by Texas State Archives

Article by Colin McDonald

The beauty of traditional hardwood flooring makes up for the multitude of squeaks and creaks that announces the exact location of household members. Fixing squeaking stairs and floors is a simple procedure. You can either fix them from the basement or crawlspace or you can silence them from the surface of the stairs or floor. All you need are some simple tools and a little time.

Fixing Squeaky Stairs from BelowTo fix squeaks on your stairs from beneath the stairs, have a helper walk on the stairs to help you pinpoint to location of each squeak. Depending on the location of the squeak, wedge thin, glue-covered wooden shims into the space between the stair and the stringer (joists), between the stair and the riser above it, or between the stair and the riser below it.

Fixing Squeaky Stairs from AboveIf you are working from the surface of the stairs, locate the squeak. If the squeak is toward the front of the stair, drive a wedge into the space between the surface of the stair and the top of the riser below. If the squeak is toward the back of the stair, drive a wedge into the space between the back of the stair and the bottom of the riser above. If the spaces are too tight for wedges, use spiral flooring nails. Drive two nails at an angle toward each other into the joint where tread meets riser, either at the front or the back of the stair. Countersink the nails, and fill the holes with tinted wood putty.

Fixing a Squeaky Floor from BelowHave a helper walk the floor upstairs and stop when they hear a squeak, then knock on the floor at that location so you can pinpoint it from below. Drive a wooden shim coated in wood glue between the joist and subfloor. Screw it into place at an angle through the joist and subfloor with a 1.25-inch drywall screw.

If you have so many squeaks that you would need a dump truck full of shims to quiet them all, consider using a handy “Squeak Ender,” available at home improvement centres. A piece of hardware with a bracket that attaches to the subfloor, the Squeak Ender features a rod that pulls the subfloor tight against the joist to silence squeaks in a larger area. Screw the Squeak Ender into the subfloor, butted against the joist. Tighten the threaded rod. The subfloor will be pulled tight against the joist. Place the Squeak Enders as far apart as necessary to quiet the squeaks along the length of your floor.

Fixing a Squeaky Floor from AbovePurchase a Counter-Snap kit from your local home improvement store. This kit comes with a depth-control gadget, a screwdriver bit and 25 screws whose tops break off once they reach the right depth in the wood. To use the kit, drill a hole 3/32-inch in diameter at the location of the squeak. Place the depth-control gadget over the pilot hole. Screw in one of the screws until the top snaps off. Fill the hole with tinted wood putty, allow it to dry, and sand it.

Fixing a Carpeted Floor from AboveThe Squeeeeek-No-More kit works the same way as the Counter-Snap kit and is also available at home improvement stores. It is specially made for stopping squeaks on hardwood floors covered in carpeting.

Related Floor Repair Articles

One of the primary problems that many parents face today is how to bring back the quality time with children that was lost with the advent of dual jobs and many long hours of overtime in the office, which has been heightened especially in the face of the global financial crisis and the major recession affecting almost every household in the country. If you are one of the parents who are looking for ways to bridge the growing gap between you and your children, home art projects may be the solution you are looking for.

DIY art options
There are various do-it-yourself home art projects that can be done inside the home. Contrary to popular belief, these art projects are also ideal for people looking for affordable ways to reconnect with the family on a budget. With the right project ideas, there is no need for anyone to begin spending large amounts of money on professional quality paints and artists brushes that can leave gaping holes in any average household’s budget.

Here are some of the best do-it-yourself home art projects that you can try out for yourself.

Patriotic cards
Whether for the fourth of July or simply as a year-round sign of you and your country’s love for the motherland, patriotic cards are one of the beginner’s home art projects that you can look into. Using classic American themes ranging from the flag to the good old American eagle, the patriotic card is both easy to use and a hands-on activity that is perfect for your young children. To do this, the only that you need are some art papers, glue, a pair of scissors, and some marking pen for drawing in the details of your project. One of the basics is to draw a card in the image of a flag.

Let your children explore their creative side through the use of various art elements to decorate the card, aside from the main motif of the flag. For very young children, help them out in using the scissors for safety.

