Pink Eye – Conjunctivitis

For new homeowners, the shift away from having a landlord or maintenance professional handle every little problem that goes wrong in an apartment or rented home can be a bit shocking. Rather than making a phone call and having someone magically appear to fix a leaky toilet, malfunctioning furnace or patch holes in drywall, the new homeowner must learn to be self-sufficient or, alternatively, pay the price to have a professional come in to correct small issues.

For the enterprising sort, or for those who simply do not wish to absorb the costs of paying someone to fix small issues – which is always a shock after living in a maintenance-free rental environment – learning some basics and acquiring the requisite tools to perform the most common household tasks is a good first step. Without further ado, here is a quick list that can be very helpful in overcoming what new homeowners are likely to face.

The Real Basics

Most major home improvement stores and hardware stores will carry toolsets that include the most commonly-used tools, which can then be supplemented with a few extras. These are the things that most people will have acquired along the way prior to owning a home, though for those who are not very handy, perhaps becoming a homeowner will represent the first foray into “do it yourself” repair. A good set of basic hand tools should include the following:

? Claw Hammer
? Tape Measure
? Submarine Level
? Hacksaw
? Screwdrivers – Multiple Sizes (Regular and Phillips)
? Adjustable Wrench
? Pliers (Regular and Needle Nose)
? Channel Locks
? Hex Wrenches
? Extension Cord

Cordless Drill

The very first tool to purchase beyond the basics noted above should be a cordless drill. And if you?ll be spending a lot of money on any given tool, this is the one to spend it on. Cordless drills have come a long way since their inception, and 18-Volt models should be good for most homeowners. There are options with more and less battery power, but any less is generally less effective for actually drilling (the drill can also be used as a powerful driver) and any more is generally unnecessary at the homeowner level. Buying an extra battery is also a good move, and if the drill, battery and charger are properly cared for, they will last a long time. Be sure to pick up a set of bits and drivers as well, in multiple sizes. In the future, for those who wish to get into more and more improvement projects, there are a variety of attachments and bits that can be used for a wide variety of applications.

Power Tools

For the most part, the average homeowner will never need power tools, beyond the cordless drill. However, for the more adventurous, power tools can take projects to the next level. The most basic power tools to consider, and that have the widest array of applications, are the circular saw, the reciprocating saw, the mitre saw (for cutting mouldings) and the table saw. For some, adding in an electric drill will also be a good idea, but an 18-Volt cordless drill, noted above, will be sufficient for most projects.

Lawn and Garden Equipment

Which tools to purchase for lawn maintenance and gardening is largely a product of the homeowner?s environment. Those dwelling in the city may need nothing more than a garden hose to spray down their concrete back yard. For those in the suburbs or rural areas, however, the needs expand greatly. Obviously, a push mower will work for small yards, while a riding mower will be warranted for yards approaching an acre or more. For those with larger yards, a large-deck (48 inches or more) mower with a small or zero-turn radius might be a good idea. Beyond that, here is a selection of garden tools that should be purchased for the homeowner with the medium- to large-sized yard to maintain.

? Shovel
? Spade
? Hoe
? Garden Rake
? Leaf Rake
? Chainsaw
? Hedge Trimmers
? String Trimmer or “Weedeater”
? Ax
? Post-hole Digger
? Pruners

For homeowners who live in climates where the seasons change, Autumn is the time to start thinking about weatherizing one?s home for Winter. For those new to homeownership, who have been living in an apartment until recently, this may seem like an entirely foreign process. In reality, the steps to take to get your home ready for the Winter are fairly straight forward and easy to do, so fear not.

The primary reason to “winterize” a home is to make sure that your house is not overly exposed to the elements and, most notably, to make your home as energy efficient as possible during the cold months. By following some of these simple steps, you can ensure that your home is ready to endure the Winter, and be secure in the knowledge that you?ve done all you can to keep your investment in top shape.

