How To's
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
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Planning well a renovation is the best investment you may have before you undertake the task at hand. There should be at least some percentage of your budget allotted for emergencies that arise for they will. Hiring a general contractor is the easiest way to get on with a home renovation but it isn’t always a good idea if the scope of work would have you moving out of the house that would leave the contractor free to do his willing. In this recession, count on some cut corners so do visit unannounced so you get to see what really is going on. Establishing a good and well founded relationship that has respect over everything else, knowing each others limits allowing a smooth and well-oiled communication (never forget you are the boss and that you are paying him to do a job, as long as what you’re asking for is within your discussed contract). Some people are swayed or convinced by the smooth talk of most who tend to know when to push to get their way. There’s nice and there’s too nice, so set the limits to which amount you would allow yourself to bend into modifications he recommends but not too much, get it!
The wonderfully stenciled wall designs are quite easy to achieve and many more effects once you get the hang of it. Stencils can be bought from many home depots as well as the supplies you will need such as the brushes and other effects you can add to your paint should you require it. From pearl effects to shimmering colors, they can all be done and easily provided by the paint store, just make sure you get a store with a mixing machine so in case you need more paint, you can get an exact match. Estimating paint for effects can be quite tricky but once you go through a liter or so of paint, estimating would be easier. Whether you decide to do the stencil on a border or on the whole wall, you decide on the limit. Read more »
Here some basic safety tips when renovating your house:
1. Wear protective gear. Things like protective safety goggles, work gloves and dust masks protect you from sustaining serious injuries and inhaling toxic chemicals from paint and the like.
2. When using any material that gives of dust and toxic fumes (like paint), make sure that the area is well ventilated, and if you are a smoker, DO NOT smoke in these areas.
3. Read the manuals of your tools to know their proper use. Read more »
Most of the time, you arrange for your family to move out of the house for major home repairs mainly for safety reasons. But in today’s economy, that might not always be possible so here’s some tips to help you out should an emergency arise without the contractor in the house. Read more »
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 furniture away from the walls. For immovable objects like built-ins or light switches, cover them with plastic sheets or drop cloths. Read more »
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. Read more »
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…