Estimate An Interior Paint Job

Estimating the amount of paint for a single room or the entire home interior is best done by having information. That information should be the total area of the ceiling and wall surfaces plus the amount of trim and doors. If you make only two measurements per room, you can find the surface area and trim length by following a few basic procedures.

Instructions

1. Measure the first room's length and width. If the room has an odd measurement such as 11 feet and 8 inches, round up to the nearest foot. The 11 feet 8 inches becomes a full 12 feet.

2. Find the square footage of the room and record it on your paper. For example, if the room measures 12 feet by 18 feet, multiply 12 feet times 18 feet, which equals 216 square feet. This is the area of the ceiling.

3. Find the area of the wall surface. Every standard home has a ceiling height of 8 feet. So one wall would be 12 feet times 8 feet, which equals 96 square feet. Double this number and you will have the complete area for the two 12-foot long walls, which is 192 square feet.

4. Find the area of the other walls in the same way -- 8 feet times 18 feet times two walls is equal to 288 square feet.

5. Add all three area measurements together, and the total square footage for the painted room is equal to: 216 sq ft (ceiling) + 192 sq ft (wall 1) + 288 sq ft (wall 2) = 696 square feet. If the walls or ceiling are to be a different color, make note of this on your list and do not add the area for a total square footage of the paint required for the room.

6. Find the length of the baseboard trim by adding all of the wall lengths together. This will be 12 feet plus 12 feet, which is equal to 24 feet. The opposite walls are 18 feet plus 18 feet, which is equal to 36 feet.

7. Adding the two together, the baseboard has a total running length of 60 feet.

8. Finding the square footage of the baseboard depends on its height. A four-inch-high baseboard can be calculated by dividing 4 inches by 12 inches in one foot, which equals .33 feet.

9. Multiply 60 feet times .33 feet and the square footage of the baseboard is equal to 20 square feet.

10. Find the area of the door in the same manner as the room. Measure the door's length and width and round up to the nearest foot. Because most interior doors are 2 feet 6 inches wide and 6 feet 6 inches tall, figure 3 feet times 7 feet, which equals 21 square feet.

11. Calculate the rest of the home's rooms in the same way by making a list of each room's measurements.

12. Order the paint quantities by the manufacturer's labeling of specifications. Not all paints are made the same, and coverage area depends on the type of paint used.

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Paint Antique Ceiling Tiles

Antique ceiling tiles should be painted as authentically as possible.

Old ceiling tiles, typically made of tin, were usually designed to replicate the ornate plaster found in grander homes. Consider yourself lucky if you have antique ceiling tiles in your home, and consider painting them a color in keeping with your home's vintage. The National Park Service's guidelines for rehabilitating historic buildings stress maintaining the original character of the building materials as much as possible. If you bought antique ceiling tiles and want to paint them to use as decorative accents, it shouldn't be a difficult project as long as you have space to set up a work bench.

Instructions

1. Remove as much furniture as possible from the room when painting ceiling tiles in place, and cover the remaining furniture and the floors with plastic sheeting and drop cloths.

2. Wash the ceiling tiles with a rag, hot water and grease-cutting detergent. For very heavily soiled tiles, use tri-sodium phosphate cleaner; for lightly soiled tiles, dishwashing detergent will work just fine.

3. Remove loose rust and paint with sandpaper. If the tiles are heavily embossed or stamped, use steel or copper wool. Wipe them down with a damp rag.

4. Prime the tiles with shellac- or oil-based rust-inhibiting primer. Use a sponge or lambswool roller to more easily paint a stamped surface. If you're just painting a few tiles not installed on a ceiling, use a paintbrush. Allow the primer to dry as indicated on the can.

5. Paint the ceiling tiles with two coats of water-based paint. Antique stamped tiles look better in a satin or semi-gloss finish because it highlights the decorative texture.

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What Is The Difference Between Indoor Speakers & Outdoor Speakers

Speakers used outdoors need to be weather resistant.

The biggest difference between indoor and outdoor speakers is that outdoor speakers are built to withstand weather elements such as rain, snow, heat and hail. Speakers built for indoor use, which are then used outdoors, can pose a safety hazard as well as be susceptible to damage.

Factors

Many factors will determine what kind of speakers are right for you. Your budget, the equipment you will be using the speakers with, the size of the space they will be heard within, what you want the speakers to look like, how many you want, and the depth of sound quality you need or want are just some of the choices you will have to make. Speakers can be wired to other components or work wireless, be mounted into walls and ceilings or stand on their own.

Indoor Versus Outdoor Speakers

When choosing speakers, the location of where they will be placed is important to know for durability and safety reasons. Speakers built for outdoor use will have coated driver elements, heavy-duty seals and rubberized enclosures to protect the equipment from weather as well as debris, such as sand or grit. The user is protected as well by these features to prevent shocks and electrocution. Speakers built for indoor-only use will not have these protections, and using them outdoors risks damage to the speakers and a potential safety hazard to the user.

Versatility

If you are not sure if your speakers will be used indoors or outdoors, or you plan on doing both, indoor/outdoor speakers may be your best option. While all outdoor speakers can be used indoors, speakers built for both can offer more options than those exclusively for outdoor use. These features may include settings for cinematic and TV audio as well as music audio. In addition, indoor/outdoor speakers may offer headphone jacks for solitary listening which isn't a feature typically used outdoors.

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Ideas For Vaulted Ceiling Kitchens

Add light to a kitchen by installing a skylight.

Take advantage of the wall and ceiling space created by a vaulted ceiling kitchen. Typically, the space goes unused but, with some imagination, this space can be used for storing or showcasing kitchen treasures. Built-in spaces around the vaulted ceiling serve as small vignettes to admire upon entering the space. Artwork mounted to one wall helps to soften the room. Adding warm, neutral tones with accessories, paint and other decorative elements prevents the space from becoming overwhelming and cavernous.

Lighting and Windows

Flood the kitchen with light by installing a skylight within the vaulted ceiling. Skylights naturally lighten a room and illuminate the space. Unexpected touches, like an oversized window, also add natural light into the space to create an open feel. Pendant lights suspended from a vaulted ceiling create a dramatic feel and provide extra task lighting when preparing meals. Made in a wide range of styles and colors, pendant lights bring style to the kitchen. And, when mounted from the vaulted ceiling, they visually lower the kitchen to help create a more intimate cooking space.

Storage

Vaulted kitchen ceilings provide space for additional kitchen storage. Extra-tall cabinetry installed within the room provides an area for tucking away kitchen necessities while creating height and drama in the space. Keep those items you use once or twice a year at the highest point. See-through, glass-front cabinetry adds visual interest and works well for displaying kitchen collections like decorative plates, glassware or vases. Shelving mounted along one wall of a vaulted ceiling to display plants or a set of kitchen books offers additional storage space in the kitchen. Specialty wine storage racks tucked along a vaulted ceiling space create whimsical and unexpected space for storing vintage bottles. Hung from a ceiling beam, a pot racks holds frequently used pieces without taking up needed space below. Positioned above an island, it serves as a decorative piece within the space.

Color

Vaulted ceiling kitchens can become overwhelmed by dark wall colors that compete for center stage. Instead, keep the walls light and neutral to accent accessories like stainless steel appliances. Creamy white, beige and pale shades of green are ideal for a larger space. This neutral palette helps to complement and accent colorful backsplashes, countertops and kitchen islands while creating an open feel. Neutral paint colors also help to accent and complement the decorative, wooden support beams often found on vaulted ceilings.

Tags: vaulted ceiling, ceiling space, from vaulted, from vaulted ceiling, installing skylight, open feel

Stretch At Work

Stretch at Work

Sitting in front of a computer all day or standing at a work station for extended periods of time can cause a lot of strain and stiffness in the body. It is important to try and take stretch breaks during your work day in order to relieve stress, and to improve posture and flexibility.

Instructions

Hand and Arm Stretches

1. Straighten out each finger one by one until you feel the stretch. Then bend the middle knuckles of your fingers and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat as necessary. This is a great stretch for those that type on a computer all day. It relieves stress in the joints and fingers.

