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Home Advice

How to Tighten a Kitchen Faucet- 3 Easy Steps

By Andrew Arena

You need to know how to tighten a kitchen faucet. Why? Your kitchen has handcrafted custom cabinets, a beautiful farmhouse sink, and top-of-the-line appliances. The most renowned french chefs could only imagine cooking in a space like this. Last week, however, you noticed something awry; the kitchen faucet was loose. Every time you went for a glass of water, the serene elegance of your kitchen was shattered by a janky, wobbly faucet. 

Luckily, you can remedy this situation in just a few simple steps with a few basic tools. Read on to find out how!

Photo by Callum Hill

Tools Required

  • Wrench

Depending on which kind of nut you find under your kitchen faucet, you may not even need a wrench, but probably best to have it on standby just in case. You can use an adjustable wrench or channel locks if you don’t have the correct size wrench for the job.

Step 1- Clear Out the Sink Cabinet

You’ll have to get under the sink in a very intimate way, so clean everything from under the sink. If it’s gross down there, you should also give it a quick wipe down; you’ll be lying down in there. 

how to tighten a kitchen faucet
Oh boy, that’s a mess.

Step 2- Locate the Faucet Nut

Wiggle yourself under the sink and turn so that you are looking up. Looking to the back of the cabinet, you will notice your water lines running up towards the faucet. 

  • If your sink has two handles with a faucet in the middle, your faucet nuts will be underneath the handles with the water lines running up through them.
  • If your sink has a faucet with an integrated handle, your faucet nut will be directly underneath, with the water lines running up through it.
how to tighten a kitchen faucet
A sink with two handles and a faucet in the middle.

Step 3- Tighten the Faucet Nut

This may seem easy, but it is a bit of a pain. The space between the sink basin and the back of the cabinet is pretty tight, and those darn nuts live right in that space. Take a couple of deep breaths before starting; you can do it.

There are two types of faucet nuts that you will find underneath your cabinet; winged nuts that you can tighten with your hand and standard nuts that you need to tighten with a wrench.

  • Winged Nuts
    • These are often made out of nylon or some other type of plastic. As the name implies, you will notice a sort of flange or wings on the nut. If this is what you see, reach up with your hand and tighten as much as required to tighten up the faucet.
  • Standard Nuts
    • These will be made out of zinc, stainless steel, or some other type of metal. You can reach up and tighten it as much as you can by hand, but you’ll probably need to finish it off with a wrench. This is a pretty tight space for a wrench, so get ready for some frustration. Hang in there, though; you’ll be done soon. 
    • You don’t want to overtighten this nut; you could crack your sink. Only tighten it enough to stabilize your kitchen faucet. 
how to tighten a kitchen faucet
A winged nut. You can just tighten that by hand.

Congratulations, You Know How to Tighten a Kitchen Faucet!

That wasn’t too bad, was it? And to think, you almost called a plumber for that. It’s pretty uncomfortable under that cabinet, and those darn nuts are in a rather inconvenient space. Still, it’s a pretty simple job. Now you know how to tighten a kitchen faucet, peace and order in your kitchen have been restored.

Filed Under: Home Advice, Interior

Tile Around a Window Without Trim in 3 Steps

By Dominic Busher

Tile Around A Window Without Trim

Can you tile around a window without trim? Answer: Yes! And it’ll look great if you follow these steps.
Trim is usually seen as an easy way to cover up rough edges and allows tilers to throw the tiles up quicker, but it introduces a plasticky distraction to the overall tile effect. We’ll show you how easy it is to tile a window without trim. 

Tiling a window without trim is a process that has three main phases

Step 1- Design, measurement and tile selection

Before you buy or acquire any tiles, think through your finished look, and the appearance of the external edges around the window reveal. Look carefully at the window operation, considering the free space around the window frame, as you may find a thicker tile covers up a larger space or that a thinner tile is required, or no tile, to keep the window operable.

Thicker, natural stone such as travertine tiles, and lighter-coloured tiles look particularly smart without trim. In addition, beige grout helps to blend with lighter-coloured tiles and gives a slicker finish. Rectified tiles are becoming more popular, and are used to give a modern aesthetic with reduced width grouting. They are generally considered to be more challenging to install because the reduced grouting gives less aesthetic tolerance to home-cut edges.

The lower reveal of a window is an excellent opportunity to create a functional or visually pleasing feature, using a single piece of stone or wood to create a window shelf, which should be cut and installed AFTER tiling.

Think about the extent of your tiling, mark the wall with a pencil and if possible, have a shower and see how far the water splashes. It may sound silly now, but there’s nothing worse than discovering that your beautiful new tiling design doesn’t protect the walls from the showering habits of every family member. Decide on whether you will tile around the entire window reveal. 

