How to replace a Termite Damaged Sill Plate

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Termites can wreak havoc on the framing of your home or business. If you have caught and dealt with the infestation of termites before they have actually eaten the home to pieces from around you, and if it is still standing, here are a few hints on how to repair and replace the damaged framing. If the home is totaled from the termite damage, it may be time to read up on building a new home.

If termites have eaten into the main sill plate of your home it will be important to replace this sill plate. Did you know that until fairly recently builders were not required to use treated wood for a sill plate. If you happen to own a home that does not have a treated sill plate and termites have destroyed it, you will need to replace this damaged piece.

Install a temporary beam in the basement of your home. This beam could be made out of doubled 2x10s or 8s. Jack the temporary beam with either screw jacks, hydraulic jacks or just plain doubled-up 2x4s. You dont need to lift up more than possibly 1/16 of an inch or just enough to relieve the bearing weight that is on the offending member. This weight may consist of the exterior walls, roof and interior floor joists. If you have any questions on the jacking process it would be wise to consult either a professional contractor or engineer. Keep in mind if your home is brick a different method must be used.

Once the weight is off it will be time to remove the old sill plate. Keep in mind that sill plates are often bolted to the foundation. If this is the case it may be necessary to chisel out small sections at a time. This part of the procedure can be very time consuming, so make sure you dont get impatient and dont mind getting dirty. It may be necessary to use a sawzall with a metal cutting blade to cut the nails, just be careful not to let the sawzall blade poke holes in the exterior siding.

Once the old termite damaged sill plate is removed measure where the existing foundation bolts are located. Transfer these measurements onto the new sill plate and cut slots wide enough to allow the installation of the new sill plate.

Install the new sill plate, slipping it into the location of the old one. After it is in place use oversized fender washers, or washers that the engineer has specified, and properly sized nuts. Tighten up the nuts to snug the new sill plate into place.

After the sill plate is installed it will be time to remove the jack system and the temporary beam. Once the weight of the home is back onto the new sill plate, it will be necessary to nail all of the joists into the new sill plate. This procedure can be tough, especially in tight spaces. If you dont have a nail gun or if the space is to small to fit a nail gun, specialty fasteners may be needed and these can be specified by an engineer.

The Advantages of Seamless Guttering

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Do you have a home that needs new gutters? Perhaps your home has never had rain gutters installed and you are trying to find what option out there on the market offers the best combination of value and dependability. There are a number of reasons why you should seriously consider having seamless guttering installed on your home.

Like traditional gutters, a seamless system is designed to direct rainwater away from walkways and doors, but it offers a significant advantage over the old system. The design of gutters in the past has meant that there were seams and connection points which were prone to breakage and leaks. The seamless system, as the name would imply, has no seams which makes leaks and breaks of thing of the past. Although a leaky gutter system may seem like little more than an annoyance, they can actually be very damaging to your home if they are not dealt with immediately.

Leaks in an older gutter system can actually cause wood rot and damage to your home that can cost thousands of dollars to repair. Unfortunately, this type of damage is not generally noticed until it is too late. Because of a seamless system ensures that there are no leaks, all the water is directed away from your home, ensuring years of good looks and problem free service.

Of course, a seamless gutter system also looks fantastic and is available in a wide variety of colors and materials to perfectly match the exterior of your home. From aluminum to galvanized steel, vinyl, and even copper, the only real choice you have to make once you decide to have seamless guttering installed is what will best complement the overall look of your home and how much you want to spend. While this type of system will be more expensive than the more traditional gutter system, the investment that you make can pay off when it comes to adding value to your home and preventing maintenance and damage over the years that you have it installed.

It is important, however, to make sure that you do business with a firm that is experience when it comes to installing this type of gutter system. While it may not be incredibly complicated to install on the average home, a qualified installation company will be able to handle any unforeseen problems and get the job done a lot quicker, which will make the investment a smart choice for you and your home.

How to Use LPG Gas Regulators

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Very often people are caught off guard when there is no gas left in the cylinder. This can be quite tough, particularly when you are short on cash. However, with LPG gas regulators you can be better prepared since it will tell you when you are about to run out of gas. This will enable you to know how much gas is left in the cylinder so that you are in a position to replace the cylinder when the need arises. LPG stands for liquefied gas and is essentially a blend of butane and propane, a highly combustible combination. This gas is normally stored in steel cylinders because it evaporates when exposed to room temperature.

Things to Consider

There are quite a few things that you should consider when using a gas cylinder regulator. This is because LPG comprises of butane and propane, both of which are highly inflammable and also quite hazardous. Hence it is very important that you know how to use these regulators so that unnecessary risks can be avoided. When dealing with gas bottle regulators, check the rubber tubing carefully for any signs of cracks or holes so that you can replace it as and when required. Always clean the regulator with a wet cloth and make sure that it is kept far from inflammable things.

Check the regulators for pressure from time to time. In case you smell gas be cautious and avoid lighting a matchstick to determine whether there is a leakage or not. Instead, make sure that all doors and windows are open to allow fresh air to come in. Likewise, avoid operating any electrical appliances or switches in case of a gas leak as it spark a fire quite easily. After taking the necessary precautions, call your gas company so that an experienced person can take care of the leak.

Replacement of Cylinder

When you are replacing your old cylinder and connecting to a new one, press the LPG gas regulator down till you hear a click sound. This indicates that your cylinder is ready for use. Likewise, when disconnecting gas bottle regulators, make sure that the cylinder is completely empty of gas and then switch off the regulator knob. When using LPG gas regulators, one cannot help emphasizing the importance of safety. Make sure that your cylinder is far away from electrical appliances. At the same time refrain from making any repairs yourself. Finally, make sure that you buy gas cylinder regulators from authorized dealers only so that you are sure of its quality and authenticity.

