Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Convert A 6 Inch Recessed Canned Light To A 4 Inch

These are pot lights being used for soft lighting in a large area


Recessed lighting has become the norm in lighting standards, especially in basement renovations. If you completed your renovation more than 10 years ago, it most likely was done using non-halogen pot lights around 6 inches in diameter. Today's retrofit installations use low-voltage, 4-inch halogen recessed lighting.


Instructions


1. Turn off the breaker to the light(s) you want to change. Take out the light bulb. Remove all the trim, and disconnect the wires--red, if necessary, white, black and ground. Pull out the can section of the unit. Put an orange plastic marette on the red, black and white wires.


2. Make the opening 12 inches wide by 16 inches long using the sheetrock saw. Make the hole so that half of the floor joist on each side of the length is visible. Cut a piece of sheet rock 12 inches by 16 inches. Cut two 8-inch pieces of the finger-jointed pine. Place the length of the pine halfway onto the topside of the sheetrock in the ceiling cavity and screw it in place so the screws make a dimple in the sheetrock. Do the same on the other side of the cavity. Put the newly cut 12-by-16-inch piece in place. Screw in all four sides.


3. Cover the joints with the meshed sheetrock tape. One side of the tape is sticky. Fill up your 8-inch trowel with joint compound and use the 4-inch trowel to spread the compound evenly over the tape. Make this coat fairly thin by applying pressure. Allow recommended drying time. Continue repeating these steps for each light that you are changing.








4. Sand the areas--without ripping into the paper of the sheetrock--using 120-grit sandpaper. Fill up your 8-inch trowel and with the 4-inch trowel spread more compound over the joints. Make the joints wider using the 8-inch trowel. Allow the appropriate time to time to dry.


5. Sand the patch until smooth. Fill in the the little air bubbles that appear with joint compound and sand again. Paint the patch(es) with primer.








6. Mark the hole using template provided by the manufacturer. Cut the hole using the sheetrock saw. Pull the wires through remove the marettes and rewire the new light. Push the can part back into the ceiling and lock into place. Replace the trim and put in a new light. Turn the power back on.

Tags: 8-inch trowel, 4-inch trowel, 4-inch trowel spread, 8-inch trowel with, Fill your, Fill your 8-inch
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Ideas For Lshaped Kitchen Designs

Add a table in the middle of the L-shape to make the kitchen a communal space


L-shaped kitchens are ideal for small rooms that have limited space. They provide good storage, and work areas are positioned close together. They reduce the distance between the sink, stove and refrigerator, making cooking easier. L-shaped kitchens create a feeling of openness and work well in open-plan houses. They are formed from two adjacent walls that create the L-shape. Adding a kitchen island gives the option for extra surface and storage space.


Work Triangle Layout


The work triangle is a layout often used when designing L-shaped kitchens. It's an imaginary triangle drawn inside the L-shape, and its points connect the three main kitchen work areas; the cooker, sink and refrigerator. The sink should be positioned beneath the window to facilitate fast drying. This provides the first point of the triangle, and from this you can work out the position of the other points. The sides of the triangle don't have to be even, but avoid making one significantly longer because this increases the distance between work areas. The triangle's aim is to create a layout where the main areas are positioned closely for better convenience. The triangle layout works well in small and medium-sized kitchens.


Zone Layout


The zone layout is an alternative to the work triangle. It is better suited for large L-shaped kitchens, or ones that have several major appliances. It works by grouping the different work areas and their appliances together. For example, the cooking area is in one place, the cleaning area in another, and the food preparation area is in another.


Kitchen Islands


A kitchen island adds extra storage and surface space to L-shaped designs. Pots and pans can be stored above them and the surface can be used for food preparation or eating. Portable islands work well in small kitchens because they can be moved when more floor space is needed. Stove tops can be installed on fixed kitchen islands, either as the main cooking appliance or as an extra one.


Storage


Install cabinets along the length of the L-shape. Maximize of the internal corner space by using a corner cabinet. The internal corner is the one that joins the two lengths of the L shape. Include three to four drawers for things like cutlery, rolling pins and plastic wrap. Use wall cabinets for extra storage, and position them within reachable height.








Colors


L-shaped kitchens maximize space. Use light colors to enhance the spacious feel. Create a contrasting design with white walls and black surfaces, cabinets or appliances. Add color with a bold feature wall, colored cabinets or blinds. Pick a theme such as red and black, or take inspiration from traditional country kitchens.


Utilities








Position washing machines and dryers outside of the work triangle, or away from the main work zones. Keep them in a utility room or garage if there is space, or install them at the end of one of the L-shape lengths so that they don't interrupt the work flow.

Tags: L-shaped kitchens, work areas, work triangle, area another, areas positioned
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Decorate A Square Living Room

Keep furniture away from the walls in a square living room.


Although a popular shape, a square living room can be a difficult project to tackle because furniture usually ends up being shoved against the wall, making the room feel cold and distant. Another challenge is that there aren't any small areas in the living room such as a small little nook that can be made into a cozy reading corner. The solution is to use a bit of creativity to create a warm living room that takes advantage of the space you have.


Instructions


1. Choose a paint color that evokes a certain mood in the living room. For example, use chocolate browns or deep reds to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. If you want a carefree feeling, choose paint in shades of cool greens or blues. Neutral colors are classic because they need only bright accessories.


2. Use a large living room rug to create a focal point in the room. Arrange furniture pieces around this rug to create a conversation area. Line up the sofa with the long edges of the rug. Make sure that the sofa is about 10 feet away from the wall.


3. Add a love seat to this conversation area. Place it so it lines up with the shortest edges of the floor rug. Make sure that this furniture piece is away from the wall.


4. Opt for an ottoman and a coffee table that has rounded edges to soften up the harsh square lines of the room. Place the table in the center of the floor rug.


5. Add chairs that can be moved around as needed near the corners of the rug so that they are facing towards the coffee table.


6. Designate a reading area in the living room. Create a cozy reading area with a large comfortable chair, magazine rack, book shelf and a tall floor lamp. Add a round table to this area, which can be used to play board games with family or visitors.


7. Place a large painting on one wall to pull the living room color scheme together. Choose colors from the painting and use accessories that are in the same color family. For example, if you selected a painting of red roses, choose throw pillows in shades of red or pink. Choose a painting with circular lines to give a sense of movement.


8. Select accessories such as vases, throw pillows and decorative art prints to add color to your living room. Choose some of your favorite accessories and find a creative way to display them. For example, if you love the color of peacock feathers, display them in a large, trendy vase or frame them and hang them on a wall.


9. Select round light fixtures such as floor lamps and table lamps that will soften the square lines of the room.

Tags: living room, away from, away from wall, coffee table, conversation area
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Install Armstrong Floor Tile

Vinyl floor tile today comes in all kinds of colors, styles, and finishes, some of them every bit as attractive as traditional hard tiles like ceramic or porcelain. But vinyl tile is a lot simpler to lay than hard tiles, because it cuts easier and because you don't have to grout between the tiles after you install them. You do have to start with a clean, dry subfloor of wood or cement. Armstrong is among the most popular brands of vinyl flooring.


Instructions








1. Measure and mark the middle of each edge of the floor. Stretch a chalk snapline between two opposing marks, so it divides the floor in half, and snap the line.


2. Stretch the string between the two remaining marks, to intersect the first line at the center of the floor. Lay a carpenter's square at the intersection and adjust the second string before you snap it, to make sure the two lines are exactly perpendicular to each other.


3. Spread tile adhesive over the middle of the floor, using a tiling trowel. Cover a few square feet of the floor, encompassing the whole intersection of the two lines. You'll still be able to see the lines through the adhesive.


4. Set four Armstrong tiles into place in the adhesive, using the two intersecting lines as guides. Set the edges of the tiles right against each other as you lay them, dropping the other side last, so adhesive doesn't squirt up between the tiles.


5. Spread more adhesive and lay more tiles, building out along the lines and toward the walls. Cut the final pieces, by the walls, using a vinyl tile cutter.


6. Install floor trim around the edges of the room with your miter saw and trim nailer, to cover the seam between the cut edges of the tile and the wall.

