Do It Yourself Guide

Home renovations can have a significant impact on the value of your place, especially when the contractor pays attention to detail. If you’ve ever watched the popular show “Homes on Homes” you see how far he goes to make sure everything he does has longevity, quality and it looks good. That’s exactly the kind of work you want done whether you’re staying or leaving. Buyers are more informed these days, so covering things up can backfire on you. If you plan on staying, then spending the extra for quality will give you peace of mind and bragging rights. There are some great guidelines at CMHC you can find by searching on their name and looking for home renovations Vancouver Planning is the key to a successful renovation. To help you plan your renovation project, CMHC has information and easy-to-understand tips that can help you assess your requirements and learn the key questions before you get started. Your home may be your most precious financial asset. That’s why it’s important to find the right contractor that fits your needs and your budget. Whether you’re planning an addition for a growing family, renovating your basement or simply looking for someone to fix that leaky faucet in the kitchen, finding a capable and reliable home renovations contractor is the first step to a successful home improvement project like a kitchen renovation or the bathroom. Take the time to find a company you feel comfortable with and do some research by asking around. Find out who they buy their materials from and ask those people for feedback. You’ll probably get a frank answer from a supplier because they haven’t got time to come up with any kind of fabrication and besides, they’re people too and probably care about where their materials end up. Doing Your Own Renovations There are some great heritage homes in Vancouver that have amazing potential. If you can do the work yourself, why no go that route. A little research will reveal insights you may not have thought of. It can really be a thrill getting involved working on your own home. Granted there will be some parts of the project you might have to hire someone for, but with the right tools, some sage advice and a little elbow grease you can get a lot done on your own. If you do decide to start a job, be sure it’s easy enough for your skill set and abilities. Trying to take on too much could end up costing more if the mistakes are too much. Sometimes talking to a pro about your project will reveal stuff you hadn’t considered. If that’s the case then calling in the professionals might just be the best solution for any kind of home renovations Vancouver

EXTRACTOR FANS
Most fans are found in bathrooms and kitchens where you either need to expell the stale air out of the room or take
the moisture out of the room,Traditionally the the former applies to the kitchen whilst the latter referes to the
bathroom,but where there is lack of ventillationn in the kitchen then this is a necessary requirement of both functions
in the kitchen.

THE WORKINGS OF A FAN:
When the fan is switched on the blades or impeller which are attached to the electric motor rotate,and as it does,air is drawn
through the blades through the grille at the front of the unit.Most fans can be mounted in two places namely;
1.the window-which requires that you cut a hole in the glass to fit the fan inside,that requires a special cutting
tool that cuts round holes in glass.
2.the wall-this method also requires a large hole saw attached to a drill and depending on the thickness of the
wall to be drilled into can take a long time and be tedious because you cannot force the drill,it has to do the
work by itself with a little effort from you,with this method also you need to insert a tube or hose from the fan to the
outside the sahe lenght as the wall.
It depends on the type of fan you buy because some of them have automatic cut off switches in them that switch off
when the humidity in the room decreases and then switches on again when the humidity increases again.
Some will switch on automatically and some require you to switch them on manually by way of a pull cord in the bathroom.
Most or all fans need to be connected to a fused spur which should be placed near the fan in the case of the kitchen
fitting or outside in the case of the bathroom fitting.
In order for the extractor fan to work properly it needs to be positioned appropriatelly ie at a location where the stale air
leaving the room can be replaced by fresh air,so as the stale humid air is being drawn out to the outside,it is being
replaced with fresh circulating air.
To prevent back siphoning of the expelled air,a self closing grille with shutters must be installed outside,this closes
as soon as the fan is switched off to stop any air from coming back into the room.

SAFETY FIRST
Before trying to clean the fan make sure the electricity is off and the fused connection is switched off.

TROUBLESHOOTING

fan will not work

1.faulty motor-these units ar not replaceable or worth repairing-just buy a new one

2.faulty wiring-with the electricity turned off,check the wiring for loose connections

3.faulty switch-if this is beyond your capabilities then call a service engineer

Noisy or ineficient fan

1.for the fan to work at maximum capacity it needs regular maintenance and that involves removing the casing and using
a a vaccum or an air blower like a pump to remove the dust build up

more home improvement tips at :www.handymantips.co.uk

COOKER HOODS
These are special types of fans that are fitted in the kitchen and get rid of grease,steam and smells from the kitchen
These come as two basic types or designs
a.recirculating-which is filtered through carbon filters that capture the grease and odours inside the charcoal peices
b.ductet,which take the air out directly through a hole in the wall.

