Posted on Fri, Apr 16, 2010
Posted by: Brian Ciota, Vice President
Cracked or missing grout not only looks bad but it can cause water seepage and mildew growth.
To re-grout ceramic bathroom tile, you'll need these tools and materials:
- Grout saw, which can be purchased at a hardware store
- Grout float
- Grout sponge
- Rags
- Squeegee
- Commercial grout cleaner
- Grout
- Grout sealer
Follow these steps for a professional looking job:
- If possible, take a small piece of grout from your bathroom to a home improvement store to match it correctly. Color is important and so is finding the right grout for your project. Ask the salesperson for non-shrinking grout. It may save you time and effort. Grout may shrink as it dries and you will have to re-apply grout to fill grooves.
- Clean and remove the existing grout. Be careful not to damage tiles. Use a commercial grout cleaner to remove soap scum, mildew and grime. Let the surface dry completely.
- Remove damaged and cracked grout with a grout saw. The saw has a rough carbide surface which grinds out the grout. Check to be sure that there is no loose material left between the tiles.
- Dampen the grooves between the tiles with a wet rag. Moisture is needed to assure that the grout adheres properly. Don't over-wet the area. Be sure the surface is damp.
- Mix the grout according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Apply the grout evenly over the spaces with a grout float.
- After all the grooves are filled and smoothed, go over the area with a squeegee to remove excess grout from the face of the tiles. You can also use a grout sponge for this step. If you remove grout from the grooves, go back over the area with the grout float.
- Let the grout dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. Re-apply if you notice gaps.
- When you're satisfied with the grout work, apply grout sealer. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. After the sealer dries, take a wet rag or sponge and wipe residue off the tiles. You'll notice a haze. Allow the haze to dry and wipe it off with a dry rag. Your tile will shine and look new again.
Posted on Tue, Apr 13, 2010
Posted by: Brian Ciota, Vice President
Caulk is used to fill gaps and seal areas. Caulk applied around windows and doors reduces drafts and prevents water leaks. Around bathroom and kitchen fixtures, it provides a water proof seal. Caulk is applied around counters for aesthetics, and is also used by painters to eliminate gaps between walls and trim.
To caulk an area of your home you'll need:
- A caulk tube or cartridge (It's very important to read the product information to find the right caulk for your job)
- A retractable razor blade scraper
- A long nail
- Several cotton rags
Here's how to do a professional caulking job:
- Remove the old caulk with the razor blade scraper and vacuum the debris.
- Wipe the area with a dry cloth.
- Open the caulk tube or cartridge by making a clean cut at a 45-degree angle. Puncture the inner seal with a long nail. Place the cartridge in the caulk gun.
- Squeeze the tube or cartridge handle hard enough to get the caulk into the joint. Work the area at a slow and consistent speed.
- After applying the caulk, the less you touch it, the better. If needed, smooth the joint by lightly using your finger. If you're using latex caulk, you can moisten your finger with water to prevent the caulk from sticking. Be careful to avoid getting water on the surface that the caulk is adhered to. If you are using silicone caulk, wet your finger with saliva to smooth the joint. Silicone caulk can be very difficult to smooth out after it has been applied.
- Let the caulk dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Posted on Sat, Apr 10, 2010
Posted by: Brian Ciota, Vice President
Every home needs to be painted periodically. Paint is the best way to freshen a home. Home improvement magazines and television shows make it seem so easy, but before you paint do a little research. What the magazines and TV shows don't tell you is how to select paint, how to prepare a room for painting, the tools required for your job and the steps that lead to a good paint job. They also don't tell you how long it will take to complete the job, especially if you're painting solo.
Before you buy a can of paint, take the time to ask questions at your local paint or hardware store. Their experts will advise you about the best paint for your project. Ask about the tools you will need for the job and how to use them. You may feel odd about asking someone about how to hold a paintbrush, but there is a technique to painting that the pros know to paint in a straight line and avoid drips and smudges.
Proper preparation before the paint goes on the wall will save time in the long run.
Here's how to prepare a room for painting:
- Remove furniture from the room.
- Remove outlet covers and put them in a plastic bag to avoid losing screws. Remove doorbell covers and chimes. Remove hardware from doors and windows.
- Cover or remove light fixtures. Turn off power when doing this or working around electrical outlets.
- If you are not a pro, use painter's tape around trim, door and windows. Don't forget to tape the lock at the edge of the door.
