Picking a new floor can be overwhelming. Even after you’ve narrowed it down to one particular type, it is still challenging to find the right tile because there are so many different varieties to choose from these days. And then once you’ve purchased your new tiles, there are still quite a few things to think about before you begin laying the tile. Here are the top Five things you should know before you began tiling.

1. Is Ceramic Tile Suitable for Your Space?

There are many advantages to ceramic tile. It is really durable and easy to clean. It isn’t the best option in some spaces though. During the winter months, ceramic tiles can really hold the cold, so you might not want to use them in a basement space. Certain types can be slippery, so you if you are considering tile for an entryway, you should go with a more slip-resistant variety.

2. Select the right Size, Style and Texture

Ceramic tiles come in all sorts of shapes” anywhere from one inch to two feet. The most common size tiles are between one and one and a half feet in size. Choosing the right size is actually easier than you might think. Just figure out the size of your room and then choose a size that suits it. For example, if you have smaller room, a large tile would not be the best option because it would look like panels rather than tiles. A large tile is really best suited to larger spaces because they look less busy than smaller tiles do.

Currently, there are many styles of ceramic tiles to choose from. The easiest way to narrow down your options is decide on the type of look you are going for. It you want a rustic, natural look than you might want to consider a rugged, natural looking tile instead of a polished marble.

Choose a tile with the texture that will best suit your rooms theme. If you go for a rustic, natural looking tile, it will be rougher than a polished marble surface. When choosing a texture, you do need to take safety into consideration. The smoother that a surface is the more likely it is to be slippery when wet. If you have children or elderly people in your home, then a high-gloss tile is not the best option from a safety standpoint.

3. Choose an Appropriate Grout Color and Width

Grout is a cement mix that has color added to it to compliment your tile. Grout fills the space between tiles so you need to choose a grout width and a color that works in your space.

4. Installation Materials and Methods

There are different installation methods and a successful installation will really depend on the materials used and the energy and patience put into the project. You will want to make sure that you do the proper preparation and have all the materials you need at hand. You will need to make sure that you purchase a high quality bonding material, grout (as discussed above), a sealer and the right tools to get the project done.

Laying tile can be a bit tricky. You need to make sure that your cuts are correct and that the space around each tile is even. If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of installing it yourself, then you might want to look at contracting the job out to a tiling professional.

5. Maintenance

Ceramic tile is one the easiest types of floors to clean and if you take care of them, they will maintain their shiny, new appearance for years to come. To clean tile, all you really need is water and any household cleaner product. You can start by removing any dirt and dust with a broom or vacuum and then using a sponge or mop you can apply the mixture of water and cleaner to your tiles. It’s as simple as that! You will need to be cautious about dropping heavy objects on tile. If tiles split, crack or chip, it is impossible to replace just one tile. Odds are you’ll have to live with any cracks or chips until you’re ready to re-do the entire floor.

Summer is fast approaching & your air conditioner just does not work the way it used too. It barely cools, if it does anything at all. You have tried cleaning it. You have tried flushing it. You have tried everything including kick it and hit it with a mallet. The service man wants to charge you an arm and a leg, and probably a few other body parts to repair it. You are left with only 1 other choice. Spend all that money to repair a central air conditioning unit that is 20 years old, or spend about the same amount to purchase a new, updated central air conditioning unit. If you are going to spend the money, why not get something under warranty that, theoretically, it should last 20 more years? Seems like an easy decision to me.

When purchasing a new central air conditioning unit there are five guidelines to keep in mind that will keep you on track and make sure you do not waste your hard earned money. These guidelines are just what they say they are: guidelines. They are not laws or rules you need to follow, but they are suggestions that are meant to guide you towards buying the right central air conditioner for you and your home.

WHAT TYPE OF AIR CONDITIONER DO YOU NEED?

There are many brands of central air conditioning units accessable to buy from any hardware or appliance store. Some sales associates will try to sell you a window air conditioning unit. Do not let that sales associate talk you into wasting your money. These window air conditioners are a waste of money. They usually only cool one room and they suck a lot of power so you will be spending a lot more money each month on the utility bill. Remember that if you have multiple rooms or a house, you want a central air unit. Do not let the sales associate trick you into anything else.

