Category: Sisters House

Tips For Tiling A Shower

Post author By Samuel
Post date July 16, 2021

These expands upon my earlier post laying out a full shopping list for tiling a shower .

Tiling A Tub Surround:

Start By Setting your lazer level up on a jack pole like this one:

Set the lazer up so that the line is slightly below the first tile

Start with the back wall so that your grout joints are not visible from outside the shower. Take the First tile and use the lazer to mark it for cutting:

Flip the tile upside down so you are marking the bottom of the tile. Mark on either end where along the lazer line.

Next transfer the line to the front of the tile:

Take a tile pen and mark on the sides and then use a T square to draw a full line on the front of the tile

Cut the tile along the line:

Helpful tips & Tricks:

Buy good tile cutting tools. My preferred Saws are the:
- iQTS244™ Dry Cut Tile Saw
- MASTERPIUMA P3 manual tile cutter
Use the manual tile cutter to make all the straight cuts and use the IQ to make any un-even cuts, plunge cuts, or really just any of the tricky cuts.
Keep a bucket an a wet sponge near you while gluing the tiles down, wipe the edges of the tiles before you put them up.
Cut the small holes for the shower and tub faucets with a diamond tip whole saw blade.
Get a 2nd person to back butter the tiles while you lay the glue on the wall
Use a Speed square and T-Square to help you make accurate marks on your tiles.
Useful Tools

Fixing Stuff Phase Two Samuel Sisters House

Working With My Dad

Post author By Samuel
Post date June 8, 2021

Do something that feels like play to you but looks like work to others
@naval

Thought about that quote often the past few days working on this old building with my dad, scraping caulking and re-painting these old 1904 model window frames. This kind of work is so enjoyable to me it doesn’t feel like work at all, more like a fun hobby. Add working with my dad into the mix and it’s really something special. Didn’t always have a great relationship with my dad. But he was always there and always showing me what to do, and sometimes what not to do, but still teaching me all the same. Really glad I got to work with him on this building remodel and hopefully get to keep working with him on projects for a long, long time!

Fixing Stuff Samuel Sisters House

Wiring Up Outlets On Multiple Circuits

Post author By Samuel
Post date October 10, 2020

This post will detail wiring up outlets in the following situations:

12 – 3 wire connected to two circuits in the panel running to a single outlet box with 1 leg continuing on to power GFI switches and 1 leg connected to the outlet receptacle
12 – 3 wire to connected to two circuits in the panel with both legs running to a single receptacle

This post contains information I learned while wiring our house, I am not a journeymen electrician so this post should cover many of the pitfalls a novice attempting a wiring project like this will encounter. Let’s get going!

Special Note:

It is a super helpful to install these spacer plates when you install an outlet, they allow for the outlet to stand proud and poke out of the cover plate which looks so much nicer!

Installing Raco 1 gang flush fit mounting plate

12 – 3 to multiple outlets. This is used where you have a home run going into 1 box and you want to keep that box on a different circuit than the rest of the outlets in the vicinity. In our situation this was used to run a dedicated circuit for the fridge, with a separate circuit for 2 GFI outlets above our kitchen counter. Step by step pictures are below:

Trimming the wires to length. With wires all the exact same lengths its easier to put wire nuts on

Separating The Wires — Separating The wires. The red and black on the right are both power coming from the panel box. The black on the left is going to the two GFI boxes downstream of this outlet box

Connecting the Ground wires. We take all of the ground wires along with a 6 inch pigtail wire and wire nut them together.

Connect the Neutrals together with a 6 inch pigtail just like the grounds.

Connect The Red Power wire from the 12 – 3 wire that runs from the panel to the lower right nut of the outlet. Connect the pigtail ground wire to the green ground screw on the outlet.

Connect the black power from the 12-3 wire to the black wire of the 12-2 outlets which will go on to power the GFI outlets on a separate circuit downstream. Connect the neutral pigtail to the left nut on the outlet and you are all set. Push the wires up and then back into the box and screw the outlet to the box

12 – 3 to a single outlet. This is used where you want the top and bottom of a single outlet to be on separate circuits. In our situation this was used for a garbage disposal and a washing machine. Each appliance draws more than 10 amps so having them on a single 20 amp breaker would cause an issue if both appliances were being operated at the same time. Step by step pictures are below:

Break the tab that connects the two nuts on the side of the outlet. Normally these are connected and allows for the power to only be attached to one of the screws and have both outlets work. In this situation however we want 2 separate circuits so we rip off the connecting tab

Connect the black power from the 12-3 wire that runs from the panel to the lower right nut. Connect the red power from the 12-3 wire to the top wire nut.

