The Curious Case of the Exploding Toilet :: The Mysterious Crack & Its Damage
This mysterious crack, as he tells me now, was approximately 1/8 inch wide and ran from above the flush handle, down and all the way around to the back of the tank's...
All posts by jb bartkowiak
Paint Removal from Copper and Other Uses for Aluminum Foil :: Copper the Near Perfect Building Product
An ode to the near perfect building material, Copper. Plus, incorporating a common household product into a home improvement task. Yes, the Reynold's Wrap I had grabbed slyly from the kitchen counter...
Removing Rust from Hardware that Cannot Be Removed :: Options
I have worked rusty hinges with either steel wool and/or sandpaper. In extreme cases, I have even loaded up my detail sander and went at it that way. There are a few...
Paint Removal :: Using a Professional ReFinisher
So you might have read my rant on hastily painted hardware. We removed the shutters from the building before painting its body. Twenty-four windows on the house proper makes for 48 individual...
Restoring Hardware :: Common Reasons Hardware is Painted
If you have lived in or worked on an old house, you probably know exactly what I mean. There is almost nothing that is more frustrating than having to work the paint...
Exterior Restoration and Preservation :: Siding, Paint and Windows
We decided almost immediately that we were not going to remove or cover the near original german clapboard siding. (Did replacing it cross our minds? At that time, honestly, no.) We had...
The Curious Case of the Exploding Toilet :: Better Pre-Vacation House Planning and Prep
Ok, it didn't explode -- the toilet, its tank had developed a rather large crack that ran from its base all the way up to the flush handle. My immediate feeling is...
Front Load Washer Vibration :: One Way to Fix the Walk and Dance
My wife ran another load. This time, the machine, at approximately 20 minutes in, shook and shaked and vibrated the floor making its way back toward the wall and then out again....
Our DIY Laundry Room, Powder Room & Office Remodel :: Before & After
I'll admit -- I still have a little punch out on the electric, some touch up painting, and I do intend to add shelving above the "picture rail" in the powder room....
Side Venting a Gas Dryer :: Installing a Close Connect Fitting
Any time I make a major purchase, I try to get my hands on the installation instructions long before the fixture goes in. But still I was surprised and taken aback to...
Washer and Dryer Shopping :: Sizing Considerations
When converting a galley kitchen to a laundry room, there was a depth requirement with the washer and dryer we would purchase. These things couldn't stick out in front of my window...
Making a Bi-Fold Door :: Salvaged from a Solid Wood Door
To make the bi-fold, I started by cutting my 30" (less a few fractions of inch from previous work) door in half. I did this by placing it on my temporarily work...