Carl Ravey

Glues and adhesives come in many types and have many uses. Special glues hold things together that cannot be fastened with nails or screws. There are many bonding agents available for use on certain materials. There are some multi-purpose glues and adhesives, but there is no one product that does it all. A handyman carries a variety of adhesives suited for different uses.

Hot Melt Adhesive

Hot melt adhesive is fast setting, but it is not a very strong adhesive and it must be applied thickly. It is not ideal for certain woodworking projects where a strong bond and a nice looking finish are required. It is good for some craft projects or for preliminary gluing to hold things together for fastening with screws or nails. There are many types of hot melt adhesives that are stronger than hardware or craft store products. Seaming tape used by carpet installers is one example.

Hot glue guns are very easy to use. Plug the gun in and allow time for it to heat up then squeeze the trigger to apply the adhesive. Be very careful; the glue is very hot and can cause serious burns. Press the parts to be glued together and hold or clamp till set.

If the glue stick doesn't feed properly, it may need a push. Feeding too much at once causes the mechanism to slip against the stick till more of the glue melts. If the stick is almost used up, the gun may need a second stick to push the first through.

The setting times of different hot glues varies. Some dry almost instantly, making it impossible to reposition the parts to be glued. This type is useful when speed is important. Slower setting glues are better when it may take time to position the parts.

Hot glue must be applied thickly and sticks best when not squeezed too thin, so it is not appropriate for fine woodworking. There are stronger glues designed for this purpose that allow for the repositioning time needed to apply clamps.

Epoxy Adhesives

Epoxy adhesives are a two-part plastic resin glue that will set quickly and produce a very strong bond. The resin and hardener chemically react when mixed to produce a strong bond to most any clean surface. There are also one-part epoxy glues that are designed for professional use. Heat is used to start the setting reaction rather than a chemical hardener.

Epoxies set hard and fill gaps, adding strength and stiffness to parts being glued, which is great for some materials, but not appropriate for non-rigid materials such as fabrics and flexible plastics. Epoxies are OK for wood, but in some cases wood glue is a better choice, unless a quick set is necessary.

Epoxies are used to set bolts in concrete floors to stabilize vibrating machinery and for some types of plumbing repairs. Various metal additives are used in some epoxies for material compatibility. Steel, aluminum, bronze or titanium may be added for repairs to metals. Other epoxy fillers are used for restoring strength to rotted wood or wood damaged by carpenter ants and termites.

Wood Glue

There are many types of wood glue designed to set slowly or quickly depending on the project and your needs. Wood glue sets thin so there no gaps between parts. It is available for interior and water resistant, exterior use. The three basic types of wood glue are PVA (polyvinyl acetate), polyurethane and hide glue.

PVA glues are the traditional wood glues and the most commonly used. They provide a strong bond between wood products but will not bond strongly to other materials such as metal or plastic. It is important to use clamps to hold parts firmly until the glue dries and sets. Any movement during setting time will cause breaks in the bond. PVA's do not stick well to other glues, so they are not useful in repairing furniture where old glue is the problem. Though the directions will say to remove all old glue before use, this is difficult or impossible to do efficiently for a long lasting repair.

PVA's are not suitable as a primary adhesive for edge gluing or joining boards to create a wide surface like a table or countertop. Without other fasteners like screws, nails or dowels, they will eventually break apart. PVA glue is not completely waterproof; however, some PVAs are water and mildew resistant.

Polyurethane Glue

Polyurethane glue is one of the best waterproof glues available. It will adhere to wood, metal, stone, ceramic and plastics. It reacts chemically with moisture in the objects being glued, causing expansion and filling cracks for strong, solid glue joint. If products being glued are dry, lightly moisten them to promote this chemical reaction.

With polyurethane glue you will get better results when sanding or staining that with other wood glues. Most other adhesives act as a sealer and do not accept stain. Polyurethane glue has a longer setting time than other glues, allowing time for adjusting clamps and repositioning parts to be glued.

Polyurethane glue has its drawbacks. It expands, causing a mess when it oozes from the glue joint. It is not as easily wiped away as other wood glues, and it's messy to use. It's best to wear latex glove when working it or your hands will quickly become sloppy and sticky. Keep alcohol handy for clean up and wiping excess glue away as you work. Once it is dry, it is very difficult to remove and must be cut or sanded away. If it dries on your skin, you can use an abrasive soap, or just wait until it eventually wears off.