Connect the neutral and ground wires to their screws then push the wires up and fold back into the box and screw on the outlet.

Phase Two Samuel Sisters House

Rough In Water Lines Parts List

Post author By Samuel
Post date February 20, 2020

Please excuse the lack of polish on this post. This post is simply so I can preserve the parts list of a current project I’m working on in case I ever need it in the future. This is a list of items that were researched and purchased in order to rough in water lines for 26 fixtures in a 2 family house. If someone out there is looking to tackle a similar rough in plumbing project, then the items below represent the entire shopping list that you will need in order to rough in water lines to all of your fixtures using the products I currently believe to be the best most reliable option. A big caveat is that I have never attempted a large scale rough in plumbing project like this so its possible the list below is incorrect or incomplete. However I spent many hours researching it and I typically have a talent for this type of problem solving so I’m fairly confident it will produce an excellent product. I will be creating a follow up post with descriptions and helpful tips of the installation process, and if I learn of any issue with the products below during the installation progress I will update this post to remove them.

To start with Uponor (the maker of the high quality Pex System I’ve chosen to use) has a great paid design service that they offer to anyone. The cost is $100 and it is money well spent! They provide you a trained and licensed engineer who will take your plans and provided information and then draw out a schematic + full parts list for you. On a technical level this is way more accurate than an average home owner could do, and I would argue even more accurate than most plumbers because the information is coming straight from the manufacture of the products.

To start the Uponor planning process buy a water pressure gauge and leave it on your outdoor spiggot for 24 hours, the Upono engineer will request the water pressure of your system before they can begin designing the system.

A Simple Gauage like this from Home Depot Will work: Water Pressure Gauge

The Uponor design team will provide you a full parts list tailored specifically for your project but for reference the parts list needed for my project is below:

Tools:

Supports & Brackets:

42 Plastic Bend Supports https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-A5250500-1-2-Plastic-Bend-Support-2128000-p
27 Wall Support Brackets https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-A5750500-PEX-Wall-Support-Bracket-1-2-3-4-10477000-p
28 Escutcheon Plates https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-F5650500-ProPEX-Escutcheon-for-1-2-PEX-11-16-OD-Chrome-Plated-10476000-p
300 tube talons https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-F7050750-Tube-Talon-1-2-5-8-3-4-PEX-Tubing-100-Bag

Pex Tubing & Pex Connectors:

100 feet of 1 inch tubing https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-F1041000-1-AQUAPEX-100-ft-coil-2175000-p
900 feet of 1/2 inch tubing https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-F1060500-1-2-AQUAPEX-300-ft-coil-2176000-p
100 feet of 1 & 1/2 inch tubing https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-F1061500-1-1-2-AQUAPEX-100-ft-coil-4786000-p
4 stem extension kits https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-F5630002-Stem-Extension-Kit-for-1-and-1-1-4-Valves
2 1 inch multi port tee’s with 6 1/2 inchoutlets https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-Q2261050-1-EP-Branch-Multi-Port-Tee-w-1-2-Outlets-6-Outlets
2 1 inch multi port tee’s with 8 1/2 inch outlets https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-Q2281051-1-EP-Branch-Multi-Port-Tee-w-1-2-Outlets-Mounting-Clips-8-Outlets
50 1/2 inch plugs https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-Q4350500-ProPEX-EP-Plug-for-1-2-PEX-2248000-p
170 1/2 inch pex ring with stop https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-Q4690512-ProPEX-Ring-with-Stop-1-2-blue-print-2298000-p
80 1 inch pex ring with stop https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-Q4691000-ProPEX-Ring-with-Stop-1-blue-print
12 1-1/2 inch pex ring with stop https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-Q4691500-1-1-2-ProPEX-Ring-with-Stop
2 1 inch pex tee https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-Q4751010-ProPEX-EP-Tee-1-PEX-x-1-PEX-x-1-PEX-2309000-p
4 pex reducing tees https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-Q4751150-ProPEX-EP-Reducing-Tee-1-PEX-x-1-PEX-x-1-2-PEX-3794000-p
2 pex reducing tees https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-Q4751505-1-1-2-x-1-x-1-1-2-ProPEX-EP-Reducing-Tee
2 pex reducing tees https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-Q4751511-1-1-2-x-1-x-1-ProPEX-EP-Reducing-Tee
2 1-1/2 inch reducing tees https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-Q4751550-1-1-2-x-1-1-2-x-1-2-ProPEX-EP-Reducing-Tee
2 1-1/2 inch reducing tees https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-Q4755050-ProPEX-EP-Tee-1-2-PEX-x-1-2-PEX-x-1-2-PEX-2311000-p
19 1 inch pex elbows https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-Q4761000-ProPEX-EP-Elbow-1-PEX-x-1-PEX-2318000-p
4 1-1/2 inch pex elbows https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-Q4761500-1-1-2-ProPEX-90-Elbow
5 1 inch pex couplings https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-Q4771010-ProPEX-EP-Coupling-1-PEX-x-1-PEX-2319000-p
3 1-1/2 inch pex couplings https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-Q4771515-1-1-2-ProPEX-EP-Coupling

