Home electrical wiring for beginners
April 11, 2009 by Larry Angell
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I often get visitors at my site asking about electrical home wiring and different wiring methods and projects. Their main concern is to attempt to do the electrical project or hire it out to professionals.
Because of the housing crash and financial market meltdown, Im observing that many people cant get construction loans to hire contractors to do the home construction for them. I see many people doing the work for themselves out of necessity and not only to save money.
Most homeowners dont have a problem with things like outdoor siding and putting in doors and windows, but they are often doubtful about electrical home wiring.
First of all, the most important thing is safety. If any electrical work is done, you need to make sure that youre not working on energized circuits. The next point is that all home wiring jobs need to be inspected whether its done by you or a professional. This helps assuage the fears that homeowners have wondering if their home wiring projects are going to be a fire hazard to them.
Theres no need to have a complete knowledge of electrical theory to do your own wiring. The most important thing is to know the electrical codes in your neighborhood because they will be the mandatory regulations the electrical inspectors will follow. Looking at electrical diagrams and formulas really helps to understand how to run the electrical circuits.
If you can look at a drawing, photo, or other illustration, you can get a good understanding how the cable is run. There are a few types of cable that are used in home construction. Non-metallic sheathed cable or more commonly called, Romex cable is often used for home electrical wiring.
Romex has different types, sizes and quantity of wires per cable according to the needs of the wiring circuit. Its standard to use 12-2 and 12-3 cable for light switches and outlets. This means that the cable size is a 12-gauge thickness with either 2 or 3 wires in each cable. These types of indoor cables are used on 120-volt circuits which means only one of the wires is a hot conductor.
Certain appliances in the home need extra voltage and so these will have thicker wire and usually two hot conductors. These are 240-volt circuits. Water heaters, clothes dryers, air-conditioners and heating systems will typically use 10-2 or 10-3 cable. This always depends on local electrical codes though.
The big, high-wattage, circuits that use a special cable are ovens and ranges or most common, the oven/range together. These appliances require a lot of electricity and they use a heavy cable called, range cable which is usually two 6-gauge cables as hot wires and one 8-gauge cable as a neutral wire.
The low-voltage systems in home wiring include phone wiring, computer network wiring, and home security systems. These are usually wired with Cat5 cable which is an 8-wire cable designed for communications systems.
Its wise to plan out circuit runs in your home using graph paper or grid paper so you can keep everything to scale. Youll need a good floor plan of your house for drawing each electrical circuit. Youll probably want to make several copies of these plans because youll have many different circuits in your home.
When you have an idea of where to put the electrical circuits, you can plan out the breaker panel box needs. A standard size of breaker panel is a 200-amp panel with a minimum of 40 breaker slots. All the circuits will start at the breaker box with a breaker or fuse.
There will be some dedicated circuits which means only one fixture or appliance can be wired on the circuit. This is always according to the local electrical codes and regulations.
All home wiring electrical circuits will be have to be inspected at different intervals during the home construction process. The electrical inspector has to make sure all codes have been followed. This is a good thing because it helps us feel safe knowing we did the wiring correctly and were not going to catch fire in our sleep at night.
Don’t Make do with Adequate Tiles, Get Perfect Ones!
March 6, 2009 by Soren Bolbenk
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The bathroom might be a very small room, however that certainly doesn’t mean that decorating this room is easy and inexpensive. Bathroom renovation projects are often very complicated. Choosing bathroom tiles can be very difficult because there are many different types of tiles which are suitable for different purposes. There are various different materials which tiles can be made out of, each of these have different advantages and disadvantages. When you are deciding what to do with your bathroom tiles then you should know all about these advantages and disadvantages.
Ceramic
These tiles are the most common form of bathroom tile. They are made from clay with a glaze on top of them. Ceramic tiles are sealed and so resist water and do not harbor any germs. They are also very easy to clean and are very durable. The only problem with these is that the colors can vary slightly if you purchase different batches of tile. When buying tiles you should make sure that the batch numbers are the same.
Terrazzo
This type of tile is commonly found in public buildings. It’s the marble like material which is speckled. It’s commonly used on floors. It’s made from marble chips in concrete which is then polished to resemble marble. This is a very long lasting material which is also very beautiful. You can now purchase this in individual tiles so it is suitable for private bathrooms. Although this tile is very beautiful it is very slippery, it’s best used for walls not on floors.
Slate
Slate is a beautiful natural material which also makes very durable tiles. It has been used for centuries for roofing which proves just how durable it is. Slate floor tiles can add a sense of luxury to your bathroom which can be very beautiful and can match your discount mini blinds. The only disadvantage to using slate is that it can crack overtime. As long as you don’t treat it badly it should last a long time in your bathroom.
Glass
Glass tiles are available in a wide range of different colors, designs and textures. These can help to make a very beautiful bathroom. However installing glass tiles can be quite difficult, you will probably need to hire an expert to fit these for you, and this will make these tiles much more expensive. This normally makes these tiles too expensive for people to consider using on bathroom floors. If your budget isn’t limited then you should defiantly consider these as they are truly beautiful!
Each different type of tile has its own advantages and disadvantages. There is no right answer, you have to choose the material which works the best for you! Decide where you want to use it and what you are most worried about.
Deciding How to Lay Out your Bathroom
February 23, 2009 by Claudio Carbeni
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It might seem like an easy job to create a bathroom floor plan. There’s not really that much to do, you just need space for a bath and a shower, a toilet and a sink. After you’ve decided where to put those then many people just assume that it’s a matter of decorating the room.
