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Master your craft and perfect your skills with these professional tips, techniques and industry insights.

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The 5 Best Basement Sealers to Waterproof Your Space

A basement sealer helps prevent moisture issues and makes your floor much easier to keep clean and dust-free.

How to Install an Egress Window

Adding a code compliant egress window makes a brighter, safer basement.


How to Build Faux Basement Windows That Provide Real Light

This project uses a slim LED light panel mounted in a simple frame to give you light and the illusion...


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Basement Wood Flooring: What You Should Know

If you want basement wood flooring, choose engineered not solid wood. It looks as good as solid wood, it's easier...


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Using Laminate Flooring for the Basement: What To Know

Laminate is an attractive option for the basement, provided you use the right kind. Play it safe by sticking to...

Family Handyman Reader Projects: Indoor Spaces

Family Handyman readers were busy during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020, diving into their to-do lists. Here we take...


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5 Things You Need to Know Before Building Stairs

Learn the ins and outs of building stairs before you jump into a project on your own.

How to DIY Laundry Room Shelves

Convert your dreary basement laundry into a functional, organized and finished workspace.


How to Paint Concrete Floors

Transform your concrete basement or garage floor with a fresh coat of paint.


The Best Basement Paint Colors to Bring the Downstairs to Life

Turn your downstairs space into a cozy retreat with these fresh and inviting best basement paint colors.


Working With Metal-Clad (MC) Cable

MC cable is easier to work with than rigid conduit and offers protection from fire, vibration, gnawing pests and physical...

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How to Achieve Better Yard Drainage

Soggy yard? Here are your options.


A Pro Carpenter’s Guide to Framing Basement Walls

A poor framing job can bring a whole mess of problems, so we asked a professional framing carpenter how to...


How to Finish a Basement

With special framing and insulating techniques, your basement can be as comfortable as any other room in your home. Find...


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How to Upgrade Your Shower in a Weekend

Get an impressive shower upgrade without breaking the bank or turning your basement into a jobsite.


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Here’s Why Old Houses Have a Random Toilet in the Basement

Standalone toilets in the basement are an outdated concept. Why were they necessary in the first place?

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What Is the Best Flooring for a Basement?

Looking to install flooring in your basement? Choose one of these five basement-friendly flooring options and enjoy good looks and...


10 Tips for Dealing With Water Damage, Mold and Mildew

We'll walk you through how to prevent mold after water damage.


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Tips for Better Drywall Taping

Simple tricks for fast, flawless drywall finishing


Mastering the Art of Electrical Conduit

Electrical metallic tubing (EMT) is strong, cheap and easy to bend once you learn how. These tips will help you...


How to Install an Egress Window in Your Basement

How to saw the hole, frame the opening and set a basement egress window


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Fixing a Water-Shutoff Valve Leak

Solution to a leak around the water valve shut-off handle


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How to Estimate a Concrete Order

Calculate concrete prices and how many cubic yards of concrete you need for a walk, driveway or basement. How much...


How to Fix Spalling Concrete

What is concrete spalling and how do you fix concrete spalling? Don't replace your driveway, patio or basement floor—just resurface...


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DIY Concrete Crack Repair

You can fix many concrete cracks yourself

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Metal Studs: How to Use and Frame With Metal Studs

Tools and techniques for building basement and partition walls with steel studs.


Installing Basement Carpet Padding In a Finished Basement

Choosing the right pad makes all the difference


How to Install Basement Carpet

Keep your finished basement floor dry, even if the concrete gets wet.


How to Build a Space-Saving Flip-Top Workbench

A space-saving workshop on wheels!


A Wooden Basement? They’re Better Than You Think

A reader wrote us asking about using pressure-treated wood instead of concrete for a basement or crawl space.