My Old Workshop | Category Archives: KitchensKitchens Archives

Home improvement and renovation tips

A mouse ate my dishwasher drain hose and I don’t know what to do! (A quick fix)

I don't know why they're here. It's summer and it's warm and there are lots of goodies outside. But I guess that's why they call them house mice. The water under the sink appeared between one onslaught of guests and another dinner gathering that night. So I took my usual decisive approach to a problem ...

How to solder a ball valve

Ball valves are reliable and long-lasting and great for such uses as a toilet shutoff. But you need to take some extra care when sweating, or soldering, them. Nylon or teflon linings can be damaged by the heat, at temperatures slightly beyond those needed to solder. That means the soldering has to be quick, clean ...

GFCI line and load

You need to installing a GFCI outlet near wet locations in bathrooms and kitchens, and as simple as it is, replacing a standard outlet with a GFCI does have a couple of wrinkles. With a standard outlet, you may connect the black (hot) wire coming from the panel to one of the brass screws on ...

The proper way to install a double drain

Here's a common plumbing faux pas. Maybe you've even committed it yourself when replacing old plumbing with fresh new ABS. The good news is, it's an easy fix. In a double-drain kitchen sink, the drain setup often looks like this. The drainage will be good from the one side, but because the center T should ...

How to replace your kitchen countertop (Part 3 of 3)

Let's finish off the installation.With the backsplash tight against the wall, check for gaps. Open a compass at the widest gap between the counter and the wall, and run it along the backsplash. Don't try and cut this line; use a belt sander to remove the excess from the narrow lip.Where you have to join ...

How to replace your kitchen countertop (Part 2 of 3)

Last time we measured and ordered.Next, you need to remove the existing countertop. Start by shutting off the plumbing to the sink, and disconnecting the supply pipes to the faucet from underneath, by loosening the fittings. Disconnect the drainpipe from the drain(s) by loosening these nuts. You'll also need to use a wrench to loosen ...

How to replace your kitchen countertop (Part 1 of 3)

That old countertop has been burned, scratched and abused one too many times. Here's how to replace it. If you're considering more expensive, durable materials, such as granite or man-made composites, you might want to consider getting a professional to do it. Or you might want to tile the countertop with ceramic tile, using techniques ...

All about kitchen floors (Part II)

Last time we looked at vinyl. Here are some other choices.Hardwood is more expensive than vinyl, but the look more than compensates. It's warm, it goes great with most cabinets, and it can be quite durable and easy to maintain.Traditional planking is a bit of work to install, and then you need to sand, stain ...

All about kitchen floors (Part I)

Choosing floors for your kitchen might take a little more attention than you'd spend on other rooms. This is because kitchen floors must do a number of things well. They should complement your cabinets and appliances. They need to be tough enough to handle a lot of traffic and the inevitable spills. And they must ...

Plan a kitchen island (Part II)

Here are some more ideas for your kitchen island.Decide what you'd like to use the island for. Some of this will be determined by the space available. If there's only enough room for a 3 ft. square cabinet, you may not want to consider a cooking surface, since you need some counter space next to ...