Replacing Shower Faucets - Avoid the Traps - Get Expert Advice

It's the same old story all over again. The drip-drip saga of your shower faucet threatens to rock the boat. Tired of those countless fitful bouts of sleep, you have pulled out all stops in repairing that wretched fixture. But, to no avail. The constant, and now extremely grating leak, has wrecked havoc in your life.

Now before you begin to sound like the protagonist of a Shakespearean tragedy, you better put an end to this Himalayan battle. And how does one achieve that? Does replacing shower faucet sound like a plausible solution? It may be music to the ears of faucet manufacturers and suppliers, but it's the only way you can enjoy the soul-stirring silence of solitudes all over again.

Eight Tips That Attenuate Concerns

But replacing an old shower faucet is not something that one greets exultantly. And the grounds for this kind of trepidation are not that risible too. The possibility of replacement of the valve from behind the wall or through the closet or even a change in the surround is enough to deflate the optimism of a seasoned veteran.

But things are not as complicated as they seem. Here are a few tips that ease your concerns quite a bit:

• Don't select the new faucet in haste. Remember the saying, size does matter?
• Be very clear about the measurement of the holes for the fixture. Take the old faucet along when you venture out to purchase the new one.
• Style is not something you can be utterly cavalier about either. Make sure the new fixture manages to get you out of your blue funk.
• The instruction manual must be treated like the Holy Grail. Follow it religiously.
• While dealing with that recalcitrant old faucet, make sure your efforts are ably buttressed by the right tools. So a pipe wrench is used only on pipes.
• Switching from iron pipes to copper or plastic is a nifty choice since they come without any kind of threading.
• While bathtubs have a two-valve faucet assembly, a two-valve shower assembly is common place among showers. This means the installation of the faucet is detached from the taps that supply water.
• However, the internal mechanism of tub and shower faucet assemblies is strikingly similar to those installed in sinks.
  

With the faucet replaced, you better get used to the silence that resonates from every pore.

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Do-It-Yourself Concrete Room Addition Foundation

This information can also be very important to do-it-yourselfers that will be building other projects, for future home improvements. How can a do-it-yourselfer learn to build a concrete room addition foundation? Let's get started.

The first thing that you're going to need is a set of plans or building blueprints and they should have been approved by your local building department and planning department. There should be specific architectural details, that you will need to examine carefully, to build your new concrete room addition foundation correctly.

Let's get started with the digging. You're building plans, should give you the width and depth and the exact location, of the building footings that will need to be dug. Grab your shovels and get started. Make sure that all of the dirt is removed properly, before you start to form the room addition foundation footings.

Next you will need to form the foundation. This can be done using 2 x 10 or 2 x 12 form boards. You can easily apply these form boards, in the exact location, that the building plans are suggesting. You can use 1 x 3 wood or metal stakes that can be purchased at any home improvement or lumber yard, to hold up your form boards in the correct position.

The sole purpose of the form boards, will be to hold the concrete in, once it is poured. Next you will need to install all of the rebar and building hardware, that will also be required on your building blueprints. Make sure that you examine these building plans to find the exact location, for all of your anchor bolts, hold down bolts and all of your structural rebar.

Once this is done, you're ready to pour your concrete, but don't pour your concrete, until you have contacted your local building inspector to examine your new room addition building foundation.

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How to Install a Bathroom Faucet

It is important to know how to install a bathroom faucet. If ever your faucet gets broken in the middle of the night, you do not need to call for a repair person or ask on how to install a bathroom faucet. The job is quite easy and all you need is a wrench, elbow grease and these instructions on how to install a bathroom faucet.

First, you have to get rid of the old faucet. Check if the sink has the right number of holes and that they are in the right places. Do not forget to shut off the valve below the sink. Use a wrench in turning the nuts to be able to remove the supply tubes and drain the water. Take away the nuts and the washers and remove the faucet. Do not forget to clean every hole carefully. Read the instructions if you need to do other pre-installation steps.

After removing the old faucet, you are now ready to install the new one. Make sure that you read and understand the instructions included in the faucet. It is necessary to know if you need to do some preliminary set up. Between the faceplate and the gasket, place in the plastic gasket. Make a seal using a plumber's putty if the kit has no gasket included. Do not forget to apply nut and washer below every supply tube and then put together the supply tubes and the shut-off valves.

