Home Improvement Remodeling

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Welcome To Home Improvement Remodeling

Welcome To Home Improvement Remodeling where our aim is to provide you with Home Improvement Remodeling advice for your Home Improvement Projects.

With ever increasing prices and the mass of information available more and more people are taking on their own Home Improvement Remodeling projects.  We will provide advice on all the different types of Home Improvement remodeling you can undertake.  Just a word of caution!  Always consult a professional before undertaking any major Home Improvement work.

Home Improvement Remodeling - Your Basic Home Improvement Toolbox 

Part One

When it comes to Home Improvement Remodeling a well-stocked-and easily accessible-toolbox can make anyone's life a little, be she a homeowner, renter, or college student. The ten most basic tools listed below will put you in the right direction on the path toward complete tool sufficiency.

Toolbox

Not one to overlook the obvious, I would like to point out that the toolbox itself is an essential element of a well-equipped toolbox. My first toolbox was actually a plastic tackle box with a removable tray. It worked like a charm, holding my claw hammer, Phillips head screwdriver and a random assortment of nails and screws. Now I've graduated to a fancy toolkit made of molded plastic where all the various tools and accessories snap into a particular place. If, like me, there are certain tools you use once a decade, the molded plastic option at least gives you a clue of whether the missing tool is long and skinny or short and square.

Home Repair Manual

Although technically not a tool, a good home-repair manual can open doors-literally! Peruse the selection in your local bookstore or check out some online reviews of the most popular ones. All repair manuals will have the same basic information, so base your decision on the wording that makes the most sense to you and the pictures that you find the most helpful.

Hammer

Most often used for driving nails and breaking things apart, the hammer typically consists of a handle and a head. The most essential hammer to have in your toolbox is the claw hammer, which is useful in both driving in and removing nails. Other implements in the "hammer" category include: framing hammer, upholstery hammer, ball-peen hammer, rubber mallet, wooden mallet, and sledgehammer.

Screwdrivers

Screwdrivers tighten or loosen screws by applying torque. The typical hand-held screwdriver has a head that engages the screw, a shaft, and a handle. Screwdrivers vary in both size and head shape, and are identified by the screw heads they are used to tighten or loosen. The most basic screwdrivers are the slotted and Phillips-every toolbox should have a couple of each in varying sizes. Additional screwdrivers include: PoziDriv, Robertson, crosspoint, Torx, and Hex.

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Home Improvement Remodeling - Your Basic Home Improvement Toolbox 

Let's move on to look at the other essential Home Improvement Remodeling tools:

Pliers

Pliers are used to increase gripping ability and leverage. However, within this category, pliers can perform slightly different functions. Cutting pliers sever or pinch off materials. Gripping pliers, as described above, are pretty self explanatory and include flat nose pliers, round nose pliers, and needle nose pliers. Gripping pliers are the most common variety, and are a tool no toolbox is complete without.

Tape Measure

Although tape measures can be made of cloth, ribbon, or metal, most toolbox tape measures consist of a stiff metallic ribbon, housed in a plastic case, which is self-retracting but can also be locked into place. Twenty-five feet is a good, all-purpose length.

Saw

A saw is used for cutting-the type of material to be cut varies with the saw. A saw consists of a serrated blade, handle, and can be powered by hand, steam, water, or electricity. For your basic toolbox, a relatively small hand saw may be all that is required for minor projects around the home. In addition to the hand saw, back saws have a thinner blade that is reinforced by a steel or brass back. Frame saws stiffen the blade by placing it in a frame. For example, a hacksaw is a frame saw.

Putty Knife

A putty knife has a flat, flexible blade. Rather than being used for cutting, a putty knife is useful for-you guessed it!-scraping and applying putty. Not too much to describe about this simple tool, but I can tell you that it's handy in many different situations, and one of the most inexpensive tools on the list. Why not get it?