Home-made art jigsaw puzzles
This is a multiple purpose activity that is wonderful not only for developing your children’s artistic capabilities, but which also provides a reusable game for you and your family in the end. The materials used for this project are poster paints, a paint brush, cardboard, and scissors. Begin by making a sketch of your children’s favorite design. It could be classic themes such as the cowboy image for your boys, or a fairytale princess fantasy drawing for your girls. Next, color in the images and use marker pens to make the edges stand out. Once the cardboard has dried, use a pencil to draw in the typical jigsaw puzzle lines in the cardboard. A trick to doing this easily is by first making a grid on the paper, and then adding the curved edges on the jigsaw pieces. Use a cutter for cutting up the cardboard, and voila, you have your own home-made art jigsaw puzzle for entertainment and to foster creativity in your family.

There are many other options to try out. Look for children’s art activity books for more ideas or the online home art projects sites. Just remember, keeping close family ties does not have to be difficult – with home art projects.

by The National Archives UK

Carpet cleaning is something that a lot of people take for granted. In the event you don’t have to do it your self then you definitely probably just expect carpets to be clean. For the folks who do it although, they know that it is really a bit tougher than it looks. For those who do it professionally, they know that it’s a whole lot harder than it looks. We’re not speaking exclusively about vacuum cleaning here either. The truth is, it really is a lot more regarding the deep cleaning that has got to be carried out since that’s the component that’s really a good deal harder. So thinking about that, what sort of carpet cleaning are we genuinely speaking about, what is involved?

Properly we actually should not overlook vacuum cleaning. It might be basic but it is nevertheless essential. Actually, if you had to pick between obtaining the vacuum cleaning done each day, or possessing deep cleaning performed as soon as each six months, naturally you ought to decide on vacuuming.

Yes, for several days following the deep clean the carpet will appear really great, but it’s going to become tougher and harder to keep it in that situation due to the fact the dirt will just keep developing up. On the other hand, even when the carpet isn’t entirely fresh all year round, at least it is going to be basically clean in the event you vacuum. So the point is, really, that a deep clean is in no way a substitute for vacuum cleaning. Yes, if hoovering continues to be neglected for a lengthy time then a deep clean is really a great approach to get it back towards its optimal condition, but right after that you simply truly do need to go back to vacuum cleaning again.

Being complementary to vacuuming though, deep cleaning is an important partner to it. For the freshest carpets and to extend their lives as considerably as feasible it is anyway. What do we mean by deep cleaning although? Properly, it’s a type of cleaning that can get deep into the carpet, deep down to the roots and in-between the threads. Fundamentally it is about washing the carpet, that’s what it actually comes down to. Naturally a carpet is often going to be a tough thing to wash. You can’t just get a bucket of hot water as well as a scrubber needless to say the way you are able to with a difficult floor due to the fact there is no successful way of drying it. You’ll wind up soaking the carpet that way and soon it is going to go mouldy and you are going to need to replace it. Within the meantime it will be so soggy that it will hardly be pleasant to walk on.

And yet hot water an soap is fundamentally what’s employed together with the steam cleaning strategy. The important to why this operates although is in the official title that it has got. It’s called hot water extraction. This signifies it truly is a strategy whereby hot water is taken up out from the carpet, sucked up having a vacuum (however it isn’t a vacuum cleaner). That way the carpet could be washed but it just isn’t produced soggy. A minimum of not if it really is employed effectively, that is why making use of expert london carpet cleaners is actually a very good concept.

That is probably the most tricky technique due to the fact should you get it incorrect together with the heat from the water or the pressure it goes down at you can wind up creating it soggy and unusable. That’s why we have the dry cleaning method as well, for those carpets exactly where any far more than a tiny amount of water genuinely is too much.

by Cornell University Library

Your floor is one of the most noticeable things inside your home. If your floor looks good, your home will also look good. It is therefore very important to choose the kind of flooring materials carefully. Fortunately, there are many flooring materials that you can choose these days and many of these flooring materials are affordable, durable and easy to install.

Vinyl flooring for instance is one of the favorites of people who are on a budget. Vinyl flooring materials are very affordable and they come in different designs and colors without looking tacky or anything. In fact, a lot of homes that are using vinyl floor covering do not look in anyway tacky or cheap at all.

