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Archive for the ‘home repairs’ Category

Bosch Electric Jackhammer

Thursday, January 5, 2012
posted by Craig

DIY your way to a New Years start. All those home improvement projects that you wish to accomplish are within arms reach. The Bosch chipping hammer is paramount in helping get rid of the old and begin to realize your dreams. This little workhorse has saved us tons of time and sweat by doing the jackhammers job tenfold!

The Bosch 10 Amp Spline Rotary Hammer features a spline/round hex bit system that provides tool-free bit changes and automatic bit locking. A combination dual mode selector offers 2 modes of operation, rotary hammer and hammer-only. The Vario-Lock positioning system rotates and locks the hammer chisel in 12 different positions to optimize the working angle.

Many features that the Bosch 11247 excels in :

  • Delivers 3,000 BPM
  • Powerful 10 Amp motor
  • Spline/round hex bit system for tool-free bit changes with automatic bit locking
  • Integral clutch helps minimize torque reaction
  • 360 Degree auxiliary handle provides a wide range of movement and comfortable use
  • Dual mode selector supports rotary hammer and hammer-only operation
  • Vario-Lock rotates and locks the chisel into 12 different positions to optimize working angle
  • Carrying case included
  • MFG Brand Name : Bosch
  • MFG Model # : 11247
  • MFG Part # : 11247

Small enough to throw behind your truck seat but big enough to remove patio slabs in a cinch! When push comes to shove the Bosch Jack Hammer is worth its weight in gold to my team. Light and powerful for all the small to medium sized jackhammering demolish work we have encountered. DIY your way thru 2012 for all the home improvement desires you have on that list. Tools make any


JOB easier or harder, make the choice that can improve your projects! Have a great 2012 everyone!!

Termite Damage Control

Monday, December 12, 2011
posted by Craig

Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea. While termites are commonly known, especially in Australia, as “white ants,” they are only distantly related to the ants. They will feed around and in moistened wood and lumber as well, gates – doors and windows – siding – eaves and fascia boards , that get wet during rain , plumbing leaks or everyday home watering. Building anything that rids of moisture will aid in your fight against the elements of nature.

There are products for protecting against termite infestation on the market including local sprays , orange oil. These can lower the termite control costs and help you DIY the termite treatment(s) around your home.

Like ants, some bees, and wasps—which are all placed in the separate order  termites divide labour among castes, produce overlapping generations and take care of young collectively. Termites mostly feed on dead plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, soil, or animal dung, and about 10 percent of the estimated 4,000 species are economically significant as pests that can cause serious structural damage to buildings, crops or plantation forests. Termites are major detritivores, particularly in the subtropical and tropical regions, and their recycling of wood and other plant matter is of considerable ecological importance.

Plumbing/Piping Repair

Monday, November 21, 2011
posted by Craig

How to fix a leaky pipe has never been easier since the Shark bite fittings hit the piping repair industry. Every homeowner in the world can now address their plumbing pipes as if they just got a plumbers license from the state or country they own their own house or rental property in. It’s no secret or magic pill to be ingested, truth be known these relatively new and inexpensive little gems are just like snapping Lego’s together, just as you did when you were a kid.

The best thing about Shark bite fittings, is they will help you stop any leak in any pipe,  in any area of the world. Whether it be Pex tubing or copper tubing or even PVC plumbing with 2 quick cuts and 2 even quicker snaps together , can stop any plumbing leak anywhere.

Pex tubing is not used in the west like copper tubing because of the warmer climates, but these non sweat , no plumbing experience needed,  DIY tools are applied, all things are possible. It does not matter where in the wall the water line repair is necessary , It won’t make a difference if they are leaking in  the concrete or under the slab,  plumbing pipes can be fixed,  Sharkbite plumbing fittings can stop the steady drip drip drip of water wasting usage and or water damage that can be avoided.

The water heater needs a supply water line to heat and distribute hot water to any bathroom or kitchen in every home across the world. Many of these water supply lines are buried and not seen until, there is a sign of water damage. These water supply pipes are easily repairable. Once You have the knowledge and lose the fear of believing “I Can’t” ….. until you have done your homework , the fear exits faster than How can I Repair a plumbing pipe! As the thought turns to “I easily CAN!” Have a fantastic and healthy Thanksgiving Day !!

Mold remediation [exaust fan]

Wednesday, November 16, 2011
posted by Craig

Action is needed to remedy anything. The everyday bath fan has many upsides, when the ductwork is done correctly all else will follow. Mold has proved to be unhealthful for a lot of us, but to avoid mold and mildew in our very frequently used bathrooms has never been easier. Any diy’er has the ability to execute change, and we here at My-DIY.net aim to give back a solution that is inexpensive and simple.

In the image here it shows the creative way to use ductwork in a bathroom shower exhaust fan. With the ceiling 2×4 framing disallowing a direct air flow, the 90 degree duct gets us up and out in the shortest distance without constricting or pinching the ducting. Home Depot stocks this exhaust fan elbow ducting in house and it is extremely easy to DIY or Do It Yourself, when we have all the right information to avoid mold and mildew in our families bathrooms for cleaner healthier living.