However that’s not always the case, whenever you are designing a new bathroom you should take some time out to design several different bathroom floor plans so that you can find out which one works the best. You can make changes easily at this stage, however when you actually start to make your bathroom it will be much more difficult. You need to make completely sure that everything you want to put in your bathroom will fit such as your commode, sink and shower, there’s no point planning to buy a large bath if you can’t fit it in.
What Are Your Needs?
When you are designing a few different bathroom floor plans you should think about your current bathroom floor plan. What do you like about your current bathroom? Does it work well for you or has it always irritated you? What works well and what would you like to change?
Most people have a limited amount of money in order to complete their bathroom renovation project and so you will likely have to compromise when selecting what you want to do. However if you are clever you can get a nice looking bathroom at the price you can afford to pay. A nice shower curtain can make a difference for very little money. You and your family will have to use this room every day, so it is very important that you have enough space to do everything you need to do.
Planning Your Bathroom
You should create your floor plans on scaled paper, choose a suitable scale which is easy to use. Cut out pieces of paper the exact sizes of the items that you intend to put in the room. When drawing the room make sure you don’t forget to mark on the doors, windows and anything else which may limit how you can design your bathroom.
You should also consider the fact that if you want to move the sink, bath, or toilet then you will need to move the plumbing. This will be quite a costly project due to the fact that experts will be required. It’s very easy to move a piece of paper resembling your toilet round your room, however moving the real thing will be much more complicated. If possible try to leave all of the major items in their current positions.
You really can have some fun designing your bathroom floor plans, however you shouldn’t get too carried away. You need to create floor plans which can actually be carried out, not just fantasy ones!
Phenomenal Methodology
February 19, 2009 by Sam Bettingon
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Many people have a real problem going on in their bathroom; the problem is mold. People in humid climates and people who can’t keep their template all over the world is able to fester and grow in the bathtub and shower which will create a horribly distinct style and will fester with fungus until you just won’t be able to deal with it anymore. However there are ways for you to be able to alleviate this mold problem with a few simple steps.
Open Up Your Perfect Home
Mold grows through a similar environment so long as you’re able to get some fresh air running through your bathroom area you should be fine. If you have a window in your bathroom, try to open it whenever possible. If you don’t have a window but you have a ventilation fan you should use that as often as possible as well; this can really make a bad situation halfway bearable.
Another step you can take is to get a dehumidifier. This is a bigger instrument you need to plug into the wall but this will help you to remove moisture from the air and it will help you more succinctly evaluate your problem.
Phenomenal Methodology
Getting rid of any excess articles in your bathroom is a great idea as well if you believe you have a mold problem. If you have a rugged your bathroom to trap water and helps spread mold he should get rid of that. One thing to consider in lieu of a bathroom rug may be a rubber mat or something like that which won’t absorb the water. You should also not have plants in your bathroom; potted plants will trap water and help mold to grow.
And Furthermore
Scope out any leaks in your bathroom as well. Even the most miniscule spot of water at any moment can lead to a phenomenal problem down the road. If your pipes are all running dry and if your shower and bathtub are sealed effectively then you should be fine; you run into issues when water and moisture can get behind the seal in the bathroom.
Even ceramic tile can be a problem in the bathroom where mold is a problem. Tile is typically waterproof but the grout between the tile can retain moisture and be a breeding ground for mold. When the moisture gets sucked into the sealant, the mold just grows and grows. If you are able to spot it time you can use some waterproof paneling which will prevent condensation and help you to stop the mold in your otherwise perfect bathroom setting.
Finding a Reliable Tradesman
February 5, 2009 by Tal Potishman
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Each and every United Kingdom home owner will encounter a situation in which he or she will be in need of hiring a Tradesman. One man might need to have his roof fixed. One woman might want a new heating and cooling system installed. Tradesmen are in constant demand throughout the United Kingdom and it is very important that all home owners learn how to hire a Tradesman who is reliable.
Hiring a reliable tradesman is important because if the tradesman you hire is not reliable you could end up paying quite a large amount of money for work that is sub-par and that will need multiple repairs. While it is important for home owners to understand that a tradesman needs to be reliable it is also important that home owners understand how to tell the difference between a reliable tradesman and one who is not.
When searching for a reliable tradesman here are some things a home owner should look into before signing any contracts:
*References: There are two main methods of obtaining a Tradesman’s references. The easiest and most obvious method is to simply ask the Tradesman for a list of references that you can contact. If a Tradesman is reliable and does good work, he or she will be able to provide you with a list of people that you can ask for more information and recommendations.
The other way to get references for a Tradesman is to simply ask your neighbours and your friends to find out who they (or someone they know) have used in the past. You should make sure to ask whether or not the reference would hire the person again (and why or why not).
*Professional Organizations: Is the tradesman being considered a member of any professional organizations? Check into the local business bureau to find out what the tradesman’s ratings are and whether any formal complaints have been lodged against him/her.
Many Tradespeople are required to obtain specific certifications and join certain organisations. Check into the trade itself to find out which registrations and certifications are required in your area. Make sure the Tradesman you are considering meets all of the requirements.
Most Tradespeople are required to obtain specific certifications and join specific organisations. Research the trade and find out what is required. Then make sure that each prospective Tradesman you consider meets all of the requirements.
If the tradesperson has been in business for a number of years but has only worked a few times it might be a good idea to move on to someone else. On the other hand, if a tradesperson has a steady history and seems to be working quite often that tradesperson will probably prove to be very reliable.