THE WORKINGS

Air is drawn through a grille at the bottom of the extractor fan through grilles with a grease filter mesh on the underside
The air is then drawn into the carbon filters ,recirculated then re-juvenated back as clean air.
Ducted vents take the air out directly so therefore speeding up the process of re circulating the air.
Most extractors come with a speed switch to regulate the speed of circulation.
Another useful constant is a light which is used to illuminate the cooking area

MAINTENANCE
To avoid excessive build up of grease,the removable hood needs to be washed in warm soapy water,and if it is possible to
wash the mesh then do the same.
The carbon filters will also need to be changed from time to time depending on the amount of use and the colour change of
the filters.

TROUBLESHOOTING

hood not working

1.faulty wiring-turn off the power supply and check for loose or suspect wiring.
2.blown fuse in the fused spur-replace fuse and switch on and test.
3.faulty motor-this requires you to call out a service engineer as these are not a DIY fix.

odours not being expelled

1.carbon filter not working efficiently-replace carbon filter
2.grease filter needs cleaning or replacing-remove and checkto see if the filters are clogged with grease

no light in the cooker hood

1.light bulb blown-change bulb
2.faulty switch-have it checked

more home improvement tips at www.handymantips.co.uk
 

KITCHEN MAKEOVER CHECKLIST
The modern kitchen has become the focal point and meeting place for a lot of families in these modern times.
Some families prefer to hold conversations over a glass of wine,cup of tea or a snack in the
kitchen. These spaces have now become very practical with some households spending more on the kitchen than anywhere
else in the house.
There are different types of kitchen designs and layout but the principle is the same.

Single line kitchen:this refers to a kitchen layout on one side of the wall-this is common where space is tight
you basically have the sink,the units,the cupboards,fridge and dishwasher all lined up in a straight line on one wall.

L shaped kitchen:This is often found in small rooms where the sink is facing the window,the cupboards are to the left
and right of the sink with the whole layout shaped like a triangle

galley kitchen: This basically refers to a narrow style kitchen with the cooker,cupboards and appliances arranged
on two facing walls laeving a turning space in between.

There is also the island kitchen but you need a lot of space for this type of kitchen.

1change taps for a thoroughly modern feel there are a range of professional taps out there.

2.worktops can transform the entire look of the kitchen-a black granite look worktop will compliment white units

3.worn or tired tiles can be repianted directly using a revolutionary product available here:http://www.handymantips.co.uk

4.add stencilling to tiles to transform old looking tiles.

5.simply change the doors and cabinet handles-you will be amazed at the difference-just like a new kitchen

6.add strip lighting or track downlighters to add more character and shine to the room ,bright lights work very well
in kitchens

7.add strip lighting under the cabinets to create a warm cosy feel

 

more tips at http://www.handymantips.co.uk

In my section today of “WHAT INTERIOR HOUSE PAINT GOES WHERE AND WHY” we’ll look at home painting your kitchens and wet areas. Hygiene is the most important number 1 rule: Because of the amount of moisture and airborne grease generated by cooking, washing up and showers and the like, every surface must be easy to clean. Check it out, are yours? The domestic or household kitchen needs to be kept hygienic and you still need it very washable.

Over the years the demand for finishes in kitchens and wet areas has changed slightly. Satin acrylic finishes were always used, now the most popular interior house paint applied is a good quality low sheen. In my opinion for washing and repelling grease when painting kitchens you can’t go past the satin acrylic for kitchen paint. It’s not as porous as low sheen, in fact looking along a wall painted in satin gives you the impression there’s a good thick but very smooth finish and easy on the eye presentation. I just love the look of it and its beautiful to apply! It just slides off your roller effortlessly.

In saying that I do still use low sheen in some circumstances, for instance brand new homes that I have to paint for a builder, because that’s what the specs demand. If it was my house I would go the satin option for my bathroom paint because I like my showers really hot and steamy.

But sometimes kitchens are very much part of the living areas and it’s hard to cut the wall off with two different types of paint. In this situation use low sheen, that’s quite ok. They’re both as good as each other but satin definitely has the edge, horses for courses as they say.

Also nowadays there is a trend away from clinical operating theater kitchens, where beautiful stainless steel and two pack finish cupboards and doors occupy the kitchen or lots of natural timbers and curtains instead of blinds over windows are now very widely used in the modern home. One thing sticks out in relation to these materials, they are all very washable and can be kept clean easily. The same goes with bathrooms and the laundry, they all have surfaces that are easily cleaned, that’s why when home painting you need to go with the satin option. You won’t regret it.

So I hope I’ve helped you out with more good information on what interior house paint to use for your kitchens and wet areas. Don’t forget if you’ve got a question you need answered that I haven’t yet covered drop me a line. I have a wealth of experience under my belt for home painting and I’m hanging to help you out and solve your dramas. That’s what I’m here for and to put a bit of colour in your life so to speak HA……….Catch ya….

HAPPY PAINTING…………..Wayne the painter.