Tim's Guides on How to ...

Fix a Leaking Shower or Bath

2009-05-21T11:22:00.003+01:00

The most common reason for leakages behind baths and shower trays is movement in the fitting itself (along with obvious broken tiles etc) and the first thing to check is that your fitting is secure…There should be an absolute minimum of movement in either fitting and with a shower tray it is advisable to fit a resin, rather than a plastic, one…Baths can be secured, while in place, by removing the bath panel and, (if it is a steel bath) securing through the under-hanging bath lip to the wall after making sure the feet are firmly screwed to the base and all connections on the frame are firm. If the bath is plastic, you will need to make up some timber “bearers” ( 2inch x 1inch treated timber) . Cut the timber to lengths of 400mm and plug and screw them firmly under the edge of the bath, between the main body of the bath and the end walls. There is just room to get in at either end but it is a struggle!! Its is also sensible to apply a liberal amount of very strong construction adhesive to the back of each bearer…A bearer can be placed under the edge of the bath at both ends as well. You will not be able to drill, plug and screw these as there is no room, but if you use the adhesive above and find a way of wedging the bearers in place until the adhesive is dry, you will get on further movement.

For tools visit www.etoolshop.co.uk

When the bath is secure it will no doubt need re-sealing. It rarely works for long to keep placing new sealant over the old. Strip off the old adhesive using a sealant remover. This comes in a tube, as does the sealant, and is applied by mastic gun. When you have removed the sealant, use a rag dipped in solvent thinners or white spirit to wipe all surfaces clean. (wear gloves for this operation and open the windows to allow the vapour to disperse) This will de-grease the top of the bath or shower tray and also the tiles. Leave to dry for a few hours and then apply a high modulas sealant. You can now be sure of good adhesion and hopefully a trouble free joint.

It is also worth checking the grout to your tiles at this point. The smallest pinhole in the grout will suck water in behind the tiles, where it will filter through the adhesive and onto the floor below the bath. This kind of leak is not even visible until it has done a fair bit of damage…if you find any grout that is suspect; use a grout rake to rake off the top few mm. You can then mix and apply a new filling and be sure the joints are full.

Create a Bookmark Logo

2008-12-17T14:31:00.005Z

Ever want to have a logo for your webpage when people put it in there bookmarks, you must have noticed that a lot of the big websites have this.

First of all you need to create & upload an icon image file called favicon.ico to your root folder.

The icon image needs to be 16 x 16 pixels in size and needs to be saved in the ico file format, I used a little program called irfanview to do this. Then use any ftp program to upload this file to the root folder of your website.

All you need to do now is put the following code towards the top of your page.

See my website www.etoolshop.co.uk as an example.

Repair a Broken Glass Window Pane

2008-12-11T21:47:00.001Z

You should always replace broken glass as soon as possible, even if it is only cracked. Besides being dangerous, broken glass allows moisture to penetrate window parts which can create other more serious problems. In addition to this, broken glass panes are not only an eyesore but can greatly increase your heating and cooling cost.

To begin, the tools that you will need to complete this project correctly include a glass cutter, push points, putty knife, glazing putty, chisel, screwdrivers and a hammer. Also make certain to wear eye protection and gloves.

1. Remove all the broken glass. Use needle-nose pliers to remove small shards. Place all of the broken glass in newspapers and tape it shut before you throw it away.

2. Remove all of the glazing compound. There are a few different ways to remove glazing compound also known as putty from the rabbet. Try prying it off the sash with a scraper or a putty knife. If this method does not work, you also can try using an chisel to remove the compound from the window. Before doing so, be sure to score the compound by running a utility knife along a metal straightedge where the putty meets the wood. Be careful as you do this as you can easily damage the wood.

3. After removing all of the glazing putty, you will then need to remove the old glazing points. To do this, use some needle-nose pliers to remove all of the points. The points usually will come out easily once you have removed all of the glazing putty.

4. You will then need to measure for your replacement glass. Once you've removed all of the glazing compound and glazing points, measure the distances between the top and bottom rabbets and also the two side rabbets. Subtract 1/8 inch from both measurements to determine the height and width of the new glass pane. You can order your new piece of glass at most hardware stores.

5. Apply a exterior primer to the rabbet. Allow several hours for the primer to dry before going to the next step.

6. Install the new glass pane. Apply a 1/4-inch bead of glazing compound around the rabbet's perimeter, and press the glass pane into place to create a tight seal. Install glazing points at 8-inch intervals around the glass. Press the tip of the glazing point into the side of the rabbet, and use a stiff putty knife to wiggle the point into the wood.

7. Roll the compound between your palms to make it more pliable. Using your fingers, press the compound into the rabbet where the edge of the glass meets the window sash. Use a putty knife to smooth the glazing compound. Starting at one corner, drag the knife along the compound, molding it neatly against the glass as you go. Remove any putty that has been trimmed off.

This project is a simple fix for most homeowners. Just remember to take all of the safety precautions that I have already mentioned because broken glass can cause serious injuries. Take your time and be patient and take your time and you will be happy with the results. Good luck!