Don?t Let Your Roof Go

The roof is the most exposed part of your house, so if there are any shingles that are loose, or any obvious problems, make sure to get them fixed right away. For most homeowners, any roofing work is best left to professionals, so if there are loose shingles that may allow Winter rain or snow to damage your home?s roofing deck and rafters, have a roofing professional come in to have a look. On a related note, if you have a functioning chimney, the time prior to the Winter is a good time to have it swept of debris and soot so you can enjoy a nice, warm fire during the cold months.

A Little Bit of Caulk Goes a Long Way

Caulking windows and doors is an easy, inexpensive way to cut down on energy consumption. Use the highest quality caulking you can find – typically silicon-based caulks for exterior use – and make sure that there are no gaps around windows and doors. Keeping a little bit of air out in a lot of places really adds us.

Outdoor Furniture is Best Left Indoors in Winter

It may seem obvious, but homeowners will typically leave wooden and plastic outdoor furniture outside throughout the Winter. That?s fine if you intend to use it during the colder months, but if you don?t, taking it into the garage can save you some money or a Spring project that involves lots of sandpaper and furniture oil.

Put the Hose Away

There?s nothing worse than having pipes and plumbing fixtures burst because of freezing water. The best thing to do with exterior hoses is to remove them, put them in storage, and then turn the water to the hose off at the source. Thereafter, leave the outside spigot open to avoid water collecting and freezing. If there is no interior shut off, don?t worry about it, but you may consider adding one in the future.

Use Door Sweeps

In addition to gaps around doors, the bottom of the door should use a “sweep” of some sort to keep air from coming in from under the door. These are relatively easy to install, and lately some simple products that slide onto the bottom of the door can be added to keep doors even more airtight.

Can you find anything online these days? The answer is yes. Pick any product or subject and you?ll get information about it at the touch of your fingertips. It is an amazing tool in our day and age.

Finding Home Improvement products that are out of the ordinary can be found without leaving your comfortable home. Sometimes you?ll find Interior Design products for your remodel that are not even available in stores.

There are many artisans and craftsman making products and selling directly online. Finding such products just takes some time and patience.

Let?s take a product like Hand Forged Wrought Iron for the support of Granite Counter Tops or other heavy counter surfaces. You can find Angle Brackets or, as some refer to them, Iron Corbels that are hand crafted and not available in stores. These Iron products are made by artisans and usually they are made of quality and craftsmanship that cannot be beat.

You will not find unusual Iron or Metal work in most hardware stores. Many times it is hard to get answers to questions you may have because the sales person may not know enough about the products that they sale.

Home Improvement and Interior Design is an industry that is always changing and new products need to be introduced regularly. That goes for both Interior and Exterior Design products.

When you find a great Angle Bracket, that is heavy duty to support your granite counter or shelf, it may not to be the size you need. Don?t hesitate to call the artisan to see if custom sizing is available. Most likely, for an adjustment fee, you can have just what you need.

Keep in mind that quality and craftsmanship comes with a price. You may pay a little more but isn?t it worth it. You will be buying something that is special, and not seen everywhere.

Here are some helpful tips to consider when finding websites for Wrought Iron Angle Brackets:

? Find sources that offer a phone number for answers to your questions.
? Deal with websites that offer custom sizes and several styles.
? Find out if the Bracket will hold the weight of your countertop.
? Look at the finishes available to see what you think is best for you.
? It is good to be able to see the product from different angles. Good pictures are helpful.
? Look for websites that have testimonies of their products. Reading what others say of that website or company will be helpful in making a decision to place an order with the artisan or website. You?ll be able to tell honest testimonies.
? A good description and dimension of the Angle Brackets is very helpful.

The internet is surely a powerful tool for shopping and for Home Improvement products it is almost a most these days. Don?t forget to pass along good information to family and friends when you find it.

