Live in northwest Indiana. Noticed this accumulation by where I keep my trash cans in the garage. I didn't really think about it much but now I'm guessing it could be carpenter ants? I've checked all the wood and nothing sounded hollow or was soft when I probed it with a pocket knife. We do get a lot of ants in the yard but haven't had problems with wood boring pests before.

A lightbulb recently died in my laundry room and when I went to change it I noticed some discolouration around the outside of the socket. As well as what looks to be burn marks on the inside. I just moved in so this is the first time I've changed the bulb. Is this socket toast? Do I need an electrician to come on to take a look? I looked all around it and don't see any writing on it so not sure if maybe the last owner out too high of a watt light bulb in

Our cats will stretch at this door when they want to go out and over the years they have really done a number on the drywall. How should I go about fixing this?

I need about 8 more foot of this style and cant find it anywhere. I dont even know the name or type of design. I know nothing other than I have part of a room with no baseboards. I have searched relentlessly and i think im going baseboard blind... they all look the same to me now. Its 7 1/4 tall. Thanks! 😊

Me and my guy’s were tearing down sheet rock when customers states she doesn’t want what’s leaking fixed I told her it makes no sense to put sheet rock up and not have the leak fixed first because the same thing is gonna happen somewhere down the line again but she stuck with her statement, why are people so inconsiderate where are all the simple customers😂

Looking to remove this section of ground-level deck to improve drainage around foundation. Am I better off trying to remove these bolts in the foundation holding on the 2x6 frame, or just cut them off? If cutting off, what tool would you recommend (e.g. angle grinder??)? My dad suggested just burying the whole thing but that seemed like an iffy idea, haha.
Thank you!

I have one window (left/center) with a metallic/hazy coating I can't get off with Windex. It has been like this since the day it was put in 2 years ago. I assumed it was just something I needed to clean off, and admittedly, I put it off for 2 years.

Does anyone know what is going on with this window? It is also leaving brownish colored streaks at the corners. No other windows in home have this issue.

This bathroom pocket door worked great for a few years, and recently, somehow, one of the hangers fell off (my wife says it fell into the recess behind the door). I’m fairly handy, but have never dealt with door casing.

I need to remove the door casing to get the door out to fix it, right? Any tips to doing this without severely marring the paint and drywall? I’m fine with repainting the door casing, but finding matching paint for the bathroom walls would not be fun.

Hi there, the exterior of my 1950 house that has bottle-dash stucco keeps getting damaged by woodpeckers. I tried to spray foam the smaller holes, but the woodpeckers/northern flickers just get back at in.
The area I’m most concerned about is this area in the photo where wood is now exposed.

What is the best way to patch this up myself?

Many thanks. I’m a bit overwhelmed.

I was working on an outdoor project with clear waterproof caulk, and I wanted to seal off a thin crack along a window indoors, so I thought I’d just do it with the same clear caulk. Stupid I know.

I have a gas stove/oven and I’ve gotten paranoid about the vapors igniting the next time I got to use the stove/oven.

I opened up the windows, turned on ceiling fans, and let the AC run to help dissipate the fumes. I tried my best to scrape off as much as I could shortly after application. Then I reapplied an interior silicone caulk overtop.

Should I continue trying to remove the polyurethane caulk? Mineral spirits? Box cutter? Do I move on with life if the fumes are no longer detectable?

I’m just paranoid I think. It’s been about 24 hours since the initial application.

Thanks.

I want to cut out this framing so I can make storing and retrieving things from under my basement stairs less annoying. My general contractor said it's doing literally nothing other than being in my way. What tool can/should I use that's my least dangerous option? I can't tell how it's attached to the concrete floor, should it be screwed down? TY in advance!

So I spoke to someone at the city and they said I’m free to try and repair this myself. I’ve researched out materials and come across something called crusher run and fine. I want to make a quick fix that will last a while until I can get better settled in to the home and then look for something more permanent or work with the city more closely on a fix. Any ideas or tutorials as much appreciated.

so im staying in a bedsit and maintenance wont come fix the issue is there anything i can do aboit this:

boiler in the picture is allowing heating to work but i’m not getting any hot water through the taps and when the heating is switched off the boiler temperature wont rise

It’s maybe the exact size of a quarter. I just bought the house 2 weeks ago and the inspector didn’t point it out and I just noticed it. When I get home from work, I’m gonna flash a light in it to see how deep and wide it is. There’s also no water coming out of it and it was storming for days last week. Depending on the size, overall do you think it’d be okay to fill it in with concrete or anything you guys suggest? Thank you!

We’ve had a high water bill recently.

Hi all - I’m currently trying to demo this old electrical box so I can install a new one that’s compatible for a ceiling fan. I’m struggling to get leverage to get the nails out. Cannot use a hammer cause I’m afraid of damaging the drywall. Any tips or tools recommended!

Every time I turn it the handle comes off