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Patch a Plaster Wall

By Linda Cottin |
Cracks or holes in plaster walls can be repaired with a little patience and a bag of patching plaster.  Pre-mixed joint compound or spackling will not adhere to plaster and though there are other products on the market that may work, in the end, plaster to plaster is the… Read More

Glaze a Window

By Linda Cottin |
Step 1:  When replacing glass in a wooden window frame it is best to remove the frame from the window casing and place the frame on a level flat surface. Carefully remove the old broken glass completely.  Step 2:  Scrape away all the old glazing with a glazing… Read More

Water a Home’s Foundation

By Linda Cottin |
Excessive heat and dry weather can wreak havoc on a home’s foundation.  Lack of moisture causes soils to crack and shrink, leaving the foundation unevenly supported.   As soil moisture levels change, foundations can shift and crack.  Foundation cracks themselves may not be a serious problem, but if the cracks… Read More

Replace a Window or Door Screen

By Linda Cottin |
With summer in full swing, now is the time to replace those torn or worn screens around your home. Step 1:  Remove the screen frame from the window or door and lay the frame on a flat hard surface. Step 2: Measure the frame and add two… Read More

Winterize Your Home

By Linda Cottin |
Staying warm and saving money on heating costs are two goals that sometimes seem at odds when cold weather hits.  Here are ten steps that will help you do both. Step 1:  Seal up cracks or crevices inside and outside the home.  Look for gaps where different materials… Read More

Use Stair Gauges to Mark a Stringer

By Cottins Hardware |
Building a set of stairs is a tricky endeavor. Using a pair of brass stair gauges and a builder’s square to mark the stringer (the zigzag boards the steps and risers attach to) can make the job a little easier. Step 1: Sand the outer edge of a… Read More

Fix a Leaky Basement

By Cottins Hardware |
If spring has sprung a leak in your basement wall, it is time to head to your local hardware store or lumber yard for some hydraulic cement and fix a leaky basement. Step 1: Use a chisel to enlarge any cracks bigger than an eighth inch in diameter. Inverted… Read More