Wrenches

A wrench is used to create additional leverage in turning nuts, bolts, or other stubborn items. The most basic wrench is an open-end wrench, which is a solid piece of metal with a U-shaped opening at one end that grips the sides of a nut or bolt. More advanced wrenches include: a box-end wrench, which features an enclosed opening and is typically used with nuts or bolts that are hexagonal in shape; an adjustable end wrench or Crescent wrench, a socket wrench, and the Hex key or Allen wrench.

Awl

An awl is a woodworking tool, very useful for starting holes before drilling. Quite simply, the scratch awl is a steel spike with a sharpened tip at one end and a handle on the other. In actual woodworking, a scratch awl is used for scribing a line to be followed by a hand saw or chisel.

Home Improvement Remodeling - The Power Tools! 

Let's take a look at some of the Power Tools you will need for Home Improvement Remodeling

Cordless Screwdriver. A cordless screwdriver will help you for all of those small tasks that don't need a lot of heavy power to do it. For example you'll be able to use it for screwing furniture together, pre-drilling holes for hanging heavy objects on walls, or even to drill holes for picture frame hanging. One added benefit is that most have a reversible switch which lets you back out the screw if you need to.

Cordless Drill. You'll need a cordless drill especially if you've got a larger number of holes to drill for a project, and it's handy too for not having to change out your screws between the screwdriver and cordless drill. They are great for making pivot holes for screws.

Corded Drill. A corded drill is necessary when you've got a large number of holes to drill. The cordless drill just doesn't have the power to drill through some material as a corded drill does. Its limitation is the length of the cord, but extensions can be added safely to it.

Power Circular Saw. Power circular saws are much easier on the hands than a hand saw, and they cut much more efficiently too. Break out the power circular saw when you want to cut large 2x4s, or any sheets of lumber such as particle board.

Jig Saw. The jig saw will help you out of tough tight cuts. Intricate work like cutting around cabinet edges or anywhere a close fitting cut is necessary.

Caulking Gun. A caulking gun is used for a variety of projects around the house. If you want to put up a shower wall you'll need the gun for adhesive. Other uses are for caulking around window frames and filler for holes.

Damaged Screw Remover. A very valuable tool for removing screws in which the head has been damaged from a bad bit, or from an overzealous drill. It can be a safety issue too. Damaged screws can have rough edges and deep cuts can result.

Damaged Nut Remover. A typical application of this neat little tool is for example removing a rusted bolt when replacing a toilet. It's good too for bicycle repair.

Magnet. Long handled magnets on a stick are good for remodeling uses. Nails, nuts, bolts are easy to loose track of, and at times in very inconvenient places such as between floorboards or behind appliances. Make sure to get one. It might save you from an extra trip to replace hardware that's lost.

Home Improvement Remodeling - The Different Types Of Nail 

There are long and short nails, brass nails and galvanized and different types of nail heads. They can all be used for something around the house, or remodeling a whole room in your house.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Home Improvement Remodeling - The Different Types Of Hammer 

When it comes to Home Improvement Remodeling the hammer is one of the simplest tools-consisting of a handle and a head-there is nonetheless a great variety of sizes, styles, and functionalities. For basic home repairs, which ones should you have handy? Read on to find out!

Knock these off the list

In general, there are some tools that fall into the "hammer" category that are only used for more specialized tasks. These include: mallets and mauls, which are woodworking tools; ball-peen hammers, used for metalwork; and more heavy duty options such as the roofers' hammer or sledgehammer. Assuming you are just looking for something that drives nails and occasionally breaks things apart, we'll disregard the options below and discuss the more common varieties.

What's it made of?

Hammer heads, which have the striking surface, are typically made of metal.

The handle allows a good grip, extends the arc of your swing thereby increasing speed and velocity of the strike, and-in modern times-serves as a shock absorber. The most common and inexpensive handles are made of wood, just as they have been since the hammer was first invented. Although wood handles have okay shock absorption, keep in mind that they will probably need to be replaced at some point. Another problem unique to wooden handles is that over-striking and hitting the handle against the piece you're working on will cause a wooden handle more damage than it would to a metal or fiberglass one.

