Colorful tile can dress up an old bathroom countertop

Even the newest bathroom designs still include a countertop of some kind. If you are thinking of sprucing up your bathroom on a budget, that's one thing you won't have to do without - your existing countertop can be renovated.

This doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. How about covering that fake marble countertop with tile? Most are strong enough to do that, and if you follow our basic instructions, you can have a "new and improved" bathroom countertop in just a weekend!

Take a close look at your sink. If it's part of the molded countertop, then you will have to tip it up to install some sort of an edge tile. If the sink sits on top of the countertop, then you should lift it up, tile up to the edge of the hole and then set it back into place. No edge tiles will be needed for this. If it mounts under the countertop, edge tiles will be needed for this as well, but you don't have to disconnect the sink to do the job.

Check out the faucets, too. You might also have to move them. They may have to be switched out if they will be too low or too high after the countertop is installed.

Lay out your tiles with the spacers in place to see where any cuts need to be made. Make sure you can get the right tiles for the edges and that they are long enough to cover the old countertop.

Clean the countertop with mineral spirits paint thinner to remove all grease and oil from the surface.

Use tile adhesive to secure the tiles in place. The plastic spacers really help you get even spaces between the tiles. Make sure you make any adjustments before the adhesive has dried, and wipe away any that squeezes out or gets on the tiles.

After the adhesive has had plenty of time to set up - at least overnight - apply your grout. Grout comes pre-mixed and in a lot of colors. Just follow the package directions and make sure you get any grout mess cleaned up before it dries.

Since it's a bathroom, consider using a grout sealer just to make sure your grout lasts a long time.

Come back around your sink and faucets if you need to with some silicone caulk to seal the seams from leaks.

Manual comes in handy

We were working on an outdoor water heater and had to see a very small LED light on the front of the panel. The light was very hard to see, and we couldn't really tell if it was off or on. Are they making these lights smaller, or is it old age? We decided the lights must be smaller. It also was a very bright, sunny day. We decided to use the manual. We had already read it, so we rolled it up like a tube and placed it around the tiny light to block the sun. When we looked down the inside of the tube, it was easy to see that the light was on. Thank goodness for the manual!

Bandaged hammer prevents damage

If I had a hammer, as the song goes, I'd hammer in the morning. But if you wanted to hammer on something a little more delicate, like a nice piece of wood or a tile, you might want to be a little more careful. Just stick an elastic bandage over the hammer head and create some padding. That way, you won't cause any damage. It's easy to do, and you can rip it off - quickly if you like - and you'll have your hammer back to normal again.

Super hints

• You can add a flexible straw to the end of an oilcan spout to help get the oil into a tight spot or reach a spot that is hard to get to. Flexible straws are available at just about any grocery store or discount store, and can be taped in place if they are too loose on your oil can.

• If you are tying down a tarp and the knots of the rope keep slipping through the holes, add a washer or two to hold the knots better, and they will also take some of the pressure off the tarp grommets, making them last longer, too.

• Coloring your hair should be left to the professional hairdressers of the world. So, if you are painting a room, especially a ceiling, make sure you put on a shower cap. It's a quick and easy way to protect your hair from paint drips and spatters. Punk is out and clean hair is in! Surely you can always find another way to make a fashion statement!

Q. Our condo ceilings butt against the concrete floor of the unit above. We would like to install a ceiling fan. Are there any easy ways to do this besides hiring a contractor?

A. Without drilling into the ceiling, you have a couple of options. Use a flat box for the connections, and either Flatwire or Wiremold to run your wiring to an outlet. These are two brand names of systems that are pretty easy and inexpensive to install. The Flatwire (www.decorp.com) sticks right to the wall but must be covered with drywall compound and paint, and the Wiremold (www.wiremold.com) is a channel system that carries the wires to the nearest outlet. Check your hardware store or electrical supply for these products and see which one you can live with.

Q. Our fireplace has a black metal front, and I would like to paint it. Is there a paint for this metal? Is it OK to do that as close to the fire as it will be?

A. As long as you use a high-temp paint, one made to withstand high temperatures. Your paint dealer can show you what he has in stock. The colors usually are very limited, but maybe you will luck out and be able to find one that works for your plan.

Q. It seems like lead paint was outlawed such a long time ago, and I wasn't worried about it until we moved and our house inspector checked the property we were looking at. He found it in several rooms. How are we supposed to deal with this?

A. The lead isn't much of a problem unless it becomes airborne, so no sanding or scraping in these rooms. To paint over these walls, cover them with a primer and then your wall paint. If you want to find out if any other surfaces are covered in lead paint, just buy a simple test kit at your paint or hardware store. These test kits are very easy to use and will guide you to government agencies for further safety information.

Reader tips

• I accidentally spilled some oil on the garage floor when I was adding some to my car, and tried to wipe it up. I didn't get it all, and there was a stain, so I looked for a cleaner. I tried a household cleaner, but it didn't really work. My wife told me to put some cola on it and that would clean it up. I thought she was crazy but I tried it anyway, and it actually worked. I poured it on the oil and it started dissolving it, so I poured the rest of the can on it and covered the whole thing with cat litter. I left it until last night and swept it away. It really worked. I hope I can remember that the next time I spill something.

• I have been stripping the wallpaper off my son's old room to turn it into a home office, so sanding is a big part of my day lately. To cut down on the mess, I was going to put up a plastic drop cloth over the doorway to keep the dust from migrating to the rest of the house. I decided to use a bed sheet instead, because I had only one drop cloth and needed it for the floor. I sprayed the sheet with a little mist to see if the extra moisture would help even more. It really did seem to help.

• I have an old bathtub that was green. I replaced the toilet a couple of years ago and it is white, but that green bathtub is impossible to hide. I finally used epoxy paint to change it to white. It was hard work, but it really looks nice now. I hope it lasts, because there is no way that tub is coming out of that room!

• I love to paint and like to do murals. I have painted with my friend in her nursery and have just finished my son's room. I use smaller cans of paint and put them into larger buckets. The larger buckets have handles, which are great for holding while you work and, when you drip, the drips go into the bucket instead of on your carpeting.

• The best way to strain a can of paint is to let a screen do the work. I cut a round piece of window screen that covers the whole top of the paint surface. Then I set the screen on top and let it sink to the bottom. You can help it a little with your stir stick, but it will sink on its own over time. As it sinks, it traps the clumps and lumps and other debris under the screen so that when you dip your brush in, you won't have to worry about lumps in the paint.

Shop talk

• Who keeps coming up with these utility knife add-ons? The SpeedRocker-SS is a heavy-duty, fixed-blade utility knife in a lightweight, compact case. A very innovative ScorSlot placed directly in the case over the blade will hold the end of your retractable tape while you hold the knife, giving you a perfect score or cut, depending on what type of job you are doing. You get three positive-stop blade positions, super-quick, tool-free blade changes and extra blade storage all in a small, zinc, die-cast housing. Check it out at your hardware store, home center or online at www.chhanson.com.

• Now you can turn an ordinary plate-glass mirror into a decorative feature in your bathroom. Mirrorscapes are easy-to-install, decorative frames that are made to fit right onto your already-installed wall mirror. There are several styles to pick from, made to match your faucets and other hardware. There is even a paintable version in case you can't find just the right color from the stock. It even has specially designed decorative corners so, once you have the sides installed, the corners just pop into place - no mitering required! They carry a lifetime limited warranty and are available nationwide at kitchen and bathroom dealers. If you are interested in finding out more about Mirrorscapes, go to the Web site and check it out. It's at www.moen.com.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit the Carrell's Web site at www.thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2008, Cowles Syndicate Inc.