Kitchen Faucet Repair – Step by Step
Before you consider calling in for commercial help to repair, kitchen faucets look at what is involved in repairing the faucets you have.
The initial common challenge you are tasked with when doing a home repair is to open the kitchen faucet mechanism itself. To this you have to unscrew the Allen screw that holds it all together. If you can’t unscrew the Allen screw to remove the handle from the rotary ball on the faucet. Not so fast, you should not consider giving up and going to purchase a completely new faucet? No. Don’t let that 15cent item drive you into buying a $90| faucet unit now! Normally you will have to remove the faucet handle to get to the worn rubber seats that started the drip in the first place.
First try spraying the screw with penetrating oil every day for a few days. Then try turning the screw again to see if it’ll come loose or not. If this doesn’t do the trick, or if you finally break the head of the Allen screw, next you will have to try to drill out the Allen screw. To do this use a drill bit about the same radius as or slightly smaller than the screw and work slowly or you’ll break the faucet handle and have to replace it, but it’s well worth the try it if you can save the faucet valve inside. As a last resort attempt, you can just unwind the cap with the faucet handle still connected.
If the Allen screw is stuck, or if you strip it so it will no longer come out, then just unscrew the cap with the faucet handle in place. You can’t grasp the flattened rim with the faucet handle in place. Instead, cushion the plier jaws and grab the round edge underneath.
This is tricky, because you cannot easily grab the flat edge of the cap, with the edge that’s shaped for the pliers. ensure that you cushion the jaws well when you grab the smooth, rounded body of the cap. It is best to use rubber tape, because then youwon’t crush the cap too hard. Gently Move the cap counter clockwise to unscrew it. The assembly that you remove will now have the faucet handle, cap, cam, packing and ball.
The following is to release the ball from the stem. The Allen screw clamps onto the stem. Try grabbing it with the pliers and twisting it slowly. The goal is to pull apart the parts so that you can recover and use the cap over . You’ll still need to purchase a new faucet handle and a faucet repair kit that will include a new ball.
If this doesn’t succeed, the only alternative is to change out the entire faucet. Don’t give up, this is a challenging fix.
Vintage Kitchens of the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s
1930s: The Steam-lined -Depression Era “Modern Kitchen”
By the 1930′s, the kitchen was being transformed from the old fashioned kitchen to the “Streamlined-Modern Kitchen” with time saving features, better organization and much improved ventilation. The “all-electric kitchen” was promoted in popular magazines with numerous advertisements showing newly designed small and major appliances. Mixers were the homemakers dream now designed with numerous attachments that could sift flour, mix dough, grate cheese, squeeze lemons, whip potatoes, shred, slice and chop vegetables and even sharpen knives. “Depression Green” was the “in” color used on the wooden handles of kitchen utensils, on kitchen cabinets and tables and on kitchen wares. Often accessories were cream and green replacing the white and black look of the previous decades.
Other popular color combinations in the 1930s were Gray and Red or Crimson, Silver and Green, Pearl Pink and Blue, as well as the use of checkered patterns on textiles. Kitchen wares such as canisters and Bread boxes tended to be softly painted with perhaps a simple decal.
In 1935 the National Modernization Bureau was established to promote modernization throughout the country. Manufacturers competed for better designed appliances and kitchen accessories. Color began to enter the kitchens of the thirties and articles in magazines featured decorating tips on color schemes and how to incorporate the kitchen into the rest of the home. Kitchens were no longer work stations but gaining as much attention as the rest of the home. Small and large appliances were available in color and Sears and Montgomery Ward featured colorful kitchen wares and “japanned” accessories such as canister sets, range sets, cake savers, bread boxes and waste baskets.
