Are you planning to replace the faucets in your bathrooms? Consider installing new drains as well. Matching the style and material of the drain to the faucet is a design detail that is often overlooked. Sometimes replacing a drain seems to be more trouble than it’s worth. That may be the case when the old drain flange or cover is corroded or damaged – making it difficult to remove with a wrench.

In such cases, you may be tempted to simply buy a plug or stopper to fit over the drain instead of replacing it altogether. This cheap fix costs only a couple of dollars and is a viable short term solution. However, with an “inside out” wrench you can usually remove any stuck parts easily making this home improvement project simpler than it first appeared. Then, a new flange and drain cover can be installed without much risk of damaging the threads on the existing drainage pipes.

If you are installing a basin or a tub, a new drain is a must. It is just a whole lot easier to work with all new parts including drain pipes, traps, and tail piece rather than trying to make the old components fit together with the new. If the drain in question is in the bath or shower, you must find a way to gain access to the pipes behind the tub. Most homes built in the last 30 years have an access panel hidden in a closet, hallway, or garage (some place that is not noticed very often). If your home doesn’t have one, it best to find a way to build an access panel so that maintenance in the future will be a whole lot easier.

Wood roofing used to be the norm but fell out of favor with the introduction of asphalt shingles. Today, a wood roof is a specialty item. There are two varieties – shingle and shake. If you are springing for a custom roof, be aware that wood shingles don’t last too long (usually 15 years or less).

It makes more sense to invest in a thicker, high quality shake roof that can last 30-40 years. This material has excellent insulating properties. It also adds natural beauty to your home. Cedar can be sealed to preserve the original color or allowed to weather to a silvery grey over time.

Is Cedar Safe?

Cedar can be pressure treated and impregnated with fire retardants to make it fairly resistant to burning. However, its fire resistant rating is not as high as that of other materials such as cement, tile, and slate.

Some municipalities that experience frequent wildfires prohibit the use of cedar shakes; but in most areas they are permissible as long as they meet fire codes. When you look for materials, make sure the wood isn’t simply treated with a spray-on or brush-on flame retardant – those may wear off over time.

What About Moisture?

A properly installed cedar shake roof with appropriate underlayment and flashing doesn’t pose a leakage risk. A good power washing every few years will actually help keep the roof in good condition.

If you live in a particularly humid area, look for materials that have been pretreated with a fungicide. This should prevent excessive mold or mildew growth on the exposed surfaces of the shakes. Algae may also grow on the wood but doesn’t damage it.

Welcome to one of the hottest painting techniques for interior decorating. Faux paint finishing can create an incredible amount of elegance to any room. Not only does this technique add a unique beauty, it’s extremely affordable. When properly applied, a faux finish will increase the warmth of the room you are decorating. 

The painting industry has seen a higher demand in the faux finishing industry, and have introduced a plethora of new tools to help with your painting needs. A quality faux finish starts with a quality drywall finish. A porous drywall finish allows for various techniques and really opens the door for some incredible finishes.

Faux finishes include leather and brick. Color washing, paint stripes and the use of sponges allow a lot of freedom and variation to your faux finish. Do it yourselfers should consider these options. Glaze paint, which is used on walls and ceilings; furniture and various items. Glazing paint comes in a variety of effects such as metallic, sand, lime washed and wood. Crackle paste or aging glaze can be used for rustic, antique finishes with the look of cracked oil varnishes. Crackle paste can be applied to an assortment of surfaces including furniture, woodworking and trim. For a marbled effect you can use Venetian plaster. This can create a natural stone or polished marble type look. Sculpturing paste is used when you are trying to achieve a raised design. This is a great look on cabinets, furniture and walls. Color tinting is one other thing that you can consider when faux finishing. Tints can be used for changing glaze colors, which will help you incorporate a greater spectrum of designs.