Buying the Right Vinyl Flooring

Buying flooring materials is not just like picking a few grocery items from the supermarket. If you really want your home to look good, you need to buy the right kind of vinyl flooring.

When you go shopping for some flooring materials, pay close attention to the color and design of the flooring.

Make sure that the color of your floor does not contrast with the dominant colors inside your home. As much as possible, go for light colored flooring materials. Light colors will make your home look more spacious that it really is. Moreover, like colored flooring gives your home that sunny atmosphere.

Installing Your Vinyl Flooring

Aside from being affordable, vinyl flooring is easy to install and you can easily do it on your own. Just buy one of those do-it-yourself flooring kits and study the installation manual carefully before you get to work. You should also check the tools and that you need to make sure that you know how to use them properly.

Is it possible for you to be able to install your floor like a pro even if you do have any proper training in installing floors? Yes, you can easily install your vinyl flooring even if you do not have experience or training in floor installation.

A lot of people around the country have successfully installed their own vinyl flooring all by themselves and most of these people never had any experience in floor installation before.

Of course there are always margins of errors here and you will probably make a few mistakes as you go along the process of installing your vinyl flooring but the good news is that if you work hard put in a few extra hours to make your work perfect, you will soon have beautiful floor in your home.

Home designs have various dimensions to it. From the roof to the floor, every room needs exquisite detail for it to be referred to as impressive. Over the years, several factors and techniques have been used to ensure that this is achieved. Manufacturers have also improved the way things are made to make sure that quality is achieved at lowest of cost as possible. That is not the only reason why substitutes are sought for these materials. Sometimes they are done because of the availability or otherwise of an existing raw material that is used for those things.

One such accessory in the house is the plastic flooring materials. Well to start with, they provide great substitute to the wood. As we all know, the wood is becoming increasingly scarce so this substitute is most welcomed. The plastic floor manufacturers are doing a great job. Some of the plastic floors can pass for woods and they will not be suspected. They have the finish and everything of a wood but they remain a plastic.

There are various forms of the plastic flooring but one of the commonest forms is the waterproof plastic floorings. Well as you might have rightly guessed, most plastics are waterproof. That is pretty true but when it comes to flooring, water can mean different thing. Being waterproof means not being slippery. By nature, plastics are potentially slippery and if water stands on the surface, it can be dangerous for anyone that steps on it.

The plastic flooring like any other thing needs regular maintenance to ensure that they stay in the best of shapes. They need to be constantly cleaned to maintain its highest standards. How the plastic floor is cleaned depends on the type of plastic flooring that is being used. For instance if the waterproof plastic flooring is used, vinegar can be used to remove all the stains on the plastic. It is important to do this regularly because that is the only way to ensure that dirt does not accumulate on the product.

After mixing the vinegar in a mop bucket with water, carefully sweep the plastic flooring with a brush. Ensure that dusts are properly taken care of before the final cleaning is done. Dim the mop into the mop bucket that contains the vinegar solution and gently squeeze the excess water that will be collected in the mop. This will ensure that the plastic flooring is not destroyed by the excess water. Excess water can damage the plastic flooring. Repeat the procedure until every part of the plastic flooring is covered. After mopping, allow the water to dry from the surface of the plastic flooring. After drying, ensure that the plastic flooring is not having any stain. If it does, make sure it is removed. Allowing a stain to stay longer on the plastic flooring eventually destroys the floor.

Repeating this regularly will ensure that your plastic flooring stays in the best of shapes. Go ahead, take care of those floors and they will continue to smile to you for a long time to come.

Article by Jerry Blackburn

Certainly there are a lot of homeowners who do not have the experience or patience to do some of the labor on home remodelling projects. In fact, most homeowners are better off letting experienced professionals complete the bulk of finish work and detail work that requires a trained hand.

But do-it-yourself (diy) can be a great way to save a few dollars when it comes time to renovate the older home or upgrade the residence. In many cases, the homeowner can take on some of the simpler tasks, such as removing old materials (walls, flooring) or even doing the simple painting or touch up.

Not only will this save money, but it may also prove to be quite interesting as a learning experience. Generally, these simpler tasks cannot be done the “wrong” way, although the homeowner may spend a bit more time with them than someone who has several remodelling projects under his or her belt.

