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The Basics of Drilling: Buying A Drill


The Basics of Drilling: Buying A Drill

DIY Home Repair. A good basic style electric drill is going to have a 3/8 inch chuck and VSR or variable speed reversing capabilities. Such a drill should be able to accept bits that have shanks up to the 3/8 inch point, and it should also allow you to control how fast you are going to drill things with. You should be buying the best and the most powerful model that you can reasonably afford at the time of purchase. Make sure that the drill you choose is capable of fitting comfortable within your hand. Another handy feature that you may want to consider is a drill that has a level built in.

Read More : 6 Inexpensive Ideas for Living Rooms

Cordless drills tend to be extremely convenient, but they also tend to be slower in nature and less powerful in comparison to the types of drills that plug into the wall. Additionally, cordless drills are going to require recharging which can take as little as fifteen minutes or as many as several hours. As a result, the best thing that you can do is have a plug in drill as well as a cordless drill so that you have the right drill to meet different purposes. This way, when you need portability, the cordless drill will steer you in the right direction, but when you need power or speed, the plug in drill will give you what you need.

There are three different categories that cordless drills are available in, which are light drills, screw drivers and full sized drills or drivers. Screwdriver drills live up to their name, but they do not do much more than that unfortunately. Then you have light drills, and they tend to be more powerful and more capable of being handled overhead, but unfortunately a charge is only going to power approximately 10 to 15 minutes worth of drilling time, and most light drills have slow recharges as well. The full sized drills and drivers on the other hand are going to offer more features in comparison to the light drills, including typically the presence of a detachable battery, and they also tend to be powerful enough that they can handle most of the drilling jobs that you would need to contend with. They are also excellent at driving screws, as well. If you want to buy a second battery pack, then having a full sized drill / driver cordless drill is going to be even more useful since you will be able to charge one of your battery packs while you are putting the other one to good use, and that means that you can drill as long as you need to or whenever you need to without worrying about the integrity of the battery.

Read More : How to Lay A Tile Floor


6 Inexpensive Ideas for Living Rooms


Many ideas for living rooms involve changing the walls from paint to a textured look to wallpaper, or remodeling a fireplace. Most of the remodeling options for living rooms are large and expensive, like new flooring, windows or even new wall framing. But there are several things you can do in your living room to give it a new, updated look without spending very much money. Here are 7 ideas for living rooms that are inexpensive or free, that can give the room a remodeled look.

Furniture Arrangement
Moving the furniture to create a conversation grouping, especially if you've had furniture lining the walls, will make a big difference. Get the furniture away from the walls and set it on the diagonal in a group. One of the most simple and free ideas for living rooms involves just turning everything around to face the opposite direction. This will instantly change the look of the room, and might make you see some things you didn't before.

Read More : How to Lay A Tile Floor

Add Mirrors
Mirrors are a decorator's trick to make a room look much bigger than it is. If you've got a spot of blank wall, hang a pretty mirror. Even a small space can made to look roomier. The mirror doesn't have to be huge and hanging over a mantel. The smallest spot of wall can benefit from a mirror. One of the best ideas for living rooms is to arrange a mirror where it reflects the outdoors through a window, the room will feel even more open.

Paint One Wall
If your walls are off-white or any neutral color, pick one wall and go wild. This is one of the most popular ideas for living rooms today. A contrasting color, particularly a bright one, will give the whole room a fresh, new look. Don't leave the wall bare, or it will look like an anomaly. Hang mirrors, artwork or photographs.

Change Your Curtains
If you have dark curtains up, go with light sheers. Go from light sheers to a colorful pattern or a floral. This one change can make a huge difference because it changes the quality of light in a room and makes the windows disappear a little or stand out.

Use Slipcovers
A new couch is expensive. But you can get a "new" couch by using a slipcover for a fraction of the cost. The more different the slipcover is from your actual couch, obviously the bigger the difference in the room will be. Slipcover chairs with complimentary colors and patterns for a coordinated look.