Measure the area to be tiled, and order an extra 10-20% to allow for wastage, particularly as tiling around a window typically has high wastage. 

CHECKLIST: Gather and prepare your materials, including:

  • Wooden offcuts to form a propping T to hold tiles in place at the top of your window reveal. 
  • Straight-edged wooden offcuts will serve as guides to give your tiles a uniform, straight edge. 
  • Tiles (provide your meterage plus 10-20% to your tile supplier).
  • Tile adhesive (your tile supplier will supply an appropriate quantity).
  • Grout (your tile supplier will supply an appropriate quantity).
  • Primer mix.
  • Tile spacers.

And your tools:

  • Dustpan and brush, and sheets protect your working space and keep it clean.
  • A brush for applying your primer.
  • Drill and screws for fixing your wooden edge guides.
  • Bucket and sponge.
  • A 96 inch spirit level to check that the wall and window reveals don’t have lumps and bumps…. And then the tools and plaster to straighten out the walls if required.. Or a plasterer.
  • A square notch (‘tiling’) trowel, with larger notches if using larger tiles, but ¼ inch is suitable for most applications.
  • Wet tile saw, for cutting those clean edges, you can do it!, but go carefully, use gloves, goggles, ear defenders, and practice on tile offcuts to get your cuts better.
  • Grouting bag


Step 2- Surface and workspace preparation

Using a long spirit level, check that you have a smooth plastered surface to fix your tiles. Hopefully, there’ll be no surprises. Use plaster or filler to remove any holes of low patches, and a sander (and mask) to remove any high patches. Any time spent at this stage will make the tile fixing easier and more enjoyable.

Once your spirit level convinces you that you have a REALLY even surface, fix your straight pieces of wood to the inside of your window reveal with a drill driver and screws, sticking out 1cm into the room beyond the reveal to give you a straight edge to tile up to. 

If you want your tiles to butt joint, you could use some tile offcuts plus 3mm plastic spacers to bring your wooden guide off the reveal the same or 1 or 2mm less than the finished surface of the reveal once the tiles are in place. This will allow the tiles on the wall to stick out the correct amount into the window aperture.

Protect your floor with plastic sheeting and any skirting or installed pipework or ceramics. Have your bucket and sponge ready, and anything you need to keep your workspace well organised and clean.

You can cut your tiles at this stage, though some people prefer to cut them as they go. If you want to do it now, take your time and use a wet cutter to get the neatest cuts you possibly can. You can also sand some tiles, particularly natural stone tiles, to get smooth and pleasing edges, or even design detail. 

Start by making the cuts that will be hidden in the internal corners of the window reveal, and as you develop your skills, progress to the cuts that will form the more visible external edges of the reveal. 

Apply your primer to the walls with a brush, which will make the walls more resistant to moisture or any water that gets through the tiles over time, reducing the risk of plaster damage over time.

Keep your long level close, for checking the wall and then the tiling as you progress, to avoid difficulty and unpleasant surprises.

Step 3- Tiling time! Now you can tile around a window without trim.

Follow regular tiling methods, applying your adhesive to the back of the tile, and pushing it gently onto the wall, using spacers to separate it evenly from neighbouring tiles. Start at the bottom of the wall, working your way up course by course. As you come to the window, tile up to the wooden straight edge ensuring that your adhesive doesn’t go beyond the wall. 

Clean up any spilt adhesive immediately as you go with the damp sponge because it will dry quickly on the exposed tile face, and in order to clean it later you will need to scrub and scrape, and risk dislodging freshly laid tiles.

Once you’ve tiled around the window, it’s time to tile inside the reveals. Once the adhesive on the walls has properly dried, carefully take off the wooden guide, which should not have any adhesive on it at all. 

Start with the top reveal, using your wooden T to hold the tiles with their adhesive in place, and not forgetting your spacers, even if they drop out a few times in the process. The T should be cut to a length that allows you to progress with the vertical reveals with the T still in place supporting the tiles on the top reveal. 

Remember to bring manufactured tile edges to the front, orientating your cut edges, however good they are, into the less visible internal corner where the reveal meets the window frame.

If your design is to tile the bottom reveal you will need to wait until the top reveal is fixed and dry BEYOND DOUBT. Again, don’t be tempted to do it without spacers. Use them.

With your tiles in place you now have the pleasure of cautiously half-loading your grouting bag, to carefully go back and forth, filling those regular gaps, as well as our external corner gaps, and the top edge of the tiled section if we haven’t tiled to the ceiling. It’s really important to carefully grout that top edge, otherwise, water will go down the back of the tiles. 