2. Bend your wrist as far as possible from side to side, leaving your palm face down. This will gently stretch the muscles in your wrist and ease any tension that could lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

3. Link your fingers together and gently press your palms out and away from your body towards the wall in front of you. This is a great stretch for relieving tension in the forearm.

Back Stretches

4. Stretch one hand behind your head and touch your upper back as if you were about to scratch it. Use the opposite hand and gently tug on the elbow, feeling a stretch in the shoulder and upper back. Repeat with opposite arm.

5. Link your fingers together and gently press your palms away from you and up towards the ceiling. Slowly stretch from side to side. This stretch is perfect for relieving tension in the spine.

6. Turn your head slowly from side to side so your nose is parallel to your shoulder. Hold this stretch for 5 seconds on each side. This is a great stretch for relieving upper back or neck pain caused by staring at the computer all day.

7. Stand up and place the palms of your hands on your lower back. Bend backwards slowly until you feel a slight stretch and hold for 5 seconds.

Leg Stretches

8. Sit in your chair and stretch one leg out in front of you so it is parallel to the ground. Slowly point your foot out towards the wall, and then flex up towards the ceiling. Hold the foot in each position for 5 seconds. Repeat on opposite leg. This is a great stretch for those that stand on their feet all day as it relieves the pressure and increases circulation in the calves.

9. Lift your leg off the ground. Rotate your foot slowly to the right and then slowly to the left. Repeat on opposite foot. This stretch is perfect for relieving the pressure that can build in the ankles from standing for extended periods of time. It also increases circulation in the leg which can help to prevent spider veins.

10. Stand up and hold onto the back of your chair with your right hand. Bend the knee of your left leg back and grab your ankle with your left hand. Gently pull your ankle backwards, feeling a stretch in the front of your thigh, and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat on the opposite leg.

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Connect Two Flush Mount Ceiling Fixtures

Flush mount lights connect to a brace in the ceiling. The brace holds the light flush with the ceiling instead of the light hanging down. To completely light some areas of the house, one flush mount light is simply not enough. Wiring two flush mount lights together so that they work on a single switch will provide more light to the room without having to add extra wiring, which can be time consuming and expensive.

Instructions

1. Turn off the electricity to the room from the breaker box in your home. The breaker box usually has switches for each part of the home. Generally, the breaker box will have a list of each switch's room or area designation in the house.

2. Remove the mounting screw from the center of the flush mount light and lower the light from the ceiling to expose the wiring.

3. Remove the cover from your light switch.

4. Feed a 14-2 or 12-2 Romex cable from the power source to your light switch. 14-2 is used for 15 amp circuits and 12-2 is used for 20 amp circuits.

5. Feed a second Romex wire through the wall from the light switch to your first light. Feed a third wire from the first light to the second light.

6. Strip a 1/4 inch from the end of the black wire from the Romex cable at the light switch. Loosen the brass screw on the side of the switch. Make a hook out of the black wire and wrap it around the brass screw. Tighten down the screw to connect it. Connect the black wire coming from the light to the silver screw on the switch.

7. Connect the white wire coming from your power source to the white wire from the first light together by twisting a wire nut around the exposed ends. Twist a wire nut around the two bare wires.

8. Twist a wire connector to the two black wires from the Romex cables running between the two lights with the black wire of the first light twisted with it.

9. Twist a wire connector around the two white wires of the Romex cable and running between the light and the white cable of the first light.

10. Connect the white and black wires of the Romex cable and the second light together with a wire connector.

11. Turn on the electricity and test.

Tags: first light, black wire, light switch, Romex cable, flush mount, Twist wire

Hang 12inch Ceiling Tile

Ceiling tiles can add texture to the room.

Whether you have an unattractive texture on your ceiling or are looking to add visual interest to a plain drywall ceiling, adding tiles provides one option. While ceiling tiles come in a range of sizes, the standard size is 12 inches by 12 inches. Once you complete the basic preparation work, the installation process should move along rather quickly. You can easily finish a room in a day or less.

Instructions

1. Prepare the ceiling surface for tile installation. Clean it with a damp cloth to remove any dust that's on the surface. Find the exact center of the room by using a measuring tape and mark the spot with a pencil on the ceiling. Using the mark as a guide, hold a chalk box line across the ceiling and snap into place to create a line for a guide.

2. Turn one of the 12-inch tiles over and use a glue roller to apply a layer of ceramic tile adhesive to the surface. Spread it around evenly.

3. Pick up the tile and carefully stand on a ladder. Press the tile into place using the border between the wall and ceiling and the chalk line as a guide. Apply adhesive to another tile and stick it next to the first one.

4. Continue with the process of applying adhesive and pressing the tiles onto the ceiling until you form two rows of tiles in the center of the room along the chalk line. Work your way out from here to the edges of the ceiling. Trim tiles down with an appropriate tool based on the tile material, if necessary, when you reach the final rows on either side of the room.

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Are Skylights Viable For A Vaulted Ceiling

Install skylights with flared light shafts.

Skylights are eye-appealing functional architectural elements in home design because they allow overhead natural sunlight to enter a living space. Skylights don't require window treatments and generally make a room feel open and spacious. For most home construction plans and current home designs with vaulted ceilings, skylights are a viable option. However, there are a few important installation requirements to follow.

Light Shafts

Skylights with flared light shafts should be installed in vaulted or cathedral-style ceilings. According to AskTheBuilder.com, "Most skylight tunnels are straight and provide decent light, but flared light shafts allow abundant natural light to stream into your remodeled space." Install skylights at an angle to accommodate the slope of your roof. A skylight with a flared light shaft doesn't require a flat surface area, so it is a viable option for vaulted ceilings.

Roofing

Before installation, ensure that the exterior frame for a vaulted-ceiling skylight is level and square with the slope of the roof. Install the frame from the roof and make sure it is symmetrical with the internal opening in your ceiling. Bob Vila recommends installing a rubberized seal around the wood frame to protect it against moisture. Install the exterior skylight frame with metal flashing, so you don't have to drive any nails through the surface of the roof. Add flashing over the shingles and around the exterior vaulted-ceiling skylight frame, allowing rainwater to flow over the shingles to the gutters. Once the glass is installed, water cannot settle on the window pane or in creases around the exterior wooden frame.

Height Advantages

You may want to opt for vaulted-ceiling skylights because the added height between the floor and the ceiling makes the skylights readily visible. With low ceilings, a skylight often blends in with the normal flat design of the ceiling and goes unnoticed. The flared shaft of light and the angled installation design make a vaulted-ceiling skylight an architectural focal point, drawing your eye upward toward the ceiling.

Ventilation

Be sure to provide adequate ventilation for skylights installed on vaulted ceilings. Skylights in vaulted ceilings, particularly those in cathedral ceilings, can create unventilated areas that force the temperature to rise in your living space. CertainTeed.com recommends installing both high and low ventilation openings. Ventilation openings are small vents that allow hot air that has risen to your skylights to release to the outside. The vents are not exposed to weather elements and are not visible inside the house. Consult a professional skylight installer for approved ventilation methods.

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Repair A Lath & Plaster Ceiling

Damaged plaster ceilings should be reapired right away.

When your plaster ceiling begins to sag or bulge, it requires your immediate attention before it collapses. Plaster is very heavy and needs to be anchored securely. Over time, plaster can lose its ability to stay anchored to the lath (strips of wood) behind it, causing cracks, holes and bulges in your ceiling. If the wood lath behind the plaster pulls away from the ceiling joists, you should call in a professional. But if the lath is intact, you should be able to make the plaster repairs yourself.

Instructions

1. Use the power drill to make ¼-inch holes in the plaster ceiling. Drill holes every four inches into the plaster ceiling, but not into the wooden lath behind the ceiling.

2. Vacuum the dust that you created when drilling the holes.

3. Squirt water into the holes with a spray bottle. This will soften the plaster.

Tall Vs Short Hot Water Heaters

Height does not diminish the unit's ability to produce hot water.

