Home Improvement Guide Blog

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June 11, 2008

Bathroom Tile Designs

Author: vanessa - Categories: Home Improvement, Home Repair, Remodelling

Bathroom tile design is often dismissed as an important factor when considering bathroom design. However there are so many bathroom tile designs and a huge variety of wall and floor tile shapes, sizes and materials to choose from that spending time on your bathroom tile design can be very rewarding.

Choosing where you want tiles in your bathroom should be the first step. You do not have to cover every inch of bathroom surface with tiles, but you might want more than a few around the sink. The most sensible option is to consider where the walls and floor will have the most contact with water. Shower enclosures, bath and sink surrounds and often the whole bathroom floor are key areas.

Then you need to consider your bathroom design theme and style. A traditional country bathroom might have slate floor tiles or more rustic earth tones for the wall tiles. A modern bathroom could have mirrored tiles or designer italian glass tiles for a contemporary finish. For a colonial look the black and white checkerboard tile design will always give a striking classic look.

The size and arrangement of your bathroom tiles should be your next consideration. Large tiles will obviously cover a larger area quickly and effectively, whereas small tiles are ideal for smaller areas such as basin surrounds or for framing a design. Mosaic tiles can be very time consuming but with a skilled artistic touch you can create a unique focal point. By placing rectangular tiles on their side you can make a small bathroom appear broader and adding a diamond pattern in the centre of a wall will create depth and focus.

There are a baffling array of materials and colours to choose from so take your time and consider the overall effect that your trying to achieve. Bathroom tiles can be made from ceramics, glass, stone, metal and other natural materials. Ceramic tile are the most popular and come in a range of colour and finishes. White glossy tiles are the cheapest and will provide a cost effective solution to achieving a bright, light and clean bathroom design, however too many without contrast may give a too clinical effect. So by all means use them as a base, but throw in the odd darker tile to break them up or frame them.

Glass tiles are more expensive but really can add the wow factor to a bathroom. Glass can give colours more depth, reflect or allow more light whilst distorting the image on the other side. Shells or other novelty objects can be fused inside to really add a unique character to your bathroom tile designs. Natural materials such as wood, cork and stone often add a rustic effect to bathrooms, but with a highly polished finish can add a fantastic dimension to a contemporary bathroom design. Natural materials often have tactile quality that you wouldn’t find in other materials. Metal tiles will often give a reflective surface and are nearly always used as part of a modern design.

So whether you choose big or small, black or white, ceramic or glass, I hope this article has given you some ideas for your bathroom tile designs or at least highlighted the importance of having one as part of your overall bathroom design.

For more information visit http://www.bathroomdesignsite.com

October 11, 2007

The Guide to Bath Tub Refinishing

Author: vanessa - Categories: Do it yourself, Home Repair
There are many situations in which a homeowner may consider replacing a bath tub in the home. However, purchasing and installing a new unit may prove to be quite an expense. For individuals who are interested in revamping the appearance of their bath tub, but looking to avoid the high costs that are often associated with a new installation, refinishing may be the best choice. Here, you will discover the guide to bath tub refinishing.

Preparation Steps

In order to refinish your bath tub, there are a few basic supplies that you will need to gather. Many of these supplies can be purchased at home improvement stores, such as Lowe’s or Home Depot. Some of the supplies may be available at department stores, such as Wal-Mart. When purchasing supplies, you must consider your personal safety, as well as the job that you are attempting to complete.

The first thing that you should purchase is a face mask. This will ensure that you do not inhale dangerous chemicals and other substances when performing a bath tub refinishing job. You will also be required to get some basic supplies, like masking tape, paper, and a sander that is designed for the palm. You should also ensure that you have plenty of sandpaper that is appropriate to the sander that you purchase.

When refinishing your bath tub, you will be required to purchase a few items that are chemical based. One of the first items should be epoxy paint. Many purchase primer in place of epoxy. You should also purchase an agent that works to bond porcelain or any type of tile that you may be required to work with. EP-acrylic coating is also important. Last, you should ensure that you purchase cleaners that will clean a wide range of chemicals in case it becomes necessary to clean a spill or other mess. A spray gun that distributes liquid in a low-pressure manner can also be effective.

Getting Dirty

The first step to refinishing your bath tub is to ensure that the area is thoroughly cleaned. You can actually use the cleaners that you purchased to clean chemical spills to clean the surfaces that you are working with. Once you thoroughly scrub the area with the cleaning agent, you should then simply rinse it with water and ensure that it is dry.

Next, you should implement the use of your sander. It is important to go over every inch that you are working with. This is an essential step for successful bath tub refinishing. It is imperative that you ensure all areas are sanded evenly. Once this part of the job is completed, you should prepare your work area for the painting stage that is required for refinishing your bath tub.

The next step to refinishing a bath tub is to put your adhesive on the surface that you are going to paint. This is usually only required if the bath tub is created with porcelain. Once you have placed the adhesive on the area it is important to give it time to dry. In the meantime, you can be preparing the paint that you are going to use.

You should have your acrylic paint prepared by following the packaging instructions. It is important to ensure that the base of this paint is gloss. This will ensure that the tub which you are refinishing dries in such a way that the appearance has the glisten and shine that most tubs do. This paint is normally applied using the spray gun that you purchased for the project. Normally two to three coats is appropriate when refinishing a bath tub.

This article details all of the steps necessary to refinish a bath tub. Once you have completed the project, it is important to allow it to dry for approximately two to three days before putting to use. This will ensure that all the paint is completely dry.

http://whirlpool-baths.info is a website devoted to giving you the latest information about luxury and beauty baths. Whether your looking for more information about bath tub refinishing, or looking to purchase a clawfoot bath tub, we’ve got you covered!