Brass Fittings:

9 Copper Stub Elbows https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-LF2885050-1-2-ProPEX-Brass-x-1-2-Copper-Stub-Elbow-3-x-4-Lead-Free-Brass
5 one inch copper fitting adapters https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-LF4501010-1-ProPEX-x-1-Copper-Fitting-Adapter-Lead-Free-Brass
1 inch and 1/2 copper adapter https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-LF4501515-1-1-2-ProPEX-x-1-1-2-Copper-Fitting-Adapter-Lead-Free-Brass
3 1/2 inch copper fittings https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-LF4505050-ProPEX-LF-Brass-Fitting-Adapter-1-2-PEX-x-1-2-Copper
3 1/2 inch male adapaters https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wirsbo-Uponor-LF4525050-ProPEX-LF-Brass-Male-Threaded-Adapter-1-2-PEX-x-1-2-NPT
5 1/2 inch copper elbows https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-LF4710500-1-2-ProPEX-Elbow-Lead-Free-Brass
28 Full Port Angle 1/2 stop valves https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-LF4855038-ProPEX-Full-Port-Angle-Stop-Valve-for-1-2-PEX-Lead-Free-Brass
8 1 inch ball valves https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-LFC4821010-1-ProPEX-Full-Port-Brass-Commercial-Ball-Valve-Lead-Free
1 1/2 ball valves https://www.supplyhouse.com/Uponor-Wirsbo-LFC4825050-1-2-ProPEX-Full-Port-Brass-Commercial-Ball-Valve-Lead-Free

Phase Two Samuel Sisters House

Waterproofing & Uncoupling Membrane Shopping List

Post author By Samuel
Post date February 12, 2020

Please excuse the lack of polish on this post. This post is simply so I can preserve the parts list of a current project I’m working on in case I ever need it in the future. This is a list of items that were researched and purchased in order to waterproof 4 shower stalls and install tile in 4 bathroom floors. If someone out there is looking to tackle a similar waterproofing project, then the items below represent the entire shopping list that you will need in order to showerproof your shower in the manner that I currently believe is the best most reliable option. A big caveat is that I have never attempted a large scale waterproofing project like this so its possible the list below is incorrect or incomplete. However I spent many hours researching it and I typically have a talent for this type of problem solving so I’m fairly confident it will produce an excellent product. I will be creating a follow up post with descriptions and helpful tips of the installation process, and if I learn of any issue with the products below during the installation progress I will update this post to remove them.

Mortar Mixes:

Mapei Unmodified Thinset Uncoupling Membrane Mortar:
- For use installing uncoupling membrane over wood floors
- https://www.lowes.com/pd/MAPEI-Uncoupling-Membrane-50-lb-Gray-Powder-Thinset-Medium-Bed-Mortar/50157886
Mapei Modified Thinset
- For use installing tile over top of uncoupling membrane or kerdi band waterproofing
- https://www.lowes.com/pd/MAPEI-Large-Format-Floor-Tile-50-lb-Gray-Powder-Thinset-Medium-Bed-Mortar/1000695980
Portland Cement
- For use creating shower pan with 4 parts sand 1 part Portland Cement.
- https://www.homedepot.com/p/94-lb-Portland-Cement-112494/100570364
- **There is a a new product out that is a time saver because its pre-mixed: https://www.lowes.com/pd/MAPEI-4-to-1-Mud-Bed-Mix-55-lb-Indoor-Outdoor-Floor-Patch/
Sand
- For use creating shower pan with 4 parts sand 1 part portland cement
- https://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-50-lb-All-Purpose-Sand-115251/100318450

Underlayments & Waterproofing:

