice for pergola kits or assembling a custom pergola with pre-cut parts. A power washing every couple of years will keep most quality vinyl looking like new for decades.

• Fiberglass: Generally the most expensive option, fiberglass pergolas offer significant perks. Light and strong, they are ideal for adding to an existing deck or patio because they require fewer columns and shallow footings. If you opt for fiberglass, however, you’ll need to go with a kit or order a custom pergola with pre-cut and formed parts because this material isn’t available for DIY projects.

What to Know Before Adding a Pergola to Your Deck or Patio

Wooden pergolas require regular maintenance. How often depends upon the type of wood, how it was initially treated or sealed, and where you live. Plan on cleaning, treating and/or repainting your pergola at least once every two years to keep it looking fresh, as well as checking regularly for signs of mildew or termite damage.

If you have a traditional pergola covered in greenery, you also need to trim it regularly so the pergola isn’t weighed down and the vines stay healthy and lush.

How Much Do Pergolas Cost?

The cost of building a pergola depends upon the material, size and placement. The average ranges around $3,600 for a 10-ft. cedar pergola, including materials and labor, although you can find quality DIY kits for less than $1,000. High-end custom pergola kits cost up to $10,000, plus $500 to $1,000 in installation costs.

Should You Build or Buy a Pergola?

A custom pergola is an expensive project, especially if you hire a hardscaping company to take care of the design and labor. That said, a custom pergola has the distinct advantage of complete flexibility as far as the size, material and style. If you have a quirky outdoor space where a standard pergola won’t fit, designing one yourself or with professional help may be your only option.

Assembling a pergola from a kit is generally a less expensive option. With all the pre-cut wood and hardware included, it can be built in a day. Kits offer limited choices of sizes and styles, however, as most stick to a fairly standard square or rectangle shape and traditional Mediterranean design. Some kits come with retractable covers, a convenient feature if you need more shade and prefer to avoid the hassle of ordering a cover to fit a custom pergola.

Here are your five main options for adding a pergola to your yard:

Custom Pergola Assembled Professionally

Pros

• Limitless choice of materials;
• Sized to fit your space;
• Designed by experts for structural stability;
• All-inclusive from materials and hardware to final build.

Cons

• Most expensive option.

Custom Pergola with DIY Assembly

Pros

• Freedom to choose materials and sizes;
• Stability of a professional design;
• No labor costs.

Cons

• Level of customer support for troubleshooting during assembly may vary;
• May require specific tools or hard-to-find materials;
• May require two or more people for assembly.

Pergola Kit Assembled Professionally

Pros

• Generally less expensive than custom designs;
• Stability of a professional design;
• Pieces and hardware included;
• Professional builders with experience and tools.

Cons

• Labor increases final cost;
• Less choice of materials;
• Standard sizes won’t fit some spaces.

Pergola Kit with DIY Assembly

Pros

• Least expensive option with no design or labor costs;
• Stability of a professional design;
• Pieces and hardware included.

Cons

• Limited choice of materials;
• Standard sizes won’t fit some spaces;
• Level of customer support for troubleshooting during assembly may vary;
• May require specific tools;
• May require two or more people for assembly.

DIY Pergola from Design Through Build

Pros

• Limitless choice of materials and style;
• Sized to fit your space;
• Careful sourcing of materials;
• No labor costs.

Cons

• Stability may be compromised if you don’t have design experience;
• Time and hassle of purchasing materials;
• You’re on your own for troubleshooting during the build;
• May require specific tools;
• May require two or more people for assembly.

Article source here: The Homeowner’s Guide to Pergolas

21 Genius Uses for Hand Sanitizer You’ll Wish You Knew Before

Hand It To Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizers can come in handy during cold and flu season and in extremely germy places like hospitals, medical clinics and doctors’ offices. And while dermatologists caution against overusing the gel on your hands — it can really dry them out — there are plenty of other uses that you may never have thought of. Pandemic or not, keeping hand sanitizer around the house is a great idea.

Plus, here’s how to make a quick and simple hand sanitizer with common household ingredients.

