Indy Total Construction

Epoxy resin coating for baths comes in a kit consisting of colored rosin, a chemical hardening agent, and a can of special brush cleaner. All you do is mix the resin with the hardener and, following the manufacturer’s instructions closely, brush it on’ There are. though, a number of points to bear in mind.

First, you must be very careful about the preparation. The bath surface must be scrupulously clean, dry, and free from grease: otherwise the coating will simply peel off. Lime scale and hard water staining should be removed as far as possible. and then the bath must be vigorously scrubbed with a warm solution of washing soda. Pay particular attention to soap holders, the tidemark line and the area round the waste outlet where soap deposits tend to be at their worst.

llow the bath to dry and then, as a final precaution against grease, wipe over the surface with a little of the special brush cleaner on a soft. lint-free cloth. Again, allow the bath to dry and tie plastic bags round taps and shower roses to contain any unexpected. and potentially damaging, drips splashing the coating before it is dry.

Secondly, great care must be taken with the application; provided you use a good quality brush, you shouldn’t find it too difficult to achieve a smooth, even coverage — though you might find a second coat necessary. For a really professional finish you might consider using a spray gun. Make sure you mask off areas that you don’t want painted and check that there is nothing plastic in the gun that is likely to be corroded by the mixture.

Finally, always follow the safety rules. Two-part coatings of this type are normally highly inflammable. so be sure to work in a well-ventilated room. Keep naked flames well away from the solution and, of course. don’t smoke while you’re doing the job. If any resin comes into contact with your skin or eyes, wash it off immediately with cold water.

Start on the floor of the bath and work up towards the rim, tackling the half furthest from you first. As soon as you have finished. clean your equipment with the cleaner provided and then rinse the brushes or gun with warm soapy water.

It’s also a good idea to throw away any resin/hardener mixture you have left over as it will set solid. even in a sealed container. Finally, you should ensure that you take good care of the newly coated bath. Don’t use it for at least 48 hours. don’t use acid-based cleaners on it and keep soap in a soap tray or it might stain the surface If you get any coating on your hands. you should use brush cleaner on them and then rinse them in warm, soapy water.

In this age of electricity, modern homes have more and more electricity built into them. In home maintenance and repair, knowledge about electricity is a must. It is important to know which electrical jobs you can handle and when to call an electrician.

People who work with electricity are called electricians. As specialists, they put wires in houses, install fuse boxes or panels, repair large electrical appliances, work on doorbells, and generally handle all common electrical equipment problems.

The most common house current is ’110 volt, 60 hertz per second alternating current (called AC). AC is a type of electricity that “alternates.” This means that it changes its direction of flow as it passes through a wire. Sixty hertz AC is electricity that changes its direction of flow 60 times each second.

Another current, 220 volt AC is also available for use in most homes. It is very dangerous to work with, and a qualified electrician should be called in if you suspect trouble in a 220 volt circuit.

Electricity may be dangerous, but it is not difficult to work with if you follow certain basic rules. The following units include the basic safety rules for working with electricity and explain simple electrical repairs you can make around the house.

When speaking of electricity, the word hot means charged with electricity. Hot also means dangerous. To avoid danger when working with electricity, follow these rules:

• Assume that all electrical wires and parts are hot

• Always check to make sure that the electricity is turned off before starting or continuing any electrical work

• Never turn on the electricity for someone else unless asked to do so

• Always check for electricity with a circuit tester

• Never work with wires or electrical equipment in wet or damp places Electricity is invisible. You can’t tell

if a wire is hot by looking at it. Things that electricity can run through are called conductors. Things that electricity cannot run through are called insulators. Electricity runs well through most metals and through water. So wires and electrical parts are made of metal. Because the human body is mostly water, it also makes a good conductor of electricity. Always be careful around electricity!

When you are working with appliances, you can turn off the electricity by pulling the plug. Most shop work is done this way. But when you are working on wiring in a house you must turn off the electricity in a different way.

All house wiring runs to a fuse box or breaker box. A fuse or breaker in this box completes each circuit. Too much electricity flowing through a wire could make it hot enough to melt and cause a fire. To prevent this, the fuse will melt or the circuit breaker will open automatically when the wires get too hot. This opens the circuit and stops the flow of electricity. The electricity can also be stopped by removing the fuse or opening the circuit breaker by hand.

The circuit breaker box and the fuse box have a main switch. This switch turns on or off all the electricity in the house. When electricians are working they will padlock the main switch in the off position and tag it.

