Home improvement covers the projects that make a house safer, more comfortable and more valuable, from small upgrades to structural work. This hub brings together practical guides on plumbing (faucets, drains, water pressure, sump pumps, PVC leaks), doors and locks (privacy locks, deadbolts, push-bar doors, lockouts), flooring and trim (baseboards on uneven floors, carpet edges, flooring weights), bathrooms (fiberglass tubs, exhaust fans, tub spouts), and exterior work such as foundations, pier skirting, gutters, soffits and porch enclosures. Every article explains the tools and materials you need, the steps in the right order, the mistakes that cause callbacks, and the point where a licensed plumber, electrician or contractor is the safer choice. Use these guides to plan your project, estimate the time involved and finish with professional-looking results.
To tighten a loose bathtub faucet handle, pry off the decorative cap, then tighten the handle screw underneath with a Phillips screwdriver or the Allen key it takes. Add a drop of blue thread locker if it keeps loosening. If the handle still slips, the splines are stripped and the handle needs replacing.
To remove a tub spout with no set screw, cut the caulk bead, then turn the spout counterclockwise because it is threaded onto a 1/2-inch pipe nipple. Use your hands, a strap wrench, or a screwdriver handle inside the spout opening for leverage. Stop if the pipe behind the wall starts twisting.
Learn how to install baseboard molding on an uneven floor: scribe and trim boards, cope corners, add shoe molding and caulk for a tight, gap-free finish.
How to tell if you have a water leak underground: the 6-step water meter test, warning signs in your yard, who pays for repairs and when to call a plumber.
What to burn to clean a chimney: how creosote sweeping logs and removers work, myths to skip, what never to burn, and when you need a professional sweep.
Learn how to use a drain snake on a toilet: the right auger, step-by-step snaking without scratching the bowl, what to do if it stays clogged, and prevention.
Learn how to unclog an underground gutter drain pipe with a hose, drain auger or sewer jetter, find the blockage, and stop clogs from coming back.
Learn how to unlock a door with a hole in the knob. Use the emergency release on bathroom and bedroom privacy locks safely, plus what to do if it fails.
Learn how to keep carpet edges from fraying with seam sealer, binding tape, stitching and transition strips, plus mistakes to avoid and prevention tips.
Learn how to fix a leaking PVC joint without cutting using epoxy putty, fiberglass tape, clamps or new thread tape, plus cure times, mistakes and permanent fixes.