Polyurethane has the tendency to harden in the container, once opened, making it difficult to store and use later. This is because moist air becomes trapped in the container. You can try pouring a small amount of mineral spirits into the container when storing, but do not forget to pour it off before using.

Hide glue

Hide glues are made from animal products and are great for making cabinets and furniture. They are available in different setting times for different projects. Some projects require a slower setting time to allow for adjustments. Once set, it is very strong and durable. Hide glues can be reactivated with moisture. When restoring furniture you can remove the old glue with steam. This sensitivity to moisture can cause furniture to fall apart if it is stored in damp areas. The finish applied to furniture will help to prevent this reaction.

Hide glue is not generally available in hardware stores. It is difficult to use and doesn't have a very long shelf life. It requires heating and mixing to get the right consistency for the job. It has almost become obsolete due to the availability of many other glue products for the average do-it-yourselfer.

Contact Adhesive

Contact adhesive, also known as contact cement, is a special adhesive for gluing nonporous materials. It is commonly used for attaching laminate to particle board for kitchen and bathroom countertops. It works for this purpose because it dries by quick evaporation of a flammable solvent. Other glues would require clamping the materials for a very long time as moisture from the glues would not be able to easily escape for drying and setting. Contact adhesives are already dry before assembly, so this does not create a problem.

Once applied and allowed to dry, the parts can be assembled in minutes and used immediately. There is no room for error; once stuck, it's stuck for good, leaving no opportunity for repositioning, so careful planning is crucial for a successful finish. Disassembly of glued parts requires damaging the parts.

Follow instructions carefully when using this product. Some materials require a priming coat of adhesive to pre-seal the material to create a strong bond. Problems result from not allowing the adhesive to dry fully before assembly or waiting too long before assembly. Applying too much or not enough also causes a problem.

Cyanoacrylate Adhesives

Also known as instant dry adhesives or super glue, cyanoacrylate adhesives set by contact with moisture on materials to be glued and will not set in an extremely dry environment. The glue solidifies as soon as it comes into contact with moisture. It is designed to join non-porous materials like metal, glass or ceramics. It is not acceptable for wood or porous material. Be very careful with this type of adhesive because it will bond quickly and firmly to skin. Remove from skin with acetone or soak in warm soapy water, working the skin back and forth to break the glue bond. Store in an upright position in the freezer to keep it from hardening in the tube.

Some adhesives are flammable; others can emit harmful fumes and require proper ventilation. Some adhesives are only designed to be used with certain materials and can be caustic to other materials. Some adhesives can be harmful if they come into contact with your skin. Use the right adhesive for the right project and follow all instructions to avoid injury to your self or damage to the materials you're working with.

This article was written by Carl Ravey of HandyPro Handyman Services. HandyPro specializes in home repairs and seasonal home maintenance projects. They can handle small repairs or do large remodeling jobs. Their pre-screened contractors are licensed and bonded, experienced and customer friendly. They strive for 100% customer satisfaction in doing quality work and cleaning up when the job is complete. http://www.handypro.com services Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Port Allen, Addis, East Baton Rouge Parish, Zachary, Baker, Ascension Parish, Gonzales, Sorrento, Donaldsonville, Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Walker, and neighboring cities and communities.

Even if you have never sold a home, common sense says to be sure it looks its best to impress the buyer. Remember what you were looking for when you bought your home and what you will be looking for when you buy your next home. Economically speaking, we are in a buyers' market; housing supply is up and values are down. Buyers have many great deals to choose from; competition is fierce. Here are some tips to put your home at the top of the demand list.

If your home is very cluttered, rooms will appear to be smaller and offers will come in slower and lower. If you have boxes packed and piled up in one room, anticipating a move, the buyer will not understand and see past this. Packed boxes need to be stored outside of the home. Go through each room and keep only what you need as long as you're still living in the home. Clean each room really good and remove items from closets leaving them half-full. If necessary, consider installing closet organizers, but only use half of this space as well. This will give the appearance of closets with plenty of extra storage space.

Clean the carpets and remove worn out scatter rugs. Clean everything, inside and out, including deck and siding, windows, cabinets, floors and walls. Visit your local hardware store and buy the right products to make the job easier, or if you can afford it, hire a professional cleaning company to do the job.

