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.

It looks like it's time to defrost this freezer.  Photo: MoonSoleil on Flickr.

The Amateur's Guide to Defrosting a Freezer

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 17, 2011

Performed improperly, as it usually is, defrosting a freezer almost certainly leads to some kind of emotional meltdown. This is why most people neglect the appliance to the point where...

Photo: Midnightcomm on Flickr.

Why Lowering Your Heat Could Damage Your House

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 17, 2011

There's no question that lowering your thermostat in winter is a good way to save money on your heating bill. In fact, for most homeowners, it's clearly the best single way to lower...

Photo: Plutor on Flickr

Improving Indoor Air Quality During the Well-Sealed Winter Months

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 11, 2011

After decades of neglect by the homebuilding industry, indoor air quality is finally getting some much-deserved airtime. It even has its own nickname: IAQ. Building scientists , as...

Photo: zieak on Flickr

What to Do If Your Roof Collapses Due to Snow

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 10, 2011

If Mother Nature has caused a roof collapse from snow, turning your house into a mini Metrodome, there are two immediate steps to take: 1. Get the heck outta there. 2. Call 9-1-1. That's...

Adding an Outside Outlet

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Photo of porch lighting and water by therichbrooks/Flickr Creative Commons. Outdoor outlets (properly called receptacles) are super handy for everything we're doing outside these days:...

Electrical Install for Remodel

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Photo of an electrical install for remodel by OregonDOT/Flickr Creative Commons. Despite how mysterious and dangerous electrical work may seem, it's often one of the simpler aspects...

Electrical Panel Wiring for Beginners

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

A home’s electrical panel — what electricians call a service panel but what most people know as their "breaker box”— serves as the switchboard for the entire...

Bathroom Layouts

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Bathroom planning is unique among interior design challenges. No other room in the house has to do so much in such a small space. At times, finding space in a bathroom layout for...

My Power Went Out

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

When all suddenly goes dark and quiet in the house, who's the first person you call? The hotline operator at the power company? An electrician? Your son-in-law? Your psychic? While...

Dining Room Design Essentials

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Jan 01, 2011

Ask a dozen architects or interior designers for their personal takes on dining room design and they’ll come up with a dozen different answers. Some like to design casual spaces...