You must know some idea about the online casino when I mention about this item. Do you have any idea about the online casino types? Online casinos can be divided into two groups based on their interface: web-based and download-only casinos. Some casinos offer both interfaces. In live online casinos, popular casino games such as roulette and blackjack are dealt by real dealers in casino studios, in an attempt to convey more of the atmosphere of a physical casino. Player actions such as ‘hit’ in the game of blackjack may be transmitted to the dealer; in some online casinos more than one player may ‘sit’ at a particular ‘seat’ on the table, and in this case there is no interactivity between player and dealer, the question of which player requested the extra card that the dealer dealt and which chose to ‘stand’ will be handled by the software. It is usual for players to be able to observe a video feed of the action, and equally common for players to opt to turn it off, if they lack the bandwidth – as the cards are read by OCR and other technology, the video feed is only ever a visual cue. But here I want to introduce the best online casino for you that refer to the slots casinos and the casino online gator.

Bullnose is basically a common term used in the field of home improvement. It is used to indicate outward turned (convex) and inward turned (concave) shaped pieces of tiles and trims. We have seen, known, and used bullnose corners in our households and even in historical monuments. There are three basic uses of bullnose tiles, corners and trims. They are used for increasing durability, safety and artistic or aesthetic value of that part of the home decor. As we know, sharp edges of walls or other furniture articles can damage your body, your clothing as well as texture of other home furniture articles that it comes in contact with. Since, bullnose corners are soft, they are largely used in place of sharp edges of walls, countertops, tables and other frequently used surfaces. Due to their curved structure, these corners are hard to cover in the interior painting jobs. In this article we will learn how to install, as well as paint, bullnose corners, in an easy way.

How to Install Bullnose Corners

When it comes to furniture articles, you can actually buy furniture that is available with bullnose. If you want to install bullnose corners on walls and furniture, on your own, then first of all you need to understand the various types of corners that are available. These types are basically determined on the basis of angle in which these corners are cut. Some common drywall bullnose corners that are available include, outside 90 degree, inside 90 degree, ? inch bullnose, ⅜ inch bullnose, ? inch L trim, 135 degree ? inch bullnose, ⅝ inch bullnose, etc. As you can see, these types of corners are available in precut form and some of them also don’t require any sort of masking during installation procedure. Since they are made of drywall, they are durable and can easily withstand peeling, cracking and chipping that occurs with time.

There are a few techniques that are used for installation of bullnose corners. Some popular ones are: dry fitting technique, spray adhesive technique, mud setting technique and stapling technique. As the names suggest, all these techniques are quite easy to understand and practice as well. The tools for installing bullnose corner, vary according to the method of installation that you select. For instance, if you are using dry fitting, then you will need corner beads and a pair of heavy duty scissors. If you are using the mud setting technique, then you will need corner beads, a taping knife and a compound solution to stick the corners. If you are using the stapling technique, then you will need corner beads and staple gun and a spray adhesive. Amongst all these techniques, the stapling technique is found to be easiest and durable.

How to Paint Bullnose Corners

If you can’t get your hands of installation techniques of bullnose corners, then you can simply handover the job to professionals, who are best at it. Even if you cannot install the corners on your own, you can surely paint them on your own. Installing bullnose corners adds a subtle charm and a sort of elegance to your overall interior decor. You can easily enhance it further more, with help of correct interior painting techniques. As you know by now, these corners are made of subtle angles and hence, when it comes to repainting them, it gets even more difficult. So, here are a few tips on painting bullnose corners, for you.

Always get the entire wall painting done, before you begin with any bullnose corner. Also, choose color shades that are contrasting to the wall color, so that they can remain the focal point. This applies with the crown molding, as well as bullnose corners baseboard. Once you are done with it, then you can start gathering materials for painting bullnose corners. Materials that you need include, house paint of the desired color shade, painter’s tape, rollers and paint brush and tarp. Once you gather all these materials, apply painter’s tape above the area of the corners that you want to paint. The tape with prevent the color from spreading to the wall decor surface. As a part of precaution, lay down tarp on the floor below the painting area. Once you are done with color selection and application of the painter’s tape, you can start painting the bullnose, with help of smaller hand brushes.

Well, that was all that I had to tell you about bullnose corners, their installation and interior painting techniques. I hope information in the above article was found useful!