Next to heating, cooling and refrigeration, your water heater comes in third place in terms of energy use and costs. As a general rule, you should take an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach in selecting a tall or short water heater. For example, if your home has a tall water heater and you need a new one -- select a new tall water heater. The same goes for a short water heater. Additional factors include the distance from connecting pipes and the ceiling height of the room where the water heater will be installed.

Tall

Tall water heaters installed in homes range in height from 46 to about 60 inches. They have cylinder shapes that range in diameter from 18 to around 21 inches, and typically store anywhere from 30 to 100 gallons of water. The nickname for tall water heaters is "tall boy." They are typically installed in homes that have a basement or garage where the height of the unit can easily be accommodated. In addition to the height, the space must also accommodate the height needed to connect a pipe on top of the tallboy water heater unit to the plumbing system of the home, which can be around 40 inches. However, the connecting pipe can be adjusted and configured to slant diagonally to fit in with the ceiling height of the room.

Short

Short water heaters installed in homes range in height from 30 to 49 inches. They have wide and round tanks that range in diameter from 20 to 26 inches. The nickname for short water heaters is "low boy." They often installed in homes that have a crawlspace instead of a basement or inside of a closet inside the home or the garage or attic. The connecting pipe height to accommodate a low boy is typically between 29 and 32 inches. Most short water heaters used for "whole home" water heating store anywhere from 30 to 50 gallons of water. However, there are short water heaters that store as little as 10 gallons of water.

Similarities

Most short and tall water heaters are conventional storage tank water heaters that contain water inside of the tank. They can be installed inside the interior spaces of a home or in auxiliary areas such as a garage, basement, crawlspace or attic. The ideal location for either a tall boy or low boy water heater is one that is closest to the plumbing system. Short and tall water heaters work with natural gas, propane or electricity and can also store water for solar water heating systems or work with a heat pump system that works in conjunction with the heating and cooling system for a home. While the plumbing height can be adjusted for either a short or tall water heater, it is a best practice to install the pipes vertically for faster delivery of hot water through the plumbing system and into the faucets of rooms.

Differences

The major differences are height, gallon capacity and required height for plumbing connections. Tall water heaters range are about 16 inches taller, can hold up to 50 more gallons of water and require 10 inches more height for plumbing connections. Other than that, there is no distinguishable difference in performance.

Tags: water heater, water heaters, tall water, gallons water, installed homes, tall water heater

Install A Hampton Bay 42inch Courtney Ceiling Fan

Ceiling fans add venitilation and visual appeal to your home.

The Hampton Bay 42-inch Courtney ceiling fan is a midsize model sold exclusively by The Home Depot. The fan is similar in design to other Hampton Bay models and, as a result, has the same installation procedure. Ceiling fans require a sturdy anchor from which to hang and enough clearance to spin without causing damage or injury. The process of installing your Hampton Bay 42-inch Courtney ceiling fan is straightforward and demands just a bit of DIY skill and some basic tools.

Instructions

1. Completely turn off all current to the wires you will use as the power source for your ceiling fan. Switch your home circuit breakers to the off position to do so. Test the existing light to make sure that the power has been turned off completely.

2. Slide the outer ring off of the dome-shaped mounting cover. This should reveal a set of four screws that hold the cover to the fan mounting bracket. Remove these screws with your screwdriver, and slide the bracket free.

3. Extend the two power lines from the ceiling-mounted electrical box and slide them through the center hole in the fan mounting bracket. Use your screwdriver to fasten the mounting bracket to the electrical box, with the two 1 1/2-inch machine screws and lock washers that are provided.

4. Use your screwdriver to remove the set screws on the top side of your fan mounting cover. Remove the two metal pins from the top of the cover by hand. Place all of the fasteners aside. Slide the ring that you removed in step 2 over the wires that run from the top of the fan motor housing and onto the top of the cover.

5. Slip the wires through the hanging rod assembly. Slide the hanging rod down until it touches the top of the fan motor housing. There are two holes at the sides of the hanging rod assembly, through which the metal pins removed in step 4 should fit. Slide the hanger pin into one hole, and slide the locking pin through the protruding end of the hanger pin at the opposite hole. The two pins should fasten together and hold the assembly to the housing.

6. Locate the two mounting screw holes just above the metal pins, and use your screwdriver to fasten them in place. Raise the hanging rod assembly and slide it into the hanging bracket. The hanging rod will settle into the slotted bracket and rest in place.

7. Connect the wires from your fan motor housing to the wires from your electrical box. Use wire nuts to make the connection, and use electrical tape to wrap the wire nuts and make the connections secure.

8. Raise the fan mounting cover up and over the hanging bracket. Insert the four set screws to hold the cover in place, and use your screwdriver to tighten them. Raise the outer ring over the cover until it is firmly in place.

9. Install the fan blades onto the underside of the motor housing with your screwdriver and the screws provided. Install a light bulb into the socket on the underside of the fan. Press the light cover onto the fan housing until it clicks firmly into position. Turn on the power, and test your fan.

Tags: your screwdriver, motor housing, hanging assembly, metal pins, mounting bracket

Install Bathroom Lights

With all of the time many of us spend in the bathroom, many times in front of the mirror, having the proper lighting in there is very important. Not only will it reduce the strain on your eyes, but it will brighten the room and compliment other décor.

New bathroom lights are simple to install, especially when you already have an electrical box with which to work.

Instructions

1. Shut off the power to the room at the circuit breaker or the fuse box.

2. Remove the existing light by taking out the bulb and the globe on top of it. Next, unscrew the decorative plate that mounted it to the wall. If there is not an existing light, like for example only an electrical box, then remove the electrical box cover by unscrewing the two screws holding it to the wall. You may need to run a putty knife around the back of the fixture if it seems stuck to the wall, just in case there is any paint holding it to the wall.

3. Disconnect any wires still holding the old fixture to the wall and set the old fixture aside.

4. Check the ends of the wires that you just disconnected. If they are tarnished at all, you should cut the ends off and restrip ½-inch of insulation off the end of the wires.

5. Attach the wires to the new light fixture using the wire nuts that were provided. This is normally just a matter of twisting the two wires together and then screwing on the wire nut tightly.

6. Mount the grounding wire from the light to the mounting strap that is across the electrical box.

7. Push the wires into the electrical box and then mount the new fixture to the wall. Generally, this step requires 2 to 4 screws; all of which come with your fixture and screw directly into the wall.

8. Put in the correct size light bulb and turn the power to the bathroom back on and test your new light.

Tags: electrical then, existing light, fixture wall, holding wall

What Type Of Wood Is Used For A Front Porch Ceiling

Choose a ceiling material that will complement your home and existing porch.

If you have an outdoor porch with an overhanging ceiling, you will need to choose a type of wood that best suits your needs. Depending on where your porch is located, you might need to install a more-resilient ceiling out of PVC-treated wood. Porches in more fortunate climates can use inexpensive plywood to cover their ceilings. Before you begin your project, it is best to look at all the options and find out what your budget will allow you to install. Some ceiling products, such as tongue-and-groove board, are very durable but are also quite costly.

PVC

PVC wood is treated with a special solid core, cellular vinyl material that can stand up to the harshest weather conditions. This type of wood is perfect for porch ceilings that experience severe weather, such as a beach or coastal porch. PVC does not expand or contract like most wood, making it very stable. It comes in a variety of colors and usually has reversible edges that allow you to have the design of your choice.

Tongue and Groove

Tongue and groove is one of the most beautiful types of wood that can be used for a porch ceiling --- so beautiful that it is often seen indoors as well. Tongue-and-groove boards come in many different styles of wood, in many different colors. They fit together perfectly to create a wooden panel effect for your ceiling. When installing tongue-and-groove ceilings, you should always nail the board to the joist in several locations to accommodate any expansion of the boards.

