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.

Photo: Josh Larios/Flickr

The Water Heater Is Leaking!

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Dec 19, 2013

A leak from an appliance that holds upwards of 30 gallons of scalding-hot water is never a reassuring sight. But stay calm. The important thing is not so much that there's leakage but...

Photo: Matt Wade/Flickr

Sump Pump Not Working

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Dec 12, 2013

Many sump pump owners live in fear of a pump failure during a rainstorm or worse, during a rainstorm when they're out of town. Those who don't know this fear probably haven't had any...

Photo: Kylir Horton/Flickr

Cost to Convert a Half Bath to a Full

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Dec 09, 2013

Putting aside all thoughts of fancy finishes and other bells and whistles, a bathroom is all about the fixtures -- because fixtures equal function. A "half bath," in terms of fixtures,...

Photo: Aleksandar Cocek/Flickr

We Tested It: Krinner Christmas Tree Stand

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Nov 29, 2013

My last name is the German equivalent of Smith. I love German beer and German food. And I drive an Audi (an old Audi). But it would be wrong to characterize me as a Germanophile. In...

Photo: Mr. T. in DC/Flickr

What Size Heater Do I Need?

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Nov 21, 2013

Sizing a heater for a specific space can be a lot like buying clothes on the Internet. You can do the numbers based on manufacturers' sizing charts, but there's no guarantee the actual...

Photo: michael_swan/Flickr

My Air Conditioning Is Too Loud!

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Nov 14, 2013

Whether you live in Manhattan or suburban Tulsa, air conditioning that's too loud provides equal parts comfort and annoyance. NYC's Noise Code legally limits how much racket an AC...

Photo: Devra/Flickr

How to Replace a Rotted Fence Post

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Nov 05, 2013

Posts are the Achilles’ heel of wood fencing. If one or two of the posts are rotted -- typically right below the ground surface -- the fence may still look invincible, but really...

An electric chainsaw in action in the construction of a strawbale home. Photo: Brett and Sur Colstock/Flickr

We Tested It: Electric Chainsaw

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 24, 2013

Up until a week ago, I've been cutting most of the tree parts on my biggish suburban lot with a Sawzall fitted with a pruning blade. This worked surprisingly well and, most importantly,...

louento.pix/flickr

Does Bed Bug Heat Treatment Work?

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 17, 2013

Bed bugs seem innocent enough. The adults are commonly described as "apple seeds with legs." And the wee ones are called nymphs. Children are still reminded sweetly not to let them...

Photo: hotblack/morguefile.com

Cost of installing a slate roof

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Sep 26, 2013

No matter how you cleave it, slate is a high-end roofing material. It's also top-notch, in terms of quality, durability, fire-resistance, appearance and, to be technically precise,...