Author Archives: ellen

Gorilla Epoxy Glue Fix

Posted on December 3, 2018 by ellen

The shark bite I used to connect the shower hose to the wall was too loose even though I pulled it forward to attach the holder and added a backplate. I tried using caulk to attach the holder to its … Continue reading →

Posted in Maintenance and Repair, Plumbing | Comments Off on Gorilla Epoxy Glue Fix

A Place for the Internet Equipment

Posted on November 28, 2018 by ellen

About a year ago I moved the internet modem to the living room from the hall closet. We were not getting a good enough signal at the back of the house. I have several types of monitoring systems that are … Continue reading →

Posted in Design Style, Living Room, Monitoring | Comments Off on A Place for the Internet Equipment

Shower Extras

Posted on November 25, 2018 by ellen

Apparently I am good at making holes in the finished walls. One of the extras I put in the family room bath is a small rack for a wet washcloth. It seems that without a traditional soap dish there is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bathrooms, Trim | Comments Off on Shower Extras

Hot and Cold Switch

Posted on November 25, 2018 by ellen

I mixed up the hot and cold piping to the shower. I had hot connected on the right side when it is supposed to be on the left. Fortunately the supply pipes are exposed in the utility room behind the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bathrooms, Plumbing | Comments Off on Hot and Cold Switch

Shower Fixtures

Posted on November 24, 2018 by ellen

The fixtures for the shower are Delta Champagne Bronze. I think the color is a nice complement to the dark brown tile. The style name is Lahara which is a very plain style. I couldn’t find the diverter trim in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bathrooms, Plumbing | Comments Off on Shower Fixtures

Caulking Mess

Posted on November 22, 2018 by ellen

Have I ever mentioned I hate caulking? The family room shower is large and that meant lots of caulking. At the ceiling, at the floor, in the corners and inside the niches; all needed caulk. I used the same dark … Continue reading →

Posted in Tile, Tools | Comments Off on Caulking Mess

Setting the Granite Shower Bench

Posted on November 21, 2018 by ellen

I had a nice piece of dark brown granite already cut for the bench. Originally I wanted to use left over granite from the sink top but it was not wide enough to completely cover the bench, and the narrow … Continue reading →

Posted in Bathrooms, Construction, Tile | Comments Off on Setting the Granite Shower Bench

Grouting the Shower

Posted on November 21, 2018 by ellen

It took me several days to get the family room bath shower grouted. My right arm got really sore. But after a few days it was back in shape. This shower took a lot of grout. I mixed seven batches … Continue reading →

Posted in Bathrooms, Design Style, Tile | Comments Off on Grouting the Shower

Shower Floor is Mortared

Posted on November 11, 2018 by ellen

The shower is getting closer to being finished! The floor layout has finally been mortared into place. I mortared the mosaic tile first, then waited a day to mortar the trim tiles. That way I could adjust them to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bathrooms, Design Style, Tile | Comments Off on Shower Floor is Mortared

Shifting Tile Layouts

Posted on November 5, 2018 by ellen

No matter what I do the tile in the family room shower is not going to be square. The walls are off square and my job is to figure out how best to hide the tapers. Of course I asked … Continue reading →

Posted in Bathrooms, Tile | Comments Off on Shifting Tile Layouts

Replacing the Oven

Posted on November 5, 2018 by ellen

This is our third oven. Fourth if we count the temporary countertop model we have used when in between broken ovens. First we used a fun technology with the purchase of an Advantium oven. A combination microwave and halogen heating … Continue reading →

Posted in Appliances, Maintenance and Repair, Reduce Reuse Recycle | Comments Off on Replacing the Oven

Wood fired boiler!

Posted on October 30, 2018 by ellen

It works! I’m so pleased with the wood boiler system. This fall it was easy to start up. Just a few steps and it was all working as designed. I recorded the steps I took to get the first fire … Continue reading →

Posted in Fireplace Boiler, Radiant Heat | Comments Off on Wood fired boiler!

Kerdi Shower Floor Installation

Posted on October 26, 2018 by ellen

The Kerdi shower floor is made of sloped pieces of EPS styrofoam that are fitted and mortared to the floor with a non-modified mortar. I had to trim the pieces of shower floor to fit my shower. The floor pieces … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Tile | Comments Off on Kerdi Shower Floor Installation

Leveling Cement on the Shower Floor

Posted on October 25, 2018 by ellen

I was fortunate to pick up a couple of free 50 lb bags of Mapei Novoplan 2 self leveling cement compound for free. I needed it to level the shower floor. Although some filling had been done with mortar, specifically … Continue reading →

Posted in Bathrooms, Construction, Tile | Comments Off on Leveling Cement on the Shower Floor

Wall Tile in Shower Completed

Posted on October 25, 2018 by ellen

The final wall area was around the shower head and under it on the bit of ceiling that has the shower light. I didn’t mix mortar for these two areas but used the acrylic mastic. Plain unmodified mortar is specified … Continue reading →

Posted in Bathrooms, Construction, Tile, Tools | Comments Off on Wall Tile in Shower Completed

Shower Niches

Posted on October 25, 2018 by ellen

Just before we left on our extended trip away from home I tiled the shower niches. These are Schluter Kerdi preformed styrofoam covered with the orange waterproof membrane. The niches were an area that the handyman who tiled most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Tile | Comments Off on Shower Niches

Almost to Dead Center of Fall and a Revised List

Posted on October 24, 2018 by ellen

I started this list before the fall equinox but we had distractions happen! There was no summer list. We worked to help our kids move to Germany and visited family. My elderly mom lived in assisted living not far from … Continue reading →

Posted in Distractions, Inspections, Planning | Comments Off on Almost to Dead Center of Fall and a Revised List

Kitchen Drain Fix

Posted on October 23, 2018 by ellen

One of the items on the spring/summer list was to fix the kitchen sink drain. I stuck a bucket under the kitchen sink drain because it was dripping when the sink had water in it, and I thought the leak … Continue reading →

Posted in Maintenance and Repair, Plumbing | Comments Off on Kitchen Drain Fix

Tile Handyman

Posted on September 18, 2018 by ellen

When I hadn’t finished all three tasks from the final inspection list in April by the August 28th deadline I got to feeling desperate that I would never finish the building permit so I looked around for a tile installer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bathrooms, Construction, Tile, Trim | Comments Off on Tile Handyman

Hanging A Painting

Posted on September 4, 2018 by ellen

We need to get the last of the decorative items out of storage and decide what to do with them. I have always liked this serene painting that I bought at a second hand store in Indiana years ago. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Electrical, Finishes, Maintenance and Repair | Comments Off on Hanging A Painting