Blog : Home Improvement General | Flooring Supply Shop Blog - Part 16Flooring Supplies

Fixing the Leakages in Do It Yourself Fashion

Be it a dripping faucet, a clogged drain or a broken pipe, plumbing problems exist in almost all homes. A plumbing catastrophe may damage your home. Plumbing problems are annoying as well as disruptive to your home. Handymen have been charging heavy fee lately for fixing your plumbing problems. You can save a fair amount of money by learning plumbing in do it yourself fashion.

Some of the repairs are easy to handle, while others may seem complex. Working on pipes that are beyond reach or are hidden behind walls or floors, is really difficult. But by learning few plumbing basics, you may be able to save costly plumber’s bill. Your bathroom maintenance projects can be undertaken with a set of tools and a heart full of patience.

There are many plumbing issues that are easy to repair. Though, they seem to be trivial, but if not repaired on time can prove disastrous to your home. Here are some of the plumbing tips that will help you in carrying out repairs.

Repairing a running toilet

Nothing can be more irritating than listening to the noise of a running toilet continuously. Householders do get pestered with this incessant noise and are sometimes unable to sleep at night. Try jiggling the handle which may set the float ball or flapper free to move. Most of the times, mere jiggling will resolve the issue, whereas sometimes the flapper needs repair.

Tips for clogged sink

If you have to unclog a bathroom sink, firstly remove the P-trap by using a a pair of slip-joint pliers. Place a bucket underneath it to dump out the debris and water into it. Remove the trap and the trap arm and pull out about 18″ of a hand auger. Put it inside the wall to unclog the sink. Remove the hand auger and replace the trap. You can now run the water to check whether the clog is cleared.

Fixing a leaky Faucet

Most of the times a faucet starts leaking when rubber washer is damaged. When the dripping does not cease, despite your efforts of tightening the faucet, it means that the rubber washer is not able to seal off the flow of water. With the help of the shutoff valve the water source is shut off for a while. The faucet handle has a removable cap which can be easily opened by removing the screw underneath it. Fix the newly bought rubber washer in the faucet and reassemble the handle correctly. By following this simple procedure, you can save your time as well as money.

So, before giving a call to a Handyman do check all the faucets, toilets and drains, to make sure that there are no other leakages. Now prepare a list of the plumbing to be done and tick mark the tasks that you can do on your own.

Article wrote by Handyman Services in London

Different Garage Flooring Options

Garage is no longer a place for parking cars, it serves multiple purposes. It can be used as a storage space or even a work area. Depending upon the use of the garage, you can select the right flooring option. There are several garage flooring options available in the market amongst which you can choose as per your preference and budget.

A popular garage flooring option is tiles, plastic modular or ceramic. Ceramic tiles can be a good flooring option for the garage, only if you use the commercial grade thickness tiles. Do not use lower grade tiles as these may not be able to withstand the load of the vehicle. These tiles are available in an assortment of colors which can give a vibrant appearance to your garage. In order to achieve a different look you can use different tile colors and form various decorative patterns. You can also choose amongst different patterns and style to give a different look to it. Ceramic tiles are durable, affordable and easy to install. Other than this, one can even use plastic modular flooring which is inexpensive and available in various colors. These easily snap together with the help of rubber mallet, without any need for gluing or prepping. These are easy to walk on and offer protection from stains, which may be caused due to gas or oil. In case, these tiles do get damaged, you can replace them individually without having to install a whole new flooring.

Garage flooring are usually made of cement. A cemented floor gives a monotonous look, hence in order to make your garage a little more appealing; one can resort to a number of options that can enhance the visual outlook. Painting is one of the most common and simplest garage flooring options, which adds color to the otherwise boring gray floor. It is important to choose the right kind of paint which can withstand the assault from things such as chemicals, heat, and obviously vehicle weight. In addition, it should bond effortlessly with the concrete slabs. It should not peel or scratch under consistent use. Epoxy and latex paints are most commonly used paints, which protect the concrete slab from dirt, oil and grease. These are available in wide range of colors and textures, which blends well with garage wall’s color.

Floor mats are another viable option, especially for homeowners on a tight budget. These are available in different sizes, shapes and material, including laminate, vinyl and rubber. The floor mats are easy to install, highly durable and can withstand everyday wear and tear. In addition, these are resilient, stain resistant and require low maintenance. These mats shield the floor from moisture, dirt and mold build-up. You can yourself install these mats, which fit the exact size of your garage.

