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How to Drill a Hole In a Tile and Add Bathroom Accessories

August 14, 2017 by derick

To attach something and to drill in a ceramic tiled wall can present some problems and must be accomplished carefully. So if you’re planning on putting something in your bathroom these few simple tips will help you all those little jobs done with very little mess and a whole lot less fuss.

Every homeowner should learn how to drill a hole in a tile.

Why?

Sooner or later you’ll have to do this project. Rather than be scared you’ll be confident you can do this like a pro (just make sure to watch our video!!).

We’ll share the tool we use, which isn’t expensive, and also how to add bathroom accessories in 20 minutes or less.

Let’s dive in.

Here are the supplies you need to drill a hole in a tile and add bathroom accessories:

Drill (Free or $49-$199)
Screwdriver (Free or $5)
Driver Bit for Drill ($22)
Mini Diamond Hole Saw ($19)
Laser Level (optional)
Torpedo Level ($10)
Pencil (Free)

We’d like to thank American Standard for working with us on this tutorial.

The bathroom accessories are part of a video series with did showing how to remodel a small bathroom.

Our prior videos share how to install a bathtub, how to add a shower valve, and how to install a toilet.

If you’re remodeling a bathroom those tutorials are a HUGE help.

Watch our video to see the step-by-step instructions for drilling bathroom tiles and adding bathroom accessories…

5 Bathroom Things You’ll Hate If You Install Them

August 14, 2017 by derick

If you can match your designer accessories to the bathroom tiling and the paint, you will almost certainly turn your bathroom into one of the best dressed and most memorable rooms in the house. However there are also accessories that you may think suits your bathroom but in reality they are just useless and you’ll hate if you install them.

A clean, well-planned, and stunning bathroom is every homeowner’s goal. But creating it can be a bit of a sticky wicket.

All that water, humidity, and artificial lighting, and those tight corners make the space a real challenge. Don’t make it worse by wasting money on materials that won’t withstand the task or will need replacing when they don’t work out. Dodge bad bathroom decisions by avoiding these five things:

#1 Wallpaper

In a high-steam area such as a bathroom, wallpaper may start to peel in a few years, according to some designers. In fact, steam is used to strip old wallpaper off walls.

Despite the many photos of stylish, wallpapered bathrooms in magazines, unless it’s a half-bath or guest bath that’s seldom used, skip it. Really want the unique look wallpaper provides? Try a solid vinyl wall covering instead. It won’t allow moisture to seep through.

#2 Laminate Flooring

Love the look and affordability of laminate flooring? Use it in another room. Water and laminate floors don’t mix. Even tiny amounts of water will seep between the planks, causing them to expand, peel, swell, and lift from the floor.

The Importance of Boiler Maintenance

August 13, 2017 by derick

If you have a boiler, you’ll want to find out how to take care of it to enable you to obtain the best service. Regular maintenance will assist to ensure that you do not have to keep repairing the unit. How you look after your system will determine how long it’s going to last and how effective it will be. It is possible to avoid the costly repairs by following a few simple tips.

No one likes a faulty system and that’s why it is vital that you take constant care of your heating, regardless of the weather. Many people has got the tendency to just disregard the boiler system after the installation. Whether your boiler is a new or old machine, the right care and attention will allow you to keep it running in the best condition and ensure that you aren’t left facing any unpleasant surprises!

Regular Maintenance

Make certain the boiler manual is held in a convenient location. Lots of people will lose or throw the manual for the boiler once it’s been installed. But, if you do find that you’re encountering any difficulties later on, you’ll find that the manual can be highly beneficial for troubleshooting the more common issues you are likely to experience.

Regular maintenance starts with initial start-up. This is actually the most important step impacting the boiler. Boiler start-up must be performed by the manufacturer’s authorized agency. Inspect all gauges, controls, water glass, and blow-down piping, relief valves and others. Also check for foreign objects on both fireside and waterside. Look at interiors for rags, scrap material and tools. Run electrical equipment to look at the operation and assure lubrication to rotating parts. Fill with water and boil promptly to drive off dissolved gases to stop corrosion.

Resetting your Boiler

As mentioned above, most boilers come with several emergency shut-off safeguards. When one of these simple shut-offs is triggered, restarting your boiler is a straightforward matter, however, you need to keep in mind that the shut-off was triggered for a reason.