Finally, tidy up as soon as you’re done, even if you’re knackered. By doing this you’ll spot any spilt adhesive and resolve grout haze whilst it’s all fresh and easily resolvable. With a tidied workspace, your trimless corners will hopefully continue to look great, but if they don’t then at least you have time still to weigh up whether it’s worth carefully replacing, stripping back, or if it’ll be sufficient to sand them once the grout is definitely dry as a bone.

Dealing with common errors and frustrations 

Most errors and frustrations come from spontaneous tile purchases, or accepting some leftover tiles from a builder or a friend, and then just getting stuck in without preparation. Follow the steps laid out in this article and look before you leap. If you are likely to change the window in the near future, do so before you do your tiling- it seems so obvious but you’d be amazed…

Another common source of rookie and professional frustration alike is a messy workspace that reveals a dried stuck-on mess once when we attempt to tidy up afterwards, or scattered spacers and lost tools that lead us to try shortcuts that cause a spiral of frustration. 

On a similar note, cleaning your trowels IMMEDIATELY after use, will ensure that they remain easy to use and that they spread the adhesive well on the tile. A dried build-up on the trowel will grow and grow, making it progressively harder to apply the adhesive effectively. 

Beyond that, our trimless reveal technique requires a little patience to hone those tile-cutting skills and set the wooden edge guide properly. 

One way to increase the manufactured tile edges at the exposed corner, is to tile from the reveal, using manufactured edges to form the external edge of the reveal. This ensures a perfect edge, even using the manufactured edge-end of your half tiles in a brick bond pattern. This needs to be considered carefully because it also determines the tile layout above and below the window.

Another top tip is to sand down the whole corner once all is dried, though this only really works with natural stone tiles.

How and when do you know you’ve nailed it

Throughout the process, take a moment to stand back now and then, to ensure that you’re lines are straight, that your tiling looks good, and that muck is cleaned off as soon as you notice it. Tile in sections, or courses, using just the right amount of adhesive and the right amount of pressure to fix it to the wall. This will allow you to do a course at a time, or sections at a time, giving you a chance to step back, take a break, and review progress. 

To ensure that you’re happy with the result, don’t accept a cut if it looks rough to you. Don’t fix it to the wall. Leave it to one side in case it can be used elsewhere re-cut it as a smaller piece, and try the cut again. When you finish and show off your work, you’ll be glad you did, because there’s nothing worse than busting a gut and then realising that you’ve done a bad tiling job.

Trimless window tiling takes a little more patience, but it shows off the tiles at their best. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Interior, Home Advice

How To Hide Trash Cans in the Kitchen

By Andoni Centino

How do you hide unsightly trash cans in the kitchen?
unsplash.com / Bluewater Sweden

Proper waste management is key to proper kitchen maintenance. Kitchen trash cans are therefore essential to keep the kitchen running. However, most waste bins are bulky eyesores. This is especially true for houses that observe proper waste segregation and recycling practices.

Most homeowners look for various ways to hide these bins while keeping them within easy access to the kitchen work area. Solutions can range from doing away with waste bins in the kitchen entirely to making use of designer trash bins. In this article, we’ll review some of the more common creative ways to hide trash cans in the kitchen. 

Placement

One of the most straightforward ways to deal with unsightly trash bins is to relocate them to somewhere out of sight. It’s fairly simple but you do still need to make sure that their placement shouldn’t add unnecessary work to kitchen users. You could also utilize garbage disposals to lessen the need for kitchen trash cans. In any case, finding the right balance between location and accessibility is the key to making it work.

1. Outdoors

Kitchens are commonly where a home’s side or back exit is located. You can take advantage of this by placing your kitchen bins right outside of the house, next to these exits. This works best if your auxiliary exit is on a side of the house that’s hidden away from public view.

This relocation has two added benefits. First, any foul odors coming from your trash bins are automatically kept outside of the house; no need for any additional ventilation measures. Second, this means that your kitchen bins will be that much easier to empty into your main outdoor waste bins when trash day comes.

2. Utility Closet

Utility rooms located right next to your kitchen are perfect places for trash cans. Just be wary of two things when doing this. First, try to use utility rooms that have ventilation systems set up. Natural ventilation from outdoor windows will do if the room doesn’t have exhaust vents. This is to deal with any unwanted odors coming from the trash cans. Second, try to make sure that you don’t store any food items too close to the trash cans in the same room.

