Building Hardware Resource

We tend to believe that if there’s so much water dripping from a pipe then there must be a leak somewhere. On closer examination, however, you may discover there is no leak but rather sweating, or condensation, on the pipe. Have you ever noticed that if you hold a bottle of frappe drink, your hand will soon become wet? The two situations have something in common.

Sweating occurs when the water inside the pipe is much colder than surrounding humid air. During the summer, the surrounding air is naturally hot; in winter, the air is heated by the furnace. In either case, when warm, humid air reaches cold pipes, drops of moisture form and drip as if there was a tiny hole in the pipe.

One effective way to control the moisture problem of sweating pipes is to insulate the pipes. There are several types of self-adhesive thick “drip” tape designed to easily adhere to problem pipes.

Before applying the tape, wipe the pipes as dry as you can. Wind the tape so that it completely covers the pipe and the fittings.

This is a good idea to get rid of the potential sweating of pipes. If is not too troublesome, you can try it to improve the sweating pipes.

Hanging storage does wonders to tidy a cluttered home, from your closet to the bedroom. But hanging storage doesn’t need to come with adhesive or screws that damage your walls. Instead, closet door hooks can create space simply by hanging on any standard door frame.

First think about what will be hung. Smaller hook systems would be ideal for bathroom, if you intend to hang a simple robe or towel. Larger hook systems, however, may be required for the closet door in the bedroom, in order to hang a good portion of your wardrobe.

Next, choose the door best suited for the hooks. The hooks, when installed, should not impede foot traffic or make the closet more difficult to access. These doors should also provide enough of a seam at the top so that the door can close cleanly, after the hooks have been installed.

Then slip the flat metal tab over the top of your bathroom or closet, so that the hooks sit flat on one side of the door, facing outwards. Give a gentle tug to ensure that the hook is firmly in place.

Now the hooks are ready. The last thing for you to do is to hang your coats, jackets, purses and towels at your leisure!

If you want to hang your work towels out of the laundry room sink, to install a laundry room towel bar should be a good suggestion, which not only makes the area look neater and keeps the towels out of the sink, but also prevents the towels from staying wet and growing mold.

The side of the sink in the laundry room is a place that can be counted on to have enough space for installing a towel bar. This keeps towels just as convenient as they were before, while keeping them out of the water and letting air circulate around them. What’s more, you don’t have to drill into the wall or try to fit the towel bar next to large appliances.

To install a laundry room towel bar on a plastic sink, the material needed includes a drill, a file, a hacksaw, and a pencil or marking pen. You will also need to have a plastic sink, so you can drill into it. Make sure the towel bar you bought is one with a bar which you can cut to length, and which has simple mounting brackets. Then check the length of it against the sink. If it’s too long, cut it down to size with the hacksaw. Smooth the cut edge with the file. Then position the mounting brackets against the side of the sink. Use a pencil or making pen to mark where the holes are. Make sure to set it up so the holes will be in the thick part of the sink’s rim.

Now it’s time to drill the holes. The towel bar you bought probably came with screws, but if it didn’t, you can use 3/16ths-inch stainless machine screws. Use a screw length that will leave about 1/4-inch extra length sticking into the sink. To finish off the job of installing, put an acorn nut on the ends of each screw. 

Then, you’ve made it! The only thing left to add is your cute towels. They don’t have to molder in the sink anymore!

A towel ring or a towel bar can be a simple addition to bathroom remodel, or something that makes a dramatic statement. It can be functional or add some extra benefits in using towels. To place your towel ring or towel bar properly can add a “pro effect” to your bathroom.

Towel Rings

A towel ring is a circular hoop for holding a towel. They are most often used in guest baths, typically placed alongside the sink. Keep in mind that many of the new towel rings on the market are stylish designs, making them a beautiful focal point in a small bath. It’s better to hang the towel ring at a comfort level for those typically using the bath, including children or seniors. A good rule of thumb is to leave at least 18 inches below a towel ring so a hand towel can hang freely.

Towel Bars

A Towel Bar is a rack specifically made to hang a towel on. Standard towel bar lengths are 18 and 24 inches. Hang the bar at a comfortable height of 48 inches above the floor, making sure to leave enough space below the bars for towels to hang freely. If the towel bar is hung in a children’s bath, hang the bar at a height of 36 inches. In either case, be sure to consider the location of electrical switches and outlets when hanging your towel bars.

If you want to add a stylish element to the bath, double towel bars are an ideal accessory. In addition, double towel bars are perfect for a family bath, as a number of towels can be hung on the accessory.

Each kind of lock is designed for specific application. Knowing the main features and applications of different can be a lot of help. Below is a main classification of locks.

Passage Lockset

Passage lockset is used inside the home in hallways or closets between rooms where privacy is not important. It has two non-locking knobs, one on each side of the door. Some models use levers instead of knobs.

                      passage lockset                                             privacy lockset

Privacy Lockset

This is an interior lockset designed for privacy rather than for security, usually having a locking button on the inside knob but no key device on the outside knob. It can either be a knob or a lever.

In an emergency, the lock can be opened from the outside by inserting a narrow object through the small hole in the outside knob and either depressing or turning the locking mechanism inside, depending on the type of lock.

Dummy Knob

Used only for decoration or applications that do not need a latch, dummy knob has no latching mechanism and does not turn.

The three kinds of locks above are all available in a wide variety of styles and finishes.

                               dummy knob                                   entry lockset

Entry Lockset

This is a medium security entrance-door lock with two doorknobs that can be locked from both the inside and the outside. One type locks from the inside by turning or depressing a small button, while a key must unlock the outside knob. Some models must be locked with a key on both the inside and outside. In other models, only the inside knob can lock or unlock both sides of the set.

