Start by making sure that your sub-floor is completely level, your sub-floor is the floor you’re intending to lay the laminate on. The first thing you need to establish is whether your sub-floor is concrete or wooden as this will dictate how you go about levelling it.
With wooden sub-floors there is a choice of two materials. You can either use hardboard or plywood, plywood comes in thicker sheets and gives a far more ridged finish to the sub-floor. Hardboard is relatively thin coming in thicknesses of 1/8 inch which makes it easier to work with but less ridged than the second option which is plywood. Depending on how uneven your floor is should determine which material you use if your sub-floor is very uneven then use plywood.
In the event that your sub-floor is concrete then you need to use a floor-levelling screed to level your floor prior to fitting the laminate. All concrete sub-floors need a membrane laid over the top to stop moisture from harming your laminate floor.
Now that your sub-floor is ready you can prepare to lay your laminate floor. It’s important to lay your underlay carefully before starting on the laminate. Either glue or staple your underlay to your sub-floor and use duct tape for all joins as this will ensure your underlay moves as little as possible.
After you have fitted your underlay securely to the sub-floor you can start to lay the laminate floor. In most rooms or spaces it is best to start fitting your laminate in the far left hand side away from the door. Fit the laminate from left to right using 5-8mm spaces away from the wall. As you lay each board down it should click neatly into the last board laid, be sure to have a least 2 spacers for each board when you get to the last board in the row measure, cut and fit.
Do exactly the same for rows 2 and 3 as you did for the first using as many wedges as possible. The advantage of using many wedges is that this will stop the boards from moving around or twisting them out of shape making life a lot easier with the last boards.
Once you have your three rows secure just continue the procedure until you reached the other side of the room where you will need to measure and cut the final boards.
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Plumbing 101: Tending To Your Pipes Like A Pro
Before we start you should be aware that certain plumbing tasks should only be preformed by qualified plumbers. Such jobs as replacing radiators can be done by a DIYer but fixing the boiler should not. If you are refitting your home with traditional radiators then be sure to get a plumber to check your work when completed.
Plumbing has so many possibilities as to what you can use, do, and how you can apply it to your own plumbing jobs. It is rare to find somebody that has plumbing needs just like you, so why not take advantage of that and perfect your own? This article can help you.
Be careful with putting household cleaners in your toilet. They can cause the toilet to malfunction. The debris that these cleaners leave can sit in your toilet’s pipes and harden, making them almost impossible to get rid of. If it does harden, it usually requires the help of a professional.
It is important to know how to properly anchor your pipes when it comes to plumbing. This is extremely important to know because not having your pipes well anchored could result in loud noises, leaks, or pressure problems. Call a professional if you are unsure how to take care of it yourself.
Always keep a trash bin in the bathroom so that you can dispose of cotton swabs, facial pads, and hair. Do not put these materials in the toilet as they can cause clogs over time and disrupt your water flow. These items will not dissolve or break down when submerged in water.
Avoid putting celery, corn husks, or other stringy foods into your disposal. Even though they seem easily disposable, filling the disposal with enough fibrous material can not only clog the disposal but also eventually lead to the mechanism losing it’s ability to grind up your sink waste because of snags and tangles.
Make sure everyone in your home knows where the main water shut off valve is and that they know how to work it. That way, if there is a water problem, anyone in your household can turn off the water, thereby reducing the chances that your home will incur major water damage.
If you have hard water, check intake hoses for washing machines and ice makers often to prevent them from splitting open from buildup. Lime scale remover can be used to remove buildup, but replacing hoses is an economical method as well to take care of the issue. Change out hoses when you change the batteries in your smoke alarms to stop unexpected floods.
Kitchen and bathroom plumbing is often located on exterior walls and freezes more easily than interior wall plumbing. Keep your furnace at a safe temperature throughout the winter and open cabinet doors in bathroom vanities and beneath kitchen sinks to expose the pipes to warmer room air to prevent freezing.
Run dishwashers and washing machines at night, or during times when people are not using that much water. This will keep water pressure strong for showers and other things, while making sure that dishwashing and laundry still takes place in a timely manner. It also preserves energy costs and use.
Make sure your plumbing contractor has the proper insurance before letting them work in your home. This is a big problem with all types of construction contractors. They may have the proper licenses, but because of the high cost of insurance, they may not be properly insured and can end up on your homeowners policy if they get hurt.
A great way to save a few dollars is to add insulation to your hot water heater. Much of the energy required to heat the water in your home is the expense from keeping the water in the tank hot for when it is needed. Adding an extra layer of insulation can help reduce this cost.
If your pipes are making banging noises, you may need to add additional anchor straps to prevent the pipes from making contact with the walls when water is traveling through them. Typically, pipes are anchored at regular intervals. If banging noises are occurring, you may need to add additional straps or cushion the pipes with a rubber blanket.
Do not pour grease and oil down your drains. Cooking grease will build up in your pipes and could cause back-ups. Keep grease and oil in a container in your fridge and throw it in the trash when it is full. Avoid clogging your pipes with any products containing oil or grease.
If you want to keep your kitchen drains from clogging up, don’t pour grease down them. As it cools and congeals it can trap other food or waste particles, which over time can slow the draining of water and even form a clog that will not be easy to remove.
A bad faucet might need new parts. If you need to change the cap, cut it on the side with a rotary tool. Cut the exterior part and the plastic seal, but make sure you stay clear of the brass inside of it. You can easily replace the exterior of the cap and the seal.
Beware of black water in your toilet tank. Chances are, the color is caused from too much magnesium or iron in your water. Although this is usually harmless, it can be annoying for some people. If it is iron or magnesium in your water, the only way to fix it is by filtering the water.
If your toilet is constantly developing moisture on the outside, you may want to consider turning up the heat in your bathroom. The biggest cause of “sweaty” toilets is cool and moist air. Believe it or not, this moisture could actually cause damage to your toilet, so it is crucial that you fix the problem.
To be successful in any plumbing project, make sure you turn the water off before you start unscrewing pipes. This tip might actually sound insulting, but you are probably getting caught up in having the right tools and parts and being dressed right. Double check that there is not a splash waiting for you. Then triple and quadruple check.
Isn’t doing your own plumbing a lot of fun? As you have seen in this article, there are a lot of ways this can be done and no two techniques or equipemnt will yield the same results. There are also lots of customizable options that can work with your home and budget.