Fresh paint does wonders for a home. Now that it is very clean, remove peeling, faded wall paper, fill cracks, hammer nails that have popped out, repair broken steps, cracked windows and anything else that needs your attention. When choosing paint, use light colors for walls and white for ceilings to make the rooms appear clean, bright and larger in size. Don't be cheap; use a quality paint that washes well, in case it takes 6 months or more to sell your home. Change all burnt out light bulbs, making sure every room has plenty of light. Open curtains and blinds if showing during the day. A dark room, even when clean, appears to be smaller and less clean.

If you have pets or smokers living in the home, it is important to remove the odors. Have a non-smoker who doesn't have pets come to your home to be sure all odors are gone. From now until you sell the home, smokers will have to step outside. Some people will recommend using potpourri or other air fresheners, but do not go too heavy on these as buyers will think you're hiding something. No scent is the right scent to a perspective buyer.

You might consider hiring a handyman service to help with this work. Remember, property values are declining and time is money. A handyman service will be able to complete this work more quickly so you can list, show and sell the home sooner. You are not saving a thing if it takes you 3 months to complete the work in today's declining market.

So the key to selling your home is light, bright, clean and spacious. If the yard is littered and the home is cluttered you are giving the appearance of overwhelm with a home that is difficult to care for, or one that is not worth the time and effort to maintain. A clean home and yard is an inviting home. First impressions are everything when selling your home. When everything is well maintained you are showing buyers how much you have loved your home.

This article was written by Carl Ravey of HandyPro Handyman Services. HandyPro offers a home seller program, where they do the cosmetic repairs and you don't pay until you sell your home. Their pre-screened contractors are licensed and bonded, and customer friendly. They guarantee customer satisfaction with quality work and they clean up when the job is complete. . http://www.handypro.com services Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Port Allen, Addis, East Baton Rouge Parish, Zachary, Baker, Ascension Parish, Gonzales, Sorrento, Donaldsonville, Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Walker, and neighboring cities and communities.

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When you or your handyman applies a fresh coat of paint to the new home you just purchased, you probably prefer to use a latex or water-based paint. There are certain rules painting contractors use when preparing the pre-painted surface before applying fresh paint, to ensure proper adhesion, good coverage and a long-lasting finished project that will look great for years. When applying fresh paint to an already painted surface, a good handyman will determine whether it was previously painted with latex or oil-based paint. You could experience problems when painting with latex, if you're painting over a surface with oil-based paint, without first using a primer. Most people just go ahead and prime when in doubt, however, painting contractors advise that it is better to have as few total coats of paint on a surface as possible.

One way a handyman or painting contractor can tell if existing paint is latex or oil is by the feel of it. Oil paints tend to be smooth while latex paints have a more rubbery feel. The difference is easier to see with glossier paints than with flat finish paint. This method is easier for a professional painting contractor than the average homeowner. A better method for homeowners to use is to rub an area of the painted surface with alcohol or a paint deglosser, also known as liquid sandpaper. If the paint is latex a small amount may be removed or the painted surface may become slightly tacky; neither of these should happen with oil-based paint.

Before painting on a surface previously painted with latex paint, use a deglosser or liquid sandpaper to remove the gloss and clean the surface. This will make the next coat of paint adhere more firmly to the surface with minimal, if any, sanding required. The tackiness will normally disappear within an hour. Oil-based paints should be lightly sanded or primed with a quality primer like Kilz, before applying a fresh coat of latex paint.

If there are holes to be filled, the handyman should use proper filler. The old-time spackle is fine for walls of plaster, but today's softer walls of paper-coated drywall are better filled with a softer product. Spackle works best when the container is new; it dries over time and attempting to renew it by adding moist spackle to it is like adding sand. It also causes it to lose strength, go on the wall lumpy and it's hard to smooth with the trowel. A newer, lightweight spackle is a workable product that dries quickly and can be painted over within 30 minutes. This is great if you're in the middle of painting and you notice a small hole that was missed in preparation.

It is important to have a properly prepared surface before applying a fresh coat of paint; an unprepared surface will result in an unsatisfactory finished project. The rewards of a durable finish that will look good for years are well worth the extra effort in proper preparation of the surface. Remember the three rules when painting over a pre-painted surface, especially when you're unsure of the type of paint previously used. Thoroughly sand the surface, then clean it and prime it with a good quality primer for best results. Homeowners following these guidelines will be proud to have a freshly painted room that looks like it was done by a professional painting contractor.