Attic is a place no one wants to visit unless absolutely necessary. We have all been scared of venturing anywhere close to attics as all of us have been scared by those attic monsters, and even though we are adults, we still have our inhibitions. Most of the times we just store all are excess luggage in there and forget about it. However, it is important to know that attic ventilation is absolutely necessary for keeping your house well ventilated and free of moisture, odor, rust or rot. Attic vents are a must for every home to ensure the health and safety of your family. So, if you are considering home improvements, make sure attic ventilation is high on your priority list. Here is why it should be.

Attic Vents for Houses

Attic vents are necessary for the following reasons. During summer, the heat may get trapped in your attic. This may result in an increase in your utility bills due to the extra cooling that will be required. Similarly, if the moisture formed in the house accumulates in the attic, it may lead to decomposition of the wood and infestation of microbes such as mold and mildew. Thus, attic vents for houses is absolutely necessary. Take a look at the following if you are considering installing attic vents. Types of attic vents differ dependent on the requirements of the residential building codes. Basically, there are two types of attic vents – exhaust vents and intake vents. Exhaust vents allow the air from the house to escape out whereas intake vents let the air from outside enter into the house. These are the two primary types, the rest differ in structure and are categorized as follows.

Types of Attic Vents
Soffit Attic Vents
These vents are installed in attics with high vents mostly in the overhanging part of the roof. Whenever a home has only one type of venting, soffit vents are the best option. These are screened vents that protect the house from moisture and also other things such as insects and snow.

Ridge Attic Vents
These vents are installed throughout the length of the peak of the roof. The volume of airflow for ridge attic vent is much more than any other fixed vent for attics. Ridge vents are screened and therefore, protect the house from insects. It is effective all around the year. Ridge vent with baffles are considered more beneficial than simple ridge vents.

Gable Attic Vents
These attic vents come in a variety of shapes such as circular, triangular and square. They are installed just below the roof peaks and help in protecting your home from strong wind and heavy snow and also infestation to an extent. However, the life of these attic vents is lesser than the others and they do not ventilate the entire attic but just a part of it. Therefore, if you have a smaller attic gable, attic vents may work for your home.

Solar Attic Vents
This is a cost effective way of attic ventilation. Solar attic vents, as the name suggests, make use of solar energy to enable ventilation. Solar attic fans are charged up by solar energy and maintain a balanced airflow in the house. Installation charges are all that may cost you and will effectively reduce your utility bills.

Attic fans are very cost effective and installing them is easier than the other vents. Similarly solar attic fan installation can be very easy and you can do it yourself.

Installing Attic Vents
While installing attic vents you must think of attic insulation cost as well. Different attic insulation types might help you in determining the same. If you are thinking of installing the vent on your own, these are a few easy steps you have to follow.Determine the area in which you wish to install your vent.Use a saw to make a hole by determining the dimensions of the vent.Secure the vent using screwsThis might sound very simple, but a word of caution, do not make use of tools you are not trained to use. The basics of installation are practically the same, just a few extra things have to be considered before installing certain attic vents.

While installing gable vents, make sure you remove the sheathing and siding in the planned area with a circular saw and line the area with caulk and then install the vent and secure it. When installing a ridge attic vent, be sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions to every little detail. You need to do away with the roofing shingles at the end of the ridge, mark the roof sheathing with a chalk on either side of the ridge and then install the vent. Secure the attic vent using screws.

After getting these tips, you can consider what your attic ventilation requirements are. These are a few tips for installing attic vents and the choices you have in them. Be sure you choose the right one.

Snowmen are all around and there is a white veil over the roofs, the pavements, leaves, car windshields and any other surface on which snow can settle. Cold breeze sweeps over and you shiver even with all the winter gear on. Winters are definitely on and certainly enough, it is time to get some winter protection for the house. Be it a vacant home or an occupied one, getting your house geared up for winters is crucial to avoid damage inflicted by extreme temperatures. In case you are on a winter escapade to a warmer region and are going to leave the house empty in winters, you will need to know how to winterize a house. Presenting to you the same, ladies and gentlemen!

