Archive for October, 2008

How To Prevent Pipes From Freezing and Bursting

In an average winter, one quarter of a million homes have busted pipes caused by freezing. A small hole that is just 1/8″ long can leak as much as 250 gallons of water each day! Even if the hole isn’t inside the home where the water can do all kinds of damage, the wasted water will make for quite an expensive water bill.

There are steps that you can take to help prevent your pipes from freezing. And, if you do them now, you won’t have to be outside during the cold weather insulating pipes or fixing leaks. When it comes to something that can seriously damage your home, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Something as simple as leaving your cabinet doors open when you go to bed at night can sometimes prevent freezing. Heat often don’t reach inside closed doors, opening them will allow heat from the room to keep the area around the pipes warmer. And, believe it or not, actually letting your hot water drip during the night can also help keep pipes from freezing.

Seal all the air leaks in the area where your water pipes are, during extremely cold weather, outside air can freeze pipes that are even inside your basement or other area. If you have air vents under your home, close them or seal them all up with insulation during the winter to keep cold air out.

One of the most common ways to insulate pipes is to use foam insulation. The foam comes in pipe like tubes and is split down one side to slip over the water pipes. It can be easily cut to fit an size area that you need to insulate. Pipe jackets are usually made of either foam, fiber glass or wool felt.

If you use insulating tubes, get them as close together as you can. And, as you get each piece placed on the pipes, tape all of the seams with some wide tape to prevent air leaks. Tape the joints securely as well, the insulation won’t work properly if there are holes and gaps that let the cold air reach the pipes.

You can also use regular batting insulation that comes in narrow rolls especially for pipes. It’s just like the insulation that you use inside walls and it’s just wrapped around the pipes. If you’re really worried about frozen pipes and want to take extra precautions, use heated pipe cable or tape to protect your pipes.

If there’s any insulation already on the pipes, you’ll need to remove it before attaching the heat tape. You should also remove any flammable items away from the heat tape as an extra precaution. If you have existing heat tape on your pipes, you should inspect it on a yearly basis. Although, it’s made to last for several years, the plastic coating can sometimes become cracked leaving raw wire exposed.

Follow the manufacturers directions exactly, heat tape shouuld never be wrapped over top of itself. Leave some space between each layer. Not all heat tape works for all pipes. Some of the tape can’t be used on plastic pipes, just make sure you purchase the correct heat tape for the correct job.

Another great advantage of using heat tape is that besides helping to keep your pipes from freezing in the first place, it can slowly thaw them if they do freeze. The automatic heat tape is much safer than the regular types, it will come with a thermostat that will keep the temperature adjusted at a certain level.

When choosing insulation to cover heat tape, make sure that it is waterproof to keep water from soaking through to the electrical elements of the tape. Heat tape is one of the best ways to properly insulate around pipe fittings or spigots.

Once you’ve applied the heat tape, then you can use foam sleeve insulation over top of the tape. Don’t forget to start wrapping your pipes with the plug-in closet to the nearest outlet. And, last of all, don’t forget to plug your heat tape in on those cold winter nights.

How To Paint Laminate Countertops In The Kitchen and Bath

The kitchen can be one of the most expensive rooms in the home to remodel. Even if you don’t purchase new appliances, cabinets and countertops are a large expense on their own. If you would like to replace them but can’t really afford to, consider painting them for a whole new look.

Laminate countertops are pretty durable, but over time the colors can become faded, dull or just outdated. If your countertops are in good condition, you can just paint them instead of spending hundreds of dollars on replacing them. It’s also a great way to just change the color of a kitchen that you don’t like.

One of the key factors in successfully painting laminate surfaces is to make sure that they’re clean so the paint will adhere well. You should use TSP, trisodium phosphate cleaner to remove all the grime and build up. Other than that you’ll need painters or masking tape, foam paint rollers, a bonding primer, water based paint and some polyurethane to seal your project.

If there are any areas of the countertop that have came loose, use some wood glue to repair them. Then thoroughly clean the surfaces with the   TSP cleaner according to the label instructions. Any areas that you don’t want to paint should be taped over and you can also use drop cloths for added protection to floors and other areas.

You will definitely want to spend a little extra to get a high quality bonding primer for this project. Kitchen countertops take a lot of wear and abuse and you will be glad that you didn’t skimp on products when the job is done. You should also get the primer tinted to match the base coat so there’s less chance of it showing through the paint.

Apply a smooth even coat of primer to all of the countertop surface with a foam paint roller. Follow the manufacturers suggestions on drying time to make sure that it’s completely dry before applying the base coat. Once it’s dry, apply the base coat in the same way as you did the primer.

If you’re really creative and want to add some designs to your kitchen countertops, now is the time to do it. There are numerous ways to add designs to the surfaces, you can use tape to mark off designs, stencils and even rubber stamps. If you want to create a block design, measure and tape off square sections, then add designs to the center of each square.

After the designs have completely dried remove all of the tape. The last step you’ll want to take is to apply a polyurethane protectant. Choose a water based sealant that is clear and again, go for the quality and not the price. The polyurethane sealant will help keep water from soaking through to the laminate countertop causing it to eventually rot. It will also help protect your hard work from stains.