Bead Board

Bead board panels are a popular choice for a porch ceiling because they are very versatile. This type of board can be installed over the top of plywood to add more support and it can be painted and stained to match the look and feel of your porch. Because of expansion, you should always leave ¼ inch between each board when installing this type of ceiling.

Plywood

Plywood is also a popular choice for porch ceilings because it is inexpensive and comes in large sheets that minimize installation time. Plywood can also be painted to match your porch. When choosing plywood for a porch ceiling, choose a quality, exterior-grade product to give you the longest-lasting ceiling possible. Priming the edges prior to installation also helps keep out moisture from your plywood ceiling.

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Change A Halogen Spotlight

A spotlight for a halogen bulb

Halogen spotlights burn brighter than regular bulbs. Therefore, they work well for shifting the focal point on a wall to a painting or other item on display. While they produce the spotlight effect, homeowners need to be aware that they also burn hot. Take precautionary measures to prevent injury. Halogen bulbs for these fixtures vary in wattage as well as how they secure to the fixture’s light socket. Check the fixture to be certain the new bulb matches the existing bulb. The main difference in the bulbs is in the base (the part of the bulb that plugs into the socket).

Instructions

1. Locate the switch for the halogen spotlight and turn it to the off position. Put a glove on your hand or use a towel to protect your fingers from the heat of the halogen bulb, if necessary. If the fixture has a removable outer ring holding the bulb in place, go to Step 2. If it has a clip holding the bulb, go to Step 5.

2. Twist the outer ring of the fixture that holds the bulb in place. The outer ring either unscrews or twists about a quarter turn and lifts off. Remove the ring and set it aside for now. Grasp the bulb on its edges and twist it in a counterclockwise direction to remove it.

3. Align the pins on the new bulb with the holes in the fixture socket. Insert them and twist the bulb in a clockwise direction so it makes connection with the contacts in the socket.

4. Place the outer ring back on the fixture and turn it in a clockwise direction until it is secure. Turn the halogen bulb fixture on.

5. Place the ends of a pair of tweezers on the ends of the clip. Squeeze the tweezers to pull the ends of the ring together and remove the clip. The bulbs in the fixture with clips pull out instead of unscrewing or twisting.

6. Insert the new bulb and replace the clip. Turn on the fixture switch.

Tags: outer ring, halogen bulb, bulb place, clockwise direction, holding bulb

Connect A Grounding Wire To A Ceiling Fan

Connecting a ceiling fan to an existing ceiling electrical box generally involves three connections: A black wire that carries the electrical current, a white ``neutral'' wire and a bare copper grounding wire. The grounding wire doesn't normally carry electricity. Its function is only to direct the current back into the circuit in cases of electrical surges. All modern ceiling fan units will provide a green grounding screw to receive the grounding wire.

Instructions

1. Turn off the power at the house fuse box, so the circuit you're working on is dead. Remove the existing ceiling fixture by unscrewing it from the ceiling electrical box and disconnecting the wiring. Generally, there will be three wires coming from the box: one insulated white, one insulated black and one bare copper grounding wire. All three should be left hanging out of the box after you remove the fixture.

2. Install the mounting bracket from your ceiling fan kit to the electrical box. Pull the three wires down through the bracket so they're still hanging.

3. Bring your fan unit up the ladder, and position it near the box. Attach the insulated wires from the fan to the same colored insulated wires from the house (black to black, white to white), twisting wire nuts over the connections.

4. Pull down the bare copper grounding wire form the box. Locate the green grounding screw on the ceiling fan unit or the bracket that you installed (the position of the screw varies). Use your pliers to bend the end of the copper wire into a small hook, just big enough to go around the stem of the green screw.

5. Hook the bare copper grounding wire around the green grounding screw. Tighten the screw, fixing the wire in place.

6. Mount the fan unit to the bracket, tucking all the wiring into the box as you do. Turn the power on.

Tags: grounding wire, bare copper, bare copper grounding, copper grounding, copper grounding wire

Install Blade Cx3 Lights

The CX3 Blade is a small remote controlled helicopter designed by the E-flite company. To add realism, you can install small LED lights on your CX3 Blade helicopter. LED lights can also allow you to better see your helicopter when flying at night. Installing LED lights will require the CX3 light kit. You can purchase the CX3 light kit on the E-flite website or at a local hobby shop.

Instructions

1. Use your finger to open the port that allows you access the fuselage. There is a small notch on the back of the CX3 that allows access to the inside of the RC helicopter.

2. Glue the small circuit board between and underneath the two side window openings. Weight balance is important in RC helicopters. Mounting the board in the middle of the fuselage will help maintain the helicopter's center of gravity.

3. Mount and install the lights using the glue to hold them into place. Use needle-nose pliers to mount two LEDs in the nose of the helicopter.

4. Use tape to secure all wires inside the CX3 Blade. Loose wires can offset the CX3's center of balance mid-flight so make sure they are all secure.

5. Replace the fuselage door on the back of the helicopter.

Tags: allows access, that allows, that allows access

Texture A Ceiling With A Sprayer

Texture on a ceiling can be a nice change from a flat ceiling.

Texture can be mixed and applied to a ceiling and produces different effects with lighting and wall color. A typical textured ceiling is usually off white and works well with any room design. The surface to be textured should be white and coated beforehand with primer to produce the best results. An electric sprayer can make for a speedier process and is less taxing than a hand-held roller application.

Instructions

1. Cover all of the furniture and flooring in the room with plastic and secure with masking tape or duct tape. Cover the walls with plastic secured with masking tape. To prevent damage to painted wall surfaces do not use duct tape.

2. Prime the ceiling if applying texture to new drywall or plaster. Prime the ceiling using a paint tray and a roller to cover drywall so you have a white ceiling.

3. Mix the popcorn texture with water in the bucket. Allow the texture to sit until the desired consistency is reached. You may have to test the consistency in the sprayer to assure that it comes out uniformly and is not too thin or too thick. Mixture that is too thin can be thickened by adding more texture.

4. Fill the hopper on the sprayer with the mixture following the manufacturer's instructions. Experiment with the consistency by spraying a large piece of cardboard or a scrap of drywall.

5. Begin spraying the ceiling with the mixture in a thin first coat, then follow with a second thin coating, for best results. Continue this process until the entire ceiling is covered.

Tags: best results, duct tape, masking tape, Prime ceiling, with masking, with masking tape

Public Debt Management Act

The Public Debt Management Act was enacted May 8, 2008, by the parliament of Mauritius, and was put into effect July 1, 2008. It sought to improve the management of government debt by altering both the minister's powers and the relationship between government and finance.

Goals of Debt Management Strategy

The goal of these changes is to meet the government's borrowing needs without disrupting the market, to minimize the cost of the government's debt portfolio and to facilitate a functioning securities market, while maintaining an annual debt ceiling at 60 percent of GDP.

Effects on Minister's Power

The Public Debt Management Act places the power to raise government funds solely in the hands of the minister. The act grants him the power to raise funds both inside and outside of Mauritius, and to authorize the issue of government securities.

Effects on Government and Finance

The new powers allocated to the prime minster will alter the relationship between government and finance, allowing him to enter the government into agreements with banking institutions in any manner he sees fit, and to back any national, local or private loan with a government guarantee.

Tags: Debt Management, Public Debt, Public Debt Management, between government, between government finance, government debt

Hard Wire A Bathroom Fixture

Bathroom light fixtures are hard-wired into the main electrical system.

Bathroom light fixtures are just like any other light fixture in the home, except that they tend to be brighter to illuminate often dark bathrooms. Hard-wiring is the process of attaching the wires of the fixture to the ones in the wall, thus connecting the fixture to the home's main electrical system. Although hard-wiring a bathroom light fixture may cause apprehension to novice homeowners, the task only requires common tools.

Instructions

1. Go to the home's main fuse box and turn off the power to the entire bathroom. A good way to ensure that the power is off is to turn the bathroom light on first and then it will go off when you have deactivated the proper fuse.