Ditra
- For use in dry applications. We will be using this in the tile floors for all of our bathrooms.
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VNBT76/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Kerdi
- For use in wet applications. We will be using this to line the walls and floors of our showers.
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003C6EQPE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Kerdi Band
- For use connecting larger sheets of Kerdi together or overlapping floor/wall joints.
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007NWYP40/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Kerdi Board Shower Bench
- We will use this to create a small bench in the master shower
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H4BJWWO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Kerdi Drains
- We will be using these in each of our showers and our main level laundry rooms
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047UXJ84/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Kerdi Shower Nich
- We will be using these to create a cubby in each master bathroom shower
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GUR3C9S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ardex 8+9
- This product could be used as a stand alone waterproofing membrane, however we are going to use it on top of our kerdi waterproffing membrane as a 2nd layer of waterproofing
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X94N8FW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hardie Backer Board
- This will be used as wall material in all shower stalls in place of drywall
- https://www.lowes.com/pd/James-Hardie-0-25-in-x-36-in-x-60-in-HardieBacker-Fiber-Cement-Backer-Board/999994576

Tools & Screws:

11/64th Trowel used when applying Ditra uncoupling membrane to the floor with unmodified thinset.
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IS31TS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
1/8th Trowel used when applying kerdi membrane with unmodified thinset
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CMDH8A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Mixing Bit For Drill
- Used to mix up the mortars
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KPPSCXP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Grouting System
- For use making grouting process easier
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NBF09W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Portable Wet Saw
- Used to make cuts on tile
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J21SL6S/ref=asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Backerboard Screws
- 1 ½ ” long No. 8x.0375” HD self-drilling corrosion-resistant ribbed waferhead screws.
- https://www.homedepot.com/p/SPAX-8-x-1-1-2-in-Wafer-Head-T-Star-High-Corrosion-Resistant-Exterior-Screw-1-lb-Box-4281670400406/301951990?MERCH=REC-_-pipsem-_-301951998-_-301951990-_-N

Phase Two Samuel Sisters House

Sound Proofing Shopping List

Post author By Samuel
Post date February 11, 2020

Please excuse the lack of polish on this post. This post is simply so I can preserve the parts list of a current project I’m working on in case I ever need it in the future. This is a list of items that were researched and purchased in order soundproof a 2 family house. If someone out there is looking to tackle a similar soundproofing project, then the items below represent the entire shopping list that you will need in order to soundproof your house in the manner that I currently believe is the best most reliable option. A big caveat is that I have never attempted a large scale soundproofing project like this so its possible the list below is incorrect or incomplete. However I spent many hours researching it and I typically have a talent for this type of problem solving so I’m fairly confident it will produce an excellent product. I will be creating a follow up post with descriptions and helpful tips of the installation process, and if I learn of any issue with the products below during the installation progress I will update this post to remove them.

What we will be doing with the list below for the ceiling is attaching 2 layers of drywall to the sub floor between the ceiling joists. Each layer of drywall will have green glue added. We will then be putting fiberglass insulation inside each ceiling joist void. Finally we will install resilient channeling and attached 2 more layers of drywall with green glue sandwiched in-between the layers.

What we will be doing with the list below for the shared walls is adding fiberglass insulation into the stud cavity. Then attaching an unbroken sheet of Mass Loaded Vinyl to the wall. We will follow that up by attaching a layer of drywall to the MLV, followed by green glue and a second layer of drywall.

Shopping List:

Acoustic Caulk:
- Our project called for 2 packs of 12
- https://www.tmsoundproofing.com/Acoustical-Caulk-29-oz.-tube.html

Resilient Channeling Clips and Metal Channel:
- Our project called for 31 packs of 10 channel clips & 5 packs of 20 metal channels
- Clips: https://www.tmsoundproofing.com/RSIC-1.html
- Channel: https://www.tmsoundproofing.com/hat-channel-20-pack.html

Fiberglass Insulation:
- Our project called for 40 rolls of 40 foot insulation
- https://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-R-19-EcoTouch-PINK-Kraft-Faced-Fiberglass-Insulation-Continuous-Roll-15-in-x-39-2-ft-RF40/202585898

Mass Loaded Vinyl:
- Our project called for 7 100 foot rolls of MLV
- https://www.tmsoundproofing.com/1-LB-Mass-Loaded-Vinyl.html

Green Glue:
- Our project called for 6 6 gallon buckets of glue and 1 caulk gun
- https://www.tmsoundproofing.com/Green-Glue-Noiseproofing-Compound-5-Gallon-Bucket.html
- https://www.tmsoundproofing.com/bucket-caulking-gun.html

Sticky Pads:
- Our project called for 17 sticky pads
- https://www.tmsoundproofing.com/Acoustical-Putty-Pads.html