You will see instances when unexpected mechanical failures occur, this is annoying but it is likely that certain of the boiler’s safety or operational devices is preventing the boiler from starting. Many safety devices have manual reset buttons that need to be reset before boiler can function again. But it’s imperative that you know that continual resetting of these safety devices isn’t good, which means you must contact a boiler technician when you have had to do it more than twice in a short time.

It is essential that you won’t ever manually override an emergency shut-off device without first finding and fixing the situation that triggered it. At times doing so doesn’t involve the help of a professional, but it’s vital that you recognize when help is needed. Problems that the typical user should seek professional help for include leaking-whether from a pressure relief valve, the condensate tank, or the stack-repeatedly triggered shut-off devices, abnormally high stack temperatures, and insufficient heat despite an otherwise normally functioning boiler.

Best Use of Venetian Blinds

August 13, 2017 by derick

There are many approaches to cover the windows in your home, from vertical blinds, to shutter, curtain, shades and blinds. One very common approach is the ‘horizontal window blind’, that’s commonly known as the Venetian blind. They’re made up of thin slats of assorted materials, which are threaded on a ‘ladder’ of string which is rigged to a control that permits you to shift the angle and tilt of these slats. These kinds of control mechanism separate Venetian blinds from other types of vertical blinds.

Commonly, Venetian blinds are made from numerous materials which includes aluminum, wood, or some kind of plastic. Aluminum Venetians produce a stylish, sophisticated, contemporary style whilst offering great durability. Aluminum blinds come in a wide range of colours and will match up the design of any room.

They give you more control.

These lovely blinds are available in 2 types. The blind that rolls up and down like a curtain or the more well-known vertical type where each and every blind could rotate on its own axis. Vertical types tend to be preferred since they make it possible for partial light into your room whilst preventing the harsh sun rays travelling inside the house. They can be installed as a single one for the whole length of the window or separate blinds for each pane of the window. The horizontal model won’t enable this convenience. They’re also available in different colors so that you can select one that suit the décor of the room.

These types of blinds are easier to install.

Apart from giving another control, window blinds are user-friendly and are much easier to install. Anyone who has purchased a set of these blinds find that they do not have to worry about employing a professional to have them installed. These blinds may be custom made to match the type of window that house owners may have. One simply needs the handbook and a basic tools. Just before buying a window blind, it is crucial that you correctly measure the size of your windows. There are lots of online tools and videos that will help guide even non-professional on how to properly measure their window for window blinds purchases.

They are easier to clean.

Now to the item of cleaning the Venetian blinds. The very best manner to wash your Venetian blinds is to bring them outside and lay them on a massive clean dry towel or blanket. Use a bucket nearby full of water and soap. Then wash the blinds by scrubbing them with a soft bristle brush. Once the front is finished, reverse the blinds so that the rear facet happens to be on the front. Scrub the blinds thoroughly

Apart from being elegant and trendy looking, venetian blinds can offer many first-time home owners with lots of positive aspects that may jazz up their house. It is often advised to pick venetian blinds for a low maintenance upkeep of one’s house.

19 Different Types Of Outdoor Wall Lighting (Complete Buying Guide)

August 11, 2017 by derick

Your outdoor space will come to life with the installation of beautiful outdoor lanterns and garden lights. Outdoor wall lighting does not only enhance the beauty of your home during the night but also ensures the safety of your family to avoid accidents during the night.

Discover the different types of outdoor wall lighting that you can take advantage of to boost your home’s outdoor aesthetics.

Whether you need security lights, ambient lighting for a particular area in your yard, or light fixtures to accessorize your home’s exterior, here is our ultimate guide to outdoor wall lighting for your home.

Outdoor Wall Lighting Buying Guide

When considering outdoor wall lighting, or outdoor sconce lighting, there are several things you should consider.

Some consumers choose outdoor lighting strictly for design, while others want lighting for security. A variety of motion-triggered flood lights, for example, work well for security. However, you certainly don’t have to sacrifice style for function.

There are many styles of wall-mounted outdoor lighting, so there are absolutely options to match the style of your home as well as your own taste.

“Sconce” is simply a term for any wall-mounted lighting, indoors or outdoors. Sconces are wonderful because they can provide any type of lighting you need—ambient, accent, or task lighting—depending on the sconce you select.

A. Exterior Sconce Purposes

Your first consideration when shopping for lighting for home’s exterior is the purpose that you want your lights to serve. This will, to some degree, dictate the types of options that will work for you.