1940s: The Postwar Colorful Era
The Post War kitchen of the 1940′s began to become family gathering places and now tables and chairs made of chrome bases with enamel, linoleum or plastic tops could be added to a more spacious kitchen which replaced the smaller work centered earlier kitchens. Separate formal dining rooms were being replaced by kitchens that could accommodate the family and guests. The kitchen was becoming a very inviting space and primary colors dominated the interior d
White Kitchen Cabinets and Kitchen Design
Today the most popular type of home improvement homeowners are wanting and doing is kitchen remodeling. Kitchens are the main attraction and social center of your home for preparing meals for your family and for friends a comfortable place to socialize and gather. Kitchen design and planning is most important step for you to achieve the personal look, practical use and customized to meet you and your family’s lifestyle and needs. One of the most popular colors kitchen designers choose is white. White kitchen cabinets can be used to make a subtle design statement or portray a very dramatic distinctive look. The color white speaks for itself and depending on the style of kitchen cabinetry and door style you can create a look that fits your personality. White kitchen cabinets are used for many different decor such as contemporary, traditional, country, French country, English, shaker and many more. There are also many choices of material used for kitchen cabinets like; plastic laminate, white painted wood, high gloss lacquer, vinyl foil, white stain and white washed finish – all having their our design statement. Each of these styles has a distinctive look and can reflect your own personality.
White kitchen cabinets make color choices for accessories and countertops somewhat easier to choose an accent color theme throughout the kitchen and surrounding rooms. Using white color cabinetry in any of the styles mentioned can accomplish a design which is timeless and stay stylish for years to come. Contemporary style white gloss finishes give a very sleek modern look, while white painted wood raised panel door styles can give a warm traditional feeling in a kitchen. The flooring and countertop colors are the main accent areas and can drastically give different moods with different colors. A white traditional style cabinet with wood flooring is very popular and makes the kitchen feel very inviting and warm. Adding granite countertops to this combination again can totally change the mood of the kitchen depending on the color and texture.
The color choice for appliances is also very important and contributes to the total design statement. I would suggest if you are planning a traditional style kitchen use matching white wood front decorator panels on the dishwasher and refrigerator fronts as they will blend in better with the total look and use your choice for ovens, cook tops and sinks as stainless steel or black. In a contemporary style kitchen many designers choose to accent all appliances with contrasting colors to create a more dramatic look. In the past many people felt that white kitchen cabinets were only for showrooms and thought white was too much work to maintain. With today’s new wood finishes and synthetic materials white kitchen cabinetry is as easy to maintain as any other stained color. White kitchen cabinets have been in style for the past 20 years and show no signs of going out of the style trends to date. It is much easier to change color themes from time to time by changing window treatments, place mats and countertop accessories with new accent colors if you choose.
Kitchen Remodeling – A Checklist for Your Kitchen Remodeling Project
Kitchen remodeling takes both time and money. A major remodel with top-of-the-line appliances and cabinets can easily run more than $100,000. As for time, allow at least four months for a remodeling job or, more realistically, six to eight months. It takes about two months for custom cabinet orders, more time for planning, order processing, shipping, demolition, installation, moving back into your kitchen and re-organization.
While it’s tempting to get started as quickly as possible once you decide to remodel, it’s better to catch your breath, do your homework and think through your plans because you don’t have the time or money to make mistakes.
Start with the basics. Consider what the primary uses of the kitchen will be then collect ideas for enhancing your project. Put some initial thought into this prior to meeting with a contractor. Following is a checklist of items to consider when planning your kitchen remodel.
Determine the primary uses of your kitchen: cooking food storage dining equipment / utensil storage specialized food preparation areas waste disposal laundry secondary media center message station mini-office hobby / craft center entertaining mudroom traffic hub
Enhance your kitchen remodeling project: Brainstorm with household members Find ideas in model homes, showrooms, home shows, magazines, books and catalogs Appliances – ovens, stoves, cook tops, refrigerators, dishwashers, range, microwaves, hoods, and exhaust fans Cabinets – wood cabinets in oak, maple, cherry, hickory, pine, birch, metal, plastic, cabinet re-facing, kitchen storage items and kitchen islands Countertops – stone, marble, quartz, granite, solid surface, wood, metal and Formica Flooring – hardwood flooring, cork, bamboo, laminate, linoleum flooring, flooring installation, repair and refinishing floors Lighting – light controls, chandeliers, fixtures, lamps, fluorescent lights, recessed and spot lighting Sinks and Fixtures – kitchen faucets, stainless steel, brass, plastic and glass handles Windows – skylight windows, double hung and single hung windows, casement and garden windows for growing herbs and plants Select a design professional and/or contractor that meets your needs
The more details you can determine prior to your kitchen remodeling project the better. It will make your remodeling project more efficient and, thus, less expensive.