Follow the instructions in the kit in installing the pop-up device. Many types of pop-up device are available so make sure that you check the instructions. Place in the lift rod and then connect it to the pop-up device. Check for leaks after turning on the water. If there is any leak, take out the part and put a seal around it.

To find more tips about Bathroom Faucet, Bathroom Vanity Design, please visit bathroomdesigntip.com

Avoiding Mistakes For Do-It-Yourselfers - Drain Clearing

The other day I was in a popular home improvement center picking up some irrigation parts for our house, when I was ease dropping on a conversation between an older man and one of the stores representatives. The man explained to the so-called in house plumbing expert that he had a clogged drain and was looking for a product that could be poured into the drain and solve his problems.

They were both standing in front of the liquid plumber selection of fine products(that was a joke). What product do you recommend the older man asked. The do-it-yourselfer plumbing expert answered by pointing to a product that he recommended, this seems to do a pretty good job at clearing drains. The older man, having been around the block before, a little more educated than he was a few years ago, from his previous purchases of a product that claimed to perform a task, but didn't.

If this was a young man or woman, I would have waited until the home improvement specialist left the area and then, I would've explained who I was, and my experience with a few of these products. However, I felt that this man, who looked like he was in his late 60s or early 70s, should've known better. I chose the let him help the economy with his purchase. I guess in a sense, I was doing my good deed for the day.

Their conversation soon ended as the in-house plumbing expert left to advise another customer, hopefully on something that he actually knew something about. The older gentleman selected a different product and quickly scaned the area to make sure that the person who had assisted him wasn't around as he scampered off in a hurry.

Here's a quick tip on how to avoid mistakes as a do-it-yourselfer. Don't assume that liquid drain cleaning products will solve your problem. Try not to get caught up in your home improvement advisers solution to your problem. I have watched them sell products to unsuspecting customers and even had them try to sell me something that didn't work.

I personally, have never had any luck unclogging any drain pipes with any liquid drain cleaner. I don't know if my message is loud and clear here and hope that anyone who has gotten this far, reading the article will not believe everything that they read, because the book or product says professional plumbing expert or listen to someone because they're wearing a shirt that says ask me, I'm a home improvement expert.

If you choose to ignore my advice, know this, you will be forever doomed to repeat the mistakes that others have made before you.

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Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more information on plumbing check out our house plumbing books

Steps to Installing Walk-In Tubs and Baths

The comfort of relaxing in a hot bath tub cannot be underestimated especially after a long and stressful day. Millions of dollars are spent each year in tub, bath and spa treatments not to mention their complimentary services such as massages and aroma therapies. Then there are the different products such as soaps, lotions, perfumes and aroma therapy bubble bat solutions that cater to spa fans. There is also a section of the populace that does not necessarily enjoy the tub the way others do and this is because of their disabilities which prevent them from getting in.

There are many in society who have physical limitations such as paralysis, arthritis, sickness and other issues that cause them to be under the care of someone else or where they find it a challenge to lift themselves and get into the bath tub. It therefore become necessary to carried in and out of the bath tub.

Walk-in tubs and baths may resemble ordinary tubs but they are also specially designed to allow a door on the side. This opens much in the same way a car door opens. One then gets into the car and closes the door. Newer tubs also spot a seat where one can ease and sit down. Once inside the person can close the door and proceed to turn on the water. An interesting aspect of about walk-in tubs and baths is that they completely airtight and when the tub is full, it does not leak through the door hinges. The walk-in tubs and baths also come with special tub handles where the person using the tub can easily lift themselves out of the tub before stepping out. This is both convenient and adds to safety.

In the past, someone had to lift the invalid in and out of the tub. Not only was this very strenuous but it can result in back injury for the caregiver who is carrying them.

So how can you make the transition from a regular bath tub to the walk-in tub? In the US there are many stores which sell bath products and fixtures. Room stores and giant retail stores such as LOWES and Home Depot outfit bath tubs with excellent do-it-yourself installation guides. There are also excellent and friendly staff on standby and for an additional fee they can help you with installation if you do not want to mess around with the installation process.

