Essential DIY Problem Solvers and Household Tips

Premium construction screws carry a few big advantages over the drywall screws we’ve all been using for years. For starters, most have improved head designs: tight-fitting hex, Spider head driver bits. This eliminates the annoying tendency of Phillips head screws to strip out or slip off the bit.

Premium construction screws are also less brittle than drywall screws so they won’t break off as easily, and they’re coated to resist corrosion. Special self-drilling thread designs coupled with a thin shank mean you rarely need to drill a pilot hole. Large structural screws can replace lag screws, and the smaller ones are better than drywall screws for woodworking and framing projects.

Like any premium products, they cost more. Expect to pay about nine cents each for 1-1/2-in. GRK screws. Here’s how to drive screws perfectly every time.

This extra-stiff, extra-wide drywall corner system is expensive, but there are a few situations where the additional money is well spent.

First, if you’re a novice drywall taper, it absolutely ensures straight inside corners. The stiff material goes on straight, no matter how unskilled you are with a taping knife. For the experienced taper, this stuff makes it easier to handle situations like oddball corner angles or drywall over sloppy framing.

An added benefit is that you only need to apply an additional thin coat or two of joint compound over the outermost edge to finish the job. The remainder of the tape is paint-ready and doesn’t require more mud. This feature also makes it handy for all inside and outside corners.

A 100-ft. roll of No-Coat Ultraflex 450 costs about $66. Strait-Flex’s Wide-Flex 400 is a similar product (about $42). Plus, here’s how to hang drywall like a pro.

A top-notch tiling job in wet areas like showers and around tubs requires a waterproof membrane under the tile. RedGard is a liquid waterproofing that you apply with a brush, trowel or roller. When dry, it forms a flexible membrane that’s perfect to tile over.

Here’s what our tile consultant, Dean Sorem, has to say: “RedGard saved my sanity! This handy waterproofing has made the installation of a watertight tile job as simple as a brush stroke. Once the tile substrate is securely installed and seams are taped, all you need to do is apply a coat of the pudding-like liquid to the surface, let it dry, and it’s waterproofed. This makes waterproofing shower curbs, benches, tub decks and steam showers a breeze.”

Here are ten ways to save money during your bathroom renovation.