toolmannet on Jul 28, 2008 09:03AM

Tile Remodeling. general rules of installing tile.

These pages will show you the step by step procedure for installing a ceramic tile floor.

Although many of the general rules of installing tile apply to most any tile job, there are specific techniques that apply only to floors, and others that apply to countertops and walls - See our complete project planners for these.

Safety

1. Safety glasses or goggles should be worn whenever power tools are in use and when chiseling, sanding, scraping or hammering overhead. This is very important for anyone wearing contact lenses.
2. Wear ear protectors when using noisy power tools. Some tools operate at noise levels that damage hearing.
3. Be careful of loose hair and clothing so that it does not get caught in tools; roll your sleeves up and remove jewelry.
4. The proper respirator or face mask should be worn when sanding, sawing or using substances with toxic fumes.
5. Keep blades sharp. A dull blade requires excessive force and can slip which causes accidents.
6. Always use the right tool for the job. Repair or discard tools with cracks in the wooden handles or chips in the metal parts.
7. Don't drill, shape or saw anything that isn't firmly secured.
8. Oily rags are spontaneously combustible, so take care when you store and discard them.
9. Don't abuse your tools.
10. Keep a First Aid Kit on hand.
11. Do not work with tools when you are tired. That's when most accidents occur.
12. Read the owner's manual for all tools and understand their proper usage.
13. Keep tools out of the reach of small children.
14. Unplug all power tools when changing settings or parts.

Most Common Mistakes:

1. Not using the proper backing as a base for the tile or not sealing the joints of the backing or underlayment well.
2. Not laying out the tile correctly, thereby ending up with very thin tiles on the ends of the rows.
3. Poor alignment of tiles so the job looks sloppy and out of line.
4. Not using water-proof mastic when applying tile in moisture conditions.
5. Poor adhesion of tiles to the mastic so the tiles can move or pull out of place.
6. Not applying silicone caulk around the edges where there is a lot of exposure to water like around the tub or shower where the floor meets the edges.
7. Tiling around the toilet not under it.
8. Not allowing mastic to dry long enough before applying the grout.
9. Not wiping the grout off before it sets up, making it a much tougher job of scraping the grout off the face of the tile.
10. Not sealing the grout with a silicone sealer a few days after the grout has had time to cure.
11. Not laying tile over a smooth, stout floor.

Materials:

When you order your tile, make sure you have accurate measurements of the space. A plan drawn out on graph paper can be very helpful. Order 5 - 8 percent more tile than you need to allow for cuts and damage. Often the color of glazing will vary from shipment to shipment so if you have to go back later to get more tile you may find that the tile does not match exactly.

You'll also need to select the grout you'll need. Grout comes in different colors. If you decide to use a colored grout, be sure that it won't stain the particular tile you've selected. A practical consideration for kitchens might be that a dark grout does not show dirt as easily as a white grout.

toolmannet on Jul 25, 2008 11:12AM

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toolmannet on Jul 01, 2008 06:50AM

How To Get The Kitchen Of Your Dreams

In many ways, creating a kitchen isn?t any more complicated than creating a cake. You can put a new twist on an old recipe or construct a brand new one step-by-step. Regardless, you first must decide:

What you have a taste for
How much you want to spend
When you want it to be done
What size and shape you prefer

Most cakes have the same basic ingredients. They don?t taste special until you stir in the chocolate chips or the raspberries. So it is with a new kitchen.

Every kitchen has the same basic design elements:

Cabinets
Appliances
Counter tops
Flooring
Sinks and faucets
Walls, moldings, and other architectural details


It?s a kitchen remodeling designer who plays the role of baker in your new kitchen remodeling plans. A designer can give your kitchen its own unique flavor by helping you find the right mix of styles, materials, and colors.

Starting points include:

The architectural style of your Spokane home?by making your home?s interior reflect its exterior, you bring continuity to the whole structure.

toolmannet on Jul 01, 2008 06:29AM

Your Home is all about you

The concept of ?home? changes as we pass through different stages of life. For the young it is the starter home that may be updated and improved upon. As careers and families progress, so do the homes we occupy. Homes at this stage of life may contain more space to accommodate children, and some amenities to reflect the owner?s lifestyle; but they are still defined by resources that must be divided between the need to have a suitable place to live and the need to save for the future.
In the past, many of these were meant to be terminal homes. But now a new type of home and homeowner are emerging. These ?nexers? are very different from the generations that preceded them. People are living longer and healthier lives, and when they?ve outgrown the ?family? home they are building their ?next-stage? homes to meet their needs and wants.

Ty and Ida Mann are such a couple. After their kids moved out, they wanted a home just for the two of them. Ida says, ?We realized that the home we lived in for many years was really not where we wanted to be when we decide to retire. We don?t want to move away to a retirement community. We just wanted a home that was ours -- for the way we live now.?

The Manns set out to define what they wanted: the type and location of the lot; the style of the home; the number of rooms and their uses based on their needs and interests; and the amenities they had previously done without. They both like the idea of getting back to nature and prefer outdoor activities but didn?t want to care for a lawn. Since they both had always wanted a log home, they agreed that now was their chance.

Ty and Ida found the perfect property just outside the town where they had raised their family. It had the trees they both wanted and it was within a reasonable drive to the services of the city. They had their dream lot; now they needed their dream home.

