Home Improvement, Renovations, Do It Yourself DIY Construction and Home Building

A listing of all our home improvement renovations articles.

Woodworking plans of storage sheds, picnic tables, dog houses, etc you can build yourself.

Customized woodworking plans from Dave for your storage shed, gazebo, doghouse, etc.

Download our woodworking plans and building stairs packages.

Send a friend a Gift Certificate to access our home improvement renovations articles and woodworking plans.

Ask Dave your home improvement renovations or construction questions.

Who we are and how to contact us.

Construction dictionary of home improvement renovations and construction words.

How to cancel your subscription to our home improvement renovations site, our guarantee and Privacy Policy.

Some photos sent to us of our member's home improvement renovations projects.

Click to see how to become a member of this home improvement renovations site.

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Bike Storage Shed Plans

This is a custom bike storage shed plan for Curtis, my son-in-law, which I thought you may be interested in. Curtis lives in a strata townhouse and wanted this bike storage shed design to fit into his strata requirements.

Gift Memberships

Now you can send your friends and family members Gift Memberships to our do it yourself home improvement site with free woodworking plans for our members!

Complete Stairs Package

This is a downloadable package of the complete How to Build Stairs series including our stair calculator.

How to Build a Deck Series

New series of articles on building a deck. The first is entitled How to Build an Elevated Deck from the foundation all the way up!

Buffet and China Cabinet Plans

Dave gives basic instructions to complete the construction of this cabinet as well as how to apply the stain or clear finish. The buffet is separate from the upper glass door china cabinet.

New Series on Building Your Own House

Dave starts off a new series of articles on How to Build a House. The first is entitled The Lot and Plan where Dave discusses the importance of getting the lot and house plans as a compatible unit.

Ever Heard of Lapeyre Stairs?

How to build Lapeyre or alternating tread stairs for your loft or storage.

Check out Dave's answers to your questions

He's got answers to questions about Renos, Roofs and Stairs.

Concrete Form Calculator

Dan created another calculator for you. This one figures out how much concrete goes into any size of concrete form.

How to Hang a Pre-Hung Door

Here's a new article explaining how to shim up and hang a ready-made door.

Cutting Crown Molding

Dave just wrote several articles including an extensive table to help you with installing crown molding that's wider than 3½" using a compound miter saw.

Member Project Photos

We just added this page showing some photos from a member of the backyard storage shed he built from our plans. Send us your photos and get them up on that page!

How To Build a Door

Dave shows the diy home handyman how to make an exterior door and jamb from scratch, which is wider or taller than a conventional door.

Estimate Checklist

Dave shares with us the checklist he uses for estimating the overall costs of the construction contracts he bids on.

New Series Gives the Basics

Dave just created a new series that lets you in on the secrets carpenters learn during their apprenticeships. The first two home improvement renovations articles are: How to Read a Tape Measure and How to Make a Straight Cut with a Circular Saw.

Free Storage Shed Plans

We've got three new shed plans free to our members: a small gambrel roof storage shed (looks like a barn), a large gambrel roof storage shed with a loft and a utility storage shed that can double as a small workshop.

How to Install a Skylight in an Existing Roof

Dave gives do it yourself home improvement renovations people the exact steps you need to install a skylight in your house.

Linear to Board Feet

Dan added an easy way to convert your board lengths to board feet in his new conversion calculator.

Conversion Calculator

Here's a simple calculator that converts the measurements most used in the building trades.

New Roof Articles

This series shows you how to use a framing square when building a roof, how to calculate roof pitch and how to frame a hip roof.

New Stair Calculator

We added the calculation of the stair opening to this tool for you to calculate exact measurements when building stairs.

How to Build Stairs

Stairs can be difficult even for professional carpenters. Dave explains each detail and gives simple diagrams to make it easy.

