Dear Maintenance Men:
Dear
Maintenance Men:
My
residents routinely call me about clogs in the bathroom sink or bathtub. I know
the clog is most likely hair and that it is near the trap.
My problem is in using a hand held or drill-mounted snake.
The snake cable is too big to go through the sink strainer and I must
take apart all the plumbing or call a plumber for a simple job.
How do you handle a quick repair without it turning into a major
production?
Ennis
Dear
Ennis:
Use
a speedometer cable. They are
considerably smaller than a standard snake cable. They will easily fit through
the drain strainer and are long enough to clear a typical hair clog found in
most bathroom situations. Bend the
end of the cable at an angle and clamp the other end into your drill motor and
you are ready to go. You can find a
speedometer cable at any auto store or auto junkyard.
Dear
Maintenance Men:
I’m
a new property owner and to save money I am doing my own rehab, painting and
cleaning work. My problem is
painting. When I’m doing it, it
seems to take so long, it’s tedious and I get paint everywhere.
When I call the pros in, they are so fast, they don’t even use a drop
cloth! If they can do it, I
can do it. What do you suggest will
improve my painting progress?
Stan
Dear
Stan:
Prep,
prep, prep! Tape and mask
everything before even looking at the paint.
Use the 2-inch blue painters tape, also use the brand name product, not
the cheap no-name brand. The
hardware store even has tape attached to six or twelve inch plastic sheeting for
even more protection. Using
the wide two-inch tape will allow you to use a roller instead of a brush on the
trim, which will speed up your painting considerably.
Paint all your trim and cut-ins first, then paint the walls with the
roller. You should find your
work would be not only faster, but also neater.
Dear
Maintenance Men:
I own a building that consists of all two bedroom one and three quarter baths. The three-quarter bathrooms have a sink, toilet and bathtub, but no shower. I would like to convert them to a full bath by adding a shower. How do I do it?
Bill
Dear
Bill:
This
is a great upgrade to any unit. There
are a number of ways to go depending on your budget and do-it-yourself skills.
The most economical and simple solution to adding a shower to a bathtub is to
install a diverter spout that includes a 1 half-inch hand shower fitting.
The hand shower can be sold separately or as a kit with the spout.
Connect the hand shower hose to the spout and hang the showerhead on the
wall. Other than installing
waterproof shower walls, you are ready to go.
The
second option is a bit more involved, but a much better solution.
Because most tub only bathroom situations usually have no wall tile or
“shower wall” material, gaining access to your existing valve & plumbing
system should be easy. Lets begin with the items you will need to start your
project. (If you have an existing two-valve system, now is the time to go to a
modern single valve set-up.) The
easiest apartment application valve to buy is either a Moen or Mix-it valve.
There are many other brands to buy depending on your budget. The kit will come with a valve, spout, shower arm and head.
You will still need to purchase a 1 half inch copper pipe at least 56 to
59 inches long, a 90 degree brass elbow, slip to thread with ears to attach it
to the wall stud at the shower head.
Be sure you have a full propane torch with solder.
Now
you are ready do install. Don’t
forget to turn off the water. Since
you will be installing new shower walls, don’t worry about damaging drywall.
Cut a hole in the drywall stud to stud, 12 inches high at the existing
valve level. Then cut a 4
inch wide strip of drywall 59 inches up from the location of the existing
valves. Now that everything is
exposed, remove the old valves, by cutting or use the propane torch to melt the
solder joints. Install the new
valve in place, cut a 1 half inch copper riser between 56 and 59 inches and
solder to the valve. Solder the
brass 90-degree elbow to the pipe and screw the elbow to a cross stud.
If you could not find an elbow with ears, use plumbers tape or a pipe
hanger to secure the elbow in place.
Test your plumbing installation for leaks.
Install
new drywall to cover your plumbing work and the tub is now ready for the
installation of the shower wall material of your choice.
We recommend a one-piece wrap around shower wall system available at your
local home center.
Bio:
Jerry L'Ecuyer is the owner of JLE Property Management & Buffalo
Maintenance and is a licensed contractor & real estate broker.
He is currently on the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Education
Committee for the Apartment Association of Orange County. Jerry has been involved with apartments as a professional
since 1988 and can be reached at (714) 778-0480 or jerry@JLE1.com. Frank Alvarez is the Operations Director for Buffalo
Maintenance. He has been involved with apartment maintenance for over 14 years.
Frank can be reached at (714) 956-8371 or visit the office at, 202 E. Broadway
in Anaheim, CA 92805. Please view our web site at: WWW.JLE1.COM