Hence, depending upon your budget and use of garage, you can choose amongst these flooring options. Moreover, with the right garage flooring option, you can make your garage, not only functional, but beautiful like any other part of your home.

Don’t Fall Victim to the DIY Hype

DIY home improvements are all the rage and many homeowners are choosing these instead of hiring professionals. Though it is an easy way to save a few bucks, one must ensure that the DIY task undertaken by you is successfully completed. A properly executed home improvement task will not only enhance the aesthetics of your house but will also add to its value.

You must realize that a DIY home improvement demands patience, perseverance, skill and tool. Hence, if you think that you have all of these you can surely complete any DIY task; but if you have even a slightest doubt about your capabilities, do not start the task. The most important thing that you need to have is time; because if you do not have adequate time to finish it then your house will be in a mess till the time you finish it.

The next thing that needs to be ensured is that you must know how to do the task, along with having all the necessary tools. With the increasing popularity of these tasks, more and more manufacturers are producing and marketing products for the DIYers. To get information about the task, you can take help of a friend who has done similar task as he will be able to guide you better as to what needs to be done. It is advisable to gather all the information about the project and then decide whether or not you have the abilities to complete the task. Moreover, something that may be cake walk for your friend may not easy for you; hence whatever you decide make sure you do not have to face incredibly difficult time while doing the task.

There are certain tasks that may sound simple but in reality they are not. For example, painting a room is a simple task but painting the whole house on your own is not because it demands significant amount of time, stamina and skill. You need to judge whether a task is actually a DIY task or not; fence building may sound easy but in reality it may not be that easy. In contrast, painting a fence is an easy task and can be successfully done by almost everyone. However, task like deck building and dry walling are daunting and should be left for professionals because even after putting in all the efforts you may not be able to replicate what a pro can do.

Since you can judge yourself best, you will be able to make a wise decision whether or not you can complete the task and that too with perfection. In case you feel that certain home improvement task is not your cup of tea, you must avoid doing it. Moreover, doing a task that gives an impression that an amateur did it, takes away the value and appeal of your home. To avoid this, you must hire a pro who is skilled, experienced and have completed similar task with perfection.

Hence, do not fall victim to the DIY hype and do a DIY home improvement task only because your friend or neighbor did the same. Keep every aspect in perspective and then make a final decision whether or not you should do a particular DIY task.

Reasons to select engineered wood flooring

A number of homeowners prefer using hardwood flooring due to its aesthetic appeal and high durability. However, the main concern with hardwood flooring is that it can be quite difficult to install as a ‘Do-it-yourself’ (DIY) project. It is for this reason that a professional flooring installer needs to be called to install hardwood floor, thereby adding to the total cost. On the other hand, laminate flooring offers a cost effective and ‘easy to install’ alternative to hardwood flooring, but it is not real wood.

For homeowners who want a cost effective and durable alternative to hardwood, engineered hardwood flooring would be the ideal option. Engineered hardwood is a combination of real finished wood on top and non-finish plywood underneath. This additional layer of plywood is laid in a cross-way pattern, thereby providing support to the main wood top and enhancing its durability.

The choices available in the engineered hardwood category are almost identical to those available in the solid hardwood category. Some of the most popularly engineered hardwood options include Hickory, Oak, Bamboo and Maple. This wide variety ensures that homeowners are able to select an option as per their specific requirements.

Another major advantage of engineered hardwood is that it is pre-finished, i.e. it has already been sanded and sealed. This means that the floor can be used as soon as it has been installed. On the other hand, unfinished solid hardwood requires sealing prior to being used, thereby increasing the installation time.

One area where engineered hardwood scores more than laminate flooring is that it can be sanded at a later stage. Engineered hardwood can be easily sanded a few times in case scratches or stains develop on it. However, since engineered flooring has low tolerance for any mistakes during the sanding process it is recommended to avail professional assistance.

Although, wood flooring is not recommended for high moisture areas like the children’s bathroom; engineered hardwood flooring can be easily installed in low-moderate moisture areas. This feature makes engineered hardwood ideal for areas like the basement and the bathroom. Relative to other wood flooring types, engineered hardwood flooring would offer high durability in such areas of the house.

