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Slow- Filling toilet The toilet flushes well enough, but the tank takes 10 to 15 minutes to fill. You also hear a slight hissing sound when the house is quiet. This symptom indicates the presence of sediment in the fill-valve diaphragm. (Significant sediment problems may occur after the installation of a new toilet, after work done on a nearby water main or after a well is put into service.) The solution is o remove the diaphragm cover and pick the grit from the valve. This is usually a quick and easy fix. If your toilet has a conventional brass or plastic ballcock (a fill valve with a float ball), shut of the water, and remove the two or three screws that secure the cover. 1. Lift the cover and float rod from the riser 2. You should be able to see sand and rust flakes scattered around the rim of the valve seat. Remove this grit using tweezers 3. And replace the cover Not all the sediment in a line will work its way through at the same time, so you may need to clean the fill valve several times in the next few days or weeks. If sediment routinely plagues your water system, the best approach is to install a sediment filter in the cold-water trunk line. Source: Plumbing Basic, Intermediate & Advanced Projects®.

Settings ceramic floor tiles: 1.Spread the adhesive evenly with the smooth edge of a notched trowel, and then comb back over it with the notched edge. Be sure to leave your working lines visible. 2.Press tiles into the adhesive, making sure their backs are covered. Start your layout at the center point, and work your way along the working line toward the wall. 3.For each small section of tile you lay, embed the tiles into the adhesive by moving a padded board over the surface and trapping them with a hammer. 4. If you're using powdered grout, mix it according to the directions. Force the grout into the joints diagonally across the tiles with a rubber float. 5. Remove the excess grout by working the rubber float diagonally across the joints. You will leave a slight haze on the tiles. 6.Wipe the remaining grout haze off the tiles with a dampened sponge. Once the grout has dried, go back and wipe off the remaining residue. 7.For wide grout joints, you may want to smooth the grout with a jointing tool or the end of a brush, to make a slight depression. 8.Seal unglazed tiles with a sealer made for that purpose. For glazed tiles, apply sealer to the grout lines only, using a sealer with a brush applicator. Source: Creating beautiful Bathrooms page # 206 from Creative Homeowner®.

Color Effect Earth Tones As a general description earth tones compromise the browns and other neutrals found in nature. In terms of paint, they are tertiary and quaternary colors achieved by mixing various combinations of secondary, intermediate, and tertiary colors. They range from the pale cream of eggshells and soft beige of sand through the rich browns of finished wood to the deep brown tree bark and freshly turned earth. Their muted quality makes these hues gentle and understatedly elegant. However, they're often associated with texture. When they're combined with texture, including that achieved with decorative painting techniques, earth tones can become exciting and handsome. With or without texture, these colors make an effective background for bright hues. Source: Decorative painting & faux Finishes page # 23 from Creative Homeowner®.