Having a dedicated storage closet for trash bins next to the kitchen is a common workaround.
unsplash.com / charlesdeluvio

3. Garage

If your house has your kitchen located right next to your garage, you can make use of their proximity to each other by storing your main trash bins there. It’s a quick solution that a lot of households employ. Garages are typically already used for extra storage so relocating your trash bins there is easy to do.

Compact Spaces

One surefire way to minimize the risk of having your trash can ruin the look of your kitchen is to simply make sure that it takes up as little space as possible. Depending on how much trash your kitchen produces, you can find smaller, more compact bins to service the space.

If you’re going for a more minimal look in your kitchen, employing space-saving methods is important. In this vein, there are ways to make it so that trash cans are kept compact and visually unobtrusive.

1. Garbage Flaps

Garbage flaps are clever and accessible ways to hide away kitchen garbage.
unsplash.com / Mitchell Luo

Garbage flaps are typically what you see when you visit neighborhood coffee shops with self-serve counters. They’re those circular flaps and cutouts where you can discard your used straws and stirring sticks when you’re done with them.

You might be surprised to know that garbage flaps aren’t just for coffee shops. You can install them on your kitchen countertops at home and use them to access trash cans under the counter without having to pull them out.

Garbage flaps make for easily accessible and usable waste disposal while also keeping your trash can tucked away and hidden in your kitchen cabinetry. You can even install a bunch of them to make waste segregation easy.

Do note, however, that garbage flaps have a set size. So larger waste materials might not easily fit through them. Another disadvantage is the fact that you won’t be able to tell right away if your trash cans are getting full.

But if you’re diligent about sorting, checking, and taking out your kitchen waste, garbage flaps are the perfect addition to your kitchen.

2. Pull-out

Trash bins can also be mounted on pull-out shelving mechanisms attached to your kitchen drawers. These kinds of pull-out trash cans fully utilize the depth of your kitchen counter and cabinetry while also making sure your trash cans stay hidden.

When using pull-out trash cans, there is the added convenience of being able to effectively swipe away any kitchen waste on your counter or kitchen sink and place them straight into the trash bins. If you place multiple trash bins in the same drawer rail, that’s an easy way to keep your trash segregated but also not take up too much space.

3. Wall-Mounted

If you’re all out of cabinet space, certain types of trash cans can mount on vertical surfaces. If you’re trying to hide trash cans in the kitchen but you still want to keep things nice and compact, you can mount these trash cans on the inside of a cabinet panel or the concealed side of a kitchen island.

It’s worth noting, however, that most wall-mounted trash cans are smaller in size and can only handle a certain amount of trash. These types of compact trash cans are more suited for kitchens that serve a smaller amount of people.

Hiding places

If you don’t have a surplus of extra rooms or space in your house, finding alternative placements for your kitchen trash cans can be tricky. Apartments in buildings, for example, won’t have the luxury of placing their bins outdoors or in a garage.

In those cases, trash cans have to be located within the kitchen itself. Thankfully, if trash cans must be placed in a kitchen, there are clever ways to hide them in plain sight.

1. Mobile Bins

Trash cans don’t have to be fixtures in a kitchen. Many variants come with built-in wheels so that you can move them from place to place easily. Other trash cans come in easy-to-carry sizes and shapes for the same reason.

These mobile trash cans are perfect for smaller homes. Users can have them handy in the kitchen when cooking and cleaning but also have the choice of hiding them in another location when not being used.

2. Counter Curtains

If moving your trash can isn’t for you, covering them up with small curtains when not in use is another clever way to conceal them. These are quick and easy ways to make sure that your kitchen trash can is nearby when needed but concealed when unused.

Kitchen curtains are cheap, easy to use, and quick to install. You can even use them to conceal other fixtures in the kitchen that you don’t want out in the open, such as washers or dryers.

3. Stylish Bins

Some trash cans don’t need to be hidden; they can even be used as accent pieces in the kitchen.
unsplash.com / Andrea Davis

Sometimes, one man’s trash can be another man’s design centerpiece. Instead of covering up or relocating your kitchen trash can, you can even choose to keep it out of the open. Certain designer trash bins are styled in a way such that they’re not eyesores when kept in view.

You can play around with the different available options in terms of form, material, and color. Depending on the look you want your kitchen to have, the variations of designer trash bins are endless.

Filed Under: Home Advice

How To Hide a Washer and Dryer in Your Kitchen

By Andoni Centino

A common household issue is how to hide a washer and dryer in your kitchen.
unsplash.com / Evy Prentice

Washers and dryers are must-have household staples with a fatal flaw – they’re just not that nice to look at. In homes that need to keep these appliances in their kitchen, this becomes a problem. A major design consideration is how to hide these big, unsightly boxes while still making sure they’re fully accessible when needed.