Article source here: 21 Genius Uses for Hand Sanitizer You’ll Wish You Knew Before

8 Best Dish Racks for Your Kitchen

How To Choose the Best Dish Rack

Whether you hand wash a plate or two occasionally or suds up your dirty pots and pans after every meal, if you’re like us you prefer air drying your dishes. When deciding which type of dish rack to buy, consider how much counter space you have, how many folks live in your household and the size of your sink.

And while some racks fold up so they can be put away when not in use, we mere mortals tend to leave our dish racks out all the time. So style can be just as important as functionality.

Along with slats to prop up plates, racks generally come with standard features like a flatware baskets, cup and glass prongs, and a drain tray and/or a tilted design to direct water into the sink.

Here are the dish racks we like best in a wide range of categories.

Article source here: 8 Best Dish Racks for Your Kitchen

8 Best Laundry Room Storage Cabinets

Best Wall-Mounted: Topeakmart Home Wall Mount Cabinet

Sturdy and reasonable priced, the Topeakmart Home Wall Mount Cabinet features inner shelves that are more than 10 inches deep, providing ample space to store laundry supplies. These wall-mounted cabinets measure 23.4-in. wide and tall, and the shelves can be arranged at different heights depending on what you’re storing.

“They look and feel like quality cabinets,” wrote one reviewer, who used the cabinets in a laundry room. “Easy assembly, really nice paint finish, nice soft close hinges and metal door handles.”

Shop Now

Article source here: 8 Best Laundry Room Storage Cabinets

40 Outdoor Woodworking Projects for Beginners

Easy Timber Bench

If you have some experience with power tools, you’ll have this timber bench built in just a few hours, though staining it will take a couple of hours more. All materials are readily available at home centers.

Article source here: 40 Outdoor Woodworking Projects for Beginners

Article source here:

Which Home Improvement and Maintenance Services Are the Most Popular?

The Top Five Home Improvement and Maintenance Services

Every two years the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) conducts the Product Purchase Track Study, which analyzes homeowners’ purchase behavior, characteristics and attitudes related to home improvement. The 2020 edition of the study was recently made available to HIRI members, and it contains a wealth of information about which types of home improvement and maintenance services modern homeowners are willing to invest in.

HIRI surveyed more than 6,000 homeowners for the PPTS, gathering data on their purchasing habits and home improvement tendencies. Through the study, HIRI determined which home improvement services homeowners use and value the most and compile a thorough ranking of those services. Want to know where each one ranked? Here’s a rundown of the five home improvement and maintenance categories most popular among homeowners according to HIRI.

Note: The 2020 PPTS covers data from purchases that were made in 2019 and analyzed in 2020. 

Article source here: Which Home Improvement and Maintenance Services Are the Most Popular?

8 Best Insect Nets for Your Deck and Patio

What Are Insect Nets?

Insect nets are a low-tech, eco-friendly way to keep irritating flying and biting bugs like mosquitoes, flies and gnats from ruining everyone’s outdoor fun. Generally made of fine cotton or polyester mesh, the lightweight netting allows plenty airflow, while keeping insects out.

Win the war against bugs with these top insect nets for your deck, patio and more.

Article source here: 8 Best Insect Nets for Your Deck and Patio

15 Hidden Dangers in Your Home You Should Never Ignore

Lint

If it’s taking longer than usual for your clothes to dry or the clothes are super hot after a dry cycle, you could have a build-up of lint, even if it’s not visible in the lint screen.

“Lint is an extremely flammable material,” says Jason Kapica, president of Dryer Vent Wizard. “Oxygen moves through a dryer and its vent when the machine is running. There is a heating element inside the dryer providing a potential ignition source.”

Reduce the risk by removing the lint from the lint screen after each load and clean the dryer vent line every year. Also, make sure to never put any of these 14 items in your dryer.

Article source here: 15 Hidden Dangers in Your Home You Should Never Ignore

40 Outdoor Woodworking Projects for Beginners

Easy Timber Bench

If you have some experience with power tools, you’ll have this timber bench built in just a few hours, though staining it will take a couple of hours more. All materials are readily available at home centers.