Kitchen Backsplash Design – What Material To Choose?
Are you renovating your kitchen and you are on a tight budget? Then it is time for you to consider a kitchen backsplash design.
Kitchens that are used for long periods of time typically have drips and splatters so backsplash tiles do make good sense. In fact, they are now becoming more of a significant design feature. Kitchen backsplashes come in wide range of materials and the most popular ones include:
1. Granite
If you want to put in real value to your kitchen, then you should use granite for your kitchen backsplash. This material isn’t just elegant and beautiful; it is also exceptionally durable. Granite is considered as the hardest material available, next to diamonds. It is a perfect material for decorating your kitchen because it comes in wide array of types and shades. The polished and smooth surface of granite makes it very easy to clean and to maintain.
2. Glass
Also called acrylic-block, this type of backsplash is usually a component of an exterior wall, allowing natural light to come inside. Using this type of material is really unique and it involves extraordinary treatment so it needs to be planned carefully. It delivers the true brilliance and shine that you’re looking for. Offered in virtually any size and color, glass tiles have the ability to give your kitchen a brilliant and dirt-free shine.
3. Stainless Steel
With a backsplash made up of stainless steel, you are on your way to creating a superb design statement not just for your kitchen but for your home as well. Stainless steel tiles can also help in making your kitchen appear fresh and more exciting. Also, they are easy to clean and to maintain; they will not rust or stain and they are ideal for clean yet simple design concepts. Because of these reasons, they are gaining more popularity for kitchen applications. They come in different finishes and patterns including matte or satin finishes.
4. Ceramic Tiles
Since they come in tremendous range of finishes, sizes, colors and textures, ceramic tiles can give every homeowner never-ending design possibilities. They offer the budget-conscious people a chance to achieve a custom design while saving on installation. However, one disadvantage of this backsplash material is that you are required to clean and reseal the grout quite often.
5. Tin
Tin backsplash is a remarkably unique material that’s perfect in some of the fresh designs.
6. Slate
By using an attractive slate one, you can create a connection between your kitchen and the outside world. This material is a perfect choice for ordinary wood finishes and high-end lodges and they blend well with the other natural hues in your kitchen.
Since the kitchen backsplash design contributes a lot to the overall appearance of your kitchen, then you should be careful in selecting the material that you will use. You should pick the material that will not change after being used for a period of time.
Travertine Kitchen Tiles – Strength And Style
Travertine is quickly becoming widely popular because of its advantageous qualities of strength and beauty. The stone is holding its ground among other well-known materials like marble and granite. Just like other kitchen tiles, there are distinctive traits that make travertine quite unique. Here are more details about the stone.
This is classified under the limestone or Calcium Carbonate family. Travertine belongs in the same family as marble although the latter has been heated and pressurized more by the earth’s crust. The stone is basically formed by dissolving minerals in ground water after which it will be transferred to the earth’s surface by natural bodies of water like rivers and springs.
This comes in various shades and colors as well such as beige, walnut, gold and ivory. The stone gets its colors from iron compounds and other organic impurities in the earth while it is being formed. There are four main finishes to travertine such as polished which appears shiny and lustrous, honed which has a smooth surface, brushed which has a grainy and sandy look and tumbled which is also more textured and rugged.
The edges of brushed travertine are chiseled to provide a rustic appearance. Honed finish is the most common when it comes to this type of stone. Polished finish is very shiny and a present well under a lot of light while tumbled is ideal for country style kitchens since it reflects less light.
Historically, travertine has been widely used in the creation of buildings and structures. After thousands of years, its use has expanded to cladding, wall coverings, counter tops and above all, flooring. There are several manufacturers and retailers of travertine tiles such as your local hardware store or online shops. You may ask for samples to find the right one that matches your kitchen theme. Standard size measures 1 square foot while there are sample sizes as well measuring 4 x 4 inches. A single tile will cost anywhere from $20 to $40 depending on quality, texture, finish and color.