One common workaround is opting not to even have washers or dryers at home. Homeowners can use a laundry service or make regular visits to a local laundromat. But the budget and time costs of outsourcing the cleaning of dirty laundry eventually start to rack up.

So today, we’ll be looking at the different ways you can get a washer and dryer for your home and seamlessly integrate them into your kitchen space.

Location

A quick workaround to any washer and dryer placement problem is the careful planning of their locations. Both of these appliances are reliant on utility lines to function properly, so you’ll need to have a good understanding of the power, plumbing, and ventilation systems in your home. Here are a few of the best locations that can help hide your washer and dryer.

1. Bathroom

The bathroom is a common location for a washer and dryer.
unsplash.com / Point3D Commercial Imaging Ltd.

Perhaps it is cheating to suggest a place that isn’t a kitchen in an article that promises tips on how to hide a washer and dryer in a kitchen. But we would be remiss not to mention one of the most common alternatives to storing these appliances in a kitchen – placing them in a bathroom. 

The main reason washers and dryers are placed in kitchens is their functional need to connect to a home’s water source, a sewer/drainage system, and adequate ventilation. The only other room in most households that have all three of these is none other than a bathroom.

Bathrooms are also tucked away more so than kitchens. It’s a perfect palace to hide a washer and a dryer.

2. Kitchen-Adjacent

Other good places to keep your laundry appliances are any service or storage rooms located right next to your kitchen. Since they share a wall with the kitchen, they also have the same access to the utility lines that service it.

Small rooms next to the kitchen make for perfect places to hide away your laundry appliances.
unsplash.com / Bayu Syaits

Most people have laundry rooms, even just small ones, that they place next to the kitchen for this very reason. Other choices include dedicated outdoor laundry spaces, garages, and basements adjacent to the kitchen space.

3. Walk-in Pantry

A quick way to conceal any unsightly kitchen tools, meal ingredients, and appliances is to make use of a walk-in pantry in your kitchen. Homeowners can choose to give up a few square feet of kitchen real estate for a dedicated pantry area.

Using a closed-off pantry means that you can hide anything you don’t want to be out in the open behind literally closed doors.

Coverings

When you’re working with a relatively small square footage of home space, you might not have much of a choice when it comes to picking out an ideal location for a washer and dryer. Or even in cases where they do have enough room, homeowners just might flat-out prefer the kitchen proper as a space to keep their home laundry appliances.

In these cases, the best way to hide them from view is to cover them up. There are a variety of options for this and all have their pros and cons to consider. Let’s take a look at some of the more common cover-ups.

1. Kitchen Cabinetry

Homeowners can choose to integrate their laundry appliances with the built-in cabinetry in their kitchen. A common practice is to cover up the washer and dryer with cabinet doors, bi-fold storage doors, and sliding doors.

This keeps the appliances accessible and ready to use and it lets you show off more of the gorgeous cabinet doors you decided to use for the kitchen.

2. Curtains

Some clearances might not be enough to accommodate extra cabinet doors for washers and dryers. Other times, the type of cabinet doors in a kitchen just can’t lend themselves to being used for a washer or dryer.

In cases like these, a well-placed curtain can be your best friend. They’re easier to open and close and they take up very little space, so they’re ideal ways to cover up appliances.

3. Kitchen Island

Well-placed kitchen islands are great covers for any unsightly kitchen appliances.
unsplash.com / Christian Mackie

With kitchens that use island counters, there’s typically a side that faces the rest of the house. The opposite side is hidden and can be accessed only by walking over to the working side of the kitchen. This is the perfect place to hide any unsightly kitchen appliances.

The kitchen island can serve not just as an effective solution to hide away a washer and dryer, but also as a design centerpiece for the kitchen.

Space-saving Workarounds

Washers and dryers aren’t compact appliances. They can take up to 5 square feet of floor area each. This can pose a big problem for more compact kitchen setups – even if there’s enough space to store both a washing machine and a dryer, they take up so much of the space that it’s almost impossible to cover them up.

In those types of situations, the best workaround is to find ways to cut back on how much space these appliances take up.

1. Just Washer

Using just a washing machine saves a ton of space in your kitchen.
unsplash.com / Lucie Morel

Homeowners can simply do away with having a dryer. You take away the need to accommodate an extra machine and you don’t have to worry about hooking a dryer up to the ventilation system. This makes it that much easier to hide the washing machine.

If you keep just a washing machine in your kitchen, you can choose to use whatever outdoor space you have to airdry your clothes. Homeowners with backyards or outdoor patios can use those for hanging and drying their laundry. Those in buildings might have balconies that they can utilize.