Article source here: 40 Outdoor Woodworking Projects for Beginners

Taping Drywall Tips: How to Tape Drywall Joints

Properly taping drywall is a fine art but fortunately, you don’t need to be naturally gifted to get the hang of it. These tips and step-by-step tricks of the trade will help you achieve invisible seams and smooth walls.

Video: How to Tape Drywall

Fill Wide Gaps with Setting-Type Compound

• Mix the powder setting compound with water in your mud pan to a paste consistency.
• Press the compound into gaps, especially those wider than about 1/4 inch.
• Keep the fill level even with, or slightly below, the surrounding surface.
  • Pro tip: Don’t overfill. Keep the fill flush with the drywall surface.
  • Pro tip: Work quickly, because the water activates a catalyst that causes the compound to harden. Setting times vary, depending upon which mix you buy. Start with a 90- minute setting compound to give yourself plenty of working time so it doesn’t harden in your pan.

Setting Compound vs. Regular Compound

When dry and hard, setting compound (top photo) completely fills the void, preparing the joint for the tape and next coat. Setting-type compound comes in sacks with various hardening rates printed on the bags—20, 45- or 90-minutes. Buy ‘lightweight’ setting-type compound, because it’s sandable in case you overfill.

Regular compound (bottom photo) shrinks as it dries and results in a weak joint that you have to refill. It also takes hours to dry and harden.

Article source here: Taping Drywall Tips: How to Tape Drywall Joints

Which Home Improvement and Maintenance Services Are the Most Popular?

The Top Five Home Improvement and Maintenance Services

Every two years the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) conducts the Product Purchase Track Study, which analyzes homeowners’ purchase behavior, characteristics and attitudes related to home improvement. The 2020 edition of the study was recently made available to HIRI members, and it contains a wealth of information about which types of home improvement and maintenance services modern homeowners are willing to invest in.

HIRI surveyed more than 6,000 homeowners for the PPTS, gathering data on their purchasing habits and home improvement tendencies. Through the study, HIRI determined which home improvement services homeowners use and value the most and compile a thorough ranking of those services. Want to know where each one ranked? Here’s a rundown of the five home improvement and maintenance categories most popular among homeowners according to HIRI.

Note: The 2020 PPTS covers data from purchases that were made in 2019 and analyzed in 2020. 

Article source here: Which Home Improvement and Maintenance Services Are the Most Popular?

Article source here:

8 Best Insect Nets for Your Deck and Patio

What Are Insect Nets?

Insect nets are a low-tech, eco-friendly way to keep irritating flying and biting bugs like mosquitoes, flies and gnats from ruining everyone’s outdoor fun. Generally made of fine cotton or polyester mesh, the lightweight netting allows plenty airflow, while keeping insects out.

Win the war against bugs with these top insect nets for your deck, patio and more.

Article source here: 8 Best Insect Nets for Your Deck and Patio

Article source here:

15 Hidden Dangers in Your Home You Should Never Ignore

Lint

If it’s taking longer than usual for your clothes to dry or the clothes are super hot after a dry cycle, you could have a build-up of lint, even if it’s not visible in the lint screen.

“Lint is an extremely flammable material,” says Jason Kapica, president of Dryer Vent Wizard. “Oxygen moves through a dryer and its vent when the machine is running. There is a heating element inside the dryer providing a potential ignition source.”

Reduce the risk by removing the lint from the lint screen after each load and clean the dryer vent line every year. Also, make sure to never put any of these 14 items in your dryer.

Article source here: 15 Hidden Dangers in Your Home You Should Never Ignore

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ADT vs. Other Home Security Systems

ADT home security has been around for almost 150 years. The company created the first security system, which was based on a button that could alert authorities when a homeowner needed help. This simple button has grown into a business with more than six million customers. While ADT is inveterate, there are many other home security companies to consider. Here’s how they compare to ADT.

ADT vs. SimpliSafe

One of the biggest differences between ADT and SimpliSafe is that ADT requires customers to have a contract, while SimpliSafe does not. SimpliSafe also has a more affordable monthly fee of $15 — ADT currently starts at $37, so more than double. Otherwise these two companies are similar in their device offerings, and both systems can be easily DIYed.

