DIY Builds
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Can you just swap a door?

If an existing door is damaged or worn, you can put a new one into the doorway. Often the easiest solution is to remove the existing jambs and casing and install a prehung door. However, if your doorway is square or if the existing trim is difficult to replace, you can keep the doorway and replace the door.

Do rats eat foam insulation?
Do rats eat foam insulation?

While spray foam insulation is great for sealing off these areas and may be a temporary solution for keeping rats and mice out of residential...

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How do I protect my shed from fire?
How do I protect my shed from fire?

For sheds, summerhouses and similar constructs, adding insulation can also work to help prevent fires. Fire-resistant insulation, such as...

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Measure and Trim New Door Image Studios Measure the doorway opening and purchase a new door that fits. If you have to trim the door, take an equal amount off each side. Plane a slight bevel (about 5 degrees) in the direction of swing on the strike side of the door to ease opening and closing. Check for Fit Image Studios Check the door fit. Ideally, there should be a gap of about 1/8 inch at the top and along each side, and about 3/8 inch at the bottom. Use cardboard spacers or folded matchbooks (four thicknesses equals about 1/16 inch) along with shims underneath to maintain the spacing. Mark the mortise locations and cut the mortises. Hang Door Hang the door. New locksets come with a template to help you locate where to drill holes. If you are reusing a lockset, extend a line across the face of the door with your square, making sure it is centered on the strike plate. Measure the lockset to determine the distance the hole should be from the edge of the door. Drill a 2-1/8-inch hole through the door with a hole saw. Drill for Bolt For the bolt, drill a 1-inch hole through the edge of the door with a spade bit. Make sure the bolt hole is centered from front to back and aligned with the center of the strike plate. Attach Bolt Insert the bolt into the hole in the door's edge. Align the bolt plate with the edges of the door and trace around it with your utility knife. Remove the bolt and remove the wood inside the outline to create a mortise for the plate. When you're finished, the plate should be slightly below the surface. Editor's Tip: If you have more than one or two doors to hang, consider investing in a hinge-mortising jig, which is a template for guiding a router to cut perfect mortises for hinges. Several models are available. The simplest (and least expensive) ones cut one mortise at a time, leaving the placement of the matching mortise up to you. More complex jigs come with multiple templates that will position matching mortises on the jamb and door edge. Most hinge-mortising jigs work with a router equipped with a template guide. The guide could be a roller bearing on the bit or a metal collar attached to the router's base that surrounds the bit and runs along the mortise template.

Do I need to sand my shed before painting it?
Do I need to sand my shed before painting it?

If you're painting an old shed, you'll need to sand it to remove old and flaky paint. Wrap some sandpaper around a block and start sanding in the...

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What happens if you cut concrete too deep?
What happens if you cut concrete too deep?

Depth of Cut In case the cut is too deep, the interlocking may not be sufficient enough for transfer of loads. On the other hand, if it's too...

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What is premium grade plywood?
What is premium grade plywood?

Grades of Plywood. A-grade plywood: This is the highest-quality plywood and therefore typically the most expensive, since the veneers will be...

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What material do you put under gravel?
What material do you put under gravel?

Landscape fabric is perfect for applications like gravel pathways and driveways where strength is important. The primary way to add strength when...

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Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

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How many inches of roof insulation do I need?
How many inches of roof insulation do I need?

The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about...

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Are shed plans easy to follow?
Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

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Can you live in a Home Depot shed?
Can you live in a Home Depot shed?

The problems with living in a shed from Home Depot are numerous. To start, Tuff Shed itself advises against using its products as homes. “As sold,...

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