In order to efficiently install a walk-in tub, you may want to contact the services of a handyman. These are home improvement experts who do any installations and modification jobs around the house. In the US you can find competent handymen through the yellow pages or simply contacting your local homeowners association. Handymen are very "handy" because they save you time and money all for a very minimal fee. We recommend that you seek the services of a professional handyman if you want a perfect installation of your tub.

Looking for information about walk-in tubs and showers? Theodor Cartman recommends different types of walk-in tubs and showers as the best option when buying.

Bathroom Remodeling - Let Your Imagination Bring About Transformation

Throughout the decades the functions of a bathroom have greatly revolved turning it from simply essential to so much more. The changes have been somewhat the answer to the hectic lifestyle of modern people, and are especially needed in the bustling big cities. In the City that Never Sleeps-New York, it definitely pays to be creative in creating a haven of comfort out of your baths. Some imagination integrated into your bathroom remodeling project could give you more than a good boost to your home's value. It could also afford added luxury to your and your loved ones' quality of living.

Depending on your lifestyle and taste, you could recreate your personal space through bathroom remodeling, achieving the most functional and stylish transformation. Typically, it is in the design phase that homeowners get stuck. With the thousands of possible ideas that they could use as inspiration, the task can seem overwhelming. To help you out on this, here are several creative ideas that you can choose from to integrate into your bathroom remodeling:

A Dash of Modernity

Your contemporary home could use a modern bath. If you are a homeowner who wants everything downright functional in a stark, sleek look then this bathroom remodeling style is perfect for you. Organization and surfaces are keys to achieve modernity in the design. Clean lines will give an effect of needed spaciousness. High sheen black counters, stainless steel sinks and features, glass and mirrors would also do great in the design.

Tropical Extravaganza

Wouldn't it be great to be seemingly transported to some tropical resort each opportunity you get to take your time in the bath? Of course.

This bathroom remodeling idea could be realized through using earthly elements. Plants, mini-waterfalls and even some white pebbles could do just the trick. You could even have an open shower if your property could afford you the needed privacy even if your shower area opens up to the heavens.

Asian Invasion

Give in to utter peacefulness and feel the Zen. With a modern Asian bathroom remodeling design, oriental crafts can spruce things up inside your bath. Some of the things that you could implement in your design include jars and other forms of pottery, bamboo walls, and even French doors overlooking a rock garden.

Your Everyday Spa

Wellness and rejuvenation has become more than a therapy thing as it has revolutionized the way people live through its integration in home improvement designs. This bathroom remodeling idea is made possible by innovative spa products that you can find in the market today. From steam showers, to home saunas, whirlpool tubs, to chromatherapy; the options are many. And the best thing about having such is that these products are equipped with state of the art features like radio, telephone, CD player, remote control full-dimensional massages and others.

So which serves as the most tempting way to spend time in the bathroom? But if you can still squeeze out a little more of those creative juices, then by all means do so. Exhaust every possible option to make your bathroom remodeling idea fit your way of living perfectly.

Eugene Makeev has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common bathrooms Staten Island pitfalls by matching their needs with prescreened Bathroom Contractors NYC. Feel free to use our Bathroom Calculator.

Five Things That a Termite Inspection Company Might Not Ever Say

I don't think that I've ever heard of a termite inspector, ever go to a home and not find any termites. Even if the home doesn't have any damage that is visible from the termites, it seems like it's always a good idea, to tent the home, just in case, for protection. Anyway, here's five things that you might not ever hear a termite inspector ever say.

1. Your house is free of termites. This means that there isn't, one termite on your property and the termite inspector isn't going to make any money. Let's face it, termite damage, whether it's visible or invisible, keeps these guys working.

2. Your house isn't going to fall down, if I don't do anything to stop the termites. I have seen homes, where termites have been working on them for quite some time and they still seem to stand up and function properly.

3. Termites don't eat much and I wouldn't worry about the damage. Most termite inspectors will tell you how much a termite in Hawaii or Africa will eat in a day, but doesn't seem to have an honest idea, how much damage they are doing to your home, if they can't actually see it.

