Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
16
votes
7 answers

How can I stop birds from hitting my sunroom windows?

Over the last three days, I have probably had over a dozen birds try to fly through my sunroom, only to be stopped by the 72"X52" sliding windows; three of the birds have died. What can I do so that the birds realize there is a window there,…
Dan McClain
  • 261
  • 1
  • 3
  • 5
16
votes
2 answers

What can a Dremel tool do that a drill cannot?

I'd like to understand: what is the point of a Dremel tool? I know that there are many Dremel accessories that are indeed useful, but why should I have to get the tool itself? Couldn't the whole system be implemented using an adapter for an ordinary…
200_success
  • 300
  • 1
  • 3
  • 12
16
votes
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
  • 291
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
16
votes
4 answers

When should I replace a circular saw blade?

Is there a rule of thumb for how often a circular saw blade should be replaced? Is visually inspecting the blade condition enough?
Doresoom
  • 15,873
  • 32
  • 83
  • 122
16
votes
3 answers

How much damage can a grow-op do to a house in 3 months?

There is a home for sale about 10% lower than market value in the area in which we're shopping for a home. When we visited, the real estate agent disclosed that renters had used the basement as a marijuana grow-op for 3 months before it was…
Nat_Rea
  • 261
  • 1
  • 2
  • 5
16
votes
3 answers

What is electrical code for number of wires in a breaker?

US, Georgia I am adding some new ciruits to add some additional outlets. The closest place is to run a wire to the main panel box. My question is, can I connect more than one wire to a breaker and still meet code or do I need to get a new breaker.…
Mark Schultheiss
  • 693
  • 1
  • 5
  • 14
16
votes
3 answers

What are the pros and cons of medium-density fibreboard (MDF)?

I heard mixed opinions about making cupboards and beds from MDF. Some said it doesn't matter, MDF is as durable as whole tree or sandwich boards. Some said that MDF is weak, and will not last for years if you move the MDF-beds often. I'll be glad to…
Elazar Leibovich
  • 315
  • 1
  • 4
  • 7
16
votes
5 answers

Should I attach the fence post(s) where my fence meets my house? How do I do it?

I'm going to be building a 6 foot tall cedar privacy fence in the spring (with pressure-treated posts) and need to determine what to do with the two posts that meet the side of my house. In order to ensure that my 15 lb dog can't get through any…
Hop the Mad Alchemist
  • 261
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
16
votes
12 answers

How can I protect my fingers while using a band saw?

I intend on using a band saw to cut out large meeples (the wooden pieces from the board game Carcassonne) from a 2x4 board. I'm worried about cutting my fingers. What tool can I use to help keep my fingers out of harm's way? I've noticed push…
Ashley Grenon
  • 369
  • 3
  • 4
  • 8
16
votes
1 answer

What tool is a solid metal cube with dimples or half spheres on every side?

My neighbor found this metal tool in a box from his father’s workshop. It's a cube with all sorts and sizes of circles and half spheres on every edge. What is it?
Zev Eisenberg
  • 263
  • 2
  • 7
16
votes
1 answer

How does Schlage SecureKey Re-keying mechanism work?

Here is their consumer info. And here is an amateur teardown, although I can't tell from the pictures how the thing actually works. Does any one have any better powers explanation? But beyond just being curious about the internal workings, the real…
Chris Noe
  • 405
  • 3
  • 5
  • 11
16
votes
2 answers

What are the pros and cons of installing a roof heating cable?

Had some roof work done last year after mother nature abused my house by way of an errant tree branch. I had always suspected my roof had poor ventilation, most notably when I wound up with a 200 lb chunk of ice going from roof to ground (about 20…
user45
16
votes
4 answers

In what orientation should this L-bracket be when hanging shelves?

I have a few L-brackets for hanging shelves. The brackets are asymmetric, where one L arm is longer than the other, just like a real "L" (similar to this). Is there a preferred or recommended way for which arm, the longer or the shorter, goes on…
Adi Shavit
  • 263
  • 1
  • 2
  • 7
16
votes
6 answers

Lineman's pliers don't fully close

I have some new DeWalt lineman's pliers (DWHT70276; never used). I noticed the cutters close tight but the gripping jaws don't close all the way. Is that by design? What if I want to grip something thin? The Home Depot stock image shows the gap…
User1974
  • 1,758
  • 1
  • 13
  • 35
16
votes
5 answers

Why is the LED bulb wattage limit in my lamps so much lower than the Incandescent limit?

My lamp specifies that the bulb limit is "60w Incandescent / 10w LED" LEDs are more efficient and give off less heat. Shouldn't I be able to put in a higher wattage LED bulb? (regardless of the brightness difference)
Dan Taylor
  • 271
  • 3
  • 4
1 2 3
…
99 100