Home Improvement and Decor Hardware

The job of replacing a toilet is the one fixture that has caused many people to experience a lot of frustration. Following these steps should lessen the trouble you experience as you install your new bathroom toilet.

Remember to position your toilet so it has a minimum of 2″ for the vent, and 3″ in diameter for the drain.

Tools you will need:

- Cold water supply stub out with a shutoff valve

- Flexible tubing

- 1 air chamber

- Putty knife

- Level

- Adjustable wrench

- Silicone caulk

Step 1: Using a putty knife, scrape the old wax gasket, roughly it up.

Step 2: Remove the bolts from the floor flange. To help prevent any leaks, you should scrape the flange clean.

Step 3: When you position the floor flange, the bottom side of the flange needs to be level with the finished flooring. Using a level, tighten the flange screws, being careful it is level.

Step 4: Put some plumber’s putty on the floor bolts, then insert them through the flange. Be sure to adjust them where they will line up with the center of the drainpipe.

Step 5: Turn the new toilet bowl upside down and carefully place the new wax gasket on the toilet horn that is located on the bottom of the toilet bowl.

Step 6: Carefully apply plumber’s putty to the entire bottom edge of the bowl.

Step 7: After you turn the bowl right side up, position the bowl over the bolts and lower it into place over the flange. You should feel the toilet push into the wax ring as you press down firmly applying pressure as you slightly twist. (Hint - warm the wax ring up a little before applying, as it will not sit properly if it is cold).

Step 8: Level the bowl using a level if necessary and adding shims in places they are needed.

Step 9: By hand, you can now tighten the nuts and washers onto the bolts.

Step 10: If one is necessary, put rubber tank cushion at rear of toilet bowl.

Step 11: Place the rubber gasket on the flush valve opening that is located on the underside of the tank.

Step 12: Carefully positioning the tank over the bowl, you can now tighten the nuts and washers located on the mounting bolts.

Step 13: Using an adjustable wrench, tighten the hold-down bolts that are located at the base of the bowl. It might also be nece ssary at this point to use the level, being sure that the toilet bowl is still level.

Step 14: Using plumber’s putty, fill the caps and fit them over the ends of the bolts. Using either silicone caulk or the plumber’s putty you can seal the base of the toilet bowl.

Step 15: Attach a shut off valve to the supply line stub after you have cut the end, then you can connect the shut off valve to the tubing and connect it to the underside of the toilet tank.

You don’t have to pay a plumber a large sum of money anymore for those simple bathroom jobs. If you will follow these step-by-step instructions, you can have the broken parts to your toilet replaced in a very short time, and at a minimum of cost to you.

Tools you will need:

Pliers

Adjustable wrench

Screwdriver

There are three parts of the toilet that are most common in breaking. These are the Flapper Valve, the Float System, and the Flush Lever.

Replacing the Flapper Valve - the mechanism that controls the flushing.

Step 1: Empty the toilet tank of all its water.

Step 2: After turning off the shut off valve that is located on the water line to the toilet, flush it one more time.

Step3: Remove the flapper valve from the toilet, taking it with you to the hardware store to ensure you buy the correct replacement.

Step 4: Replace the flapper valve in the same manner that you took the old one off.

Replacing the float system - controls the amount of water that goes into the tank.

Step 1: Empty the toilet tank of all its water.

Step 2: Turn off the shut off valve as above and flush the toilet one more time.

Step 3: Loosen the nut located at the base of the float system.

Step 4: Take out the entire float system.

Step 5: Take the float system to the hardware store with you, to ensure you buy the proper parts.

Step 6: Replace the float system in the same manner that you took the old one off.

Replacing the flush lever – the handle that you push down on to flush the toilet.

Step 1: Using the adjustable wrench, loosen the nut secured against the wall of the toilet tank that holds the handle in place.

Step 2: Remove the old handle by sliding it through the hole of the tank wall.

Step 3: Replace the flush lever in the same manner that you took the old one off.

When it is time to replace your shower door sweep, don’t worry with frustrating and hard to follow instructions. If you will simply follow these simple steps, your shower door sweep will be replaced quickly and efficiently.

Tools that you will need:

Shower sweep

Caulking

Step 1: Open up the shower door and leave it open.

Step 2: Check to see if the door sweep needs to be unscrewed from the track. After it has been unscrewed, grab the edge of the door sweep, then pull it towards the outer side of the door, pulling the strip loose from the door.

Step 3: Go to your nearest hardware store with the old door sweep in tow to ensure you buy the correct size new door sweep.

Step 4: Cut the new door sweep by using the old one as a pattern, so that you will get the new one the exact same size.