4. Every one that works for our company, has at least 30 years experience, repairing any termite damage. Don't even get me started with this one.

5. We will replace all of the termite damage wood, back to its original condition. What they might say, is that they will replace the wood that is damaged by termites, that you can actually see.

There are plenty of great termite companies out there and this article was meant just to have fun with most of them. Termite damage can be a serious problem with some homes and I would suggest that you contact at least three termite inspectors, before proceeding ahead with any home repairs or use of chemicals.

Try not to forget, the only way that a termite inspection company will make any money, looking at your house, will be to find something wrong with it.

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Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Bathroom Tiles and Flooring Basics

A somewhat costly upgrade of your bathroom includes updating or replacing the flooring in place. Most bathrooms have inexpensive tiles that were in place when the home or apartment was purchased. Chances are you don't need to redo the flooring unless you are planning major renovation.

How flooring can enhance the style of contemporary bathroom

As with other aspects of bathroom decor, the tile you choose can make a major difference in the appearance and feel of you bathroom. For example, if you are going for a more contemporary look, tiles with simple and minimalistic geometric shapes can go along way in enhancing the modern look of your vanity lights or mirrors. The key thing to remember is that to avoid tiles or flooring with that are too decorative or otherwise have too much going on as far as design. Nonetheless, you should consider using more lively colors so that the room doesn't appear too sterile of impersonal. Shades of neutral blue, green, and even earth-tones can greatly enhance the feel of contemporary bathroom.

Using Borders and patterns to accent design

You can create borders around tiles by using smaller tile pieces of a difference color. This generally works well with ceramic tiles. For example, you may want to use earth-tone color tiles as borders to give the room a warmer feel. Another idea that works well if you do not use borders is to use patterns and sizes to create some variance in the appearance. You may want to consider smaller tiles of the same color in the shower, or line the tiles in the bathroom to create linear shapes.

For more information on Contemporary bathroom products, bathroom lighting, vanity mirrors, and bath accessories visit us at BathroomLightingOutlet.com. There you will also find a growing body of content on bathroom design ideas and guides.

Don't Let This Happen to You - Home Computer Electrical Damage

If you've read any of my other articles, you know that I am always coming up with great ideas, tips and even a couple of stories that can save homeowners lots of money. Here's another one of those stories, that involves a friend of mine who asked me if I could fix his outdoor electrical outlet.

I was over at his house one day, and told him that I could probably fix the electrical outlet and if we needed any parts, we could run down to the lumber yard and pick them up and his problem would be solved within a few hours. This two hour repair was about to cost him the hard drive on his computer, but neither one of us had any idea what was about to happen.

We each agreed to give it a shot, I told him to go over to the electrical panel and turn off the breaker that went to his outdoor shed. He proceeded to turn off the breaker and yelled out," It's off, try it." I plugged in an electric drill and it was still working, as he was walking around the corner, towards me, I showed him that the drill was still on and he hadn't turned off the right electrical breaker.

He went back and turned off a couple of more electrical breakers and the drill was still running. Now he frantically started to turn off one electrical breaker at a time, until I yelled out," It's off, the electrical power is, off you can stop."

I repaired the electrical outlet and he went back to turn every electrical breaker back on that he had turned off. We were proud of ourselves and he now had electrical power, back to his shed and he was happy.

Now for the bad news, his computer was running and when he turned the electricity off and on, it must've done something to his computer hard drive and it now needed to be replaced.

The moral to the story, isn't that you shouldn't help your friends. It's that you should, make sure that your computers are safely off, before you attempt to do any electrical work to your home.

It wouldn't be a bad idea, to have a battery backup, for your computer, if you use it often, just in case there is an electrical failure or something happens like the story above.

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Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Tips in Remodeling a Small Bathroom

Being among the top players world-wide in the financial, commercial, entertainment and cultural industries, New York City has become the most densely populated city in the country. With such reputation, the cost of housing soars leaving smaller living spaces a more popular option. Making a home out of these amply-spaced to smaller units is a challenge to many. This includes making important features of the home seem much cozier such as remodeling a small bathroom.