Use Throws and Accent Pillows
Throws and accent pillows in contrasting colors will update the look of your couch and chairs. This works best if you have neutral colored furniture. Choosing bright or contrasting colors, even a few different colors, will make your furniture pop out. It's a little more expensive, but choosing artwork that incorporates the colors in your furniture and/or rug will give the room a pulled-together look. These ideas for living rooms are great inexpensive options when you don't have a large remodeling budget.


Read More : Add Paint or Wallpaper to your home’s walls?  


How to Lay A Tile Floor

How to Lay A Tile Floor

There is nothing quite like a tile floor. They look nice, they're pretty easy to maintain and they are reasonably easy to install. You need only a basic amount of do it yourself experience to lay your own floor and it can give you a great feeling of accomplishment when you're done. You will need a few tools and materials to get started. They include:
  • caulk
  • floor cement
  • lathe
  • scraper
  • the tiles
  • a wetsaw or tile snipper
  • some gloves
After the essentials above you should also consider a couple of other items.  Knee pads since you will be spending a lot of time kneeling on the floor and since tiles are hard, this can get pretty painful after awhile. DIY is fun and rewarding, but professional design can improve the outcome of your DIY project, for professional help with floor plans, try Donald Gardner

You'll need to decide whether to rip out your old floor or put your tile above it. We recommend completely removing the old floor for the best results. If it is an old tile floor, you'll need to spend some time chipping and chiseling away. For carpet, pull up the carpet and pad, to reveal the subfloor underneath. Sweep up any debris and sand down any rough spots. For floors with linoleum or peel and paste tiles, you'll need to rip all of these up. It's actually more work to remove the old flooring than it is to lay the new one, so don't worry, it gets easier from here.

Read Another Article: Add Paint or Wallpaper to your home’s walls?


Once you've got the floor bare and prepared (ie: sanded, scrubbed and swept) you're ready to start. Remember, you don't want to cement yourself in a corner. Don't get too carried away - just take it one row at a time. By taking your time and laying each tile carefully, you'll be a lot happier with the results. Measure off each row and determine how many tiles you'll be using. This will change since there will be some space in between, so don't cut any tiles to fit just yet.

Mix your cement and spread it on the subfloor for the first row. Take your first tile and carefully place it into the cement. Press down firmly and move to the next tile. You should leave a little room in between each, but no more than ½ an inch. Put this tile down and continue until you reach the end of row. Ideally, it will be a perfect fit, but this rarely happens. Measure off the space and then either cut the tile in the wetsaw or use your snipper. Place this piece in and move to the next row.

Keep going until you have the whole room finished. If you're going around curves or fixtures, you may want to get a template to make cutting the tile easier. Plan this out ahead of time so you don't end up with any surprises. The amount of time it takes for the tile to set will depend on your cement. Make sure that you follow the instructions and leave the floor alone to cure - no activity on it until it is done! Caulk any sides that may come into contact with water, and if necessary, caulk any gaps in between the tiles.


Read Another Article : How to Keep Home Repair Costs Down



Add Paint or Wallpaper to your home’s walls?

Add Paint or Wallpaper to your home’s walls?

When it’s time to add a new look to your home’s walls, you usually have two choices – paint or wallpaper. This can be pretty depressing, but the good news is there are a lot of new paints and textures you can try to make your home look much more interesting. There are a few guidelines to remember however, as well as some tips that will make the choice a lot easier. Let’s look at the strengths and weaknesses of both.

Wallpaper
With today’s new peel and remove wallpaper, the old days of standing with a steamer and a scraper for days are pretty much over. If you haven’t looked at wallpaper in the past few years, take the time to rediscover it. There are so many new textures and options that wallpaper has become fun again.


Read Another Article : Keep Your Home Safe with a Maintenance Check List

The main problem with wallpaper however is that it tends to look dated. It’s really easy to go with a trendy color or pattern and then end up hating it in just a few years. While it’s easier than ever to remove, it’s still a lot of work that can be avoided with the right selections. Pick colors that you know you’re going to like for a long time and avoid the trendy trap. Go with classical textures and patterns, or stick with a solid that will wear for a lot longer.

