Home Upgrade

How To Install A Door | Prehung And Slab Door Installation Instructions

You want to install a new interior door, but don’t know where to begin. You want to know how hard this project will be, or if you should tackle it at all. The good news is this is a job for anyone who has the right tools and a will to learn. Keep reading for a complete set of instructions on installing a door in your home. Measuring For The Door Size Tape Measure Click here There are a few things to look for when determining what the right replacement door is for you. We will cover how to properly measure what size door you need to purchase. But first let’s talk a bit about a door’s handing. Prehung vs Slab Door There are two options of what type of door you want to choose. You can either install a prehung door, or a slab. A prehung door is a door that is connected to a frame, also known as the jamb. The benefit of this is the jamb and hinges were attached at the factory, and you know the door will open and close well when installed. A slab is the door with no hinges or anything else attached. You would choose this option if your jamb is in good condition and you want to save it. A slab door is more affordable than a prehung. It takes more work to install, and requires other tools. Prehung Door Installation Cost If you go the route of hiring a professional door installer, you can expect to pay between $200-$600 USD. This rate should include the labor and door cost. The rate may change based on the amount of work your installation requires. Slab door installation requires more work than prehung door installation. Prices may vary based on your location. Two Methods Of Installing A Prehung Interior Door Let’s talk about the two ways of installing an interior door. They vary on the types of fasteners you will use. You can install your door with either finishing nails, or screws. This article will talk about both of these methods, and the accompanying video shows you exactly how to complete either method. Safety and Required Materials Safety Glasses Click here Wood Shims Click here Why Would I Use Nails Vs Screws To Install A Door? These are two methods that will successfully install the door. There are reasons to pick one over the other because they both have their pros and cons. The reasons why you might choose one over the other are very different.  Choosing Nails To Install A Door Claw Hammer Click here Finish Nail Click here Nail Set Click here Wood Filler Click here Pro Tip: Mix sawdust from the dust collecter in your power sander with some wood glue to quickly make some wood filler. This is a great method if you don’t have any on hand, and are in need of a solution. Using nails to install a door is typically because it has a wood jamb that will not be painted. You want to salvage the wood look, and don’t want to have an obvious screw head that looks ugly.  A finish nail is the right choice in this circumstance because it is easy to hide the head. To do this you will first hammer the nail down to where it’s close to the jamb, but not flush with it. Be careful while hammering because you don’t want to miss the head of the nail, and damage the wood. Take careful, and accurate strokes while hammering. Once you have the nail about one to two head widths above the jamb, you can use the nail set to set the head below the surface of the wood. Hold the end of the nail set firmly in the cup on the head of the nail. With your other hand you can pull back on the other end, extending the spring out. While being careful not to remove the end of the set from the head of the nail, quickly let go of the other end, allowing it to tap the head of the nail down. You may need to do this several times until the head of the nail is below the surface of the jamb.  It’s okay if you miss and puncture a hole in the jamb. These holes can be filled with wood filler in the next step after all the nails are set in place. You want to choose finishing nails that are at least 2 inches long. This can vary, but you want them to be around that length to be sure they reach through the gap between the door jambs and the wall studs. The head of the finishing nails can be sunken into the jamb and covered with wood filler. You can use nails for any style door, where the screws are for a more specific application. Nails are easy to hammer in, but might be a little more tricky when you are trying to make the door plumb and level. That means when you are installing the door you need to adjust the jamb both vertically and horizontally until it’s level.  Choosing Screws To Install A Door Drill Driver Set Click here Drill Bit Set Click here Wood Screw Click here NOTE: Screw should be the “flat head” style screws. They do not need to be Phillips, as there are other options available. Square drive screws are easiest to screw in, and are less likely to slip out of the bit. Make sure you have the correct style and size drill bit for the screw you are using. Using screws, in my opinion, is the better option. It is much easier to tighten them the right amount, while also adjusting the shims as needed. Set the clutch on the drill to the right setting so it will stop tightening the screw once it’s reached the perfect depth.  One difference with using screws is yo will want to drill a pilot

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Best Smoke Detector Cover Image

