Monthly Archives: November 2016

stuuco, Uncategorized, water barrier, water proofing

Sump Pump French Drains Flood Basement

Sump Pump : Installing

If water continues to accumulate in your basement despite all your efforts at regrading and sealing your basement walls, installing a sump pump may be your inly option for resolving the problem . Permanently located in a pit that you dig beneath your basement floor, the sump pump automatically kicks in whenever enough water water accumulates in the pit to trigger the pump float. The water is then pumped out the basement through a pipe that runs through the rim joist of the house .

Because you will be digging well beneath the basement floor, make certain there is no sewer pipe or water supply in the digging area . Contact a plumber if you do not know for sure that the area is clear.

The purpose of a sump pump is to collect and eject water that accumulates beneath your basement floor ( usually due to a high water table ) before it can be drawn or forced up into the basement . The most effective sump installation have drain tile running around the entire perimeter of the house and channeling water to the pump pit. This system can be created as a retrofit job, but it is a major undertaking best left to a pro .

A submersible sump pump installed in a pit beneath a basement floor to [ump water out before it seeps up into the basement .

Install the pit liner after digging a hole for ti in the granular material under the floor . The hole should be a few inches wider than the liner . Remove the excavated material right away . Add gravel to the bottom of the hole as needed to bring the liner level with top of its rim at floor level.

Pack the liner in place by pouring 1/2 inch gravel around it. Add a 1 inch base of gravel and then mix concrete to patch the floor . Trowel the concrete around the rim with a float so the patch is level and smooth.

Prepare the sump sump installation . Thread a PVC adapter fitting onto the pump outlet , and then solvent glue a PVC stand pipe ti the adapter . the stand pipe should be long enough to extend about 1 foot past the liner rim rim liner rim when the pump is set on the bottom of the liner .

Attach a check valve to the top of the stand pipe to prevent the pump pit . Solvent weld another riser to fit into the top of the check valve and run upward to a point level with the rim joist, where the discharge tube will exit the basement .

Drill a hole in the rim joist for the discharge tube and finish routing drain pipe out through the rim joist.. Caulk around the tube on both the interior and exterior sides. On the exterior , attach an elbow fitting to the discharge tube and run drain pipe down from the elbow. Place a splash block beneath the drain pipe to direct water away from the house . Plug the pump in a GFCI-protected receptacle .

Things you may need also is to dry lock basement walls for leaks especially in July less of a water table. Regrade french drains and dirt outside dig trench ten feet away outside and dig a trash can size hole. Than place another receptacle with perforated holes and gravel place around , and let the water run off and away. 100 percent do the trick . Call topjobrestoration.com for any answers.

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Plumbing : Basics

Because most of a plumbing system is hidden inside walls floors , it may seem be a complex made of pipes and fittings . But spend a few minutes with us and you will gain a basic understanding of your system . Understanding how home plumbing works is an important first step toward doing routine maintenance and money saving repairs.

A typical home plumbing system includes three basic

Routine maintenance is the key to your water damage leaks not to occur , supply lines must be change every 5 years. It is a must and winterize all areas that have plumbing lines such as copper tubing , because single digit degree levels will freeze pipes and burst and cause water damage and not found within 48 hours will mildew and mold and insurance companies will cover mold, water damage but it must be in your insurance policy , this is a recap for your very important to reread or look up other blogs topjobrestoration.com upper right hand corner search box type what you want to be educate and read up on home improvements , maintenance and everything may have not even thought will save thousands and thousands of costly mistakes.

bathroom, Kitchens and Bathrooms New, mildew bathroom, Remodeling Kitchens and Bathrooms, tile grout, water barrier

How to Re- Grout Floor Tile

Scrape out the old grout with a grout saw or other tool, being careful not to scratch the tiles faces or chip the edges. You may choose to regrout only the filed grout lines for a quick fix, but for more pleasing results and to pleasing results and to prevent color variation in the grout lines, remove the grout around all tiles and regret the entire floor.

Wash h exiled floor with a 1:1 mix of white vinegar and water, paying special attention to the tile joints. Vacuum the floor first to get rid of all debris.

Apply new grout . Prepare grout mix according to the instructions on the package and then pack fresh grout deep into the joints using a rubber grout float. Hold the float at 30 degree angle to the tiled surfaced.

Wipe diagonally across the tiles and grouted joints to remove excess grout and smooth the joints . Seal the grout joints with grout sealer after they have dried for a week so. Note : Sealing the grout joints will help new grout joints will help new grout lines blend with old grout if you are only doing a partial regrouting .

BEFORE you grout or tile you must put placed down Tiling

Tiling Backer Board

Use the tile backer board as the substrate for tile walls in wet areas . Unlike drywall , tile backer won’t break down and cause if water gets behind the tile. The basic types of tile backer are cement board , fiber cement board , and Dens Shield .

Though water cannot damage either cement board or fiber cement board , it can pass through them . To protect the framing members , install a water barrier of 4 milli ply plastic or 15#
building paper behind the backer.

Dens Shield has waterproof acrylic facing that provides the water barrier. It cuts and installs much like drywall , but requires galvanized screws to prevent corrosion and must be sealed with caulk at all untaped joints and penetrations .