Winterize Your Home for Winter

Before we begin, let me tell you that this is not an overnight endeavor. You are going to need at least a week or two or perhaps even more depending on how extensive is the task. Make a ‘winterize your home checklist’ including what all you will need to work upon for winterizing your house. It can be anything from getting the heating system back in shape to covering the windows and doors from the draft and insulation. So let’s us get on with the job.

Task 1
Insulation is one of the crucial things you will have to carry out before winters. For insulation of exterior outlets and switch plates, use an inexpensive foam sealing gasket. The hot water tank can be insulated using an insulating blanket available at a hardware store. For getting your fireplace in order, cut a piece of fiberglass insulation and then stuff it in the fireplace behind the glass doors. This will lead to blocking the cold air which is going to come down the chimney. Attic insulation will keep the heat inside the house and prevent the heat from leaving the house. Carefully check each designated attic insulation location and make sure it is properly fixed. An attic installation guide can help you out with this when you are pondering over how to winterize a house.

Task 2
The heating systems and cooling systems is another factor which is instrumental in maintaining the temperature of the house. So make sure that your home heating system is in order with the help of the following – Furnace maintenanceThermostat checkingCheck for things like air filter, fuel in the furnace, heating vents and carbon monoxide leaks. Have a professional to do these things for you. Likewise also give a nice overhaul to the good old air conditioner. Cover the condensing unit and make sure that the condensing unit is free of debris. Another connected aspect is the fireplace and the chimney. So in connection to how to winterize a house, see if the chimney is free of any debris and unwanted material and check the chimney draft. Also check out the flue damper operation and make sure that the brick is in the fireplace. In short, thoroughly inspect the fireplace to see if it is in a proper place.

Task 3
Now when it comes to how to winterize a house, you cannot forget that you will have to winterize your home windows. Using a rope caulk for sealing the windows is the best way to seal the windows. Install storm doors and windows for blocking the cold draft and increasing the energy efficiency by around 45%. You can even choose to tape plastic on the windows. Doors will be fine by just installing weatherstripping on them in areas of leakage.

Task 4
Make sure that the exposed piping on the exterior is well protected and insulated. At the least you can do is to install a foam insulation. If possible wrap them with electrical heating tape and then insulate. This is more so when it is about crawlspace, attic, outside walls, where sometimes pipes are not insulated. For the exposed faucets, drain the water from them and you can even insulate the hose bibb. Do not forget to disconnect the garden hoses and the like. Another thing you can do is add plumber’s anti freeze to the toilet tank, toilet bowl and all the drains. You will also need to know about how to winterize a sprinkler system.

In addition to this, regarding how to winterize a house, you can check all the heating and air conditioning ducts and the likes, basement waterproofing and insulation and any other part of your house. Doing all these things will help make yours an energy efficient home as well keep your house warm. Oh! And have loads of winter clothing handy! That is where I will stop ranting winterizing your house! Ciao till next time!

One of the ways for beautifying the floor and protecting the base of the walls at the same time is to install cove base. Cove base is a type of flooring which is installed in the place where the wall meets the floor. Rubber and vinyl cove base are used in this flooring technique since they are quite inexpensive when compared to the traditional wooden baseboards. This material is also easily to install and requires little maintenance. Available in an array of colors and unique designs, cove base is created to match with the interior designing of any house. The basic things required for this are cove base tiles, cutting instrument and mortar or adhesive to stick the tiles to the wall. Cove base tiles are easily available in various home improvement stores and also with some online retailers. You can seek the help of a professional flooring contractor to lay the tiles or can even do it on your own. Guidebooks regarding the installation process can be used if you are doing this task on your own. So if you want to transform a drab room into a stunning one, then go in for cove base installation. Believe me, you won’t regret your decision and you will get all your money’s worth. Let us take a look at some simple steps for installing cove base tiles to the wall.

