Hi! I’m Blair Gilbert, a.k.a.
MR. HARDWARE
As a third-generation hardware store owner, licensed builder, and finish carpenter, my mission is to help you “do it right the first time!” On this site, I share expert home and yard DIY advice in over 250 articles and videos. Feel free to dive in!
Latest Articles
- Mansfield Toilet Lever Arms – Come in 3 Lengths and Angles (10/31/2022)
Mansfield toilets with a plunger style flush valve requires a Longer than normal Flush Handle. The original flush handle is plastic so if it doesn’t rest in the center of the hoop on the plunger it can cause the tank to leak wasting water.
A small amount of heat will soften the plastic so it can be bent so it does not put sideways pressure on the plunger.
An after market flush handle made of brass is easily bent (outside of the tank) so it rests in the center of the hoop.
More New Articles
- Remove Stripped or Frozen Screw, an Easy Tip (10/17/2022) - A common problem is having to remove a screw with a stripped head. Either the person installing it stripped the head as they installed it or the head is still intact but it… ...read more
- Tighten a Loose Kwikset Door Handle – Hidden Release under the Rose (10/3/2022) - Kwikset made doorknob sets with hidden screws, hidden under the inside trim (the rose) which usually slides off when the knob is removed. https://youtu.be/C6KoaBbzRp4 Only on these models the knob does not remove… ...read more
- Caulked Cement Cracks 6 Years Later, Protect Basement & Damage By Water (9/26/2022) - Pretty cool to check a foam/caulk concrete crack maintenance video 6 years later. There were a few small cracks in the finished job and we decided to cut away the polyurethane caulk and… ...read more
- Gutter Stuff Guards Leaf Blockage to Clean, Screen Leaves, Overflow (9/19/2022) - We heard of a lot of gutter guards - from ultra cheep to ultra expensive. We don’t have the money to spend on fancy gutter guards so here is one affordable system that… ...read more
- Install PVC Boat Pilings for $170 (9/5/2022) - PVC boat pilings make an excellent protector to add around your property to prevent boats from getting damaged from a steel seawall. I have found 6” pvc to be adequate to keep up… ...read more