Advantages of Travertine Flooring To Add Value To Your Home

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If you are looking to add great value to your home then considering travertine tiles to add that spice of elegance and beauty. Travertine floors are made from the majestic natural stone and offer incredible depth and colour, adding a great aesthetic appearl to your home. Travertine flooring has its advantages and limitations. Understanding your lifestyle, needs and preferences is key to ensuring that the function of this flooring option is fully maximized for your home.

So what exactly is travertine?

Travertine flooring is made from travertine, a type of limestone that forms through mineral deposits, particularly in and around hot springs. Travertine limestone is composed of calcium carbonate, the same material that makes stalactites and stalagmites.

Travertine tiles have been used for many years not just for its durability but also for its looks and texture. The Romans, for example, built many of their famous buildings using travertine. A notable example is the Colosseum, a building made mostly from the material and has remained as one of the most enduring landmarks in Italy. It is also commonly found in some of the world’s oldest buildings.

So what are the advantages of travertine flooring?

Travertine flooring is quite durable and with sufficient care, it can last for many years and maintain its beauty. When sold, the material is usually displayed with a mark indicating its hardness on the MOH scale. In general, travertine registers at the MOH scale with a 3-4 rating, which is near or equivalent to that of marble. As long as it is sealed, treated and cared for, it can withstand regular foot traffic plus lots more.

If your flooring is not sealed and installed in its rough form, it offers excellent traction. This is why a travertine paver is safer to use than ceramic tiles outdoors in the garden or patio. Travertine also comes in several colours such as beige, white or ivory, brown, red and gold so tiles can be matched to a preferred colour scheme. It is also processed and sold in different finishes such as chiselled, brushed, tumbled and honed.

What are the disadvantages of travertine flooring?

Travertine flooring is made out of natural limestone. If it is unsealed, it can be damaged or stained by high-acid products because it is by nature porous. Travertine is alkaline and will react when it comes in contact with acids from liquids and foods. It can also be damaged over time due to corrosion if cleaned using acid-based products. It also tends to be rather slippery when wet, especially if it is polished.

This type of flooring is also a high-end construction material and as such, tends to be priced at a premium. It is possible it can be as expensive as granite tiles or even more. Travertine flooring also behaves similarly to other natural stone materials in that it can chip or break and is vulnerable to scratching. It also tends to be quite heavy, particularly the larger 12″x12″ tile units, which can weight as much as 2.5kgs.

Travertine flooring also requires regular care and maintenance and may not be the best option in homes where there are kids and/or pets if it is unsealed. Very often you’ll find that it is used more often in the patio and living room areas and occassionally in the kitchen or bathroom.

The Corn Pellet Stove – a brief explanation

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A corn pellet stove is one of several types of pellet stoves – kitchen appliances that burn either wood pellets or biomass pellets that are fed into a burning pot. These pellet stoves are used in residential and even industrial sites mostly for heating and sometimes even for cooking. They can be free-standing or they can be inserted onto fireplaces and vented towards a chimney. The use of biomass matter for pellet stoves and heaters came about as a result of the global fuel crisis that necessitated the use of alternative and renewable sources of energy.

Fuel for pellet stoves

Users of pellet stoves utilize cherry pits, sunflower seeds, even wheat as biomass fuel, but a lot of these pellet stoves’ makers opt for the use of another biomass fuel – corn. While wood may be the original choice, and the other seeds and pits additional choices, most pellet stove users swear by corn pellets. Pellet stoves that are specifically made to use corn pellets are becoming more and more in demand because they have been proven to be more fuel efficient and less maintenance-intensive. Although a corn pellet stove looks almost exactly like a wood pellet stove, the former usually does not require a chimney as it is highly efficient. It can simply be vented through pipes to an outer wall. As such, corn pellet stoves may be used to heat almost any room in a house.

How it works – the basics

Like any other pellet stove that has a hopper, auger, blower, firebox, vacuum, and control box, a corn pellet stove feeds the biomass pellets from the hopper through the auger or screw onto the firepot. The auger is used to control the heat. The blower is used for combustion and exhaust as it blows combustion air over the pellets and forces smoke outdoors. The stove mechanisms allow for efficiently clean performance. The intense heat that is produced by the stove is highly concentrated. The convection blower and heat exchangers allow for the circulation of the heated air towards living or cooking spaces.

The use of corn pellets ensure clean, pollution-free burning so that chimneys are no longer required for the corn pellet stove. A vent from the stove towards a window or opening outdoors will suffice. With its highly combustible nature, the use of corn in the pellet stove enables the heating of average-sized homes on less fuel, and less money spent for fuel of course, compared to other traditional and conventional fuels. Like a traditional furnace, a corn pellet stove is combustion-based – burning the corn pellets and warming up the surroundings as heat radiates from the flames. The secret is in the gradual feed of the corn pellets through the hopper, allowing for consistent heat which is not possible if the biomass fuel lot is simply dumped onto the fire. The larger the hopper, the longer the stove is able to continuously burn to provide long-term heating.

Another aspect of the corn pellet stove’s efficiency is the heat-exchanger inside the furnace. The heat exchanger, like that in a gas-furnace, extracts heat from the exhaust. The result is a more efficient heating system that allows for more space areas to be heated for less fuel consumption. It will only be a matter of strategically positioning the corn pellet stove in a residential or industrial structure to get the optimum heat from the contraption. Facility of locating is addressed easily as the stove is simply vented, no need for a chimney, so that smoke exhaust is forced outdoors.