Tags: between tiles, each other, hard tiles, vinyl tile
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Paint A Chandelier

Spray paint an old chandelier to give it new life.


Maybe you've had serious thoughts about tossing the old brass or brushed steel chandelier that came with the house or that you inherited from your grandma, but haven’t yet because you can’t afford a replacement or can’t find a new one you like. Luckily, you can create a new, much more hip chandelier from the one you have with just a little spray paint and some elbow grease.








Instructions


1. Disassemble the chandelier, removing all crystals, lampshades and bulbs. If your lamp breaks apart into multiple pieces, separate these pieces, grouping all metal pieces together.


2. Wipe all metal parts with a damp rag.


3. Tape off all attached non-metal areas, including plastic candle holders and electrical cords; cover socket areas completely with tape.


4. Spray metal parts with a thin, even coat of metal primer. Allow primer to dry completely.


5. Spray paint metal parts, using several light coats of paint instead of one thick, heavy coat.








6. Allow chandelier to dry. Reassemble parts.

Tags: metal parts, metal parts with, parts with, Spray paint
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Monday, August 29, 2011

Install A Vinyl Soffit Ceiling

The advent of vinyl siding has allowed homeowners with average do-it-yourself skills to change the look of the exterior of their home more easily than other siding methods such as wood, brick or stone. Many accessories, including trim, soffit and fascia, are available for a vinyl siding job. A soffit is the horizontal surface under a roof overhang. When covering a porch ceiling, you can use the same materials used to cover a soffit.








Instructions


1. Observe the underside of the ceiling you plan to cover. Ensure the ceiling surface is solid enough to hold nails for the soffit installation. Remove all existing moldings from the edges of the ceiling with a pry bar and a hammer.








2. Install 1-inch by 3-inch furring strips to the perimeter of the ceiling and every 16 inches on center perpendicular to the ceiling joists if the ceiling is not solid or if you plan to mount the soffit to bare joists. Nail the furring strips up using 8d nails and a hammer. Skip this step if the ceiling is solid enough to mount the soffit to directly.


3. Mount lengths of "J" channel to the perimeter of the ceiling with roofing nails and a hammer. Ensure the open end of the channel is facing the interior of the ceiling. Butt pieces of "J" channel together if needed for longer areas. Cut pieces to length as needed with tin snips.


4. Lay out the soffit panels to line up with existing siding or soffit work if desired. Measure the length of the first piece by measuring inside the "J" channel from one side of the ceiling to the other. Subtract ¼-inch for expansion and contraction. Cut the soffit pieces to length with a hack saw blade or tin snips.


5. Insert the first piece of soffit into the "J" channel on the ceiling. Push it all the way to the edge, leaving approximately ¼-inch of clearance. Secure the piece by driving roofing nails through the nail slots in the soffit to the ceiling or furring strips underneath. Nail every 12 to 16 inches.


6. Cut and slide the remaining soffit panels into place in the same fashion. Allow ¼-inch for expansion when you reach the last piece at the end.

Tags: furring strips, ceiling solid, ceiling with, every inches, first piece, -inch expansion
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Cover Knotty Pine Paneling

Knotty Pine Wood Paneling


Wood paneling was an extremely popular wall treatment for decades and was found everywhere in the home---family rooms, kitchens, studies, bedrooms, and even on ceilings. Knotty pine paneling was perhaps the most popular, with finishes ranging from blonde to very dark. Wood paneling is quick to install and requires very little care, but it has some distinct disadvantages. It has become dated and, since it is meant to be a permanent wall covering, refinishing paneling is not as easy as with Sheetrock walls. Follow these guidelines to cover your old knotty pine paneling for an updated look.


Instructions


1. Prepare the paneling by washing it with a solution of TSP (trisodium phosphate) and water. Wash the paneling with a sponge or cloth, then rinse it with water. Let the wall dry, then apply masking tape to molding, trim work, and other areas you don't wish to refinish.


2. Use a brush, roller, or pad to apply a coat of latex (water-based) stain-blocking primer if you simply wish to paint the paneling. Details such as panel grooves and wood grain will still be visible. Let the primer dry and apply another coat if the original color of the paneling shows through. Add two coats of acrylic latex interior paint for the final finish.


3. Use a putty knife to fill the panel grooves with joint compound (Sheetrock mud) if you want a smooth or textured finish to paint or wallpaper. Allow the compound to dry as directed by the manufacturer and apply additional coats until the grooves are flush with the surface of the paneling when dry.


4. Use a drywall trowel to apply joint compound to the rest of the wall. Spread it evenly for a smooth surface or create a textured finish with a skip trowel or sponge. Let the joint compound dry and sand down high spots with medium-grit sandpaper.


5. Wipe the surface clean of dust and apply a coat of latex primer and two coats of acrylic latex for a painted finish. If you prefer wallpaper, glue it directly to the dried joint compound.

Tags: joint compound, acrylic latex, apply coat, apply coat latex, coat latex
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Friday, August 26, 2011

Install Flushmount Ceiling Lights







Install Flush-Mount Ceiling Lights


Flush-mount ceiling lights are a common way to light any room. They provide enough light to brighten a 12-by-12-foot room with an 8-foot ceiling. The higher the ceiling, the higher the flush-mount ceiling light installs, creating a broader spread of light from the fixture. Knowing install flush-mount ceiling lights gives you the opportunity to change the appearance of any room in your home by changing the light.


Instructions


1. Disconnect the lighting circuit at the main breaker panel by turning off the circuit breaker. Confirm the breaker is off and the power has been disconnected, using a two-prong electrical tester. Locate the black wire inside the ceiling junction box. Touch one prong of the tester to the black wire and the other prong to any metal on the junction box. The tester should not light if the power has been disconnected correctly.








2. Attach the fixture crossbar to the electrical box in the ceiling. The fixture crossbar is a flat piece of metal 4 inches long and 1 inch wide with several openings cut into it. The bar attaches to the box with screws provided with your light fixture and a screwdriver.


3. Wire the base of the flush mount light. With a partner holding the base, connect the black wires from the light fixture to the black wire from the junction box, using an orange wire connector. Repeat this connection for the white wire from the fixture and the white wire from the junction box. Connect the bare copper wire from the junction box to the green ground wire on the light fixture with an orange wire connector.


4. Attach the flush mount light base to the crossbar, using screws from the light fixture's mounting hardware.


5. Install light bulbs and the light shade according to the manufacturer's directions.


6. Turn the lighting circuit back on by turning the breaker on at the main electrical panel.

Tags: light fixture, wire from, black wire, from junction, wire from junction, been disconnected, ceiling higher
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Make Ceiling Drapes For Events

Netting draped from the ceiling can enhance the decor at an event.


The best way to learn drape a ceiling for a special event is by draping a small room in your own home first. If you have a daughter, this may be the perfect time for a canopy bedroom makeover. Paint the walls in a soft color and make the canopy white for contrast. You can also learn add small lights inside the canopy. This test run will give you a good understanding of what you will need and how much it will cost to decorate a larger event venue.


Instructions


1. Measure the room and find the ceiling center point you will use as the starting point of your swags. Locate the ceiling joist with a stud finder and screw two sturdy screw eyes into the joist 12 inches apart.


2. Purchase a 12-inch white wire wreath at the craft store.


3. Measure from the center of the ceiling to a corner and from the corner to the floor and add 24 inches. Cut four pieces of white semi-sheer voile to this size. Tie one end of the voile securely to the wreath. Tie each of the other three pieces to the wreath one-quarter of the distance around the wreath.


4. Measure from the center of the ceiling to the center of a wall and from the wall to the floor. Add 24 inches. Cut two pieces of voile. Measure from the center of the ceiling to the center of the adjacent wall and from the wall to the floor, adding another 24 inches. Cut two pieces of voile this length.








5. Tie your first two pieces to the wreath opposite each other. Tie your second two pieces opposite each other. Attach your wreath to your ceiling screw eyes with wire. Make sure you align your wreath so that your wall toile pieces are in line with the correct walls.


6. Attach damage-free adhesive hooks at each corner wall just below the ceiling and centered on each wall. Bring each piece of toile to its hook. Wrap fishing wire around the toile and hook to secure the draping to the hook. (If you do a test run with a canopy, use a more permanent method of securing the hooks.)

