Category Archives: Remodeling Kitchens and Bathrooms

Kitchens and Bathrooms New, mildew bathroom, plumbing, Remodeling Kitchens and Bathrooms, water proofing

Drain Troubles & Leaks

What could gurgling a rarely used wet bat sink when water drains in the kitchen at one end of the house or in a bath at the other end? Chances are that the wet bar is not vented or that its vent stack is blocked . You could check by looking for plumbing vent pipe protruding through the roof above the area. It will look like the ones above kitchen and bath.

Sluggish drainage is one symptom of this one problem . Sewer smell is another . When water drains in the kitchen or bath, its siphons water out of the wet bar’s drain trap , which produces a gurgling noise . Without the seal provided by water in the drain trap , sewer gas can rise up through th esink and into the house.

Big Backups
Even with proper venting, trap placement , and pipe sizing , drains still may be slow . This indicates a big blockage farther down the line. The best indicator that a blockage is in the waste line is sewage gurgling up through floor drains and basement fixtures. Solving this problem depends on your septic type.

If you have a septic system with a leachfield, your septic tank may need too be pumped out. This is a job for a professional , but it’s important to be around when the pumping concludes . Ask the pump operator if the tank was filled with enough greasy scum to cause the drain problems . If not the pipe’s in the leachfield itself may be the problem. Digging them up may be the solution.

If you’re tied into a municipal sewage system, check to see whether any work has been done on your branch line lately. If so , it could have caused problems with your drainage . If not, tree roots may have gotten into the pipes. Hire a professional to auger the line and pull out the tree roots , thereafter, flush copper sulfate root treatment through the line twice a year.

To find out whether the sink drainpipe or the flange in the sink is leaking, pour water leaks below , the problem is in the piping. If not, the problem is likely in the flange , clean off old caulk or plumbers putty ,install a fresh board of caulk , and retighten the flange . Leaks in the drainpipe generally occur in the trap . Some traps have a clean out nut that makes it easier to clean blockages.

To clear a stopped drain, you should start by using a plunger . For best results , block the over flow and second drain outlets; spread petroleum jelly on the rim of the plumbers helper, and use steady , forceful downward strokes to clear the clog . If this doe not work, you can try working a piece of wire , through the clean out plug and remove the blockage. However , snaking with a hand auger or power auger is much more effective . Disassemble the traps ; insert the auger and cleat out any blockages.

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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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Shower Enclosure Installing Water damage

Mark out the location of the shower, including any new walls , on the floor and walls. Most kits can be installed over wallboard , but you can usually achieve a more professional looking wall finish if you remove the wall covering and floor covering in the installation area. Dispose of the materials immediately and thoroughly clean the area.

If you are adding a wall to create the alcove , lay out the locations for the studs and plumbing on the new wood sill plate . Also lay out the stud locations on the cap plate that will ne attached to the ceiling . Refer to the enclosure kit instructions for exact locations and dimensions of studs. Attach the sill plate to the floor with deck deck screws and panel adhesive , making sure it is square to the back wall and the correct distance from the the side wall.

Align a straight 2×4 right next to the sill plate and make a mark on the ceiling . Use a level to extend that line directly above the sill plate . Attach the cap plate at that plate.

Install 2×4 at the outlined locations . Check with a level to make sure each stud is plumb , and then attach them by driving deck screws toenail style on angle into sill plate and cap plate .

Cut an access hole in the floor for the drain , according to the installation manual instructions . Drill openings in the sill plate of the wet wall ( the new wall in this project) for the supply pipes , also according to the instructions.

Install a drain pipe and branch line and then trim the drain pipe flush with the floor. If you are not experienced with plumbing , hire a plumber to install new drain line.

Install new supply risers as directed in the instruction manual ( again, have a plumber do this if necessary ). Also install cross braces between the studs in the wall for mounting the faucet body and sower arm.

If the supply plumbing is located in a wall ( old or new) that is accessible from the non-shower side, install forming for a removable access panel

Attach the drain tail piece, Option and mortar before you lay down the tail piece .

Set the receptor in place and nail to the studs. Lay out the drain and valves holes and cut with a jigsaw . Need to use a fine tooth blade with a jigsaw.

Positon the back wall gap should be 1/2 inch between the bottom of the panel and the rim. Remove the end of the wall if need to apply adhesive apply it now .

Reinstall the end panels follow the kit instructions and pals are flush front the receptors.

Once the panels are positioned correctly and snapped together nail 4 inches to 6 inches along the vertical surfaces.

