Questions tagged [materials]
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174
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What kitchen counter material would you recommend and why?
What are the pros and cons of various kitchen counter top materials?
Granite
Corian
Concrete
Laminate
Quartz
Silestone
Other
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10
answers
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What is better for a roof, plywood or OSB?
While watching the builders next door do their thing, I became curious with their technique to install plywood on edges neighboring the next townhouse, and OSB for the rest (which for these narrow ...
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2
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What should I keep in mind when building my house myself?
I inherited a piece of land and want to build a house on it. Nothing fancy: one floor, 2-3 rooms.
Since I don't really have the money :D to build it "in one go", I'm going to build it over a longer ...
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votes
4
answers
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What type of screw is the most resistant to rust: galvanized, stainless steel, or deck screws?
How do the following screw types fare in an outdoor (wet) long-term application?
Galvanized screw:
Stainless steel screw:
"Deck" screw:
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votes
11
answers
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Which material should I use for a whiteboard that would erase easily?
I saw some DIY tutorials recommending to use tileboard to make a cheap whiteboard.
I had a piece lying around, and tried some dry-erase markers on it.
Turns out they don't erase well at all when ...
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votes
6
answers
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How to prevent mold in stored joint compound
Joint compound comes in larger containers than I need. I have had this problem for years where storing opened but unused joint compound leads to mold growth, usually starting within a week or two. I'd ...
- 1,068
8
votes
7
answers
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What should I use for a sandbox bottom?
I'm building a sandbox for my three-year old. It will probably sit on the deck, so it needs some kind of bottom. Ideally, we should be able to move the sandbox around the deck. Is it necessary for ...
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votes
3
answers
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Does RTD in plywood mean "Rated" or "Resistance Temperature Detectors"?
Lots of plywood at Home Depot have the letters RTD in the title, with no further detail. Many of these have multiple user questions of the form "What does RTD mean?" Answers seem to be split 50/50 ...
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7
votes
5
answers
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Is acrylic / Perspex a suitable material for a replacement fridge shelf?
My fridge shelves cracked and broke, and although I tried a repair mentioned in a previous question, it eventually failed as expected.
Since it seems that replacement shelves are no longer sold for ...
- 267
7
votes
1
answer
595
views
Looking for a non-stick space-filling foam
I'm looking for a material that will expand to fill a cavity of an irregular shape, and then solidify into a permanent shape. I am not using it primarily for insulation purposes.
Polyurethane spray ...
- 173
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votes
2
answers
45k
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What are the pros/cons of using porcelain over ceramic tile in a bathroom?
I'm planning on tiling a bathroom floor and a walk-in shower (including the ceiling). I haven't looked into pricing yet, but I've heard that porcelain would be a better, yet more expensive material to ...
- 265
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2
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3k
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Screwing into the underside of countertop - can it support a little weight?
We have a space with a wide countertop set up in a space that functions as a workbench. There are no cabinets underneath. Instead, you can pull up chairs to it. There are computers there and it ...
- 307
6
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What do the letters mean in sandpaper grading?
I have a set of sandpapers that has the following papers:
60 AN
100 GB
120 DN
180 FB
All have the marking S/C/W/P paper T9 C Closed. These are all paper sheets. I know that the number is the grain ...
- 163
5
votes
1
answer
859
views
two-part fastener for right-angle wood connections
I have some furniture which is missing a screw/nut pair used for fastening two pieces of wood together at a right angle. The screw is 45mm long and 5mm wide, and it's paired with some kind of nut with ...
- 153
5
votes
2
answers
9k
views
What is the silicone-like coating on CREE LED light bulbs?
I recently bought some CREE LED bulbs, the kind pictured below, and while they are the same shape as glass incandescent bulbs, they seem to have some sort of cloudy and sticky rubber coating, as if ...
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5
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What's a high R-value insulation material alternative to dimensional lumber
Years ago I read somewhere about a building material described like this :
a composite/synthetic material (not wood)
available in traditional dimensional lumber sizes (e.g. 2x4)
rigid enough to have ...
- 212
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votes
2
answers
524
views
How can I build a lamp like the one I saw in the store?
