Home Repair and Paint Guide

... You may have to roughen the surface of the tile if it’s too glossy. ... This will reduce the height of the cut-ins along the bottom of cabinets. ... Making these too short will cause you to catch a toe on the cabinet edge when approaching the area. ... Getting the floor too high will close the gap at the bottom. ... Backerboard has a solid concrete core and is faced on both sides with fiberglass. ... Cutting backerboard is a lot like cutting drywall. ... You can use a regular utility knife for this, but you’ll go through a lot of blades. ... Break the board by applying pressure until it snaps apart along the score line. ... Use the flat side of a notched trowel to spread the thinset out where the sheet of backerboard will be placed. ... Secure the sheets with galvanized nails or backerboard screws about every 8 inches. ... Leave about 1/8″ space between the sheets and fill these gaps with thinset mortar using a taping knife. ... Move a straightedge over the surface and mark high and low spots. ... Small cracks in the slab must be covered with a crack isolation membrane to prevent the tile and grout from developing stress fractures ...

... Kitchen cabinets are available in a huge variety of designs that can really change the look and functionality of the area. ... Since you will most likely be looking at them for a lot of years, it pays to be thorough during the planning stage. ... They are surrounded by appliances such as the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and microwave. ... This is something that needs to be considered when deciding on cabinet style. ... Older appliances can look dated when matched with new kitchen cabinets. ... For something unique, you can hire a custom cabinet shop to build one-of-a-kind units made from your personal choice of wood. ... Traditional base and wall cabinets come in standard sizes. ... Wall cabinets average about 12 inches deep and 30 inches tall and are built in the same widths as base cabinets. ... Of course, there are custom sizes available from a lot of cabinet companies. ... The advantage is the lack of vertical seams where two cabinet boxes would mate to each another. ... The main difference in quality (besides the type of designs) are the materials used to build the cabinets ...

... Painting and stenciling countertops can completely change the look of your kitchen with very little money. ... Use the correct paint and it will last for many years. ... Make sure the area to be painted is clean and free of all grease and wax. ... Dry thoroughly and wipe with an old towel to remove any film left behind during cleaning. ... This will stick to the tile and prevent peeling. ... Stencils can be purchased at craft and home improvement stores. ... They can be held in-place with masking tape or stencil spray. ... Use just a very small amount of paint to keep it from leaking under the edges of the stencil. ... Dip the brush into the paint and wipe off the excess with a paper towel. ... Don’t use too much paint or it will leak under the edges of the design. ... Let the paint set a little before removing the stencil. ... Continue working around the countertop until finished. ... Painting and stenciling countertops can completely change the look of your kitchen with very little money ...

... The most important part is to eliminate shadows on work areas such as countertops and tables. ... These come in 4 inch and 6 inch sizes. ... Surface mounted lights can change the sight lines of your kitchen. If the fixture hangs down too much it will block critical views into the kitchen and could turn into a problem after the job is finished. ... Consider the color of walls, countertops, ceramic tile patterns, floor color, etc. ... You can purchase these fixtures in fluorescent (round or straight), or bulb. ... When planning the lighting, take into consideration where switches and power lines are located. ... Don’t just attach a fan to a regular non-rated box. ... Good quality fluorescent fixtures will come on instantly instead of the annoying blinking action of the older units. ... Be aware that CFL bulbs throw a different color spectrum that standard bulbs and can change the perceived color of an area. ... Kitchen lighting can turn your kitchen into an inviting environment and also provide good task illumination. ... Remember that the main purpose is to provide sufficient light during meal preparation. ... Recessed lights are a good choice for general task lighting over kitchen countertops ...

... Plan for this by keeping a box or two of the original tiles. ... It is important that tile be installed on a substrate that will last for many years. ... This item is strong, durable, and waterproof. ... In areas of heavy loads, such as a kitchen where a refrigerator is located, it is very important to ensure there will be no movement of the subfloor where the load will be rolled across and placed. ... It’s a good idea to install double joists in this area for extra load bearing capacity. ... After removing the tiles and subfloor, it was discovered that the joists were placed on 24 inch centers instead of 16 and they were nailed haphazardly into the side joists. ... This is a good reason why you must be vigilant if having a house custom built. ... If you don’t like something, start asking questions and don’t stop until you are satisfied with the answers. ... Ceramic tile is used in many areas of the home. ... The bathroom will usually have a tile floor and shower stall along with ceramic wall tiles. ... Cleanup is quick and easy with just some warm water and a sponge or mop.  Installing ceramic tile in a new home presents a few considerations ...

... Order about 10% extra tiles to cover breakage and future repairs. ... Pay attention to the color of walls, countertop, fixtures, floor, and appliances. ... Don’t forget the color of cabinets, and also the type of lighting. ... On the other hand, a backsplash that doesn’t work well with the overall scheme of the kitchen will make you wish you had watched TV all weekend instead. ... Check with your supplier to see if the tile you have chosen requires a specific underlayment. ... Make certain your counter top is level. ... Turn off power and water to any outlets within or near your work space. ... Don’t make the mistake of cutting into either while they are still live. ... Make straight or diagonal cuts with a tile cutter and curved cuts with a nipper. ... Smooth sharp edges with a carborundum stone. ... If in doubt, ask the supplier for the correct type. ... Mix only enough to be used within 30 minutes. ... Next, hold the trowel at a 45 degree angle and use the notched side to comb adhesive into ridges. ... Don’t spread a larger area than can be set in 15 minutes ...