DIY Home Improvement Projects

Ceramic Tiling: a How-to Photo Guide
A one-stop shopping site for all of your ceramic tile needs. Everything from do-it-yourself ceramic tile basics, installation techniques, ceramic tile design concepts, and ceramic tile maintenance information is offered. Photos enhance the simplicity of undertaking tiling. Personal tips provide additional dos and don'ts to assist home improvers with their ceramic tile questions. Links to product manufacturers are included for online ceramic tile shoppers.

National Wood Flooring Association
The National Wood Flooring Association website has sections of information for consumers, including a searchable database of flooring professionals, an interactive design studio, and a design elements section offer visitors the chance to learn more about their wood flooring needs. There's also a species gallery to check out the various wood species available in terms of appearance, hardness and price. Types of flooring include plank, strip and parquet flooring. There's also a maintenance section that includes tips for removing stains and burns from wax and surface finished floors, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions section regarding repair, maintenance, environmental benefits, and the application of hardwood floors in your own.

Your New Workbench: A Simple, Inexpensive Project
When you need a basic workbench, you can make one with plywood. This may not be a heavy-duty option, but it does give you a flat surface to work on when the kitchen table is no longer an option and when you haven't built your ultimate workbench in your basement yet. Get the instructions you need by visiting this informative site.

Refinish Furniture.com
This site provide a lot of useful and free do-it-yourself information about furniture refinishing, antique restoration, wicker repair, picture frame restoration, custom picture reframing, kitchen cabinet refacing and repainting, unfinished furniture, and much more. There is a lot of "Basic Instruction" as well as advanced instructions. Different types of materials, tools, glues and accessories are covered in great detail. This is a good example of a commercial company selling product -- in this case Rockler -- which truly does provides a wealth of useful non-commercial information for consumers.

Roofing and Waterproofing: Construction, Codes, Insulation
From DoItYourSelf.com, a plethora of information on how to build a roof, including all codes to finish the job. Topics covered include trusses, layout, framing, sheathing the roof, soffits, felt, gutters, shingles and a checklist and glossary. Miscellaneous roofing articles cover such topics as fallproofing a roof, framing hip roofs, how to buy roofing, ice dames, mold growth, roof flashing, rubber roofs, slate roofs, ventiliation, water holes, why roofs leak, and roof inspection and certification. The site offers a discussion forum on roofing and waterproofing issues.

Knockdown and Mobile Workbenches Provide Flexibility to DIYers
When you want the flexibility of having another workbench in your garage or shop but you don't have enough space for a heavy-duty workbench, consider a knockdown model. As this site points out, you can assemble one in about a minute for times when you want a larger surface to work on. In between times, this style of workbench can be folded and stored against a wall. A detailed diagram showing how the legs of this workbench are held together with interlocking notches and a handy cutting diagram is also provided.

Get Creative and Build Your Own Tabletop Fountain
You may have admired tabletop fountains in other people's homes, but do you know how to make your own signature fountain? It's easier than you think, and this informative site will provide you with the detailed instructions you need to make your dream of designing and building your own a reality. Using a terra cotta bowl as the base, you will discover how to prepare your container, where to cut the holes for the plug on your water pump, and when to add the rocks, moss, and plants you have selected to finish the job.