2. Place a stepladder under the bathroom fixture, if needed, and remove the old light fixture from the wall. If there is a globe, such as with ceiling lights, locate the small nut on the side and turn it counterclockwise to remove before detaching the globe. To remove the base, look for two small screws and remove them with a screwdriver.

3. Turn the plastic cap on top of the black wires counterclockwise to remove it and then untwist the black wires from each other. Repeat the process to detach the white wires from each other. In most cases, there is also a copper or green-colored wire that is attached to a metal part of the outlet housing that you must detach as well. Do not detach the metal housing since you can attach the new light to it.

4. Discard the old fixture and unwrap the new fixture from all of its packaging.

5. Locate the white wire on the back of the light fixture and twist the bare ends together with the white wall wire. Place a plastic wire cap, provided with the new fixture, on top of the two and turn the cap clockwise two or three times. Repeat the process to connect the black fixture wire to the black wall wire.

6. Locate the copper or green wire on the light fixture and wrap the end of it around any part of the metal outlet housing inside the wall. This is a ground wire and does not carry any electrical current.

7. Push all of the wires inside the wall or ceiling cavity and push the light fixture into position. Insert the provided screws into the two or three screw holes on the fixture and tighten them with a screwdriver.

8. Go to the man fuse box and turn the power back on for the bathroom. The fixture should come on, indicating that it is properly hard-wired.

Tags: light fixture, bathroom fixture, bathroom light, Bathroom light, Bathroom light fixtures, black wires

Decorate Ceilings With Fabric

Decorating a ceiling with fabric is a great way to cover up an ugly ceiling and dramatically change the look of an entire room. There's no need to fix cracks in the ceiling or paint over stains--you simply cover them up. Because you don't have to spread and smooth patch compound or deal with paint splatters, you don't need to cover furniture with drop cloths or deal with paint fumes. For a traditional look, put up plain white or off-white fabric. If you want to have a little fun, look for fabric that has a cloud or star pattern to create the look of a sky.

Instructions

1. Determine the amount of fabric you need. Measure in inches across the narrowest part of the room. This is the direction you will be running your fabric. Divide this number by 36 to get the number of yards. If you come up with a fraction, round up to the next yard. Record this number as "A." Measure across longest part of the room, and divide this number by 42. Again, if you come up with a fraction, round up to the next highest whole number. Record this number as "B." Multiply A times B to come up with the total number of yards of fabric you need to buy. If you did not need to round up for either of your calculations, add an extra yard to allow for overhang and trimming.

2. Determine the amount of ribbon you need to buy. The ribbon will go around the perimeter of the room and over each seam. In inches, measure around the entire room, and divide this number by 36 to get the number of yards. Record this number as "C." Multiply B from the previous step by C to get the total number of yards of ribbon to buy.

3. Cut a length of fabric as wide as the room plus 2 inches. Beginning at the corner of the room, place an approximately 12-inch line of glue onto the ceiling and tight against the side wall. Leave an inch of fabric overhanging at the beginning of the run. Press the fabric onto the glue, and hold it in place until it dries. Continue placing short lines of glue along the ceiling and pressing on the edge of the fabric.

4. Move to the opposite edge of the fabric. Pull the fabric straight and taut, and place a short line of glue on the ceiling at the edge of the fabric. Press and hold the fabric. Continue gluing the opposite edge, making sure the fabric is smooth, straight and taut. Glue the beginnings and ends of the fabric runs. Trim raw edges at the points where the wall and ceiling meet.

5. Continue gluing fabric runs across the room as in Step 4, overlapping side edges 1 inch.

6. Place a dot of glue at one corner of the room. Press on the beginning of a length of ribbon. Hold in place until it dries thoroughly. Pull the ribbon taut to the opposite side of the room. Place a second dot of glue at this end. Press and hold. Snip ribbon cleanly at the point where the ceiling and wall meet. Continue around the room and over every seam.

Tags: this number, number yards, come with, edge fabric, Record this, Record this number, come with fraction

Paint Crown Molding & Ceilings

Ceilings, especially textured ones, require special paint.

When you consider repainting your house, you rarely let your thoughts stray above the walls. Even though the ceiling may not seem noticeable, changing the color of your molding and ceiling can make your living space seem larger or more intimate or can add drama to the room. While painting crown molding and your ceiling may seem intimidating, your efforts can transform the look of your room without any renovation.

Instructions

1. Choose a style of paint suitable for your ceiling. If you have a textured ceiling, you'll need a flat-finish paint with good adhesion. If your ceiling is smooth, painting with a an eggshell or satin paint can give your ceiling a slight sheen, suggests the Home Depot website.

2. Choose the colors for your ceiling and molding paint. Darker colors make the ceiling appear lower and make rooms feel cozier, while lighter colors or whites make the room seem taller and brighter. Paint the crown molding the same color as either the walls or ceiling or choose a complementary color to make it stand out.

3. Cover the floors and furniture in the room with tarps to protect from splatters. Keep a wet cloth on hand to clean up spills before they dry.

4. Apply painter's tape on the wall along the seam between the wall and the molding. If the molding will be a different color, apply the tape to the molding where it meets the ceiling as well.

5. Apply paint to textured ceilings with a paint sprayer, or use a simple tray and roller for flat ceilings. Whether using a sprayer or roller, apply the paint in long, smooth strokes until you have an even coat, leaving 4 to 5 inches along the border.

6. Finish painting the boarder where the ceiling meets the molding with a hand held paintbrush. Let dry for several hours and apply another coat if necessary.

7. Apply painter's tape to the ceiling where it meets the molding if the molding will be a different color. Apply an even coat of paint to the molding with a brush, working horizontally along the wall. Add a second coat if needed once the first coat has dried completely.

Tags: your ceiling, Apply painter, Apply painter tape, ceiling seem, crown molding, different color, even coat

Drywall On Ceilings

About Drywall on Ceilings

There are many systems to building a ceiling, but in most cases, drywall is used. It's easy to install and has multiple possibilities for a finished product. If hung on a ceiling properly, drywall can be finished flat by simply spaying paint into its surface after it's floated and sanded. If the desire is to recess part of the ceiling, drywall is still the easiest way to finish out the ceiling. With the many options for texture, drywall is the perfect choice for ceilings.

Considerations

Drywall comes in various lengths, but is usually 48 inches wide. With the proper tools, drywall can be hung on a ceiling rather quickly. It is also the easiest to cut around lighting and other ceiling fixtures. With the advent of the drywall screw, the installer no longer has to deal with swinging a hammer over her head. Since drywall is heavy, it should be secured to the ceiling with screws that are no further than 8 inches apart.

Benefits

When considering the benefits of building a house, give the ceiling the consideration that it needs. This means to include all types of material that is available for ceilings and their ease in upkeep after they are installed. Drywall has the benefit of change that would be difficult with other ceiling materials. Removing texture or changing the color is more easily done on drywall. In addition, making dimensional changes such as a drop down or recess, can be done without worrying if the material used is going to match what is already on it.

Effects

There is no doubt that the ceiling of a room plays a significant role in the effects the room has. A room used for children might have a tree painted in the corner with branches that extend out on the ceiling. Drywall becomes the perfect canvas for such an effect. Drywall on a ceiling also makes future renovations easier. Contractors, or homeowners, can move fixtures on the ceiling with minimal effort. With drywall on the ceiling, lighting effects can be changed without renovating the entire ceiling.

Features

Possible features for drywall on the ceiling are endless. They include recess lighting, vaulted ceilings, various textures and other things that the imagination can dream. By cutting drywall into equal widths and lengths and then applying them over the existing drywall ceiling, you can create picture frames or some other geometric design adding a new feature to your ceiling. The drywall product itself features a surface that will take any type of texture you desire to go on the ceiling.

Function

Drywall in itself has many functions. These include insulation, an easy-to-work-with material and the possible different uses for it. You can get it with a protective sheathing on it called green-rock for use around bathtub and shower enclosures. It functions as a sound barrier as well where paneling or other wall covers cause sound to bounce away from it. Another function of drywall is to support paneling that will be the finished surface of a wall.