A careful electrician tests bare wires with a circuit tester. A circuit tester is made of two wire probes and a small bulb which glows if electricity is flowing through the wire being checked.

Fuses are designed to melt and break the circuit when the flow of electricity becomes too great. Removing the fuse will also break the circuit.

The main switch on a fuse or circuit breaker box controls all the electricity in the house.

Blown fuses must be replaced. Blown circuit breakers, however, may be reset by hand.

On fuse boxes the switch may be locked open to insure that the electricity remains off. On circuit breaker boxes, the main switch is thrown and the cover is then locked.

Most circuit testers are made of two wires or probes and a neon bulb. The two probes are touched to the wires. If the bulb glows, the wires are hot (electricity is flowing). Circuit testers have different voltage ratings so be sure you are using the correct type.

Hammer time

By themselves, tools are not dangerous. Tools become dangerous only in the hands of a careless person. The best safety rules for handling tools are the simplest:

• Keep all tools in good condition

• Use the correct tool for the job

• Put away all tools when you are not using them

• Keep your working area neat and clean

• Know which end of a tool cuts, and always keep that end turned away from yourself and other people

• Use power tools that are grounded or double-insulated

• Wear eye protection when you use tools that make flying chips

• Keep power tool guards in place

People can stumble and fall on a sharp saw or chisel. They can accidentally knock a hammer off a bench on to someone’s foot. If everything is put away, all the time, accidents like these become rare.

Tools in good shape are easier and safer to work with. Dull chisels, loose hammer heads, and broken screwdrivers should be repaired or replaced.

Tools that are safely put away do not cause accidents and injury.

Everyone knows what a nail or a screw is—until a store clerk asks which kind you want. There are many to choose from. The most common fasteners are:

• Tacks, nails, and brads

• Screws

• Nuts and bolts

Tacks have large heads. Brads are small nails. Nails are sized by the “penny” (d): the bigger the penny number, the larger the nail. Some nails have extra-large heads to keep from pulling through soft material. Finish nails or casing nails have very small heads so they can be set below the surface. This is done with a nail set. The holes are then puttied over. There are even special nails to be driven into concrete.

Screws also come in many types and sizes. Their size is based on the thickness of the shank. Screw gages tell how thick the shank is. Most screws with flat heads can be driven so they are flush with the surface. This is called countersinking.

Countersinking and drilling for flathead screws. If you have to sink a large number of screws, buy a special bit that drills both size holes and countersinks all at once. A little wax rubbed on the screw thread will make it easy to drive the screw into the wood.

Nuts and bolts are also good fasteners. They come in different sizes and are used for different jobs. Nuts, bolts, and machine screws (those used for metal) have a number telling the diameter of the shank, followed by another number which tells how many threads per inch. For example a 1/4-20 bolt has a 1/4 inch shank and 20 threads per inch.

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Every trade or craft has its own safety rules. Safety rules are simply common sense. They are intended to keep people from hurting themselves. Because home maintenance and repair people work with many different types of tools and materials, they need to know how to prevent accidents more than anyone else. Always remember:

• Tools will cut, stab, or hurt people only if they are handled carelessly

• Power tools must always be turned off when not in use

• Tools not in use should be put away

• Tools in bad condition may cause accidents

• Electricity is invisible. Assume it is present in every wire unless you have turned it off yourself and checked to make sure it is off

• Strange odors from chemicals or paint can injure and kill people

• Many cleaners and paint thinners will explode if exposed to fire or extreme heat

• Goggles protect eyes from chips thrown by tools

• Open flames must be turned off when not in use

• Neatness prevents accidents of all kinds

A number of tools are necessary for good repair work. Proper use of tools makes the work neater and more professional looking. Improper use of tools causes more accidents and injuries than any other kind of carelessness.

The basic safety rules for using any hand tools are:

• Use the right tool for the job

• Never. use dull cutting tools

• Keep/tools repaired

• Turn off electrical tools when not in use

• Make sure work being drilled or cut is properly clamped

Safety equipment such as goggles for eye protection and insulated gloves for working with hot objects like soldered tubing should be kept handy.

The most important safety rule to remember is to use common sense and think ahead. Don’t unscrew a water pipe unless the water pressure is turned off. Cold water may ruin the house. Hot water may ruin you. Gas pipes are even more dangerous.

Keep in mind that a saw that will cut a four by four oak post can also cut off a finger. Flames used to melt lead will cook a careless hand. Something that dissolves paint may also dissolve skin!