My Fiance and I were walking through Target to find a lamp for the corner of our living room. We saw this one that we kind of liked
But the price was way too high and the panels were too small. I ...
5
votes
1
answer
7k
views
What are the “rules” for connecting different kinds mains electrical wires?
Aluminum wires can't be connected directly to copper wires - otherwise the contact spot overheats badly, such connections should only go through steel connectors. I was rather surprised when I found ...
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4
answers
3k
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What kind of material can I use to cover a window to keep the cold out?
I have a small window in my bathroom that is high up near the ceiling. It's pretty useless, but since the bathroom is always really cold I think it is letting cold air in. I'd like to prove this ...
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2
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1k
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Is there a dust-free alternative to gravel for an indoor Petanque Court?
We are considering constructing a Pétanque court in our office.
The typical finished playing surface is sand, gravel, small pebbles or sometimes shell.
We need a dust-free material so that when ...
- 141
4
votes
2
answers
13k
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What are the differences between wood and composite shoe molding?
I'm about to install shoe molding all over my house. I'm deciding between composite (I think it's PVC) and wood. They are quite similar in price. How do these 2 materials compare in terms of:
...
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2
answers
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Where can I get a threaded wooden/metal rod for an adjustable piano stool?
I want to make a height adjustable stool, like a piano stool, of the simple screw/rotate type, but I don't have a lathe (or anything like enough skill) to turn a thread in wood myself.
Is there ...
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3
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How should I build the walls for a tiny house on a camper frame?
I am preparing to build a tiny house on an old camper frame, and am looking for advice on how to build the exterior walls. I'm planning to use 2x3 wood studs at 24" o.c., with 1/4" plywood on the ...
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2
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3k
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Wrapping fibreglass/ rock wool to seal in fibres in acoustic panels (bass traps)
I'm Making acoustic panels to treat my home studio and plan to use mineral wool or fibreglass insulation to do so. Likely Owen's Corning 703 or something marketed as safe insulation like Bradford ...
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3
votes
2
answers
4k
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Need to stop sound of rain hitting top of window AC
I want to silence the sound of rain drops falling on my window air conditioners by putting some kind of pad on top of them. (The sound is keeping me awake.) I also need to be very frugal right now so ...
- 31
3
votes
5
answers
9k
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Why does it seem all new faucets are using braided hose instead of stainless steel?
I have been looking for a new kitchen faucet recently at all the box stores, and noticed that pretty much all pull-out/pull-down faucets are now using a black braided hose instead of a more rigid ...
- 28.9k
3
votes
2
answers
156
views
What easily obtained material would work best to protect my LCD screen?
I've got 18 month and 2 1/2 year old boys. I'm considering purchasing a TV, and I'm concerned about the occasional lapse in judgement. (e.g.: The odd toy being thrown at the screen in a fit of ...
- 173
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1
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376
views
What is this soft plastic like material that has been added to the window, and how best to remove it?
The previous owner added this soft, plastic like material to the window frame and I'd like to remove it. I can get parts off with a knife, and when I do it is flexible and soft.
I believe this is ...
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3
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1
answer
299
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How can I tell whether this roofing material is hazardous to tear down?
I've got this little building in my garden that needs to be completely removed to make room for building a real house. To keep costs down, I'll be doing most of the tear-down myself but I'm unsure ...
- 1,337
3
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1
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1k
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Is this old basement floor concrete, grout, or something else?
What is the likely construction/material of the basement floor shown below?
It's not very flat, and the surface appears sandy. It's almost as if some kind of skim-coat was applied to the dirt floor. ...
- 2,571
3
votes
3
answers
125
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Timber Veneer Flooring?
We have existing polished timber floors, it is patchy (different parts of the house are floored with different kinds of timber) it also has a few gaps and holes. We are thinking of laying down some ...
- 225
3
votes
1
answer
413
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Asbestos risk in my roof? What is this material?
I'm a homeowner in London, and have recently started losing sleep over something. Hoping somebody can shed some light! Our next door neighbours are having their roof redone, and some manner of ...
