Money Savers

Tools:
I think I told you to try and buy a new tool with each project you work on, (good way to get them). If not, now I have. Honey, I need that special tool to repair that (fill in tool/project here). After awhile the questions stop, especially if your fixing stuff. Another idea is to ask for them on your birthday, Christmas (or your particular holiday). A good collection of tools, kept clean and in good working order will save time and money. It also looks cool to your garage buddies!

Christmas

Lets see the trees up the light are on, Ahh I know add a shot of Vodka to the water, it breaks down the resin and lets the tree get water. Did you remember to cover that pipe outside? what about the hoses, did you disconnect them? You better!

Money Savers

Thermostats:
1st thing you want to do is call your local electric co., in Las Vegas they will come out and replace your thermostat for free and install a device that will control your air conditioner during the summer, (it turns it off for about a 1/2 hr. during the hottest part of the day). But normally once it's set by them you never need to open the little door again. From here on you just push the buttons on the right to adjust , heat, top button, Air, bottom button. The electric co's. will love you for this. If they don't offer this service. I will walk you through it in an upcoming blog. I know, it will be cold soon.

Tile Repair Part 1

Tile:
Chipped, Broken, Missing, cracked or a hollow sound?
I'll walk you through this.
Now remember this is one of the more expensive repairs around the house.You need an assortment of tools. (See photo 1).→
The hollow sound is because the adhesive didn't bond with the floor/tile. Tap on the tile it will sound hollow! If it's cracked this could be an additional headache, most likely the floor has a crack also. This must be fixed prior to setting any new tiles, they will just crack again. You need to patch the floor over the crack w/ mesh tape
(See Photo) 2→
Use a little thinset on the floor and spread over the tape. This should prevent any cracks down the road.
1st: Do you have the original tiles for replacement? I sure hope so, because it's almost impossible to find a couple of new tiles that will match. You might have to take out more tiles and create a design of sorts to make it look right. I hope not, normally when tile is set the 1st time they leave a couple of tiles just for this. Next would be grout, now this isn't as critical as the original tiles, it might as well be. You can match the grout down the road, but it's a little tougher, you may have to play with the color a bit to get it to match. You know a sample of this and that, kinda thing. With any luck you have some old grout laying around next to those tiles! Next would be the size and the ability to cut to size the replacement tile(s). You can rent a wet saw at the old faithful hardware store, or some Home Depots will do the cut for you if you mark off the actual cut yourself, (sorry they don't come to the house and mark it). They also make cutting boards for straight cuts, (See Photo 3) → this you have to buy. You will need a pointer, (a type of putty knife), (See photo 4)↓
spacers, measure the distance of the grout already between your existing tiles for the size. They are standard sizes, 1/16", 1/8", 1/4", etc.
If there are going to be cuts. Nippers, you know ask! (See Photo 5)→
an old bucket, (this will depend on how much repair is needed. Small job small bucket, 2 gal. Large job, 5 gal. Get a bag/box of "thin set" don't worry about the color! this is basically the glue (ask). It comes as a powder that you add water and an acrylic additive, (again ask) some thin sets come pre-mixed w/ it. A sponge, when you get in the aisle, they are always there, their yellowish-orange, rubber gloves, no, not the ones that are surgical, the kind your mom washed the dishes in.
Get a rubber"float" this is used for grouting, (photo 6)↓
and knee pads, they aren't critical, but save your knees,(you can use the seat pad you take to the ball game, or a thick towel). Next how big is the tile?
We'll start with the floor repair.
You'll need a notched trowel for larger jobs,(photo 7)→
but for a couple of tiles you can use the pointer.
Okay, We're ready to start.
1st: Get a hammer, PLEASE get safety glasses , and an old towel, rag, etc. Lay the rag over the tile and smack it in the center w/ the hammer, not enough to send a nail through a wall, but hard enough to break the tile.Remove the towel is it cracked? Good, now remove the big pieces carefully, they might be sharp on the edge. Try to not break any areas that are "cuts". The part that might go under the door frame, dishwasher etc. This will save some time later. Get all the pieces out using the pointer as a scraper. Be careful not to disturb the surrounding tiles (you know how neighbor tiles can get)! It must be really clean and free of any stuff. A vacuum comes in handy here (be sure and get the pieces that flew away from the work area) or ouch! later. Scrape the old grout off the floor (pointer again) see how handy that tool is! When the floor is clean take the sponge and a clean bucket of water and wipe out the area, Let this set until it's dry. Do all tiles at the same time, When we start the reset, you don't want to stop to pop another tile. Check for hollow ones also. Some say you can use an oil based paint to just color the chip. Come on, We're gonna do this right! Next resetting. See ya' then!

