Image: PBS
About This Quiz
Miami native Bob Vila majored in journalism in college before heading off to Panama to serve in the Peace Corps. After returning to the U.S. in the early '70s, he began restoring old houses and soon became so good at it that he was winning awards and capturing the attention of the media. That home repair and restoration talent led producers to recruit the charismatic handyman as host of "This Old House," a show that began in 1979. After a decade restoring charming residences on TV, Vila branched off to star in "Bob Vila's Home Again." For the next 17 years, this show remained one of the most popular series aimed at handy homeowners and weekend DIYers. America's favorite carpenter taught viewers everything from how to fix squeaky stairs to how to install solar panels on a roof!
By the 1990s, Vila was such a home repair icon that he routinely guest-starred as himself on "Tool Time," the show within a show that starred Tim Allen on "Home Improvement." Of course, he came off a whole lot more knowledgeable about pretty much every aspect of renovation and construction than the show's star!
We would put money on you outscoring Tim Allen's character on this home repair quiz, but do you think you could get more correct answers than the master himself, Bob Vila? Put down that hammer, and put your skills to the test with this quiz!
4 inches
7 inches
Bob Vila and Tom Silva were a great match on "This Old House." On the show's website, Silva defines the perfect rise — or riser height — for steps as 7 inches. The run or tread depth of a step should be at least 10 inches in a home but is often even larger for safety and ease of use.
10 inches
13 inches
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Plaque
Feed
Square
Home improvement pros like Bob Vila measure roof area in squares, where one square of roofing equals 100 square feet of area. There are 33.3 square feet in a bundle of asphalt shingles, so you need three bundles per square to replace a roof.
Rise over run
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Amps
BTUs
The size of a home's heating or cooling system in the U.S. is typically rated in British Thermal Units, or BTUs. While some people like to use quick rule of thumb estimates to size equipment, pros like Bob Vila know that this isn't the best way to do it. Instead, it pays to get an energy model done to properly size your heating and cooling system for maximum comfort and efficiency.
Square feet
Joules
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Hip
Mansard
Oven
Gable
If you ask a young child to draw a house, they will likely use a combination of a square and a triangle. This triangular shape, which reaches a peak known as the ridge line, is the classic gable roof design found on many homes.
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Bathroom
Living room
Kitchen
Garage
Fire-resistant drywall, also known as Type X, is designed to slow the spread of fire during an emergency. Many building codes require builders to use this product in place of standard drywall around the garage, or to construct walls that separate multiple dwelling units from one another.
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2 feet by 6 feet
4 feet by 8 feet
A standard sheet of drywall measures 4 feet by 8 feet. Made of gypsum sandwiched between sheets of heavy paper, this material began to replace plaster walls after WWII, and it is now used in almost every kind of residential and commercial structure imaginable.
8 feet by 10 feet
9 feet by 12 feet
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1.28
Toilets made before the early '90s used a whopping 3.5 to 5.0 gallons per flush. Federal law limits toilets to 1.6 gallons per flush, while more efficient models use 1.28 GPF or even less.
3.00
5.62
7.25
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8 inches
14 inches
21 inches
It's hard to imagine anyone who would turn down more closet space, but it's important to build closets that will work. Plan to make them at least 21 inches deep to accommodate standard clothes hangers.
30 inches
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Bedroom wall
Bathroom wall
Most drywall has a white paper finish, but some specialty products have colored paper to help you distinguish them from other products. Green board offers moisture resistance, making it a perfect backer for bathroom tile. Blue board is designed to provide a smooth surface for plaster, while purple board is the most mildew and damage resistant of these products. It is often used on corridor walls in schools or commercial buildings.
Plaster wall
Fire-rated wall
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Through the roof
Old school builders used to vent a bathroom exhaust fan straight into the attic. Today's home improvement pros know that this is a bad idea, as it allows moisture to build up inside the attic. Instead, bathroom fans should always be exhausted through the roof to send moisture and stinky smells outside.
Into bathroom wall cavity
Into the attic
Through the basement
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1,500 square feet
2,000 square feet
2,600 square feet
Even though families have gotten much smaller, American homes have grown over the past half-century or so. While a typical house measured about 1,600 square feet in the '70s, the Census Bureau estimates that today, U.S. families live in homes that are, on average, about 2,600 square. That's a whole lotta space to repair and maintain!
3,100 square feet
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Aluminum
Wood
Vinyl
Vinyl siding has grown in popularity since the '60s to become the most common siding on U.S. homes. Not only is it less expensive than aluminum, wood or fiber cement, but it's also easy to install and maintain without a lot of effort or fancy equipment.
Fiber cement
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100 square feet
400 square feet
A gallon of paint typically covers 400 square feet. That means for the price of dinner for the family at a fast food restaurant, you can completely transform the look of a bedroom with 10-by-10 feet walls.
1,000 square feet
2,500 square feet
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5.7 square feet
Are you planning to add a basement bedroom? Better make sure that the egress window is big enough. In the U.S., egress windows must be a minimum of 5.7 square feet. They have to be at least 20 inches wide, at least 24 inches high and the bottom sill can't be more than 44 inches above the floor.
8.1 square feet
12.9 square feet
22.0 square feet
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Hip
Gable
Soffit
Gambrel
Gambrel roofs feature two sloped sections on either side, forming a profile like what you would see on a classic barn. If you were to put two sloped sections of roof on four sides of the structure, you would form a fancier design called a mansard roof. And yes, Bob Vila could build one with his hammering hand tied behind his back.
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2 feet by 6 feet
2 feet, 3 inches by 6 feet, 6 inches
2 feet, 8 inches by 7 feet
Exterior doors used in the home most often measure 3 feet by 7 feet. Those found inside may be slightly narrower, often measuring 2 feet, 6 inches to 2 feet, 8 inches wide. If you don't have the renovation skills of Bob Vila, consider buying a pre-hung unit rather than a separate door and frame.