When it comes to borders, they are pretty much done, unless you’re working on a child’s room. If you plan to sell your home, borders can really throw a buyer off and they just aren’t current enough to warrant the time and money it takes to install them. If you must have a border, go with one in a very timeless pattern that won’t look dated or chintzy.

Paint
Painting your home’s interior has become a lot easier thanks to better paints, and a whole lot more tools. There are new rollers and sprayers that will get the job done in half the time and produce much more professional results. The newer paints also have a lot less odor and you won’t have to worry about passing out on a ladder thanks to the fumes. Low or No VOC paint (Volatile Organic Compound) has little or no volatile organic compounds. VOC's are known carcinogens and cause most of the paint fume smells.

When it comes to picking paint, go with one that is rated for your type of room. That sounds pretty elementary, but many people make the mistake of choosing the wrong kind of paint. Go with a medium gloss finish for walls, and leave the ultra gloss for the trim. Matte tends to look dull and dirty after awhile, so it really is best to have a medium gloss for most walls.

Accent walls are pretty tired now when it comes to design, so if you’re going to have one, use a paint color that is timeless and avoid the bright and bold colors. Again, if you’re planning on selling your home, it’s best to stick with colors that will not turn off your buyers.

As for texture painting – it’s done, dated and completely over. Don’t waste your time.

Keep Your Home Safe with a Maintenance Check List



Every home has certain requirements, and a seasonal maintenance checklist can help you remember when you last did something, and when it needs to be done again. We all know to replace a light bulb when it burns out and to repair grout when it cracks. But those things that need to be done regularly that don't pop up and remind us can fall by the wayside without a regular maintenance checklist.

Once a year maintenance check list:

  • Drain your hot water heater. Clean out any sediment.
  • In the fall, have your fireplace and chimney professionally cleaned to avoid buildup that can start a fire.
  • Before the cold weather hits, have your heating system professionally serviced to make sure it's safe and ready to go for winter.
  • If you have a septic tank, have it professionally inspected and pumped out if they recommend it.
  • Check the seal around doors and windows so you can make repairs before the cold weather arrives.
  • Drain your outdoor spigots before the cold weather comes to avoid a frozen and burst pipe.
  • In the spring, clean your air conditioning unit thoroughly before turning it on. If it's central air, make sure there are no tall grasses, leaves or other debris that could block the air flow around the unit.

Read Other Article : How to Keep Home Repair Costs Down

 

Twice a year maintenance check list:

  • Change the batteries in your smoke detectors/and or carbon monoxide detectors. An excellent time to do this so that you don't forget is when you change your clocks each spring and fall for daylight savings time. Be sure to use the built-in tester after replacing the battery, just to make sure they're still working properly.
  • Clean lint from your clothes dryer ducts and other nooks and crannies.
  • Wash your range hood housing and fan to remove build-up.
  • Clean the water inlet filters on your washing machine.
  • Tighten fasteners and drain connections on your garbage disposal.
  • nspect your roof to spot potential problems before they turn into leaks.
  • Clean your gutters and check for leaks or improper drainage.
  • Check the seals on your refrigerator and freezer to make sure the appliances are running at top efficiency and not leaking cold air.
  • Unscrew the aerators on your kitchen or bathroom faucets and clean them. Sediment that breaks loose from your pipes can build up and block water flow.

Monthly maintenance checklist:

  • Check any fire extinguishers to make sure they're charged properly.
  • Flush your garbage disposal
  • Refresh your sink and tub drains. Clean out any debris and then sprinkle a little baking soda into the drain. Pour a little white vinegar into the drains and wait about 5 minutes before flushing with hot water. When the baking soda and vinegar meet they'll bubble and foam, which cleans your drain and helps eliminate odors.
  • If you have a water softener, check the salt drum.
  • Clean your range hood's grease filter
  • Replace your furnace filter.

Following a regular maintenance checklist will help you remember the little things that are important but easy to forget.