Log homes to them were an extension of living close to the outdoors, which said ?relaxation? to them in a way conventional homes did not. When the Mann?s completed their research on line they decided to visit Wisconsin Log Homes in Green Bay, Wis. They found a friendly team of people to guide them through the custom home process. ?They made it very enjoyable,? says Ty.

One selling point was the fact that Wisconsin Log Homes originated the energy-efficient half-log building system, in which the exterior log of their choice would be applied over a 2-inch by 6-inch wall filled with six inches of fiberglass insulation. This innovative concept would both conserve energy costs and help preserve the surroundings they had chosen for their new home. ?I can?t emphasize how important an authentic handcrafted finish is to us,? says Ty. ?We saw their craftsmen hew the entire surface of the logs at the mill, they?re beautiful.?

Also helpful was the 144-page planning guide put together by the company. The combination of home plans, building information and photos of existing Wisconsin Log Homes was just what they needed to get started.

With the lot and home style defined, they were now ready to design their dream home. ?Having an experienced team walk us through the planning stage resulted in a home which functions just the way we want it to,? says Ida.

The people at Wisconsin Log Homes suggested that the Manns look at how they spend their time now that they are empty nesters. They found they both enjoy time together over morning coffee, and so a sunny breakfast spot was designed. They love to cook and entertain friends, so an open concept kitchen/dining room was designed to allow interaction between them and their guests. They also knew that they both needed their own space, and so a media room for Ty and a craft room for Ida came about. Occasionally they have overnight visitors, resulting in a loft area with separate bedroom and bath. They both wanted a larger master bedroom so a master bedroom suite with a large master bath and plenty of closet space was added.

?Then came the fun part,? says Ida. ?We added the extra special touches we simply couldn?t afford when we were raising our family.? The finishing touches in the home include upscale appliances in the kitchen, a stone-faced floor-to-ceiling fireplace and large windows in the greatroom to let in their beautiful view, log interiors in the greatroom and master bedroom to add warmth and coziness to their home, hardwood floors in appropriate areas, a stunning timber staircase leading to the loft, a large shower and whirlpool tub in the master bath.

Companies like Wisconsin Log Homes see more and more people like the Manns, who may have had to compromise on previous homes, but the next one is all about them.

More information about designing and building log homes can be found at Wisconsin Log Homes? Web site, www.wisconsinloghomes.com

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toolmannet on Jul 01, 2008 06:31AM

Going Beyond Your Kitchen and Bathroom With Home Remodeling and Room Additions

Going Beyond Your Kitchen and Bathroom With Home Remodeling and Room Additions

Learn About Home Remodeling Projects You May Not Have Thought Of

When you?re thinking of starting a home remodeling project, don?t be afraid to think outside the box. The kitchen and bathroom are the two rooms in the house that you may think of first when considering a home remodel or addition project, but other rooms can benefit from some love too.

Create Something New With Your Unused Space

You may be letting some versatile space in your home go unused without even realizing it. An unfinished basement or attic is a blank canvas for you to create just about anything you want. By finishing walls, adding new flooring, installing electrical and other convenience outlets you can create extra space in your home.

That new space has endless possibilities. Whether you are creating a new bedroom space for a teenager, or making a game room or home theatre complete with a bar for entertaining friends, a basement or attic remodel is often an overlooked project that has more benefits than people realize.

The most important thing about either of these projects is making sure that you bring the space up to code. This means you?ll need to frame walls and ceilings, hang and finish drywall, install any needed HVAC components and plumbing systems, and put new windows in. With a basement remodel you?ll often deal with the added component of waterproofing the space. Basically, it?s a complicated job filled with intricate systems. You?ll want to hire a home remodeling contractor to make sure the job is done right.

Industry expertise is vital to make sure your project turns out just how you want it. A professional home remodeling contractor should have experience doing attic conversions and basements, and will be able to give you insight on what might work best for your particular attic or basement.

Spruce Up a Central Family Gathering Place

Revamping your family room can be great incentive for your family to stay in and spend more time together. When thinking of re-creating this central space be sure to plan around the activities that you and your family or friends enjoy doing most. If movies are your favorite pastime, add space for a great new entertainment system complete with flat screen T.V. and surround sound. Also allow space for proper seating. Maybe you would instead like to add a big table in the room to play board games. Whatever your favorite hobby is, let it inspire your Family Room design.

You can always make a space more inviting with the right color scheme. Add bright, soothing colors, and proper lighting. If you feel the room is too dark adding a skylight or new windows could really help bring new life to the room. Great lighting always makes a room more inviting.

Invest In Yourself by Remodeling Your Master Bedroom Suite

Do you feel like you?re fighting for space in your cramped bedroom? Indulge and treat yourself to a master bedroom remodel or expansion. Expanding your current space will give you more room for sleeping, storage, and you could even add an extra sitting area. For an even more interesting expansion you could add a balcony or veranda with French doors allowing access from your master bedroom.

For your master bathroom, think of adding both practical and luxury items. Installing dual vanities and sinks will give you and your partner the ability to function more efficiently in the morning, and besides it gives a great look to your bathroom. A popular luxury element is to add a bathtub with water jets, creating an instant spa feel in your master bathroom.

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