FROGTAPE RELEASES PAINTING HANDBOOK FOR NEWBIES

FrogTape brand introduces the Rookie Painter’s Handbook, a free, downloadable training tool geared for new painters. The Rookie Painter’s Handbook is a valuable supplement to on-the-job skills training that can save painting companies time by providing new hires with information and background to jumpstart their entry into the industry. Covering everything from basic techniques and common trade tools to communication skills and leadership tips, the handbook offers novice painting pros a leg up by helping them become better craftsmen, teammates and employees, as well as developing their customer relationship skills. To download a free copy, visit www.frogtape.com/rookie-handbook.

QUESTION: What’s the best way to stabilize a wobbly toilet?

ANSWER: Toilets wobble or rock because of uneven floors. Over time, movement in the toilet will deteriorate the wax ring, which will result in a toilet leak. To fix the problem, sit on the lid to weigh down the toilet and use a wrench to snug down the flange bolts that hold the base to the floor. Be careful not to overtighten them and crack the porcelain. If any gaps remain between the base and floor, insert plastic toilet shims, Available at most hardware stores, toilet shims are small wedge-shaped tabs. When you’ve used enough shims to stop the toilet from rocking, cut off the excess length. If the shims are too tough to slice with a utility knife, cut with a multi-tool or a wood chisel and hammer.

QUESTION: A ceiling joist crosses the exact spot where I’d like to install a fan. Do I have to move the electrical box to the right or the left, or is there a way to install the ceiling fan where the joist is?

ANSWER: If a ceiling joist crosses the spot where you want to hang a light fixture or ceiling fan, you’ll need to use a saddle box instead of a standard electrical box. The saddle box is shaped with an indentation that wraps around the joist but still provides the code-required wire housing of a junction box. For ceiling fans, the junction box should usually be made of metal to ensure a reliable thread connection with the fan’s mounting bolts. With a saddle box, however, the fan will be installed with screws driven through the box and into the joist, rather than fastened to the box with bolts.

Need more info? Visit Matt’s blog at HomeImprovementAndRepairs.com.