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.

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Easy Fixes for Uneven Table Legs

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 03, 2011

There are two causes of a wobbly table: uneven legs and an uneven floor. Legs can become uneven from wear, from warpage (on any of the table parts) or from simply not standing straight....

A Guide to Bathroom Euphemisms

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Oct 03, 2011

Whether you're in the habit of excusing yourself to go to the "powder room", "the loo" or "the John", you're using a euphemism, a term that sugarcoats or tiptoes around the precise...

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What You Need to Know About Gas Fireplaces

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Sep 26, 2011

Fireplaces have evolved right along with the American home. Colonial houses were literally built around a massive central hearth and chimney, Victorians had small coal-burning fireplaces...

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Homemade Toothpaste Recipes Put to the Test

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Sep 14, 2011

When you stop to think about it, conventional store-bought toothpaste does leave a lot to be desired. It's very foamy, it's sickly sweet and it's loaded with stuff most of us don't...

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Signs That Your HVAC System Needs Replacing

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Sep 14, 2011

Manufacturers of heating and air conditioning appliances and even the U.S. Department of Energy suggest that you should automatically replace your HVAC equipment at the end of its expected...

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Advice on Keeping Frogs (and Other Critters) out of Your Toilet

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Sep 06, 2011

When you tell people you've had frogs in your toilet, their first assumption might be that you also have bats in your belfry. That is, that you're not playing with a full deck. But...

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Greywater Products

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Sep 01, 2011

Residential greywater is all the wastewater from showers, bathtubs, bathroom sinks and clothes washers. It adds up to nearly 50% of the average household's water use. And while bla...

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Why Is My Freezer Not Cold Enough?

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Sep 01, 2011

Freezers tend to be so reliable that when they malfunction we actually have a hard time believing it. First you notice the ice cream is a little soft and assume that someone left the...

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Dishwasher Installation Mishaps and Fixes

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Aug 16, 2011

A dishwasher is one of the easier major appliances to install, typically requiring two simple plumbing hookups, a little wiring and two screws for mounting. It's also lightweight enough...

Photo: Patricia Zapata

Unexpected Uses for Retail Catalogs

Posted by Philip Schmidt | Aug 10, 2011

Shopping remotely has become a modern-day tale of Pandora's box. It's so temptingly convenient, but once you make a purchase you've exposed yourself to an irreversible influx of printed...