3 feet, 6 inches by 7 feet, 4 inches
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Mailbox
Stairs
Do you know in "It's a Wonderful Life" where George keeps pulling that decorative ball off when he goes up and down the stairs? The support post holding that ball is known as a newel post. It can range from simple to decorative and serves as an important piece of the structural support of a staircase.
Shower
Fence
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$1 to $3 per square foot
$5 to $10 per square foot
Consumer Reports put the price of hardwood flooring at $5 to $10 per square foot installed. If that's too much for your home improvement budget, try engineered wood, which looks about the same as solid hardwood but ranges from $4 to $9 per square foot instead.
$9 to $14 per square foot
$20 to $25 per square foot
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Kneeling
Loaning
Boring
Bearing
Do you love open floor plans? Before you start opening up your space, make sure you're not dealing with any bearing walls. These walls support the structure of the house, and knocking one down or cutting through it is a really dangerous idea. If you're not sure, ask a structural engineer or pro carpenter before you swing that sledgehammer.
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100 amps
A typical U.S. home is designed to provide just 100 amps of power, which isn't much considering that brewing a large pot of java with your coffeemaker can require 8 amps or more on its own. If you have a larger heating or cooling system, you might need to splurge or a power upgrade during a renovation or remodel.
400 amps
1,000 amps
2,100 amps
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Adding a pool
New luxury master suite
Midrange kitchen remodel
Every year, "Remodeling" magazine publishes a list of the home improvement projects with the highest average returns. In 2018, a midrange kitchen remodel provided an 80% ROI, compared to 67% for adding a midrange bathroom or 59% for a high-end master suite addition.
Adding a midrange bathroom
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8 inches
16 inches
In modern homes, studs are almost always placed at 16-inch intervals. Even in "old-school" houses, studs are usually no further apart than 24 inches.
30 inches
48 inches
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Keys
Paint samples
Soil report
Geotechnical engineers study soil to determine how well it is able to support the load of a house. Using their soil reports, architects and builders can choose footers and foundations that will serve as the perfect base for your home or addition.
Extra furnace filters
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Near the backsplash
Above the sink
In a closet
Over a door
Transom is contractor speak for a window or opening above a door or window frame. It not only lets in extra light and air, but can also serve as a decorative element to add visual appeal to a room.
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1.5 inches thick by 3.5 inches wide
Home improvement newbies might be surprised to find their measurements are sightly off when dealing with lumber. That's because a standard two-by-four actually measures 1.5 inches thick by 3.5 inches wide. The two-by-four designation is known as nominal sizing, while the smaller numbers are the actual dimensions.
2 inches thick by 4 inches wide
2.5 inches thick by 4.5 inches wide
24 inches thick by 24 inches wide
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Square
Triangle
Framing a house piece by piece is cheap and easy, but if speed is your goal, you might consider investing in pre-built trusses. Made up of a series of connected triangles, trusses are structural members used to frame the roof of a home or other building.
Circle
Ellipse
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White
Yellow
Black
A 2018 report put together by Zillow.com revealed that homes with black or charcoal entry doors sold for an average of $6,000 more than those with other door paint colors. Another good way to boost value with paint is with tuxedo kitchen cabinets, where the upper cabinets are painted a contrasting color to the lower ones.
Blue
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Electricity
Propane
Natural gas
The U.S. Energy Information Administration makes it easy to compare heating costs based on different fuels. The average U.S. family with a gas furnace spent just $644 in the winter of 2018-2019, while owners of electric, oil or propane furnaces paid hundreds more. If the goal of your renovation is a more comfortable and efficient home, consider whether a gas furnace might be worth the cost.
Oil
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Crown
Casing
Trim can make a huge difference in not only the look of your home but also in maintenance and value. Trim around a door or window is called casing, while crown molding and cornice molding are found where walls meet the ceiling. Baseboard provides a smooth transition between walls and the floor, while chair and picture rails are found somewhere in between crown and baseboard.
Cove
Rail
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Steel
Synthetic concrete
Plastic
Clay
Flue liners significantly reduce the risk of fire while extending the life of your chimney and making your fireplace more efficient, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Terra cotta, a clay-based material, is the most common liner material, though more costly metal or cast-in-place cement can be used for re-lining.
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3 inches
32 inches
Ohio's state building code sets the frost line at 32 inches. That's how deep you can expect groundwater in the soil to freeze during the winter. This piece of data is crucial for builders looking to do anything from building a home addition to installing a new gas furnace in a home.
6 feet
17 feet
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Concrete
Metal reinforcing bars, or rebar, are often inserted into concrete to increase its strength, particularly in a foundation or driveway. The rebar increases the tensile strength of the concrete, which helps to reduce the risk of cracks or other damage down the road.
Wood
Drywall
Asphalt shingles
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21 gallons
38 gallons
56 gallons
Bob Vila's website provides suggested water heater sizes. While 23 gallons is enough for a couple, a family of five needs at least a 56-gallon tank, plus an extra 10 gallons of capacity for every additional family member.
97 gallons
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Fiberglass batts
Loose fiberglass
Loose cellulose
Foam boards
When space is limited, you'll almost always want to reach for sheets of insulation made from polystyrene, polyurethane or some other rigid foam. These products provide tremendous thermal resistance, measured using r-value, which can cut energy costs and keep your home cozier during winter.
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Laminate
Traditionally, floor coverings were nailed or glued to the subfloor. Modern laminate is typically designed for a floating installation, which means no nails or glue to hold it down. Instead, planks click or lock together, which makes for surprisingly easy installation, even if your name isn't Bob Vila.
Ceramic tile
Hardwood
Carpet tile
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