- 31
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1
answer
1k
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How do I find doors of unorthodox sizes?
I have three doorways in close proximity to one another, and I want to replace the doors in them. Aside from one door being completely absent, the other two have numerous problems, including gaps at ...
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2
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2k
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What is this material on my interior foundation walls?
I have a poured concrete foundation. A portion of my basement is unfinished.
It looks like a white plaster has been sprayed onto the foundation wall inside my house:
I suspect spraying as there are ...
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3
votes
1
answer
57
views
Material Identification: Bath tub front cover
While renovating a bathroom in a quite old house in germany, we removed the cover holding the tiles on the front side of the bathtub and could not clearly identify the material. It seems to be ...
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3
votes
3
answers
773
views
What types of materials should I consider when designing a bench?
I am building a dividing half-wall/shelving unit to separate my living room from entrance door. I am planning to put a bench on the side closer to the door (so me and my guests can sit down while ...
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3
votes
3
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261
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What is this roof constructed from?
I am trying to answer questions about the construction of a roof and was wondering if it is possible to tell from the picture attached, and if so what the construction is?
EDIT: The roof is difficult ...
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3
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8k
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Why is a screen used to sand drywall, but paper used to sand wood?
A sanding screen is comprised of small holes:
A sheet of sandpaper has a flexible paper backing:
Despite using different methods of abrasion, the abrasiveness of both products is measured in grit.
...
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2
answers
2k
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What are my compact CNC milling machine options for stone carving?
I am looking for suggestions about a small and compact CNC milling machine to sculpt decorative figures in metal and stone plates. I have no experience with such machines (I once saw an industrial one ...
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1
answer
176
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What are these very heavy blocks found on my family's property?
I need help identifying these blocks found on my family's property, which was a 17th century farm house in Virginia. The blocks are 8.75" long, 4.5" wide, and 5" high and weigh 58 lbs.
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Why are "horseshoe" shims shaped the way they are?
Here's an example of the type of shim I'm referring to:
They are sold marketed for various uses - tile spacers, leveling window or door frames, etc. They are non-tapered.
Its not clear to me why ...
- 5,435
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1
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984
views
What material is this in my 1950s home's walls? Is it dangerous?
I am renovating an old bathroom. It's in a house built in the late 1950s in Germany. I have removed the bathtub. The bathtub was built in a box, which had tiles on the outside and this black material ...
- 125
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1
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111
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What's this tarry sheet under the tiles?
The tiles are becoming loose on the steps to my home and need to be replaced. As I pull some of them off I discovered this black sheet under the tiles. It smells tarry and has a texture between fabric ...
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6
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252
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How can I jack a steel post out of the ground?
Following on from this and this question I've got to the point where I am trying to "jack" a pole out of the ground.
I had a spare 3/4" bolt that I thought would be strong enough but unfortunately it ...
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5
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1k
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How should I deal with pine needles falling from tree onto roof? [closed]
I live in a 100 year old house with an addition on the back. We have a pine tree that is hanging over the addition. The roof and sky lights are leaking. The rest of the roof is ok. We want to just ...
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1
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What are the differences between pneumatic nail types like "smooth" and "ring" for house framing?
I'm getting my material list together to frame a house and am a bit confused by all the similar looking pneumatic nails which all have a slightly different wording/features and different prices, ...
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2
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7k
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Do the house plans contain the info about the material?
I'm planning to build a home addition and I'd like to know if the construction drawings will contain the information of what material the walls need to be built?
I have some experience in building a ...
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3
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8k
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How can I connect metal rods together crosswise?
I have some stainless steel rods of diameters such a 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" or so, and I want to connect them together in some cases cross-wise to make a lattice. In some cases it might be convenient to ...
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1
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Differences between matt and silk paint
I have started to paint my new home in matt as i prefer the none reflective surface compared to silk.
My Grandfather has said i should always paint walls with silk, but my outlaws say matt is just as ...
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3
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What material to use for replacing interior porch panels?
I really have two questions, both pertaining to the enclosed porch on the front of my house.
The first is, what material should I use to replace the panels that are starting to warp (bottom of the ...
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