Tile Repair Part 2

Okay, the area is clean, Now wipe it again with the sponge, I know, but I want it really clean. Make any cuts before proceeding, ( See tile repair part 1). Tile cutting is a little tricky, but can be done w/ some help.
These are just general types of cuts, E-mail me with difficult ones. I can photo you through these. Use the nippers (photo 3). →
for any uneven cuts, (∟←) like this. In the corner could be a chunk left from the saw. Sand the entire edge to get it kinda smooth, they make a stone for this too, (but you can use a smooth file). Mix a little thin set and acrylic adhesive, pour a little adhesive in 1st, maybe a cup, (cuts down on dust) Don't breath this or the thin set dust in! Better to mix it outside in the air. If it's a small job, (a few tiles) you can use the pointer, (there it is again)! Now add some thin set about 6 cups, to get a creamy mixture, like frosting, add some water for consistency, the pointer should stand up like in chili. Not to thin /thick kinda thing. Make enough to do the entire job. This takes a little thinking not to mix to much or to little. Adjust as needed.
If it's a lot of tiles 6-7 or more, you might think about renting a 1/2" drive drill w/ side handle and the "paddle". Because the amount of mortar will be more, and the mixing will be a pain.
(see photo 4) →
Good, now "butter" the back of the tile, like toast don't be shy, get enough on there, trust me by the 2nd tile you'll know how much. set the tile in, push down and run your hand over it and the surrounding tiles to make sure their the same height. See you put to much mortar in, pop the tile and remove some. If you have a little that leaked out the sides use the pointer to clean the inside edge. or a small screw driver works. Don't forget to clean the screw driver. Add the spacers 1 on each side in the middle to "square up" the tile so it's even all the way around. You can also put a spacer in the corners to adjust spacing, (→ ∟). Do this for all tiles until down. Tape off the area you just did so's not to step on them! ↑ We're down for today, as the tiles need to set. Clean the bucket and all the tools you used, Reminder ♫ they will last longer!
Next we'll grout!

Tile Repair Part 3

Okay, the tiles are set and the thin set hard.
1st, remove the spacers with needle nose pliers, be careful not to chip that tile you just replaced! Wipe all the tiles with clean water. Again, cleanliness is next to... But enough of the philosophy lesson, that's a different blog. We're ready to grout. Mix enough grout w/ water to do the whole job (you can add some latex additive here). Mix almost as thick as the thin set. Get the float
and blop some grout on the tiles(s), spread it around making sure to fill in the spaces between the tiles, this is important! Let it set a little, then get the float and clean up any excess you have, put this back in the bucket. Only do a few tiles at a time, you don't want the grout drying (if it does start, add some water). Keep cleaning until all the excess grout is gone, use the sponge to make the level of grout in between appear as the existing grout. This can be done by using a slightly wet sponge and working it in the spaces. The tiles should look clean and wet. After a while they will cloud up a little ( drying), a clean rag or better yet, some cheesecloth will solve this. Wait until completely dry and wipe them off. It might take a couple of passes to get them clean. Now here some pros use a sealant (after the grout is dry). Your call. The grout is going to stain down the road anyway, even w/ the sealant. If it's light colored grout it's probably a different color/shade anyhow. It will match as the tile gets walked on and mopped. Again stay off tiles until dry.
Clean up like usual, blah, blah. Next wall tile. See ya'

Fix It Tips

Duct Tape:
Can't say enough about it, always keep a roll on hand. This is a real lifesaver! It can put a temp. fix on almost anything. Put a roll in your car, it works until you can get it done right. Although I don't know how long the lifespan is in below freezing weather. I do know it stops leaks! Holds mufflers on, repairs that tear, even works as a band-aid™.