Posted by woodrow ~ March 15th, 2010
Depending on your local building codes, you may be required to have a bathroom fan even if there are windows in the room. Without a fan equipped to handle the job, you’re risking mildew, mold, rot, warping doors and window frames, paint and wallpaper damage. Be sure to read our informative article on the basics of bathroom fans.
Bathroom Fan Guide
Installing a new fan during a bath remodeling project or replacing the one you have can take at least a full day to complete, so plan ahead to work in dry weather.
The most difficult part of the project can be the ducting of the ventilation to the outdoors, which means working through the roof or soffit.
You can also route the ventilation through the attic and out a side wall. Above everything else, don’t vent bathroom moisture directly into an attic or sub floor and let it remain there.
Steps in Installing a Bathroom Fan
Home Depot presents a helpful installation guide on its website. In order, the steps are to:
1. Cut the hole (from above if you have an attic, from below if there’s no attic).
2. Attach the fan (and block insulation from the fan).
3. Cut the roof hole.
4. Cut out shingles
5. Install a roof cap
6. Connect the ductwork
7. Wire the fan, then the switch
When shopping for a new or replacement fan, check fan ratings in how many cubic feet of air their move per minute (CFM). A rule of thumb is to multiply 1.1 against your bathroom square footage to determine the CFM sufficient to move out moisture.
Replace a Noisy Bathroom Fan
Fan noise is rated by “sones.” The lower the number, the quieter the fan. Reader’s Digest has step-by-step instructions for replacing a noisy fan with a better unit. I’ve never lost sleep because of the sound of a fan, but I don’t usually run my fan at bedtime. A fan that sounds like an Air Force bomber can be distracting when shaving or putting on makeup.
If you’re going to do either project, be sure to check with your municipality or county to obtain any required permits and inspections. And if you’re uncomfortable with wiring, call in a contractor. In planning any bathroom remodel, it’s wise to look over any potential plumbing, fixtures, electrical, or structural changes before picking up the hammer.
Tags: bathroom, Electrical, fan, local contractors, paint, Remodeling
Posted in Bathrooms, General Remodeling, Home Maintenance, Remodeling | 4 Comments »
Posted by woodrow ~ March 12th, 2010
I wonder how many hours per week I spend at the kitchen sink. I prepare my meals by washing all the ingredients, including fresh spices. I don’t own a dishwasher, so I’m on cleanup duty, too. And when I entertain people, the sink just fills and fills until everyone goes home. Kitchen Cabinets Design advises consumers to never underestimate the importance of a good sink.
Channel 4
I did a roundup on some very sweet kitchen sinks in January, and we had a fun look at sink design trends last year. I thought it would make good reading to see what goes into making the right choice for a kitchen sink during restoration or home remodeling.
The folks at Demesne do a great job of outlining the choices in sink styles: Top mount sinks, Under-mounts, Tile-In, and Flush-mount.
I agree with them in that the style of the home is as important a quality to consider in a new kitchen sink as are the methods for installation, the way you use your kitchen, and the sink materials you plan to use. You can buy new, historical reproductions, used and reclaimed sinks—and the kind of faucet hardware that pulls the design together.
Get Some Advice While Remodeling Your Kitchen
Talk to sink manufacturers, retailers, and contractors before making a decision. According to Friendly Plumber thickness is a main determining factor in stainless steel sinks. Enamel-over-cast-iron sinks can be more durable than steel, providing your countertops can handle them. Many homeowners are choosing solid-surface seamless sinks that cost more than metal sinks, but they’re fused to the counters and look fantastic.
Each choice comes with pluses and minuses. When you think of large families with children, think stainless. It holds up well to objects tossed devil-may-care into their basins. Solid surface sinks can chip. Polyester-acrylic composite kitchen sinks are on the more affordable end, but they’re not as tough as metal.
Find the sink that best combines form and function for your family and your home. Do you need a farmhouse style sink with a deep bowl? Perhaps you should order a double-bowl sink. In a tight space, you don’t need both bowls to be large. And then there’s hardware. Are you a two handle sink jockey or is a single lever enough?
Think it through and look around home improvement or renovation stores. I like seeing the sinks in-person, rather than shuffle through photos on the Web. After all, I’m the one doing the dishes.
Tags: counters, farmhouse sink, kitchen, remodel, sink
Posted in General Remodeling, Kitchens, Remodeling | No Comments »
Posted by woodrow ~ March 7th, 2010
One great way to get a start on spring cleaning is to create more room to get around in your garage. I find that the clutter in my life spills into an overflow cabinet in the garage. After a while, you can’t get at your tools, bicycles, and–in my case–the washer and dryer.
