Cars, trucks, and motorcycles are long term investments. After a hot summer of time on the road, it’s likely that your vehicle could use a little TLC. The good news is that a few do-it-yourself auto repairs can go a long way in restoring your vehicle and can save you time and money. Continue reading →
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Save Money with Household Repairs and Improvements
If you’re like us, you’re always planning or thinking about your next DIY project. As we say goodbye to summer and welcome fall, consider these do-it-yourself household repair and home improvement projects that can save you time and money.
Reattach loose tile
If you have tile flooring, you may notice over time that some of the tiles getting loose. This could be because the adhesive securing it to the floor is no longer sticky and all you need to do is use a little heat to make the adhesive tacky again to reattach the tile.
Try this tip from TLC: grab a sheet of aluminum foil and an iron. Place a sheet of aluminum foil over the tile to protect it from the direct heat. Turn your iron to high and place it directly on the foil over the tile. Keep the iron on the foil and tile long enough for the adhesive to melt and reattach to the floor. If it’s a small tile, it should take about five minutes; a larger tile might take 10. Finally, place a heavy object, such as a bathroom scale, on the tile until the adhesive dries again.
HVAC: Install a Programmable Thermostat
DIY Network suggests improving your home’s comfort and efficiency with a unit that allows multiple settings. A programmable thermostat offers more control options and saves on home heating and cooling expenses. It allows you to set different temperatures for different times of the day, and even different times on different days.
Silence a Squeaky Floor
Living in an older home may mean that you have squeaky floorboards. This is generally caused by slightly shifted floorboards that rub against one another and cause the squeak. To get started, be sure to locate all the squeaking planks. Then, apply a small amount of Amazing GOOP Craft adhesive in between them, making sure to wipe excess adhesive away and let it dry overnight.
Patch a Holey Screen
You can fix small holes in your screens instead of spending hundreds on replacing them. It’s easy: just apply a small spot of E-6000 in the hole to seal it right up.
Basement Build Out
Consider this a maximum value big ticket upgrade that will not only add extra square footage, but will pay you back when it comes time to sell. Not sure where to start? Check out HGTV’s Front Door, which provides great advice and tips regardless of your budget. If you’re just looking to remodel an unfinished basement, DIY Network shares easy how-to steps on installing drywall, bamboo paneling, subfloor panels and more.
DIY Links We Like
We know you enjoy DIY – building, crafting, repairing – and sometimes finding interesting, useful and inspirational things online can be very time consuming.
Since we’ve been reading and sharing a variety of projects, innovative ideas and just cool stuff on Twitter, we thought compiling them for you here would be fun, too. You can join us anytime on Twitter, by the way. @amazinggoop for DIY and craft tweets and @EPI_Industrial for builders and contractors.
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DIY Gardening: Build a Rain Barrel
It’s gardening season and your plants are thirsty. Make your own rain barrel with used plastic containers. Rain barrels are an efficient, cost effective way homeowners can collect and recycle a valuable resource.
33 Clever, Time-Saving, Money-Saving Reader Tips
Readers contributed bunches of tips that speed repairs and save money. You can find the best of the tips from This Old House. Our favorites were tip number 16, place a bag in a paint tray to decrease the mess, and number 30, unclog hairy drains with Nair hair remover. We’d also add #34: Use a good adhesive.
From our buddy, Danny Lipford, learn how to build a wood patio planter with simple instructions. Summer heat doesn’t mean boring entryways. Add simple late summer or fall plants for a lovely addition to your patio. You can make it even simpler, by using EcoGlue Green Solutions Premium Wood Adhesive.
50 Nifty Tricks for Big DIY Savings
Shrink household expenses with 50 simple ideas. Some of the tricks may help you save $500. Some of the tips include shortening your dryer-vent hose and making your own cleaning solutions. And… Of course, add a tube of GOOP to your toolbox for on-the-spot repairs to save some coin, too.
How to Make an Herb Garden from Recycled Plastic Bottles
Reuse plastic bottles and create a fresh herb garden. This clever project would be great to do with your kids and watch your garden grow. Of course, we recommend EcoGlue for the glue used in this project. The steps are easy and you can have fresh basil before you know it.
19 fresh ideas for outdoor rooms
It doesn’t take much to improve a porch, patio or garden. Here are some easy and inexpensive updates for outdoor spaces. One of our favorites is fresh idea number 8: Create a new outdoor room with a simple change in flooring.
How to Decorate a Table with Bamboo Veneer Flowers
Spruce up a coffee table with an organic, floral twist. This article will show you how to make your own pattern from photos of flowers and apply them with bamboo veneer.
Learn how to make stunning mosaic birdhouses that will brighten your yard and make a stylish home for the birds in your yard. This article provide seven easy construction steps and materials. We’ve provided several mosaic projects on An Eclectic Blog and know that EcoGlue or Amazing GOOP both work well.
Anna: Thanks for the tip. And no sew too, which is awesome....
Mackenzie: Thanks for reposting this guys :) I use my purse all the time!...
Ariane: Excellent post once again. Thank you ;)...
Zakkalife: Thanks for sharing a link to my eyeglass case tutorial:)...
Brianna Olds: I love these items! Thank you so much for sharing them! Very helpful!
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