How to Keep Home Repair Costs Down


How to Keep Home Repair Costs Down
There is nothing that hits the wallet as hard as when you have a home improvement project. The most important thing on the home owner's mind is how to minimize the costs of the project. The balance that needs to be maintained is how to reduce the cost of a home improvement project without compromising quality. That balance can be easily maintained, as there are a number of things that you can do to reduce the cost of your project, without cutting into the quality of the project.

Preparations

The first step should be to plan a budget for the project. It is important that every possible expense for the project is planned out, down to every screw and nail. With a plan in mind, make a trip to the hardware store, and price every item that you will need for the project. This step is to give you a rough idea of the costs. At this point, you can start to shop around and see if you can find better prices on items for your project. Once the budget is in place, do not stray from it. Make sure to keep it on hand at all times.

Another way to reduce costs is to look around for different methods of doing your project. You can fix your wall by replacing the whole wall, or you can patch the wall. The true experts will know how to finish a project for the lowest cost. By looking online and asking at the home improvement store, you can find the cheapest way to finish your project.

Finding the Best Deal

With a good idea of what you will need for a given project, the next step is to shop around for the best prices for each component of the project. One important facet to this is to take advertisements for the locations, as well as use a digital camera to take pictures of the price stickers. Not only will this serve as a form of note taking, but many locations will offer some sort of price matching. Being able to get all of your purchases in a single trip will save in gas and time. You should also check out the internet for surplus sites and business websites. There could be many good deals available, able to be delivered right to your door.

Keep your eye out for sales adverts for online retailers as well as for home improvement and hardware stores. It can sometimes be the case that in a week's time, a item you need can go an sale. It can also occur that an item advertised as being on sale will be sold out when you go to shop. Staying on top of sales will allow you to get the bargain before they sell out. By using some planning and timing, and by shopping around, you can easily cut a project's cost in half by shopping around; all it takes is a little time.



How To Dealing with Mildew in Your Home


As the warmer months approach, many of us have to deal with the ugly problem of mildew. From bathrooms, to kitchens to basically anywhere where there is water, mildew can be a health risk and it is incredibly unsightly and in many cases, very smelly. However, there are a few techniques that you can use to stop mildew in its tracks. Let’s look at these simple household products that really work.

1. Bleach.

This is probably the best and easiest way to quickly get rid of existing mildew. While it does smell very strong, it will usually bust through even the worst patches of mildew and help keep the area very clean. This is a very effective method, but not everyone likes to deal with bleach.

2. Antibacterial cleaners.

Any household cleaner that has an antibacterial element is usually very successful at cleaning up a mildew situation. Pinesol works wonders and there are a few other cleaners that can get the job done. You may also be able to find a special cleaner that is specifically made to address a mildew problem quickly.

Now, let’s go over what you shouldn’t use.

First and foremost, steam cleaners are pretty popular for areas that are exposed to a lot of water and humidity. However, when you hit a patch of mildew with a blast of steam, you are actually releasing all of those nasty little spores into the air. You don’t want those in your lungs, and by spreading them around the room, you may actually make the mildew problem worse.

So you know what cleans up mildew – how do you prevent it from happening in the first place?

In bathrooms, or wherever there is a lot of water, you’re running the risk of creating the ideal environment for mildew. These rooms are often quite humid and mildew can happen within a few hours. After your shower, spray down the entire tub or shower surfaces with a spray and leave on cleaner. This should be done every day and it can dramatically reduce mildew.

Next, you’ll want to find someway to vent out that humidity. You can open a window or even get a fan to suck the steam out of the room. Either way, the longer you let humidity hang around in a room, the greater your chances are of fostering mildew. When you get out of the shower, leave the bathroom door open for a few hours to let all of that steam dissipate. That’s one very easy method of preventing mildew.

If you have a room that is particularly bad you may want to consider adding a dehumidifier. This can be very useful in drying up the air so that mildew no longer has a fertile breeding ground. Just remember, if you’re putting it in the bathroom, make sure that it is away from any sources of water to avoid the risk of electrocution. You may also want to consider a whole house dehumidifier if your situation with mildew is particularly bad.



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