A quality feature on entry locksets is a deadlatch.

Deadbolt Lock

Deadbolt lock provides maximum security on a door. It was called “dead” because there are no springs to operate the bolt. It is only operated manually with a key or a thumb turn from the inside.

More information about deadbolt lock can be found in another blog: Deadbolt Lock.

Surface-Mounted Deadbolt

It is squarish in shape and mounted on the surface of the inside of the door. Instead of sliding into the door frame, the bolt slides into a surface-mounted strike. The bolt may be turned with a key or a turn knob.

                      surface-mounted deadbolt                             mortise lock

Mortise Lock

Consisting of a flat, rectangular box that fits into a recess in the door from its edge, mortise lock is used on many types of doors, from heavy entrance doors to apartment buildings and residential doors. It also includes two faceplates that include the knobs and keyholes and has a pin tumbler locking mechanism in a cylinder. Latch operates from either side except when the outside knob is locked while deadbolt operates by a turn of the inside knob. A key from the outside operates both the deadbolt and latchbolt.

Mortise lock is available in right- or left-handed styles.

Night Latch

Installed on the inside surface of the door, night latch has an automatic locking feature. The large, spring loaded latch automatically locks whenever the door is closed.

It is for light security and usually used in combination with another lock.

                         night latch                                               keyless entry system

Keyless Entry System

Designed for advanced home security and convenience, they are usually audio and visual indicators confirming the lockset is activated. Anti-theft rolling code feature ensures the same code is never used twice. Some models will sound an alarm after the incorrect code has been entered more than three consecutive times. Some systems are compatible with some garage door openers so the homeowner only needs one remote control.

handleset

Handleset

It is usually an entry set that combines a lockset with a deadbolt, which is located just above the knob or handle. It can be a one- or two-piece unit and is available with both single and double cylinder deadbolts. Styles of this kind of lockset also vary widely.

There are many types of anchor bolts, consisting of designs that are mostly proprietary to the manufacturing companies. All include a threaded end, to which a nut and washer can be attached for the external load. An anchor bolt can be put into concrete to help support a wooden structure. They are very useful in building projects since the concrete provides a very sturdy hold.

An anchor bolt can either be installed before or after the concrete is set. When you install before it is set, you will have to have a mechanism for holding it in place.

Before you put the bolt in place you have to mix and pour the concrete. Then drill a hole in a 2*4 that will be long enough to reach across the concrete. Put the anchor bolt through the 2*4 and prop it up across the concrete. The bolt should partly rest inside of the concrete; you can adjust the depth of the bolt by raising and lowering the board. After the concrete has dried you can cut off the board.

If you want to install an anchor bolt in dry concrete you must first drill a hole. There are special drills that will cut through concrete without breaking; they can usually be rented at your local hardware store. Make sure you use safety equipment while installing the anchor bolt in dried concrete to protect yourself from flying pieces.

Though it’s no longer new to mention the iCarta iPod Tiilet Paper Holder, I still can help praising my new buying ones! The high-tech is a terrific pink for a house. These paper holders make it possible for me to do things in the house or use bathroom along with fair-sounding music.

The people at Atech Flash Technology (AFT) took that concept to the extreme with their design, the iCarta Stereo Dock for iPod with Bath Tissue Holder. This accessory is exactly what it sounds like: A toilet paper dispenser made exclusively for the iPod, so you can still enjoy your MP3s while nature calls. The wall-mounted holder has four “integrated high performance moisture-free speakers” and charges your iPod while it’s in the dock. The two front speakers fold out to provide the knobs on which to place our bathroom’s toilet paper.

These holders have another entry in the sometimes wacky world of iPod docks and holders. They’ve invaded our bedrooms, closets, cubicles, backyards and now the bathroom, holding, charging and playing our iPod. The dock is moisture-resistant, but the iPod isn’t, so I have to be careful inevitably when taking a hot shower.

“Arguably the strangest iPod accessory – the iCarta iPod Toilet Paper Holder is out for those of us who just can’t let go of our iPods.”

Soap dispenser holders are making way for the wall mounted soap dispensers! They save valuable counter space and dispatch a measured amount of soap in which way it guarantees that there is no waste and they don’t need to be filled up often. In addition to liquid soap, they can also be filled with shampoo, bath foam and so on. With a lot of advantages, wall soap dispensers are becoming favorites to more and more homes.

If you get a wall mounted soap dispenser to be installed, maybe you can learn something helpful from the following advice.

A soap dispenser can be installed in one of two ways: either use the adhesive, or use the screws that are included with it. The first step is to select a location most suitable for your use. Wall mounted soap dispensers are most often located in the shower where larger amounts of liquid soap are used most often. If needed, you can also install one over the bathroom sink or even over the kitchen sink.

The next step is to thoroughly clean the chosen wall area; rinse well and dry it with a clean, soft cloth. Then, use a clean cloth and a small amount of rubbing alcohol and wipe over the area. The alcohol will remove any soap residue, etc.

Apply the adhesive to the holder and let it set for five minutes. Afterwards position the holder on the wall and press it firmly into place. Wait twenty-four to forty-eight hours (consult the manufacturer’s instructions for details) before you place the dispenser into the holder. Till then, you’ve successfully install the soap dispenser holder.

If you choose to install the soap dispenser by using the screws included with it, the step following choosing a right location is to use a stud finder to find the studs in the area; mark their locations with a pencil. Now, hold the dispenser up to the wall and reposition it so that at least one screw will hit a wall stud. Remember to mark the positions of the holes on the wall by using a pencil. Then drill the holes and install the plastic expanders. Finally, position the holder on the wall and insert the screws. Be careful not to overtighten the screws because they will strip. Now you can place the soap dispenser into the holder.