Tags: ceiling center, center ceiling, each other, from center, from center ceiling, Measure from, Measure from center
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Thursday, August 25, 2011

What Colors Go With A Gray Tile Bathroom Floor







Gray tile floors can corrdinate well with colors ranging from white to black.


Changing the decor and color scheme for any room involves using baseline colors for the most expensive areas of the room. In a bathroom, choosing neutral or easy to coordinate around flooring options helps make the room open to a variety of decorating color choices. Gray tile bathroom floors work well in both large and small areas and allow for various complimentary colors to be used throughout.


Blues


Blues, from soothing pale blue to rich and regal royal blue, can pair nicely with gray tile floors when done in moderation. Blue is a calming color, and since it is associated with water, makes for a good choice when selecting colors for a bathroom. To work around gray tile floors, keep the use of blues to a minimum and use for accent areas and pieces. For example, use gray or silver body towels that are hung on silver hooks but use blue towels for fingertip towels and washcloths to provide a pop of color. Use a shower curtain that is striped and contains both gray and blue shades. Additional ways to use blue in the bathroom is to place blue colored candles on silver dishes, hang a nautical theme picture that uses blue in the piece and consider adding a wall border with blue in it on top of a gray or white wall.


Purples


To make a bathroom appear more modern and progressive, use shades of purple such as plum, lilac and deep violet to pair with the gray tile floor. A deep plum rug over top of gray tile will create a nice contrast between the two shades. Use the deep, rich plum color for either the shower curtain or window treatments as well. use the dark shade sparingly and then supplement with a lighter shade of purple for accent pieces and areas. Light plum towels, lighting fixture shades and even wall paint really will make the room come alive. If using a lot of color, bring back the gray tile floors presence by having fixtures such as towel racks, toilet paper holders and light switches in silver or nickel colors to match with the gray tile.








Greens


Though not all shades of green translate well in to use for bathroom decor, the more muted shades such as sage green work quite well for an area that is meant to help one relax after a hard day. On top of the gray tile, use a darker shade of sage green for the rug. Continue accenting the room with sage green for items such as towels, shower liners and even window curtains or blinds. Continue adding accent and decorative pieces as possible to suit your style, needs and decorating budget.


Pinks


Gray tile, especially when a lighter shade of gray, matches well with pink. Though best suited for a more feminine bathroom, the contrast between the more muted and neutral gray pairs nicely with the various hues of pink including carnation pink, pale pink and even a rose-pink shade. A pink rug over top of the gray tile works well and a more textured rug adds to the allure. Pink towels, pick candles and pink based wall hangings further pull the colors together. To balance the bathroom, and to avoid making everything except the floor pink, opt for gray or silver shower curtains, window treatments and even face plates for all outlets.


Black and White


With gray being the midline color associated with both black and white, decorating around a gray tile floor opens the door to creating a bold and modern feel by sticking to black and white for decorating purposes. On top of the gray tile floor, bathmats and throw rugs in solid black or black and white prints match nicely with the gray. To keep the black and white theme going, opt for towels in solid shades of black, white and gray. Add additional accessories such as soap dishes, toothbrush holders and tissue box covers in hues such as pewter or brushed nickel to pull the boldness of the black and white together and thus tie in to the gray floor. A simple black and white photograph, framed in a silver, black or white frame provides an easy wall art option as well.

Tags: black white, gray tile, tile floors, gray tile floor, gray tile floors, nicely with, sage green
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Figure Spacing For Fluorescent Fixtures

The industry standard for general lighting in a room is 70 foot candles per square foot. To figure out how many lights you need to achieve this level of lighting, you must complete an equation for lumens. To use the formula, you need the square footage of the room, the lumens per fixture, the co-efficient of usage, and finally the light loss factor. For example, use an 18-by-20-foot room with two 40-watt light bulbs in each fixture.


Instructions


1. Measure the length and the width of the room with a tape measure and multiply the two numbers together to get the square footage of the room. For an 18-by-20 room, you obtain a square footage of 360 square feet.


2. Multiply the square footage of 360 by the 70 lumens needed per square foot to get the total lumens needed for the room. In the example, you need a minimum of 25,200 total lumens of light in the room.


3. Multiply the total lumens needed (25,200) by 1.40 (to factor in a light loss factor of .75 and a co-efficient of utilization of .65) and then add that answer to 25,200. You need 60,480 lumens.


4. Multiply 3,150 by 2 to achieve the lumen rating for one fluorescent light fixture with two 40-watt bulbs (3,150 is the standard lumens for one fluorescent tube). This gives you a lumen rating of 6,300 per fixture. Divide the total lumens needed (60,480) by 6,300 to get the number of fixtures you need, in this case 9.6. Round up to get 10 fluorescent fixtures. Given a room size of 20-foot by 18-foot, position the fixtures in two rows of five fixtures.








5. Measure across the 20-foot span of ceiling with the tape measure and secure a fixture every two feet. This will give you five fixtures in one row. Place each end of the fixture approximately 1/2 foot away from the adjacent wall.


6. Go to the other end of the room and measure across the 20-foot span of ceiling with the tape measure and secure a fixture every two feet. Again, this will give you five fixtures in one row. Place each end of the fixture approximately 1/2-foot away from the adjacent wall.

Tags: lumens needed, square footage, total lumens, with tape measure, each fixture, five fixtures, tape measure
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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Ceiling Building Materials

Plaster is an ideal material for ornamental motifs.


Ceilings cover roof or floor frames and hide heating ducts, plumbing and other structures. In office buildings or auditoriums, special ceiling materials improve sound quality and prevent interference from outside noise. Ceiling panels usually attach to wood or metal joists or furring strips, or to suspended metal grids. During construction, builders lay fiberglass insulation sheets over the ceiling to help maintain even temperatures in the building. Each type of ceiling building material has special installation requirements.


Acoustic Tiles


Acoustic tiles are made of fiberboard, which contains wood fibers and chemical fillers. This material, which is softer than other ceiling materials, prevents echoing and minimizes noise transmission from outside. According to Ace Hardware, acoustical tiles absorb up to 70 percent of the unwanted noise in a room. These soft, light tiles break or tear easily if you cut them with a knife that is not adequately sharpened. Builders use glue or staples to attach the tiles to furring strips or a suspended metal grid.


Drywall


Also known as gypsum wallboard, drywall is a common ceiling building material. Builders use drywall screws or nails to attach drywall panels to ceiling joists, and apply tape and drywall compound to the joints between the panels. If the drywall is nailed to the joists, drywall compound can fill in the indentation near the nail. Home Tips notes that building codes usually require 8-inch spaces between the screws or nails.








Plaster


Plaster is a durable, versatile ceiling material that consists of gypsum, lime, sand and water. According to Home Tips, the original plaster remains on the 4,000-year-old Egyptian pyramids. Builders usually apply the base coat of plaster to thin strips of wood known as lath. A second thick layer and a third top coat add durability and finish to the ceiling. You can add color pigments to wet plaster before application, and you can sculpt or mold plaster into decorative patterns.


Stamped Metal








Metal ceiling panels are made of steel or tin-plated steel and have stamped ornamental patterns. The panels attach to wood or metal furring strips in the ceiling. Ask the Builder states that metal panels often have an oil coating from the factory; before you paint the panels, you will need to apply an oil-based primer. To prevent rust from plumbing leaks or other water exposure, paint both sides of the metal panels before attaching them to the furring strips.


Wood


Vaulted or cathedral wood ceilings add height and beauty to a room. Tongue and groove wood panels interlock and attach to ceiling joists with hidden nails that penetrate the tongue at a 45-degree angle. Ask the Builder recommends staining the wood panels before you attach them to the ceiling, so that seasonal movements do not expose bare wood. You can fill in uneven spots and imperfections with wood putty.

Tags: furring strips, attach wood, attach wood metal, building material, ceiling building material, ceiling joists, ceiling materials
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Install Encon Ceiling Fans

Encon ceiling fans, which are sold under the Westinghouse brand, provide classic modern-styled ceiling fans and lighting fixtures in flush-mount and pole-mount styles.


