If you want to cut costs and decided to paint your walls yourself, here are some steps you’ll need to take after you’ve purchased the paint and before you actually apply it on your walls.

1.Buy the right tools. Choosing the right brushes and rollers, and making sure there are enough for everybody, will make the job faster.
2.Make sure the room is well-ventilated and the air is circulating if you don’t want the fumes going to your head. Open the windows and use an oscillating fan if you have to.
3.Remove all decorations, fixtures, etc. from the walls. Move all furnitures away from the walls. For immovable objects like built-ins or light switches, cover them with plastic sheets or drop cloths.
4.Clean and repair the surfaces to be painted – Remove old and peeling paint, clean and wash the walls and repair the surfaces to be painted. Patch and sand any holes or uneven surfaces.
5.Apply a primer - priming seals the surface and helps the paint cover the surface more evenly. It will also lessen the number of coats you’ll have to apply.

Now that you’re all ready, make it a group project and invite your best buds. You’ll get free help, and have fun bonding along the way!

Image source: www.brownstoner.com
Some say that our homes reflect our personality. But what about busy buddies who work almost all day and have no time to fix their houses? I don’t agree that it reflects who you really are but rather what kin of lifestyle you have. But still, we need to fix our homes to make it more inviting for visitors that we can invite them for dinner or parties.
The very thing about house makeover is that you must know what you want it to look like. The themes of houses range from cultural, foreign, modern and a whole lot more. It is up to you what you want and what relaxes you. After all, houses are decorated to give comfort to the owner.
Japanese houses are known for simplicity. Mexicans are for their warm colors and many more. If you are interested in modern themes, do not put too much furniture on it.
All that you have to remember before after choosing what you want id that minimize the usage of bulky furniture. It makes the house look crowded.

by mheo soriano

4.) Observe safety measures.

Turn off the main switch of your power supply before you begin wiring. Keep your hands dry and if possible wear rubber gloves.

Never work in the dark, use a flashlight or any battery operated light.
Set aside anything that may cause distraction or loss in focus.
Be careful in tying the knots and soldering, remember you are dealing with electricity here one mistake may lead to life loss or fire.

Never leave a wire un-insulated, you can apply Electrical tape to the bare wires.
Once you are done double check everything, so that you can be sure that you did not leave out on anything.

by mheo soriano

3.) Get the right tools

Soldering iron – For bonding wires in place. This will make wire knots difficult to undo.

Wire Cutters –The length of the wires should come out as stated in the plan to avoid fitting problems.

Wire Strippers – Wire strippers are used to strip the insulators off the wires exposing it so that it can be connected to another conductor.

Pliers – Pliers are used to bend wires so that they can fit in circuit boards.

Screwdrivers – You need these primarily for the screws that you will attach in the connection (Outlets usually are screwed tightly to the walls).

Test equipment – This will aid you in determining whether your connection was successful or not.

To be continued…

by mheo soriano

2.) Prepare the right materials
Once you have your design, you must now get the materials needed. Be sure to meet the needs reflected in the plan the this includes the right length, size and type of the wires, outlets switches etc. A slight difference in materials may greatly affect the end-results.

It is recommended that you get the materials with the best quality. But that doesn’t mean that youll have to settle with the most expensive brands. Other cheaper brands will do, as long as it has quality control and approved by the government standards.

You may want to pack a little more than what you will be using. In case of malfunctions or damages you’ll have spares.

To be continued…

by mheo soriano

1.) Plan
It would be wise to plan the type of connection, materials to be used and the location of the outlets beforehand. Map the area and create a blueprint. The more detailed and precise the plan is the better.

Two basic Electronic Circuit

Series Connection- A series connection has all its loads connected in a row. You can think of it like the links in a chain. The electricity flows in a single path.

Parallel Connection

Unlike the series, the parallel connection has two or more paths for electricity to flow. The loads are parallel to each other.

To be continued…

Even though we have taught you DIY tips and Renovation ideas and such it’s always good to go back to the basics, which is a very good reminder to us all

Always Remember : SAFETY FIRST

• Glasses Probably the most important safety measure, glasses are especially crucial if you’re working with power tools; they come in a variety of styles, some with tinting for outdoor work.
• Gloves protect your hands from injuries such as cuts and blisters, as well as from harmful chemicals and solvents; they are available in a variety of styles and materials (latex, rubber, canvas, etc.).
• Masks guard against respiratory damage caused by airborne particles and harsh solutions such as insecticides and paints.
• Hearing protection is important even when mowing the lawn, as prolonged exposure to high decibel levels can cause permanent hearing damage.
• Full-face mask and hard hat are especially important when you’re performing tasks that could result in head injury, such as tree-trimming.
• First-Aid Kit always keep a first-aid kit handy. You’ll never know when accidents will happen even for the most prepared and most organized of us, accidents to tend to happen, be prepared.

