Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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1 answer

How do lawnmower blade sizes work?

I went to my local big box store this past weekend to find a replacement for my lawnmower blade (it's a Craftsman Precision Plus if that makes a difference, but it shouldn't). When I got to the lawnmower blade section, I was impressed to find about…
smeeb
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How can I break up a small boulder without power tools?

I have a boulder/rock that is about 2 feet long and 1.5 feet in diameter. It is too heavy to lift and I would like to break it into smaller pieces. Without power tools, are there any good methods besides going at it with a sledgehammer?
Programmer
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What are some of the best books/resources on home inspection for first time home buyers?

I'm looking at buying my first home. Considering the amount of money involved, it seems logical to make sense the inspection is solid. (I've seen a few "Holmes Inspection"s to have the reinforced.) I know "Holmes Inspection—Everything you Need…
Bill
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Are CAT 5 sockets compatible with CAT 7 cable?

I am planning to add Ethernet wiring to my house (semi-detached three-storey town house). I will be using this network to connect several (4-6) computers together in a typical (geek) home setting. I have worked out the topology and most of the…
Lightsider
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4 answers

Is this gravel stabilizing underlament an effective product?

Does anyone have any experience with a gravel stabilizing product? I'll say, somehow I've never seen this before, but it looks genius; especially if you could create a reasonable driveway out of this stuff that wouldn't buckle under a car's load.…
TFK
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How can I fix a door that doesn't close because it doesn't fit the frame?

Two closet doors in my house won't close all the way. When they are about 85% closed, it stops because the top of the door is rubbing up against the frames. It looks like I need to move the door down about 3-6 inches a half inch. The doors are…
Mike Sherov
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Is it required for effectiveness to stretch interior window film?

Short version: I am using a Frost King window insulation kit on a window. Can I skip the hairdryer step and still get a good amount of insulating effect? Long version: I am using a Frost King window insulation kit on a window. The way these work is…
capet
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4 answers

Is it ok to screw into a steel door?

I am looking to hang some blinds over the window on my front door. Is ok to screw the mounting hardware directly into the door?
Adam B
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Why does a USA/Canada surge-protected extension lead (110V) trip my circuit breakers in the UK (220V)?

I moved from Canada to the UK and for convenience I would like to use some of my Canadian aquired extension leads (for light power items such as ethernet switches). Problem is that the surge-protected extension leads seem to always trip my circuit…
asoundmove
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6 answers

Toilet paper to the left or right?

I just repainted my bathroom, and at the same time decided to replace the toilet paper dispenser. I patched the holes from the previous TP holder, so I'm starting with a clean slate. I'm at the point where I'm ready to install the new dispenser,…
Tester101
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Why did my installer install 1/4 round corners like this and how can I fix it?

We had a guy come by to finish some previous tile work we had done. The morning of finishing the tile, he called and said he couldn't get the grout to stick along the edges, and it was just going under the baseboards and not setting up. He suggested…
ctote
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How do I sound-proof a bathroom?

I think most people would agree that sound proofing a bathroom is a swell idea. Since bathrooms are special rooms (high humidity), what are some tips and techniques you can use to sound proof one without running into water/mold problems down the…
Joe Phillips
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Why do my bulbs glow brighter when the microwave is running?

When I run the microwave oven in my rented apartment, the incandescent lights nearby glow much brighter. What sort of mis-wiring could cause this? EDIT: Suspecting a bad neutral connection, I measured the voltage between hot and neutral at a nearby…
nibot
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5 answers

Are there any restrictions on using crimped connections to electrical devices (receptacles, switches)?

As the title states, are there any code restrictions in general on using crimped spade and ring terminal connectors when wiring household electrical circuits? I've actually been doing this for a while, using 600V rated spade connectors from Home…
William S.
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What wireless temperature monitoring systems should I look into?

I'd like to monitor and log temperature on few locations in my home. Wireless monitoring with normal consumer batteries etc would be preferable for the sensors. I have an Mac OSX server running at my home where I could log the temperatures and…
Mikko Tapionlinna
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