Instructions


1. Turn off the power supply to the fixture at the breaker box. If the room circuit cannot be isolated, flip the area circuit breaker. Remove the existing light fixture or fan and discard or recycle.


2. Assemble ceiling fan attaching canopy, drop pole and blades in keeping with the manufacturer's instructions.








3. Lift fan motor unit up to the junction box. Hook the mounting wire or wires over the metal mounting bar that straddles the diameter of the junction box. Tighten down the two screws to secure the mount.


4. Connect the black wires to one another by linking the ends around one another, placing a plastic nut on the two ends and twisting to secure. Repeat this process with the green and white wires or as your manufacturer's instruction manual specifies.


5. Slide the canopy cover up over the fan assembly. Turn the screws or nuts to tighten and secure flush with the unit or ceiling.


6. Flip circuit breaker to turn power back on. Test the ceiling fan and optional lights for smooth operation.

Tags: ceiling fans, circuit breaker
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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Install Edwardian Style Door And Window Trim







Install Edwardian Style Door and Window Trim


The Edwardian era, which followed the great Victorian era, ushered in a light, clean interior design style in notable contrast to the heavy, ornate style of the preceding era. The sharp lines and stately presence of the interior trim remains popular today because of its pleasing aesthetic. Edwardian style trim has come to define what we love about cozy, yet classic bungalow, plantation and cottage interiors.


Instructions


1. The header casing package consists of three separate trim pieces. The top of the header is a small piece of casing that looks like crown molding, the middle is a flat piece of casing and the bottom of the detail is a thin casing piece called a lintel. These three pieces stack up together on top of the vertical casing pieces. You can purchase these three different pieces from a lumber company that sells interior trim.


2. The vertical door casing is normally 5" wide and flat with either rounded or sharp edges. Make a decision on the edge detail based on your personal preference. Rounded edges give a softer look to the interior while sharp edges create a more stately and formal effect.


3. Plinth blocks round out the Edwardian door casing detail. These blocks are installed on the floor and create a formal base for the vertical casing pieces.


4. When installing this kind of door casing package, always start with the plinth blocks first. Be careful to install the plinth block flat and flush against the door jamb and wall. If not, you will see the error when the vertical casing is installed. The edges of the two trim pieces will be offset from one another and this is easy to see when standing in front of the door and looking down.








5. Next install the two vertical casing pieces. Make sure the two cuts are exactly the same so that the header pieces can be installed perfectly level.


6. Install the lintel next, then the flat header piece and finally the top header trim. Caulk around the seams between the casing pieces and the sheetrock, install wood putty in the nail holes and you are ready for paint.

Tags: casing pieces, vertical casing, door casing, vertical casing pieces, casing package, Door Window
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Home Decorating Tips For Vaulted Ceilings

Color and embellishment can turn a vaulted ceiling into a dramatic, impactful statement in a room.


Bringing height to a room through a vaulted ceiling adds architectural interest. Often, homeowners bring color, texture and visual interest into a room's walls and furnishings. However, ceilings are commonly left the white-painted drywall that came standard with the home. Paint, embellishments and architectural treatments transform a plain ceiling into the cohesive topper to a finished room.


Creating Coziness


Sometimes a tall, vaulted ceiling makes a room feel too large or expansive for a family's taste. According to the iVillage website, color can help make a large space feel cozier. Paint a ceiling a rich, deep tone to help lower its visual impact and make the room feel smaller. Choose a deep color like plum, burgundy, deep green or chocolate brown. Be sure to choose a color that is accented elsewhere in the room's design. It is important to paint the ceiling a color that is cohesive with the rest of the room's color scheme; otherwise, the ceiling appears jarring rather than cozy.


Causing an Impact








To create a grand statement, it is important to treat a vaulted ceiling as the icing to a room's cake, suggests the HGTV website. A patterned wallpaper, tin ceiling tiles or hand-painted mural turn a high ceiling into a room's most impactful statement. While many of these treatments will require professional installation, they are sure to make guests do a double take when entering a space. Wallpaper, murals and tin ceilings create a sense of opulence and grandeur. Complement a dramatic ceiling with formal furnishing and rich, elegant wall color.


Using Light


In a room with a vaulted ceiling, it is important to create many sources of light, according to the HGTV website. An expansive ceiling draws the eye upward and can make the rest of the room feel dark. Combine several sources of light in the room to help create visual interest, ground the ceiling with the space and provide ample light in the space. Suspend large pendant lights from the ceiling. To keep the room feeling light and airy, decorate the lights in neutral-colored shades. Add track lighting, as well as freestanding lamps. Create "task" lighting, where there is a light source for reading, working at a desk, playing games or other common tasks performed in the room.


Wooden Wonder


Wooden beams and planks can add a sense of natural beauty to an otherwise plain vaulted ceiling. The Ask the Builder website warns that adding wooden beams to a vaulted ceiling requires a significant amount of skill. For homeowners who do not possess carpentry skills, it may be best to have wooden beams professionally installed. Choose a rich, dark stain to help make a room seem smaller or a light finish to make a ceiling seem tall and a room feel airy. Wooden beams add architectural interest and will bring the eye up into the room. Wood also adds texture to a vaulted ceiling and helps the room turn into a focal point.

Tags: vaulted ceiling, room feel, ceiling into, into room, architectural interest, ceiling with, color that
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Definition Of Suspended Ceiling

Definition of Suspended Ceiling








Cost-efficient and soundproof, suspended ceilings are good options for finishing a basement yourself, particularly if your municipality has ceiling height requirements.


Identification


A suspended ceiling is a metal grid supporting lightweight panels made out of plastic or fiberglass.


Considerations


Most municipalities regulate how low the ceiling can be from the floor. Typically, the requirement is seven and a half feet, but some jurisdictions make exceptions for renovations.


Access


Having a drop ceiling in the basement allows you to finish the basement but still have access to the plumbing pipes, HVAC ducts and electrical wires running through the walls and floor above.


Sound Barrier


Drop ceilings provide a better sound barrier than drywall ceilings.


Cost


Drop ceiling kits average around $200 to $400 for a 10-by-12 foot room.

Tags: Definition Suspended, Definition Suspended Ceiling
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Monday, August 22, 2011

Fix Paneling That Is Bowed

If you have wood paneling and it begins to bow or buckle, possible causes are rising and falling humidity levels, wall or foundation settling that make the walls shift and paneling nails coming loose. Whatever the reason, if the paneling is bowing, it can generally be reversed or repaired and then put back into place. All you'll need is a few tools to repair the bow.


Instructions


1. Remove the paneling from the wall by prying out every panel nails with a claw hammer or pry bar. Once the nails have been removed, slide the pry bar blade or hammer claw between the paneling and the wall studs; gently pull the paneling away.








2. Fill a spray bottle with distilled water. Use only distilled water as it has no bacteria or minerals that can cause mold. Moisten the paneling liberally on the back side where it is bowed.


3. Lay the paneling flat in a warm area, like a garage or shed. Use a dropcloth if laying on dirt.


4. Place bricks or other flat, heavy objects directly on the bow. The combination of heat and moisture will cause the bow to straighten under the weight. Wait 24 to 48 hours and check. Repeat as necessary.


5. Refasten the paneling back in place with paneling nails and a hammer. Add extra nails where the bow occurred to prevent future buckling.

Tags: distilled water, paneling nails
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Friday, August 19, 2011

Replace Ceiling Lighting In A High Ceiling

Replace Ceiling Lighting in a High Ceiling


Replacing a ceiling light is a basic enough task that most homeowners should be able to perform themselves. Even on high ceilings, it's pretty simple. Just stay relaxed and extra careful when using a ladder and shut off the electricity where you'll be working. A good rule of thumb is to provide at least 1 watt of incandescent light for each square foot in the living room or bedroom and twice that amount for a kitchen or workshop. With fluorescent lights, figure about 1/3 watt per square foot in the living room and 1/2 watt per square foot in kitchens.


Instructions


1. Shut off the power to the fixture's circuit. Set up the ladder where the ceiling fixture is located and remove the screws that hold the fixture to the ceiling. Use an inductive voltage detector to double-check that the power is shut down. Disconnect the fixture wires and remove the old fixture and mounting strap.


