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1500 questions
14
votes
8 answers

Can I put an outlet inside of a wall?

I want to mount a tablet to a wall with a charger but I don't want the charger to be visible. Can I put a normal wall outlet in the INSIDE of the wall and just plug in the charger inside the wall? Location is Wisconsin, USA.
Programmer
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4 answers

How do you stop the floor from squeaking?

I have a home built in the 1940's. The main floor creaks a lot and more squeaking and creaks seem to spring up in new places all the time. Is there an easy way to stop the squeaking and creaking? I don't necessarily need to prevent future…
chadgh
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7 answers

How do I stop a bed frame from squeaking?

I recently bought a second hand wooden bed frame. All is good except it squeaks quite a lot when I move around on it (ahem). Any advice on fixing the annoying squeak? EDIT :: photo of the joint
Tom Squires
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14
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5 answers

Can I start and stop a tile floor job?

I am tiling my bathroom floor and don't soon have a full day to dedicate to the job. Is it ok to lay down a few tiles each day and come back to the job when I have time? I would only lay mortar for the tiles I have time to lay each day. My concern…
dpollitt
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14
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3 answers

Why did they hammer nails in half way and bent them over to secure supports?

In my 1950s house they hammered nails in half way and bent them over to secure the supports to the beam. Why was this technique used?
Jay Prall
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14
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4 answers

Does building insulation wear out and have to be replaced?

First, a little back-story. I've been having trouble with the air-conditioning system in my south-Texas apartment home for almost two months so far this summer. The apartment manager has been sending their "A/C Certified" (the certification a…
Vivian River
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14
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4 answers

What do I do with receptacles behind built-ins?

When installing built-in furniture, what should I do about the receptacles on the existing bare wall that will be covered up by the built-in? How would I handle a receptacle covered by a bookcase section? How would I handle a receptacle which will…
billoreid
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14
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4 answers

What are the qualities of a top end paint versus a low end paint?

I just purchased a home and it needs a good painting (interior). A little research led me to a thread stating that Benjamin Moore has the best paint. How does it compare to Lowe's and Home Depot paints? Does the brand really matter? What are the…
Chuck Conway
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14
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5 answers

How many CAT6 cables can fit in 3/4 conduit?

I was planning to get 3/4" conduit (Carlon ENT/Smurftube) to run network cables through the house. Just how many CAT6 cables can safely fit into 3/4" conduit?
Slav
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4 answers

How can I speed up the removal of stubborn tile?

I am trying to remove tile from the bathroom floor. It was installed in the 70s, and the pieces are tiny, 1 in x 1 in. I've been hammering away but they're not coming up very easily. Is there a product I can use to loosen them up?
Sara
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14
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4 answers

How do I meet the 7 feet high ceiling requirement after finishing the basement?

My basement ceiling joists are exactly 7 feet above the concrete slab. The requirement for finished living space is 7 ft from the finished floor to the finished ceiling. Since I'll loose a couple of inches with the flooring (I'll have Delta-FL…
Peter Q
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14
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15 answers

What is your top tip for painting?

Simple really - add your best tips for painting (a room, that is). Ideally one tip per answer for ease of voting.
Moyersy
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14
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3 answers

Can I wire 3-way switches so that when they are both in the same orientation the light will be off?

I replaced my 3-way switches. Is it possible to have either switch shut the light off, by pulling down on the toggles Either switch does shut the light off, but then one toggle is up, and the other is down. I want both to be down after shutting…
andre
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14
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7 answers

Why do electricians prefer not to use the push-in connections on receptacles?

Why do electricians prefer not to use the back-stab or quick connect holes on switches and receptacles? If these were unreliable do you think they would be allowed by the NFPA and NEC?
Dave B
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14
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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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