Posts

How Covering the Wall with Vinyl Siding?

/in /by


Measure the width of the wall and cut furring strips to match it. Use a measuring tape to figure out what length the strips need to be. Furring strips are little more than wood boards treated to be water-resistant. They are approximately 2 × 4 × 8 in (5.1 × 10.2 × 20.3 cm) in size. Cut 2 separate boards to the same width as the wall.


Look for furring strips at your local home improvement store. Some places sell pre-cut strips, but you can also ask to have treated pine boards cut to the size you need. Position the boards to the top and bottom edges of the wall. The first strip is easy to position since you situate it on the side of the wall at the very top.


For the lower board, measure up about 6 in (15 cm) from the bottom edge of the wall. Make sure the boards go from one end of the wall to the other, adding additional boards as needed if yours are too short. Consider marking the installation points with chalk first. Check the line with a level to ensure the furring boards will form a straight row when you install them.


If your wall has windows, doors, and other obstructions, keep the furring strips away from them. Install separate furring strips around each of these components, basically framing them. For soffits and fascia, you can get separate pieces of vinyl designed to fit these wood components. Slide the vinyl into a top strip or J-channel and nail them as needed to hold them in place.


Attach the boards with screws placed every 16 in (41 cm). Measure along each of the furring strips, marking the attachment points with a pencil as needed. Use a masonry drill bit 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) in diameter to create holes all the way through the wood. Then, fit 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) concrete screws into the holes to hold the boards in place.

How Deep Cleaning the Tile?

/in /by

Pick a pH-neutral cleaner. You don’t want an acidic or basic cleaner for this type of polished tile, so pick a cleaner that states it is pH neutral. You can find special cleaners specifically for quarry floors, if you prefer.

You can also make your own cleaner. Mix 0.5 cups (120 mL) of baking soda into 1 gallon (3.8 l) until the baking soda is completely dissolved. Add 5 drops of liquid dishwashing detergent, and stir gently to combine. Dampen a mop with the mixture. Once again, you don’t want to use a large amount of cleaner or water on this type of floor. Therefore, make sure you wring out the mop well once you’ve dampened it with the cleaner.

Mop the floor. Run the mop over the floor, focusing on particularly dirty spots. Scrubbing is fine on the dirty areas, though you don’t want to use anything too abrasive. Keep in mind that this vatican tile will always have a matte finish. You may need to scrub the grout a bit harder, but it will likely still get darker over time.

Rinse the floor thoroughly. You don’t want to leave cleaner on the floor, as it can damage the tile. Rinse it off with warm water, making sure you get off all the cleaner before moving on. Dry the floor with a dry mop or rag. Once you’ve rinsed the floor, dry it off with a dry mop. You can also use a rag, if you prefer. You just don’t want to leave water on the floor, even to “soak” stains.

Use a clean wet towel and wipe your floors so you can get as much of the leftover splash and residue from the buffing compound off the floors and fixtures. Then go over your wood marble tiles once again with a dry towel. Finally, after your tiles and grout lines are dry, use a stone/marble sealer to seal your calacata tiles. Two coats are sufficient and your floors will look as good as new.