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Home Remodeling

Home Renovations

Tackling a large scale home remodeling project can be a daunting task. Although remodeling is often very rewarding , it is often very rewarding , it is usual a long , expensive process with many details to keep in mind , and having to coordinate the plans of several different contractors can be confusing and tiresome . Hiring a total home remodeling company can help alleviate some of the stress because all communications and planning is done with one company .

Keep an eye to detail of you want help move the process such pins is a good online ideas and cheap way out than an interior decorator , helps smooth process preparing for the remodel and save time .

Getting real budget
Before hiring a company , decide what kind of remodeling you want to have done and calculate whether or not you will have the funds readily available ( estimate locked in a proposal ) pay for it. Don’t become too attached to an idea prior to determining how much it will cost to implement ; it will be much harder to stay on budget if you refuse to compromise on design details. As long as you have a good general idea of what you would like done and how much you are willing to spend, many contractors will help you create a design that fails within your budget constraints .

Cleaning Preparation
Remodling can be an extensive ordeal , lasting from several days to several months, and properly preparations will save time. Many contractors will be able to move some larger items for you, but homeowners are typically responsible for cleaning out small things can get in the way or be damaged . Many room remodels include new cabinets or storage space, so remove everything from your your current cabinets before any work begins. If everything has been thoroughly cleaned and moved out of the way , the contractor will be able to get straight tow work .

Temporary Adjustments
With major renovations taking place in your home , it may not be ideal to spend a lot of time around the house.

Planning meals . If you are planning to remain in your home while your kitchen is being remodeled , you will have to find alternate place to eat and prepare food . For this reason , you may want to consider scheduling the remodel during a time when the weather is nice enough to eat outside if you own a grill and have an outdoor seating area . It can be also be helpful to set up a small , temporary food station in an unaffected room of the house with things like a coffee maker , some nonperishables, a mini refrigerators , and a toaster or min microwave . Also be sure to have plenty of paper plates and disposable cups and utensils on hand if you will not have access to a dishwasher .

Dealing with safety issues and pets and kids is safety contractors who are osha and IICRC certified is seal of protection of your kids and property .

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Plumbing and Sewer Line Pipes Installs

Plumbing problems can create considerable damage such as drywall , waterproofing , and pipes that need to tie into at the sewer lines. While some do-it-yourselfers enjoy the challenge of fixing even the toughest problems , many homeowner would rather leave the dirty work to a professional plumbing company. Before calling for help , you should know some basic plumbing concepts and problems.

Shutting off the water for winterize or emergency

Shutting the water is an important action to take in an emergency. Most homes have a main water shutoff valve located next to the water meter that can be used to stop water flow to the house . All family members should know the valve’s location and how to use it . It should should also be periodically checked to ensure proper function. Most plumbers fixtures have individual shutoff valves located in their supply lines .

Plumbing Problems Common Issues

Drain cleaning. Depending on the cause and location of a clog, drain cleaning may or may not be effective. Additionally , because clogs in multiple places can contribute to the problem , successful clearing one problem spot might not solve all of your long-term plumbing problems.

Toilet clogs Toilet clogs can often be cleared with a toilet plunger . If, however , the clog is too difficult to remove with a plunger , plumbers can use special tools special tools called augers, or snakes. Snakes are long ,flexible spring-like tools that are inserted into the clogged drain and rotated to manually break break up the clog.

Grease clogs. Grease clogs may represent a more difficult problem . Grease clogs usually occur in the two-inch drain pipe connecting the kitchen sink to the main four inch drainpipe that handles toilet waste and leads to the sewer. Because the washing machine pump forces water into the same two-inch drainpipe , a grease clog is commonly misdiagnosed as as a clogged washing machine drain line. Because grease naturally sticks to the walls of drain lines, it is relatively difficult to remove.

in some cases , the most economical feasible alternative is to replace the two-inch drain line. However , because of the high cost of replacing the line, the first attempt at alleviating the problem is to use a plumber’s snake to punch a hole through the grease as possible . Because this repair cannot remove all the grease as possible. Because the repair cannot remove all the grease , in time drain repeatedly re-clogs . If the same drain repeatedly clogs, you may need to replace the line.

Clogs in the main main sewer line .
Broken seal, joints , or pipe sections are the primary causes of most sewer line clogs . These breaks allow tree roots to penetrate and grow in the line, gradually blocking the flow of water and waste. The only way to remove all the roots from the line is to replace it, which is very expensive . In many cases, enough of the roots can be cut from the inside of the line with a sewer machine to open up the flow . Unfortunately because damaged roots an grow back in a fertile environment the line often ends up re-clogging . Furthermore , because some partially cut roots tend to shift position over time , the line may re-clog quickly.

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