INSTALLATION OF MY CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING UNIT:

1 more detail to think about is installation. Most people do not want to crawl under, over, approximately, and through the walls of their house to install a new air conditioner. That is why most places that sell these units also install them for you. Some places install these free of charge with the purchase of a new unit. Even if they don’t do it free, you should get someone to professionally install your new unit. It will save you time, headaches, and sweat if you do. If they do not offer installation, you may want to look elsewhere to purchase your unit. It is much easier and cost efficient to get this all done in one step.

TEMPURATURE SETTINGS:

Most new units come with a new thermostat. You should make sure this thermostat can create the ideal temperature that suits you and your family. If you are comfortable in a room that is 60°, then make sure the unit will cool to that temperature. You also need to make sure you can increase and decrease the temperature in 1° or 2° increments just in case you are not comfortable.

FILTERS:

There are many filters out there today. The ones that are permanent are the most outstanding value. You simply take them out, hose them down, and stick them back in. They save you a lot of money every year, not to mention you don’t have to keep track of what size you need. Just remember to clean them once a month. Also, make sure your unit supports these filters.

ENERGY SAVER:

You should also look to see if your new unit has a sleep setting or an energy saving setting. This allows the unit to run when you are sleeping or not home and not run up your bill. It will keep the house a little warmer when you are not home, and then cool it before you come home. This saves hundreds of dollars a year.

Keeping these in mind, finding the perfect unit will be a snap and could turn out to be a fun shopping experience. Just ask the sales associate for more details if you need help. They can be most helpful if these guidelines still have you guessing.

If you’ve ever gotten confused over nails in your hardware department store then you’re not alone. Nails are used in a variety of materials for projects such as masonry and wood, which are 2 of the most common materials. There are long and short nails, brass nails and galvanized and different types of nail heads. They can all be used for something around the house, or remodeling a whole room in your house. To find out more about nails read about the Five most common types of nails, and what they’re used for.

There are 5 Different nails that are useful around the house. Take a peek at a few of them from the list below.

Common Nails. The common nail is used a lot with wood that doesn’t require finish work. Places to use the nails are on 2x4s and other boards surfaces such as particle board and regular wood panels. It has a flat head and comes in different lengths. Usually the nail head is left showing. Use in all of your remolding efforts around you home or garage.

Casing Nails. The casing nails are for all of your finer work needs when dealing with wood. Cabinets and molding trim work is perfect for these types of nails. So if want some new shelves or new kitchen cabinets then make sure you have these on hand. You don’t want your detailed work to be ruined by unsightly nail heads.

Finishing Nails. The finishing nails are another nail type, but they can be used interchangeably with casing nails for the fine work at home. The rounded nails heads can be counter sunk or not.

Common Brads. Are rated on length only. They are good for very light, and can be used like the casing nails for trim work. The nails are of lighter weight, and are shorter than the common finishing nails.

Box Nails. Box nails are like a common nail but the head on them is much larger. The shank of the nail is much larger, and is used primarily for framing and decking. If you need extreme holding power then this is the nail for you to have.

Not only will you need to use these types of nails but there might be instances where another type of fastener will come in handy. When you’re a home owner you just never know what might break, or what you might like to do! Here’s another list of different nail types.

Galvanized Nails. Use these nails when you want to build a dog house, frame or build a wooden sandbox for the kids. They are coated with a solution that is highly resistant to rust. The shank makes them very tough to bend.

Paneling Nails. The paneling nail is colored to match the type of paneling that you want to put up.

Masonry Nails. If you’ve got a basement and you need to mount something on the wall then the masonry nails are the nails to use.

Aluminum Nails. Aluminum nails are a very soft nail and are to be used only for sure things such as mounting lights for a pool. They’re not very strong, but don’t rust.

Pointless Nails. The pointless nail is if you’re very particular about not splitting any of the wood you’re working on. It’s good for molding trim work or some corner pieces for baseboards.

There will be other types of holding and latching devices that you’ll need around the house too. Decorative screws, bolts, tack nails, and other types of will be necessary at some point in your home maintenance and remolding needs. Take some time and build up your supply. Remember to consistantly use safety precautions when nailing and cutting materials. Wear eye protection to keep any materials from accidentally being poked into the lens of the eye. A good concept to learn more about nails and other fasteners is to get some home repair books, and look at a few examples of how the nails are used in projects for the home. Experience and a little knowledge will go a long way to knowing your nails.