Step 5: Replace the new door sweep in the same manner that you removed the old one.

Step 6: If you find water on the floor after taking a shower, use caulking around the shower door to prevent any further leaks.

Perhaps one of the most annoying sounds to any of us is that of a dripping showerhead. A dripping showerhead can get you frazzled and cause you to want to replace it, or, you may just want to begin using energy efficient ones. There are also other reasons that you may need to replace your old showerhead in your bathroom shower, and if you will follow the easy instructions below, you can have this simple project done in no time.

Tools you will need:

- New showerhead

- Crescent wrench or vise grip

- PTFE tape or pipe dope

Step 1: Check to see if there are any screws on the underside of the showerhead and remove them

Step 2: As you are holding the water supply line, unscrew the old showerhead by hand. If it is too tight, simply use either the crescent wrench or the vise grips to remove it.

Step 3: To prevent the new showerhead from dripping, apply either PTFE tape to the threads of the water line, then screw it back on.

All of our bathtubs show wear over time and begin to look dingy. If your tub is starting to show wear and you would like to hide those horrible looking stains that always seem to appear over time, try these simple steps and re-glaze your bathtub.

Tools you will need:

Industrial bathtub cleaner

120-grit sand

Hydrofluoric acid

Shop vacuum

Extra wide masking tape

Epoxy

Tack Cloth

Step 1: Remove all items from your bathroom, such as knick-knacks, toiletries, towels, and any other bathroom items that could get in the way of your project.

Step 2: Open a window to be sure the bathroom is well ventilated. If there is no window to open, you will need to rent some type of ventilation system.

Step 3: Remove the showerhead, the waterspout, hot and cold handles, and the overflow cap to make it easier to access all areas of the bathtub.

Step 4: Remove the old caulking and gout around the bathtub, and clean up to prevent the old caulk to adhere to the glaze after it has been applied.

Step 5: Clean the bathtub completely with the industrial strength bathtub cleaner, then rinse with 120 grit sand.

Step 6: Thoroughly rinse the tub out and dry completely.

Step 7: Using hydrofluoric acid, rinse the tub then let it sit for around 10 to 15 minutes. Using cold water, rinse the bathtub, then re-wash it using the 120 grit sand again. Rinse tub well and dry.

Step 8: Using a shop vacuum, blow the tub completely dry, including the borders, the drain, and the overflow.

Step 9: Using body filler, carefully fill the bottom of the bathtub and around the ledges. This process may need to be done several times, depending on how much acid damage there is.

Step 10: To prevent damage to the floor and tub borders, mask these areas off using the masking tape. The vanity and the cabinets can be covered with a drop sheet.

Step 11: For a nice smooth result, sand the body filler with great care.

Step 12: Now the entire surface of the bathtub should be tack clothed.

Step 13: Prime the bathtub with the epoxy and follow the directions for proper drying.

Step 14: The entire area of the tub should be surfaced again, and apply the glaze.

Step 15: Take the time to clean the spray gun, which will allow plenty of time for the bathroom to become aired out enough to remove all of the masking tape except for around the tub borders.

Step 16: Don’t touch the tub and allow it to dry overnight.

Step 17: After the tub has dried completely, all the bathroom fixtures can be replaced and you can re-caulk and re-gout the borders of the tub.

It is recommended to not use the tub for another 48 hours to allow ample drying time.

There are hundreds of different styles in bathroom faucet fixtures to choose from. Be sure to carefully compare the many designs offered and choose the one to fit your individual needs the best.

Tools you will need:

Basin wrench

Pliars

New faucet

Step 1: Shut off the water supply using the stop valves located under the sink.

Step 2: Carefully remove the water lines that are located between the faucet and the stop valves.

Step 3: Loosen the thumb screwor spring clip that is located on the stopper arm and disconnect the vertical arm by sliding the two arms apart.

Step 4: Laying under the sink place the claw side of the basin wrench up, working it around the nut which connects the faucet to the bottom of the sink. The claw will pivot closed as you rotate the wrench handle. This allows pressure to be added to the handle, so that you can remove the nut.

Step 5: Remove the nuts and the washers. You can now remove the old faucet.

Step 6: Carefully following directions, assemble the new faucet.

Step 7: Insert the new faucet into place. Put the nuts and washers into place, tightening them from below.

Step 8: Connect the stopper arm, as well as the water lines.

When it comes time to do your bathroom remodeling projects, they don’t have to be confusing and frustrating.  Follow these simple steps below to quickly and easily replace your bathroom sink.

