Life in Rehab is BACK! Get ready for a slew of new projects for the new year! We just can't promise we know what we're doing!

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our readers get 25% off
by entering the promo code
REHAB when you make a purchase!
So deck out, do some early holiday gift shopping,
strut your stuff and make a statement!


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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hard Core Remodeling but Were Afraid to Ask Part 7!

Hey, we're on the level.
However, the floors in the Rehab Condo are NOT.
After taking up the 35 year old tile, we had gouged, uneven surfaces
with cement everywhere.
 What's a remodeler to do?
Fortunately, we do have an idea.
Ready?
 Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hard Core Remodeling but Were Afraid to Ask!
 Here we have an example of the floors that are all over the house.
I spent a little time that day chipping up the remnants of tile that were clinging
to their previous existence.
It was sad.
Let go already.
Now it's time for a little shopping.
I wonder if this company makes a skin cream?
I've got some areas that could use leveling.
We'll be needing a lot of this.

This stuff mixes with water and goes down on uneven floors,
levels itself out, and gives you a playing field you can put a real floor down over.
And we have a lot of floor.
After sweeping, make sure all dust and debris is removed by
thoroughly hitting the area with a shop vac.
Using a crevice tool, get the tracks of any sliding glass doors nice and clean.
Nab a roll of painter's tape and wrap the tracks carefully.
Go back and forth with it, making sure you're creating an impenetrable barrier.
You don't want any cement touching the metal.
Remember, tape is a lot cheaper than buying new doors when you
accidentally seal them open.
You'll need some of this stuff.
This goes down before the leveling agent to aid in adhesion.
That's fancy talk for "makes it stick good."
Pour it in a bucket.
Nice shoes, eh?
Steel toes and ankle support, along with a thick lug sole for traction,
qualify these as safety equipment.
Heidi wouldn't be caught dead in anything else.
Using a 9" paint roller, simply roll it on the floor.
Do you see the puddled primer?
Make sure you go back over that and get rid of the puddles.
You're in no hurry. This will take 4 hours to dry. Take your time and get full coverage.
 Does this roller make my butt look big?

 Tomorrow, we'll be putting on the good stuff.
So far we've gone from this...

 ...to this.
And wait til you see the flooring we've decided to put down!
But I'm getting ahead of myself.



Monday, April 29, 2013

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hard Core Remodeling but Were Afraid to Ask Part 6!

Disasters happen.
 Sometimes, you live in them.
But don't despair, Besties, there are always ways to save the day,
and we're going to show you how through
 Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hard Core Remodeling but Were Afraid to Ask!
Let's say you open up a moldy wall and  find this white strip of light.
 Yes, light.
That would be something referred to in the trade as
"outside."
 The wood we pulled out was in bad shape.
 I mean...bad.
 So, remove all of the rotted, scummy crap.
 First, spread a little concrete down, then a waterproofing paper that will also
help insulate the room.
 Then, reframe.
 Tomorrow, we're going to get low and level as we show you how to fix a floor.








Sunday, April 28, 2013