Skills

Master your craft and perfect your skills with these professional tips, techniques and industry insights.

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    28 Tips for Painting Almost Anything

    You can transform just about anything with paint and a little imagination. Leather, concrete, appliances—you can paint them all! Here's...


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    28 Tips for Becoming a Master Plumber

    Want to become a master plumber? Follow these tips.


    10 Best Backyard Swimming Pools for the Home

    There's nothing more soothing than jumping into cool, clear water on a hot day. In celebration of all things summer,...


    11 Outdoor Project Ideas with Plans

    Improve your outdoor spaces no matter your budget, time or skill level with these projects from The Family Handyman. Browse...


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    Furniture Stripping: Tips for Refinishing

    Make old furniture look new again in a weekend!


    Homeowner’s Guide to Pressure Washing a House

    Nothing cleans a house or gets it ready for painting faster than a pressure washer. Here's how to use this...


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    How to Repair Grout That’s Cracking

    Don't tear out the tile, just tear out the cracked grout.


    5 Ways Smart Homeowners Deal With Fall Leaves

    Fall cleanup tips to help you save time and work

    How To Repair Concrete Steps

    Cutting away the damaged concrete and pouring a new concrete cap on the step can often repair badly broken concrete...


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    Planing Wood: How To Flatten Rough Lumber

    Learn the basics of flattening rough-sawn wood.


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    How To Lengthen an Interior Wood Door

    Here's an easy fix for an annoying problem.


    How to Prune a Tree

    Prune branches without harming the tree.


    How To Install a Sump Pump Check Valve

    Special check valves reduce pipe noise.


    Ceiling Repair: Fix a Sagging Ceiling

    Two solutions for a sagging ceiling


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    How To Apply Iron-On Veneer Edging

    Cover raw plywood edges quickly and easily with wood veneer and an iron.


    How To Remove Stains In Wood Furniture

    Removing stains in wood furniture doesn't have to involve sanding and refinishing. Try these methods first.


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    How to Fix a Wobbly Chair

    Frustrated by a loose, wobbling chair? This step-by-step walkthrough shows how to fix a wobbly chair's loose connections.

    How To Safely Drill Through Floor Joists

    How to position holes correctly so they don't weaken the joist.


    How To Open a Stuck Drawer

    A light cleaning and lubrication makes an amazing difference


    How to Reset a Loose Brick

    A simple repair can save a whole brick wall.


    How To Paint a Marble Effect on Furniture

    Make old furniture feel new and luxurious with this easy-to-do painting technique!


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    How to Whiten Grimy Grout

    Freshen up your tile without regrouting. Here's how.


    How To Install a New Gas Stove, Without Dangerous Leaks

    Learn how to safely install a new gas stove yourself with this comprehensive step-by-step guide.

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    How To Build a Garden Arbor

    Create this stylish, arched DIY garden arbor in only a couple of days. It’s way easier than it looks.


    How To Regrout a Shower

    Replace that eroded, crumbling grout with an inexpensive fix.


    How To Build a Coat Cabinet with Pocket Screws

    Intimidated by cabinet work? Even a novice can make fine joints with pocket screws.


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    Build This Outdoor Table with a Tile Top to Give Your Patio a Hip Cafe Look

    Construct a small, round tile top patio table with a tiled plywood and...


    How to Work with Scaffolding Safely

    How to rent, setup and use scaffolding when you have to work on your roof, siding or chimney.


    How To Choose Paint Colors

    Choosing wall colors can be a time-consuming and frustrating task for homeowners-and that doesn't even include the painting part! We're...