Ron Hazelton's Blog

Installing Wallboard with Adhesive Has Sound Benefits

2013-04-19T19:41:42+00:00

Drywall Adhesive Eliminates Nail Pops, Improves Sound Deadening and Helps Reduce Drafts

Could Your Garage Be Beckoning Burglars?

2013-04-11T19:54:28+00:00

Tips, techniques and products to keep your garage safe from intruders.

The Latest in Composite Decking

2013-03-30T22:10:43+00:00

Modern-day composite decking combines strength, good looks, durability and resistance to wear, scratching and fading.

The Two-Pronged Approach to Lowering Heating and Cooling Costs

2013-03-24T02:20:03+00:00

Free or Low Cost Energy Audits Can Save a Bundle on Heating and Cooling Costs

Vinyl and Bamboo Bring New Looks and Features to Flooring

2013-03-23T16:39:40+00:00

Advances in vinyl and bamboo technology need to be seen and felt to be fully appreciated.

Four Super Screws That are Absolute Winners.

2013-03-15T14:36:33+00:00

Four super-performing screws for wood, concrete and composite decking.

The Surprising Virtues of PVC Decking

2013-03-01T22:18:33+00:00

PVC decking is lightweight, stain resistant, easy to install and convincingly wood-like.

Advantages of a Tile Wet Saw for Larger, Thicker Tiles

2013-02-17T23:23:56+00:00

A tile wet saw is an indispensable tool when working with larger, thicker or harder tiles like porcelain.

How a Moisture Meter Solved the Mystery of an Overnight Ceiling Leak

2012-11-30T16:10:50+00:00

Rude Awakening.
One morning I woke up to discover a huge water leak in the family room ceiling. This device helped my track down the cause.

How to Get and Keep Your Kitchen Knives Super Sharp

2012-11-15T16:43:20+00:00

The Dull Truth The fact is, most kitchen knives are far from sharp. Not only is a dull knife frustrating to use, it can actually be more dangerous than a well-honed blade since a dull cutting tool often invites the use of excessive pressure making it more likely to slip.

Firehouse Kitchen on Life Support Successfully Rescued

2012-08-29T23:00:44+00:00

The most striking firehouse kitchen in the country. Firefighters in Palos, IL win a $25,000 IKEA kichen in a nationwide competition co-sponsored by The Family Handyman magazine.

How Can I Keep My Cordless Tool Batteries Charged and Ready to Use

2012-08-26T17:30:33+00:00

Constant charging can reduce the life of cordless tool batteries. One solution is to use a 24-hour timer and set it to turn on the charger for fifteen minutes a day.

Flight Training - Open Cockpit Style

2012-08-26T02:32:26+00:00

I take a ride in a Stearman biplane trainer. Just for fun.

How to Install a New Toilet With No Tools

2012-08-20T23:06:18+00:00

Toilet replacement featuring American Standard's no tools needed toilet

My Margarita—Simple, Deliciious and So Very Summery

2012-07-22T00:44:50+00:00

A truly great margarita requires two things, fresh lime juice and the proper methodoloy. Here, I cover both.

Building My Own Pickup Truck

2012-07-06T18:01:03+00:00

An up-to-date look at ;GMC's Sierra Denali and the many options and features available in today's pick-up trucks.

The House That Barns Built

2012-07-05T20:33:04+00:00

Jim Pendleton built this 41-room house in Spencer, Indiana from the parts of 25 barns he demolsihed.

A Dumpster in a Bag

2012-06-28T23:46:37+00:00

This dumpster in a bag from Waste Management is purchased at a home improvement store, filled with up to three tons of waste or debris, then taken away.

A Lawn Machine for All Seasons - Five Things to Avoid When Mowing

2012-06-23T19:33:23+00:00

The lawn tractor is an amazingly versatile machine that many consider a year-round workhorse. While it's the tool of choice when it comes to grass cutting, there are other things to consider when it comes to have a healthy and great looking yard. Here are five common mistakes you'll want to avoid when mowing.

A Dozen Things (and more) You Can Do With a Combination Square

2012-05-26T17:47:10+00:00

The combination square is one of my most used tools. This video demonstrates a dozen (I can think of several more) measuring and marking tasks at which it excels.

If You Can Use a Utility Knife You Can Build Your Own Shower

2012-04-25T16:26:22+00:00

A complete tile shower system made of lightweight, waterproof reinforced polystyrene panels and components. Makes preparing a tile shower truly a do-it-yourself project.

An Amazing Screw that Practically Drives Itself into Materials

2012-04-19T21:24:57+00:00

A uniquely designed screw that drives in with practically no effort and virtually elminates splitting.

Building Your Own Tile Shower May Just Have Gotten Easier

2012-04-11T06:52:05+00:00

Mark E. Industries has come up with what they call a fool-proof shower building system.makes tile installation easy for everyone, even inexperienced do-it-yourselfers.

A Basement Door with a Finish That’s Tough as Nails

2012-04-08T00:49:58+00:00

Bilco's factory applied powder coat finish takes the punsihment and eliminates the need for painting.

New Polymer-Modified Sand Fills Wide Joints Between Flagstone, Cobblestone & Other Pavers

2012-04-04T22:25:33+00:00

Now wide gaps between flagstones, cobblestones and other pavers can be easily filled with a polymer-modified sand that's swept into the joints, dampened and allowed to dry locking paving materials in place.

Innovative Products from the 2012 International Builders’ Show

2012-03-09T13:31:36+00:00

A Tour of the 2012 Internation Builders' Show Turns Up Several Noteworthy Home Improvement Product Innovations

All American Ribs for Fall

2011-10-18T15:52:04+00:00

Tailgating Parties, Halloween celebrations and fall foilage festivities are all good reasons to cook up a batch of ribs and share them with friends and family.

Are You Tormented by Conflicting Product Reviews?

2011-08-02T01:27:35+00:00

In this blog, Ron advances a few theories as to why user reviews to products like tools can vary widely and often seem contradictory.

Five Ways to Get Rid of Tabletop White Marks

2011-07-30T03:35:33+00:00

Five different methods for eleminating white marks from tabletop finishes. Most of these use common implements and material found around the house.

The Secret to Putting Tile over Just About Anything

2011-07-29T02:18:04+00:00

This innovative tile system allows you to convert a laminate countertop or vinyl floor into ceramic tile without the need to remove the old surface or install cement board.

What Causes Those Ugly White Marks on Tabletops?

2011-07-29T01:05:21+00:00

White marks on table tops can be a real eye sore. Here's a good explanation of what causes them and, more importantly, the secret for getting rid of them.

Thanks for Visiting Our New Site

2011-06-28T20:32:22+00:00

We've labored for over a year to create our new website and I'm very proud of the end result.

Finishing Wood End Grain

2011-01-05T22:07:44+00:00

When applying stain, how do you get the ends of a board to match the face?