May 3, 2007

DIY and Home Improvement, Choosing Electrical Power Tools

Author: vanessa - Categories: Do it yourself, Home Improvement, Home Repair

Hardware stores carry a full range of power tools, from very cheap to very expensive. Start with your first drill and maybe a circular saw as cheapies, see if you like it. They will still get used even when you start to get bigger and better ones.

Once you have done a few jobs and you are more confident, start getting better quality tools. I am a bit wary of these multipurpose tools. Things with a lot of accessories that do this and that. Stick to standard items.

I usually go for medium to just under top of the range power tools. I guess you’d say the tradesman range. Really top price stuff usually caters for specialist applications that you probably won’t need. An example, if you had a lot of dry concrete type cutting to do, (like a block layer or ceramic tiler) you could splash extra cash and buy a specially dust sealed grinder. Most guys don’t bother, they just get as much as they can out of standard tools.

I own heaps of power tools that look terrible, but they all do the same job that they did when they were brand new. The reason they look like crap is because they have had a long hard life, (tell me about it :-). The reason they still do the job is because they were well made, by reputable companies.

I have mostly one brand of electric power tool, Makita. I don’t say it’s the best, there are a lot of good tools out there, but…. In our town, there is, and has been for the last 30 years only one manufacturer’s agent who carries stock of parts and accessories, and has on board a top repair man. Makita. The Hitachi grinder that I was using for months on my last job, is tough, powerful and has a better guard adjustment than my Makita ones. I am not biased towards Makita tools so much as the Makita after sales service WHERE I LIVE. Check out your own situation.

It seems that every store has a DIY section. Find a good store that carries a large range and ask about until you find a salesperson who knows tools. Someone you feel you can rely on. Ask him or her which models the guys in the trade use.

Ask if they get warranty claims on any. Take the sales persons advice and see them the next time you are looking for another tool.

A good salesperson gets to know all the latest from the wholesalers, new gear is coming out all the time. They also get feedback from their DIY and trade customers.

I broke the habit of a lifetime a few years ago when I was looking for another 100mm angle grinder. I have a few, one with a cutting disc in it, one with a grinding disc, etc., but I needed another so I picked out a cheapy, a Chinese import. At the trade counter the guy says to me “You intendin doin a lotta work with that Bill? “. Always ready with a smart reply I said ” I don’t think I’ve got a lotta work left in me Frank “. He smiled and shook his head slowly. I realised then that he’d been trying to warn me off that particular tool. He’d probably had returns and bad feedback about them. I turned around and re sheved it and then picked up a reasonably priced B&D. Thanks Frank.

More about the service issue. My Makita wet saw’s bearings packed up on me in the middle of a job. I had scaffold on hire and men on it. I raced into town and explained the situation, if they couldn’t fix it quickly I would buy a new one. No worries, I was back on the road with a new set of bearings inside half an hour. Thanks Richard.

To sum up. go with well known brands. DIY sometimes has that feeling of cheap, it shouldn’t because you want to do a good job, and you may be doing DIY in years to come. So choose carefully.

Check availability of service, spares and accessories. Check that the accessories are industry standard. Middle to top of price range. ( Maybe try a few cheapies when you are starting off, they are getting better).

Make sure it feels comfortable in the hand.

Ask yourself is it the correct tool for the job, not too small and underpowered? Not to big and heavy?

Bill Bradley is a retired builder with almost fifty years experience in house building, renovating and extensions. He his website Bill’s site has pages on choosing and using power tools

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Bradley

February 24, 2007

Repairing a Garage Door Remote

Author: vanessa - Categories: Do it yourself, Home Repair

Garage door remotes often give out and owners try to do repairs to the garage door, not realizing that the problem lies with the remote. For example, if the garage door seems to have a mind of its own and opens when you don’t want it open, you may have a problem with the contact strip inside the remote. This is easy to check because all you have to do is remove the back of the remote and look for the small narrow strip on the circuit board located just above the battery. If this strip is compressed and is pressing against the brass contact, then it is the remote that is causing the problem and you need to get a new one.

If you have your old remote, it is easy to find the replacement you need. Just bring it into the dealer to purchase the right one for your door. If you lose your remote and are unable to open the door, you do need to know that number in order to get wither the same model or a compatible on that will open the door for you. In order to get the correct remote, you have to do a bit of detective work on the main power head in the ceiling of the garage. When you locate the small antenna wire and follow it to the switches. You will probably have to remove the light bulb cover to find the switches, but you won’t have to remove the cover of the power head. When you get the frequency number of the rectangular box by tracing the antenna wire, you will then be able to get the remote control you need.

When you buy a remote control for your garage door opener, all the installation and code setting instructions are included. You do need to follow the instructions exactly in order for the remote to work. If you don’t feel comfortable doing the installation yourself, there are many technicians that are qualified to do the job for you.

For lots of information on garages and related topics, visit Garages Spot at http://www.garages-spot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Wilssens

DVD: The Basics of Household Wiring, Electrical Video and Repair

Author: vanessa - Categories: Do it yourself, Home Repair

DVD: The Basics of Household Wiring, Electrical Video and Repair No other DVD program like this has ever been created for understanding electrical repair and home wiring. After viewing this interactive DVD you will understand electricity in your home, circuit breakers, service panels, correct wire gauges, the relationship between volts, watts, and amps, short circuits, installation and repairs for lights, switches, receptacles and more. This will get you up to speed faster than any manual you will ever read. Watch it again and again and become an expert faster than the average do-it-yourselfer. Perfect for every home library.

Director: Marshall Evans
DVD: Color, Digital Sound, NTSC
Company: Getting Up To Speed (2005-01-03)
List Price: $19.95
Amazon Price: $19.95

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