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
Originally posted 2009-09-02 03:42:10.
This post involves:
... and focuses on:
Posted by Fix Handyman on December 29, 2011 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
Originally posted 2009-08-04 13:55:27.
This post involves:
... and focuses on:
Posted by Fix Handyman on December 14, 2011 in
Floors, Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
Car Floor Mat
Cleaning Stains on Car Rugs
There are some disasters that seem to happen in slow motion. You see the car in front of you stop suddenly so you hit the brakes and watch out of the corner of your eye as your still pleasantly warm tall latte cup titters for a few seconds and then with the grace of an Olympic swimmer divers out of the holder onto your carpet. While vanilla isn’t a bad smell in the coffee shop it will start wearing on your nerves very shortly as you wonder how on earth you can ever get that stain out of your carpet.
Finding cleaning supplies
The great thing about your car’s carpet is that most are made expecting some abuse. With any luck at least some of the damage was taken by the floor mat. Take out the mat and exam it. Don’t make the mistake so many make by washing the mat with the lawn hose. To clean the mat you will need a good size sponge and some strong cleaner. Any automotive store will have the type of cleaning supplies you need for both the mat and the carpet. For the really horrible stains such as the coffee, you might consider a small portable deep cleaner like the Bissell Spotbot.
Getting to the scene of the crime
Take off the mat and clean it thoroughly using the sponge and cleaner. You will want it not only to look clean, but try to eliminate as much of the odor as possible. Left locked up in the car any lingering smells from the mat will saturate the car if you spilled coffee, milk, or if someone was ill while in the car. In cases of strong odors make sure nothing is left un-cleaned and understand everything has to pass the smell taste before you close and lock up the vehicle. Leave the mat someplace where it can dry out for at least 12 hours.
Carpet cleaning
Here you can use paper towels to soak up any remaining moisture from the spill. Use the paper towels until you do not see any moisture spots on them when you pick them up. If you are using the Spotbot you will need to go over the entire carpet on the side of the stain with the nozzle very slow to draw out the last of the liquid or other staining material. Don’t panic if the area still seems darker in places the first time you go over it. You might need to use a brush to gently loosen any stubborn stains or sticky spots. Keep up the back and forth motion over all of the carpet until no sign of the stain remains. If you're using a regular cleaner and a scrub brush you will need to do the same cleaning of all the carpet in the area of the stain.
Here too let the smell test be your guide and don’t stop expending elbow grease until no lingering odor remains.
Photo Credits: engnr_chik
Originally posted 2010-05-08 11:41:54.
This post involves:
... and focuses on:
Posted by Fix Handyman on December 8, 2011 in
Car, Carpet, Floors, Guest Blogger, How to Fix
Stumble
Reddit
Digg
Del.icio.us