When searching through the exhaust fans available on line, it is noted here that the volume of air exchanged and the Ultra-quiet motors operate at sone level reading per noisiness factor. But most importantly, moving the wet air up and out as your hot and steamy shower continues. But, in order for a bath fan to be able to perform it’s duties it must draw air from someplace?? Be certain there is a significant gap underneath the bathroom door 3/4″ or so ,  and or crack open the bathroom window just enough to aide in the CFM also known as the cubic feet of air per minute. Good luck and DIY , Today!


Concrete Finished Countertop

Saturday, September 10, 2011
posted by Craig

This approach to creating counter space is growing daily and will give identical appearance as some of the other more expensive counter top options. Using concrete on top of cabinetry or even a pass through shelve, can certainly change the look in any room or office. Outside of the concrete color or veining techniques, the mixing and pouring is essentially identical.

Here in this concrete counter form image with reinforced steel or rebar, we have used 4″ lag screws to anchor the #3 rebar, staggered every 24″O.C. The counter or shelve here is formed to 2″ in depth and 12″ wide with the length being 10′ long between the two end points of the adjacent walls. Because it sits atop a 2×4 framed wall, it will cantilever 2″ to the kitchen area and roughly 6″ pass the other side of the same wall into the living room.

The image to the right here shows the importance of protecting the wood framing beneath with flashing paper to act as a moisture barrier and future dry-rotting adherent. The small spacers under our #3 rebar allows the new aggregate pour to completely surround the reinforcement steel for optimum strength.

DIY-Tools & Materials Needed for Your Counter Top Mix:

- plywood or melamine, plus screws to build the mold
- bagged counter-top mix (or “scratch” mix below)
- dyes or pigment if you’re coloring your counter-top
- grinder / polisher with water feed (can be rented)
- diamond polishing discs of various grit
- concrete mixer- concrete vibrating tool (can be rented)- dusts masks

…… Now DIY your own Concrete Counter-Top over almost any applicable surface!

Custom Copper [collars]

Saturday, October 30, 2010
posted by Craig

Requests come in all the time when surrounded by creative individuals. And this was going to be a pricey one, commodities always fluctuate in cost and ever changing with supply and demand needs. Copper pipe is on the up-tick of late, but I put a holding 30 day quote prior to install and got a local plumbing supply company to commit to $6.12 per foot, 1-1/2″ …. 1/8″ walled copper plumbing tubing. Our usage for this copper tubing, in such, was for fence and redwood deck railing.

The spacing needed to suffice local codes and also required a rather tricky custom fastening collar attachment with like metal screws to be compatible [ no electrolysis] and endure the harsh coastal climate on the west coast. With 6×6 posts carrying all burden, sealed with an oil base primer before inserting into our posts holes, and a 2×8 rough douglas fir cap, we obtain a unique and stylish alternative to the common everyday barrier. We used a fine hand saw on some of the finish cuts for noise is often an issue in gated communities.

The custom collars had to have a base silver solder braised to an 1-1/2″ coupler and predrilled for our screws. We installed these after layout by using a Vix bit to relieve the extra stress on our fasteners and keep a clean machine like finish to the phillip’s heads. Our client became ecstatic when arriving home and seeing the finished product, while her real estate portfolio knowingly greatly improved by adding an outrageously avant-garde curb appeal.

Bath Tub Fixtures (WHY)

Saturday, July 3, 2010
posted by Craig

After a long day, one of the things you would be craving for is a warm long bath. A great bath tub can become your best friend at the end of the day. Many people upgrade their tubs with bath tub faucets to make it more delightful to use. Increasing the value of their largest investment, Real Estate. Nowadays, bath tub faucets come in all shapes and sizes so you have countless of options to choose from.

One of the newest things in this industry today is the touch faucet innovation. Some of the touch faucet brands in the market today are Delta and Kohler. The Delta 980T – SSSD is equipped with the latest Touch 20 technology and is one of the leading products in the market. The price of Delta touch sensor faucet in Amazon is $348. Listed at the original price of $585, you would be able to save around $40 when you purchase it in Amazon. It has a Pilar design which was inspired by technology and nature combined. It also features a Magnatite spray head to secure tight fit. Additionally, this product also boasts its Diamond Seal technology which utilizes an electronic valve along with a diamond coating, making it more durable and guaranteed to last a lifetime.

If you want a Zen-styled bathroom, a faucet Asian waterfall nickel sink would be the best way to go. You can find one in Amazon, like the model SV15, which is an oriental inspired bathroom sink and faucet that sells for $425. This product has marble sink which is handcrafted and a brushed nickel faucet finish. The sink is about 1″ thick and colored black and grey. The product includes a pop up drain and a limited lifetime warranty. Bath tub faucets with an Asian design will also go along well with a Zen inspired bathroom. Vintage themes are also popular. You can add vintage glass fixtures for bathroom or look for modern floor mount bathtub faucets if you want a contemporary, modern look.

