DIY Plywood Counter Top

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Plywood countertops are very versatile. With a sheet of plywood, you have multiple choices of how to finish the countertop. Furniture grade plywood finished with two or three coats of polyurethane gives your kitchen a style of countertop well suited to a craftsman or country style kitchen. Ceramic tile, sheet laminate and wood veneers applied to plywood countertops are just a few of the options to let your kitchen reflect your taste, without breaking the budget.

Plywood

1. Invest in good quality 3/4-inch exterior (not treated) plywood for your countertop. Exterior plywood manufactured with waterproof glues that will withstand the sometimes-damp environment of a kitchen contributes to a long-lasting countertop. Exterior plywood also works well with mastics and thinset if you wish to apply ceramic tile to the countertop.

If you are planning to apply finish and leave the wood as is, buy furniture-grade plywood, it is more expensive, but the quality is worth the investment. With furniture grade plywood, you will only have to do a light finish sanding and apply stain and finish. Easily complete the countertop in a weekend using fast drying stains and finishes. Use wood that is of the same species as the countertop to trim the front edges. According to Mark Powers of This Old House.Com, a large segment of people who at one time were planning to use either granite or butcher block countertops are opting to use plywood because of its lower cost and “real wood” appearance.

Sheet Laminate

2. If you prefer the look and easy care of laminate but do not care for the color choices of preformed laminate countertops, sheet laminate will give you another choice. Sheet laminate works with countertops that have straight, square edges. Laminate adhesive applies to the countertop and the back of the laminate. The adhesive allowed reaching the correct level of tackiness before beginning installation. A router is a handy tool to have to finish the edges of sheet laminate.

Wood veneer is another choice to give your countertop the look of high-end wood countertops that you see featured in home magazines. This veneer is more expensive than sheet laminate but offers multiple choices of styles and colors.

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Ceramic tile countertop.

According to Home Time.com, in order to have success in installing ceramic tile on plywood countertops, cement backer board installs on top of the exterior plywood. The cement backer board attaches to the plywood with a layer of thinset mortar and secures with nails driven into the plywood.

Ceramic tile installed onto the cement board with mastic, allowed to dry and grouted. Mixing a latex additive into the grout gives the grout flexibility and deters cracking. A coat of sealer applied to the grouted tile keeps the grout from staining and is easier to clean.

By Myra Smith, eHow Contributor

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Kitchen Remodeling Charlotte Tips

Feb 5, 2011

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Bathroom Repairs: Common Repairs You Can Fix

You don’t have to call your plumber or rely on them for fixing every repair that occurs in your bathroom. Often times with a few handy tools and some basic knowledge of objects, you can perform the bathroom repairs yourself. You will not only save time and money, but also avoid the damages caused by waiting for your plumber to show up. Sometimes doing small repairs on time prevents greater damages, which can be more expensive and time-consuming.

Simple Repairs

The following are some of the bathroom repairs that you can fix yourself following the DIY procedure.

1. Leakages

Leaking faucets are quite a common issue and most of the time it indicates the need for washer replacement. Replacing the stem washer should rectify the leak in most cases. However, if it continues to leak even after washer replacement then you will have to look into replacing your faucet.

2. Damaged Caulks

You can easily remove and replace the damaged caulks around the tub. Grout should not be used, and if it has been it would be better for you to replace it with caulk. Use caulks designed for tubs or showers.

3. Common Toilet Repairs

There are several common bathroom repairs related to toilets. These can be easily rectified by you. One of the most common issues is clogged toilets or improper flushing. To ensure proper flushing check all the connected parts in the flush tank and replace or reconnect properly to rectify the issue. Clogged toilets can be cleared with the help of plungers or augers. If both don’t work then you might have to replace the toilet. Replacing broken or old toilet seats is another simple bathroom repair you can fix yourself.

4. Shower heads

You can clear clogged shower heads even without removing it. Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and tie it to the shower head for a night. This should do the trick. In case you want to replace your shower head, a vise grip, pipe wrench, and some Teflon tapes should help you complete this bathroom repair.

So what does this mean for those looking for the reliable contractor? Check this website to learn more about Minnesota pressure washing or Minneapolis painting services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amanda_Haman

www.LKNcabinets.com is the premier affordable bathroom remodeling company in the Charlotte, NC area

Affordable Kitchen Cabinets Charlotte

Feb 5, 2011

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Bathroom Cabinets Can Look Stunning

In virtually all houses today, it really is quite common to only have just one bathroom cabinet to put things in. When looking, you probably won’t have to search that hard. It will be quite obvious once you start washing your hands. Due to the lack of size in the bathroom you probably will not find more than these cabinets in the bathroom.

Bathroom cabinets solve this problem by storing all your bathroom toiletries in them. With the various different manufacturers around today you can have just what your bathroom needs. The general rule of thumb is to fit loads of bathroom storage if you have a big bathroom and not very many units into a small bathroom. You don’t need to stick to this though. Just fit what you think works in your bathroom.

If you have a big wall it is nice to put a large cabinet on the wall. A tiny cabinet may look silly on a large area. The choice you have is brilliant. Whether you want a modern or old fashioned look you can find the one that is right for your bathroom. If you are not lucky enough to have a big bathroom you can still make it look really nice. A bit of thought will get you the look you want. And need.

The more units you fit into the bathroom, the more you can store. If you are asked when ordering your new bathroom cabinet whether you want to go for adjustable or static shelves then always go for the adjustable ones. This should make the cabinets much more flexible as you do not know what is ahead of you in the future. Open shelf units can be a very good addition as well as you can reach items easily.

If you can it is great if you use all available wall and floor space to fit storage units into. Try to keep the look you are trying to get in mind when you are filling up all the space. Don’t compromise the look for your bathroom with too many cabinets. You really need to concentrate at this stage as being thoughtless could ruin all the hard work.

If you want to impress your friends and family then you could store an item they wouldn’t dream of in the new bathroom cabinets. It is probably best if I leave this up to your imagination. Get several opinions at all times in this process as it is too late once fitted.

If you want to talk about bathroom cabinet with Steve you can contact him through his companies website at bathroom cabinets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Bolder

www.LKNcabinets.com is the premier affordable bathroom remodeling company in the Charlotte, NC area