Bring Your Walls Alive With Modern Wall Decor

August 7, 2017 by derick

The walls of a house should always be kept bright given that they put glamour to your home. Even if your house is very well furnished but the walls look dull, then the whole decoration is worthless. On the flip side if the walls are brilliantly painted and decorated then the whole home looks cheerful. Therefore the central theme here is to decorate them with a few unique designs with the help of the modern wall decor designs. There are several items available in the market and with the assistance of those decorative accessories, you can try your own artistry and style them in different ways. It all depends on your personal preference.

The modern wall art and decor encloses a variety of products like wall hangings, murals, shelves, letters, decorative stickers and many more. With so many options in your hand it is possible to beautify your walls in the most lavish way. You could follow the trend of the modern art and decor design which utilizes a combination of all these products. You can create your own unique designs and can begin using these products in numerous ways to build beautiful patterns. You could select these products from a wide range of collections found in the home decor stores.

If you genuinely wish to make a huge statement in your room, then you might desire to choose a wall stencil or mural. Many of these murals will take up the whole wall and have a realistic look to them. I love the ones that look like french doors opening up into a gorgeous garden or view of the sea. Stencils certainly are a little more artsy than murals and could give your room a handmade look. I’ve seen some terrific stencils that seem to be like rock walls with vines and ivy. If you’re the least bit creative, then stencils will allow you to exercise that creativity to make a piece of wall art that you can enjoy every day as well as show off to your guests.

Today, it’s not necessary to put your modern art sculptures on a pedestal to be admired as there are lots of fine wall art sculptures you could hang on the walls. These are metal or a mixture of metal and wood and also have a contemporary appeal. Wall sculptures are three-dimensional and stick out a bit from the wall incorporating depth and interest. Modern, contemporary, eclectic and zen type decorating themes can benefit from these the most.

There are several other types of interesting wall decor you can use to liven up a room According to your decorating theme, you should be able to find something to match. Beautifying your walls properly can help tie your room decor together and give your home a professional, finished look.

The 4 Advantages of Wall Heaters

August 7, 2017 by derick

Nothing compares to the feeling of being warm, specially when it’s freezing outside. With winter to arrive a couple of months, it’s time for you to start thinking about heating options to keep you and your family warm. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of choices now available. How are you supposed to decide between space heaters, baseboard heaters, fireplace heaters or wall heaters particularly with all those various brands makes and model. Yet Many people go for gas wall heaters because these can be easily placed in any room and are simple to use

Space Saving

eBay

One advantage is that wall heaters don’t take up any floor area. Even though you can’t make use of the floor directly in front of them because of danger of fire, the spot is visually empty so an area can look bigger. This is ideal when you have limited room space. This is particularly common for apartments and tiny homes.

Energy-Saving

Wall Heaters are perfect for making the most of heat in a given area while greatly minimizing the amount of energy used. Generally set up directly into the wall, they were designed to save space and provide heat discretely. Coming in both electric and gas varieties you certainly will not be lost for choice with regards to selecting the correct heater for your requirements. Electric heaters are by far the most popular type of wall heating device presently on the market, for a lot of reasons. As well as being slimline in design when compared with gas alternatives, electric wall heaters is able to reduce your current heating bills significantly.

High Capacity and Quiet Heating

Despite the fact that wall heaters were created mostly to provide warmth to a smaller area, many models are made to supply high-capacity heating. As a result them a trusted choice to have around, particularly in a little apartment or inside the bedroom. You can also find various models that ensure a quiet operation while providing thorough and total heating.

Excellent Features

Wall heaters generally come with a selection of beneficial features, which includes built-in and adjustable thermostats, internal fan delay feature that really help prevent cold air delivery, heavy duty motor and heating, and heavy grille for additional durability. Various models are also supplied in a array of colors, to fit with your existing wall color, home décor, and the rest of your appliances.

Today, you’ll find fashionable designs and amazing colours designed to suit your tastes. A good wall heater won’t give you warmth and comfort, but also boost the look of your property.

How to Raise a Chill Kid

August 4, 2017 by derick

You are a blessed parent if your kids doesn’t throw tantrums. As a mother, i could say that dealing with kid’s bad behavior is the worst duty of a parent. We all want our kids to behave and just chill. Learn how to raise a chill kid from this article.

Sure, you may have good reasons to get angry (traffic jams, job challenges, dropping your iPhone in the tub), but put yourself in your child’s shoes. Her life might be filled with all manner of frustrations: other kids who want to play with her stuff, grown-ups who end a playdate when she’s having fun, a big sibling who has privileges she can only dream about, and a whole world of things she hasn’t mastered, from brushing her teeth solo to making her own chocolate milk. It’s no wonder that young kids spend so much time in meltdown mode.

