There are various 240-volt receptacles, each made for specific amperages and appliances, so be sure to buy the right one for your application.Each appliance needs a separate double-pole breaker.Some older receptacles use only three wires; codes now call for four wires—black and red hot wires, a white neutral wire, and a ground wire.Use 12-gauge wire for a 20-amp circuit, 10-gauge for 30 amps, 8-gauge for 40 amps, and 6-gauge for 50 amps....
Installing a ceiling medallion isn’t difficult; follow these steps to simply and elegantly transform your overhead space. Before you begin, choose from prefinished options or those that can be painted, stained, or otherwise decorated. You’ll need one sized for your room—roughly the width of your ceiling fixture’s diameter. More Ceiling Design Ideas What You Need Polyurethane ceiling medallionWire nutsDrill and large bitDrywall sawSandpaperLong threaded bolt (optional)Paint for touch-up and finishAdhesive caulkTrim-head screws...
The project is no more difficult than a standard installation of crown molding—in fact, it’s easier because you don’t have to worry about fitting the molding tightly to the ceiling. Ripping the nailer strip is an additional step, but it’s an easy task if you have a table saw. No saw? Visit a local cabinet shop and you may be able to get the strips cut for a reasonable cost....
Before you begin, produce an accurate scale drawing and get it approved by your building department. Keep in mind that the decking will overhang the joists by 1½ inches or so on all sides. You’ll also need to plan out the footings and beams. Because they extend 3 feet beyond the footings, massive beams made of three 2x10s are required. Large beams call for larger-than-average supports—4x6 posts and 12-inch-diameter footings....
We’ll walk you through the entire installation process. Our steps include the application of a primer, but some manufacturers don’t recommend one, while others do, but only on porous surfaces, such as plywood. Consult the manufacturer’s directions before applying. Also understand that once the tile comes into contact with the floor, the adhesive is unforgiving; you won’t be able to adjust a tile’s position. If you misalign a tile, you’ll probably have to pull it up and replace it....
How to Bake a Cake First you’ll have to choose a recipe. You can keep it simple with a yellow cake (pictured above), or you can choose a slightly showier recipe, like a chocolate devil’s food cake or a vibrant red velvet cake.If you’re not a fan of the traditional frostings, try a German chocolate cake. We also have a few birthday cake recipes for celebratory occasions. The possibilities are almost endless, and these directions will help you make them all, but angel food, pound cakes, sponge cakes, and chiffon cakes require different methods, so read up on those separately....
Try This Technique: Begin a roux by stirring together the flour and cooking oil, as shown. Then cook for 5 minutes over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium so you can better control the cooking. For a light roux, heat about 10 minutes more. Stop cooking when your roux is reddish brown, as shown. Use this mildly flavored roux for fish and seafood dishes. For a dark roux, cook on medium about 15 minutes....
You can use different combinations of your favorite plants; just be sure they’re suitable for the spot where you plan to hang your basket. Follow our guide to how to make a hanging basket to enjoy. It takes less than 30 minutes! Choosing a Basket and Liner When choosing a hanging basket that complements your home, opt for a larger basket—it’ll hold water better. Typical hanging baskets are made of wire, coco fiber, or plastic and come in diameters of 8 to 24 inches....
Types of Composting Before you start, it’s important to know that there are several types of composting. Here we’re covering cold compost, hot compost, and vermicompost. Cold composting is as simple as collecting yard waste or taking out the organic materials in your trash (such as fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds and filters, and eggshells) and then corralling them in a pile or bin. Over the course of a year or so, the material will decompose....
How to Mince Garlic Before you learn how to mince garlic using one of our easy methods, you’ll want to know the best way to peel garlic to remove the papery outer layer. From there, grab your knife or one of the handy minced garlic tools below to add irresistible savory flavor to your recipes. Method 1: Mincing Garlic with a Knife Knowing how to mince garlic with a knife is the most common and easy way to prep garlic for your recipe....
Depending on your climate and lifestyle, you might prefer a true screen room with no windows or a three-season room with windows that can open and close. Either version can be an attractive way to extend your living space. With careful planning and a few design tricks, you can create an ideal screen porch that bridges indoors and out. Use the following tips on planning and designing a screen porch to get started....
These stately towers of flowers bloom for a long stretch of summer, from June to August. The big blossoms start at the rosette foliage at the base, slowly working their way up the stalk and unfurling a little at a time. Once fully grown, the flowers may open simultaneously to create beautiful columns of color, ranging from yellow to pink to white. Where to Plant Hollyhock Pick a full-sun spot—one with at least six hours of sunlight per day—with a natural wind barrier, such as a fence, building, or larger plantings, to keep your hollyhock from bending over....
We’ve covered how to grow an avocado tree from its pit, how to cut an avocado safely, a TikTok trick for how to keep a cut avocado from browning quite so fast, and even how to freeze an avocado to help extend its life. But we haven’t yet discussed how to make avocado soft so you can savor it sooner. Well now’s the time! Ahead are the best—and worst—solutions for how to soften avocados fast....
How to Spot Grasshoppers in Your Garden Grasshoppers are common throughout the U.S. You might see them in shades of green, gold, or brown. They chew ragged-looking holes in plant leaves. In some areas, they begin feeding in early summer and continuing devouring foliage until the first hard frost in fall, becoming more numerous as the season wears on. There are more than 100 types of grasshoppers, and they eat all kinds of plants....
To keep spices fresh for as long as possible, it’s important to organize them in a way that makes it easy to know when they need to be restocked and when they should be tossed. Being able to see them all in one space lets you do a more frequent and efficient check of when the jars are low and the expiration dates. If your spices need a better system, try following ideas that showcase how to organize spices....
Check out the rest of this weekend bedroom makeover. Use double-sided carpet tape to adhere the foam to the bed pieces. Make sure all edges are properly secured. Do not place upholstery foam over screw holes or on top of the joints that will connect to other sides. Place the batting over each piece of the bed topped with upholstery foam. You’ll want about 8 inches of extra batting around all edges to fold over and staple to the back....
1 cup shortening 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon almond extract 1 16 ounce package powdered sugar (about 4 cups) 3 tablespoon milk White Cake ⅔ cup butter 4 egg whites 2 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla ¾ cup milk
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup cold butter, cut up 3 tablespoon ice water TO REHEAT QUICHE CUPS: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place quiche cups in a shallow baking pan. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until heated through.
