Do it yourself fix it

Archive for the ‘Indoor Projects’ Category

Homeowners with little or no tailoring skills can now take advantage of do-it-yourself window treatment kits. These kits are come in many different kinds of curtains, shades, valances and other window dressing options.

Before buying a do-it-yourself window treatment kit, first decide on the color scheme that will perfectly suit the room you plan to make over. Next, choose the style that would best complement the existing furnishings in the room. Lastly, check if the model you want is available in the sizes and measurements you require.

Selecting the right window treatments

A room that makes optimum use of fabric treatments can be easily given a window treatment that matches the dominant fabric or color of the room. Plain fabric colors allow for easy coordination with designs and other hues, and with do-it-yourself window treatment kits, they can be easily installed. Any leftover material from a bed cover, or sofa upholstery for that matter, may be used to create a matching or coordinated window treatment.

DIY window treatments

After cutting the required fabric measurements, lay one piece of fabric on top of another with the designs facing together. This means that the wrong sides are the ones that are out. In this position, sew the three sides. Invert the fabrics to reveal the right side out and stitch the bottom edges to close the seam. Instead of using hooks or channel beads to hang the window treatment, use ribbons. Within minutes, you can create a no-sew window treatment out a do-it-yourself window treatment kit, with the same dramatic effect as that of a curtain of elegant fabric artistically draped over a rod.

For a more intimate room, tab top curtains are suitable because they are usually made of heavy material and they fit well with the length and width of the window. All the sides should be hemmed for a smooth edge. Making tabs are as simple as A-B-C. Strips of fabric measuring 8 inches long and 4 inches wide are cut, folded in thirds lengthwise, and stitched at the edges, before finally being sewn to the curtain proper at equal intervals.

Enjoying do-it-yourself window treatments

With the availability of do-it-yourself window treatments, even the less-skilled but enthusiastic individual can create wonders and become self-fulfilled dressing his or her own window.

Carpets enhance the beauty and essence of any home. Proper care should therefore be undertaken to lengthen its life from 15 to 20 years. This is done through regular vacuuming and cleaning. However, there are times when stubborn stains or spots are difficult to eliminate, and stain removers only offer temporary solution. This is then the perfect time for some do it yourself carpet dyeing.

The essence of carpet dyeing

Homeowners worldwide are complaining that carpet stains caused by household product spillage are not reacting positively to the cleaning products available in the market. The problem of stain removal is aggravated by the stain itself being colored. In effect, the carpet is permanently discolored, and the chemical spots ruin the carpet dye — resulting in impossible cleaning using conventional means. Rather than replacement, dyeing the carpet is the most practical and economical solution in this case.

Carpet dye guidelines

Do it yourself carpet dye kits are an easy and cost-efficient means to lengthen the life of floor coverings without getting rid of them. What you have to do is to send a carpet sample with a matching carpet stain description to the manufacturer, who in turn sends you back a tailor-made do it yourself carpet spot kit. This kit matches the color of the existing carpet and an accompanying simple instruction guide on how to remove the carpet spots. This method of stain removal is an inexpensive option over that of replacing the carpet itself, which can drain your pocket. Using do it yourself carpet dyeing kits are also much better than hiring professional carpet dyers, which is likewise expensive.

You can find various uses for a countertop almost anywhere in the house. It could be in the kitchen, the bathroom or just about any working area. What is more enjoyable is to design and create one on your own, tailored to your own needs and tastes.

Countertop basics

Whether the countertop you are planning to work on is intended for a work area or for display, you can find an array of materials from which you can create them. Plastic laminates are the common materials for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Formica and Wilson Arts countertops are just two of its types. They are available in different colors and finishes and they are long-lasting and easy to maintain. To top it all, the prices of plastic laminates are very affordable. In addition, they are very easy to maintain, thus eliminating the need for you to purchase expensive cleaning chemicals or hire professional cleaning services. Undertaking this project yourself will definitely add to your savings, provided you possess the minimum skills required, coupled with some patience. In just a few hours, you should be able to come up with a masterpiece.

How to make your own countertop

Countertop kits are readily available in home centers and lumberyards, with pre-made tops measuring 4 to 12 feet long and edges that are standard-curved or beveled-front. There are also pre-cut counters to match pre-cut slots. These are joined together with a special kind of adhesive and connector bolts. The cut-outs can be made with the use of a jigsaw with a down-cutting blade to prevent the laminate from chipping. Also included in the package is a belt sander which is used to sand or smoothen out the back edges of the counter. It is unlikely for a do-it-yourselfer to commit errors during this project because step-by-step user-friendly instructions are made available in the kits.

