Screening Plumbers before Letting Them in Your Home

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 11:52 pm  
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Screening Plumbers before Letting Them in Your Home

Don’t wait until you need a plumber to call one. Pick up your phone directory and look under the plumbing category. Depending on the size of your region, you are likely to see a lot of names. Are you going to believe what the advertisements say? You shouldn’t.

I have been a plumbing contractor for over 30 years and worked in multiple states. There are good plumbers and bad plumbers. Some states regulate plumbers more than others do. You are at risk when you dial a plumber. Protect yourself by calling plumbers before you need them.

If you wait until you have a plumbing emergency to make first contact with a plumbing contractor, human nature is likely to drive you to accept the first plumber who is available to you. It is true that plumbers charge a lot of money, are an independent type, and are often too busy for new customers. You can overcome some of this by establishing a working relationship with a plumbing contractor before you need emergency service.

Go through the phone book and call plumbers as if you had an emergency. Yeah, you are cheating a bit, but all is fair in business wars. See who answers the phone personally, who calls you back, and how long you have to wait to have your call returned. This will eliminate a number of contractors.

When you get a contractor that you feel good about, ask some key questions. Let me give you a few flush-out questions to ask over the phone:

Don’t wear out the interrogation. You can alienate plumbers quickly if you are not careful. Remember, they are an independent bunch. Your goal is to feel out the contractor to see if it might be a suitable fit for your needs.

Whenever feasible, call a plumber with a real request. This could be to change a faucet, add a hose connection, or to clean a drain stoppage. Get to know your plumbing contractor before you have an emergency. Seriously, when your plumbing goes wrong, you will want someone you can depend on.

Do your homework. Line up three contractors who meet your criteria. It is better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Plumbers, electricians, and heating mechanics are often a homeowner’s best friend. Make nice early and e njoy the rewards when you have a real problem.

R. Dodge Woodson/ Lone Wolf Enterprises, Ltd. www.lonewolfent.net

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How To Fit A Bath and Wash Basin, Tips, Advice

Sunday, March 28th, 2010 at 2:38 pm  
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A good knowledge of plumbing techniques and some understanding of building construction would be an advantage.

Be careful not to strain yourself whilst manoeuvring the appliances. Ensure that all metal pipes and fittings are cross-bonded with 6mm squared sheathed earthing wire. Protective goggles, gloves and ear defenders may be neededfor some operations.Changing your bath and washbasin gives you the ideal opportunity to re-style your whole bathroom.Plan your new installation thoroughly. If you only have one bathroom in the house, the work must be carried out efficiently to minimise the time that the amenities are unavailable. If you have any concerns, ask professionals to carry out the work. The methods described here refer to the separate removal and installation of each fitting. However, inpractice it is more convenient to strip out the room first, then carry out the new installation.Preparing the room

Clear the room of all storage units and fixtures, such as towel rails and blinds. If the bath has a shower screen, remove it. Take up carpeting, but leave sheet vinyl in place until all the fittings have been removed. If you plan to install new lighting or an extractor fan, make the alterations at this stage.The bath and basin are connected to the plumbing by water-supply pipes and wastepipes. These pipes must be disconnected before the fittings can be removed. First shut off the hot and cold supply.If your house has old lead pipes, make the most of this opportunity and ask a plumber to replace them with copper or plastic plumbing.Removing the old bath

Remove the bath panels to reveal the plumbing. Open the taps to drain them, then disconnect the supply pipes. Place ashallow bowl under the bath trap to catch the water, then disconnect the wastepipe.If the connectors cannot be unscrewed, saw through thepipes. Also, cut through the old bath overflow.If the bath has been sealed against the wall with flexible sealant, cut through this with a craft knife. Pull the bath out from the walls. If the bath has adjustable feet, it may help to lower these first.Unless a heavy cast-iron bath is worth salvaging, it is easier to move it by first breaking it up into manageable pieces. Cover the bath with an old blanket and strike it with a club hammer. Protective goggles, gloves and ear defenders should be worn during this operation.Once the bath has been removed, extract the old overflow pipe from the wall and repair the hole with mortar and plaster. Also, remove old wall tiles and prepare the walls for retiling.When applying new wall tiles, measure out and cut a groove in the plaster to inset the rim of the bath. This ensures a good waterproof joint.- Fitting the new bath

Before fixing a new bath or its panels, remove the protective covering and check thoroughly for damage or colour faults. Any claims made after the bath is fitted will not be accepted by the manufacturer.To add stiffness, most moulded plastic baths have a baseboard bonded underneath and a wooden frame bonded beneath the rim. A cradle kit is usually supplied for self assembly. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, fit the cradle legs to the frame and baseboard. Also fit the centre support leg, if supplied


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Wet Rooms Are an Exciting Bathroom Concept!

Sunday, March 28th, 2010 at 2:18 pm  
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Wet rooms are an exciting bathroom concept – sleek and streamlined they are a spa-like haven, with minimalist fuss-free design.
Many people prefer them to a conventional bath or shower room. The lack of definition suits small spaces – so if you are stealing a few square metres from an adjoining room to make an ensuite then a wet room can be ideal. You may even need less room than you think. The streamlined arrangement is also easier to clean – no awkward corners or joins for dirt to get trapped in.
You need a really good plumber and tiler to achieve the perfect wet room look. Minimalism may look simple but it is unforgiving and you need a perfectionist to successfully execute your project. Clean lines are not easy to achieve but with the right team, you’ll get the look you’re after.
The most important thing to ensure is that the room is completely sealed and watertight. This means installing a watertight membrane (or “tanking”) and then tiling the floors and walls, to guard against splashing and steam. A true wet room has no bath or shower tray to capture the water – just a drain in the middle of the shower area. Also make sure the shower area gently slopes away from the door to the room and towards the drainage hole. This will avoid flooding and heartache.
While carrying out essential “tanking” beneath the floor, consider installing underfloor heating. This can be done in a single small room and will add to the luxurious feel of the wet room. You will feel pleasantly warm underfoot and it shouldn’t add too much extra cost to the project. You do need to plan for it at the beginning though. Once the tiles or stone are down, there’s no turning back! And depending on the system you use you’ll need a plumber or electrician to install it.
Its essential to choose non-slip tiles for the floor, as it will get wet. Natural stone, treated concrete, treated woods and Corian are all good options. Glazed tiles and marble are not! A good tile retailer will discuss with you the different grades tiles are given, according to how slippery they are when wet. This is particularly important if children or older people are going to use the wet room.
Wetrooms need to look open and sleek so install a wall hung toilet and basin to free up the floor and choose a plain 6mm toughened glass panel rather than a shower curtain to protect other areas from water spray. Alternatively, the shower area can be sectioned off by a tiled wall which can be curved or shaped, for a softer, organic look.
Wetrooms can get steamy – and using a mirror afterwards can be impossible. A heated mirror keeps clear, allowing you to shave or apply makeup straight after your shower. Also, a good ventilation system will reduce steam in the room. You don’t have to be on an outside wall for this – an internal ventilation system can be installed by a good electrician.
Lighting in a wet room can really make or break the feel of the room. Decide whether you want dimmer lights. These can create a soothing ambiance but are also useful if you need to use the room in the middle of the night when you won’t want the glare of bright lights. For a really luxurious look LEDs can be fitted, or coloured lights, or even changing coloured lights! You really can let your imagination run away with you.
Lastly think about storage. Cupboards with flat panelled doors can make storage “disappear” – the last thing you want in your sleek wet room is a chunky cupboard. And put away bottles and sprays – keep the minimum of toothbrushes and soaps on clear shelves to minimise their impact.
And there you have it! The perfect wet room!