Cove Base Installation

Installing a cove base can be done in an easy way and you don’t have to be a veteran to do so. With a few basic skills you can lay cove base tiles along the walls and floor, yourself. Here are some simple instructions regarding the installation of cove base.Review the floor plan of the room, where you are installing the cove base. Take appropriate measurements before laying the tiles.Lay the tiles to get a rough idea of how they would look, once the actual process has been completed. If you are satisfied with the results, you can go ahead with the task.With the help of a power tile saw, cut the cove base tiles evenly based on the measurements taken of the floor. Once the tiles have been cut, apply cove base adhesive to the tile on the face down and press it firmly to the wall. Repeat this procedure till all the tiles have been laid.With the help of a damp rag, rub off the excess adhesive from the tiles, before it becomes dry. If you have maintained uniformity while laying the tiles, the edges can be hardly noticeable. You can follow these steps to install cove base in the remaining rooms.Let the tiles set for about one day and press them again so they are pressed firmly into the wall.Maintenance of the cove base is also quite simple just like the installation. For cleaning the tiles, you can choose mild cleansers available in every household, like detergent or soap water.In case any tile has been damaged or is detached from the wall, it can be easily pulled from the walls and replaced. Using small tools, the old vinyl tiles can be removed from the walls. Reinstallation involves reapplication of the adhesive, fixing it to the wall and recaulking.This was a brief overview regarding cove base. Make the interiors of your house more stylish by installing cove base that are available in versatile colors and tile designs. This can add a dramatic effect to the appearance of every room in your house.

Technically, if you define wet sanding, I shall say it is a better alternative to the ordinary drywall sanding within a household repair or remodeling. Wet sanding method is effective and safe firstly because dry dust doesn’t get released into the air in the time of action. Working this way is a better option to all those people who are highly allergic to excessive rubbing. And secondly, if no dust, no extra efforts to clean up the mess settled on other furnitures. Hopefully, by now you must have got the basic idea of this concept! Wet sanding is nothing but a process of dry sanding an inflicted drywall or plaster at the time of repairs in your home. The main ingredient used in wet sanding is the proper choice of a sanding sponge. Yes sponge is the ‘tool’ used to sand the patches and blocks on the wall. It often requires a rinsing and cleansing though!

For a drywall repair taking place anywhere in your home. Like in your living room or kitchen, perhaps bathroom, using the proper technique of wet sanding is necessary. Below I have discussed the simplest method of wet sanding wood.

Wet Sanding Wood

The main objective of sanding wood, or any other wood furniture is reducing the load on using liquid sand paper. the process of dry sanding using a sandpaper will create a blockage to the material you are removing. It often sticks to the paper and makes your job all the more tough. Hence wet sanding is introduced which will remove the waste material in the blink of your eye and also keep the sandpaper all clean. When it comes to furnitures merely applying varnishes and paint doesn’t finish the job. Achieving a perfect refurbished surface is an important aspect. Check these steps below to do the same, before you jump only on the aesthetic part.

1. Step: Considering any of your furniture, sand its surface to a 320 grit and soundly remove all the sanding dust from the holes and pores of the woodworking. You would have to use a compressed air or an ordinary vacuum to do so. Also, keep a tack cloth at hand to clean the surface.

2. Step: Once you successfully complete step 1, paste a wood filler to create a smooth furbished surface on your working piece. Now mixing a simple solution of water and detergent wet sand the surface and use a rubber sanding block at the bottom center. All this procedure hardly takes anytime to finish. In the final step, use an automotive wax to polish your article of furniture.

Since, wet sanding is the method of damping the drywall right before sanding it, it is the most recommended and significant method in working faster towards a repairing project. While wet sanding drywall ensure to keep a bucket of water next to you. Dip the sponge in and keep rinsing it frequently when it becomes turbid. With this here are some tips about wet sanding drywall (painting new drywall) that you could keep in mind.