For someone about to take carpentry work seriously, the primary requirement is a convenient, comfortable and well-organized workplace. It may be done in a basement, garage or attic for as long as it will not disrupt family activities while there is ongoing work. In the workplace, a good storage area for tools and materials should be provided in order to create an atmosphere of a full-fledged shop or a tool center.

Carpentry equipment required

After establishing the proposed workplace, you should plan on what tools and equipment will be needed, depending on your skill level/aptitude and the type of work to be done.

Nails, screws, small tools and other hardware pieces can be stored in containers with glass lids and placed at easy-to-find-and-reach levels. Tools, on the other hand, can be placed in a tool bucket for easy mobility. In other workplaces, space is provided for a drill, power cord and other large tools. Some handymen, however, still go for the standard toolbox for the smaller items.

It is important that the workspace has ample lighting, using large fluorescent fixtures placed in such a way that they will not be hit unintentionally.

Carpentry support items

Aside from the basic tools and equipment needed in carpentry work, there are also support items that complement the workplace.

A workbench is the center of activity in any workshop. A full-size one measures 6 to 8 feet long, 24 to 36 inches deep and 40 to 42 inches high. Others prefer workbenches with a height the same as that of a table saw or radial-arm saw for easy handling and cutting of plywood sheets. A workbench on wheels is a space-saving idea which can maximize your carpentry work.

Another support item would be sawhorses — at least two of them — to hold bulky sheet goods while working with them.

Cleaning and ventilation equipment such as a broom, dustpan, shop vacuum and dust collector should also be provided in the workshop.

Repairing and replacing faucets, fixing and installing toilets, installing water filters and working with copper and PVC pipes are several plumbing problems faced by homeowners. However, with the advent of do it yourself plumbing kits, which include procedural guidelines and safety tips, these tasks prove to be easy to handle.

Guidelines in do it yourself plumbing

A usual plumbing problem is toilet overflow. The first thing to do is to open the tank lid, reach for, and push the flush valve closed. The flush valve covers the opening at the tank bottom to keep it from overflowing. It is important to let everybody in the household know where the main water cut-off is located.

Preventive measures also help in plumbing maintenance. A regular toilet check should be conducted for leaks. A simple routine would be to take the tank lid off, pour some food coloring in the tank water and inspect the bowl after 10 to 15 minutes. If you detect color in the toilet bowl water, it may be a sign of a leaking flapper valve. Another way is to check the water meter by examining the dials. Any movement in the dials is also a sign of a water leak, and usually the culprit is the washroom.

As regards your water heater, a twice-a-year draining of about a gallon or two of water will extend the life of your water heater. The use of drain cleaners for unclogging may be done, but give below-par results. A plunger must first be used to ease, if not totally remove, the obstructions.

Availability of do it yourself plumbing kits

Homeowners can purchase plumbing kits in all major supermarkets and local stores. When buying, however, it is important to verify if replacement parts will be accessible anytime. Keep in mind that a plunger with a neck is the best to use in a sink drain. Always remember to close laundry valves when not in use to avoid problems such as the snapping of a laundry hose.

Way back in the 1950s, the fireplace was the heart of family activities and social life. As the years passed, the dcor trends and features of fireplaces also evolved. Aside from its basic function of giving warmth to any home, the fireplace has also provided a distinct charm and elegance. There are now pre-fabricated fireplaces and they are easily available in the market.

Steps in installing a do it yourself fireplace

Basic skills and tools are needed in installing your own fireplace. This, coupled with the easy-to-understand instruction manual that comes with the do it yourself fireplace kit, will give you the fireplace of your choice in no time.

The first thing to do is to remove loose plaster on the wall recess with a hammer and chisel so that the new fireplace can snugly fit. Laying the hearth on mortar, if necessary, comes next, checking simultaneously with a spirit level if it is evenly horizontal. The back of the hearth must be pushed to the wall.

Installation of the fireplace parts now takes place. You may first make a mock assembly on the floor to get a glimpse of what your fireplace would look like. Conventional cast iron fireplaces have tiled side panels joined together by fire cement. Metal fireplaces, on the other hand, may be placed in the center of the new hearth. Here, the fireplace is kept in place with screws and wall plugs or cavity wall fixings. Again, check with the spirit level if the fireplace is evenly horizontal. The area behind the metal front is then filled with a mixture of one part mortar and 6 parts vermiculite. Finally, the top and sides of the timber fire surround are screwed together and it has to be made sure that they are perpendicular to each other.

Finishing the fireplace

With the fireplace now in position, its edges must be carefully joined to the walls using small metal plates in order for it to project a clean and warm look in the same manner that professional installers do.

A do it yourself tile project is enjoyable when you have the basic tools at hand, plus the enthusiasm and energy for home improvement activities. Tiles add color, charm, thematic flavor and a distinct look to where they are placed. In addition, tiles are often used as a makeover measure.