Articles to Read

Basics 1: How to Operate Power Tools Safely
Basics 2: Lumber Dimensions, Wood Grades and Engineered Wood
Basics 3: How to Read a Tape Measure
Basics 4: How to Make a Straight Cut with a Circular Saw
Cabinets 1: How to Build Frameless European Cabinets
Cabinets 2: How to Build Face Frame European Cabinets
Cabinets 3: How to Make Cabinet Doors
Cabinets 4: How to Make Your Own Plastic Laminate Counter Top
Deck 1: How to Build an Elevated Deck
Deck 2: How to Build Handrails for Decks
Deck 3: Stairs for Decks
Deck 4: Deck Stairs with Returns
Electrical 1: Safety Concerns
Electrical 2: The 3 Way Switch
How to Build a House 1: The Lot and Plan
How to Build a House 2: The Foundation
How to Build a House 3: Services, Slab and Backfill
How to Build a House 4: How to Install Aluminum or Vinyl Soffits
How to Build a House 5: How to Install Vinyl Siding
Jigs 1: Feather Board
Jigs 2: Table Saw Push Stick
Jigs 3: Dado Jig for the Router
Jigs 4: Feather Wedge Jig
Jigs 5: Tapering Jig
Jigs 6: Circular Saw Guide
Jigs 7: Construction Compass
Jigs 8: Circular Saw Cutting Jig
Renos 1: Mould and What to Do About It
Renos 2: Moisture and Humidity Problems in the Home
Renos 3: Home Renovations Ideas
Renos 4: How to Frame a Wall
Renos 5: How to Install a Window in an Existing Wall
Renos 6: How to Make a Drop Ceiling
Renos 7: How to Install a Skylight in an Existing Roof
Renos 8: How to Install a Hardwood Floor
Renos 9: How to Install Ceramic Tile
Renos 10: Plumbing Rough-in Measurements and Instructions
Renos 11: Removing and Replacing Plumbing Fixtures
Renos 12: How to Cope an Inside Corner
Renos 13: How to Cut and Install Crown Molding Around a Ceiling
Renos 14: Cutting Wide Crown and Cove Moldings
Renos 15: How to Install a Rounded Corner in a Door Opening
Renos 16: How to Build a Door
Renos 17: How to Install a Pre-Hung Door
Renos 18: How to Hang a Pocket Door
Renos 19: How to Replace a Sliding Patio Door
Renos 20: How to Install and Finish Drywall
Renos 21: Dimensions of Wheelchair Ramps According to the Building Code
Renos 22: Questions on Home Renovations
Roof 1: Rafter Tables on the Steel Square
Roof 2: Calculating a Roof Pitch
Roof 3: How to Frame a Hip Roof
Roof 4: How to Install Trusses
Roof 5: Insulation and Soffits
Roof 6: Answers to Questions on Roofs
Seasonal 1: Fall
Seasonal 2: Winter
Seasonal 3: Christmas
Stairs 1: How to Build Stairs
Stairs 2: How to Layout Stair Stringers
Stairs 3: Stair Calculator
Stairs 4: Installing a Landing in a Set of Stairs
Stairs 5: How to Install an Inside Handrail
Stairs 6: Installing Hardwood on Stairs
Stairs 7: How to Build Concrete Stairs
Stairs 8: Lapeyre or Alternating Tread Stairs
Stairs 9: Questions on Building Stairs
Tables 1: Rafter Table
Tables 2: Span Tables for Joists
Tables 3: Span Tables for Rafters
Tables 4: Common Conversions
Tables 5: Conversion Calculator
Tables 6: Nailing Schedule
Tables 7: Penny Nail
Tables 8: Cutting Crown Molding
Tables 9: Concrete Volume Calculator
Tables 10: Fractions to Decimals and Decimals to Fractions
Tables 11: Inches to Decimal Foot
Tables 12: Estimate Checklist
Tables 13: Weights of Materials
Upholstery 1: Questions on Upholstery
Useful Stuff 1: Simple Steam Box
Useful Stuff 2: Cleaning Vinyl Siding
Useful Stuff 3: Dave's Basic Tools
Useful Stuff 4: Some Helpful Tips
Useful Stuff 5: The National Building Code

Downloadable Plans and Packages

Bedroom End Table
Bench Seat
Bike Storage Shed
Bookcase 3'x5'
Buffet and China Cabinet
Carpenter Tool Box
Child Bench Seat Toy Box
Child Picnic Table
Child's Doll Cradle
Child's Table and Chairs
Corner Cabinet
Corner Shelves
Dog House for Mid Size Dog
Dog House for Small Dog
Gazebo 10'x10' Hip Roof
Gazebo 10'x10' With Skylight
Gazebo 12' Octagon
Gazebo 12'x12' Hip Roof
Gazebo 12'x12' With Skylight
Mission Entertainment Center
Outboard Motor Stand
Picnic Table
Sawhorse
Scrabble Board Lazy Susan
Shed 8'x12' Gambrel Roof
Shed 10'x10' Gambrel Roof with Loft
Shed 10'x12' Gable Roof
Shed 10x12 Gambrel Roof
Shed 12'x16' Gable Roof
Shed 12'x16' Gambrel Roof with Loft
Shed 12'x16' Gambrel without Loft
Shop Work Bench Table
Stair Calculator
Stairs Package
Sunshine Ceiling
Wheel Chair Ramp
Wishing Well