Month: February 2006

How to install formica counter tops?

Surface preparation for laminated plastic

 Laminated plastic sheets of 1/16″ thickness are recommended for a flat work surface. You can use laminated plastic of 1/32″ thickness on vertical surfaces.

 Thoroughly sand and clean the surface where plastic laminate is to be applied. Remove any paint or varnish before applying the laminated plastic.
Most manufactured countertops are made using a high-density particle board. However, regular particle board and even plywood make ideal bases for plastic laminates.

How to cut the laminated plastic?

 You can cut plastic laminate material with a circular saw, saber saw, backsaw or utility knife. The saw blade should be a fine-tooth blade. A strip of masking tape placed where the cut line is to be made helps prevent chipping and makes the line easier to see.

 When using a power circular saw or saber saw, cut from the back side of the laminate. These saws cut on the upstroke. Cutting from the back will help prevent chipping. On hand saws, cut from the front side at a low angle.

 Important: Always cut the sheets of laminated plastic slightly oversized to allow for trimming.

Installing burglar alarm in your house

A burglar alarm install manual is the best way to install an alarm system. It explains how a house owner needs to install a burglar alarm. However, before installing the alarm the house owner needs to survey the property, and decide how many doors and windows present a security threat. He also needs to look at large halls and sitting spaces that need to be protected against intruder break in.

His next step should be to decide on the kind of alarm he wants to install. The house owner has the option to select a wireless alarm or a hard-wired alarm. A wireless alarm is generally easier to install because it requires no wires to be run across the house. The different components of the alarm can be plugged in selected spots as per the instructions given in the installation manual.

The ideal place to install the control panel, which works as the brains of the alarm system, is in the basement or at any other place where it cannot be easily spotted by an intruder. Also, it should be within range, that is the control panel should be able to pick up signals from other wireless components like sensors and magnetic switches.

The house owner then needs to install the magnetic switches on all those doors and windows from where a possible intruder can enter. These switches comprise of two parts — a switch and a magnet — and are not difficult to install. The house owner must only make sure that the distance between the switch and the magnet is not too large to allow the intruder to walk in, unnoticed. The alarm must go off when the distance between the switch and the magnet increases.