KnowRemodeling

The archive

Every guide, one shelf.

Interior refinishes, exterior maintenance, and the tips we wish someone had told us first. Browse by where the work happens.

Gloved hands on a ladder scraping wet popcorn texture from a ceiling in a room fully draped in plastic sheeting
InteriorCeilings & Drywall11 min read

Remove a Popcorn Ceiling Without Wrecking the Room

A step-by-step guide to removing popcorn ceiling texture safely: asbestos testing, masking the room, wet scraping, skim coating, sanding, and priming for a flat finish.
A flashlight beam on exposed floor joists and a wood beam above a basement wall during inspection
InteriorOpen-Concept Conversions9 min read

Is That Wall Load-Bearing? How to Know Before You Swing

A practical guide to reading joist direction, stacked walls, and roof framing to judge whether a wall carries load, and when to hire an engineer.
A freshly cut pass-through opening in a drywall wall with exposed studs and a new header, kitchen visible through it
InteriorOpen-Concept Conversions10 min read

Open a Pass-Through in a Non-Load-Bearing Wall

A step-by-step guide to cutting a pass-through in a non-bearing interior wall: proving it is not structural, framing the header and sill, and casing the opening.
Bathroom vanity mirror flanked by two vertical sconces casting even light, with tools on the counter below
InteriorBathroom Lighting & Ventilation7 min read

Get Vanity Lighting Right: Height, Cross-Light, and CRI

A step-by-step guide to vanity lighting that flatters instead of shadows: sconce heights, cross-lighting, CRI and color temperature, and dimmer wiring.
A new bathroom exhaust fan housing being fitted into a ceiling opening with insulated duct visible above
InteriorBathroom Lighting & Ventilation11 min read

Replace a Noisy Bath Fan and Actually Duct It Outdoors

A step-by-step guide to swapping a loud bathroom exhaust fan for a quiet one: CFM sizing, sones, duct to a roof or wall cap, backdraft damper, and wiring.
A white pedestal sink being set against a painted wall in a small half bath with chrome plumbing behind
InteriorPowder Rooms & Half Baths9 min read

Install a Pedestal Sink in a Tight Half Bath

A step-by-step guide to installing a pedestal sink in a small half bath: hidden bracket blocking, aligning the drain and supplies, and a wobble-free pedestal.
Small powder room mid-refresh with a new compact vanity, framed mirror leaning nearby, and bold paint on the walls
InteriorPowder Rooms & Half Baths10 min read

Refresh a Powder Room in One Weekend, Vanity to Paint

A step-by-step weekend refresh for a powder room: swap the vanity and faucet, hang a real mirror and lighting, and go bold with paint in the one room that allows it.
Gloved hands lowering a white toilet bowl toward a closet flange with a wax ring, rubber seal, shims, and wrench nearby
InteriorPlumbing Fixtures9 min read

Swap in a Comfort-Height Toilet Without a Single Leak

A step-by-step guide to replacing a standard toilet with a comfort-height model: measuring the rough-in, wax ring versus waxless seal, shimming, and testing.
New brushed-nickel bathroom faucet on a vanity beside a corroded pop-up drain, basin wrench, and braided supply lines
InteriorPlumbing Fixtures9 min read

Replace a Bathroom Faucet and That Corroded Pop-Up Drain

A step-by-step guide to swapping a bathroom faucet and its crusty pop-up drain: basin wrench tricks, seized nuts, new supply lines, and a leak-free first fill.
A stainless range hood being mounted under kitchen cabinets with a rigid metal duct rising through the cabinet above
InteriorKitchen Lighting & Ventilation11 min read

Replace a Recirculating Range Hood With a Ducted One

A step-by-step guide to replacing a recirculating range hood with a ducted hood: CFM sizing, planning the duct run, cutting the wall or roof, and a proper cap.