Basement Finishing – How to Avoid the Green Stuff

Basement Finishing - How to Avoid the Green Stuff

When I’m not associated with basement finishing projects or one of my other various pursuits, I’m usually getting together with my children. If yours are (or were) anything like mine, you understand they merely can’t stand the green stuff. It didn’t matter what sort of vegetable it had been if it turned out green you weren’t getting hired in that room.

Well, there’s a few other green stuff you should watch out for; especially when you’re about to find a basement finishing project! Years ago, when the tile was installed in a shower, they’d tile right over the plaster or drywall. It eventually became apparent until this wasn’t a durable solution as water invariably got behind the tile caused the backer to mold and deteriorate.

The next generation of shower wall backer-board was essentially drywall, though a mold and water-resistant paper. This product is still used by many today, but that may be a mistake. The board could be mold-resistant (which is good), in our basement finishing experience, water-resistant is just too strong an announcement. Any shower wall backer board will eventually get wet, along with the material behind the green paper that may deteriorate.

A good wall substrate has to resist water whether it gets wet (because eventually, it’s going to) and has got to shed any water that comes from the grout right down to the shower or tub below it. A cement board like Durock can this function a lot better than the rest. It can be completely saturated in water for extensive periods and won’t breakdown, and yes it sheds water to the shower or tub below it extremely well.

Not only is this kind of product extremely effective for walls, but normally a bathroom in the basement finishing project may have a seat or bench … Read the rest

The best way to Do Plumbing inside a Log Property

The exquisiteness of a property log makes this type of housing a popular selection for men and women trying to find quaint and comfortable living. Now, for the reason that of revolutionary and uncomplicated to construct residence log kits, it can be fairly reasonably priced to build a log house. When building a dwelling log, it can be critical to consider the installation in the plumbing program.

Installing plumbing in a dwelling log is just not that a lot distinct than installing plumbing within a standard residence. In most circumstances, the plumbing can be hidden behind the wall cladding and inside the floor. A plumber will set up and run the pipe method inside the walls of log houses which have interior framed walls. For log houses that have all interior walls, the plumber will build a chase-way in a area around the very first level. The chase-way can be a boxed out area in which the HVAC and plumbing runs by means of for the second level of the log household.

If a log dwelling is built with completely round log floor joists around the second level, the floor will have to be constructed as much as allow for the electrical and plumbing. This can be accomplished by making a space in between the tongue and grove by utilizing taking 2″x6″ boards and standing them on finish. Supplementary plumbing is passed by means of traditional stud walls all through the log residence.

When installing the plumbing, it is actually significantly simpler and much less expensive to help keep the bathrooms close to each other including back to back or above one a further if it can be a two level log house. Galvanized steel pipe is usually utilised for the line in the properly towards the pump. … Read the rest

Why Use Reclaimed Building Materials

Green issues have been receiving increasing coverage in recent years and many of us have made considerable changes in our lifestyle. Twenty years ago I wouldn’t have dreamed that I’d be:

  • Sorting my own recycling and putting it into a separate bin.
  • Driving a 1 litre car on unleaded fuel.
  • Considering my carbon footprint when planning family holidays.
  • Printing on both sides of the paper at work.
  • Walking to the local shop instead of taking the car.
  • The list goes on..

Many people are now wondering ‘what more can I do?’ – and this is where the use of reclaimed building materials comes in.

If you are undertaking some landscaping work or a small building project why not consider the use of old tyres and reclaimed bricks?

Not only are reclaimed building supplies an environmentally sound choice, they provide a character and history to building projects which new materials can’t.

Architectural salvage yards can provide the above along with glass, old doors, fireplaces, garden ornaments – in fact anything that you would find when demolishing a building.

There are hundreds of architectural salvage yards all over the UK and a number of websites are available which index these, putting both builders and the DIY enthusiast alike in touch with them.

Suppliers of quality reclaimed supplies offer bricks, slate tiles, chimney pots and architectural salvage such as Victorian fireplaces doors and windows and you can be sure that there is a local supplier only too happy to help you out. What’s more you will be amazed at the quality and choice on offer, so much so you may never visit that DIY superstore again.

So next time you are looking for that unique addition to your home consider architectural salvage and discover what gems are locally available.… Read the rest

Ceiling PlanksAdd architectural detail and rustic, farmhouse charm to a builder simple bedroom with a tongue-and-groove planked wood ceiling. Following going to Menard’s & Home Depot tonight and realizing how limited the selection is for tongue & groove 4″ X 8′ L lumber I got rather a headache! I have a feeling my stomped ceilings will need scraping to eliminate the higher points and allow the planks to be uniform and flat. Use the project estimator to calculate the number of ceiling planks and accessories you’ll need to have. But not to worry, when the ceiling is completed, you never see them at all, it will all appear very smooth. I then screw the stabilizing tongue and groove board to my saw horse utilizing deck screws – just my way of performing it.

When you attain the end of the ceiling, you will most likely require to rip (reduce lengthwise) a board to fill in and finish the ceiling span. You can locate the joists by making use of a stud finder and marking them on the ceiling. If you don’t have wood underneath your sheetrock, you are going to certainly will need to drive your nails into the ceiling joists to make certain the planks keep up!

The pine planks are 3 9/16″ wide x five/16″ thick x 8′ extended, and are located in the trim/paneling section of Lowe’s They come in a package of six planks, for a total of 14 sq. ft per package. In addition to traditional beadboard, constructed from single tongue and groove boards, larger manufactured, beadboard-patterned panels are used to create a beadboard-appearing finishes. View this step-by-step instructional video to find out how to add warmth and the beauty of wood to any ceiling in the house with WoodHaven by Armstrong. Kevin’s in there waiting … Read the rest

Ceiling PlanksThe visual of our 6” X 48” HomeStyle Nation Classic Ceiling Plank delivers an incredible country rustic appear. Here is the ugly popcorn ceiling prior to we started, displaying our grid lines, marking exactly where the ceiling joists are. You can speed up your beadboard install by getting your material finished prior to installing it. I primed all six sides of the material prior to installing it. This is especially essential if you plan to paint the beadboard ceiling immediately after the install. Tapping the boards not only tightens the tongue and groove joint, but tightens the nails of the boards already installed. The beadboard ceiling boards must be installed perpendicular (oriented at a 90-degree angle) to the joists.

Prior to installing any boards, you need to mark the location of the ceiling joists on the existing ceiling employing a chalk line or similar. Whilst operating beaded boards perpendicular to ceiling studs is generally not a dilemma, it offers challenges for a wainscot style application on walls. Making use of a stud finder or other system, locate and mark your ceiling joists prior to starting board installation. I have been living in a modular residence for the previous eight years and hate the popcorn ceilings and bare walls.

Manufactured exterior grade beadboard planks and paneling that might execute superior. When ordering beaded ceiling boards, order boards extended enough to stay away from lengthwise seams. Once again, beadboard ceiling constructed working with three/4″ x 4″ beaded pine tongue and groove boards painted white. To tighten the boards prior to nailing, use a scrap piece of the tongue and groove board as a tapping block and firmly pound on it with a hammer. We nail them along the back edge only so that it’s easier to click the next row of planks … Read the rest