Cement is the powder binder, concrete is cement plus sand and gravel, mortar is cement plus sand only, and grout is a fluid mix that fills gaps. Buy a bagged concrete mix for slabs, footings and posts, a mortar mix...
Divide your patio area in square feet by the coverage of one paver, then add 5 to 10 percent for cuts and breakage (10 to 15 percent for diagonal or curved patterns). A standard 4 in. x 8 in. paver...
Level 4 is the standard finish for walls that will get flat or eggshell paint, and Level 5 adds a skim coat of joint compound over the whole surface for walls that will get gloss paint or hit raking light....
Specialty screws are chosen by head and drive, not just length: trim-head screws disappear into finish work, cabinet screws pull boxes tight with a wide wafer head, deck screws resist outdoor corrosion and sink below the surface, and collated screws...
For painted shelving and cabinet-style built-ins, MDF and melamine particleboard give the smoothest result; for open shelves that need to hold weight and show a natural edge, common boards are the better pick; and small-format project panels suit shop jigs,...
Zone 0 is the first 5 feet around a house, and the safest approach is to make it out of materials that cannot burn: concrete, pavers, brick, gravel and bare mineral soil, with no wood mulch, no wood fences touching...
Rain on fresh concrete is a surface problem, not a reason to stop work: pour on a dry forecast window, choose a mix that sets on schedule, cover the slab as soon as it is finished, and keep it damp...
Use polymer-modified thinset for most tile, unmodified only over a properly prepared concrete floor, and choose grout by joint width: sanded for joints 1/8 in. and wider, unsanded for narrow joints and polished or soft stone. This guide compares the...
Mold-resistant drywall is for damp rooms and walls that stay outside the direct spray; cement board or another tile backer is what goes behind tile in a shower or tub surround. Green-board style panels resist moisture in the air, but...
Multiply length x width x thickness (in feet) to get cubic feet, then divide by the yield of the bag and add 10 percent. A 60 lb. bag yields about 0.45 cu. ft. and an 80 lb. bag about 0.6...
Divide the wall and ceiling area by 32 sq. ft. per 4 x 8 sheet, add 10 percent for waste, and round up. A 12 x 14 ft. room with an 8 ft. ceiling needs about 21 sheets, 700 screws,...
Plant in October and November, amend the planting area first, and finish with 2 to 3 in. of mulch. Garden soil fills raised beds and in-ground areas, potting mix is for containers, amendments such as gypsum and worm castings fix...
