Bathrooms are often a great place to add a little decorating touch. Many homes have more than one bathroom, so you can have multiple themes that fit the primary occupant’s tastes, and you can make each one unique. One way to add that individual touch is with a unique shower curtain and rods, or even a unique toilet seat.
These relatively simple items serve that dual goal mentioned above. They provide a function: to keep the water from the shower inside the shower and off the bathroom floor. But they are also a major contributor to the look of the whole bath.
One popular way to add storage for the home without much expense or taking up much room is a home magazine rack. These can be quite simple, and can easily be put by a chair or a recliner as a handy way to store catalogues and magazines, and have the dual advantage of being easily moved. But without a doubt one of the most popular types is the bathroom magazine rack or holder. These come in a few other styles, as a recliner is not the “standard” chair in the bathroom, so they need to be installed in some unique ways.
Some of the most common flooring materials include wood, ceramic and vinyl, and these work well for most common applications. But there are a lot of other flooring materials available, some as old as building itself, others representing the latest in high-tech materials science. We take a look a the best applications for many of these other less common materials, and see what might be the best flooring material for your application.
As winter approaches on chore to make sure we do is to take steps to avoid having your pipes freezing in the colder nights. A frozen pipe isn’t itself a problem. After all, copper pipes can get to temperatures far below the freezing point of water without cracking. But too often it is accompanied by an ice blockage inside the pipe. That can lead to a pressure build up that ultimately bursts the pipe. Not only do you lose the ability to get water from the faucet, but now have the larger problem of clean up and repair.
Whether made of wood, vinyl or chain link a fence can only be as sturdy as its posts. In some designs, the posts are the only supports for the fence. So, setting them securely, bracing them and making them straight are essential.
When you’ve decided where the posts should go dig a hole at each spot about a third of the length of the post plus six inches. Using a post-hole digger is the best way, since it removes the minimum amount of dirt needed, leaving the rest for support. In a pinch a sturdy shovel will do. Try to remove no more dirt than necessary.
Fences can provide privacy, security and a barrier to keep out unwanted animals. But nothing in that list implies that it can’t be beautiful, too. Ornamental fences come in a range of materials and styles as diverse as the homes they often surround. Each satisfies the need for individual taste in an attractive way.
With all the high tech materials available in the world today, surprisingly wood fences are still among the most popular of fence designs. But technology has allowed the choices of material, style and treatment to expand enormously even when choosing wood. Here is a look at some wood fence design choices, and which might best fit your needs
Keeping rabbits and deer at bay is one good reason to have a garden fence. But even when you don’t have to worry about animals, fences can provide a lovely border. They also provide protection against wind. Many people will hold off putting one up, though, because the task seems overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be.
Garden fence kits are one way to go. These are complete assemblies that include everything you need to put up an attractive and sturdy fence. Some are so cleverly designed all you need to do is snap together the pieces and you’re done. They come in sections to make a square or rectangle. Some have modified braces that allow you to make an octagon or semi-circle.
Choosing a type of flooring can be a daunting task. There are several varieties – wood, ceramic, stone, vinyl, carpeting and many specialty materials. Within each broad category, there are literally hundreds of choices. Fortunately, narrowing them down is a simple matter of attending to a few basic guidelines.
For most, especially do-it-yourselfers who are strongly motivated to save money, budget is the first consideration.
Wiring a bathroom presents a few unique challenges. Not only do you run into unique appliances like vents and fans, but the grounding concerns are a critical safety element in bathroom wiring. Bathrooms are enclosed, usually smaller, and often put moisture into the entire air space of the bathroom. That makes wiring them for safety all the harder and more important.
Some electrical codes take these facts into account differently than others. But common sense and good wiring practice alone are enough to guide the do-it-yourselfer in this area.
Outside water spigots are one of the most common sources of water leak around the home. Sometimes they only leak when the water is turned on. In more extreme cases they leak all the time, sometimes a small drip, other times a serious flow. But all these problems are easy and inexpensive to repair.
If the spigot only leaks when the valve is turned counter clockwise, it may well be just a worn rubber grommet at the base of the valve stem. Like most rubber washers they eventually get compressed or develop small holes.
Sealing pipes and hoses during plumbing projects is critical. That’s obvious. But how to do that correctly can be a little trickier than it looks.
The first tip follows the old mechanic’s rule: the right tool for the right job.
Anti-siphon faucets are a must have for homeowners who live in cold winter climates. For just a few dollars you can avoid having to replace an outdoor spigot due to low temperatures. Let’s take a look at how an anti siphon faucet works.
In areas where winter temperatures get below 20F/-7C, it’s possible for trapped water in the spigot and sillcock to freeze and expand. The figure is approximate. It’s certainly possible for that same water to freeze at 32F/0C, but heat from the house helps lower the ‘danger point’ temperature somewhat.