There’s nothing like being able after a hard days work like going outside and relaxing on your deck or patio. Weekends are especially nice to take a few minutes and fix up a dinner of hamburgers or steaks. If you want to build a deck for your enjoyment, you might want to consider looking into pavers or paving stones as some call them. Read on to learn about the advantages of using pavers as compared with a traditional wood deck. You might be surprised to find out that there are some real advantages to using them.

The advantages of pavers are numerous. Read on from the list below to find out why you might want to use pavers.

Deck Building. Building a deck is tedious. Even with the simplest designs you should be prepared to spend more money for wrong cuts and other mishaps. Pavers are simpler to use, and less expensive than wood.

Building Permits. If you live out in the country with neighbors far away you’ll usually have no problems with building the deck of your dreams. The problem comes in when you live in a residential location with tight building codes you’ll have to adhere too. Don’t take the chance and spend your hard earned money without looking into the codes for your area. Neighbors can report you and then you’ll be fined, and you’ll have to remove your deck. In some areas the requirements on deck building include the size, type of wood to use and even color. Usually you’ll have no choice if you want a free standing deck as opposed to one that attaches directly to your house. Because of limited space think about easement issues too because the cities building codes won’t allow you to encroach on another’s property, or stop access to necessary utility lines either. Also look at issues of rot in cases of standing water, and water infiltration from high velocity of water runoff. If your deck is built off of the second floor, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Pavers can easily fit to building codes.

Landscaping. Look at how your ground landscaping design fits in with a deck. Are bushes and flowers shown to their most outstanding advantage? Building a deck could cost more that the deck itself for your landscaping needs. Pavers can be sheared to fit you yard.

Space. Decks are meant to give a sense of escape. If you feel cramped in, your deck won’t be used to much. Other decorative items such as flower pots are likely to be kicked off and trampled on. Look at the fact that most people love cooking out on their deck, and a grill just might not fit, or be very useful around the railing of the deck. If the deck itself on the second floor, ashes end up on kitchen or bedroom windows below, and you’ll have an ashy mess to continually clean up during the summer. Pavers give a sense of more space, so more room to move in.

Portability. Decks are stationary once you build them. With pavers you can area them so that if you need to move them, you can. Reasons you might want to move them are to add a new landscape design to your yard, or if you just need a change of scenery. Also consider the fact that if you know you’ll be moving soon, pavers will add some value to your home and at the same time can be enjoyed by you, and easily removed by the new occupants.

Renting. Most landlords won’t approve of any new structure being added to their house. There are varied reasons why such as the design, faulty construction, building permits issue, and liability for insurance in case you or a new renter get hurt. Even if the landlord’s liability insurance does cover it, most don’t want to have any wood or siding removal done on their rental property. This is really true if you live in a historically designated district where the city directs what can be done to a home. Pavers might be allowed if they can be moved by the landlord. When renting always check with them because if you don’t and something happens you could be held liable.

Pavers are a good idea, and really have a lot of advantages over your typical wood deck.

One of the most important lessons in owning a home is learning when to throw in the towel or the plunger & call for professional help. It does not mean you are stupid or ignorant. It just means you know when to give up. It is a smart person that knows when to give up and stop killing yourself over trying to do it yourself. For most people it is a last resort and many times it should be. Plumbers are generally overpriced and you pay for travel time and several other hidden fees. Please be sure that you absolutely have to call a plumber before you do. If you have to call a plumber to take on a project there are a few things you can do to keep some of your money.

COMPARE PLUMBERS:

The first thing most people do is call the plumber with the lowest rates. This sounds like the logical thing to do, however it is not consistantly the wisest course of action. This is because hourly rates are hard to compare. Some plumbers charge mileage. Some plumbers start charging as soon as they start the car on the way to your house. Some charge by the minute. Some charge by the quarter hour. Some charge by the half hour.

The best way to choose the best plumber is choose a plumber with a good reputation for customer satisfaction. When you call, see if they have any references. Ask your friends and family if they know of anyone and if they were satisfied. Satisfaction is important. You may spend more at first, but you will only pay for one visit as opposed to several.