Be the over-all handyman in your home. Repair a cracked tile, Here’s how :

If you notice a cracked tile in your bathroom, repair it immediately. Even the smallest hairline crack can allow water to seep behind the wall and cause serious damage. Besides, it’s not that difficult.

Materials:

• ready-mixed adhesive
• putty knife
• ready-mixed grout
• tile
• hammer

1. Remove the cracked tile by tapping it with the back of a hammer. But also be careful not to damage the other tiles.
2. Chisel it out the pieces of the broken tiles along with the old grout and adhesive.
3. Use the putty knife or a small trowel to apply ready-mixed tile adhesive to the opening for the tile. Small tubes of ready-mixed grout and adhesive can be found at most home-improvement centers.
4. Press the new tile in place, and let it dry overnight.
5. Fill the gap around the tile with ready-mixed grout. Wipe away excess grout, and let it dry overnight.
6. Buff any dried grout off the tiles, and apply a sealer to prevent water from soaking into the grout.

There you’re done! easy as pie!

Here’s how to install a deadbolt lock for a more secure lock.

Things You may need :

• Electric Drill with drill bits, spade bits, and driver bits
• hole saw
• Wood chisel
• Deadbolt lock
• Marker or Pencil

1. Most deadbolt-lock manufacturers provide a template to help you install the lock. This template is will help to work easier with doors of different thicknesses and has reference points that may be marked on the door with an awl. The deadbolt should be at least 6″ above your doorknob.
2. Mark the reference points from the template, then start drilling with the use a hole saw and cut a hole for the deadbolt.
3. Use a 1 1/2″ spade bit to drill a hole through the edge of the door for the bolt .
4. Dry-fit the bolt into the hole, and trace around the faceplate. Use a wood chisel to mortise the area around the faceplate so that it will be flush with the door.
5. Continue mortising until the faceplate fits properly. Drill pilot holes, and secure the bolt to the door with screws.
6. Dry-fit the cylinder and thumb plate so you’ll know how the pieces fit together. Fit the exterior side onto the door first, making sure the writing is upright. Then set the interior piece in place, and align the screw holes with the mounting holes inside the lock. Fasten the deadbolt in place with screws.
7. Mark the end of the bolt with lipstick or paint. Close the door, and turn the deadbolt several times to mark the doorframe. Use a 7/8″ spade bit to drill two overlapping holes in the doorframe for the deadbolt (figure F). Mortise the area around the hole so the striker plate will fit flush with the doorframe. Drill pilot holes, and secure the striker plate to the door with screws.

The Tools and Materials you need if you’re planning on renovating the walls on your house:

• Protective goggles
• Rubber gloves
• Utility knife / razor blade
• Chemical wallpaper remover
• Electric steamer
• Wall scrapper
• Heavy-duty detergent (trisodium phosphate)
• Sponge / Rags

1. To remove the wallpaper by scoring it with a utility knife in a crisscross pattern; this enables the chemicals or steam (softening agents) to soak into the paste and soften it.
2. Chemical wallpaper remover is best applied with a garden sprayer. A sponge can also be used but the process will take longer. The chemical usually needs to be mixed with water, so follow the manufacturer’s directions. Apply the chemical until the paper is completely saturated.

   Wait a few minutes for the chemical remover to disintegrate the paste. (Always wear protective goggles and rubber gloves when using a chemical wallpaper remover)

   An alternative to chemical wallpaper remover is an electric steamer. A steamer is easy to use and may be rented from most hardware stores. Fill the steamer’s tank with water and heat it electrically.

   Once the hand held plate starts pumping steam hold it against the paper until the paste becomes soft. (The steamer will become very hot, so hold it away from your body and always wear protective gloves and goggles)

3. When using chemicals the entire wall can be saturated before scraping off the wallpaper. When using steam only steam a small portion at a time before you scrape the wallpaper. Use a wall scraper to scrape the paper as soon as the glue has been loosened. As the surface is soft be careful not to gouge it with the scraper.
4. To remove the excess adhesive from the walls us a heavy-duty detergent, such as trisodium phosphate and a sponge. (When working with any heavy-duty detergent, always wear rubber gloves to protect your skin) Use a clean sponge to rinse the walls.

   Do not wallpaper or paint over the walls until they are completely dry.

5. Some wallpapers are peelable or strippable and do not require chemicals or steam to be removed. In this case remove using a utility knife to pry up a corner and pull the strip off the wall.

   Once all strips of wallpaper have been removed, use warm water and a sponge to soften the adhesive, then scrape it away with a wide wall scraper.

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