Replacing or repairing a toilet looks like a tough task, but it is actually not that hard, and replacing a toilet is a job that many homeowners can tackle. But there are still a few things you want to watch out for. It takes a bit of muscle and some care, but is a very straightforward project.
First, ensure that all water supply to the toilet is turned off. In many homes this can be as simple as closing the valve that controls the supply to the toilet. But some homes will require that you turn off the water main for the whole house. There is seldom a valve for the bathroom as a whole.
There are a number of different ways to get clean water in your home. While there are a lot of purifier systems that attach at the faucet, the most attractive way to add a water filter is to do an under sink installation. Here are some tips on installing an under sink purifier.
Most homeowners have experienced the following unfortunate scenario: You enter the kitchen or bath, turn on the faucet and out comes water filled with sediment or minerals. You can see the build-up over time on the water cup or toothbrush holder. Sometimes unseen chlorine and other distasteful chemicals are the culprit.
There are many types of carpet flooring available on the market today. But determining the best carpet for your needs depends a lot on the particular application for your flooring. Here is a look at several different types of carpet, and some good uses for each of these carpet choices.
Carpet is a hugely popular option for flooring. For good reason: it’s easy to care for, versatile, easily replaced and durable. It’s also available in a thousand attractive styles and colors.
If you’ve has some type of water damage or insect infestation, you may find that you have damaged subflooring in the home. Sub-flooring is just what the term sounds like: material underneath the surface you walk on. It may be concrete, or plywood, or several other types of material. Unfortunately, even the most robust sub-floor material can become cracked or mildewed. Water can become trapped between the floor and the sub-floor or between the top surface and the sub-floor. Those and many other types of problems will often require making repairs.
One of the best decorative elements you can install in the bathroom is custom molding. While this is not the easiest DIY project, it is well within the capabilities of a handy homeowner.
Selection is the first hurdle to overcome. That can be ultra-easy, maybe too easy. Some might just pick anything and slap it on. But the results will be disappointing. Take some time to explore the available choices. Envision the final result and how it integrates with the overall design scheme.
Whether it’s becuase the old faucet is broken, or it’s simply time to upgrade the look of the bathroom, you have decided it’s time to replace the bathroom faucet. Replacing the bathroom faucet is one of those jobs that most homeowners can do themselves. Here are few tips on how to get the job done with few complications.
In some cases changing the tub spout, for example, is as simple as loosening a screw on the bottom, twisting off the old one, applying a little Teflon plumbers tape and popping on the replacement. Ditto for removing that ordinary chrome shower head pipe. Unscrew the old head, unscrew the pipe and just twist on new ones that better suit your taste.
One of the best ways to make a big change in the look of your old bathrooms is to install a new bathroom vanity. While installing a new vanity isn’t the easiest do-it-yourself project to undertake. it can be one of the most rewarding. At the end, you have a whole new area that is not only functional but livens up the bathroom decor.
Removing the old sink and cabinetry is the first step, of course. As always, turn off any water valves and open the faucet to get as much out of the pipes as possible before disconnecting the hoses and pipes.
Floor heating systems have become popular over the last few years. These heated flooring systems have several advantages over more traditional systems. Floor heating systems today generally come in one of two types: electric and radiant or tube.
Electric floor heating systems use a layer of material embedded with wire mesh or other conducting material. Electricity passes through the mesh and that heat is slowly conducted up to the surface where it keeps your feet and, to a degree, the room warm.
There are quite a few different options for concrete floor finishes. Concrete flooring is a traditional option in basements. It may have been an extension of the original foundation, or poured because it provides an ultra-durable surface for a basement laundry room, kids playroom or other use. But concrete flooring has come out of hiding, and not only because it wears like, well, concrete. This makes it a great option for your basement flooring.
Solar panel technology can be applied in many ways in todays home and businesses. With the introduction of smaller and cheaper solar panels, you can find applications using solar panels that cost just a few dollars, like solar garden lights.
The image of a large, dark-blue panel atop a rooftop supplying solar-powered electricity is now familiar. Though relatively few homes have them, thousands of magazine stories have been written over the past 30 years accompanied by photos depicting them. Because of their relative rarity, such systems have become regarded as ‘the wave of the future’, with that future always just out of reach. The sticking points are always cost and efficiency.
Solar home heating gets a lot of attention because heating your home is one of the biggest energy consumers in the typical household. But there are a lot of tradeoffs to consider when looking at solar home heating.
The idea of heating your home with the sun is hardly new. Since the dawn of humankind the sun has been used to provide needed warmth. But modern technology has completely transformed the way that can be done, even from the methods used a few generations ago.
Replacing a dishwasher is one of those homeowner jobs that can be a little intimidating at first. You have to deal with both plumbing and electrical work. But if you proceed with care you can install a dishwasher yourself and save some money in the process. Here are some things to keep in mind when installing a dishwasher.