Sinking deck to fix deck.
Your backyard deck might be the pride and joy of all the landscaping and additions you've made to your house; you get to bring guests to it, raise a family on it, and enjoy quiet summer evenings in comfort. That's why it can be so disconcerting to see a problem like a sinking deck post - all of that work and money sometimes still can't prevent the Earth from throwing a wrench in the engine. That's why you'll want to fix your sinking deck post as soon as possible.
First, you'll need the right equipment: a jack, pea gravel, and a pipe. Of course, without the instructions, these might sound like odd equipment for a job like this, but bear with me.
Make a diagnosis. Using a balance to measure the actual problem with your deck, you want to make sure that your sinking deck post is the only one sinking. After all, if you have two posts sinking, you should use this opportunity to treat the problem as a whole - while you have the equipment out.
Once you know which deck post - or posts - to fix, try to take a look at the kind of access you can get. Some people have decks with plenty of room underneath, and if this is the case with your deck, you shouldn't have ot move too many object around in order to get at the sinking deck post. But if you have a smaller deck without a whole lot of room, you'll probably need to remove some floor boards in order to get at the right post. This might also require that you set aside some time to remove furniture, hopefully at a time when no one will be needing the deck at all.
With the access to this sinking deck post secured, raise the deck (and the post) up with the jack to the point at which the deck is level again. Then, using the pipe you have ready, slide it into the hole where the sinking deck post had just been. Pour the pea gravel into this hole through the pipe and try to make sure that you pack as much gravel into the hole as you can, keeping an eye on how balanced your deck is overall.
This should add some stability to your deck and hopefully prevent further sinking. Remember to be careful with each step so as to do the best overall job possible. If you removed floor boards, you can replace them now, and move the furniture back onto the deck.
Photo Credits: MrPhilDog
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Posted by Fix Handyman on September 2, 2009 in
Backyard, Deck, Floors, Handyman, How to Fix
Loose or Broken Tile?
Whether your kitchen floor is new or old, there's nothing that disturbs the balance of a room quite like a broken tile. After all, tiles were installed with a pattern in mind: break one link in the chain and the whole thing falls apart. That's why it's important to know how to fix a broken tile - like learning how to change a tire, sometime it pays to know how before you have to do it.
First, we can assume that the conjoining material between each tile is already hard, which means that you'll have to do a little work that might include dust and debris. Make sure to wear protective eye goggles - you might even want to cover your mouth to prevent inhaling too much dust into your lungs.
Next, you'll have to destroy and remove any leftover spots from the previous tile. Most likely your tile is still in place, unless the whole tile itself came out already. In order to remove tile chips, you're going to want to follow a precise pattern: break the tile in the center using a hammer and nailset, and then cut the tile into an X pattern using a glass cutter. Then you can use the hammer to chip away the rest of the tile - beginning in the center - and pry up the pieces using a metal tool.
Once the area is cleared of the main tile bits, it's time for you to dry it out - suck out the remaining debris with a vacuum cleaner. It might not hurt to sand down any protruding areas that might get in the way for the new tile, so be sure to vacuum after you've done the sanding, as well.
Now that you have a clear area where your tile used to be, it's time to replace the tile. First you're going to want to fill the area with latex primer and allow it to dry - you should probably make sure to protect this area so that no one steps in it, particularly small children if you have them. After the primer has dried, you can apply tile adhesive, making sure to move it left and right to make sure it settles in properly. It's important to keep the tile level, so use a mallet to make sure that it gets in far enough. Any extra tile adhesive that comes out of the sides can be scooped up with a stick or screwdriver.
Give the tile some time to dry and you should be all finished. You've covered up the spot in your kitchen that detracted from all the rest. Now if you could just get a new set of cupboards.
Photo Credits: wakingphotolife
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 4, 2009 in
Floors, Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
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