Philip Schmidt

Philip Schmidt

Philip lives in Colorado with his wife, two daughters, and too many leftover building materials. He has been teaching readers how to do things for almost two decades. A former carpenter, project designer specializing in houses and everything we do with them and longtime writer and editor, he is the author of 24 books, including PlyDesign: 73 Distinctive DIY Projects in Plywood (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007T1PJ36/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1), Little Free Libraries and Tiny Sheds: 12 Miniature Structures You Can Build to Enhance Your Yard or Neighborhood (https://www.amazon.com/Little-Free-Libraries-Tiny-Sheds-ebook/dp/B07QFG3ZBP), Black and Decker the complete guide to treehouses: Design and Build Your Kids a Treehouse (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008D1PIT6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1), The Complete Guide to Greenhouses & Garden Projects: Greenhouses, Cold Frames, Compost Bins, Trellises, Planting Beds, Potting Benches & More (https://www.amazon.com/Decker-Complete-Greenhouses-Garden-Projects-ebook/dp/B005CDCX50), The Complete Guide to DIY Greenhouses, Install Your Own Solar Panels: Designing and Installing a Photovoltaic System to Power Your Home, DIY Solar Projects - Updated Edition: Small Projects to Whole-home Systems: Tap Into the Sun, The Complete Guide to a Clutter-Free Home, The Complete Guide to Contemporary Sheds: Complete plans for 12 Sheds, Including Garden Outbuilding, Storage Lean-to, Playhouse, Woodland Cottage, Hobby Studio, Lawn Tractor Barn, Schaum's Outline of Elementary Algebra, Decorating with Architectural Details, Install Your Own Solar Panels: Designing and Installing a Photovoltaic System to Power Your Home, Ultimate Guide: Trimwork, Upgrade Your House: 100 DIY Repairs Improvements For Under $100, The Complete Guide to Attics & Basements, The Complete Guide to a Green Home: The Good Citizen's Guide to Earth-Friendly Remodeling & Home Maintenance, Craftsman Router Techniques; A Comprehensive Guide to Using Routers, Molding & Medallions: Four Easy Weekend Projects (eHow Easy DIY Kindle Book Series), McGraw-Hill's 500 College Algebra and Trigonometry Questions: Ace Your College Exams: 3 Reading Tests + 3 Writing Tests + 3 Mathematics Tests, Black Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Treehouses: Design and Build Treehouses for All Ages, Don't Sweat It... Hire It!, The Complete Guide to the Green Home, Decorating with Architectural Details, and The Complete Guide to Treehouses.

How to Choose an Exterior Primer

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jul 04, 2010

Exterior primer is, in essence, a specially formulated paint that seals over the wood (or whatever material you’re painting) and creates a nice, even foundation for the finish...

Find the Best Exterior Paint for Your House

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jul 04, 2010

Looking for the perfect exterior paint is a little like seeking the Fountain of Youth: Everybody would love to find it, but it probably doesn’t exist -- at least in the sense...

Cement Paint

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jun 15, 2010

"Cement paint" is one of the common names for a family of special paint coatings made for masonry and cement-based materials, including concrete, mortar (and brick), concrete block...

Eggshell Paint

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jun 07, 2010

If you've ever assumed that "eggshell" referred to a paint with an off-white color, you'll be glad to know that lots of people make that mistake. Eggshell paint, in fact, refers to...

Cost of Driveway Resurfacing

Posted by Philip Schmidt | May 26, 2010

Driveway resurfacing is an attractive, long-lasting and cost-effective option for renewing an old asphalt driveway. A typical project involves repairing and preparing the old driveway...

How to Judge an Electrician's Work Quality

Posted by Philip Schmidt | May 25, 2010

Unlike the highly visible and familiar work of a trim carpenter or house painter, the product of an electrician's craft is largely unseen. It's hidden inside walls and behind switch...

Top Causes of Electrical Accidents

Posted by Philip Schmidt | May 23, 2010

The majority of electrical safety hazards can be prevented. Just use a combination of basic common sense and plain old good wiring. For most homeowners, preventing an electrical...

When Your Dishwasher Is Not Draining

Posted by Philip Schmidt | May 20, 2010

The most common cause of a dishwasher not draining is a clog or a problem somewhere in the drainage line. This includes the dishwasher's drain hose, the air gap, garbage disposer...

Battery Backup Power vs. Gas Generators

Posted by Philip Schmidt | May 16, 2010

When the grid goes down, which type of system do you want for emergency power: battery or generator? Either type will get the job done -- as long as it's sized to cover your power needs...

Not Enough Hot Water

Posted by Philip Schmidt | May 11, 2010

With so many fixtures and appliances relying on a healthy supply of hot water, running short on a regular basis is enough to put your daily household schedule (not to mention your...