If there’s too much rain or snow in your area, modern bathroom technology from Japan makes use of ventilated and heated clothes dryers that function just as well as outdoor air drying. You can also opt to use a typical heater for the same function. Just make sure the humidity levels in your rooms won’t inadvertently promote the growth of molds.

2. 2-in-1

Some homeowners just can’t do without having a dryer. Another way to effectively half the required amount of space without having to get rid of a dryer is to make use of a combination washer and dryer. These machines essentially do both washing and drying of laundry.

The two main downsides to using a combination washer and dryer are the limited laundry capacity and the longer duration of a complete wash and dry cycle. But if you’re from a smaller household and you don’t have too much laundry to deal with regularly, then those are minor issues.

3. Stacked Appliances

Plenty of washer and dryer sets were made to be stacked on top of each other.
unsplash.com / Steven Ungermann

If you have a kitchen that has small square footage but a sufficiently high ceiling, you can always choose to stack your washing machine and dryer on top of each other. A lot of washer and dryer sets were specifically designed to be stacked.

This is a perfect way to still have the use of two dedicated appliances but also conserve some space to more effectively hide them from view.

Filed Under: Home Advice

How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take?

By Andoni Centino

A kitchen mid-remodel.
unsplash.com / immo RENOVATION

Kitchen renovations are daunting tasks. Picking out a new look and feel of a space is one thing, but function-heavy areas like a kitchen require a much more involved design process. You need to think about utilities, storage space, and your construction schedule. So how long does it take to completely remodel a kitchen?

On average, a complete kitchen remodel will take 2-3 months, but that always depends on many factors. You might need closer to double that amount of time for more significant renovations, where you might need to take down a wall or two, rearrange utility lines, and completely replace all furnishings and fixtures. If mostly cosmetic, where you repaint the walls, replace the tiles, or maybe install some brand new appliances, it may take less than a month.

So before you start remodeling your kitchen, here are a few factors you should consider to minimize construction time.

Budget

The first thing you need to think about is the cost. This dictates almost all other aspects of the remodel. Are you willing to pay for designers and contractors or would you rather take care of it yourself? Are you looking to pay everything out of pocket or are you looking to avail of a construction loan? What kind of changes can you afford with the remodel?

At this point, you should familiarize yourself with the Iron Triangle. Good, Fast, Cheap – pick two.

If you’re working with a tighter budget, expect the kitchen remodel to either be fast or cheap. But it can rarely be all three.

DIY Remodeling

There are two phases to any kitchen renovation: the planning phase and the construction phase. For either of those, you can decide to work with industry professionals or you can try to go down the DIY route.

Seasoned DIY homeowners have a big advantage. They have the skills and the know-how to undertake major renovations by themselves almost as well as professionals can. They’re able to minimize the costs of construction as well as the timeframe of the process while also being sure of the quality of the finished work.

Doing complete kitchen remodels DIY will usually take longer since there are simply fewer hands on deck. Some may say that working alone does away with unnecessary back-and-forth and so that helps them finish things faster. But the bigger the project, the less that’s likely to make a difference.

For DIY novices, it is highly recommended to hire kitchen remodeling professionals if you’re planning a complete and major renovation. And especially if it matters how long the kitchen remodeling would take. It’s a big enough project that basic kitchen renovation experience should be mandatory. There are other simpler projects for beginners to try so they can first get the hang of DIY remodeling.

Professional Designers

Designers offer their experience and sense of style.
unsplash.com/ Christina Morillo

Commissioning kitchen designers can seem to be initially pricey, both in time and money. But if you’re working with seasoned professionals, you avoid making costly mistakes that eventually have to get fixed. Having them with you during the design process eliminates a lot of the guesswork that comes with planning a design yourself. Especially for first-time kitchen remodelers, this gives you peace of mind during the whole remodeling process.

If you do decide to work with dedicated designers for the planning phase, expect to add an extra month before actual construction starts.

Professional Contractors

Kitchen contractors have a huge effect on how long a kitchen remodel takes.
unsplash.com / Annie Gray

The actual construction phase of the kitchen remodel can either be done by hired contractors or by the homeowner wishing to try out DIY. The DIY route saves a lot of money, but it is important to assess your initial skill level and experience before jumping on that train. You might end up spending more trying to fix your construction mistakes.

Almost always, hiring contractors will get the job done quickly and properly, but it will probably cost quite a bit more than if you decided to take on the job yourself.

