I spent last Friday pulling tongue-and-groove pine off an old house that was built sometime in the 1940s. The house had been used by my family as a barn for the last several decades, and the interior wood had a rich, distressed quality. My dad plans to demolish the house this fall, so it […]
CORE Power Lok Lawn Equipment — Muscle without the Mess
Lightweight, powerful and eco-friendly, CORE’s Power Lok 40-volt cordless lawn equipment offers a split boom for various attachments including a string trimmer, hedge trimmer and blower. Unlike other split-boom products, the Power Lok utilizes CORE’s proprietary motor that eliminates the need for gas by combining a multi-layered circuit board with a state-of-the-art power cell. The result is […]
Horse First, Then Cart: New Energy Star Guidelines for Windows & Doors
In the South we have the expression: “Don’t put the cart before the horse.” It reminds us to keep things in the right order, to avoid confusion, because when things get mixed up they don’t work well. When it comes to windows and doors, the latest Energy Star regulations may be putting the cart before […]
New Sanders for your Next Project
Sanding is the foundation of any finishing project—or refinishing project. Whether you’re removing an old finish or preparing a piece of fine furniture, just about any project that involves wood requires sanding. For very large jobs like refinishing a floor, you’ll need to rent a large walk-behind drum and disc sander. But for most carpentry […]
Deck Stain Update
I recently spruced up a pressure-treated deck with the new Transformation Deck & Fence Stain from Sashco. This particular deck has very little shade during the day and takes a lot of abuse from the sun. The 2×6 boards were beginning to check even though I had re-stained the decking about 18 months ago. It […]
Tiling Tips for First-timers
Extreme How-To has friends “across the pond” at Walls and Floors UK who have written an article on “Tiling Tips” especially for our blog. Check it out: You may have recently decided that you want to tile your bathroom. Many people choose to do this to their bathrooms as an effective way to update […]
Craftsman Gives Back with “Make a Difference” Tour
Craftsman is on the road this summer to inspire Americans to open their tool boxes and start working with their hands, all while making a difference in communities across the country. The Craftsman “Make a Difference” Tour will visit more than 20 locations nationwide, renovating homes of U.S. veterans and helping communities in need. […]
Bug Off—A Simple Screen Solution
Our house has a rear door that leads to a backyard deck. Both my two-year-old son and our cocker spaniel go in and out of that door several hundred times a day. That might be slightly overstated, but the door seems to be open constantly, and all sorts of flying insects invite themselves into the […]
2013 National Hardware Show Highlights
The Extreme How-To staff recently spent a week in Las Vegas for the 2013 National Hardware Show. We exhibited our magazine at the show as well as walked the aisles in search of cool tools. Here’s a quick look at some of the highlights. HomeRight SteamMachine The SteamMachine from HomeRight is a multipurpose power […]
The NARI’s Top 10 Steps to Prepare for a Remodel
A handy hit list for procuring a contractor… Even the handiest of homeowners usually have a threshold where they decide it’s smart to forgo doing the project themselves and instead call in a professional. Whether it’s a matter of experience, equipment or just available time, recruiting a contractor often makes a lot of sense. But […]