Items you will need:

- Hot and cold supply subouts

- Shutoff valves

- Transition fittings

- Flexible tubing

- Air chambers

- Cutter wheel

- Crescent wrenches

Keep in mind to leave at least 4 inches between the bathroom sink and the toilet tank or finished wall, and the distance from the tub can be as little as 2 inches. A minimum of 21 inches is required between the front of the sink fixture and adjacent wall or fixture.

Step 1: Cutting the capped supply lines. Cut the 1/2″ copper line no less than 1 1/2″ from the wall. This allows room for the shut off valve compression nut and ring, and a escutcheon.

Step 2: Being careful to bend the pipe, cut it slowly using a cutter wheel.

Step 3: Follow the directions enclosed with the faucet and assemble.

Step 4: Carefully put the escutcheon, coupling nut, compression ring, and the valve in place, sliding the valve outlet over the compression ring.

Step 5: Using two crescent wrenches, tighten the coupling nut.

Step 6: Now you can connect the trap to the drain body and pipe.

Step 7: Run water checking for leaks.

A dripping showerhead can be one of the most annoying problems that people run into, in their bathrooms. Following these steps can ensure your showerhead is leaky free.

Tools you will need:

Water meter key

Flashlight

Heatproof plumber’s grease

Lint-free towel

Toothpick

Hex wrench

Stiff-bristled brush

Philips-head screwdriver

1. Using the meter key, turn off the water at the main
2. Disassemble the showerhead
3. Using the hex wrench, loosen retaining screw on shower handle and remove
4. Remove cover plate for shower handle so you can check gaskets
5. Remove shroud that is around shower mechanism
6. Twist ring that holds assembly together counter-clockwise so it will release (pay close attention to the position of the handle and little cam that is directly behind it. When you reassemble, they will need to be in the proper position)
7. Pull the mechanism out very carefully (have a towel handy, in case of water that can be inside from the pressure)
8. Inspect the parts for any damage or wear (replace if necessary)
9. Using the toothpick, remove the O-rings and inspect for cracks (replace if necessary)
10. Clean both the hot and the cold ports by using the lint-free towel
11. Use toothpick to clean perimeter of port for any deposits
12. Using the stiff brush, clean the handle mechanism
13. Using heat-proof plumber’s grease, coat the O-rings and put them back into place on the handle mechanism, then adding a little more grease
14. Rub excess grease from your fingers onto the ports in wall-mounted assembly
15. Reassemble mechanism, lining the handle and cam properly
16. Cover plate and handle can now be reattached
17. Carefully reattach showerhead
18. Turn water back on at the main and check for any more drips

If you find yourself sliding around while you are sitting on your throne, it can be extremely uncomfortable! Luckily, the job of fixing a loose toilet seat cover can be a whole lot easier than you might think. If you will simply follow the instructions below, your throne can be in perfect working order before you know it!

Tools that you will need:

Regular screwdriver

Phillips screwdriver

(some seats are made with regular screws, and some seats are made with Phillips screws)

Two-sided carpet tape

Scissors (used to cut the tape)

Follow these easy steps and your loose toilet seat will be as good as new in no time. No more slipping around!

• Lift the plastic caps that cover the screws that tighten your toilet seat down
• Carefully tighten each of the screws on both sides of the lid (many times this is all that is needed)
• If the seat is still loose, cut two small strips of carpet tape to fit under the hinges where the seat is connected to the bowl

Carefully put a strip of the carpet tape underneath the hinges that are found on each side at the back of the lid.

The summer months often bring a desire for change. If you are tired of the way your bathroom looks and would like to make a few changes, here are some small projects to give your bath a new look that are relatively inexpensive.

• Re-caulk the sinks, tub, and shower areas. Giving these areas a fresh new look can make a dramatic difference in how the entire room will look. A freshly caulked area can serve two purposes. Not only will it give your bath a fresh new look, but it will also protect these areas from water being able to drain down through the cracks where they connect to your walls.
• Add decorative border or stenciling. A beautifully decorated pre-designed border, or stencils that you create yourself can drastically change the appearance of any bathroom. You can either add these going around the top of the walls, or try something new and exciting – try adding a border mid-way down the walls. This is a fun and exciting way to add beauty and draw attention to an otherwise boring room.
• Painting. Giving the walls and cabinets a fresh coat of paint is an inexpensive way to totally change the appearance of this room. You could decide on a neutral color that will go with any accessories you choose, or be bold and creative with a bright and dazzling color.
• Add some life with plants. Beautiful plants can add a warm and inviting touch to any bathroom. Plants generally thrive in this area of your home because they continuously receive a fresh mist of water when the shower or bath is used.

Decorating doesn’t always have to be expensive, choose small projects to give your bath a new look.