Checklist for a do it yourself tile project

The materials you will need for a do it yourself tile project are a multi-purpose thin-set, chalk trowel, spacers, level, tape measure, sponge, grout and float and a wet saw. Before proceeding, however, the surface where the tiles will be placed should be checked for cracks. You need to also check and make sure that the surface is level.

How to install do it yourself tiles

Review your tile layout and decide how to cover your least noticeable wall. Then measure the area to be covered, at the same time making the necessary adjustments to your pattern, if any. Next, draw a chalk line from each side of the work area and a cross line as well.

In mixing the thin-set, follow the package instructions. The thicker you mix the thin-set, the easier it will be handled. Beginning in the middle, trowel the thin-set using the trowel’s flat side. Use the trowel’s toothed-side to make ridges. Then set the tile on top of the thin set, flatten with the chalk line and push down slowly in place. Proceed with the next tile, and so forth, until you reach the wall.

When you have laid down all the tiles, allow the tiles to dry for at least 24 hours before grouting the tiles. To grout a tile means dropping a dollop on to the tile itself and gently pressing into the crevices with the use of the float. Any excess grout is wiped off using a moistened sponge. Drying of the grout takes another 24 hours.

The basement is one of the multifunction rooms in a house that often gives homeowners problems. However, with the use of basic tools and skills that can be obtained from books, the Internet and the local library, coupled with creativity and the right materials, these basement problems can be settled.

Problems of a basement project

Dampness is the most common problem in any basement. For one, the excess moisture is harmful for the furniture or the electronic appliances that may be stored there. There is also that stale smell in its atmosphere that is a turn-off to the owner. More serious issues are the accumulation of mold and the weakening of the house foundation.

There are companies that offer waterproofing services, but instead of preventing water from entering the basement, they merely treat the exterior foundation wall coatings. They also suggest digging, foundation spraying, epoxy injection, saw cutting and jackhammering, but these only redirect and not eliminate the water in the basement.

With this situation as well as financial considerations, homeowners turn to do-it-yourself traditional solutions in fixing their basement problems.

Solutions for basement problems

Homeowners can now rid themselves of their damp basements and other minor or major problems by using do-it-yourself kits with easy-to-follow instructions. The products are safe to use since they are solvent-free, non-hazardous and non-flammable.

A special light gray or tan liquid rubber coating is first applied to the basement walls and floor. This base, guaranteed even in the coldest of temperatures, is applied with a thickening activator at wall-to-floor intersections, cracks, and joints.

The block walls are then repeatedly coated for a third time with the primer. The result is a thick layer of rubber, the thickness of which is about four times that of a garbage bag. The primer clings to and deeply penetrates the walls and floor so that it forms a water-tight vapor barrier that eliminates the dampness in poured concrete walls, concrete block, native stone or wood foundations.

With this procedure, which, by the way, can be done in a single weekend, your basement can now exude a fresh ambiance and may now provide maximum living space.

A do it yourself carpet installation project is not a simple thing to do, especially if you are a beginner. You need to have sufficient knowledge of the procedures and decide what type of carpet suits your needs.

There are different types of carpet material that vary according to price, strength and durability. The do it yourself carpet installation process makes use of your muscles as well as some specialized tools.

Steps in installing do it yourself carpets

First, trim the tackless strips to fit each wall. Secure them around the rooms perimeter floor using masonry nails, allowing space between the strip and the wall of about 2/3 of the carpets thickness. If the carpet is to be placed on top of tile flooring, remove the tiles from the areas where the strips should be nailed. If the carpet is to be installed on concrete, you will need a special gripper edge.

Next, place padding strips over the tackless strips on all walls facing up and stapled six inches apart on the edges. Cut the excess strips using a utility knife, and seal the seams with duct tape.

Shear the carpet several inches longer than the dimension of the room, overlap on the edges, and then trim the excess. Line the back of the overlapped carpet edges with a chalk and then cut a straight edge, using this as a guide to cut the bottom piece with a row cutter.

Place the seaming tape in the center, under the seam. Iron on the adhesive tape, and as it melts, the carpet edges would stick together on the tape. Roll the seam with a rolling pin.

On the other side, dig knee-kicker teeth in the carpet near the wall. The padded end requires that you knee-kick in order for the carpet to be attached to the tackless strip.

Place a power stretcher base at the wall that was hooked, making sure that its lever is pressed down before stretching on the opposite wall. Apply the same to the other walls.

Finishing the do it yourself carpet project

Using the wall trimmer, trim all carpet excesses for a neat finish. Then using the stair tool, push the edges between the wall and tackless strips. Cut the carpet excess. Use a gripper edge to hold the carpet in place. You can also use metal strips to hold down the carpet.