Bathroom Vanities - Ceramic tile comes in many shapes, sizes, textures and types. Before starting your tile project, take some time to investigate the types and installation procedures. You need a clear idea of the area you are going to tile as well as performance characteristics. Will the area be exposed to a lot of moisture? If you are tiling a floor, how much foot traffic will the area be exposed to? What about weight of heavy objects, such as refrigerators?

Remember accessories like soap dishes and towel holders if you are planning to install ceramic bathroom tile. Do you have the necessary equipment? Cutting tile is not difficult, but does require patience and a few tools to do the job right.

Measure the floor and wall areas to be tiled. If the tiles are normal sized then you should add no more than 10% for waste. Some tiles will have to be cut, while others may be damaged or blemished. Always order an extra 10%. Even if you don't use them, they often come in handy for repairs at a later date.

If you are using a floor or wall border, measure the distance to be tiled and divide it by the length of each border to arrive at the number of tiles required. Again add a few extra pieces for waste.

Copper Pipe Solder - You need a few basic tools to successfully sweat solder copper pipe. These include pipe cutter, cleaning tools, propane torch, safety goggles, gloves, fire extinguisher, and flame blocking material if working in enclosed places.

You will also need lead free solder and a soldering paste called flux. Do not use lead based solder on water pipes because the lead can get into your water supply. Even a small amount can be detrimental to your health.

Copper must be cleaned to remove surface contamination prior to soldering. There are a number of ways to do this. You can use fine grit sandpaper, emory cloth, or a tool designed for the purpose. Whatever method you choose, the mating surfaces of the parts to be connected must be bright and shiny. Otherwise, solder will not bond and you will end up with a leaking connection.

Here are the steps to a successful sweat solder job:

• Measure, cut, and dry-fit all parts. Be sure you have cut pipes to the correct length. When fitted together, about 3/8 additional inch will be needed on each side of an assembled joint to account for the connector.

• Clean the mating surfaces of parts to be joined - outside surface of pipe, inside surface of connector. Use one of the cleaning methods mentioned earlier, and don’t touch the parts with your fingers after cleaning. This step must be done properly. Any contamination on the surfaces to be joined will prevent the solder from bonding.

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Grout Sealant - Tile grout can be difficult to remove stains from, especially if it has never been sealed. Mold, mildew, food and beverage stains, and a host of other problems can make your grout look old and dirty way before it's time.

Start with a household solution of vinegar or baking soda before moving to more harsh commercial cleaners. Dilute vinegar with an equal amount of water. To use baking soda, mix with enough water to make a paste. Apply the homemade cleaner in small circular motions with a nylon brush. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry.

If your grout is still stained, the next thing to try would be commercial tile and grout cleaners. These are available where home cleaning products are sold. Start with a mild cleaner instead of jumping right to a harsh one. To get the best result from a commercial cleaner, spray it on and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing. Follow the directions on the label to clean effectively and prevent discoloration.

Tips for Grout Cleaning

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Wood Burning Stove - Wood stoves add a nice touch to your living area. Since the stove is completely exposed to surrounding air, most of the heat is radiated into the room. When the snow is falling and temps hover just below zero, we light our stove and dim the lights. It's very relaxing to watch the flames dancing around through the glass door. It also keeps the furnace from coming on and that saves some money on heating bills.

Wood stoves require regular maintenance in order to remain efficient and safe. Creosote (black flammable tar deposited from wood smoke) builds up inside your chimney and must be removed to prevent a chimney fire. Ashes have to be cleaned out of the firebox and disposed of properly.

Clean chimneys at least once a year. This tends to be a messy job, so it's best to call a professional chimney sweep. The creosote is removed with stiff brushes designed for the purpose. This will allow your wood stove to continue operating efficiently and also prevent a fire hazard.

Gfi Circuit - You and your home are being silently protected from fire and injury by a very important device - the circuit breaker. Without breakers, the risk of damage would be great. You can perform some basic diagnostics if a breaker keeps tripping, but be very careful! You could easily injure or kill yourself if you contact a defective device or exposed wiring. Always hire a licensed electrician to make repairs or extensive troubleshooting.

Located inside your home is a circuit breaker box or panel that contains circuit breakers. Some homes have more than one panel. There may be a main panel plus one or more sub-panels in other locations.

There will usually be a large main breaker at the top of the panel with a high rating. The breakers for your branch circuits are physically smaller and have a lower amp rating. Be advised that shutting off the main breaker will also shutdown the branch circuits, but there is still high voltage in the breaker panel. The main wire leads into the panel are still active, and shutting off the main breaker will not stop current flow to these main leads.

Kitchen Cabinet Idea - Installing new kitchen cabinets will give a new look to an existing area. You can change the style, color, and almost anything else to create the image you are after. There are a lot of manufacturers that offer high quality products to fill most any need.