Tags: drywall ceiling, Drywall Ceilings, hung ceiling, other ceiling, that will

Hang Fabric From A Ceiling For A Wedding Reception

Decorate the ceilings of your wedding reception venue with fabric.

Hanging fabric from a ceiling is an easy way to add color and style to any room. Use fabric to hide aluminum frame ceilings at a wedding reception venue. Or, create a compelling vertical centerpiece above the joyous action and entertainment below. Fabric can transform a gym, church hall or otherwise plain room into a unique space that complements your wedding theme and creates an environment guests will remember long after your wedding is over.

Instructions

1. Use a ladder to reach the ceiling of your wedding venue. Measure the length and width of the ceiling as well as the heights of the walls in the room you are decorating. Determine how much fabric you will need for each length you wish to hang.

2. Choose a design for your fabric hangings. Consider the dimensions of the room when selecting a hanging pattern. Hang fabric panels straight down from the ceiling to a few inches above the floor along the two longest walls to emphasize high ceilings or a long, narrow venue. Hang fabric in this way to create a regal feel. Highlight an elegant chandelier or series of chandeliers by looping fabric panels from 10 feet to 12 feet around the chandeliers into the center, about 3 inches away from the chandeliers themselves. Create a tent design by stringing fabric panels in a sloping, triangular pattern from the center of the ceiling to the sides.

3. Choose colors of gossamer fabric that complement your wedding colors. Pair the fabric hangings with strands of white or single-color indoor twinkling lights strung in the same pattern as your fabric panels.

4. Cut the fabric into panels that are 24 inches wide and equal in length to your measurements for the venue.

5. Use tall ladders or lifts and assistants to reach the ceiling of your venue. Use staples colored the same color as your fabric and a staple gun to attach the fabric panels to the ceiling. Repeat this process to staple the other end of the fabric panels to the walls, if your design calls for it. Attach embroidery hoops and curtain rods to the ceiling with wire and wrap fabric panels around the hoops or rods to secure your design.

Tags: fabric panels, your wedding, your fabric, ceiling your, fabric hangings

Mount A Ceiling Tv In A Car

Having a TV in your car makes long trips much more tolerable for your passengers, especially if you have kids. Installing a flip-down TV definitely looks more difficult to install than it truly is. Car TV kits are designed to allow you, the everyday person, to install your car TV yourself without having take apart the whole interior of the car. The most invasive part of the process is cutting a small portion of the headliner. If you can handle that, you are ready to mount a ceiling TV in your car.

Instructions

1. Fit a small screwdriver into the small square cutout in the lens of the overhead dome light. Press in the retaining clip on the lens and pull up on the small screwdriver to pop the lens out of place, then remove it from the overhead light.

2. Place the small screwdriver under the surrounding edges of the dome light fixture and gently pry around each side to loosen the dome light. Pull the dome light down out of its position and disconnect the wires. If you have a car with a sunroof, check behind the dome light for a metal reinforcement plate.

3. Place the mounting bracket over the hole where the dome light use to be. Move the bracket around the area until you find a place where the mounting plate fits firmly against the roof. Hold the headliner firmly in place and use a box cutter to trace around the mounting plate cutting the headliner. This allows a tighter fit and reduces vibrations of the screen while driving.

4. Check behind the area where the mounting screw is on the mounting bracket as you will be drilling screw holes in there and do not want to hit any wiring. Use a 10/24 machine screw tap and drill in the screw holes. Screw in the monitor mounting bracket with screws that are no longer than the reinforcement bracket. Generally, the reinforcement bracket is no thicker than 1/4 inch. Connect the wires from the dome light to the TV and slide the TV into place on the mounting bracket.

Tags: dome light, mounting bracket, small screwdriver, mounting plate, reinforcement bracket, screw holes

Mount A Mitsubishi Hc1500 Projector

The Mitsubishi HC1500 projector is a medium-brightness model, equally at home in the boardroom and the home theater. You can quickly mount these projectors to the ceiling using a universal mount. Seating distances and projector throw requirements are not out of the ordinary, making the unit suitable for average-sized rooms. Once mounted, the HC1500's 1280-by-720 resolution allows movie and presentation images to be projected on screens up to 126 inches diagonal.

Instructions

1. Turn the projector over. Locate the threaded mounting holes.

2. Align the universal bracket's mounting arms with the threaded bracket inserts. Insert and tighten the Phillips screws with the screwdriver.

3. Locate a solid mounting surface, suitable for supporting the weight of the unit with the projector. This surface should be 15 to 17 feet from the screen's surface, and 20 to 21 inches from the screen's top or bottom border.

4. Drill four holes through the universal bracket's ceiling support bracket, using the drill and 3/16-inch bit.

5. Drive the four lag screws included with the universal projector mount through the bracket and into the supporting surface, using the ratchet and socket set.

6. Lift the projector onto the mount, securing the unit via the specific manufacturer's method for coupling the two halves.

Tags: from screen, universal bracket

Tint Knockdown Texture

Add latex paint to texturing compound before applying a knockdown texture.

Texture adds a design element to your walls and ceiling and it hides minor imperfections in the drywall. Applying a knockdown texture, or California knockdown, involves smoothing off the tips of wet texture with a trowel to create a stucco-like finish. You can tint the texture before applying it to your walls for a hint of color.

Instructions

1. Thin premixed drywall compound with water in a 5-gallon bucket until it reaches the consistency of pancake batter. Use a drill with a paddle attachment to blend away lumps.

2. Add colored latex paint in 1-cup increments, stirring well after each addition, until you like the color of the texture.

3. Keep the bucket tightly covered until you're ready to roll or spray the texture on the walls or the ceiling.

Tags: before applying, knockdown texture, latex paint, walls ceiling, your walls

Do It Yourself Antler Chandeliers

Deer antlers to be made into a chandelier

Log homes and rustic lodges need a special kind of decor, and an antler chandelier can really highlight the outdoor lifestyle. Paired with a rustic dining room table and natural colors, an antler chandelier makes a statement about how you live. But these light fixtures can run into the hundreds of dollars. With a little time and simple equipment, you can turn your own antlers into a chandelier.

Equipment and Materials

A chandelier can be made from almost any size antlers, and if they have broken tips, you can cut that part away. Shed antlers, or antlers that are discarded by the animal every year, are ideal and you can even use artificial antlers with the same results. Although deer are the most common antlers for light fixtures, elk and moose can be used as well. However, you will need at least four similarly shaped antlers, and to some extent, this will dictate the size of your light. The material you need to assemble the lamp is a chandelier lamp kit, a jig saw or table saw, a drill and taxidermy epoxy. Use a respirator and safety glasses while cutting the antlers and wear latex gloves when using the epoxy.

Assembly

Clean the antlers using a mild soap and water. After they dry, you can coat them with polyurethane. Before you make any cuts, position the antlers to find the most appealing and practical form. Position them so that the tips face upward and will cradle the lights. Temporarily hold them together with electrical tape and remember that the shape must accommodate the light kit as well. Once you have a design that you like, mark the where the antlers touch and any other notes in light pencil that you can erase later. Cut the antlers where needed. Mix the epoxy and glue the antlers together. If you find sections need to be more securely fastened, wire them together either by drilling holes and running the wire through or by wiring them from the outside. This is a fairly awkward operation, so having a friend help is a good idea. Alternatively, you can assemble the light kit first and work around it with the antlers, but most people feel there is a more natural look to the lamp if the antlers are shaped first.

Finishing

Assemble the light kit and attach to the antler frame using the epoxy to secure the components. Before attaching the unit to the ceiling, clean any smudges or glue from the chandelier. Disguise wire by winding artificial sinew or leather strips around the area and add any embellishments you would like. Attach the chandelier to the ceiling with the materials from your light kit.

Tags: antler chandelier, into chandelier, light fixtures, them together, using epoxy

Stage Lighting Special Effects

Theatrical patterns can create the look of light reflected off water.

