Carpet squares make installation of new flooring very affordable

If you are thinking about adding carpet to a room and are on a tight budget, perhaps doing it yourself would be a good idea. Carpet squares are easy to install and don't require a lot of tools or help.

Because they are tiles, you can get really creative with the design and do a different color border or even a design of some kind.

You first need to measure the room. Carpet squares are sold in bunches, so buy a few extra to keep on hand. After all, one of the great features of doing a floor in carpet tiles is that if one gets dirty, you can pull it up and replace it quite easily.

Your floor needs to be clean and smooth, because the tiles have adhesive backing on them and they won't stick to a dirty, bumpy floor. Remove any previous floor coverings that you can. Drive any nails or screws down below the surface. Sand or grind down any rough spots.

Stretch a string from one corner of the room, diagonally, to the other. Now do the same in the opposite direction. The point at which they cross will be the center of the room. Measure the distance from the center to one of the long, straight walls. Now use that measurement and mark points from the edge of the wall to the center line of the room. Do this in several places. Now use these points as a guide to snap a chalk line across the floor.

Lay out the carpet squares along this line to test the fit before removing the backing. Lay a second line at right angles to the first. If the edge tiles along the wall would be just a sliver, adjust your "center." If you feel like this is what you want, then go ahead and remove the backing and press the tiles into place, starting in the center of the room. Cut the edge pieces to fit with a straightedge and sharp utility knife, and press them into place.

Once your first row is done, you can start in the center and work your way out from there in all directions. The edges should be the last pieces you put down.

If you enjoy this and do a good job, you might consider vinyl flooring tiles as your next project. Ceramic tiles will soon follow! They both are similar projects.

Increase closet space

Wouldn't it be nice to increase your closet space? Well, you can, and you don't have to tear down any walls to do it. If you have a standard closet rod, you can just add another closet rod underneath the first. Buy a second closet rod made of PVC pipe that is shorter than the existing rod. Use strong cord to hang the second rod below the first. Now you can hang shorter clothing items on the top rod and the rest on the lower rod. Each closet is a little different, so use your brain to adapt this idea to suit your needs.

Corral your garden tools

PVC pipe is so much fun to work with. It's easy to cut, drill and glue. You can create a super garden-tool storage rack from a few pieces of pipe and some fittings. You need a square bottom piece - four pieces of pipe and four corner connectors of the type that have three openings for a third piece of pipe. Make a second square to match for the top. You want the top to be about 3 feet above the bottom piece, so cut your side pieces to that length. Now glue all of your pieces together and fill the rectangular storage bin with all of your garden tools. You can set a concrete block over the base for added weight if you have a lot of tools to store.

Super hints

• You can make a quick funnel from an envelope when you need one. Just cut the envelope in half, diagonally, and discard the top. Cut the bottom tip off, open up the envelope and set the bottom tip into the container you are pouring into.

• A nail apron also makes a great housekeeping apron. Just put a bottle of cleaner, a rag, a sponge, gloves and a trash bag in the pockets and get busy. It goes much faster when you have your supplies handy.

• Most DIY'ers are better at making dust than cleaning it up. So the next time you have to do the cleaning, use a paintbrush as a duster. It works pretty well.

Q. I have a chain-drive garage-door opener. I have to oil it, but this has helped it last for more than 20 years. I would like to know if there is an oil that won't drip on the floor. Do you know of one that I can use?

A. You should be able to use a light grease, available at your auto-supply store or garage-door-supply company. It would be good to clean the chain periodically, too. Great job!

Q. I've heard that you can paint over vinyl flooring. I want to know how. My floor is awful-looking, and I want to try to do something to make it look better without spending a fortune. Can you tell me how to do this?

A. You'll need to scuff-sand the floor first to remove the glossy finish in order to allow the paint to adhere to the surface. Apply a base coat of any color paint and let it dry. Then apply your finish coat or design in paint. After it has dried, apply a clear coat of polyurethane to protect your "artwork."

Q. I have a carpet remnant that I want to use. I need to seal the edges but am not sure how. What do you recommend?

A. You have a couple of options. You can take it to a carpet dealer and have them bind it. If it's very large, it might be rather costly. If you want to save some money, you can glue a fabric or braided edge to the carpet yourself. Miter your edges for a more professional look.

Reader tips

• I couldn't figure out why our ice maker stopped making regular-size ice cubes. I finally called a repairman out and had him start working on it. It turns out that when my wife cleaned behind the refrigerator the last time, it was pushed back onto a tile that was set higher than the rest. It was leaning after that, and that was causing the ice trays to fill unevenly and produce the small cubes. It cost me $75 to find that out, but I guess it's worth it. I doubt I ever would have checked the level. Maybe my letter will help others.

• I have a couple of really good paintbrushes that I take care of so they will last longer. The last time I needed to use them, I found that the bristles of one of them had gotten bent in storage. I wet them, but they still wanted to curl. I wrapped masking tape around them at the end of the bristles and let them dry. When I pulled the tape off, the bristles were flat. I will have to be more careful when storing next time.

• We have a Ping-Pong table in the garage, and play a lot. We were down to our last ball when it got dented. When my buddy told me how to fix this, I had to try it. He said to put it into a pot of boiling water and the dent would pop back out. It's a crazy fix, but it worked. Since he came up with the idea, I let him win the next three games!

• I got a sample of denture tablets in the mail and decided to try them in the toilet tank as a cleaner. I know it sounds wild, but I heard somewhere that it would help clean the tank parts. I dropped the tablets in and let them soak overnight. After flushing and refilling the tank, it has stopped leaking at the flapper. I think I just might use these once a month from now on. They were very easy to use and inexpensive.

• I was alarmed when my next-door neighbor's home was burglarized. The whole neighborhood was upset. We had a meeting and decided to create a neighborhood-watch program. We also helped each other out in securing our homes better. I have locks on my front door, but one of my neighbors cut a scrap of lumber to wedge between the front door and the staircase, located a few feet inside the front door. The wood presses against the front door to keep it closed. I just set it up at night and move it aside during the day.

Shop talk

• Every multilevel home should have an escape ladder located on the second level. You never know when you might need it. The PEARL, or Permanent Escape And Rescue Ladder, is fairly easy to install on a standard wall, between the studs, just below a window. The cover makes it discreet, and it can be used on a two- or three-story home. A quick-release handle makes it easy to pull out and use, and it's permanently attached to the wall, so it's strong enough to hold 1,500 pounds, or several adults at one time. It's easy and lightweight enough for a child to use, and packs back up for storage, so you can practice using it before you need it. To see it in action or find a dealer near you, visit www.pearlprotected.com or call (800) 374-5737.

• Pumps can come in handy when you need to transfer a lot of liquid, and there are several types of pumps you can use. We like the new Multipurpose Drill Powered Pump. It installs on any drill, including cordless, so you can take it just about anywhere. It has plenty of power and is easy to install. It's adaptable to several sizes of hose fittings, too. And it's available at select outlets, including www.northerntool.com.

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

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.