2. Attach the new metal mounting strap across the outlet box with the screws provided. If there is a ground wire in the box, attach it to the grounding screw on the strap.


3. Connect the new fixture to the wires by wrapping the ends of the wires clockwise beneath the terminal screws (black wire to brass-colored screw, white wire to silver-colored screw), or by joining them to the leads of the new fixture with wire connectors.


4. Fold the wires into the outlet box and fasten the new fixture to the mounting strap with the screws.


5. Install the bulb and attach the lighting cover or globe. Restore the power that was shut off and test the lighting by operating it. Step down from the ladder carefully.

Tags: mounting strap, square foot, Ceiling Lighting, Ceiling Lighting High, fixture mounting, fixture mounting strap, fixture wires
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Design A Living Room With Dark Wood Floors







Balance dark floors in your living room with light and neutral colors.


The living room receives the most attention in your home, due to the frequent foot traffic. Dark wood floors in the living room are both visually appealing and frustrating, as dirt and dust accumulation is obvious if not well maintained. In addition to maintenance, designing your living room also requires patience, as your furniture becomes the focal point of the room when contrasted with the darkness of the floors.


Instructions


1. Paint your living room's walls white or a soft color to balance the room. The combination of dark floors and dark walls results in a drab and depressing room, which conflicts with the intended mood for the living room.


2. Cover one wall in a bright color as an accent wall. An accent wall brings the attention to the wall and anything on it, which decreases the natural tendency to focus on the dark floors.


3. Decorate the room with light colored furniture. Neutral colored furniture creates an aesthetically pleasing combination in the living room, as the furniture's color balances the dark floor.


4. Place an area rug in the living room to break up the amount of darkness in the room from the floor. Swap out the rug as desired to freshen up the look of the space.


5. Set the mood with ambient lighting, which can soften a room that is too dark and is relatively inexpensive.

Tags: living room, your living room, dark floors, your living, accent wall, colored furniture, living room
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Install Decorative Ceiling Tile







Installing decorative ceiling tiles can add a touch of elegance to an otherwise plain or boring ceiling. Decorative ceiling tiles are relatively light, especially faux tiles, and easy to install. The only drawback is that the installation process can be time-consuming and somewhat tedious. But the lasting effect of the decorative ceiling tiles is the charm and ambiance of the room.


Instructions


1. Remove fixtures such as lamps and vent frames from the ceiling. Use a screwdriver to remove all the screws holding the fixtures in place.


2. Using a tape measure, measure the length and width of the ceiling. Divide each measurement in half and mark that measurement for all sides using a pencil. Then use a chalk line to mark the halves on the ceiling. The result should be four rectangles.


3. Apply small dabs of tile adhesive throughout the back of the tile, including the edges, using a small taping knife.


4. Set the first four tiles into each corner where the lines meet in the middle of the ceiling. Press gently with hands.


5. Measure the edge tiles by measuring the remaining length on both sides of the tiles. For example, align the measurement from the last tile before the edges of the ceiling; measure the length on either side, because the measurements may differ in quarter inches or less. Then measure and mark the two measurements on a new tile and cut with a utility knife. Make sure that the piece fits before applying adhesive.


6. Put the tile in place with adhesive. Then cut out the hole for fixtures with a utility knife.

Tags: ceiling tiles, with utility knife, measure length, utility knife, with utility
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Thursday, August 18, 2011

Example Of A Promissory Note Letter

Be sure to read through the terms of any promissory note before signing.


A promissory note, otherwise referred to as a "note payable" or simply a "note," is a contract in which a borrower unconditionally promises to pay an amount of money to the lender, also referred to as the "payee." Commonly, the note includes a fixed time limit for repayment as well as other specifics, such as the interest rate and frequency of payments, all of which are negotiable. A note can, however, simply require the repayment of the principle of the loan by a specific date.


Promissory Note Format: Top Section


Identify the contract with a headline in bold letters that states "Promissory Note" at the top of the page, followed by the address, city, state and ZIP code where the note was signed. Follow this with the date the note was issued. Most promissory notes begin in capital letters with "FOR VALUE RECEIVED," followed by the name of the lender, or payee, the location at which the holder of the note is to be paid and the amount of the loan--spelled out and in numeric format.








The Terms


Spell out the specific terms of the note, including the interest rate on the loan and how it is calculated, the due date of the loan and the frequency of the payments. Also indicate whether the payments will apply only to the interest or to the interest and principle of the loan. Interest-only loans often have a balloon payment due at the end date of the loan.








Additional Sections of the Note and the Signature


Additional clauses in the note may identify specific remedies related to the loan. These may include sections about security or collateral, waivers based on the holder's omissions or delay in acting, clarification of payments and any other specific refinement to the contract that the parties deem necessary. The lender must sign the note for it to be valid. For additional security, the lender usually requires that a notary witnesses and signs the document.

Tags: date loan, frequency payments, interest rate, principle loan, Promissory Note
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Cut Ceiling Tile Panels For Canned Lights

Ceiling tiles offer sound-dampening qualities as well as a more attractive appearance to otherwise unfinished ceilings. These tiles are thin, making it possible to cut through them when needed. If you have canned lights, also called recessed can lights, you must cut a round opening in the tiles to accommodate the bottom portion of the light. The process is straightforward, requiring only manual tools and drawing an accurate cut line.


Instructions


1. Set a stepladder under the area where you are installing the canned lights, if they are not already installed. Push up on the ceiling tile in the location and angle it downward to remove it from the ceiling frame. If the light is already installed, skip this step and locate a new ceiling panel.


2. Spread a towel on a table and place the ceiling tile on it face down. Place the bottom edge of the canned light on top of the tile, in the exact location where it will protrude. If needed, measure the location of the electrical connection in the ceiling first and transfer the location to the tile.


3. Trace around the perimeter of the light using a pencil to create the cut line. If the light is already installed in the ceiling, raise the panel up to the bottom of it and then trace around the perimeter of the light.


4. Set the light out of the way. Insert the blade of a utility knife through the pencil line until it punctures the opposite side. Pull the blade around the circular outline until you reach the starting point.


5. Set the utility knife aside and gently press the center circle out.








6. Slide the ceiling panel over the canned light to ensure it fits. If needed, slice off additional sections until the canned light slides in easily.

Tags: already installed, canned light, around perimeter, around perimeter light, ceiling panel, light already, light already installed
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Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Ideas For Bathroom Lighting

There are different types of lighting for your bathroom. You can use one kind of lighting or combine several methods depending on your needs. Lighting can make your bathroom look stylish but also be functional. You need correct lighting in the bathroom to prevent dullness and glare. Each type of bathroom light has a particular purpose.


Ambient Lighting


Ambient lighting or general lighting is similar to natural light and illuminates your entire bathroom but mostly toward the floor. Ambient lighting can also illuminate open areas and walls in your bathroom and give it a soft glow. Ambient light can come from the natural light from windows or skylights. Surface-mounted ceiling lights, bathroom sconces and recessed fixtures are some ways you can create ambient light. Recessed ceiling fixtures are ideal for eliminating glare.


Accent Lights


Use accent lights to focus on objects or areas in your bathroom such as pictures or accessories. Accent lighting includes track lighting which highlights features in your bathroom that aren't usually noticed but you would like accentuated. You can also set a specific mood or create a relaxing atmosphere. You can use accent lights as another layer of lights or combine them with general lighting. Accent lamps can also be useful if you need to illuminate a particular area such as a shower stall.


Task Lighting








Task lighting is a bright light and is the best choice in your bathroom if you see want to see better when you're putting on your makeup, for instance. It's best to install task lighting on both sides of the mirror to give you the amount of light you need without shadows. Fixtures next to the mirror should be at least 28 inches apart. Hire a professional if you want task lighting installed above your mirror, for safety reasons.

Tags: your bathroom, Ambient lighting, general lighting, natural light
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Attach Granite Counters To Vanities

No two granite slabs ever look exactly the same.


When a natural stone vanity top is desired in the bathroom, granite makes an excellent choice. Granite counters are durable, easier to maintain than marble, and present the option of having an undermounted sink, which makes cleanup easier.


