Category: DIY

How to Grow Your Own Medicinal Herb Garden

Many Americans feel that our country is overmedicated and that the endless concoctions we subject our bodies to cannot be good for us in the long run. The alternative to over-the-counter drugs is what was once called “home remedies.” Most of these cures for common ailments come from herbs. If you have space to do…


Finding the Faucet Style for a Bathroom Sink

By Ed Del Grande From Tribune News Service Q: Hi Ed, I plan to change out the faucet on our guest bathroom sink. I’m confident about doing the job, but need help finding the faucet style to fit my sink. Can you go through some basic bathroom faucet styles for an oval drop-in sink? Ron,…


Should You Buy Stock Cabinets or Custom Cabinets for Your Kitchen Renovation?

Whether you’re building a new home or want to renovate your current space, one of the biggest showpieces in the kitchen is your cabinets. As you begin planning your remodel, you’ll need to choose from either stock kitchen cabinets or custom cabinets. With stock cabinetry, speed of installation and cost are on your side, while…


Increase Household Water Pressure in Minutes

Christine lives in Sylvania, Ohio. She reads this column weekly and shared the following: “In the newspaper today you said you’re addressing topics that can save homeowners money. In my community many have water pressure issues, myself included.” She then gave me a full report about her particular water-pressure problems. Often, when readers get in…


Dad Spends 8 Months Building an Indoor Treehouse for His Kids

His kids are very lucky to have such a cool dad! …


Upgrade Your Old Kitchen Cabinets

Dear James: My kitchen cabinets are still in excellent condition but are 20 years old. Is it possible to just repaint the cabinets instead of replacing them for a new look? — Billy T. Dear Billy: The cost of new kitchen cabinets, even if you do the installation yourself, can easily run up into the…


Lay a Stone Path

A stepping stone path is a practical solution to create a walkway through your yard or garden and at the same time be a complement to the landscape. You can lay it out as a straight walkway or as a winding path that meanders around trees and flowerbeds. It’s a way to create a path…


Remove Texture Paint

A texture finish can call attention to a not-so-remarkable wall or ceiling, but if that rustic surface isn’t your style you can remove it. However, the job is a time-consuming and often messy project. The fact that it’s tedious is another issue. The project is ideal for a newbie DIYer, because it’s work that requires…


Build a Rail Fence

A rail and post fence is one of the easiest fences to build. Its horizontal rails fit into pre-cut holes in the fence posts, so they go together like pins in a slot. Originally, it was a fast way to keep livestock from straying into a nearby homestead; today, its natural good looks make it…


Quiet Acoustic Tiles Are Easy to Install

Dear James: It gets too noisy in the kids’ playroom. Are acoustic ceiling tiles difficult to install myself, and are there attractive ones made for home use? — Michelle Y. Dear Michelle: Most people like the sound-deadening characteristics of acoustic tiles, but then they think they must look like those big, ugly tiles in a…