Mike Klimek

Efflorescence can be seen in many places, such as on block walls where it appears as white stains or powder. It often looks like fresh snow.

The first step is to remove the old doors, then put in a new top channel and bottom track, before installing the new ones.

Either the installer of your water heater wanted to save a few dollars or was ignorant to how different metals react when water is introduced to them.

Unless you have some specialty tools, buy a door that comes pre-bored for the handle and latch.

Poor installation, the wrong adhesive or water seeping behind the laminate probably caused it to peel from the sides of the countertop.

Leak where drain line connects to kitchen sink? The culprit is probably either a leaky sink strainer or a cracked tailpiece.

Vinyl flooring can be a pain. The edges curl up and get brittle, and it fights to keep from being glued back down.

Mini blinds come in vinyl or aluminum and start at around $25. You can also get faux-wood blinds that cost about 50 percent more, but install the same way.

Securing the railing into the concrete is surprisingly simple: Choose an anchoring method, drill a hole and secure the railing.

If you were simply replacing an old deadbolt, this would be a five-minute job. Instead, you have the added pleasure of drilling two large holes.

This problem can be fixed in one of two ways: Either remove the plunger assembly to clean or replace it or buy a universal tub-drain stopper.

Placing the new outlet between the same two studs as the existing outlet will simplify the project.

You have a hinge problem on your fire door, which is required to have a self-closing mechanism. Although these doors are important, they can also be a pain.

Water spraying out at high pressure can leave a beautiful arc across the base of a house. But it’s probably not a look that most homeowners want to keep.

You’ll need to buy new doors and drawer fronts, apply a peel-and-stick wood veneer over the cabinets, and finish all the parts to match.