Terms of the Trade
Plant potting mixes without soil offer some advantages.
These agents help plant cuttings grow new roots.
It's among the cheapest and most common types of insulation.
In a nutshell, it's how fast an object or space will cool.
It's a central element cooling systems.
They transfer heat from air to water vapor.
A double pole breaker can deliver 240 volts instead of 120.
This popular siding is made with laminated wood elements.
A nail set can push a nail in without damaging the surface.
It's a rule governing the use of a property by a non-owner.
This little phrase comes up surprisingly often.
Structural loads are measured in several different ways.
This versatile substance comes from tiny algae fossils.
Prefabricated buildings are increasingly common.
OC spacing refers to the centers of construction elements.
Don't let this uncommon reading spook you.
A circ pump (short for “circulating” or “circulator”) is a machine that keeps liquids or gasses moving in a sealed system.
An abutment is a joint between two surfaces, and is usually used in roofing terminology to describe a joint between a roof and a wall.
Many times a downspout ends with just an elbow.
Use an impact driver for quick drilling.
The higher the grade, the finer the sandpaper.
Get into those tight spaces with this technique.
A storm sash can be handy to keep out the weather, but they can be difficult to remove.
Use a brake caliper tool when changing brake pads on your car.
Air hammers use highly pressurized air to strike the desired object.
Spotted spurge is a rogue lawn weed that can become a serious nuisance in your lawn or flowerbeds.
Insulation can lower a home's heat loss by up to 75 percent!
Here are some pros and cons to installing a beadboard ceiling.
Many homeowners opt for plastic for various reasons.
Both hand planes and power planes can be used to complete many carpentry projects.
A gambrel roof consists of two slopes with a gabled structure at both ends.
A wood turning parting tool is a small chisel used to cut grooves into wood while it's turning.
A power tool grinder is one of several power tools used to smooth and polish different kinds of surfaces.
Membrane roofing is placed on flat roof surfaces to protect against ultraviolet rays and weathering.
A bull float is a device used to smooth the surface of newly poured concrete.
A French drain system is essentially a ditch filled with gravel to protect foundations from runoff.
This piece of lumber is an important part of flooring or decking.
Vintage and antique are two words you hear a lot when discussing DIY projects.
A torpedo level is generally a 6 to 12 inch-long level in the shape of a torpedo.
A stick-built home is a home built on-site instead of in a factory.
A camshaft is part of a vehicle's engine. It is used to open and close engine valves.
Chair rails are moldings applied on the wall a few feet from the ground.
A plumb bob is used to make sure something is plumb, or vertical.
An alternator is an electric generator.
An ohmmeter measures electrical resistance.
A hardscape is a rocky landscape.
A dormer window is a window that sticks out of a sloped roof.
A gasket is a seal which fills the space between surfaces.