Hardwood flooring typically requires to be nailed to the wooden sub floor for maximum effectiveness. However, there are a number of other installation methods available for engineered hardwood flooring. Along with nailing the engineered hardwood floor, it is possible to either glue it or to use it as a floating floor. These installation options make engineered hardwood an ideal option for ‘DIY enthusiasts’.

Finally, engineered flooring is naturally warm and does not result in unwanted noise as is the case with a few other flooring options. It is also possible to install a radiant floor heating system beneath the engineered flooring, thereby providing high value.

Although engineered hardwood flooring can be more expensive than laminate, it provides high value in the long run. Not only can it be sanded a number of times, it is more resistant to moisture than other hardwood flooring options.

Fall and slip the Fact

The Risk is Real

Slip and fall accidents pose a major problem for hotel, restaurant and property operators and managers. The statistics behind them are quite alarming.

• The majority of all food service general liability insurance claims are derived from slip and fall accidents (C.N.A. Insurance)

• Since 1980, Personal Injury Lawsuits have Risen by More than 300% in the Food Service Industry (NFSI)

• The average restaurant has three to nine slip & fall accidents each year (NSC)

• Slips & falls are the #1 Cause of Accidents in Hotels, Restaurants & Public Buildings. 70% of these accidents Occur on Flat / Level Surfaces (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

• The average cost of a slip related injury exceeds $12,000 (Wausau Insurance).

• The average cost to defend a Slip and Fall lawsuit is $50,000 (NFSI).

• Plaintiffs win 51% of Premises Liability Claims (JVR).

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) national standard states that owners, managers and supervisors must make a commitment to prevent accidental slips, trips and falls. InvisaTread® helps you do just that.

History of Anti-Slip Technology

Acid based anti-slip technologies have been available for more than 25yrs. Existing technology often employ the use of high levels of dangerous Hydro-Fluoric Acid (HFA) or its counter part Ammonium Bi-Fluoride (ABF) which becomes HFA when mixed with water. These products are highly hazardous to handle and pose terrible risks to the surfaces they are applied to. In reference to increased COF, the industry has historically increased these numbers on surfaces to a COF of greater than .90 WET. These high degrees of etch can damage the surface and making it hard to clean increasing janitorial costs and reducing surface longevity. These products are not just dangerous to the surface. They require the use of professional applicators and specially trained teams to apply these acid-etching products. The requirement for these services often makes the cost of application and post maintenance extremely cost prohibitive. Until now.

InvisaTread®

Our InvisaTread® product line is formulated to be the first in class micro-etching product designed to be safe for DIY or self-installation. Our chemistry is also designed to preserve the surfaces we are treating. InvisaTread® has been formulated to increase the COF to between .60 – .75 on wet surfaces. This level we have found to greatly help reduce the risk of slip and fall accidents while maintaining typical janitorial costs. InvisaTread application can be safely managed internally by your own maintenance teams greatly reducing costs.

How does InvisaTread Work?

InvisaTread® is an acid based microetching product that uses ingredients commonly found in woman’s facial products. Our primary ingredient is Glycolic acid, commonly found in facial chemical peel products. Treatable surfaces include but are not limited to quarry tile, porcelain, ceramic, concrete, honed stone, granite, terrazzo and more. You will notice in the photo above that the 3D landscape of the surface at 500x magnification has not been made deeper than original, but rather a consistent traction pattern across the entire surface. InvisaTread® does not change the look or feel of most surfaces but rather renders them slip resistant when wet. It is not recommended for use on polished Marble or other polished Calcium based surfaces as it could potentially hone or reduce the shine of the surface.

Traction Wash™

Traction Wash™ is nothing short of a High Tech cleaner / degreaser. It has been formulated to break up grease and grime prior to applying InvisaTread®. Prior to applying our InvisaTread treatment, it is important to thoroughly clean and degrease the surface. The application will be less effective should the surface not be free of grease and grime. Traction Wash™ has been specially formulated to leave NO residue on the surface. This is an important characteristic in maintaining the increased COF that the InvisaTread products create. You are welcome to use any cleaner to maintain your surfaces post treatment providing they are a clean rinsing formula with no left behind residue.

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Category: Home Improvement General

Fixing the Leakages in Do It Yourself Fashion

Different Garage Flooring Options

Don’t Fall Victim to the DIY Hype

Reasons to select engineered wood flooring

Fall and slip the Fact

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