MINIMIZE YOUR PLUMBING NEEDS:

The best way to avoid spending too much money on a plumber is to avoid having to call one. The main reason most people call a plumber is drain backups and other drain problems. These can usually be fixed much cheaper than calling a plumber.

Grease clogs are the most common drain problem. This can be fixed by experimenting with several things almost the house to see what works best to keep your drain clean. What works for most people is pouring some hot water and vinegar down the drain daily. If your drain is clogged from grease, pouring some hot vinegar down the drain and letting it set for about 20 minutes and then follow that with some boiling water will usually clear it up. Pour the water and vinegar slowly so that it has a better effect on the clog.

The other main clog problem is hair clogs. Usually a mesh catch will remedy this problem. If the drain is clogged, then a drain cleaner from your local grocery store or department store, will fix this problem. You will need to let this sit for fifteen to twenty minutes. Just follow the directions on the package.

BUY YOUR OWN FIXTURES:

Anything that you are going to need to install, such as toilets and sinks, can be bought in advance. Plumbers will try to sell you what they have. They usually mark up the price, so it is way over priced. Buying these in advance will save you a lot of money. However you may want to check with the plumber in advance to see what brands are the best to minimize any confusion later. Some products are made cheaply and many plumbers will not use them or work with them. Discussing this with your plumber in advance will ensure you buy the best item.

REDUCE YOUR NEED:

One of the most overlooked ways to save money on a plumber is to simply check all your fixtures and make sure everything is tightened and attached properly. Sometimes simply checking these things yourself will save you from having to call out a plumber. If there are any leaks or clogs that need to be fixed, make a list of all of them. When the plumber arrives give him the list. Tell him this is exactly what needs to be done. He will get right on it, rather than trying to access the problem. He will be in your home for less time, hence saving you very valuable, hard earned money.

Wainscoting has been a popular form of wall coating for more than a hundred years. Essentially, wainscoting is paneling that is used on the lower half of walls inside your house. It can be made of wood, marble, ceramic tile, heavy fabric, or newer materials like wood combinations or plastic. The dictionary definition suggests that wainscoting is any paneling treatment that rests between the baseboard and the chair rail. The most popular of these, even today, is wood. The most popular of the wood constructions is tongue in groove boards, but any type of decorative panel (even old doors in some cases) could serve this purpose. Originally, wood wainscoting was made of wood wagon siding, which is why it was so popular. The material was almost in a plentiful supply, and that is why so many people used it in their homes.

Wainscoting can be of any height, but at its lowest level, wainscots are an extension of the baseboard that runs the length of the room. Most baseboards run up to eight inches up the height of the wall. They are usually one board with a decorative upper edge. For rooms that need a bit more, though, home builders find it both better and easier to finish the top with a separate piece, which is where wainscoting comes into play. This style was commonly seen in homes built before eighteen forty.

Traditional wainscoting, though, is usually a bit higher. It usually runs anywhere from forty-eight inches to fifty-four inches in height. It is used to protect and decorate the location. This taller style of wainscoting began its popularity in the mid-nineteenth century. This traditional style was usually tongue-and-groove boards running vertically up the wall and nailed in place. It was used to hide wall joints in the past, but now it is simply used for its durability.

There are even higher levels of wainscot. These began to appear in fashion in the dining rooms of the nineteen hundreds. They could run as high as sixty to seventy 2 inches. The panels were sold as eighteen to twenty-four inch pieces, and they were usually separated by three inch molding. The most popular building material for these at the time was cloth. It was usually burlap, grasscloth, or a heavy linen material. Most were rich colors.