While you can’t eliminate the triggers that enrage her, you can teach a child as young as a 2 or 3 to control her temper. “Your job is to help her develop strategies for expressing and dealing with this powerful emotion,” says Dana Dorfman, Ph.D., a psychotherapist in New York City. Parents may be tempted to try to rein in their child’s reactions (“It’s just a game of Candy Land; you don’t have to get so upset about losing”), but doing so will probably just fuel her fury. Instead, you want to empathize while still emphasizing the importance of finding a better alternative to simply freaking out.

Kids who manage to stay composed when a maddening situation arises are better prepared to succeed in life. A study at the University of Pittsburgh, for example, showed that children who were good at regulating their emotions did better both academically and socially than those who had poor impulse control. And researchers at Arizona State University, in Tempe, found that such kids also tend to be more resilient in tough times.

14 Ideas to Make a Small Garden Look Bigger

August 3, 2017 by derick

For people who love plants, a small garden is a curse. But it shouldn’t be. The following are tips to maximize the use of a small yard, where less is more and more is easily achieved.

Who doesn’t dream of an English estate with groves and gardens and koi ponds? Or perhaps you prefer the ultimate American playground with a pool and a grill? With 80 percent of us living in urban areas, however, the reality is most of us have a small garden.

But don’t despair, even those of us with modest outdoor spaces can take steps to make them a little more grand.

1. Think Big, then Drill Down (a.k.a: Prioritize)

My husband is always pushing to add one more thing to our small Cape Cod plot. At any given time he’s wanted a patio, a kitchen garden, an orchard, a hot tub, and a sandbox for the kids. (This last was my favorite, since we live across the street from the beach!)

I get it. All those things would be great, IF we had a large yard. But a small yard simply can’t be all things to all people. Cramming too may “amenities” into a minimal space results in disordered, cluttered chaos. So the first thing to do when faced with a small garden is to decide what you absolutely can’t live without—an outdoor entertaining space; a kitchen garden; a playground—and make that the priority.

2. Make a Plan

Now that you have your priorities straight, make a plan. Hire a landscape architect or garden designer to help execute your vision in the most efficient manner. There are also many apps and websites to assist you in creating a layout. Even a simple sketch will do. With a plan in hand, you will be able to make the most of your small outdoor space. You may even find you actually have room for that hot tub.

Improve Your Yard With Hardscaping

August 1, 2017 by derick

The beautification of many different commercial and residential properties is a big section of most any landscaping project. Even so, in many cases home and business owners are looking for just a bit more than what simple or even major landscape changes can provide. This is often precisely where hardscapes enter into the picture, because not only can they give a great deal of beauty to a home or business, however they could add greatly to the value of a property.

What is hardscape? And how could it increase your yard?

Hardscaping is beneath the group of landscaping and that is the aspect where non-living features and elements are incorporated in your home’s landscape. This often includes structures for example walkways, gazebos, fences, walls and fountains, and also other landscaping elements that will add cosmetic value to your lawn. This offers you more options to choose from along with the ability to add features to your garden, with no required maintenance that many traditional gardens need. By incorporating hardscape design in your lawn, you will add not only aesthetical value to your home, but cost too.

Stone walls, paved walkways, tiled paths, wooden decks and patios are all regarded as part of the hardscape. In fact any elements found in landscaping that is not a part of the softscape (such as plants, trees and flowers) can all be regarded as to be hardscape components. By this description garden decorations such as water fountains are also regarded as hardscape.

Hardscape Improves Maintenance and Aesthetics

There are numerous advantages of adding hardscaping design in your garden and this includes including aesthetic value to your residence, which will make it more convenient for you to sell it in the future.. Since hardscaping designs make use of non-living things, you don’t need to deal with the same maintenance needed for traditional gardens. This will make it perfect for home owners who don’t have the time to maintain and look after their garden, and for also those who live in places that climate doesn’t permit and encourage the growth of most plants.

Beyond correcting water damage issues and decreasing yard maintenance, hardscapes create architectural support for the layout and design of your yard. As soon as planning your outdoor area for entertaining and family relaxation, provide consideration to the hardscape. Think about the activities you presently enjoy- along with the features that may add to those activities. Keep in mind, the non-living elements of your landscape usually do not all have to have practical applications. Even though a pergola or arbor often includes a purpose, sculpture along with other art help set the mood.