Tips on Wet Sanding Drywall
Selecting the Sponge: Sponge selection is the important aspect of wet sanding. They aren’t heavy weighted at all and its availability is easy in any near-by store. Since they are light-weighted they are also bigger in size, at least bigger than your ordinary kitchen sponge. These sponges have a quality that wets and sands the drywall simultaneously. It is advisable to go for a sponge tapering at it’s corners.Cleaning the Sponge: Now a constant usage of the sponge is definitely going to mud the sponge where all the sediments and particles would remain absorbed. Hence often cleaning would be required, because with more dust settled in the sponge, picking up of the same will be annoying. Ensure to keep a bucket of water to rinse and wring the sponge frequently. Also, make sure you replace and refill the dirty bucket with fresh water occasionally.Using Water: Water isn’t always a good solution to everything. In wet sanding case, if you use too much water, it will have a substantial effect on the wall. Using lot of water would strikingly reduce the drying time of the wall. This would lengthen your working project and ultimately bore you till its all over. Another aspect of using excessive water is the lifting or turning of the plaster wall. Too much liquid on it would make it all messy. So wring your sponge as often as you can to avoid all this fuss. Hopefully, all these straightforward tips and discussion on wet sanding was fruitful for you to go about working your repair works in your house or backyard! Don’t haste with your job while working on any remodeling project. Although the finessing and refinement of an object takes time in the books of wet sanding, its far more a better option if you desire to gain a clean process.

Bricks are one of the most important and primary building materials that are a must for any structural building. They not only provide the strength and stability to the building structure but also give it a distinguished look if used solo and kept uncovered. Simple brick structures are one of the all time classic trends in architecture. They add an aesthetic value to the artifact and allows you to try various looks for the particular building. But the only drawback of brick walls is that the mortar between bricks comes off when it is exposed to external weather changes, including heavy rains, snow, or heat. And hence brick pointing is important to maintain the brick structure strong and neat.

What is Brick Pointing?

When I heard the word brick pointing for the first time about three years back, I thought it is some complex construction process. But I was wrong. Brick pointing is nothing but replacing the mortar or cement between the bricks. Generally, mortar from the old brick structures comes off after some years making the structure weak. Apart from weakening the structure, it also gives it a rough and unrepresentable look. Imagine, you have a nice brick fireplace in the highly furnished living room but the rough bricks are worn off with all the mortar coming off the bricks. This can ruin the entire look of your house. Be it big or small, rough and unrepresentable brick structures does not look good and hence need to be repaired. At such moments, brick pointing is what comes to your rescue that transforms the rough brick construction to an elegant brick artifact. By the way, I still don’t know why this process of replacing the brick mortar is called brick pointing. If you have any idea then share your knowledge with Buzzle by posting your comments in the comment box provided below.

Process of Brick Pointing

Now you know what is brick pointing and might have realized that there are so many brick walls and structures that you want to repair. Well, in that case, you must read the article further and get down with your home improvement project all by yourself. Because, hiring a professional can cost you a lot and hence to keep the brick pointing cost to the minimum it is better to do it on your own, especially if the brick wall construction is smaller. Given below are some of the simple steps that would assist you in the process of brick pointing:

Before you start with brick pointing, you will need following brick pointing tools:MortarWaterPointing trowelHammerChiselWaterproof glovesMaskSafety glasses BroomBucketProcedure:

First, get ready with all the safety glasses, gloves, and mask. Do not forget to wear any of them as they are important for your safety.Now take a closer look at the wall and check from which areas the mortar has come off. Decide if you want replace the mortar between all the bricks or only from those which are highly damaged.Once you decide that, remove the old mortar or cement from the bricks using hammer and chisel. Do it carefully without breaking or causing any damage to the surrounding bricks.Now, clean the structure by dusting it with a broom properly so that small pieces of dry mortar are removed. The bricks are now ready to get the new mortar.Start preparing the cement for filling. Mix water and mortar in a bucket as much as you need. Keep the consistency moderate so that you can place it between the bricks properly.You can fill the gaps using mortar bags or you can do it manually by using a pointing trowel. Give a proper shape to the mortar on the joints so that it looks neat.Once all the gaps are replaced with new mortar, let the wall dry thoroughly. After this, your brick structure will be shining again!

You see how easy is the brick pointing process. You can use various types of concrete to bring about different look and strength to the brick structure. You can buy the necessary tools from any local dealer but be assured of the quality of the materials you are buying. Remember that, bricks are costly and hence it is important to make the best of them. So the next time you notice a damaged brick wall in your house you know what to do!