The Times Union
I found two great articles on de-cluttering the garage in my Web journeys this week. Putting in suspended shelving is a terrific idea, and the steps are spelled out simply at Reader’s Digest. If you have a foot and a half of clearance along the wall atop the garage door, you can build a suspended shelf strong enough to hold foot-tall plastic storage bins.
The key is to anchor the shelf along a series of three joists to distribute the weight. Then, if your bikes are too heavy for the standard hook-in the-wall solution, Reader’s Digest suggests adding a $30 Hoist Monster (ProStar) and yanking your two-wheeled rides on a pulley. Cool idea.
Half-day De-Clutter Renovation
The Do It Yourself Network has a $200-$500 project that takes less than a day to install a wire-grid wall storage system between a pair of joists. I like the idea of ventilated shelving in the garage.
For the project, you install rails with screws and anchors, add uprights and brackets, then snap in the shelves and cover the tips of the wire with end caps. Any sensible way to get stuff off the floor and open out garage space is a winner.
Opening up the space and working along the walls gives you ample opportunity to examine your structure in fresh light. If you have trouble with dry rot, here’s a simple way to handle repairs. And while you’re clearing clutter, here’s a solution for the bathroom.
Tags: cleaning, clutter, garage, home improvement projects
Posted in General Remodeling, Remodeling | 3 Comments »
Posted by woodrow ~ March 5th, 2010
Considering home improvement plans? One of the trickier jobs in hanging new drywall on a renovated room or expansion is coping with severely bent or bowed studs. The gap between the drywall and the stud can create curves, or worse, cracks and warps in the wall.
If it’s a slight bulge, you might get away with creating a smooth surface. But if it’s a severe warp or curve, you want to attend to it right from the start. If the stud shows a concave section in your inspection, it’s important to determine if the stud is in a load-bearing wall. It’s easier to cut a non-bearing wall stud slightly at the bow in a triangular slice right at the center of the bowed place. Put a shim tightly into the cut, straighten it, and remove the excess with a razor knife. Firm up the stud with a cut 2×4 “sister,” screwed tightly into place to give you a flat surface for the drywall.
But if it’s a load-bearing wall, it might be more prudent to replace the stud.
Popular Mechanics
More About Stud Finders
If you’ve been doing handiwork for a while, you might be surprised at how technology has evolved in stud finders. Popular Mechanics celebrated the emergence of stud sensors, scanners, and tracers a few years ago. You can find self-marking sensors, wood-framing tracers, conduit and re-bar-trackers.
There are level and finder combos that set lines and handle much of the work you had to do with a straight-edge, plumb-line, and pencil. Cool stuff. By the way, do you know the right questions to ask your home inspector?
Tags: drywall, finders, improvements, studs, walls
Posted in General Remodeling, Remodeling | 2 Comments »
Posted by woodrow ~ March 1st, 2010
I know that electric wall ovens have a larger capacity than their gas counterparts, but when it comes to cooktops, give me gas power every time. The immediate response to changes in heat makes for great control over frying, simmering, and poaching great entrees and side dishes. Sure, electric-powered ranges boil water a little quicker. But I’m willing to sacrifice that for the complete mastery gas cooktops give me over the balance of my cooking chores.
Home Depot
Having separate ovens and cooktop appliances means extra work on the installation end, and it can be well worth it if you like the conveniences and benefits of each. One of the easiest ways to comparison shop for cooktops is online. You can find great sales and discounts on the Web, too. Before you start, set a budget, measure the area for the cooktop, determine the power source you want, evaluate venting needs, select the kind of burners you want, the surface materials, and especially the manufacturer’s warranties.
Gas Versus Electric Kitchen Cooktops
Sears tends to favor gas-powered cooktops for serious cooks. Basic cooktop models come in 30″ and 36″ models, and you can spare yourself time and effort if you replace the same size appliance during your remodeling. Both gas and electric models start around $300 in the most economical varieties, going upwards to $600 for better models. If you like induction, be prepared to spend as much as $2,500.
Consumer Reports estimates that you can spend between $200 and $1,500 for a good gas cooktop, and between $150 and $1,000 for electrics. Most experts suggest evaluating your cooktop choices based on cleanup and safety. All cooktops stay hot for a while after you turn them off, but you can buy models that display a red warning button to show you the heat is still present in the element.
While you’re at it, look over the latest kitchen design trends. Need to add a new kitchen sink? We have suggestions.
Tags: appliances, cooktop, electric, gas, kitchen, shopping
Posted in General Remodeling, Kitchens, Remodeling | 3 Comments »
