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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.

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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.

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Roofing : Repairs

A roof system is compound of several elements that work together to provide three basic, essential functions fir your home shelter drainage designed to shed water , directing it to gutters and downspouts . Air intake and outtake vents keep fresh air circulating below the roof sheathing , preventing moisture and heat buildup .

When your roof system develops problems that compromise is ability to protect your home flashing the damage quickly spreads to other parts of your house . Routine inspections are the best way to make sure the roof continues to do its job effectively.

Ice dams occur when melting snow refreezes near thieves , causing ice back up under the shingles , where it melts onto the sheathing and seeps into the house .

Inspect both the interior and the exterior of the roof to spot problems. From inside the attic , check the rafters and sheathing for signs for water damage . Symptoms will appear in the form of streaking or discoloration . A moist or wet area also signals water damage .

Wind weather and flying debris can damage shinglers . The areas along valleys and ridges tend to take the most weather related abuse. Torn, loose, or cracked shingles are common in these areas.

Buckled and cupped are usually caused by moisture beneath the shingles. Loosened areas create an entry point for moisture and leave shingles vulnerable to wind damage .

A sagging ridge might be the weight of too many roofing layers . It might also be the result of a more significant problem , such as rotting ridge board or insufficient support for the ridge board.

Dirt and debris attract moisture and decay , which shortens the a roof’s life. To protect shingles , carefully wash the roof once a year using a pressure washer . Pay particular attention to areas where moss and mildew may accumulate .

In damp climates, it’s a good idea to nail a zinc strip along the center ridge of a roof, under the ridge cap . Minute quantities of zinc wash down the roof each time it rains , killing moss and mildew .

Overhanging tree limbs drop debris and provide shade that encourages moss and mildew . To reduce chances of decay , trimming limbs that overhang the roof.

If you have unfinished attic , examine the underside of your roof with a flashlight on a rainy day. If you yo find wetness , discoloration , or signs of moisture , trace the trail up to where the water is making its entrance.

Water that flows toward a wall can be temporarily diverted to minimize damage . Nail a small block of wood in the path of the water ,and place a bucket underneath to catch the drip. On a dry day, drive a nail through the underside of the roof decking to mark the hole.

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Water Proofing Sealing Prevent Moisture Foundation Wall Cracks

To repair a stable crack , chisel cut a keyhole cut that’s wider at the base than 1/2 inch deep . Clean out the crack with a wire brush.

To help seal against moisture ,fill the crack with expanding insulating foam, working from bottom to top.

Mix hydraulic cement according to the manufacturer ‘s instructions then trowel it into the crack , working

from the bottom to top. Apply cement in layers no more 1/4 inch thick , until the patch is slightly higher

than the surrounding area . Feather cement with the trowel until it’s even with the surface . Allow to dry

throughly.

Water proof Paint
Masonry paints and sealers , especially those that are described as waterproof, are rather controversial products. Some manufacturers , claim that applying a coat of their waterproof paint will create a seal that can hold back moisture , even under light hydrostatic pressure. Other suggest only that their product , when applied to a basement wall, will create a skin that inhibits water penetration from the interior side.

Masonry paints do hold up better on concrete surfaces than other types, largely because they are higher in alkali and therefore less reactive with cement based materials . But they also can trap moisture in the concrete ,which will cause the paint to fail prematurely and can cause the concrete to degrade , especially
if the water freezes. Read the product label carefully before applying waterproofing paint to your basement walls, and make sure to follow the preparations protocols carefully . If you have a foundation wall with an active water seepage problem , address the problem with the other methods shown in this sections, including grading and gutters . A coat of waterproof paint is not to make your basement drier .

Clean your gutter and patch any holes. Make sure the gutters slope toward the downspouts extensions and splash blocks to keep roof runoff at least 8 feet away from the foundation.

Cover window well that will other wise allow water into basement Covering them with removable plastic is the easiest way to keep them dry. Covers on egress window wells must be easily removed from inside …
If you prefer to leave wells uncovered, add a gravel layer and a drain to the bottom of the well. Clean the well regularly to remove moisture heavy debris .

Things you need to fix concrete water proofing : trowel concrete mortar type S , or hydraulic cement for super water proof basement . Shovel and wheel barrel mix and water proper mixture . Concrete rake and concrete self level make easier for concrete to float cover the crack. Sand paper or heavy or epoxy if you did not properly level out and make smooth the concrete. Paint brush and caulk gun to brush in pattern the concrete to leave the pattern where concrete is much harder to break 30 years later .