This article was written by Carl Ravey of HandyPro Handyman Services. HandyPro specializes in home repairs and commercial facility services. Their painting contractors will properly prepare and freshly paint a room or home so it looks great for years. The handyman sent to do all jobs is licensed and bonded, experienced and customer friendly. Our handyman will provide 100% customer satisfaction in doing quality work and cleaning up when the job is complete. http://www.handypro.com services Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Port Allen, Addis, East Baton Rouge Parish, Zachary, Baker, Ascension Parish, Gonzales, Sorrento, Donaldsonville, Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Walker, and neighboring cities and communities.

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Vinyl flooring is a beautiful, long lasting, durable product that will withstand years of use and some abuse, but it can be permanently damaged if it is not cared for properly. Here are some recommended handyman tips for maintaining your vinyl floor.

Wipe up all spills as soon as possible. Regular mopping should be done with a no-rinse floor cleaner. Use a floor stripper and cleaner for heavy duty cleaning and a no-wax shine keeper if it begins to dull over time.

Our handyman advises that you do not use detergents or abrasive cleaners. Certain mop and shine products may leave a dull film on the floor. Do not use paste wax or solvent-based polishes. Do not vacuum with a beater bar because it can visibly damage the floor surface and do not use highly abrasive scrubbing tools.

There are preventative measures you can take to prevent damage to your vinyl floor. When moving heavy furniture or appliances, lay plywood and "walk" the item across it to avoid scuffing and tearing the vinyl. Use floor protectors on furniture to reduce indentation. The heavier the item, the wider the floor protector you need. Furniture with metal protectors can leave deep indentations and leave rust stains. Some rolling casters can also do damage. If you must use casters, the double-wheel type is your best option.

Place a mat at the entrance to reduce the amount of dirt that is tracked into the house. Rubber or latex- backed mats are not recommended because the chemical used to keep the backing from becoming brittle can permanently stain the floor. Use a non-staining vinyl-backed mat or a colorfast rug. Armstrong floor care products are specifically designed for Armstrong floors and can be purchased at your local flooring store.

The handyman says there are preventative measures you can take immediately after installing your new vinyl floor. Be sure to protect sealed seams for at least 8 hours after installation to protect them and ensure a proper seam bond. If seams not protected until they're dry, permanent damage can result.

Maintain room temperature of at least 65 degrees for 48 hours after installation to assure proper curing, setting and bonding of products. Take care to avoid spills and dirt for at least five days after installing as mopping is not recommended on a new vinyl floor because the adhesive needs time to dry thoroughly.

Vinyl flooring is quite durable, but it is not stain-proof. Many stains are removable, but some are not. Be careful when using stain removal products, testing them first in inconspicuous places to be sure they do not dull or damage the finish. Wipe spills quickly, as soon as the happen to reduce staining.

Read labels on floor stain removal products to be sure they are appropriate for vinyl floors. Many stains can be removed with alcohol, mineral spirits or turpentine. Scrub the area with floor stripper and cleaner, using a nonabrasive scrubbing pad. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Nail polish remover can also be used for some stains, sparingly and carefully, washing thoroughly after using.

Your vinyl floor requires very little maintenance besides regular cleaning. Be careful when using new products and be sure to pre-test in places that are not noticeable to avoid permanent damage to your floor. Use care when moving furniture and appliances. Read all labels on cleaning products to be sure they are specifically designed for vinyl floors.

This article was written by Carl Ravey of HandyPro Handyman Services. HandyPro specializes in home repairs and seasonal home maintenance projects. They can handle small repairs or do large remodeling jobs. Our pre-screened contractors are licensed and bonded, experienced and customer friendly. We strive for 100% customer satisfaction in doing quality work and cleaning up when the job is complete. http://www.handypro.com services Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Port Allen, Addis, East Baton Rouge Parish, Zachary, Baker, Ascension Parish, Gonzales, Sorrento, Donaldsonville, Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Walker, and neighboring cities and communities.

Handyman Services, Commercial Maintenance, Home Seller Program, Home Inspections, Forecosure Repairs, Board-ups, Kitchen remodeling, Remodeling Bathrooms, Home Repairs, Carpentry, Drywall and more.