Rapid technological advances make the special effects you can achieve with stage lighting virtually unlimited. Many effects center on natural phenomena and enhance almost any play by creating storms, fires, misty mornings or underwater scenes. Sometimes a combination of physical effects, such as fog machines and lighting effects, produce the most believable stage effects, transporting the scenery and actors into an entirely different atmosphere.

Starry Nights

Lighting designer achieve a starry night onstage in several ways and budget generally plays a major factor. For high-budget performances, fiber optic star curtains offer pinpoints of starlight that twinkle on and off like real stars. The lights onstage, in addition to the stars, play a strong role in making your starry night effective.

Old-style homemade star curtains produce a slightly less dazzling version of the same effect when you string white Christmas tree lights behind a black curtain and poke the tips through. By mixing a jumble of steady-burning and twinkling Christmas tree lights and lowering the power on them--as well as the rest of the stage lights--you can create an impressive star look.

To supplement your starry backdrop, keep the rest of the stage lights as dim and tightly focused on the action as possible. While it's tempting to flood the stage with blue light to allow visibility while keeping the feel of night, it does not look realistic. Support your realistic stars with cool white or only slightly bluish lights, broken up by soft-focused leaf patterns that leave the actors' faces visible without flooding the stage with light.

Water

Modern mechanical effects give several ways to produce the illusion of water, whether you want the look of light reflected off moving waves, falling rain or a full underwater scene. Effect units that slide into the iris slot of certain ellipsoidal reflector spotlights (most notably the Altman Shakespeare and the ETC Source Four) are the best way to achieve these looks.

Double gobo (pattern) rotators with reflected wave gobos can produce the effect of light bouncing off the ocean. Soft-focusing a cool-tone glass colorizer gobo in a single rotator produces subtle underwater effects.

A film scroller unit produces effective falling rain. GAM Products (as of 2010) makes the unit, called the Film FX scroller. You place a metal scroll into the scroller unit and soft focus. Then you place a window gobo in the regular gobo slot on the instrument and hard focus, allowing the scroll to produce the look of rain falling behind the window. You can use these units for moving clouds and other effects.

As with night effects, don't fall into the assumption that all water is blue. Mix various shades of blue, green and white for your moving water effects for best results.

Black Lights

Black light effects are commonly sought in dramatic and dance performances but they are not as simple to achieve as an in-home black light room. Black (ultraviolet) light picks out certain colors--particularly white--and makes them glow, while minimizing background illumination. For the best stage black lighting effect, make sure everything on stage is black or other dark colors for the black light scene.

This means covering any colored backdrops with a black curtain. Check with your local theatrical supply company to see which black light units they recommend for your particular size of stage. mercury vapor black light units are powerful and can cover a lot of stage area, but take up to five minutes to warm up to full strength.

Tags: black light, black curtain, black light units, Christmas tree, Christmas tree lights

Install Tongue & Groove Bamboo On A Ceiling

Accent your ceiling with the natural beauty of bamboo.

Bamboo is an attractive, affordable and sustainable building material option for homeowners. While tongue and groove bamboo is typically installed on floors, it can go on ceilings to accent the often overlooked feature within the room. You install it the same way you would on a floor with the exception that you are nailing it to ceiling joists rather than floor joists. Pine is a traditional material for covering ceilings in wood but the beauty and sustainability of bamboo makes is an attractive contemporary ceiling covering.

Instructions

1. Slide the stud finder along the ceiling and mark the location of the framing boards with a pencil. Framing boards in ceilings are called joists. You will install the bamboo flooring boards perpendicular to the direction that the joists run.

2. Hold a flooring board with the grooved edge of the board against the wall. Start on a wall where you can orient the boards perpendicular to the direction of the joists. This will allow you to nail through the tongues on the edges of the boards into the joists along the entire length of the boards.

3. Hammer 4-d finish nails through the tongue of the first board into each joist along its length. Hammer 4-d finish nails through the edge nearest the wall approximately 1/4-inch away from the wall to secure it to the wall. This is called face nailing.

4. Slide the grooved side of a second board over the tongue of the first board. Hammer 4-d finish nails through the tongue of the second board at each joist to secure it in place. The opposing edge will be held in place by the tongue and groove so you will not need to face nail it. Continue installing boards in this manner until you come to the last board.

5. Measure the distance from the edge of the second to last board to the wall using a tape measure. If it is less than the width of the boards, you will need to cut it lengthwise to the measured space. Mark the measurement on the board with a pencil.

6. Adjust the table saw fence to cut the width required for the last board. Lay the board flat on the table of the saw with the tongue edge of the board oriented on the saw so that it will be the waste edge. In other words, you will need to cut off the tongue as the waste side of the board. Turn the saw on and guide the board through the saw to cut it to width. Turn the saw off once the cut has been completed.

7. Fit the groove of the board over the tongue of the second-to-last board and slide the last board into place. Face nail the wall edge of the last board into place. Set the face-nailed nails on the edges of the starting and finishing walls with a nail set.

Tags: last board, board into, finish nails, finish nails through, Hammer finish, Hammer finish nails, nails through

Remove Glow In The Dark Stars

Remove Glow in the Dark Stars

They seemed like such a good idea when your sons or daughters were young--glow-in-the-dark stars on their bedroom ceiling and walls. Magical. Now that your children are older, you want to redecorate the room and repaint it, but you are finding those stars to be stubborn and brittle. They won't come off the wall easily. You can work and work at it, picking each one off with your fingernail, but there are easier ways to go about the task.

Instructions

1. Scrape the glow-in-the-dark stars with a single-edged utility scraper. Use quick, brisk strokes. Sometimes this alone may be enough and the glue will come off as you scrape. But in most cases, adhesive residue will remain on the wall after the stars are removed.

2. Use a solvent on any remaining adhesive residue. Citri Solve and Goo Gone are a couple of choices. Squirt a small amount on a clean cloth and wipe the cloth over the area. These products may also remove some of the paint from the area you are cleaning, but this will not be a problem if you are planning to repaint. If you are not planning to repaint, you will want to test for this first on an area that is not obviously noticeable.

3. Lightly sand over the area where the stars were if you plan to paint. This will remove any small amount of remaining adhesive residue. It will also remove any oil the solvents may have left, which would make it difficult for paint to adhere. Use medium grade sandpaper.

Tags: adhesive residue, adhesive residue will, also remove, Dark Stars, Glow Dark, Glow Dark Stars, over area

What Is A 1938 Ul Harley Davidson Worth

It's a small step from fighter-planes over Germany to Harleys in America.

There's something very special about war-year vehicles like the 1938 Harley. Partly, it's because they're so rare; most potential buyers were off fighting for freedom overseas. Part of it is due to the fact that these same manufacturers, fresh off the Great Depression, simultaneously produced the vehicles those soldiers used. Mostly, though, it's because the soldiers who made it home quickly bought up America's supply of like-new Harleys -- often-times, from the families of those who never came back to ride them. And that's a special thing indeed.

Bikes

The 1930s started out with over-the-top Art Deco styling, and ended up in bare-bones functionality. Its was the strange juxtaposition of the two that gave us beautiful but purposeful machines like the Depression Era Knucklehead Harley. The W-Series Harley was the entry-level bike with a 45-cubic-inch engine, and the E-Series had 61-cubic-inch powerplants. The U-Series was the sporty middle class, with several trim levels: the U and UL had a 74-cubic-inch engine, and the UH, UHS and ULH had 80-cubic-inchers.

Values

E-Series bikes are the most valuable: NADA guides lists them from $8,335 to $39,715 for a non-running parts bike to a perfectly preserved original. A non-original restoration E-series is worth about $22,600, and the EL is worth about $2,000 more than a base E-Series. The WL is the cheapest, at $4,200 to $19,400, and the other W-series are only slightly more. The base U-Series runs about $5,200 to $22,000, and the UL costs a little more. A parts bike will run about $5,700, a preserved original $23,300, and a non-original driver will sell for about $14,500.

Tags: 1938 Harley, original non-original, parts bike, preserved original, preserved original non-original

Light A Room With No Ceiling Light

Don't let the lack of a ceiling light keep you in the dark.

