construction

Preparing A Base For Your Shed

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The structure that your garden shed sits on is as important, if not more important than the garden shed itself, because without a solid, level and well-shaped base, the foundations for your garden shed may fail and this may bring your shed and its contents to a state of collapse.

Which type of base is right for my shed?

You need to form a barrier between your garden shed and the ground to prevent water from rising and entering into your garden shed causing damage to your shed panels and to the contents that you store in your garden shed.

There are a number of base foundations that can be appropriate for your garden shed. You can use wood, or concrete, garden slabs or one of the new environmentally friendly selections.

None of these foundations are particularly difficult to prepare and install, but you must make sure that you get the job right.

Some of the companies that can sell you a wooden garden shed can provide you with a matching timber shed base. This is the easiest way to make sure the garden shed will fit exactly on the timber shed base. Alternatively, you can build your own timber shed base and prepare this before the garden shed kit arrives from a supplier. You will need to prepare the area to ensure that it is level before you place to the shed base down, but in most areas, this isn’t a difficult task.

Where you have chosen to build a concrete shed base, it needs to sit on a firm foundation so that it doesn’t collapse into the ground and perhaps break. A simple concrete shed base of 4 to 6 inches deep will provide sufficient foundation for almost any garden shed you’re going to place on top of it.

A new use for garden slabs

Where people have decided not to put particularly heavy items in their garden shed, a simple raking of the area and laying sand and using garden slabs, can provide a good quality base for a garden shed. It is better to place garden slabs along all the parameters for the garden shed to sit on, rather than just placing four slabs at the corners, because this will not support all of the panels of your garden shed properly.

Preparing the ground properly

To complete the groundwork of the area for a base for your shed, the preferable way to organize the area is to compact the ground where your bases to be laid and to check that the area is level; you will need a large spirit level for this or you can place a brick on either side of the area, with a plank of wood across it and the spirit level in the middle to check to see if the area is level.

It is better if there are no stones or other items that can cause an imperfect level for the base because the ground must be extremely solid and level for any of the bearers, be they wood or one of the newer environmentally friendly options, to sit on properly.

If you take the time to prepare the area properly, your choice of garden shed base will provide a barrier between the ground and your shed and keep your shed level, which will make it easier for you to work inside.

If you want to make the best first impression for potential clients, hire a good home staging companies such as RC Homestaging.

The Water System

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The plumbing in your house is made up of two systems: the clean-water supply system and the wastewater system. Both systems require periodic attention to keep in good operating condition. However, before you make any major changes in your plumbing, find out what your local plumbing codes require. Most communities have adopted some type of plumbing code.

 

Clean Water Supply

 

Water Meter

 

You have a water meter to measure water consumption for billing purposes if you are on a city water supply or if you purchase your water from a local water association.

 

You may use the meter, however, to discover how much water you are using for a particular job. First, you must learn how to read it. Locate your meter and study the dial carefully. You can usually tell how to read it. One type reads like a car odometer; a second type reads like your electric meter. Each of the five or six dials contributes one number to the total digit. All meters have a special pointer that makes a complete revolution for each cubic foot of water consumed at a given time.

 

To measure the amount of water you use for a specific task, such as sprinkling the lawn, read the water meter, perform the task, and then read the meter again.

 

Shutoff Valve

 

The most important thing to know about the plumbing in the house is the location of the main shutoff valve. If a pipe breaks or the water heater bursts, turn off the main shutoff valve fast. There also should be various “local” shutoff valves. Locate them, too. There should be one under each sink, on toilet tanks, and on the washing machine.

 

Detecting Water Leaks

 

If you want to find out if the water stain on your ceiling is caused by a water leak or a faulty roof, use your meter. Make sure all faucets are off, then watch for 20 minutes the one-foot pointer on your meter. If it moves, even slowly, there is a leak.

 

If you do not have a meter, plumbing supply stores have available amplifying devices to help determine possible leaks. If you are not confident to find the leaks by yourself, contact a professional company like AB Construction to do this work for you.

 

Water Noises

 

“Water hammer” is annoying but not serious. It is a phenomenon that occurs when a valve abruptly stops the flow of incoming water.

The problem may be corrected by one of these methods:

  • Replacing an “offending” faucet that is spring-closed with one that is manually closed. The manually closed one operates more slowly.
  • Reducing the high water pressure by closing the main shutoff valve slightly.
  • Checking the temperature on the hot water heater. It should never be above 140 degrees F.
  • Installing a shock absorber to prevent the vibration. This is a job for a professional plumber rather than a do-it-yourselfer.

Repair Leaking Faucets

 

Leaks are annoying, wasteful, cost money, and stain fixtures. Most leaking faucets are caused by worn out washers.

 

Supplies Needed To Repair Faucets:

  • Box of assorted sizes of washers, unless you know the size
  • Screwdriver
  • Adjustable wrench

How To Repair:

  • First, turn off the water at the shutoff valve nearest the faucet you are going to repair, then turn on the faucet until the water stops flowing.
  • Loosen packing nuts with wrench. Most nuts loosen by turning counterclockwise. Use the handle to pull out the valve unit.
  • Remove the screw holding the old washer at the bottom of the valve unit.
  • Put in a new washer and replace the screw.
  • Put the valve unit back in the faucet and turn the handle to the proper position.
  • Tighten the packing nut.
  • Turn on the water at the shutoff valve.

Faucets may look different, but they are all built about the same. Mixing faucets used on sinks, laundry tubs, and bathtubs are two units with the same spout. You’ll need to repair each unit separately.

 

Is water leaking around the packing nut? Try tightening the nut. If it still leaks, remove the handle and loosen the packing nut. If there is a washer under it, replace the washer. If there’s no washer, you may need to wrap the spindle with “packing wicking”; replace packing nut and handle. Turn the water back on at the shutoff valve.