Read on to master how to make turkey gravy without cooking a turkey, including several ways to max out that savory flavor—without going to the effort of roasting a turkey—plus how to store your make-ahead easy turkey gravy and how to fix it if the sauce gets too thick or too thin. Plus score tips about how to customize your creation, how to freeze the gravy, and how early in advance you can whip it up....

Stain is a great option for sealing the deck against moisture, but it isn’t as effective as paint against harmful UV radiation, which can damage the wood fibers and make the deck more prone to cracking and warping. Also, keep in mind that a deck can and should be refinished when you start to see signs of wear and tear, like chipped or peeling paint. Follow these steps to learn how to paint a deck the right way....

Replacing your cabinets is the most expensive option—cabinetry constitutes nearly three-quarters of the price of a new kitchen. Stock cabinets are the least expensive option if replacing cabinetry. Refacing is another option. Adding a couple of glass doors can dress up your existing laminate cabinets. Check out quality companies in your area to do the work, or save money by doing it yourself. You can spend a bit more on real wood cabinet doors and drawers, or go with premium rigid thermal foil....

Getting Started If you have a favorite piece of art that you haven’t found a home for yet, use it as an anchor for your gallery wall. It doesn’t have to be the biggest or boldest piece on the wall, but let it serve as a jumping-off point for the entire ensemble. Look to your anchor piece for color inspiration, or allow it to set the tone for how modern or traditional the other elements should be....

There are nearly 2400 species of palms, with perhaps the most familiar being the date palm. To successfully grow a palm tree, learn what the variety you choose needs in order to thrive in your climate, whether outdoors or inside. Just as no two palm tree species look the same, their care will be different as well. Where to Plant Palm Trees Palm trees need to be planted in a suitable climate to thrive....

Replacing finished surfaces after plumbing (especially patching walls) usually takes several days. Repairing a large wall patch (or even replacing an entire wall) takes only a little more time than a small patch, so open plenty of space for working. Once you’ve opened the vent and drain lines, running the supplies, which will usually run alongside drain-waste-vent (DWV) lines, will be relatively easy. Before you begin, brush up on your basic carpentry skills, understand your home’s structure, and make sure you know how to install pipe....

Scribing Drywall to Fit One example of scribing is hanging drywall next to the irregular stonework of a fireplace. Trying to measure and transfer all of the irregularities to a sheet of drywall would require saintly patience and a lot of time. But if you know how to scribe, you’ll produce accurate results within minutes. To cut a piece of drywall to fit against an irregular surface, hold the piece near the surface and trace the outline onto the sheet, using a wood scrap and a pencil as a scribing tool....

Tiling around a bathtub introduces additional challenges. If the tub is level, set a full tile at its top edge. To help hide the awkward appearance of an out-of-level tub, make the bottom row of tiles at least three-fourths of a tile high. For a shower enclosure, extend the tile and the backerboard at least 6 inches above the showerhead. For a tub surround only, install the backerboard and tile at least 12 inches above the tub....

Hand saws can be found for less than $20 at nearly any home improvement center. They require minimal maintenance, but like any sharp tool, there are certain safety precautions all users should take before and during use. We’ll show you how to achieve the perfect cut with a hand saw and how to stay safe while doing it. Master another manual tool: the coping saw. Step 1: Clamp Material Using any saw—whether manual or power-operated—requires careful setup to ensure your cut is clean and that you’ll avoid injury....

Wash New Towels Before Use Before you learn how to wash towels, note that you should clean them before first-time use. Most new towels are coated with silicone or other finishes that block absorbency. This coating gives them that extra-fluffy look and feel at the store. Washing your new towels removes these finishes and allows for maximum absorbency. Washing Towels with Vinegar To prevent colors from bleeding, wash colored towels with similar shades in warm water for the first several washes....

1. Exchange Lightbulbs If you’re still using incandescent lightbulbs, consider replacing them with LED lightbulbs. These bulbs last longer and are energy-efficient. Many LED bulbs are also adjustable, so you can change their brightness depending on the time of day. Set your lights to a bright bluish hue in the morning to help you wake up, then switch to warm, yellow light in the evening to ease into your bedtime routine....

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And don’t forget the thirstiest part of your property: your lawn. To calculate your lawn watering costs, “you need to determine the total area of your lawn/garden, and figure out how many inches of water your lawn needs,” says McKenzie. It’s usually one inch per week, and it takes about 0.62 gallons of water to equal one inch per square foot of lawn. “Multiply the total area of your lawn by 0....

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