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An Echo chain saw that starts but won't stay running can often be fixed with one of a few troubleshooting items. Learn what to check first before you visit a professional Echo repairperson.
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When installing paver stepping stones, paths or patios, take time to level the area to accommodate slopes or uneven ground. Level the ground under the pavers, tamp the soil, then set them on a firm base of gravel and sand.
Read MoreAdding a gable roof to an existing roof is no small project and is best left to the professionals. However, you can have an understanding of the work being done or even do it yourself if you have prior experience with roofing projects. Several methods exist based on the current roof design.
Read MoreThinking about installing brick somewhere in your house? Learn the differences between common brick and face brick.
Read MoreThough roofs for houses today are prefabricated and don't always need separate rafters, there are still ways to cut rafters for custom roofs. In order to do so, a speed square, otherwise known as a rafter square is needed to cut the correct rafter angles that will fit together correctly on a roof.
Read MoreWhen installing metal roof panels, it's important to keep in mind the conditions your roof will need to face in the future: depending on the climate you live in, the resulting weather patterns, and the way your panels are installed, the required amount of metal roof overhang will differ.
Read MoreMany modern houses have combined central heating and air conditioning systems. Ductwork is installed when the house is under construction and there is easy access to walls and ceilings.
Read MoreA roof that slopes in only one direction is called a shed or pent style. It is a common roof on sheds and other outbuildings and is frequently used on carports, patios, porches and small additions to a house. It also is often used on dormers, extensions built on a basic roof to provide more light or space inside.
Read MoreAll drywall is naturally fire-resistant. This building material was developed in 1916 by the U.S. Gypsum Company and is composed of a layer of gypsum plaster compressed between two sheets of heavy paper. Gypsum is a natural material with a high moisture content.
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Steel reinforcing bar -- rebar -- is used in concrete construction to add strength. Concrete has great compressive strength, the ability to withstand downward pressure, but very little tensile strength, the ability to withstand bending. Concrete block shares this condition.
Read MoreA gambrel style is often called a barn roof. Its double, or sometimes triple, slopes on each side of a peak provide more space inside the roof, which is attractive to homeowners too. A gable roof has only two rafter or truss chord angles, a top cut at the peak and a bottom cut at the walls.
Read MoreSizing ducts for a heating system is a complex task. It involves the heat output of the unit, measured in British Thermal Units, the air flow from its blower, the number of vents and their location and the length of ducts needed to reach those vents.
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Concrete has been used for construction since Roman times. It is essentially artificial rock, made with a paste of cement and water to bind together some solid material like sand or gravel. Modern concrete is made with Portland cement, water, sand and some rock called aggregate.
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Concrete blocks and cinder blocks are very close relatives. Both are made of cement, sand and aggregate. The difference is that the aggregate in a concrete block is fine gravel; in a cinder block it is coal cinders.
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Oriented strand board, plywood and particleboard are all fabricated wood products, made by fastening pieces of wood into a solid form. Plywood is made by gluing together thin sheets of wood veneer with grains alternating.
Read MoreA ridge board or beam runs through the tops of rafters or trusses from end to end along a gable roof, tying those framing members together. The rafters bear most of the weight of the roof; the ridge board holds them in place.
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Stihl is a German company with a long history of producing chain saws widely used by professional tree trimmers. Stihl saws are noted for their ease of starting and durability. Stihl makes many heavy-duty saws for logging and such tasks as tree-trimming around power lines.
Read MoreThe ground under a shed doesn't have to be level, but the shed itself must be. When a shed has to be built on any slope or other uneven ground, some accommodation will have to be made to make sure the floor is level so the shed will be square and solid.
Read MoreAn electrical plug prong that breaks off in an outlet creates two problems, one with the plug, the other with the outlet. The first rule of addressing such a situation is basic: turn off the electricity to that outlet immediately, even if the broken prong is the grounding prong (the bottom of three) on the cord.
Read MoreA concrete slab makes a good foundation for a storage shed. Concrete is durable. It eliminates the need to build a separate shed floor. A concrete floor is easy to clean and resists spills from most of the items stored inside. It is not affected by moisture or rot.
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Stucco and concrete are two of the oldest building materials, still in use and popular today. There have been improvements and variations in both materials over the years. Today both are generally created with portland cement, made from limestone that's been specially heat-treated.
Read MoreThere's an old joke that stuff expands to fill the available space. That often seems to be the case with a shed. What was originally built to provide ample storage for lawnmowers, garden tools and bicycles can over time become jammed. Homeowner interests also change. A gardener might want a greenhouse.
Read MoreCurbs and gutters are simple in design and complex in construction. A curb is a short concrete wall, usually about 6 inches high, that forms a barrier between a yard and a street. A gutter is a flat concrete slab abutting the curb which drains water away from the yard.
Read MoreExtending a concrete foundation requires a blend of strength and precision. It's a lot more complicated than fastening a couple of Lego blocks. If the extension is for a building addition, it will require an architect. An extension for a porch or deck can be handled by a homeowner, with some help.
Read MoreGather some basic weather information to calculate the proper size for gutters and downspouts for a house. The total rainfall and how rapidly it falls will affect the runoff from the roof. An inch of rain is not much, but it if falls in half an hour it could flood a gutter. Total roof area also affects runoff.
Read MoreCinder blocks are much like concrete blocks. They are the same dimensions, nominally 8 inches, but actually 7 5/8 by 16 inches. Concrete blocks are made with cement, sand and fine gravel. Cinder blocks use coal cinders and ashes with cement.
Read MorePutting new siding on a garage can be a challenging but rewarding task. Sometimes you have to replace siding because the old wood has rotted or become unsightly. Sometimes you may just want to convert to siding which requires less maintenance, like vinyl.
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