The Fun Times Guide > Home Building/Remodeling > DIY

10 Home Theater Room Essentials For The Do-It-Yourselfer

home-theater-room

Have you ever thought about converting that extra room into a home theater room or doing the same with part of the basement or attic? It’s not like the room has to be rebuilt from scratch or needs movie house chairs, a slanted floor, a projector popping out of the ceiling, or little blue hued LED lights marking an aisle. Sure, you may need a carpenter or local handyman for a few things, but for the most part home theater rooms can be the ultimate viewing spaces created on a simple budget … [Read more...]

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How To Repair Screeching Faucet Problems

Screeching, whining, and squealing are some of the most annoying faucet problems in a home. Fixing them could be a challenge unless you are informed on how to repair them. photo by Randy @ The Fun Times Guide to Hombuilding

Do you have a water faucet that whines, screeches or squeals when you turn it on? There are a few reasons why this annoying little problem occurs. By the way, I love that my son is such a willing participant in front of and behind the camera. The photo you see is him, while the angle and expression were all his idea. Got to love him! Is this a DIY fix-it project for able-bodied homeowners? It most certainly is, so pay attention, y'all. There are several possible reasons why your … [Read more...]

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Are Radiant Barriers Right For Your Home?

radiant-barriers

Radiant barriers have been around for decades but they are starting to gain momentum. This is in large part due to advances in design and the sales potential to existing homeowners that are upside-down on their mortgages. I touched on the subject of radiant barriers in a recent post regarding home energy audits, but I wanted to dig a little deeper. Radiant barriers inhibit heat transfer by thermal radiation.  The concept works and is widely used throughout the homebuilding industry among … [Read more...]

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I’m Fed Up With My Kenmore Elite He3t Problems

Kenmore-Elite-HE3T-bearing-spider-assembly-repair

I officially dislike my 6½ year-old Kenmore Elite HE3T front-load washer. Yep...it's broken again. I fear that this will not be an easy fix. It will be costly and we may decide to replace it rather than repair it. We've spent our fair share on repair bills with this washer and do not wish to throw good money after bad. The problem now appears to be either a bearing problem or the spider assembly needs to be replaced. Those parts run upwards of around $220-$300 each. Back to the diagnosis. … [Read more...]

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How To Install A Dual Flush Conversion Kit

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I went to war recently in an effort to retrofit my 23 year-old toilet with a new, dual flush conversion kit. The toilet won a few battles along the way, but I won the war, and that is what is most important! It all started with a broken flush handle. I took a look inside the lid to replace the handle assembly and decided that it was time to replace the works with an entirely new set of guts for this old toilet. I actually do this DYI stuff myself most of the time that I write about. By … [Read more...]

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Stream Movies and More To Your TV via Power-line Networking

DSCN1968

I wanted to stream Netflix movies to our new flat-panel TV. I thought I had it all figured out until I had a conversation in November 2010 with an experienced tech geek that worked in the Best Buy home theater department that suggested I go with power-line networking rather than Wi-Fi. I had already purchased the flat-panel TV with all of the needed inputs, and then some, and thought all I needed to do was buy a Blu-Ray (BD) player with built-in Wi-Fi and I would be good to go. Technically, I … [Read more...]

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How To Build Stone Walkways

Quite a few years ago, I installed a stone walkway in my sideyard. It was an ambitious project for me. I had never attempted to build stone walkways before but I wanted to create a small, sideyard oasis to sit on a bench and enjoy watching the birds & the bees going about their business. I did some research and also talked to the folks at Earth Products to help me through the process. I took their advice, combined that with our ideas and made the natural stone walkway that we had … [Read more...]

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How To Maintain Septic Systems

Septic tank maintenance is not a pretty subject to discuss...but it is necessary knowledge if you have one for your home.All household waste (except what you put in your trash can) is disposed of through the septic system, unless you happen to be on a sewer system. Knowing how to maintain your septic system is vital to your household health system.What do you know about how your septic tank system works? In my experience, I've never done much to maintain my system except to follow a couple of … [Read more...]

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How To Install Your Own Eze-Breeze Porch Enclosures

ezbreeze-porch-enclosures

Many of you that read my post on Eze-Breeze porch enclosures were curious to know if you could install them yourselves. The answer was basically no. It was best to let professional installers and dealers of Eze-Breeze do all of the work due to the custom fit necessary in most porch window openings. Until recently, you would have needed to contact a dealer. They would come out to your home, take all of the measurements for a custom fit, order them and have them installed. You can still … [Read more...]

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Cool Tools For Him or Her: DIY Homeowner Gift Ideas

It's that time of year when you're in search mode looking for a really nice gift for the devoted DIY'er in your life. I've tracked down 23 really cool tools that I liked and I think you will, too. I think I'll add a few to the list as the season progresses because there are birthdays to buy for throughout the year, as well.In my mind, while compiling information for this post, I've spent thousands of dollars on these cool tools and others not listed here. I'm already thinking of all of the … [Read more...]

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