While wainscot history has some interesting points, the future for wainscoting still looks good. People love the inexpensive nature of wainscot. It is possible to supply an entire room of quality wood wainscot for as little as one hundred and fifty dollars. People also love the look of wainscoting. It offers elegance, as many expensive homes use it in the original construction now. Not only does it offer an elegant look, but it also brings an element of the past into play. Because so many homes used to have wainscoting, people identify with it as an older building material. It can, therefore, offer a look of rich history to a new construction home. People also love the durability of wainscoting. If you have children or pets, walls in rooms that are highly trafficked take a serious beating. In the dining room, the kids hit the wall with their chairs every time they leave the table. In the hallways, kids leave their hand prints on the wall. In the basement, the dog hits the wall with his paws as he’s headed for the door. Wainscoting can offer your wall protection from these kinds of accidents. It usually cleans up with a damp cloth, and in just a few short minutes, it can look as good as it did the day you installed it. Moreover, in older homes, it can protect your walls from getting damp. Because older construction homes are not subject to building codes the way new construction homes are, they sometimes need extra materials to protect them from environmental problems. Wainscoting can help maintain the plaster on the walls in the dampest of situations, and it can even cover uneven wall surfaces offering a smooth look to room.

Wainscoting has spent more than one hundred years in the popular spotlight, and it looks as if it will continue its fame into the next one hundred years.

You hate the old paneling in your home, and it’s to expensive to replace it, but you can’t stand living with it any longer. In fact it’s so bad that it depresses you, and you’ve actually thought about selling the house just to get away from it. Don’t despair you’re not alone with that ugly wood paneling; there are a million others that live with it too. There are a few repair tricks that you can do that will get rid of the ugly wall paneling in your home. Take some time and learn about some steps to solve your wall paneling dilemma.

The list below is just a few of the ideas that you can use to brighten up your dingy 70s wall paneling situation. Be prepared for some elbow grease, but it’ll be better than looking at the wall paneling.

Painting the Paneling. The number 1 rule to remember with painting paneling is that you just can’t slap some paint on it and expect it to look professional. It will look tacky if you do. Paint will run and paneling will show through as it absorbs the paint which could also cause yellow streaks to run in the paint. Surface preparation is the key to all of the paneling in your house. Begin with a good cleaner that will degrease the muck and build-up on the paneling. You’ll need a gloss remover after you apply the degreasing solution to the paneling. Never apply the gloss remover over large areas. Rub the place in the direction of the wood grain over smaller sections. Let set for about 30 min. and then apply the primer. Don’t try to remove the gloss remover. This will need to stay on. Next apply the primer over frame areas and baseboards. If the wood paneling is showing through after the first coat, let it dry, and go back over it with a second coat. If you don’t it will come through your regular paint, and your effort is wasted. Keep applying the gloss remover over small sections and priming until you’re finished. Let it dry over night and then add the caulking in the unsightly grooves of the paneling. Remove excess with a putty knife. Let dry completely over night. You’re then ready to start painting your first coat of paint. Let dry according to directions and then put a second coat on.

Painting Wallpaper. In some of the nicer wallpaper stores you can find wallpaper that can be painted. This will give the appearance of a painted wall. It’s a wonderful idea to be able to pick what color you want and get rid of that dingy awful looking wood paneling. You can add other colors to give it a 3-D effect too. First clean with a good degreaser and let dry. After drying go in and fill in each groove with a caulk to get rid of wall paneling ridges. Clean excess caulk with a putty knife and dispose of. It’s necessary to do this because your lining and wall paper will not have a firm surface to stick too. Next purchase a good primer at your local hardware store, and prime all of the paneling. An extra step is needed when papering your walls by applying and sizing to them. It’s sticky and will keep the wall paper sticking to the paneling. Hang your wallpaper according to directions. You’ll need to soak the paper in water, and then hang after a few minutes. You’re ready then to paint your wallpaper with your favorite color or colors. Take note of special instructions for painting wallpaper from the paint manufacturer.

Glazing the Paneling. You can add a nice shine to your paneling too by glazing it. First clean the paneling with a degreaser. Next add a color that you like and paint it. Let it dry overnight. Secondly mix a satiny top color with a glaze in the correct proportions. Read instructions with your paints for a correct mixture. Paint over small sections of the paneling, preferably one or two sections at a time. Depending on how much shine you want wipe off excess glaze with a clean rag. When done always clean your brush with mineral oil, and let drive over night before storing them for future projects.

Screws are used to hold any material together whether it is plastic, wood or metal. Screwdrivers are used both for fixing and removing the screws. When using a screwdriver, make sure it is the appropriate size for the job. The tip of the screwdriver should fit snugly into the groove of the screw. If your screwdriver is too wide, it may damage the wood, plastic or metal approximately the screw.

