Five-pointed stars decorate barns across the United States. Originally, the stars were painted onto the surface of the barn (often just above a doorway), then they were constructed of wood and hung from the surface. A star over the door is a traditional barn ornament. Today, unfinished metal stars are popular: The rusty patina that develops lends a rustic look to a nearly new ornament. You can make your own plywood barn star in only a few hours, and you'll be able to paint it or finish it to meet your own preferences.

A solenoid valve controls the flow of gas or other fluids, while a solenoid coil is energized by an electric current that creates a magnetic field. When the coil in a fuel solenoid is energized, it causes a plunger inside the coil to move, activating the valve. Valve Types Solenoid valves can be classified by the normal state of the valve. In a normally-closed valve, the valve is closed by default.

Upholstered furniture, namely chairs and sofas, have come a long way since the 17th century. Then, you might have sat upon a seat padded crudely with sawdust, grass or goat hair and covered with wool and linen, leather or material cut from a tapestry or rug -- or, in the 18th century, possibly horsehair fabric. Today's upholstery is about more than fabric and padding, however; it's an art in comfort, form and support.

Installing glueless vinyl flooring is easier and less messy than regular vinyl tile or planks. It does tend to be less long-lasting than vinyl flooring installed with adhesives. However, this can be an advantage in apartments or any room where a long-lasting floor covering isn’t necessary. Things You Will Need + Vinyl sheet flooring Vinyl floor tape Seam sealing kit Patching compound Wood putty Masking tape Double backed tape Craft paper Sandpaper Finishing nails Pry bar Hammer Small pair of pliers Screwdriver Nail set or nail gun Measuring tape Straightedge Utility knife Heavy duty scissors Floor roller Measure the room’s length and width with a measuring tape.

A parquet floor is made up of wood tiles, each of which is inlaid with smaller pieces of wood. The wood on parquet is thinner than that of solid wood floor planks, and the grain runs in several directions, making it a bad idea to fully sand the parquet as you would a regular wood floor. Parquet flooring can become dull and worn over time. If your parquet floor needs a new finish, consider screening instead of sanding.

Old double-hung windows have cords running along the side of the frame. These cords are attached to a counterweight system that keeps the window up when it is lifted. Over time, the counterweight system may get dirty or wear out. The window will not stay in place or may get stuck when this occurs. Replacing the counterweight system is an inexpensive project. You can get new counterweight pieces from the window manufacturer or your local hardware store.

The quality of the coaxial cable used to carry satellite signals must remain at a high level to maintain signal integrity. Damage to these cables can compromise the quality of the carried signal, making repair a must. Fortunately, tools and parts are readily available to accomplish such repairs, and are designed with the DIY homeowner in mind. As with all cabling repair projects, using the right materials is essential to ensure the satellite signal's quality is maintained.

The links on a chainsaw are connected by small metal pin on each side of the link. After a chainsaw has been operating for a while, the chain can stretch. Removing a link from the chain will save you money compared with buying a new chain. You 'll need a special chain link removal tool to do this correctly. Chainsaws are powerful tools. Buy the tool at your local hardware store or supercenter.

Clothes dryers are a convenient way to dry your clothing at home. Some items of clothing may be damaged when tumble dried and should not be put in most clothes dryers. Frigidaire designed a dryer rack for use in its dryers that allows users to dry items without tumbling. In addition, the dryer rack is convenient when you are not available to remove the clothing immediately when the drying cycle is complete, which reduces the chance of wrinkling.

Your home's foundation serves a number of purposes, including keeping the house securely on the lot. Exposed foundations are functional, but often add nothing to the home's look. Typically made of concrete, the foundation picks up debris from dirt, plants, trees and a host of other sources. Ideas for hiding or covering an exposed house foundation include ways to decorate it. Stucco Stucco adds color and texture to the foundation of your home, but won’t interfere with the foundation itself.