Design & Decorating Ideas how to articles and videos including 50s Kitchen Flooring, Kinds of Fireplace Rock, How to Decorate a Veranda … and much more!
A small, inexpensive trowel will be useful as you repair the concrete.
An ejector pump is used when installing a water-using device — such as a commode — in a basement not already plumbed for it. A basin similar to a sump basin is set into the floor and the ejector pump forces the material inside it up to the home's sewer pipes. If you must break a hole in the concrete floor to install the basin, repair will be needed to restore the integrity of the floor and to make it look good.
Check for loose joints often to keep your recliner in shape.
If you would rather not replace your collapsed recliner, check for the source of the collapse, such as a broken base frame or loose joints. You might need the help of a friend or family member who is knowledgeable about furniture repairs if you find you must replace the recliner base. However, most other repairs can be performed by just about anyone.
The sides of the steps should touch the sides of the walls.
Building a set of stairs between two stone walls isn't really harder than building stairs set away from stone walls, except that the size of the stairs will be limited by the width between the two walls. As long as you can lift concrete blocks and stones, you should be able to complete this project. If you have back problems, consider hiring a contractor or at least asking a friend to help you.
Gutters send water to downspouts, where drain tiles carry it away.
Rain water flows from the roof to gutters and discharges through downspouts. Drain-tile can be connected to the downspout to direct the water away from the house, and protect the foundation from moisture. Drain tile, or pipe, is sold in lengths, and estimating the quantity needed is a simple calculation based on taking a linear measurement of the area.
When building a home, it is important to properly secure the roof joists to the walls when framing the house. In general, roof joists are secured to the walls with specially designed metal straps. These straps help secure the roof to the house during harsh weather, such as hurricanes. It is not necessary to hire a professional contractor to install the metal straps. You can install hurricane straps yourself with just a few basic tools.
Mounting a mailbox to Hardiplank only requires simple tools.
Many homeowners upgrade their outside panel siding to James Hardie's HardiPlank brand. This siding choice is made of fiber cement which is extremely durable and long lasting to weather the cold and hot seasons. However, some homeowners would also like to attach a mailbox to the HardiPlank surface. Specific tools and preparation will help make a mailbox mounting project look professional, as well as retaining the HardiPlank's structural integrity.
You can cut the heads off bolts with rotary tools.
Rotary tools such as the Dremel have allowed do-it-yourselfers around the world to pick up projects that otherwise would have required a specialist. One of those jobs is grinding the head off a bolt. All you need is some spare time, the right attachment for the Dremel and some basic carpentry tools, along with a work space, and you can quickly and easily grind the heads off as many bolts as you need to finish your project.
Mortared masonry or fractured concrete walls are often especially vulnerable to water leaks.
Whether a basement wall is solid concrete that has developed cracks or built from cinder blocks with mortar-filled spaces between blocks, a basement may suffer from moisture problems ranging from occasional leaks following heavy rain events to continual seepage resulting from persistently high soil moisture content. Identifying the source and intensity of the water helps determine the best way to address this moisture problem.
Recliner chairs come in fabric or leather finishes.
Recliner chairs come equipped with lever mechanisms that project a footrest from the chair’s base and allow users to tilt the chair into a more relaxed position. Recliner chairs are typically reliable units, but can suffer from a range of issues including defective levers or creaking frames. Recliner frames can usually be repaired by tightening the fixtures and fittings inside the chair and examining the chair’s base.
Trusses are often used to build a structurally sound roof system for various types of buildings. This article provides the instructions for building a basic truss suitable for a small shed, storage building, or other structure not governed by specific engineering requirements or building codes.
Becoming a fix it all homeowner takes time, patience, and investment in tools and materials. You will become a jack-of-all-trades, not a master craftsman in each one. Over a period of years, the cost of accumulating the right tools for each job, and basic skills in using them will pay dividends in saved money hiring professionals, as well as popularity in the neighborhood if you are willing to help out others in your community.
It is convenient to attach a garden hose to a kitchen faucet when a large container needs to be filled with water, or when plants need to be watered. This is especially the case when an outdoor garden hosespigot is not available. Even when a garden spigot is available, hot water may be needed. Large containers may be too heavy to lift from the kitchen sink, and may not fit in the sink or under the faucet at all. Containers may also be unsanitary and pose a health risk if they come in contact with the kitchen sink or counter top. Garden hoses can be easily attached to kitchen faucets that have screw-on tips.
Adding slab steps to your front lawn can boost your home's appearance and value, while easing access to the front door. The measurements and slab sizes for your project depend largely on the slope of your lawn, which you will need to measure before proceeding to cut the steps. You should first cut a rough outline of the steps with a shovel and tape measure, then perfect the dimensions as you lay down the mortar and stones
An ice dam, the buildup of ice along the edge of a roof, subsequently traps water which can leak through the roof and damage your ceilings. Take care of the ice dam and roof damage first, then repair your water-damaged ceilings.
Roof trusses are made in a factory and delivered by truck to the job site. They are then either stacked atop the house by crane and moved into place by workers or placed individually by crane and attached to the home's outside walls by framers. Installing trusses gets a roof system in place much faster than framing with rafters and joists and requires less labor. Attaching trusses to the frame requires only basic carpentry skill .
Poor lighting and low visibility create an accident waiting to happen.
Failing to notice a step can be a painful experience, resulting in stubbed toes or a back-jarring drop you were not expecting. Highlighting the edges of stairs is one way to increase their visibility. The United States Access Board states that every tread should have a "high visual contrast strip marking the full width of the tread," one of several straightforward and effective ways to make a stair visible.
A smooth concrete walkway enhances the overall appearance of a home.