Updating a current bathroom design with a granite counter can instantly add more interest, natural color and variation, and modern appeal to the room. Granite vanity tops are widely available in a range of colors and sizes, to suit nearly every bathroom size and design.








Instructions


1. Carefully turn the granite vanity top over and lay it on a flat surface with the sink holes hanging slightly off the edge. Push the faucet stems up through the granite and tighten their nuts down from the underside with a wrench.


2. Squeeze a small amount of silicone caulk with a caulking gun onto the granite around the opening for the sink. Line up the sink with the opening and lower its rim down into the epoxy to attach.


3. Wipe the edges of the vanity with a cloth, to remove any dust or debris where the granite will rest that could interfere with the bond between the granite and the vanity.


4. Lift the granite above the vanity for a test fit. The granite should overhang the vanity by 1/2 inch on three sides. Settle the granite onto the vanity to check its fit, and adjust if necessary. Lift the granite off again, and set it aside.


5. Spread granite epoxy or construction adhesive onto the top edges of the vanity frame. Lift the granite up above the vanity, center it, and carefully lower it onto the vanity frame. Allow it to make contact, and lift the granite back up again, exposing the compressed adhesive to air. Replace the granite and press down firmly.


6. Hook up the sink and faucet below the granite to the water and waste pipes with a wrench. Turn on the water to test.

Tags: Lift granite, above vanity, edges vanity, granite above, granite above vanity, Lift granite above, onto vanity
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Pick Crown Molding

Crown molding adds a "finished" look to any room. It is an architectural feature that fills the space between the top of a wall and the ceiling. Designs range from pure and simple to extremely ornate. Deciding what type and size of molding to use takes some time, but the reward is a beautifully designed room.


Instructions








1. Consider the style of your home and choose a crown molding that coordinates with it. Modern homes call for moldings with clean lines. More decorative and ornate designs go well in period-style homes. Visit the "Inviting Home" website to view an extensive catalog of molding designs.


2. Select a molding size appropriate for the ceiling height of the room. Pick out a wider molding for your rooms with tall ceilings. Crown molding is available in sizes from about 2 in. to 15 or 20 in. wide. Rooms with lower ceilings should have a molding of about 3 inches or less.


3. Buy a sample of the molding you are considering and put it up. If you can't get a sample, draw the design on a piece of paper cut to the height you are considering. Tape it in place and live with it for a few days to get a feel for the height.








4. Remember the crown molding should complement the baseboard and other architectural moldings in the room, such as a chair rail. A room with a variety of molding types looks best if the features are proportionate to one another in style and scale


5. Decide which material is best based on the finish you plan to use, and your budget. For staining, a high quality hardwood, such as oak, is the best choice. Softer woods like pine or spruce are less expensive and still good for staining or painting. Alternatives to wood are composites like fiberglass and polyurethane. Composites are the least expensive, the easiest to paint and last longer than wood. They are also ideal in the creation of designs and finishes that would be too costly to do with wood.

Tags: crown molding
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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Remodel Bath Light Fixtures

Light fixtures in the bathroom are no different than light fixtures throughout the rest of the house--they become old and outdated. Replacing the fixtures may cost more than you want to spend, but this does not mean that you cannot have new lights. A quick fix for the light dilemma is to remodel the fixtures so they look like new. You can remodel old light fixtures for less than half the cost of new ones.


Instructions


1. Remove the light fixture or fixtures prior to remodeling them. To do this, the light fixtures must be disconnected from the wiring. Shut off the power to the bathroom and bring a light in from another room. Remove the lightbulbs and set them aside. Loosen and remove the decorative nuts that cover the mounting screws and pull the fixtures away from the wall or ceiling. Untwist the wire nuts that connect the light fixture wiring to the wiring in the wall or ceiling.








2. Sand the surface of the fixtures with steel wool to remove rust. Metal light fixtures that begin to lose their cover coat will rust in the presence of moisture and create raised areas. Use a 400-grit sandpaper to smooth rough areas that are left after using the steel wool.


3. Wipe each fixture with a rag moistened with denatured alcohol. The alcohol will remove residue from hair care products and dust.


4. Lay the light fixtures on old newspapers, preferably outside or in a garage. Lay a section of cardboard under the newspapers when spraying outside. The cardboard will create a solid, level surface for the fixtures to sit on.


5. Spray each light fixture with metal primer and allow the primer to dry. Pick up the fixtures and move them to a clean area on the newspapers. Moving the fixtures will keep them from sticking to the newspaper when they are painted.


6. Apply a cover coat of spray paint for metal to each light fixture, allow them to dry, and reinstall the fixtures. To reinstall the light fixtures, remember that the black wires go together and the white wires go together. The green wire is a ground wire that connects to a copper wire in the wall or ceiling, or to a green screw when no copper wire is present.


7. Place the new bulbs on the fixtures to finish remodeling your bathroom lights.

Tags: light fixtures, light fixture, wall ceiling, copper wire, cover coat, each light, each light fixture
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Calculate Acoustical Tile







Installing an acoustical ceiling has become a common do-it-yourself home remodel project due to the tiles' ease of installation. Before you begin this project, determine the grid placement in the room to figure out how many acoustical tiles your project requires. Knowing how the grid is placed will take the guesswork out of ordering the acoustical tiles. More than likely you will need to install partial tiles. Count each partial tile, as a full tile, when placing your order. Always purchase a few extra tiles than you need to allow for error.


Instructions


1. Measure the room's length and width. To achieve a professional-looking ceiling, all partial tiles should be installed around the room's perimeter, with the grid positioned to allow for the largest partial tiles possible.


2. Divide the room's length by the acoustical tile's length. For example, an 11-foot room divided by a 2-foot tile leaves you with a 1-foot gap at the end of the room. Add the tile's length (24 inches) to the gap's length (12 inches) and divide by two to determine the best way to fill the gap: 18-inch tiles on either end of the room.


3. Divide the room's width by the acoustical tile's width. If you are left with a gap, repeat the calculations in Step 2 to determine the best way to fill the gap.








4. Draw a scaled-down version of the room on a piece of graph paper. For example, a 12-by-8 foot room becomes 12-by-8 inches on a piece of paper. Mark out the room's perimeter tiles on the drawing. Fill in the area inside the perimeter with full tiles. Count the number of grid spaces to determine the number of acoustical tiles you need.

Tags: acoustical tiles, partial tiles, best fill, determine best, determine best fill, Divide room
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Monday, August 15, 2011

Arco Lamp Instructions







Arco manufactures designer lamps that require little floor space and configure to allow direct downward lighting. The interchangeable channels allow lighting to raise high from the base and arch down nearby or have a moderate rise with a downward arch further from the base. This type of modern lighting enables illumination over chairs or couches in dim corners for reading.


Instructions


1. Slide the metal rod into the slot in the lamp base. Push the connector handle into the round hole in the top left corner of the base.


2. Insert the base screw through the hole in the metal rod and base. Turn the screw clockwise to tighten the parts together.


3. Pull the wiring through the metal rod and thread the wire guide onto the wiring from the top.


4. Thread the large channel of the lamp onto the wire from the top loose end of wire. Press the channel down into the metal rod. The electrical wiring will sit in the lower channel of the large channel. Thread the wiring through the small and medium channels while pulling the loose end of the wire through the top.


5. Turn the lamp socket screw counterclockwise to loosen it. Press the retention clip in, continue unscrewing the socket from the nipple and pull it straight off. The screws for attaching the lamp wiring are now visible.


6. Attach the smooth wire to the brass screw in a clockwise direction and tighten the screw clockwise. Attach the wire with ridges around the silver screw clockwise and tighten the screw clockwise.


7. Snap the socket onto the nipple. The retention clip will hold it in place. Tighten the socket screw clockwise and place a bulb in the lamp.


8. Slide the deflector over the end of the channel. Place the lamp sleeve over the deflector and press the outer grid onto the sleeve.

Tags: screw clockwise, clockwise tighten, from base, large channel, loose wire
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Friday, August 12, 2011

Install Corrugated Metal On My Porch Ceiling

A painted corrugated panel for porch ceiling.