One more difference: ADT still offers a wired security system, while all SimpliSafe systems are wireless.

ADT vs. Ring

As with SimpliSafe, Ring has no contract and its monthly fee is just $10, nearly four times cheaper than ADT. Ring also has a fantastic app that can connect you to your neighbors for a virtual neighborhood watch, and they offer the option of solar power for many of their devices.

One big feature that ADT has and Ring doesn’t: Wearable panic and medical alert buttons. These are ideal for those who live alone or have mobility issues, allowing you to call for help no matter where your are in your home.

ADT vs. Brinks

Brinks is another well-respected home security company. At $29, Brinks’ monthly fee is a little lower than ADT’s. Otherwise, the two companies are evenly matched in what types of security devices and services they offer. Also, Brinks and ADT both require a three-year contract and offer wired and wireless systems.

ADT vs. FrontPoint

The biggest difference? ADT requires a three-year contract, while FrontPoint lets customers go with month-to-month contracts. FrontPoint’s starting packages are more affordable as well.

Another key difference is that FrontPoint’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) can learn your routine. When something is out of the ordinary, the system will trigger an alert that’s sent to your app. For example, if your home is usually empty during the day and someone is in your home at noon, then the system will notice that unusual activity and let you know. FrontPoint doesn’t offer wired systems, though.

ADT vs. Vivint

Security experts love Vivint. This company, like ADT, has a wide range of smart security devices. It also offers 24-7 monitoring and the ability to link your security system with other smart devices in your home, so they can all be run from one app and work together.

There are two big differences between the two companies, though. ADT’s monthly fee of $37 is nearly double Vivint’s $20 per month. And ADT offers wired and wireless systems, while Vivint is strictly wireless.

Article source here: ADT vs. Other Home Security Systems

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7 Best Pergola Kits

What Are Pergola Kits?

A pergola is a great way to dress up your outdoor space and provide shade on a sun-washed patio or deck. Many homeowners opt to build a pergola from a kit rather than from scratch.

A pergola kit includes all the precut, notched and drilled pieces of wood, vinyl or other material, plus the required hardware you need to assemble and anchor your pergola. Some kits provide prestained wood, while others require the extra step of treating and staining the wood before assembly.

Though instructions for assembly are included, quality can vary. Check for reviews that flag hard-to-follow or confusing instructions before purchase. If you get stuck, there are helpful tutorials and videos online with tips and instructions. Though most are focused on DIY pergola projects, a good portion of the steps are applicable to pergolas built from kits as well.

Read on for seven of our favorite pergola kits.

Article source here: 7 Best Pergola Kits

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Taping Drywall Tips: How to Tape Drywall Joints

Properly taping drywall is a fine art but fortunately, you don’t need to be naturally gifted to get the hang of it. These tips and step-by-step tricks of the trade will help you achieve invisible seams and smooth walls.

Video: How to Tape Drywall

Fill Wide Gaps with Setting-Type Compound

• Mix the powder setting compound with water in your mud pan to a paste consistency.
• Press the compound into gaps, especially those wider than about ¼ inch.
• Keep the fill level even with, or slightly below, the surrounding surface.
  • Pro tip: Don’t overfill. Keep the fill flush with the drywall surface.
  • Pro tip: Work quickly, because the water activates a catalyst that causes the compound to harden. Setting times vary, depending upon which mix you buy. Start with a 90- minute setting compound to give yourself plenty of working time so it doesn’t harden in your pan.

Setting Compound vs. Regular Compound

When dry and hard, setting compound (top photo) completely fills the void, preparing the joint for the tape and next coat. Setting-type compound comes in sacks with various hardening rates printed on the bags—20, 45- or 90-minutes. Buy ‘lightweight’ setting-type compound, because it’s sandable in case you overfill.

Regular compound (bottom photo) shrinks as it dries and results in a weak joint that you have to refill. It also takes hours to dry and harden.

Article source here: Taping Drywall Tips: How to Tape Drywall Joints

Article source here: