In a previous post I talked about an option when installing your new toilet of using a no-wax option for the floor seal as opposed to a wax ring. This is one of those products and the one I frequently use. I have changed enough wax rings to know that they do need to be replaced from time to time. Things like plunging the toilet or sewer line back up can blow out a normal wax ring and cause it to leak. This requires pulling the toilet up just to replace the wax ring. So it’s not something most people want to do. So here’s your best chance of avoiding that. I’ve been using these no-wax seals for years and I definitely recommend using them.
Choosing The Right Toilet
Yesterday I posted about installing a new toilet. And I told you there were options to consider when selecting your new toilet. Today we’re going to look at what those options are. This great video explains how, at least with this big box store, to use the information in the store when making your selection. If you know where and what to look for it can really make your task of finding a new toilet much easier.
How To Change A Toilet
Want to change out your old short toilet for a brand new deluxe model? You can do this. The hardest part of this job is getting it home. Bear in mind that toilets come in two types of bowls. Round and elongated. Sometimes they may have installed a round bowl because of a lack of room for an elongated bowl so that is something you need to look at with your existing toilet. If your bathroom is on the small side and you currently have a round bowl, that is probably the reason and you may have to go back with that type. So definitely check that out. Next, you can get different height toilets which allow for ease in getting up. Most people today go for the higher ones. But that is a matter of choice. Some toilets come with fancy flush valves inside (Kohler) that are difficult and expensive to repair and some are pretty simple (Delta) and inexpensive to repair. Home Depot makes a reasonably priced toilet with a push button flush control on the lid which allows two flushing options. One for a liquid waste flush, which saves water and one for a solid waste flush, which uses more water. It’s sold under their Glacier Bay brand and has a Fluidmaster flush valve inside which is pretty easy and inexpensive to repair. I’ve grown fond of this toilet because I think it is a good value. I would also buy a new metal braided supply line to go with it. There are also waxless options for the toilet seal to the floor. I prefer these because if your drain line ever backs up the waxless options will not blow out like the wax ones will which would require you to pull the toilet to replace the wax ring. All in all it’s a pretty easy job.
Patching Drywall
I personally would use joint compound in a mud pan thinned out with a little water but who am I to argue with Tom Silva. Anyway, any of these methods will work for you. One thing you may run into is if you have a texture on the wall you’ll have to match it after your patch is nice and flat. For that, there are spray textures in cans that you can buy at Home Depot which will work as long as it’s not a knock-down or skip trowel texture. For those, you will need a lot of practice, a drywall guy or a wider range of acceptability.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets
Buy some real tack cloths to do this job. A little sawdust left behind will ruin all your hard work. The surface has to be very clean including all the crevices. Also, the paint they are using in this video is a Behr paint which you can get at Home Depot.
Kevin Hicks 