Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

Tools for Repairing Water Damage to Ceiling

Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

There are times when every homeowner feels the need to hand over his or her deed to someone else and wash his or her hands of owning a house.  It can seem like there is a never ending list of things to do that you don’t know anything about.  Let’s take the problem of repairing water damage to ceilings.  This can be a common challenge for homeowners, and one that might require at the very least a little research, and possibly the help of a professional contractor.  The good news is working with drywall is pretty simple compared to some of the other home repair or improvement projects you may decide to undertake.

The most important thing for you to understand when it comes to working with drywall either during repairing water damage to ceiling or repairing a hole in the wall is that it’s easy to do right and mistakes are pretty obvious.  With that said, all you need is a few tips to have you taking care of business in no time with great results.

Water Damage to Ceiling

Many homeowners facing repairing water damage to the ceiling prefer to put together a drywall repair kit for the job.  You will find an inside corner knife, hammer, screwdriver, and drill.  It is also useful to have a drywall saw, utility knife, and 3, 6, and 8 inch flexible knives.  Some more extreme cases may also require a level, hacksaw, and hand sander.  Now that you have your tools together, it’s time to focus on the materials you will need.  Mesh tape, drywall nails, screws, and paper tape are essentials.  It’s helpful to have drywall compound as well.

You should have no problem finding step by step instructions for repairing water damage to the ceiling from this point.  If you discover that the job simply isn’t going well or you don’t like the results, there is nothing wrong with calling in your construction buddies to help or even hiring a professional contractor.  The only important thing is that the job is done well the first time around.  Water damage can decrease the value of your home and can be hard to repair, and no one wants that.

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Preparing for Jetted Tub Shower Units

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

Everyone deserves a bit of luxury at home.  After all you spend a great deal of money to live there and your house should be able to give something back.  One of the first rooms to think about when you think about pampering yourself is the bathroom.  While a solid gold toilet may be a great extravagance, choosing one of the jetted tub shower units is more useful and won’t have your family and friends questioning your sanity behind your back.  Like any home improvement product, you have to do some homework before you jump into purchasing and installing one of these units.

Before you can do anything else in choosing from the jetted tub shower units, you have to consider the space in which the unit will go.  You need to pick a spot where the access panel will be easy and convenient to reach.  You should also consider the type of unit configuration that will fit into your space.  Most of these luxury units come in corner, alcove, or drop in designs.  One of them should fit well in the allotted space.

Jetted Tub Shower Units

While you may be dying to get the boring part over with and get to the soaking and relaxing under jets, with your jetted tub shower unit, you also have to be certain you have the proper support.  Jetted tubs obviously weigh more than their traditional counterparts and may require that you reinforce the flooring under the unit.  Make sure you check the specs on each product you consider.  If it exceeds 30 lbs per square foot, you would be wise to strengthen the framing and underlying floor.

Another consideration while choosing your jetted tub shower units is to decide how you are going to limit the noise levels.  Many experts set these tubs in plaster of Paris to minimize the noise from the motor and protect the tub’s occupants from vibrations from the jets themselves.  It helps to have a good idea of how you plan to correct this issue before you go through all the trouble of installation.

Your Choices When Plumbing a Laundry Room

Monday, May 12th, 2008

Whether you have made the decision to remodel or add a laundry room to your home, there is no doubt you have many decisions to make.  It’s no longer convenient or fashionable to just throw a washing machine and clothes dryer in the basement and call the job complete.  Not only do you have to pick a location for your laundry room, you also have to consider the process of plumbing a laundry room correctly.  Of course, once you have the basics, you have the option of adding more conveniences to the room.  Here is a look at some of the choices the pros are going to give you.

Plumbing a Laundry Room

Naturally, your more than competent general contractor is going to be able to advise you on the specifics of the plumbing in a laundry room, but it helps to have some idea of what is going on.  One of the things that are simply not negotiable is the presence of some kind of drain in the center of the room. Let’s face it; washing machine hoses rupture and water can end up everywhere.  With a central drainage system in place, you can be confident the water won’t damage your sub floor or anything else since it has a place to go.

Most of the plumbing connections used for washing machines and stationary tubs are pretty straightforward and your contractor won’t have any trouble either fitting your appliances’ plumbing or adding the correct new fixtures and pipes.  Your biggest concerns are going to be what if any, kind of plumbing additions you might like.  For example, many people take advantage of a laundry room remodel to install a shower.  It can come in handy for mudroom purposes or to allow clothing like sweaters a place to dry since they can’t be hung up.  A retractable clothes line or rails are ideal for this purpose when the shower isn’t being used to clean up the family dog or sports equipment.

There are tons of options to think about when plumbing a laundry room.  You can have as many add ons as you like or keep things nice and simple. 

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Finishing the Basement: Bar Sink Plumbing Installation

Monday, April 14th, 2008

A finished basement should not only be a fun place for your children to play, but also a fun place for adults to enjoy.  Think about all of the possibilities a finished basement can offer: a place for a pool table or a dart board; a place for a home theatre; or, even more popular and perhaps even more fun, a place for a wet bar.  The possibilities for basement bars are endless, but the first part of this project will be bar sink plumbing installation.  After all, you can’t have a wet bar if it isn’t wet!

Bar Sink Plumbing Installation

So how does the average home remodeler go about bar sink plumbing installation?  Well, the most obvious course of action is simply to hire a contractor.  This is a very good idea for many home owners, especially those who do not have a lot of experience with plumbing.  Bar sink plumbing installation can be done by an amateur plumber if there is an existing plumbing fixture.  If you are simply adding a sink or changing out a sink, you should be able to do the work yourself.  But if you need to create a new plumbing attachment and hook up for your bar sink, plumbing installation should be done by a professional.

Once the plumbing has been installed, you may be able to complete the bar sink plumbing installation by yourself.  You will need a lot of tools, and you will need to have already made the actual bar and counter top.  Some of the tools needed will be a drill with a paddle bit, a sink, plumber’s putty, a drain flange, rubber and paper gaskets, channel lock pliers, a faucet, washers, nuts, and caulk.  The steps of bar sink plumbing installation will include cutting a hole in the countertop that is slightly smaller than the sink itself, using plumber’s putty on the drain flange and on the faucet, and then setting these fixture parts into the sink.  You will need to place the gaskets on the sink drain stem, and will need to tighten the drain stem locking ring.  Use the caulk to create a seal around the lip of the sink, and then set the sink into the hole in the countertop.  Be sure that your plumbing attachments are correct, you will end up with a lot of water leaking into your wet bar!

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