In recent years, some excellent sources of information and materials have been established, existing only to aid the homeowner in these diy projects. In most cases the staff at these locations are experts who have completed numerous remodelling and renovation projects. They also have the support of a good company that offers only quality remodelling materials.

One key factor in a successful remodelling project is a solid idea of what needs to be done (and what can be done within the budget). A few minutes of thinking and planning at the beginning can help separate the diy projects from those best left to a professional carpenter, plumber, electrician etc. (Of course, there is also the possibility of having a friend or relative help, especially if that person has finished a number of remodelling tasks. Their experience can be invaluable.)

Suppose, for example, that the remodelling project involves taking out the old kitchen cabinets and sink. From the beginning it would best to enlist the help of a professional who will know just how to proceed with taking out old water lines and the sink, then replacing them with new materials. Caution is necessary at this point, because some diy centers will make the tasks sound very simple.The reality of working with plumbing and high-priced cabinets can be quite different however. The homeowner should be quite careful about making sure that his or her abilities match certain parts of the remodelling project. In those cases where seminars and printed information from the merchant are not sufficient, it is imperative that the job be left to someone who has the proper tools and experience to finish the task correctly the first time.

By taking some simple precautions at the start, and planning which tasks should be left to a pro, the homeowner can avoid getting into a spot that is difficult to work out of. Many amateur (homeowners) dive into a remodelling job without this planning, only to find that they are in over their heads. This may mean extra cost for the professional to correct the mistakes before doing the job the correct way. Homeowners who want to “do-it-yourself” should be as objective as possible when assessing the remodelling project, not letting their ego get in the way of having the work done correctly, by an experienced professional.

by Texas State Archives

Hardwood floors are very durable, but sometimes they can get damaged. A common damage that occurs is scratches. Sometimes these hardwood floor scratches are very superficial and light. This may only require you to do a thorough hardwood flor cleaning and stripping of the wax from the floor, and then inspect the damaged area. If the scratch is no longer visible, then that means it was only a surface scratch and it never penetrated the wood.

It only penetrated the waxed surface. It will then be necessary to apply a new coat of wax to your hardwood floor. If the scratch is much deeper and has obviously penetrated the wood beneath beyond the wax surface, you will need to remove the damaged wood plank and sand down the wax and strip it completely from the wood. If you have not had experience in sanding hardwood floors, you may want to make sure you are using professional tools.

It might be a good idea to rent a professional sander.

Sand the damaged wood piece until the scratch can no longer be felt and is no longer visible. The new surface should be completely smooth. Hardwood flor sanding is a bit complicated but can be done by yourself with the proper tools. The next thing you will need to do is seal the wood surface with a sealant. Then you will need to varnish it. Finally you can then replace the board plank back into its usual position on your hardwood floor.

Article by Doug Collins

The Dremel 395 is a multi-purpose Dremel tool for DIY or Do It Yourself projects. This unique and advanced tool allows you to work on things such as your hobby; taking care of your car; maintaining your home; crafting woodwork; and much more. It is indeed a one of a kind tool for many different uses. The Dremel tool offers you high performance in doing your projects and satisfaction in using it. Control and comfort are given importance as well. This Dremel tool is a must have for anyone who likes doing projects of all kinds.It has a compact design that serves well with different functions. You don’t have to be an expert in using the Dremel 395 since it is easy to use. Different features in doing projects can be found in this one tool. Its variable speed enables you to cut, sand, grind, drill, and polishes anything you want making it ideal for hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts. Compared to other typical grinders, saws, and drills, this Dremel tool can fit into tight or narrow spaces.The variable speed feature of the Dremel 395 gives you the choice of choosing the speed you want for a specific project. You can choose between 5000 – 35,000 rpm. Not only can you do your work or project more efficiently, you have absolute control over it. Its click and set function gives you the precision you need for smooth and continuous performance on your craft.The Dremel 395 is very easy to use because it only weighs 18 ounces. This light-weight feature is one of the best features it offers you. Unlike other cutting, drilling, grinding, and sanding tools, this Dremel tool is convenient to handle and hole. The small design minimizes wrist and hand fatigue enabling you to work longer and more accurately. Its handle gives you maximum grip on the Dremel tool that provides you precise handling and control. These features are perfect for doing precise and intricate projects. Its cord is long to provide you a 6-foot working space. The accessories it comes with give you and your work more versatility. 24 kinds of accessories allow you to work on anything that you want from repairing your garage door to modeling your toy airplane. You can doo all kinds of things just by using Dremel 395. You can also polish furniture, engrave wood or glass, and sharpen blades from your other tools. This Dremel tool works at 1.15amps on 120AC with 50 – 60 Hz for different applications. Its ball-bearing provides quiet operation while working on anything.The Dremel 395 is a must have tool for anyone. You will definitely get your money’s worth when you buy it. The Dremel tool has a 5 year warranty when you purchase it. Tools for DIY projects have never been this unique and helpful. Extending its life span is easy because of its replaceable motor brushes. Having this Dremel tool of high performance gives you an always ready feeling when DIY projects come up.

