Drywall Repairs—Minor to Major

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In the last half century, drywall (also known as Sheetrock, wallboard or plaster board) has replaced plaster/lath as the material used for interior walls. First developed over a century ago,1 drywall consists of gypsum sandwiched between two external layers of paper. The ease of use and installation of drywall didn’t catch on right away, however, … Read more

Several Ways to Fill Gaps in Wood

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Ways to Fill Gaps Fine woodworking requires considerable accuracy and finesse, often as much as that which is produced by a machinist. Yet the woodworker, especially the do-it-yourself woodworker, works with equipment which doesn’t have the inherent accuracy of the metalworking mills and lathes the machinist works with. Rather, the woodworker has to bring that … Read more

Re-Finishing Hardwood Floors with Polyurethane

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Laminate Floors Laminate flooring has surged in popularity during the last two decades as an option for the home DIY type for a variety of reasons. Laminate flooring is tough, durable, reasonably straightforward to install, and visually appealing. However, laminate flooring still pales (aesthetically) as compared with real hardwood flooring and often adds value to … Read more

Finishing Touches on Wooden Utensils

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Health issues with wooden kitchen items Many people have wooden cooking items in their kitchen—from bamboo cutting boards to serving spoons/forks make from common fruitwood trees. However, these wooden kitchen staples are disappearing from home and commercial kitchens worldwide; ceding kitchen space to plastic and metal replicas. One of the concerns surrounding wooden utensils and … Read more

Is MDF a Significant Health Concern?

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Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is a plywood product which is commonly used as a substitute for plywood and particleboard, for new construction, home-improvement projects and furniture building. Its low cost, smooth finish and overall strength make it a popular material to use. Building code allows for the use of MDF as a replacement for plywood … Read more