Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
13
votes
10 answers

Is it safe to use an angle grinder with wood cutting blades?

Being a newbie to DIY and trying to get more and more jobs done myself, safety is a concern to me. I recently bought a Makita 5" angle grinder to cut some metal balustrades, job done. I considered buying some wood cutting discs for it, which I have…
Ray_Hack
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2 answers

Is there a good rule of thumb for how many lights you need in a room?

I want to use ceiling recessed wall washers in a 13 ft by 24 ft room. Any advice on light spacing so I don't create dark spots? How far from the wall vs how far apart from each other should they be?
unusualhabit
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6 answers

How high to raise water heater above floor?

I saw a water heater stand at Home Depot but it's about 15" high. That's a bit too high for my basement. Can I just make one with 2x4 and plywood that's only 4" tall, basically just enough to be able to drain water off the drain tray? Or does the…
amphibient
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5 answers

Do I NEED to use correct colors when wiring always?

What I am wondering is if there is any code that is violated if the wrong colors are used in wiring outlets? For example, it is standard to use white as neutral and black as power but if I only had two blacks or some other color combination, does…
Eric F
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3 answers

Are all rectangular outlets, switches, and plates the same dimensions and interchangeable?

Do I need to make sure my switches, plates, and outlets are from the same manufacturer or can I mix and match? I'm referring to the rectangular decora-style and wasn't sure if there'd be slight differences in size between brands. Some…
Ben McCann
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13
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7 answers

What can one do with shower water?

A relative is rebuilding his bathroom. Since he has a garden and he is all about "thinking green" he was wondering if he could use the shower water (or any other) in any way, like water plants. I found the idea interesting when he told me and we…
nsn
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13
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5 answers

Why aren't Geothermal heat pumps more common?

Air conditioning and heating are major energy consumers in American buildings - commercial, residential, and industrial. I have been curious for a while as to why it isn't more common to use the practically constant 50-60*F temperature of the earth…
Matt Chambers
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1 answer

How do I unscrew these?

I'm a college kid trying to sneak my boyfriend in my dorm window. The first section is the holder on the window, the second part is the end of the slider on the window. All I have to do is disconnect the slider. This looks definitely like a…
Rose
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8 answers

Can I connect copper wire to aluminum wire?

I'm installing additional light bulbs in my basement. I have an older house with aluminum wiring. Can I do this: [new light bulbs]<--copper-->[old light bulb junction box]<--aluminum-->[main circuit] Is it safe / does it comply to code ?
Rollo R
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13
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6 answers

re-using wood from a concrete form?

I strive to not waste materials wherever possible, and "use once then discard" methods are particularily irksome. So with this mind, what suggestions do you have for enabling re-use of lumber used for concrete forms?
matt wilkie
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13
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1 answer

Is it OK to install a concrete slab without mixing?

Going upon the advice of a reputable builder, I used Quikrete fast-drying concrete for a small slab outside my house. Not load bearing. His recommendation was to dry-pour the whole thing. Framed, leveled, screeded and then watered every 30 minutes…
jerebear
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13
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5 answers

How can I remove a stump?

I need to level a patch of ground in order to put in a shed, but there's a large stump right in the middle of where the shed will go. Since I'm in a suburban setting, dynamite is out, fires are illegal, and I can't get a truck anywhere near the…
chris
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3 answers

How can I eliminate one 3-way switch to leave just one switch on the lighting circuit it's on?

I have two sets of lights in my kitchen. At one end of the kitchen, I have a 2 Gang light switch which operates both sets of lights, and at the other end I have a single light switch which operates the lights at that end of the kitchen. I want to…
Roy
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13
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8 answers

What is the best way to clean your clothes dryer exhaust?

My dryer exhaust goes out of my laundry room, into my attic, and runs for about 15 feet before it gets outside. Over time the lent has built up quite a bit. What is the best way to clean this? The sections in the attic are connected via duct…
Jason
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13
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7 answers

Can I plug a generator into a dryer outlet

I have an electric dryer with a 30 amp circuit running to it. If I had a male-male plug to run from a portable generator to this outlet, would it be safe to run essential appliances (water pump, refridgerator, sump pump, etc) during a power outage…
Lucas
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