For a modern styled bathroom, most people choose ceiling mount tub fillers or custom ceiling tub faucets with a contemporary sleek modern finish. This is one of the most unique kinds of bath tub faucets ever thought of. A bath faucet from ceiling mounts is a great statement of modern style. You can find the Kohler K922 CP ceiling mount bath filler at Amazon for $323.86. The product has a solid brass construction and a polished chrome finish for more durability and resistance to tarnish and corrosion. It has a 2 centimeter orifice and weighs about 5.6 lbs. This product can be used for dual purposes. Aside from filling your tub, it can also be used as a shower. The minimalist style is also the modern style so if you want this kind of bathroom, don’t overdo decorations and fixtures. Look for fittings that possess simplicity and clean finishes.

Bath tub faucets, no matter what design, should complement and match the overall look of your bathroom. Before buying a faucet that interests you, think about the kind of look you want to achieve first. Compare the different styles that you want and canvas on some of the things you need to buy. Remember, you don’t have to spend too much and hire a contractor or decorator for this. Just have in mind the right idea, and the great products to go along with it.

Xypex diy waterproffing

Sunday, June 27, 2010
posted by Craig

How to waterproof a masonry blockwall , with a stucco finish painted, often the paint appears to create bubble pockets and destroy the visual surface. Retaining walls in yards have garden beds that require weekly watering and irrigation, but even when french drain systems are implemented, the concrete masonry block wall soak’s up and absorbs the moisture. As the moisture filters through the wall it is slowly breaking down causing water damage and destroying the integrity of the structural block wall. broken blockwall Xypex concentrate

Xypex crystaline Concentrate is designed to work as long as the is intact, we have used this process on either the positive or the negative side of painted block wall surfaces. For repairs of existing finishes, all the painted finish coat must get removed. Small jack hammer or pneumatic chisel, the paint and the finish float coat, as well as the brown coat gets demoed off. Any cracks or deteriorated openings need to be treaty and filled prior to the Xypex application. Hairline cracks won’t be affected, but any 1/8″ or larger cannot allow the Xypex formula to perform it’s magic.

Once the demolition process is complete, a slurry mix of Xypex concentrate can be sprayed or brushed on, the thicker the better. After curing is complete a finish stucco can be reapplied to desired appearance. If being painted again, the paint has to be breathable and not an elastomeric sealer or the like. Be sure to consult your local codes and read all instructions pertaining to products used.

1/2″ ply DIY

Sunday, April 25, 2010
posted by Craig

The average home will be sheathed with a 3 ply 1/2″ cdx plywood that can span 24″ centers for the roof rafters, 1/2″ plywood has been facilitated in home construction roofs for quite some time, and generally found the least expensive common sheeted material in your local lumber yards and home improvement stores. commercial glulam beam constructionAre you a commercial CADS manager?

Plywood is a manufactured wood, made by gluing together a number of thin veneers or plies of softwood or hardwood. A common reason for using plywood instead of plain wood is its resistance to cracking, shrinkage, twisting/warping, and its general high degree of strength. Also, plywood can be manufactured in sheets far wider than the trees from which it was made. It has replaced many dimensional lumber on construction applications for these reasons.

Another 1/2″ plywood product most generally used on panelized roof systems, or commercial construction roofs such as Wal-Marts or Home Depot roof structures, where 3-1/8″x 18″ sub laminate [glu-lams] beams spanning 20′ or so, between larger Glu-lams that can span 40′ or so. These mini lams are on an 8′ centers layout with 2x stiffeners, 24″ centers, fastened with hardware [stiffy hangers] and then sheathed with a 1/2″ struct one plywood sheet, this material is a 5 ply material that can span length wise over 2 foot centers with the ability to not flex much or give under normal live load weights. Plywood has certainly change building norms, and in some cases fire retardant when called for. Next time standing in line at your busy home improvement warehouse store, look up and you will see exactly what we are saying here….

DIY Xypex systems

Thursday, April 22, 2010
posted by Craig

The best is here and now, we use Xypex to waterproof from the positive or negative sides of block walls that have been painted and their products work like nothing else on the market. Read further that even the President agrees with this newer waterproofing method, who knows how much he may know about building and construction methods? But we know here at My-diy that its works, over and over ……….

Remarks by President Obama concerning:
“NEW CONCRETE MATERIALS THAT LAST LONGER AND ARE WATERPROOFED FROM THE INSIDE OUT...”

At a press conference on July 2nd, 2009 in the Rose Garden of The White House, President Obama, after meeting with CEOs from a number of “innovative energy companies”, spoke about a new clean energy economy and the importance of encouraging these companies’ efforts.

Based on his discussions with these CEOs, President Obama cited energy saving examples such as LED lighting and solar energy innovation. Most importantly, from our point of view, he also included comments about new concrete materials:

“New concrete materials that last longer and are waterproofed from the inside out, and that can mean that bridges and roads and buildings can last 20 or 30 years longer than using conventional concrete.”

His comment indeed represents support for integral concrete waterproofing as an alternative to traditional membrane or barrier systems, a challenge and opportunity that has been the very basis of the concept, design and development of Xypex crystalline technology. Xypex has, without doubt, led the way with integral concrete waterproofing in North America and, although The President did not endorse any particular product, we are very pleased that he is so clearly drawing attention to our type of technology and innovation.

D’Arcy Mainwaring
President