Home Improvement Stack Exchange
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1500 questions
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How do I tell if my house is brick or brick veneer?

I live in a brick house, and am interested in understanding whether it is brick or brick veneer, as a way to understand what kind of risks it (and we) may face during an earthquake. I hear that brick veneer is essentially a wood frame house with a…
John
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What could happen if I use 2 cycle fuel in a 4 cycle engine?

First off, this is NOT to be confused with the following question: What could happen if I used 4 cycle fuel in a 2 cycle engine? 2 cycle oil is used for my weed eater. There is no way I could use a whole gallon in a year. Sometimes I run out of…
jp2code
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In layman's terms how much pressure is 4000 psi?

4000 psi sounds like a lot. That's what some pressure washers can go up to. Just how much pressure is that? What are some real world examples that would help explain that kind of pressure?
Daniel Duckworth
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Can I run a central air conditioner in the winter?

What happens if you run a central air conditioner when it's below freezing outside? Is this expected to work? I know, it sounds crazy, but that's because you don't live in an overheated New York apartment building built in 1904 where the whole…
Joel Spolsky
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Does a plumbing vent need to penetrate the roof? (Can it penetrate a wall?)

We're going to move our washer/dryer to the garage (the front loader needs to sit on concrete to keep it from shaking our house to the ground). I'll need to add a washer drain to the garage for the washer. Because this will need a p-trap, my…
DA01
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How do I fix seams that open up at the corners of walls during the winter?

Every winter, we get cracks like this where the walls meet the ceiling in certain rooms. We just got our bathroom redone, so it's most bothersome here. When springtime comes, they "seal" back up. Why does this happen and what's the best way to…
spalt
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What are the pros and cons of different types of windows?

I live in the North Eastern corner of US, and my house has 50 year old single-pane wooden windows. They held up not too bad, considering, but now I want to replace them all. Things that are important to me are: Decent energy efficiency (this,…
user76
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Putting together a tool set for children 8-11

One of the many hats I wear is the hat of Bagheera, assistant cub scout leader. I'd like to introduce a project where we build a wooden tool box. But I'd also like to provide the cub scouts with a minimal set of tools they can take home. What…
Chris Cudmore
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Is there a wall outlet power meter that I can interface with from a computer?

I'm wondering if there is a wall outlet power meter that I can somehow interface with from a computer. I'm aware of all the google power meter products, but those are for an entire house. I'm trying to measure the electricity usage of a single…
wangburger
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Is there any code for running Ethernet cable (through attics)?

We have an unfinished attic - the insulation-everywhere, step-in-the-wrong-place-and-fall-through-the-ceiling kind. I'd like to run Ethernet cable through the attic. I know for Romex, I'd have to staple the wire to the joists, drill holes when…
BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft
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What is the relative importance of cut-retardant safety gloves when using a chainsaw?

I am evaluating some cut-retardant gloves for use with a chainsaw. At first the idea of protecting my hands appealed to me, but later I couldn't really justify to myself why that purchase would make sense if the rest of my torso was…
Anonymous
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What would cause excess CO2 in cellar

Question Update: We now know that the problem is Carbon Dioxide; any suggestions on what could be consuming oxygen and producing Carbon Dioxide would be great! We rent an old farm house that has recently been renovated, the cellar has been tanked,…
Dog Ears
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What are the pros and cons of adding a vapor barrier behind shower backer board?

After much research, I have a lot of conflicting advise about the need to add a vapor barrier before installing the backer (hardy / cement) board for my bathroom shower. The "expert" at Home Depot, and another guy on youtube seem to think this is a…
virtualxtc
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Why won't HVAC supply stores sell directly to the public?

I am quite shocked that every store in my very large metropolitan area that sells HVAC supplies requires purchasers to have HVAC contractors license. Which makes it very difficult for a very technically inclined DIY-er to do the job himself. I…
amphibient
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What are my options for asphalt driveway repair and/or sealing?

I live in New England and my asphalt driveway is showing a lot of cracks. There's also a little divot in one flat spot that collects water. What are my options for getting the driveway back to looking good, and stopping any further damage?
Jon Fournier
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