When remodeling a small bathroom, a complete focus on space fused with the right amount of creativity is key to the success of the project. Another important thing to ponder on is that quality does not come cheap. But it does not mean that you would have to always stick with the most expensive service or product, it only means that you should take careful considerations before letting go of your hard-earned cash to be able to give the most value to the money that you spend.

There are various ways to make less space appear much bigger. Enlisted are helpful tips in remodeling a small bathroom:

First off, unless you have significant skills and experience in plumbing, carpentry and electrical works, or the project is not a major one; you should seek the expertise of a competent NYC contractor to help you. Following this first tip in remodeling a small bathroom would save you a whole of time and money in the long run.

Instead of having a tub, maximize the space by having a shower instead. Rather than the traditional shower pan construction, a simple one-piece pan would serve as a much sleeker option as well as a leakproof solution. But if you still prefer a tub over a spacious shower, then go for the soaking bathtubs that are smaller but deeper designs.

In remodeling a small bathroom, choose a lighter and cooler hue for the walls and delicate patters for wallpapers or tiles. Light colors have an airy feel to them creating an illusion of more space. To create a better impact out of these designs, install fixtures offering heavy lighting. Another way to better illuminate the small bathroom is through skylight features. A bay window is a good choice as its alcove may also offer additional storage space.

Two elements have long since been known to give an illusion of more space. Reflection
and vertical objects and designs such as unframed mirrors and tall bathroom products that have shiny surfaces can be used in remodeling a small bathroom. You can have two mirrors installed opposite each other or facing the window. And when shopping, choose a tall but compact model of toilet and either a wall-mounted or sleek sink.

Important considerations when remodeling a small bathroom are the storage of toiletries and room for decorative items. Choose to have spaces cut out into the walls to serves as additional storage or display area rather than having free-standing cabinets or shelves installed into the walls. Lesser things protruding from the walls would help make the space seem larger.

Eugene Makeev has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened NYC contractor. To know more about remodeling a small bathroom, visit Contractors New York

How to Maintain Home Humidifiers For Their Long Life

Are you worried about the care and maintenance required to keep your humidifiers in good condition? The good news is that this maintenance isn't as difficult as it sounds. These easy to follow steps will help keep your humidifier in tip-top condition with no need to call on professional assistance. Remember, you must not neglect the cleaning of these electronic devices as it definitely affects their performance.

Understand the Instructions By The Manufacturer

Most importantly you must have the clear understanding of the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your room humidifier. If you are not able to understand any particular instruction you must not hesitate to contact the people concerned. Also, remember that warm mist humidifiers might follow different instruction than a cool mist humidifier.

Taking Care of Filters

It doesn't matter whether you possess a furnace humidifier or an ultrasonic humidifier, the filters installed in your humidifier must be protected from any damage. The filters must be removed, replaced if damaged, or washed properly before reinstalling them. Make sure that filters are dried before you reinstall them.

Using Right Disinfectants

The products used for washing and cleaning the humidifiers are available in the form of disinfectants. Choose products which are capable of restricting the growth of germs and microorganisms like moulds and bacteria in the humidifier. Vinegar, specifically the white vinegar, is recommended for thorough cleaning of the humidifier reservoirs. It is helpful in removing undesirable deposits from the humidifier.

A Few Precautions to Follow

* Make sure that the device is unplugged while cleaning it.

* The portable humidifier must be carried with care, saving it from unnecessary wear and tear.

* Use gloves and other safety products while cleaning the reservoirs and other parts of the humidifier.

* When the device is not in use you must uninstall it carefully and store it properly.

* Don't forget to wash various parts with disinfectant before storing it and also when you reinstall it again.

* Look out for any parts that begin to rust and make appropriate efforts to clean these or replace them with a new part.

It is also recommended to get your room humidifier or whole house humidifier examined by experts after long periods of usage. This will prevent undesirable situations occurring because of lack of technical knowledge.

In order to get full value your money you must be ready to take care of and maintain the house humidifier. These devices are designed for your comfort and thus must not be neglected as it may lead to growth of microorganisms or damage of various components of these humidifiers.

The products and information offered at http://www.humidifierinformation.com/ is of great value for investing your money in the right kind of humidifier. You can visit the website to learn about popular humidifier brands and guide your decision for right product.