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How to – Basic Electrical Wiring

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:30:13 +0000

Electrical wiring can be a little more confusing than you might realize. The fact is that many people can do simple projects like hooking up a new light or installing a new doorbell. You can do this, of course, once you learn the basics about wiring. Don’t just get up there and try, get a little knowledge first so that when you are done, the light works! Residential wiring is a task that many homeowners will undertake every now and then. The question is, though, will you do it without all the hassle?

We should mention that basic electrical wiring is really not rewiring your entire home. For an entire rewiring, you probably should call in the professionals. You can help with the planning and even the assessment of needs for your home, of course, but when it comes to main power, you really should invest in some licensed help for your safety as well as your family’s safety.

There are several steps to proper basic electrical wiring. It is important for you to really read through and understand them prior to starting your project. You will find precise guides to doing this throughout the web. Your projects might include wiring for a new light, fan or other fixture. You may be looking into adding in a new outlet to a room that currently has one. You may be wiring for a doorbell or even the wiring in the garage. Installing a new circuit breaker may be necessary. There are many projects that you can handle, when you get the inside scoop on how to do them right here on the web.

Electrical Wiring Safety

Electrical wiring safety is something that every one of us needs to consider before starting a project. Here are some guidelines to follow:

* Some of the communities will require that you get a permit to do electrical rewiring. Now, this more than likely is for a larger job than installing a ceiling fan, but nonetheless, knowing what you need and when you need it is necessary. Contact your community to make sure.
* Turn off the power. Pull the fuse or flip off the circuit breaker. But, make sure that you go back and make sure that it is off. Test the power. Use a voltage tester if you would like. Plug something into the outlet that is “off” and make sure it is. Never, ever trust the schedule as things change and are not always written down.
* Base electrical wiring needs to be done carefully. In other words, make sure that you never touch or use any type of metal near the large, service wires that come into the home. These are live no matter what you turn off.
* Never stand on a wet floor and don’t touch metal.
* Consider the right tools: Rubber or plastic coated handles on tools, non conductive soled shoes, wear safety goggles or glasses.
* Do not push yourself too quickly through the job. If you are not sure, take your time to figure it out and think it through carefully.

Install a Kitchen Sink-How to do it

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:08:43 +0000

To many homeowners, installing a kitchen sink seems like a daunting task, but the fact is, if you can trace around a template and cut out a hole, you can install a kitchen sink.

You do want to make sure your new sink fits your countertop and the cabinet below it, so measure the width and depth of your lower cabinets before making a purchase.

Generally, a sink up to 22 inches deep (from front to back) will fit in a standard 24-inch-deep cabinet if you have no backsplash; if you do have a backsplash, your countertop will only take a sink up to 20 1/2 inches deep. Of course, your options will increase if you are also changing your cabinetry and countertop.

To install a counter-top kitchen sink, follow the directions below:

The first step when installing a new sink is to properly site the opening. Most sink manufacturers provide a template. Position the template so it is centered on the sink cabinet and is at least 1 1/2 inches back from the countertop’s front edge. If your countertop is deeper than 24 inches, place it farther back, but not more than 4 inches. Tape the template in place, then outline it with a marker.

After marking the opening, remove the template and drill a 3/8-inch-diameter hole in each corner. Insert a saber-saw blade in one of the holes and start cutting along the inside of the line. To prevent the cutout from snapping off and falling through as you complete the cuts, first screw a scrap of wood from front to back on the top of the cutout long enough so it spans the opening, plus a couple of inches. When you’ve finished, simply lift the cutout from the template.

Install the faucet and the sink strainers. (Doing this when you’ve got full access to the sink will be much easier than fitting the pieces in from below after the sink is installed.) Next, to create a watertight seal between the sink and the countertop, apply a bead of silicone caulk or plumber’s putty around the entire perimeter of the underside of the sink’s lip.

arefully flip the sink over and insert into the opening, taking care not to disturb the caulk or putty. If your sink is heavy, get help lifting and installing it; also consider placing a couple of scraps of wood near the edge of the opening to support the sink and protect your fingers as you drop it into position.

Most sinks are pulled down tight against the countertop with special mounting clips that hook onto the lip on the underside of the sink and are tightened with a screwdriver or nutdriver. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for spacing these clips. Tightening the mounting clips may cause the caulk or putty to squeeze out from under the sink lip, so remove this excess with a clean, soft rag.

To complete the project, first connect the P-trap. Join the faucet lines to the hot and cold supply lines with flexible supply tubes and connect the strainers to the waste line. Turn the water on at the shut-off valves, remove the aerator from the faucet, then turn on the water from the faucet to flush the system. Reinstall the aerator after you’ve run the water for a minute or so.

10 ?Cheap Remodeling? Decisions that Can Cost You

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:21:37 +0000

In tough economic times it?s more and more likely that you?ll run into an unscrupulous contractor ready to pounce on an unsuspecting customer. To protect your money and investment, here are 10 practical measures you can take to avoid cheap remodeling. In remodeling, one of the worst things you can do is to plan by the seat of your pants. This will cost you time and money and will most likely leave you unsatisfied with the results. Good planning is making decisions that will give you the most bang for your buck. Make sure you do your homework. Know the fair market value of materials, equipment, and purchases made by the contractor. This will help you separate a realistic bill from the fishy ones. You?re likely to get a higher ratio of legitimate offers when you understand the business side of remodeling. Check for appliances that carry rebates from either the manufactures or the local utility. Ask about these rebates and make sure to keep the receipts for tax time. Consider the long-term value of the project. Avoid fashion fads and make certain high quality workmanship goes into the job. It goes without saying but you don?t want to be redoing work because it was done on the cheap. This coincides with the importance of finding a good contractor. Once you?ve accomplished that, the first part of this question is almost a non-factor. Be careful about additional bells and whistles that drive up costs. It?s important to stay within your budget. Add-ons mean an increase in the final price, so avoid them when you can. Painting is part of remodeling, so make sure to use high-quality brands of paint. The cheaper the paint , the more likely it is you?ll be re-painting sooner than you think. Looking to cut cost? Don?t use expensive granite for your countertops. Many modern plastic counters look exactly like the real thing and you can always change them out when money isn?t so tight. The places you absolutely, positively don?t want to fall short on are the walls, electrical, and plumbing. When the walls are open, it doesn?t cost much to run wiring for extra phones, electrical outlets, computers, and fax machines. Once the walls are up, adding these elements are costly. (more?)

10 Cheap Home Fixes

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:13:16 +0000

We all have dreams of remodels and additions that take time and money. Many folks are now shelving these plans in favor of more short term home improvement goals that stretch the dollar and allow for more do-it-yourself labor and much less professional help.

See original here:
10 Cheap Home Fixes

How to choose the right nail for the job

admin — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:53:52 +0000

Choosing the right nail for your job isn’t always as simple as it may seem. And going to the local hardware store sometimes makes the job even more difficult with the large choice of nails available.

I found that simple guide for choosing the best nail for the job at the Readers Digest site.

Hopefully that makes it a little bit easier for you.

Original post by steve