Before starting, see if your existing cabinets can be refinished or resurfaced. Sometimes, this can be done for a fraction of the cost of new units. And it's certainly less work on your part.

While you're at it, take a look around for other items that need replacement. What about those faucets and appliances? Lighting fixtures? Paint or wallpaper?

If you decide to go ahead with new cabinets, plan your job. Take measurements, make note of appliances and fixtures that have to be moved. Are you changing the color of the entire room? What about new light fixtures? How about the floor? This might be a good time to install new ceramic floor tile.

Get brochures from several cabinet companies and compare features, warranties, and prices. These will tell you what standard sizes are available, finishes, styles, materials, and hardware options. You may have to order a custom size to fit your area, but it is usually much less expensive to use standard sizes.

Draw a layout of your cabinet plans to give you an idea of how everything will line up and fit together. Make sure to include appliance and fixture locations. Check for interference with existing fixtures and lighting. If you are not going to install new light fixtures, make sure the new cabinets do not create shadows on the counter tops.

Look for interference with cabinet doors when they are opened. If you have a built-in range, will it fit the new opening? What about the exhaust fan - will you have to relocate the exhaust pipe and electrical connections?

Check the cabinet heights. If you are especially tall or short, see how far up you can comfortably reach. Many upper cabinets are designed to have an empty space between the tops and a standard height ceiling, while others will extend all the way to the ceiling.

If one of your cabinets will go over your sink or stove, make sure to allow space underneath it for working, and to attach lighting or a stove hood.

Be sure that upper cabinets line up with lower cabinets, and allow for windows and other features in the wall. Consider how you use your kitchen.

Items Needed for a Professional Job:

• Several carpenter's levels or laser levels of different lengths

• Lots of wood shims for leveling

• Clamps to hold cabinets together while you are arranging.

• Stud finder

• Counter top

• Two 2x4s or a cabinet jack

• Hinges

• Drawer pulls and door handles

• Any sinks, faucets, or other fixtures you will replace at the same time

• Paint and replacement flooring

• Caulk

• Basic power tools such as circular saw, drill, jigsaw, and screw gun

• Screws for hanging cabinets

Empty the old cabinets completely, then remove the doors and shelves before unscrewing the cabinets from the walls. Most shelves simply lift off of pegs, but some need to be unscrewed or pried off their supports.

Make certain that you support the upper cabinets as you remove the mounting screws. If the upper cabinets are a one-piece unit, you may have to separate them to avoid damaging adjacent walls.

After the old cabinets are removed, do any painting and floor work before installation begins. This would be a good time to do plumbing work if needed, assuming the pipes are exposed. See my post on how to sweat solder copper pipe if you need help with this.

Assemble the cabinets, but do not put the doors on yet. Take the time to make sure that the cabinets are assembled as securely, squarely and evenly as you can. Install upper cabinets first if possible, so that you will not need to work over the lower units.

Locate studs with a stud finder and use a level to draw a line down at their locations. Measure from the ceiling to mark the height of the cabinet brace or rail you will fasten to the studs.

Upper cabinets go first, starting at one end or in a corner. Be sure to arrange for a helper to lift and support them during installation. Follow all manufacturer instructions for installation.

Now mark the locations of your studs for the lower cabinets. Move them into place and check which cabinet sits highest. It's easier to shim the others up to this height than to shorten the tall one.

Make cutouts for plumbing, electrical, etc. Be sure these are accurate, and leave a little extra room so cabinets can be moved a little and not interfere with pipes or wiring.

Level the top of the cabinets by shimming under and behind them. Remember that you will install a counter top on the cabinets, so you want this reasonably level and all the joints flush. Also look at the appearance of the cabinet fronts and make sure those are even.

Ceramic Tile Floor Ideas - Ceramic floor tile is a great way to upgrade your home. Ceramic tiles are very durable and easy to clean. But in order to achieve that pro look, you must take your time during the initial planning and surface prep stages.

Preparing the Surface

Surface preparation is crucial for a professional looking tile job. High and low spots must be leveled or you will have difficulty aligning the tiles. Low areas can cause tiles to crack. Remove any contamination so the adhesive will adhere to back of tiles.

Snap chalk lines with a 90 degree intersection, preferably in the center of the room. Be patient. The more time you invest in laying out your area the better your project will go. Solve your layout questions before the adhesive is even mixed.

For best results, all tiling materials and adhesives should be at 50 to 70 degrees for 24 hours before and 48 hours after installation. Thoroughly mix the mortar with clean water to a toothpaste like consistency. It is best to only mix what can be used in 30 minutes. Stir mixture occasionally to maintain consistency. In the event the mix becomes stiff in the pail, discard and make a fresh batch.