Best Smoke Detector | Best Carbon Monoxide Detector

Shopping for the best smoke detector and carbon monoxide (CO) detector can be a daunting task. It’s important to narrow down your choices, and pick yours from the best options available. This article will show you the top choices for smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in each category type. It is here to help you choose from a short list of the best smoke and co detectors on the market.  I also put together a Smoke and CO Detector Buyer’s Guide if you are looking for more information about what you are looking for. That article is a deep dive into all the categories you want to learn about in the world of smoke and co detectors. There are some topics you probably didn’t even know was a thing.  To learn more about what rooms should have smoke detectors, visit my article on Proper Placement Of Smoke Detectors. Contents Best Smoke Detector and CO Detector Smoke and CO Detector Buyer’s Guide Best Smart Smoke/CO Detector Best Interconnected Smoke And CO Detector Best Smoke Alarm For The Money Best Carbon Monoxide Alarm Best Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector X-Sense Smoke Carbon Monoxide Detector X-Sense Smoke Carbon Monoxide Detector Brand: X-Sense Color: White Power Source: Battery Alarm Type: Audible Sensor Type: Photoelectric, Electrochemical Wireless Interconnection: No Price: $39.99 Buy Now! The X-Sense Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detector gives you the peace of mind you are looking for in a smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm. This model combines both smoke and CO sensors, set in a 360 degree configuration. This eliminates any “blind spots” when detecting for either element. Key Features Long Battery Life Equipped with a sealed lithium battery that provides power for 10 years. Don’t worry about changing any batteries any time soon. Dual Sensor Types Utilizes both photoelectric and electrochemical sensors, helping detect large and small smoke particles quickly. It alerts you to both smoke and CO presence. Intuitive LCD Display LCD displays real-time carbon monoxide concentration levels when they are detected. It also displays the battery level, and working status. Easy to Install Installing this item is easy to do yourself, even with minimal experience with tools. It does not require any specialized tools to install it. Protect your loved ones with The X-Sense Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector. This combination model has two sensor types to give you a maximum level of accuracy. When any carbon monoxide is detected, an easy-to-read LCD display will show you the level that was detected.  Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detector Buyer’s Guide Power Supply Determine whether you will be purchasing a battery powered model, or one that is hard wired. Hard wired options require your home to have the wiring infrastructure previously installed. These models should have a battery backup that will maintain functionality in the event of a power outage. Battery powered models may last up to 10 years. Maintenance of these models includes checking the battery status periodically.  Alarm Volume/Options Some models have alarms that include a visual component as well as an audible one. The visible feature is ideal for people who are hearing impaired. Interconnected models will be able to indicate the location in your home the problem is coming from. These models will only connect to compatible units. Lifespan Over time the sensors lose their reliability. For that reason they should be replaced at the appropriate time. The lifespan for smoke alarms is up to 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms is 5 years. If your model is powered by a battery, you will want to test the battery every 1-2 months to make sure it is working properly. Certification When choosing a smoke or carbon monoxide detector, you want to look for one that has been certified by Underwriter’s Laboratory. This assures you that the model you chose has been put through rigorous testing by an authorized organization. Interconnection Some models are stand alone alarms, and others can connect to one another. A stand alone alarm will be the only one sounding. interconnected ones will all alert you if one goes off. This can be a benefit for a larger home, or for people with hearing disability. Best Smart Smoke Alarm Google Nest Protect Google Nest Protect​ Brand: Google Color: White Power Source: Battery Alarm Type: Voice Sensor Type: Photoelectric Price: $145 Buy Now! The people at Google though of everything when they came up with the Google Nest Protect. This is a “smart” smoke and carbon monoxide detector for a smart home. This is a perfect option if you are someone who is looking to start upgrading to a smart home, or if you already have existing Nest smart home technology. Key Features Chirp-Free Battery Update Each night when the lights turn out, a light on the detector will communicate if the battery is fully charged or getting low. Motion Detecting Nightlight When motion is detected below the smoke detector, it will light up the dark hallway or bedroom floor. Voice Alerts Early smoke and CO detection will alert you with a friendly voice that danger is present. Nest App Compatibility Easily turn off the alarm with the an app on your smartphone if low levels of smoke are present. Get alerts that something is wrong on your phone when you are not home. The Google Nest Protect offers all the features a smoke detector needs, and much more. Take your home to another level with this smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Best Interconnected Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Alarm FIRST ALERT SMCO500V FIRST ALERT SMCO500V Brand: First Alert Color: White Power Source: Battery Alarm Type: Voice Sensor Type: Photoelectric Wireless Interconnectivity: Yes Price: $41.39 Buy Now! Install peace of mind in your home with the First Alert SMCO500V. This smoke and carbon monoxide combination alarm interconnects with other compatible First Alert alarms. That means you will be alerted as quickly as possible when smoke or carbon monoxide is detected anywhere in your home. Key Features Interconnectivity Compatible alarms will connect to one another wirelessly. When one alarm goes