- Cover the floor and furniture that you can't remove from the room with drop cloths or plastic.
- Remove nails and screws from walls and fill holes with spackling compound. Fill wall cracks. Ceiling cracks will take more time and effort to repair. Let the compound dry, then sand smooth.
- Scrape any loose or peeling paint.
- If the surface is uneven, spread compound over the area and sand.
- Dust the walls with a dry cloth, then wash the walls down. If there is grease and grime on the walls, wash the surface with trisodium phosphate (TSP). Wash the walls again with warm water to remove the TSP. Allow the walls to dry completely.
Painting should be done in steps. Most pros recommend using primer for the best results. (Hint: If you're painting the entire wall, tint primer to the color of the paint you've selected. It will save you an extra coat of paint.).
Paint the ceiling first, then walls, then the trim. Paint doors and windows last. Let paint dry before applying a second coat.
Posted on Thu, Apr 08, 2010
Posted by: Brian Ciota, Vice President
Repairing ceiling cracks requires patience. Cracks can occur when roof trusses expand and contract, or when the framing materials of the house move due to seasonal heating and cooling.
You'll need these tools and supplies to repair a ceiling crack:
- Paint scraper
- Joint knife
- Cutting and taping knives
- Drywall tape (mesh tape holds the compound well)
- Sanding block
- Joint compound
- Paint
- Primer
- Sandpaint (if repairing a textured ceiling)
- Paint brush and/or rollers (with ceiling extension if possible)
- Paint pan
- Ladder
- Drop cloths
- Goggles and face mask, for protection from plaster dust, and a hat.
Here's how to make the ceiling crack repair:
- Clear the area. Cover floors and furniture with drop cloths.
- Put on the face mask and goggles to protect you from breathing in plaster and getting dry compound dust in your eyes. This is a messy job so use a hat or head covering too.
- If applicable, remove old dry wall patches and tape with the scraper. Use the scraper underneath the lip of the tape and take the entire strip off.
- Widen the ceiling crack. Use the joint knife to widen the crack just a bit to give the joint compound something to adhere to.
- Apply the drywall tape and spread the joint compound over the tape with the dry wall knife. Push the compound through the mesh into the crack.
- Let the surface dry. Add additional joint compound if needed and check the surface after it has dried. Then sand smooth and wipe with a dry cloth. You may want to vacuum the area before you paint and wipe plaster dust off adjacent walls.
- Apply primer and let dry.
- Paint the crack. If your ceiling was painted with sand, use sandpaint to cover the crack. The sandpaint should be applied with a brush. Carefully blend the sandpaint with the existing surface. It may be possible to feather in the paint if you're using the same paint that's currently on the ceiling. Blending is often difficult to do if you are an amateur. If the repaired area is still evident after you've tried to blend the paint, consider re-painting the entire ceiling. It will give your room a fresh look.
Posted on Tue, Apr 06, 2010
Posted by: Brian Ciota, Vice President
Mothers always tell their children "don't play ball in the house" but accidents do happen and the result is often a hole in the drywall.
The most common area for holes in drywall is the wall behind a door where a knob impacts. Holes are now easier to repair with a relatively new material - drywall patch - that has a self adhesive mesh holding a perforated galvanized metal drywall patch.
Here are the tools and supplies you'll need to repair drywall:
- 6-inch minimum wallboard joint knife
- Cutting and taping knives
- Sanding block
- Sand paper
- Dust mask and goggles
- Dust cloth
- Paint brush
- Drywall joint compound
- Drywall patch
- Primer
- Paint
Here's how to make the drywall repair:
- Measure the hole and buy the appropriate size patch.
- Put on your dust mask and goggles.
- Clean the area to be patched with a dry cloth and, if necessary, use a cutting knife to widen the crack just a bit to give the joint compound something to adhere to and remove any loose drywall material.
- Peel off the backing and stick the drywall patch over the hole.
- Use the drywall knife and spread wallboard joint compound over the patch in layers.
- Cover all the pores of the adhesive mesh and extend the compound to about 6 inches beyond the hole or crack to blend with the surrounding area.
- Let dry and sand smooth using the sanding block. Repeat if needed.
- Dust the area with a cloth.
- Paint the surface with primer. (Hint: If you're painting the entire wall, tint primer to the color of the paint you've selected. It will save you an extra coat of paint.)
- After the primer dries, paint. If you're not painting the entire wall, feather the paint by using a slightly dry brush to blend with the existing paint surface.