Air Sanders: Forget Electric, Go Air!
December 25, 2008
An air sander is a common air tool often overlooked by most people. If you already have an air compressor to run your impact wrench, you may consider purchasing an air sander instead of an electric model. Your average off the shelf electric sander is fine for little home projects. But if you are really concerned about production and speed, an air sander will blow it away. These tools are also more rugged, versatile and lighter.
The main reason is the power source is your air compressor, not the little electric motor in the sander. This also makes them easier to fit into weird places and hold over your head to reach a ceiling. At the end of the day, an air sander is much kinder to your hands, while delivering more power. They also come in models that are both sanders and buffers. I really recommend one of these if you are a car or boat enthusiast. An air buffer will make quick work of a long wax job on your favorite ski boat. You can then turn around and use the same tool to sand down your kitchen cabinets for painting.
Installing Drywall: Mudding and Taping
December 24, 2008
Installing Drywall, or hanging drywall as the professionals usually refer to the task, can be done by the homeowner. However, it is usually best done with two or more people as it requires significant lifting of heavy material. Mudding and Taping can also be performed by the homeowner, however these tasks require some practice and artistry.
Measuring and Ordering Drywall
Prior to actually hanging the drywall, the material first needs to be ordered and delivered. To determine how much material to order, measure all of the surface area, starting with the ceilings and then the walls. Calculate the total square feet and divide by 32. The result should give you the number of 4′x 8′ sheets of drywall required for the job. I would also recommend adding another 5-10% to this figure to account for inefficiencies. Drywall does come in larger sheets, such as 4′x12′, however for a Do-it-Yourself homeowner these larger sheets can become unwieldy and maybe even impossible to bring into the existing home.
For bathrooms or other moist areas Greenboard should probably be used as this material is moisture resistance.
Installing a Bathroom Vanity and Countertop
December 22, 2008
The installation of a new bathroom vanity and countertop can transform an outdated bathroom into a contemporary one. Installing a vanity and countertop is simple to do and can be purchased from any home improvement store for less than $500.
Remove the old Vanity and Countertop
First turn off the water supplies under the vanity. Next disconnect the supply lines at the valves. Then disconnect the drain pipe at the trap (the j-shaped section underneath the vanity). Next remove the corner screws that are securing the top of the old vanity to the countertop. The countertop should then be able to be lifted off of the old vanity.
After the countertop has been separated from the vanity, remove the faucet hardware if you plan on reusing the existing faucet. Make sure, however, when purchasing your new vanity countertop that it will support the faucet configuration (one hole or three holes ? and the number of inches between the holes ? center to center).
After the countertop and faucet have been removed from the work area, unscrew the back and/or side screws that hold the vanity to the wall(s). Then remove the vanity from the bathroom.
Why Double Glazing?
December 21, 2008
Why replace your single-glazed windows with double glazing ? For most, the precipitating factor for looking into double glazing is a need for new construction (or renovation) to conform to modern energy standards. Others decide to replace their windows as an energy saving measure. The main advantage that double glazing offers over traditional windows is insulation. Because nearly 25% of your heat is lost through your windows, well-made and well-fitted double glazing can reduce your heating costs by as much as half depending on the amount of glass in your home.
Some of the things to consider when shopping for double glazing for your home are safety, energy conservation, style, type of frame, type of glass, cost and installation. Each of these are important in your choice. Most will affect the price that you pay - and all will affect your pleasure and comfort in your home for years to come.
Safety
Single pane windows are most often made of a single sheet of regular glass which shatters into long, sharp shards when hit. When shopping for double glazing, you have a choice of several different kinds of glass, each of which are safer on breaking than traditional window panes. If nothing else, the double thickness reduces the chances that both panes will be broken. Whether you use security glass, toughened glass or shatterproof glass, double glazing offers some measure of safety over single glazing.
Summer Is Here! Consider Tackling Key Home Improvement Projects While The Weather Is Good!
December 20, 2008
Summer time means barbeques, baseball, camping, and yes, Home Improvement Projects! As the weather gets nice and the days get longer so do lists of home improvement projects. Here are a few projects which are best done in the summer maximizing the long days and the good weather!
Gardening/Landscaping: Depending on which part of the country you live in it may be too late to plant a garden from seed, but you most likely still have time to get your garden going using starters. Plant now, be sure to properly weed and water and you will enjoy your vegetables all fall.
Many landscaping projects can be done throughout the year but it can be easier and more enjoyable during the summer. Build a rockwall, plant some perennials, or put down a fresh layer of mulch. Working in the summer ensures the soil will be easy to work with and completing these projects now allows you to enjoy them for the remainder of the summer and fall.