Common tile backers are cemented board , fiber cement board and Den Shield . Cement board is made from Portland cement and sand reinforced by an outer layer of fiberglass mesh . Fibercementboard is made similarly, but with a fiber reinforcement integrated throughout the panel . Dens Shield is water resistant gypsum board with a waterproofing acrylic facing .

Staple a water barrier of mili plastic sheeting or 15# building paper over the framing . Overlap seams by several inches , and leave the sheets long at the perimeter .

Cut the cement board in place. Make cut offs and other penetrations by drilling a series of holes through the board , using a small masonry bit. Tap the hole out with a hammer or a scrap of pipe . Cut holes along edges with a jigsaw and carbide grit blade.

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Tile Back Splash Kitchen & Bathrooms

There are few spaces in you home with as much potential for creativity and visual impact as the space between your kitchen countertop and your cupboards. A well designed backsplash can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary . Tiles for the backsplash can be require backerboard . When purchasing the tile , order 10 percent extra to cover breakage and cutting. Remove the switch and receptacle coverlets and install box extenders to make up for the extra thickness of the tile .Protect the countertop from scratches by covering it with a drop cloth during the installation .

Tool and Material

Level , Tape measure, Pencil, Tile Cutter , Notched trowel , Rubber grout float, Rubber mallet, Sponge , Story stick , Tile spacers, Wall tile , Mastic adhesive, Masking tape, Grout , Caulk , Drop cloth , Caulk gun, Carpet Scrap, Buff Cloth , Protective equipment

Contemporary glass mosaic sheets create a counter to cabinet back splash for a water proof .

Make a story by making a board at the least half as long as the backsplash area to match area to match the tile spacing.

Starting at the midpoint of the installation area, use the story stick to make layout marks along the wall. If an end piece is too small ( less than half a tile ), adjust the midpoint to give you larger, more attractive end pieces. Use a level to mark this point with a vertical reference line.

While it may appear straight , your countertop may not be level and therefore is not a reliable reference line . Run a level along the countertop to find the lowest point on the top countertop. Mark a point two tiles up from the low point and extend a level line across the entire work area.

Variation :Diagonal Layout . Mark vertical and horizontal reference lines, measure sure the angle 90 degrees . To establish diagonal layout lines , measure out equal distances from the
crosspoint , and then connect the points with a line . Additional layout lines can be extended from these as needed.

Apply mastic adhesive evenly to the area the horizontal reference line using a notched trowel. Comb the adhesive horizontal with the notched edge.

Press tiles into the adhesive with a slight twisting motion. If the the tiles are not self spacing , use plastic spacers to maintain even grout lines . If the tiles do not hang in place entitle adhesive sets.

Install a whole row along the reference line checking occasionally to make sure the tiles are level . Continue installing tiles below the first row , trimming tiles that butt against the countertop as needed .

Install an edge border it is needed in your layout . Mosaic sheets normally do not have bull nose tiles on the edges of the outlet tiles not the edges, so if you don’t with to see the cut edges of the outer tiles, install a vertical column of edges tiles at the end of the backsplash area.

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Water Heating : Installing

Shut off the gas supply at the stopcock installed in the gas line closed to the water heater. The handle of the stopcock should be perpendicular to the gas supply pipe. Also shut off the water supply .

Drain the water from the old heater by hooking garden hose up to the sillcock drain and running it to a floor drain. If you don’t have a floor drain , drain the water into buckets . For your personal safety , wait until the water heater has been shut off for a couple of hours before draining it.

Disconnect the gas supply from the water heater . To do so, loosen the flare fitting with two wrenches or pliers in a soft copper supply line or loosen the union fitting with two pipe wrenches of black pipe supply lines .

Disconnect the vent pipe from the draft hood by withdrawing the sheet metal screws connecting the parts . Also remove vent pipes up to and including the elbow so you may inspect them for corrosion buildup and replace if needed .

Cut the water supply lines. Prior shut off the cold water supply either at the stop valve near the heater or at valve in new condition , replace it with a ball valve .

Remove the old heater and dispose of it properly . Most trash collection companies will haul it away 20 dollars or 30 dollars . Don’t simply leave it out at the curb unless you know that is allowed by you municipal water collection department . A two wheel truck or appliance dolly is a big help here. Water heaters usually weigh around 150 pounds .

Position the new until installation area. If you have flooring you wish to protect formless, settle unit on a drip pan ( available where water heater accessories are sold ).The shallow pans feature a hose bib so you can run a drain line from the pan to floor drain . If the water heater is not level, level by shimming under the bottom with a metal or composite shim. Note you ‘ll need to shift the unit around a bit to have clearance for installing the water supply connectors.

Install a Relief valve and its important to change your supply lines every 5 years. Prepare the new water heater for installation . Before you put you put the water heater in place , add a T & P ( temperature and pressure) relief valve at the valve opening . Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions and purchase the recommended valve type. Lubricate the threads and tightened the valve into the valve into the valve opening with a pipe wrench. Note The water heater shown in this sequence came with a T & relief valve that’s preinstalled .

Things may be easy to fix gas heaters have pilot and trip it and relight is , on the bottom in plated gas you will see it through there and little flame will show though the plated glass.