Weekend Project: Install a new showerhead
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to decrease bathing-related water use, and its WaterSense standards for showerheads
will call for flow rates below the current federal limit of 2.5
gallons per minute. The challenge for manufacturers is to meet that
standard without affecting shower feel, since an anemic flow can result
in longer shower times and greater water use.
If your showerhead isn’t looking its best or is delivering less than a
satisfying flow, read our latest report on showerheads (full story and
ratings available to subscribers), which covers single- and
multisetting models as well as shower towers.
Installing a regular showerhead is a fairly easy job. You unscrew and
remove your existing head and the plumbing tape in place, apply fresh
tape (usually Teflon tape) for a tight seal, and screw the new head in
place.
But when you’re installing a rain-shower model, installation might not
be as straightforward. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Angle the showerhead properly. Because water literally falls from some
rain-shower fixtures, it will dribble out one side if the fixture isn’t
installed at the correct angle. You can [...]
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The best place on the Internet for Kitchen Cabinet quotes.
There are so many choices where cabinets are concerned, such as the door materials, style, color, frames, etc., and so much variation in price that the whole area can be confusing at times.
Hopefully, this guide should give you a good place to start.
You may also want to consider the option of having your cabinets refaced. You will be surprised at the results you can achieve by doing this, and also how inexpensive it is, especially if you can find a good deal with a reputable company.
To go straight to the kitchen cabinet refacing quote page, click here. Fill out our 3-5 minute form to receive a free kitchen cabinets price quote from one of our prescreened and licensed contractors.
Definitely check it out first, get some quotes and see if makes sense for you. Then click on the links on the left to read more about kitchen cabinets.
[...]
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There are so many choices where cabinets are concerned, such as the door materials, style, color, frames, etc., and so much variation in price that the whole area can be confusing at times.
Hopefully, this section should give you a good place to start.
You may also want to consider the option of having your cabinets refaced. You will be surprised at the results you can achieve by doing this, and also how inexpensive it is, especially if you can find a good deal with a reputable company.
Definitely check it out first, get some quotes and see if makes sense for you. There are plenty of good cabinet refacing advice sites out there, for example, this one.
Cabinet Manufacturing Classifications
The first decision when selecting cabinets is whether to go for stock cabinets, semi-custom, custom units or frameless cabinets. All have their own advantages and disadvantages.
There are the three basic classifications of cabinet manufacturing: Stock, Semi-Custom & Custom, and this can be further subdivided into Framed and Frameless. Pricing will vary depending on your layout, the manufacturer, wood, finish, door style and the interior accessories you select.
Stock
Lowest price range.
Limited selection of door styles, woods and stain colors. [...]
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Your budget will normally dictate your choice of products but there are other considerations you need to take into account when working out how much your new kitchen is going to cost.
Prices vary quite a lot, so the figures given below are just a guideline and, as always, shopping around is the best bet.
But work out roughly how much money you want to spend and use this figure when talking to designers and contractors.
Below are some guidelines for establishing a realistic budget.
Budget Guidelines
First of all, if you limit your spending to 15% of your home’s value you should recoup 90% of the costs when you sell. Try to keep your investment relative to your homes worth, but at the same time make it worth your while by spending on the items that you really want.
Second, figure your product costs to be 1/2 to 2/3 of the total remodel. Choose your appliances, cabinets, countertops, flooring and all other fixtures first. The remaining money will go towards installation and design.
Third, if you become overwhelmed with selection choices hire a design consultant to help you. A designer can save you money in the long run by helping to prevent [...]
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