Corrugated metal is a lightweight, tough, practical, weather-resistant material. It is used primarily for roofs and sides of buildings such as barns or sheds. It can be obtained in a variety of metals---galvanized steel, stainless steel, painted steel, aluminum---and in a variety of weights (thickness of metal). There also are many styles, denoted by differences in the "bumps" of ridge tops and the overall height of the material. The most common is 2 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch, used on barns, sheds and other structures. Some manufacturers offer perforated or lattice styles, with holes in the metal.


Instructions


1. Measure the ceiling where you want to install corrugated metal and calculate the square footage: width times length. Most corrugated panels are 27 1/2 inches wide. The standard length is 8 feet, but you can buy panels 10, 12 or even 20 feet long. Panels are light but flexible and unwieldy, and longer lengths can be especially hard to handle although they can reduce the number of seams in the ceiling. When you calculate how many panels to buy, allow for overlap, generally one full ridge or about 2 1/2 inches. Some panels have tabs---one panel slides into the tab of the next---which eliminates overlaps.


2. Decide how you will fasten your corrugated ceiling panels. If your roof has internal braces, you can screw your panels to those. If there are none, you will have to install some: Corrugated panels need to be fastened about every 6 inches. If your porch frame is wood, nail or screw two-by-two boards (or even one-by-two if your span is not long) across the porch where your panels will meet. Measure panels and lay out those dimensions exactly. Test this by putting panels on the porch floor to see how they match.


3. Screw your corrugated ceiling panels in place. This will require help and ladders. Support panels on both ends and screw one end into the framing, then move halfway down the panel and add screws, then screw in the other end. Then go back and add screws until the panel is secure and tight. Leave room for any overlap as you install screws. Then add another panel and another until your ceiling is covered. Panels should fit tightly at the sides and ends. Cut panels with tin snips or a metal saw to fit as needed. If there is a light fixture in the ceiling, cut around that. Remove the fixture if possible, then re-install it after the ceiling is in place.

Tags: barns sheds, ceiling panels, corrugated ceiling, corrugated ceiling panels, panels those, your corrugated, your corrugated ceiling
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Bathroom Medicine Cabinets With Lights

Adding lights to your medicine cabinet can serve both function and form.


If you want to add a medicine cabinet to your bathroom, or bring more attention to an existing medicine cabinet, the right lighting is essential. You can use lighting to make it easier to see the medicine cabinet's contents, as well as to make the cabinet a decorative accent in the bathroom.


Size


Be sure the size of the lighting matches the size of the medicine cabinet. If you've installed a small cabinet on the bathroom's main wall, tiny lights underneath the medicine cabinet will illuminate the cabinet's contents when the cabinet is opened. For a larger cabinet, a bigger overhead light may be best.


Types


There are a few types of lights that work well in and around a medicine cabinet, depending on the style and shape of the cabinet. For instance, if you've positioned it right above the sink, small accent lighting on the actual shelves of the cabinet may come in handy if the main lighting fixture is not particularly large. A light that comes on automatically when the medicine cabinet is swung or pulled open is also practical if you store a number of important items in the medicine cabinet.








Considerations


If you're including a large medicine cabinet in your bathroom, lights that you can push on and off can be attached to the shelves. These help to conserve energy, and make it easy for you to find the items you need. The lights can also be attached to the sides of the medicine cabinet to free up shelf space.

Tags: medicine cabinet, cabinet contents, cabinet your, cabinet your bathroom, lights that, medicine cabinet your, your bathroom
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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Finish Deck Ceilings

The ceiling over a covered deck, or porch, or any other outdoor space, can't be dressed out in plaster or drywall as you might do indoors, because those materials are not moistureproof. For that outdoor space, your only real option is a wood ceiling, which can be hung directly onto the bare joists above the deck. Make sure the wood ceiling that you order is pre-finished and weatherized.


Instructions


1. Measure the length of the deck ceiling alongside the edge where you want to start. It must be an edge that runs perpendicular to the ceiling joists.


2. Mark out the measurement onto a beadboard ceiling plank. Cut the plank straight across with a miter saw.


3. Hold the board to the ceiling, so the grooved side faces the wall and is positioned half an inch out from it. Secure it with a trim nailer, shooting two nails through the face at every point where the board crosses a joist.


4. Use your miter saw to cut the next beadboard to size. Connect it to the first board via its tongue-and-groove edging. Secure it by angling the nails up through the side of the board (one per joist) rather than through the face.


5. Repeat for each board, working your way across the ceiling. Use a table saw to cut the final board along its length to fit against the ending wall. Leave half an inch between the edge of the board and the wall. Trim will cover the spaces around the perimeter.

Tags: half inch, nails through, outdoor space, through face, wood ceiling
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Clean Indoor Ceiling Sun Lights

A skylight lets much needed sunlight into your home.








Indoor ceiling sunlights, otherwise known as skylights, provide a unique view to the outside world. A skylight lets you see the open sky while letting much needed sunlight flood your home. These ceiling portals let in enough light so that man-made lights are not needed until late in the evening, which will save money on your electric bill. Keeping skylights clean is important for its appearance and function. Cleaning a skylight is a matter of using the proper techniques and being as safe as possible.


Instructions








1. Open your step ladder and lock both side braces. Place the open ladder under your skylight. Be sure that all four feet of the ladder are flat on the floor and the ladder will not wobble.


2. Have your assistant hold the ladder firmly while you climb to the top. Remember that you should never stand on the top rung of a step ladder. Get a taller ladder if yours s too short. Have your assistant hand the window cleaner and paper towels up to you when you are in position. Place your materials on the storage platform on the non-climbing side of the step ladder.


3. Twist the nozzle of your window cleaner bottle to the "spray" position. Coat the skylight with a fine mist of window cleaning chemical.


4. Fold a paper towel in half twice to get a four-ply square. Rub the window in a circular motion to distribute the chemical and wipe away any dirt or debris on the glass. Discard the paper towel.


5. Fold a new paper towel into a four-ply square. Use small, circular rubbing motions to dry the window and rub away any streaks on the glass. Wash and dry the window again if necessary to remove dirt, debris or streaks.

Tags: paper towel, step ladder, dirt debris, Fold paper, Fold paper towel
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Types Of Millwork

An interior open millwork staircase can form a central point for a home's design and decor.


The term 'millwork' is broadly used to describe hard and soft wood trims and manufactured wood items that get installed in homes to finish the walls, doors, and windows. The type of millwork can set the decorative tone in a home. Millwork can be smooth and minimal, which blends cleanly into the home's decor, or highly fluted and decorative, catching your attention in colonial and country motifs.








Pine Millwork


The most basic millwork category, pine boards, are milled into variously shaped trim that is installed around doors, windows, and the perimeter of rooms. Economical and forgiving, pine trim is easy to install, caulk, and paint to match any room's decor. Pine trim is typically not stained and varnished: the soft properties of its wood create an uneven appearance.


Hardwood Millwork


Hardwood boards such as maple, birch, cherry and oak are milled into decorative trim and used to enhance a room's decor. Hardwood trim is usually stained and finished since the fine grain and hard wood surface lends itself to this process. Hardwoods can be milled into trim profiles that are wider than soft pine while retaining their shapes. Hardwoods often are used to make crown molding and baseboards that are three inches or wider.


Vinyl-Wrapped Composite


Composite wood boards are wrapped with thin, wood grain, embossed vinyl to create an inexpensive and easy to install millwork. This economical no-work approach is often used in apartment buildings and starter homes. The vinyl-wrapped millwork creates the look of stained hardwood trim, but costs less. This trim is manufactured with matching doors for interior decor.








Architectural Millwork


Architectural millwork describes highly ornate, custom wood pieces that are used to build open, winding staircases, featuring spindle rails and hardwood stair tread. Installing staircases is an art form unto itself, and a handmade open staircase is often the center point of a home's interior design. Whether these installations are stained and finished with varnish or painted, the architectural millwork projects must be installed perfectly to create a structurally sound staircase and handrail that is at once also beautiful.


Pre-manufactured Millwork


Pre-manufactured millwork refers to doors, windows, window walls, and patio-door units that are installed in homes during construction. A home center's millwork department provides prefinished or raw wood doors and window wall units for contractors. The term millwork also describes pre-hung metal doors and vinyl replacement windows. In the same way that wood trim creates a home's decorative motif, windows and doors are used to accent a home's look and feel.