You should apply at least three coats of polyurethane, but many experts recommend four coats be applied. The more coats you put on the surface the more protection you’ll have. And, it will give your countertops a nice shine that will make them look more professional.

How To Install A Motion Light Switch For Added Safety

If you’ve often found yourself searching a wall in the dark for a light switch, you might want to consider a motion detecting switch! Similar to a motion detecting light, these switches will detect any movement and automatically turn the light on for you!

These switches are great for garages, basements and tool sheds. But, they’re also very handy to have in the home to provide hallway, or bathroom light during the night. They’re very easy to install and you can do it yourself with just a few simple tools.

You just replace one of your regular light switches with the motion activated switch. Many models also feature a delayed setting, you can have the light switch off automatically at a set time after you leave the room. It’s a great way to add safety to dark areas of your home.

Anytime that you work with electricity the most important thing to remember is to turn off the breaker to the outlet or room you’re working in. Most breakers are labeled for each room, but if you’re not sure exactly which one you need to turn off, turn the light on and keeping flipping the breakers off until the light goes off.

Remove the cover plate from the light switch, it’s a good idea to use a circuit tester to check to make sure that there’s no electricity on the wires as a added precaution. If you’re sure that’s the electricity is off, remove the two screws that hold the receptacle in place.

There will be three wires that are connected into the back of the switch. One will have a white vinyl covering and one will be black, the third wire will be bare and it is just the ground wire. But, the ground wire won’t be used when installing the motion detector switch.

You can loosen the screws or braces that hold the wires in place, but it’s best to just cut them off. Starting with a fresh piece of wire can help prevent breakage from crimped areas in the old connections. Once you’ve removed the wires, cut the vinyl with a utility knife or a wire stripper if you have one.

If you’re using a knife, just cut the vinyl all the way around the wire about an inch back on the wire and pull the vinyl off. Now the wires can be hooked into the new receptacle. Some models vary in the way the wires are connected. But, generally the wire will either be wrapped around a screw and tightened or there will be little tabs that you pull out and insert the end of the wire into a hole closing the tabs back against the wire.

Follow the manufacturers instructions as to which wire to place in each connection. With most switches it doesn’t matter where you put a specific color wire, but make sure before you hook them up. After you’ve got the ends of the wires connected to the new switch, push any excess wire back inside the plastic box and into the wall out of the way.

Place the switch into the box in the correct position lining up the screw holes and secure it into place. You will also need to set your controls, the instructions will tell you how to set the amount of time before the light comes on when someone enters the room and the amount of time to stay on after someone leaves the room. Once you’ve got your settings adjusted, attach the cover plate to the switch and you’re done!

How To Create Beautiful Mosaics On a Budget

Mosaics are coming back into style, of course for some people they never went out of style. They’ve always loved the look and had pieces around their homes. But, more and more today you see mosaic art being used on all sorts of items for the home and garden.

If you’ve ever shopped for mosaic pieces, you know that most can be pretty expensive. But, why pay the high prices for beautiful mosaic accessories when you can easily make your own? And, making your own will allow you to create the perfect design that you want or need to match the rooms decor.

Mosaics can literally be made from almost anything. You can use china, tiles or any type of glass as well as stones, sea shells and other natural materials. When choosing the type of material that you want to use, consider whether it’s important for the surface to be level. If you’re applying mosaics to a table, you’ll want to be able to set glasses or vases on the table without them tipping over.

If you decide to use a material such as china, the pieces don’t all have to match, but they should be of uniform thickness. While you can certainly purchase mosaic pieces and kits, you can make your own from items that you have around the home. It’s a great way to recycle some old dishes or other pieces of glass or tile that you don’t need.

Freestyle designs can be made from just shattering glass pieces and then arranging them into a shape. But, if you want a more geometric look, you can purchase tile cutters to cut straight squares, rectangles or triangle shapes.

Once you know what you want to apply mosaics to, decide on the pattern you want to achieve. For a really casual, fun look, you can just place the pieces together the way that they fit the best. But, you can create designs like frogs, flowers, leaves or anything else that you need to blend in with the rest of the room.

Draw the design out on paper that is the same size as the item you are going to tile. For larger items like tables, gift wrap makes a great paper for designing or you can simply tape sheets of paper together to get the correct size. Any type of paper will work, but you need one that is plain so that you can see your design.

If the surface of the item is a light color, you can use tracing paper to apply the design directly to the piece. You can also create the mosaic on clear acrylic sheets and then glue them to the surface. The choice is really up to you and how confident you feel in the project.

If you decide to use the acrylic sheets, it’s really helpful if you draw out two separate designs. One will be used to get the correct placement of the pieces, then you can use the other one to place under the acrylic so that you can see the actual pattern.

After your design is drawn out, you’ll want to get an idea of the color scheme. Lay the mosaic pieces out on the pattern, start in the middle and work your way out to the edges. This will give you the chance to switch pieces and find the ones that are the best fit for the area. There should be at least a 1/8″ gap in between each piece for the grout, but the space can be larger if you want it to be.