If your room does not have a ceiling light, there are cheap and easy ways to light up your life short of ripping out the ceiling to install one. You may not have the convenience of having room illumination from a switch inside of the doorway, but the upside is that you have more control over the lighting and can make it more aesthetically pleasing as well.

Instructions

1. Maximize the amount of natural light in the room. Pull back drapes and use sheers for privacy to allow diffuse daylight into the room and minimize the need for other interior light during the day.

2. Use a torchiere, which is a tall floor lamp that shines the light upward. The torchiere will bounce the light off the ceiling to produce an effect not dissimilar to a ceiling light. Paint the ceiling white or a light color for maximum effect.

3. Install a pendant lamp. Pendant lamps hang from the ceiling, but usually have their electric wire running through the chain or cord from which they hang. They can be suspended from a hook in the ceiling and plugged into a nearby outlet.

4. Place a table lamp so it can be plugged into a socket that is controlled by a wall switch. In many homes, if a room does not have a ceiling light, the wall switch near the door or entry way will control one of the outlets in the room. Plugging a regular table lamp into that socket will give you accessible light when you enter the room.

Tags: ceiling light, does have, does have ceiling, have ceiling, have ceiling light

Restore Antique Ceiling Tin Tiles

In Victorian times, tin ceilings were a widely available and inexpensive way to replicate the elaborate molded-plaster ceilings found in the palaces and finer homes of Europe. They stayed in fashion well into the 1950s, when many of the gorgeous tin tiles were painted over. If you have an antique tin ceiling, you'll find that restoring old tin is a big project, but worth the effort. Once you have taped plastic over all the walls, set down drop cloths and found someone to steady your ladder, you are ready to begin.

Instructions

1. Find out when your tin ceiling tiles were painted. If it was prior to the 1978 ban on lead paint, you will need to take additional precautions. In the United States, you can contact the National Lead Information Center by calling 1-800-424-LEAD (424-5323), or by going to their websites at www.epa.gov/lead and www.hud.gov/offices/lead/. They will tell you how and where to get your paint analyzed to determine if it is lead based.

2. Put on your goggles, mask, gloves and hair cover and dust the ceiling thoroughly with a feather duster or clean, soft shop rags.

3. Clean both a painted and un-painted tin ceiling with a few squirts of dishwashing soap in a bucket of warm water. Smooth out any rust spots in an unpainted tin ceiling with very fine steel wool, then buff the spot with a shop cloth.

4. Strip non-lead paint with a brush-on paint stripper designed for painted metal. Do not leave the paint stripper on for more than a few seconds. Work in small sections.

5. Buff the ceiling with very fine steel wool to make sure that all of the paint is gone. Many tin ceilings are beautiful enough at this point to leave as is. Dust the tiles once a month and wash them two or three times a year to maintain their beauty.

6. Give your tin ceiling a little face-lift if you are not happy with how it looks once it is cleaned and stripped, by spraying it lightly with a primer formulated for metals. Let it dry overnight.

7. Spray one to two coats of metal paint on top of the primer. You can use a traditional paint color such as cream for a faux-plastered look, a bright color for a modern twist or a silver metallic paint to mimic the tin's true nature.

Tags: ceiling with, ceiling with very, fine steel, fine steel wool, paint stripper, steel wool

Install Wood Fiber Ceiling Tile

Wood fiber ceiling tiles are popular for basements and recreation rooms because of their low cost and excellent sound absorption. Luckily for anyone in the midst of remodeling, wood fiber ceiling tiles are also relatively easy to install. The tiles themselves feature no-tool, drop-in installation, and the surrounding support structure requires only basic tools and moderate construction knowledge.

Instructions

1. Measure the space before purchasing materials. You should measure from the exact level that you want the ceiling to hang; do not measure the floor, since some older home walls may rise at an incline or decline, leading to skewed measurements near the ceiling.

2. Purchase your supplies with the measurements in hand. Remember that tiles can be cut easily, so don't buy individual tiles for small edges if you can just as easily cut a larger tile into multiple sections. Frames can be purchased as snap-together pieces, but you'll still need some basic nails or screws and metallic wire to hang the frame.

3. Drill or nail into the existing ceiling then hang your framing wire from these nails or screws. Most snap-together ceiling tile framess come in grids with 2 foot square openings. Your nails or screws should match up the the intersecting points on the grid; in other words, your nails or screws will be placed every 2 feet, with wire hanging down to attach to the intersecting points on the frame.

4. Assemble your ceiling tile frame in large sections. Get several people to help you lift these sections. Then attach the sections to the hanging wires. The frame itself will have several pre-drilled holes in it for the wire; pull the wire through the hole and tie it off using any basic knot. Don't over-think excessive knotting; the wire will typically be sturdy enough that it retains a bended, wrapped-around shape even if the knot fails.

5. Adjust the frame once all sections have been raised and attached to the wires. Use a laser level to make sure the frame is even and level; you can easily adjust the frame by pulling up the hanging wires and tying off the excess.

6. Measure the gaps near the corners and edge, since these will not be perfect 2-foot by 2-foot squares. Make sure you measure all four edges of the frame's corner-piece space; if your wall is crooked, these pieces will not be perfect squares or rectangles. Cut several wood fiber tiles to fit the corners and edges using a razor blade.

7. Shift tiles so they are on an angle then slide them up into the frame. Once the tiles are above the frame, straighten them out and gently let the tiles drop into the frame. Once all tiles have been dropped into place, the ceiling is complete.

Tags: nails screws, ceiling tile, ceiling tiles, fiber ceiling, fiber ceiling tiles

Use Acoustic Ceiling Tiles For A Bass Trap

Improve your recordings by improving acoustics.

Home studio owners like to get creative with materials when tweaking their room acoustics because any money saved on treatments can be used to buy cool gear. If your room needs bass absorption and also could stand a little mid/high deadening, then it could benefit from a bass trap. Readily available acoustic ceiling tiles possess the right combination of low-end transmission, mid-range absorption and high-frequency diffusion to serve nicely as the acoustically critical front face of a corner bass trap. A floor-to-ceiling particle board enclosure places the bass trap in the critical rear triple corner while protecting and supporting the somewhat fragile tiles.

Instructions

1. Measure the rear sides.

Mark two long rear panels on one sheet of particle board. Measure one panel to be 8 feet by 17 inches and the other panel to be 8 feet by 17 1/2 inches. Use a chalk line to mark the measurements.

2. Measure for the end pieces.

Mark two triangular end caps in the unused area of the particle board. Make each end cap a 45-45-90-degree triangle with sides 18 inches, 18 inches and 22 1/2 inches. Use a pencil and straight edge.

3. Cut the two long rear panels and the two triangular end caps with a circular saw.

4. Build the back of the first corner trap with a 90-degree butt joint. Use drywall screws and wood glue to attach the long edge of the 8-foot-by-17-inch piece to the long edge of the 8-foot-by-17 1/2-inch piece. Place the 1/2-inch edge of the 17-inch wide piece against the 17 1/2-inch side of the slightly wider piece so that the inside dimensions of the assembled corner are both 17 inches.

5. Cut the boards carefully.

Attach the triangular end caps to the tops and bottoms of the back section you just built. Use wood glue and drywall screws.

6. Lay the wood box down on its back.

7. Fill the box with semi-rigid fiberglass insulation to within 1 inch of the front opening.

8. Trim the long edges of two acoustic ceiling tiles to a clean, 45-degree bevel. Trim them with a straight edge and utility knife so that the fronts remain 2 feet wide and the backs are narrowed to about 22 1/2 inches.

9. Staple the acoustic ceiling tiles flush to the front opening of the enclosure, leaving the factory-finished side facing out.

10. The ceiling tile will have beveled edges.

Place the finished acoustic ceiling tile bass trap upright in one of the rear corners of your control room.

Tags: acoustic ceiling, particle board, triangular caps, acoustic ceiling tiles, bass trap, bass trap