Before you purchase a screwdriver, know the different types of screwdrivers first. Screwdrivers mainly come in three types: Standard, Phillips and Square-tipped. The standard type screwdriver has a flat, straight blade. The Phillips screwdriver has a tip that looks like a plus sign. The square-tipped screwdriver is generally used on screws that have a square hole on their head. Choose the screwdriver that will provide you with both safety and comfort.

When doing home repair jobs involving screws, make sure that the screwdriver you use matches the screw head. You would not want your material damaged. The blade tip width of the screw head should be the same as that of the screwdriver’s blade tip to ensure that the screwdriver’s tip fits tightly in the slot.

Use nut drivers to drive hex-head screws. Use a jeweler’s screwdriver for fine jobs such as working on computer parts or repairing eyeglasses. To prevent motion injuries, use ratcheting or electric screwdrivers for bigger home repair jobs. To have a good control while handling, choose screwdrivers with black oxide tips.

Buy screwdrivers with non-groove handles. Choose a screwdriver with at least a five-inch handle. Store your screwdrivers in a rack or pouch, with their tips showing or exposed. This way, you can easily identify and pick the appropriate screwdriver for the job. If the screwdrivers are for working on electrical equipment, make sure their handles are insulated and that they have a non-conducting shaft.

Lighting is an important feature of a house. Aside from being functional, lighting is also used as an interior decorating element. Lights can be used to accessorize a house or a room. Lighting can be used to create sure types of moods.

Choose lighting and accessories like light fixtures according to where you intend them to be used. For example, if you want to light up an entire room or location, you would use general or ambient lighting. On the other hand, if you want to illuminate specific tasks areas like a work desk, work area or cooking station, you would use task lighting. To accentuate an object or part of a room, you would use accent lighting.

Choosing the right light fixtures for your house and its rooms is important. Light fixtures can help you focus the light beams or spread them out. Light fixtures come in various shapes, sizes and material. You will find hanging light fixtures in various decorative and simplistic shapes. Light fixtures can be wall mountable or they can be floor models. There are light fixtures for desk lights too. Light fixtures come in many different colors and patterns. Some light fixtures come with dimmers. These dimmers can reduce or increase the brightness as needed.

Before buying any light fixture, first plan on where you are going to location the light and at what height. Make assured that you buy the correct light fixture based on its intended location, use and amount of brightness needed. When choosing a light fixture, think how easy or hard the light fixture is to clean. Make sure you choose a light fixture whose shape or pattern is easy to clean. The light fixture should not accumulate dust and dirt easily. Once you have chosen a light fixture, place it at a height where it would be easy to reach and clean once in a while. Complicatedly shaped lights placed high up are very hard to clean. For example, chandeliers can be beautiful and add glamour to a house’s interior, but can be difficult to maintain. Also keep in mind that your choice of light fixtures for the different rooms like the kitchen or bathroom should be based on the individual room’s special needs.

Giving your house a new coat of paint can enhance its beauty. However, as with any undertaking, you have to plan and prepare before starting that painting job. Planning and preparing involves picking the appropriate colors and shades, and choosing the correct paint to use from the many choices available. Also, you also need to get the appropriate tools, brushes and ladders. Careful and thorough planning for a paint job would ensure you the greatest results.

Before you begin painting, remove furniture that you can easily carry out of the room. Move larger or heavy pieces of furniture in the middle of the room and cover them with plastic or cloth. Cover moldings, doors and windows with removable masking tapes. Cover the floor and other furnishings with drop cloths or newspaper.

Wash the area to be painted with 1 part water and 3 parts bleach. Scrub the wall clean. Find “blisters” on the wall. These are air pockets that were caused mainly by paint that is exposed to excessive dampness. If you find that blisters are found only on the wall’s upper layer, scrape them off first before painting. Always choose a primer and topcoat of good quality.

It is recommended that you carry out painting jobs when the weather is fine. This way, you can open your windows and doors and let air circulate. Avoid doing painting on rainy or damp days. Excessive dampness and lack of proper air circulation can cause tiny or gray spots on the walls you are painting. To solve this problem to some extent, use turn on fans to increase air circulation. Also make sure that the primer is dry before you apply the topcoat.