Creating mosaic patterns is like working a jigsaw puzzle, just keep working with it until you get the perfect fit and look. To make sure that you’re happy with the design before doing all the work of making it, walk around and look at it for a bit. Getting an idea of how the piece is going to look from a distance and look in the room will help ensure that you really enjoy the creation.

No matter what you’re going to apply the mosaics to, the surface should be thoroughly cleaned so that the adhesive can adhere properly. You will also want to make sure that you purchase your tile adhesive according to the material that you will be using. Some adhesives work better with certain materials such as wood or glass.

When you start attaching your pieces to the item, work from the center out just as you did when you placed them on the pattern. Apply some tile adhesive to the back of each piece and lay it into place on the surface. Some adhesives dry rather quickly, so try not to take too long in placing the piece where it needs to be.

Follow the directions of the tile adhesive label for the proper drying time and let the mosaic completely dry. Once it has dried, you will need to apply grout. You can purchase grout that is pre-mixed or in powder form that you mix yourself. Either will work fine, but there’s no guess work with grout that is already ready to use.

Apply the grout to the mosaic making sure to press it down into the gaps around each piece. Don’t worry about getting it on top of the pieces, it can easily be wiped off with a damp rag. After you’ve gotten all the gaps filled, create a edging with the grout. You can apply it with a damp finger and smooth it down to the edges of the table or whatever your using.

After all the grout is applied, wipe the surface with a damp rag to remove any excess. You can use special tools to smooth the grout, but it’s easy to do with just a damp finger. Once your satisfied with the surface of the grout, place the item out of the way and allow it to dry for about a week before using the piece.

How To Build a Closet For Added Storage Space

Closet space seems to always be a big problem. No matter how much you have you can always use more. But, some older homes weren’t even built with closets and the ones that were only have small closets. If you have enough space in your room, you can build your own closet!

The closet should be at least 27″ deep, this will allow ample space for your clothes hangers. The closet should be built from 2X4’s and the amount you need will really depend on what size you want the closet to be. You can either build your closet as you go, or you can assemble the walls on the floor and then lift them into place.

But, it’s much easier and there’s less work, if you just build the closet as you go instead of pre-assembling the walls. If it’s a large closet, the walls may be a little heavy to lift if you’re working by yourself. And, since walls and ceilings are rarely completely level, you can make slight adjustments if you build it in place.

If you choose to build the walls on the floor, you will need to build them about 1/4 of an inch shorter than you actually need them. When you lift the wall into place the top will be at an angle, an 8 foot wall won’t allow for that angle and you won’t be able to straighten the wall.

First you should decide exactly what size you want your new closet to be. Make all the measurements and clearly mark them on the walls and on the ceiling. You also need to mark the closets spot on the floor. Hang a plumb bob from the ceiling to mark the area on the floor where the base of the closet will be attached.

You will also need to decide what size you want the closet doors to be and where you want to place them. Most closet doors are in the center of the closet, but you can choose to have them situated toward the end if you’d like. Attach the framework to the ceiling, floor and wall first.

Another decision that needs to be made before beginning on any of the walls, is what type of closet doors you want to use. If you decide to use bifold doors, then you’ll need to install boards from ceiling to floor where the closet doors will be. But, if you’re going to use an ordinary entry door, then you’ll need to build a small wall partition at the top of the door.

Once you’ve gotten the boards in place for your door, you’re ready to start on the walls. Studs are generally placed at either 16″ or 24″ intervals, since the walls won’t really be used to support the ceiling, placing them 24″ apart is fine.

Measure from the bottom of the board at the ceiling down to the top of the board on the floor and cut the studs accordingly. The studs will need to be attached to the frame with the nails angled so that they will go back into the boards. Don’t insert the nails too close to the ends of the wall board, it will cause the board to crack and split. If you have to use longer nails than you really need to make sure they reach deep into the framing boards.

If you’re using a entry door, the wall partition above the door will be installed in the same way that you nailed the wall boards to the frame. Many people like to add extra braces running horizontally between the wall studs. It will add strength to the wall and it will also give you something to nail into if you plan on hanging something really heavy beside the closet doors.

If you want to add braces, simply measure the length between the studs, but a piece of 2X4 and nail it into place. You can do the corners in one of two ways, either place two studs side by side and nail them onto the frame, or turn both of them sideways and butt the ends together. Some people even just use one stud at the corners, the choice is up to you.

Every time you place a board onto the framework use a level to make sure that it’s straight before nailing it into place. Trying to remove the nails from a board that’s already in place is a little hard and often the board will end up cracking. So, check each one before they’re completely nailed down.

You should also attach boards at the spot where you’ll want to attach the rod on both ends. Clothes can be pretty heavy and trying to attach the closet rod into drywall won’t work. Once you’ve gotten all of the walls finished, you’re ready to apply drywall or even just paneling boards to the outside to finish it off.

You can get extra storage by adding a long shelving board over top of the closet rod. It makes a great place to store extra clothes as well as shoe or storage boxes full of items. If the closet is really long, make sure that you add a support to the center of the shelf to prevent swaying.

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