Unavailable Kitchen

A bulk of remodeling jobs have to do with the finishes of the room. This means that homeowners are still able to use essential kitchen appliances and fixtures needed for cooking and cleaning. So it won’t be like the kitchen will be unavailable for use the whole time it’s being remodeled.

On average, kitchens will be out of commission for 6 weeks with larger remodeling projects. So plan your daily meals accordingly for that period. And if you can, ask your contractor to prioritize giving you a temporary space with access to a sink, a portable stove or microwave, and a refrigerator. So you don’t have to keep ordering takeout for a whole month and a half.

Minimizing Delays

In preventing delays, it’s essential to plan as thoroughly as you can and to avoid big design changes mid-construction. Make the necessary material orders on time, and keep clear communication lines with all professionals involved in the remodel. Staying on top of a project like this gets you done as quickly as possible without major incidents or issues.

Here are a few things to keep in mind for a kitchen remodel that would affect construction time:

1. Layout

Take note of the basic kitchen work triangle. This divides the kitchen into three different zones: storage, wet work, and cooking. This means that you should note where your refrigerator, your sink, and your cooking range are located relative to each other.

If they’re not too far or too near each other, then the workflow in your current kitchen layout works as is. No need to change anything up. If it doesn’t work, however, a lot of planning has to go into figuring out a better layout. And inevitably, that also means it would take longer to remodel the space.

2. Plumbing Fixtures

It’s usually a bit intimidating to homeowners when they have to rework their plumbing. Unfortunately, remodeling a kitchen means you have to deal with the plumbing connected to kitchen fixtures and appliances.

In cases where the owners decide not to move around any of the existing fixtures, it is still necessary to be aware of where the current pipes are laid. Remodeling and rearranging counters and cabinets in a kitchen might interfere with an existing water line.

A burst pipe is a surefire way of making your kitchen remodel take longer to finish.

3. Appliances and Lighting

Kitchen appliances need dedicated power sources or connections to water supply and sewage lines. Some, like a dishwasher, need both. Take note of all the requirements of the kitchen appliances you plan on using and make sure they’re all met.

Kitchen lighting defines the space.
unsplash.com / Zac Gudakov

The same goes for all the lighting fixtures you wish to install. The perfect placement for that pendant lamp that you want to use for your kitchen island might not have enough space for a power supply.

Make thorough notes and measurements even before you start remodeling to minimize construction time.

4. Ventilation

The relocation of ovens, cooktops, and range hoods has a big impact on the kitchen. Always keep in mind that the ventilation systems for these are set up so that they transfer out all the smoke and smells from your kitchen to the outside. Be aware of how these vents are set up and what you would like to do with them when remodeling.

Additionally, make sure you have an adequate amount of fresh air coming in through operable windows in your kitchen. Adding new windows is a big part of most kitchen renovations.

5. Storage and Countertops

How many cabinets do you need to store everything in your kitchen? Will they be over the counter, under, or both? What kind of material do you want to use for your countertops?

These are just a few questions you need to ask yourself when remodeling your kitchen. Take note of how much space you need for your kitchen’s storage and pantry.

Cabinet and countertop materials defines a kitchen's feel.
unsplash.com / Sidekix Media

Kitchen cabinets and countertops, for the most part, dictate the look and feel of a kitchen more than any other elements. So you’ll also need to carefully plan out the material finishes and hardware you’ll be using. More often than not, countertops and cabinetry are custom-made and take the longest to order and install.

How Long Will It Take?

So can you completely remodel your kitchen in three months? Only if you’re willing to put in the work. But with all that we’ve covered in this article, you might be thinking that there are quite a lot of things to consider when remodeling a kitchen.

Taking your time to think about these thoroughly and carefully doesn’t cost anything. And doing so will ultimately save you money, labor, and overall construction time when you actually do decide to push through with the renovation.

So use the information in this article to do thorough research on how you want to remodel your kitchen. Hire the right professionals, be decisive with your choices, and you’ll have your dream kitchen in no time.

Filed Under: Home Advice, Interior

7 Best DIY Plumbing Books

By Henry Parker

Large Stack of Books
iStock.com / DmitriiSimakov

Even if you don’t feel very handy with a wrench, a good DIY plumbing book can help you take care of basic maintenance and repairs yourself, saving you money and hassle. If you’re already an experienced home improvement enthusiast, a more advanced DIY plumbing guide will give you more options for upgrading your home with new fixtures, kitchen appliances, and outdoor plumbing.

Ultimate Guide: Plumbing, 4th Updated Edition

Editors of Creative Homeowner (2017)

With 608 pages and more than 800 photos and diagrams, this book guides the novice do-it-yourselfer step by step through a range of common home plumbing tasks, from simple jobs such as unclogging a drain to more complex projects such as renovating a bathroom. Water softeners, lawn sprinklers, and some other less common topics are also covered.