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Installing a bathroom fan

How To Install A Bathroom Fan Where One Doesn’t Exist

Installing a bathroom fan where one doesn’t exist can be a major improvement in a bathroom. This project can be completed in a short period of time. But major problems can happen if you cut corners. This article will show you exactly how to install a bathroom fan where one doesn’t exist.  You can find at this article: The Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan.  Here you will learn what features bathroom fans have, and pick the right one for your home. There are many options out there which can seem overwhelming to sift through. The above article will narrow down the choices to the best few bathroom fans based on their features. Disclaimer: This project involves working with electricity,  which can be dangerous if not done correctly. If you are uncomfortable with this type of work I recommend seeking help from a professional. If you are handy with tools this project won’t be hard for you to complete. On average this job is around 1-2 hours. It’s best to do it all at once because the power will be turned off to your bathroom while you are working.Here is a list of the required equipment and tools for the job. Equipment Bathroom Fan Ducting Vent Cover Pipe Clamp Tools Electric Drill Drillbit Extension Drill Bits Multi Screwdriver Hole Saw Drywall Saw Drywall Saw Will Adding A Fan Overload The Electrical Circuit? There are ways to tell if the circuit is safe to add a bathroom fan. This is important to know because you don’t want the circuit to trip every time you turn the fan on.  This article does not cover the process of checking the circuit’s load capacity. A certified electrician can help you with this if needed. Steps For Adding A Bathroom Exhaust Fan Below are the main steps to installing a bathroom fan. They don’t need to be done in this order, but all these steps need to be completed in order for it to be completed properly. And one of the steps cant be done without preceding another step.  Choosing the placement Attaching the vent properly Installing the electrical Securing the fan in place How To Choose The Bathroom Fans Placement There are a few factors that go into choosing the fan’s placement. Below are some of the key factors that go into mounting and running the duct. The consideration of running the power to the fan will be covered in the “Installing The Electrical” section below.  The fan needs to be secured to a joist in the ceiling. Joists are pieces of lumber that run parallel to each other, that the sheet rock on the ceiling is secured to. One of the edges of the fan box will be flush against the edge of a joist for securement.   Use a stud finder to find a joist that is relatively close to where you want the fan to be. The joists should be running in the direction of an exterior wall to help with future steps. You will run the vent in that direction without drilling through the joists.    You want the fan to be somewhat in the middle of the bathroom. This generally looks good because its more symmetrical.    Placing it closer to the toilet or the shower will assist in moving unwanted air out of the bathroom quickly. Don’t place it tight against one of the walls because this will be worse for airflow.   If your fan has a light, keep that in mind when deciding on a location. You may want to have it slightly closer to the sink to cast the extra light in that area.    It helps with the installation process if you place it close to an arms length from the exterior wall. But this isn’t set in stone because there are drill extensions that can help with a future step if needed.    Hold the vent box up to the ceiling where you want the fan to go. Make sure one edge of the box is touching a joist before you trace its border with a pencil.   Use a drywall saw to cut the opening for the fan. You want to have your safety glasses on and a dust mask for this part. There will be quite a bit of drywall dust that will fall. Run The Vent Duct Once you have a hole cut in the ceiling, you now have access to work in the ceiling cavity.   Find the location the duct will vent outside. Get on a ladder and peek inside the opening to see what you are working with. Find a spot that is roughly equal distance from the top and bottom on the exterior wall.    Drill with a pilot hole in the exterior wall midway between the top and bottom of the cavity. You may need an extender on your drill, depending on how far your opening is from the wall. I am using a one foot drill extension for this part of the project.   Once you have a pilot hole you can take the drill outside. Here you will use the four inch hole saw to make a larger opening.    Use the pilot hole to guide your drill placement. Once this hole is completed you can move to the next step.  Install The Electricity The fan will need its own designated switch to be hooked up to. Some fans have extra features that can be used by other switches. If your fan is one of these you may want to consider a switch that has multiple functions on it.   We covered fan placement above. But there is one thing to consider on the fan’s placement when considering the electricity. The electrical wire will need to be run from the switch to the fan. It’s easiest if the fan is in direct alignment between the joists with the switch. But you still can mount the fan where you want it even if it’s not

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