If you are looking to make chicken coops, then you have already made the first step to saving your self hundreds of dollars. There is no doubt that having a coop built professionally will mean that it looks nice and will cost a lot. Those two facts combined still does not mean that the coop will be of a better quality in comparison within a DIY project. All you need to ensure that you bare in mind that there are a few fundamental factors when you decide to make chicken coops.

Protection

Breeding chickens is extremely fun. It could just be that you love animals or that you are looking to breed chickens for fresh eggs, either way you will need to ensure they are protected. This means that you’ll need to use the highest quality wood. In some cases predators can actually gain access to the coop via weak parts that have become moldy. Along side this; the most important part of the coop should be the openings.

Ensure that at night time they are extremely secure, bolted if necessary.

Ventilation

Chickens are living things, so if you decide to make chicken coops, try and make their lives as comfortable as possible. By doing so you will have much tamer and friendly chickens and their egg production will be higher in comparison with a chicken that is stressed or scared. Ensure the coop is well vented for the summer, but warm enough in the winter.

Space

Space is a crucial part of the coop, so ensure that each chicken has access to at least 4.5sqft of space each.

Planning to make Chicken Coops

Making chicken coops isn’t easy, search the net, as using the likes of chicken coop plans might be a good idea!

More Diy Projects Articles

by The Library of Congress

Article by Jon Jacobson

Buying a house is such a big expense, that many people don’t think much about undertaking any home improvement projects once they’ve made their purchase. People are just so happy to have a house, that they often forget that they can make some changes to fix the house up. Yet, houses need to be taken care of regularly just like everything else, and if you don’t carry out some home repair projects then your house will deteriorate into a bad state. Letting your house fall into disrepair can greatly devalue your house, which is something you really don’t want to do once you’ve made your initial investment. By investing in your house through various improvements you can make, you’ll actually increase the value of your house and make it more enjoyable to live in as well.

One of the biggest home renovation projects that gets overlooked is related to flooring. People don’t tend to want to replace their flooring because it isn’t very exciting. Instead of spending their money on that, most people would rather buy something like a shiny new refrigerator. In reality though, putting in new floors can be more exciting than people realize because it can really change the way a room feels. Floors get a lot of wear and tear because they’re constantly being walked on. They also get torn up whenever people move furniture across them or if homeowners have pets. Kids can also be rough on floors whenever they play, and if you don’t replace your flooring, your house will quickly be left feeling old and worn out. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you don’t overlook this kind of essential home improvement project.

When you decide to put in new flooring, you have the opportunity to really change the way certain rooms look and feel. For example, if you don’t like carpet, you can put in wood floors instead. Many people assume that wood is too expensive, but there are some very affordable wood floors and wood alternatives such as cork. Those kinds of floors look great, but they’re also very durable and affordable. When you’re undertaking these home renovation projects, you may also decide to put tile in instead of linoleum on your kitchen or bathroom floors. Tile is more expensive, but it looks much better, feels better and is much more durable. In the long run, you won’t have to keep replacing tile like you would with linoleum. These kinds of changes may sound simple, but they really make rooms feel entirely different. Of course if you already like the way your house feels, then you can still replace your old flooring with the same kinds of materials as an important home repair project to keep your house in good shape. Depending on what kind of new flooring material you’re going to put in, you may want to hire some professionals to help you get the job done right the first time, which will save you time and money in the long run.