To give you a big-picture understanding of how your home’s plumbing works, it provides a general overview of the typical plumbing system, including supply, waste, and vent piping. It also offers guidance on techniques such as soldering copper tubing and connecting PEX and PVC pipes. Project instructions are light on theory, though, and won’t do much to help you understand why things are done the way they are.

Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Plumbing Updated 7th Edition

Editors of Cool Springs Press (2019)

This highly rated DIY plumbing book covers a wide range of common home plumbing jobs in 228 well organized pages. You’ll learn how to take care of simple problems such as repairing faucets, perform upgrades such as installing a dishwasher or a jetted spa, and even handle accessibility improvements. The book also addresses related issues you might encounter, including dealing with flooring and cabinetry.

Clear, color photos and beginner-friendly descriptions accompany every step throughout each project guide. You’ll also find simple explanations of basic home plumbing systems.

As a beginners’ guide, it goes for breadth over depth. If you already have some DIY plumbing experience and you’re looking for more advanced information, you might find this book lacking.

Plumbing Complete: Expert Advice from Start to Finish (Taunton’s Complete)

Rex Cauldwell (2009)

Focusing on common maintenance and repair jobs, this popular 256-page guide will teach you how to unclog pipes, repair dripping fauces, deal with running toilets, and care for your plumbing to cut down on problems in the future. Each project includes a tools list and detailed, step-by-step instructions with photos and exceptionally clear diagrams.

It covers the basics of installing new bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances and offers a broad overview of the essential aspects of a home plumbing system. The visual symbols in the table of contents help you find information at a glance. This isn’t a project book, though, so it doesn’t go into much depth on DIY upgrades.

Plumbing Do-It-Yourself For Dummies

Donald R. Prestly (2007)

True to its mission of helping absolute beginners, this 170-page book approaches basic DIY plumbing jobs in the simplest way possible. It offers detailed yet easy-to-follow instructions and hundreds of photos and illustrations to guide you through 40 of the most common plumbing jobs. You’ll learn how to repair leaks, unclog drains, apply caulk, and solve pipe problems. It even covers a few more advanced projects, such as replacing toilet parts, repairing and upgrading faucets, and replacing a dishwasher.

The book starts you off with an overview of your home’s plumbing system and guidance on complying with local plumbing codes. Project guides advise on planning, choosing tools and safety equipment, and even preparing for common problems.

If you’re already up on the fundamentals of DIY plumbing, this book might be too basic for you.

Plumber’s Handbook

Howard C. Massey (2006)

Are you an experienced DIY-er who knows your way around a bathroom remodel? Then this is the book for you. This highly detailed 350-page guide will help you design and install a new residential or small commercial plumbing system that easily passes inspections.

Everything a pro needs to know is covered – basic fixtures, hot and cold water supply systems, wells, vents, drainage, waste piping, and septic tanks. The book also dives into more complex systems, such as fire protection piping and solar energy systems.

Theory, technical details, and plumbing code specifics are covered in depth. Black and white photos, illustrations, diagrams, charts, and tables help clarify every topic. Just keep in mind it’s not a repair guide and won’t be much help with issues such as replacement parts compatibility.

Plumbing: Basic, Intermediate & Advanced Projects

Mr. Merle Henkenius/Creative Homeowner (2002)

This 272-page book aims to arm you with all the know-how you’ll need to handle any home plumbing job suitable for a do-it-yourselfer. You’ll get a complete overview of how your home’s plumbing system works, from the supply pipes to the drainage system.

More than 700 illustrations and color photos show you exactly what needs to be done for each project. You’ll also find tips on project planning and spotting any dangerous techniques or materials previously used in your system. Because it’s an older book, you’ll want to check for yourself that the techniques recommended still comply with your local codes. 

Plumbing 1-2-3

The Home Depot (2005)

More than 90 common maintenance, repair, installation, and upgrade projects for both indoor and outdoor plumbing are covered in this 224-page book. It takes you through each project step by step with helpful expert tips.

The book’s troubleshooting suggestions make it an ideal guide for determining whether you can handle a job yourself or whether it’s best left to a professional. The actual project guides, however, aren’t highly detailed or particularly well illustrated and might not be enough to get you through those jobs unless you already know the basics.

Most of the best DIY plumbing books cover a good range of common jobs, but they differ in how much detail they include. To find one that fits your needs, pay attention to the skill level the book is aimed at and the types of projects it includes.

Filed Under: Home Advice

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