Also around for hundreds of years, metal hammer handles are extremely durable and resist damage from over-striking. The weakness of a metal hammer is its lack of shock absorption. To combat this, most metal hammers also have a well-cushioned grip.

Finally, the new kid on the block in hammer handle materials is fiberglass. Fiberglass handles have the best of both worlds-they absorb shock as well as or better than a wooden handle (with the addition of a rubbery grip), and they are nearly as rigid or durable as metal handles. Fiberglass hammers can also be used by electricians.

Home Improvement Remodeling - Deciding Which Is The Right Hammer For You 

Weigh your options

The most popular hammer weights are between 455 and 680g (16 to 24 oz). The state hammer weight consists of the weight of the head only-not the handle. A 12-oz hammer is known as a tack hammer and can be used for driving small nails, brads, and tacks. While 20 oz hammers drive larger nails efficiently, the middle size of 16 oz hammers is the most popular and versatile.

Choose a head, any head

Most general work hammers have a flat striking face on one end and a peen on the other, with the balance in the head. Peens vary in design; the most common hammer is the claw hammer, in which the peen is shaped like a two-prong, curved fork. This claw design is most useful for pulling nails. Similarly, a rip hammer has a two-prong, straight fork. The rip hammer is designed to pry apart two joined pieces of wood.

The deciding factor

Although the purpose of the hammer is the most important factor in your decision, you should also consider how an individual hammer feels to you. When you have narrowed down your choices based on weight, type of materials, and style, pick up your finalists and swing them. If possible and safe, hit something with it. Consider how the hammer feels in your hand, whether the shock level is acceptable, and if you have a good grip and a good amount of swinging power for the project at hand.

Handle your hammer like a pro

Now that you've bought your hammer, learn what to do with it! A few basic hammer use pointers are addressed below.

To make a job easier and avoid damage to either your tools or the project, always choose the appropriate hammer for each individual job.

If you notice a hammer slipping off nails, use medium sand paper to roughen the face.

Never use the side of a hammer head to make contact, because the metal at this point is not hardened like the striking face and could incur damage.

Check on a regular basis to ensure the steel wedges holding the hammer handle in the hammer head are tight. Wood can shrink in dry conditions. If a wood handle does become loose, submerse the head in water overnight. This will rehydrate the wood, causing it to expand and tighten up again.

A piece of scrap wood inserted between the work piece and hammer will prevent damage to the work piece when crafting delicate projects.

Another way to prevent damage to the work piece is to use a nail punch to sink nails into the timber.

Home Improvement Remodeling - Deciding To Tile 

Part One

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

1. Is Ceramic Tile Suitable for Your Space?

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

2. Select the right Size, Style and Texture

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

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

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

Home Improvement Remodeling - Deciding To Tile 

Part Two

3. Choose an Appropriate Grout Color and Width

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

4. Installation Materials and Methods

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

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

5. Maintenance

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

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Lensmaster

WritingforYourWealth wrote...

A good toolbox is certainly a necessity. :)

ReplyPosted January 27, 2009

About The Lensmaster 

Lensmaster pkmcr, aka Paul Duxbury, has been a member since September 17 2006, has rated 323 lenses, favorited 171, and has created 104 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "How To Use Twitter". See all my lenses

My Bio

Paul is a learning and development specialist who is passionate about helping others to succeed. Paul draws on extensive experience of Coaching and working as a Senior Manager in Operational Management roles as well as Human Resources and Learning and Development roles.

The people Paul works with recognize his ability to "think outside the box."

Paul is also a published Writer, Business Success Coach and Business Creator.  He is also a keen Genealogist and Family Historian. He coaches and works with people around the world providing advice on making money from their business and starting new online businesses.


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