Dec 29
Installing a Garbage Disposer
Posted by Jeff in Fixtures & Appliances on December 29th, 2008 | No Comments »

Installing a Garbage Disposer

There are two reasons why someone would need to know how to install a garbage disposer. The first is that they currently don’t have one. The other reason is that the one they have needs to be replaced. Whichever one of these reasons you happen to be motivated by, I have a very good piece of advice for you. Now listen carefully because it will save you time and money. Ready? Here it is: Let go of the idea that you need a garbage disposer because you don’t need one. Try this instead: Use an actual garbage can to discard your solid pieces of food. It’s easy. Simply place a real garbage can near the sink and before you wash off your plate with water, scrape off the contents into the garbage. Now pause and ask yourself: How hard was that? How much time did it take to put a garbage can near the sink? How much money is a garbage can compared to a garbage disposer? See, I told you I could save you time and money. However, if you really have a burning desire to install a garbage disposer then I will tell you and hopefully by the end of this process you will have acquired the wisdom that a garbage can truly is the most cost effective method to dispose of wasted food and garbage.

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Oct 14
Trimming A Door
Posted by Jason in Fixtures & Appliances on October 14th, 2008 | No Comments »

We just got new carpet installed and quickly realized we had a problem. While I do not want to admit it, we bought our carpet from Home Depot and had it installed by them. They explicitly said in the work contract that they would not trim doors. Unfortunately for us the new carpet is much more plush than the previous carpet and we had several doors that no longer closed.

Fortunately though, trimming doors is not a difficult task. For this job you will need the following tools:

  • Sawhorse
  • Circular Saw
  • A straight edge longer than door width
  • Masking Tape
  • Small Piece of Scrap Wood
  • Utility Knife
  • A couple of 3″ C-Clamps
9 Steps to a trimmed door:
  1. Make a mark on the door where it needs to be cut, it needs enough clearance to move easily above the flooring. Then remove the door from the frame. Don’t worry about removing the hinges or door knob. Lay the door down on the sawhorses, you may want to put a towel down between to prevent scratching.
  2. Using a straight edge make a mark along the door where it needs to be cut. Once marked, use the utility knife to score both sides of the door along the line. The scoring will help prevent chipping.
  3. Now we need to create a gauge to help us cut a straight line with our circular saw. The gauge can be created by placing the piece of scrap wood against our straight edge and then putting the base of the circular saw against the straight edge and cutting the scrap wood. Now the scrap wood is the same width as the base of the circular saw.
  4. With the gauge made, place one edge against the line on the door and the straight edge, such as a 4 foot level, on the other side. C-clamp the straight edge in place and repeat on the other side.
  5. Next, tape the door where the saw and its base will have contact, this will help to prevent chipping and scratching.
  6. We are now ready to cut the door. Hold the blade guard back so that it will not drag against the back side of the door, place the base against the straight edge that is clamped in place and cut the door. Make sure that the base is in constant contact with the straight edge as this will make the cut as straight as possible.
  7. Once done, remove the clamps and tape. If you have had to cut off a significant amount of door and you have a hollow door you will need to remove the wood from the door that you just cut off and glue it into the bottom of the door to close off the opening. If you are only cutting off a 1/4 inch then you will not likely need to worry about this.
  8. You may want to gently sand the edge of the door that you just cut to make it smooth.
  9. Rehang the door and it should now open and close smoothly.
Aug 12

Your kitchen serves as more than just a place to prepare meals, as it is a location where you store food and in many cases, a haven where you eat and enjoy your food. Along with any food preparation process always come the issue of cleanliness and sanitation. Because kitchen surfaces like tables and countertops are prone to dirt and bacteria, there is a need to select the best ones to install in your kitchen. Furthermore, you need to consider the durability of your countertop. Not just any type of material will do.

Even more on choosing, countertops also accentuate your kitchen, and they are a design aspect that should not be taken too lightly. You don’t just look at the color of your countertop, but you must also select the most appropriate material that your kitchen countertop will be made of, as well as the costs and how you are to install it. What are your options for kitchen surfaces these days? Which is the best to use if you are after cost or durability? To answer these queries, given below are some examples, along with the description and advantages they offer.

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Jul 30

There are two things that most people don’t know about their toilet which can actually save you a little bit of trouble. These two things have to do with the two screws on top of the ballcock. The ballcock is the long tube that is to the left of the tube in the middle of the tank.

The first screw is usually metal and is located near the rod coming out of the ballcock. This screw controls how quickly the tank fills up. A clockwise twist slows down the water and counter clock-wise lets the water in faster. You may ask, why do I care how fast the tank fills up? Mainly this is to do with noise. If the running water noise is too loud, then give the screw a twist and your toilet will be quieter. Never deal with a loud noisy toilet again!

The second screw is generally a larger plastic screw. This screw is located right in the center on top of the ballcock. It controls the water level inside of the tank. Most people resort to bending the float rod to adjust the water level often leading to inconsistent results or even a broken float rod. A simple turn of this screw will adjust the float level.

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