Cement sidewalks can last many years, but the cracks, pits and other signs of wear and tear that form over time can be an eyesore. Removing a damaged sidewalk is laborious and unnecessary if the damage is minor. Layering a new layer of cement over the sidewalk repairs existing damage and makes the whole slab look new.
Bowed Sheetrock not only looks unsightly on walls, but it is unsafe. This type of damage is typically caused by moisture. Once Sheetrock gets wet, it can do more than warp, it can also harbor harmful bacteria and mold. A bowed Sheetrock wall needs to be torn down and replaced. Simply trying to bend the warped panel back into shape will not suffice. This project will take a few hours to complete, depending on the size of the warped area.
Slate is a type of porous stone culled from natural riverbeds. While it stands up well to weather, slate can still start to look dull over time. When cleaning slate, you need to use an alkaline base cleaner, as acidic cleaners can damage the look and strength of the stone. If your exterior slate walls were sealed when they went up, contact the builder or manufacturer to make sure it is safe to clean the slate yourself.
If a camper rolls over, the exterior can be damaged.
If your camper has been involved in a rollover accident, it may have sustained extensive damage to its exterior as it rolled on the hard surface of the road and possibly crashed against a vehicle, guardrail or cement divider. As long as the damage is relatively minor, you may be able to fix it yourself. The most common areas damaged in a rollover are the rubber roof and the fiberglass siding. Each of these areas may be repaired instead of requiring replacement, depending on the severity of the damage.
A crack in the washer tub will eventually cause leaks.
Cracks in the washer tub are sometimes a cause of washing machine leaks. They generally occur over time, especially with frequent use. Replacing your washing machine can be a large expense, so you can attempt to fix it yourself. While the fix is only temporary, it can give you some time to save up for a replacement.
Waterjet cutting can sometimes be useful in demolition.
The same toughness that makes concrete a valuable building material also makes it difficult to cut. One approach involves a stream of water that cuts into the concrete, usually in combination with an abrasive. This technique is called waterjet cutting. The requisite equipment depends to some extent on the type of machine you have, although most such devices share certain features.
Specialized concrete cutting takes place every day in construction of highways.
Concrete cutting involves a variety of techniques used by professionals to efficiently and safely cut large, square-or rectangle-shaped incisions into wall concrete or slab concrete. Core drilling is the process of making precise circular cuts in concrete to make smooth openings for a variety of applications. Many concrete cutting companies employ state-of-the-art diamond cutting technologies to make their work as precise as possible. A variety of methods are used depending on the application.
House construction follows standard procedures, starting with excavation that's followed by foundation construction; floor, wall and roof framing; the installation of sheathing and protective surfaces to close in the roof and the exterior walls; the installation of plumbing, wiring, ducting and other infrastructure; the installation of interior surfaces and fixtures; and finish work including painting and trim work. As soon as the wall and roof framing is in place, it’s essential to close in the exterior to achieve a weather-resistant shell before you move on with the rest of the home construction.
Gutters are attached directly to the eaves, the area of the roof that hangs over the walls of the home.
Installing gutters on rooftop eaves is important home maintenance, but can be difficult. Gutters on the eaves are necessary to catch and channel moisture and other debris that collects on the roof. The gutters collect rain and snow, carrying it away from the edges of the roof down to the ground. Without gutters, moisture and debris will drain right down the side of your home, and this could damage the home's finish, windows and doors. Correct installation needs precise measuring and care.
Create a hole underneath your sidewalk with a PVC pipe.
When you install an invisible dog fence or low-voltage landscape lights, you may find the wiring needs to go underneath your sidewalk. Do not let this deter you from setting up the fence or lights the way you want them. Digging underneath the sidewalk takes a bit of time and patience, but can easily be accomplished in less than half a day and with a minimal amount of tools.
When the wood is already cracked, using a larger fastener in a stripped hole is not an option.
Daily wear and tear loosens fasteners on wooden items. Once loose, the movement of these screws, bolts and other fasteners allows the ridges to dig into the wood, enlarging the hole. These fasteners fall out unless you check for stripped holes on a regular basis. Missing fasteners place additional stress on those that remain, causing them to strip their holes even faster. Repair stripped holes as soon as you discover them so items don't fall apart.
The wooden support beams of a deck are a critical part of its construction. If a beam develops a crack, you need to repair it as soon as possible so the deck doesn't collapse. Use an epoxy adhesive to fill the crack. This adhesive is flexible and will contract and expand with the deck. If the deck cracks further after it's been repaired, you'll need to replace the beam or call in a professional.
Cracks in manufactured drywall or plasterboard panels are caused by movement in the wood framing, according to TV celebrity contractor Danny Lipford. This movement is caused by improperly dried lumber material or shifts in ambient weather. Filling in a ceiling crack with caulking or joint compound, then painting over it, won’t guarantee the crack won’t reappear with the next change in temperature. You’ll have to fix that crack more carefully for the repairs to last.
It is convenient to attach a garden hose to a kitchen faucet when a large container needs to be filled with water, or when plants need to be watered. This is especially the case when an outdoor garden hosespigot is not available. Even when a garden spigot is available, hot water may be needed. Large containers may be too heavy to lift from the kitchen sink, and may not fit in the sink or under the faucet at all. Containers may also be unsanitary and pose a health risk if they come in contact with the kitchen sink or counter top. Garden hoses can be easily attached to kitchen faucets that have screw-on tips.
The wooden support beams of a deck are a critical part of its construction. If a beam develops a crack, you need to repair it as soon as possible so the deck doesn't collapse. Use an epoxy adhesive to fill the crack. This adhesive is flexible and will contract and expand with the deck. If the deck cracks further after it's been repaired, you'll need to replace the beam or call in a professional.