Tags: doors windows, milled into, that installed, easy install, installed homes, often used, point home
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Repair A Floor Lamp Fixture

Rescue a broken floor lamp by replacing the socket and cord.








When a floor lamp stops working, there are usually two causes for the problem: a bad socket or a bad cord. Since both of these issues involve taking apart the lamp, it is wise to replace both items. This will eliminate the possibility of replacing one part, only to have the problem be the part that was not replaced. Replacement sockets and cords can be purchased at most home stores for around $10 for both, according to 2010 prices.


Instructions


1. Remove the shade or top of the floor lamp. Usually there is a nut that holds a shade on, or, if the lamp has an open glass top, there is a nut around the socket. Remove the light bulb from the socket. Unscrew the nut and lift off the shade or top.


2. Lay the lamp down on the floor to make it easier to work on.


3. Unscrew the collar around the socket. On some models there may not be a collar around the socket. The object is to take off whatever needs removing in order to allow the socket to be pulled loose. The knob that turns the light off and on will have to be unscrewed before the socket can be removed.


4. Pull the socket up and slide the outer sleeve off to reveal the two wires that connect to the socket.


5. Unfasten the wires attached to the screws on the socket with a screwdriver.


6. Remove the bottom on the base of the lamp and untie any knots in the cord. This knot is to ensure that if the cord gets pulled, it will not damage the connection to the socket.


7. Pull the cord out of the bottom of the base.


8. Install the new cord and socket by reversing the steps used to remove the old ones.

Tags: around socket, floor lamp, bottom base, collar around, collar around socket
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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Ceiling Fan Light Switch Repair

The light switch in your ceiling fan is replaceable.


The ceiling fan light switch operates by pulling on the chain to turn the light on and off. This repeated pulling action tends to cause the light switch to fail. It is recommended that you inspect the light switch on your ceiling fan once a year for any damage. The ceiling fan light switch is a universal and inexpensive part used in all pull-chain light switch operations.


Instructions


1. Turn off the circuit breaker that supplies the electricity to the ceiling fan at the main electrical panel.


2. Remove the light kit and light switch from the ceiling fan. The light kit is attached to the light kit wire housing by three or more screws. The light kit wire housing is located between the light kit and the ceiling fan blades.


3. Disconnect the light kit from the ceiling fan. Remove the wire connectors that hold the two black wires from the light switch inside the light kit to the two black wires in the light kit housing. If your switch is hardwired to the ceiling fan (connected by one continual piece of wire), use a wire cutter/stripper to cut the two black wires connected to the light switch as close to the plastic switch housing as possible, leaving enough wire for installing a replacement switch.


4. Unscrew the retaining nut to release the original light switch. The switch retaining nut holds the light switch into the body of the light kit and is located on the outside of the kit. Thread the chain and the replacement light switch through the body of the light kit where you removed the old switch and reattach the retaining nut to hold the switch in place.


5. Wire the replacement ceiling fan light switch. Connect one black wire from the light switch to one black wire in the ceiling fan light kit housing by twisting a wire connector to both wires. Repeat this connection for the remaining black wire from the light switch and the remaining black wire from the light kit housing.








6. Replace the light kit onto the ceiling fan and turn the ceiling fan circuit breaker back on at the main electrical panel.

Tags: light switch, black wire, ceiling light, from light, black wire from, black wires
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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Decorate Lighting

Decorated Chandelier


Lighting fixtures can be the focal point of a room. You might be embarrassed by your lighting if it's outdated. If you want a new lighting fixture, you may have to hire a professional to install it. You then may want to change all the other fixtures that are visible from that room so they match. However, instead of replacing your fixture, decorate it for a fresh look that will save you money.








Instructions


1. Remove outdated elements. Your lighting fixture may be decades old. Before you decide to replace all your lighting, strip it down to the bare bones. Take off the shade and any removable decorative pieces. This lets you know if there is anything salvageable about your light fixture. Even if you want new lighting, you can remove the crystals for use in a future project.


2. Change the shade. Large drum shades are popular in modern design. Spruce up the shades that you already have with decorative elements and a hot glue gun. Be aware that if you use colored fabric over a shade it will change the glow of the light in the room. If you want a crisp, clean light, keep your lampshades white or ivory. Spruce up your lighting by adding decorative elements to the bottom of the shade. Use anything from feathers, ribbon, beads or sea shells. Check to make sure that your decorative elements are a safe distance from the bulb.








3. Paint the lighting fixture a fresh color. You can redecorate your light with a little spray paint. The lines of your chandelier might be fine, but you don't like brass. Use a spray paint with a glossy or metallic finish. Try a hot pink light in a little girl's room for a funky element. Hammered spray paint works well with rustic decor.


4. Hide the chain. Buy or make a chain cover. These covers are often made from silk and adhesive tape. This means that you won't have to take down your lighting fixture to install it. Just wrap the fabric around the chain and secure. Chain covers allow you to hide less-attractive elements of your fixture while adding color and texture.


5. Add crystals. You might want a more formal lighting fixture in your dining room or entryway. Crystal chandeliers can be expensive so create your own. Head to the salvage yard and see if they have any leftover crystals or crystal ropes. Hang multicolored or different sizes of crystal for added interest.


6. Switch your decorations out seasonally. Hang twigs, flowers or berries between the arms of your chandelier to give it a new look. Tie small tree ornaments to the chandelier instead of crystals for a festive makeover. Attach with ribbon or wire.


7. Use a decorative bulb. Look for bulbs that give you a brighter light. Try round modern bulbs or ones that look like candles to change the feeling of your light fixture.

Tags: lighting fixture, your lighting, decorative elements, spray paint, your light, light fixture
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Tips On Adding On A Bedroom & Bathroom

A bed and bath need not even require two separate rooms.


The addition of a bedroom with a private bathroom to your house calls for a number of important decisions to be made. The further in advance you can finalize these issues, the more likely the process of adding on will be smooth and problem free. The opportunity to expand your home by two different rooms at once gives you the freedom or responsibility, depending on how you look at it, to integrate the two rooms into a cohesive whole using architectural and decorative measures.


Bed and Bath for Kids


The addition of a bedroom with a bathroom that will also serve an existing adjacent bedroom is an effective solution to the issue of a single bathroom in a home with a growing family. When the two bedrooms that connect to the new bathroom are occupied by two or more children of different genders, one of the best decisions you can make during the addition process is to build what is known as a Jack and Jill bathroom, which means installing twin vanities, individualized shower racks for each child and a separate alcove for a shower so that one child can bathe in privacy while another child showers.


Walk-in Closet Entryway


The process of bathing and dressing can be streamlined when you add a bedroom with an attached bathroom. Design the two rooms so that you enter the bathroom through a walk-in closet. One method to accomplish this involves a closet with a pathway through clothes storage on either side. Another is to install a large mirror in the middle of one wall while the opposite wall is equipped for storing clothing.


Second Story Considerations


You can add a bedroom to the second story of a house just about anywhere that will support the weight. A bedroom that contains a private bath considerably narrows your options. The bathroom situated on the second floor must be placed either where it can be attached vertically to existing first floor plumbing lines or where it can share plumbing lines with an existing bathroom on the second story.


Drama and Style


The addition of a bed and bath can be a project that lets you add great stylistic flourish to your home. The design stage is the time to experiment with imaginative ideas and construct a wish list. Style can be supplemented by installing French doors at the entrance from the bedroom to the bath. A good tip during the early stages of this kind of addition is that you may want to cut back on your budgeting for fixtures in both rooms and move that money over toward integrating the connection between bed and bath in a more strikingly artistic manner.








L-shape Design


An L-shape is an effective way to add a bedroom/bathroom combination. The longer end of the L can be utilized for the bedroom while the shorter end of the L is the ideal size for a bathroom of a less expansive type. This design can even do away with the need to install a doorway that acts to separate the bedroom from the bathroom as the alcove-like placement of the bath provides all the necessary privacy.

Tags: bedroom with, addition bedroom, addition bedroom with, plumbing lines, second story, that will, your home
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