Save Money On Home Improvement Projects
December 19, 2008
Many of us avoid home improvement projects due to their expense. Granted if you are contemplating a “second-story” addition to your home, or the construction of a new “game-room”, then most likely you will need to hire a general contractor to complete this task. However, if you are interested in projects like painting a room, removing acoustic texture from the ceiling (I just did this), installing laminate flooring, wallpaper, landscaping, etc. then you may be able to accomplish the task(s) all on your own, or with minimal assistance.
My Personal Experience
I recently undertook the task of remolding my den and living room areas. I knew what I wanted the final product to be, however I was extremely hesitant to begin the work due to a lack of knowledge, the fear of failure, and/or making damaging, irreparable mistakes. You see, in front of a computer I’m extremely proficient, however with tools and manual labor, I do not have much experience, so naturally I was a bit intimidated.
Ceiling Fan Blades
December 18, 2008
A ceiling fan consists of three basic parts, namely the motor; blades and the mounting device. The standard ceiling fans comprises of three to five blades. The numbers and sizes of the blades determine the prices of the fan. The more the number of the blades, the costlier is the fan. Price also depends on the length of the ceiling fan blades which is measured by the full blade sweep they produce. There is no universally fixed size for the ceiling fan blades; length varies with the brands. In the high quality ceiling fans, the spin lengths vary between 30, 42, 44, 46, 50, 52 and 60 inches diameter.
The quality of the fans is rated by their performance in moving the air effectively and quietly. This is conditioned by such factors as the pitch, length, and number of ceiling fan blades, and their revolutions per minute (rpms).The angular edges of the ceiling fan blades are termed as the pitches which are particularly important for the effective replacement of the air. This shape enables the blade to apply pressure to the air in front of it and consequently the air is forced downwards.
Hardwood Floors: Beautiful, But a Pain to Keep Clean
December 17, 2008
Hardwood Floors are beautiful to look at and expensive to install. But keeping them clean is not necessarily the easiest thing to do. Growing up in a house with hardwood floors, I know how hard it was for my Mom to keep the floors shiny, especially with four kids. With two boys and two girls constantly running in and out of the house with various forms of the "outside world" caked to our shoes, I believe my Mom finally just gave up. If she had followed even the basic rules for keeping a hardwood floor clean with the four of us tracking Mother Nature in on a daily basis, she wouldn’t have had time for anything else.
Dirt and dust is your hardwood floor’s worst enemy. Though microscopic in size, the minute granules scratch your hardwood floor’s finish and over time transforms your mirror-finished floor into a floor more reminiscent of the floors of the log cabins inhabited long ago by our ancestors. Following are some tips to keep your investment shiny and new for years to come.
Though there are many manufacturers of hardwood floors to choose from, and they all have their own rules for keeping your floor clean and grit-free, there are some basic rules you can follow to keep your floors looking good.
Stair Railings Styles
December 15, 2008
The stair railing at home is more than a simple way to get from a floor to another. You can create an extension of your personal likes in decoration, with ornamental parts of wood, iron and other material easy to install that will increase the value of your home at the same time. If you think that the stair railing is one of the first tings that people see when they come in, you should think as well that, for building a new staircase or just a new remodelling, ask always for the advice and good service of a qualified person who will give you some good ideas for.
When something never goes out of style is unique. Choose wood stairs.
Nowadays there a wide variety of materials to build a stair railing. Long time ago and still today?.houses had stairs wood railings, as wood is a nice material to work with. Especially beautiful are which are made of oak wood? with wonderful red colour and knocks that are unmistakable. The star of the house will be an oak wood balustrade, without any doubt. If we try to match the colour of the stairs with the wood flooring it will give beauty elegance to our homes. Although it can be a difficult task due to the many stair parts that we need to have in account to choose?like balusters, handrails, treads, and ornamental trim pieces.
5 Questions To Ask Before Starting Any Home Improvement Project
December 15, 2008
1. What experience does your contractor have with this type of project?
How much experience does the home improvement contractor have in doing projects like yours? Does s/he specialize in this type of project, or will s/he be using your home as a learning project? Typically, contractors who have done several projects like yours will have a better idea of the actual costs and production issues involved in your project. Remember, however, that every remodeling project is a little different, and it is doubtful that any contractor has ever done a job EXACTLY like yours.
2. Who will be doing the actual work?
Will the individual you’re talking to be doing the work himself, or will they be using subcontractors or employees? Each scenario has its own advantages and disadvantages, but make sure you know what to expect on your job. Who will you ask questions once the project begins? Should you talk to the subcontractors, a jobsite manager, or the owner of the business? It is very important you have one person who will consistently answer your questions and not give you the run around.
3. What happens if changes are required to the initial bid?
