INSTALLATION OF TRI HEX PAVERS

Good day Bloggers we are going to discuss the installation of Pavers Stone. The author with the help of you great Bloggers, will make this task easy .

The Tri Hex Paver

Step 1

Measure the area which you intend to cover.

L X W = Area 

Area X 4.4 = Number of Grass Pavers required 

Step 2

Remove approximately 6" of top soil from area you intend on installing Pavers.

Note: 

• The installer should always be mindful of the finished height of the Pavers, taking into consideration the opening and closing of Doors and Gates.
• The depth of the excavation is determined by the finished height of the Pavers.
• The excavation should be completed and the area graded as to allow the surface water to run off in a direction away from the home or area of interest.

Step 3

The newly excavated area should be compacted with a plate compactor as to prevent undulation 

Step 4

Pour 2" of sharp sand into the area and spreed evenly.

Step 5

Compact  the sharp sand with plate compactor. Remember to maintain the grade of 1/2" to every 1' for water run off.

Step 6

Start laying the Pavers at one corner until the area is filled.

Step 7

Place red / white or fine sand on top surface of Pavers and run the compactor over the Pavers. Ensure the sand falls into edges of the Pavers and locking Pavers in the process.

Step 8 

Remove all excess sand with the broom.  This concludes the installation of the Tri Hex Pavers.

I hope this DIY Blog was helpful and you are now able to take on your own project. Please write and let me know how it worked out.

INSTALLATION OF GRASS PAVERS

Good day Bloggers we are going to discuss the installation of Grass Pavers. It is one of the harder installs but the author with the help of you great Bloggers, will make this task easy .

The Grass Paver

Step 1

Measure the area which you intend to cover.

L X W = Area 

Area X 0.36 = Number of Grass Pavers required 

Step 2

Remove approximately 6" of top soil from the area you intend on installing Pavers.

Note: 

• The installer should always be mindful of the finished height of the Pavers, taking into consideration the opening and closing of Doors and Gates.
• The depth of the excavation is determined by the finished height of the Pavers.
• The excavation should be completed and the area graded as to allow the surface water to run off in a direction away from the home or area of interest.

Step 3

The newly excavated area should be compacted with a plate compactor as to prevent undulation 

Step 4

Pour 2" of sharp sand into the area and spreed evenly.

Step 5

Compact  the sharp sand with plate compactor. Remember to maintain the grade of 1/2" to every 1' for water run off.

Step 6

Start laying the Pavers at one corner until the area is filled.

Step 7

Fill in the spaces with top soil and run the compactor over the Pavers. Ensure the fill covers the edges of the Pavers.

Step 8 

Plant Grass into the spaces to complete the job.

I hope this DIY Blog was helpful and you are now able to take on your own project. Please write and let me know how it worked out.

INSTALLING A WINDOW

Installation of a Vinyl single hung window     

                For the bloggers who already have their homes and are interested in a small renovation,

                maybe changing a window, today's blog is for you. Most companies will recommend that

                this task should be undertaken by a certified window installer. 

                                          Here some steps you should follow:

      








Standard installation procedures when installing into clean and prepared opening

Please read this instruction in its entirety before beginning to install your  Windows.

These installation instructions demonstrate the standard installation method used.

·       Aluminum or Vinyl Sliding / Sash / Casement Windows

 TOOLS

The basic tools required for carrying out the installation of a standard size window are listed in the table below.

Measuring tape. ( Required for verifying window and opening sizes)

Pencil Or Marker (Required for indication of placement of windows and drilling location.)

Levelling instrument.

Power Drill and drill bits.

Spacers Or Shims (Help in positioning the window).

Rawle Plugs Green.

Screws (2” X 10 Ga. PHS Stainless Steel Screws).

Screws Drivers or Powered Screw driver

Caulk (sealant) Or Expanding foam will be pumped into the gaps.

 PREPARATION

1.      Verify window schedule (Ensuring all windows have their destination)

2.      Measure Masonry opening.

v  Measure height (A) ;  width (B) & Diagonals (C) of opening 

( ensuring of opening ¼” tolerance )      

Window Size		Opening Height		Opening Width		Diagonal Size (Side 1& 2)
24”H X 24”W   Or 610mm X 610 mm		24 ¼” or 616 mm		24 ¼” or 616 mm		34  9/32” or         870.97 mm
36”H X 24”W   Or 914 mm X 610 mm		36 ¼”or 921 mm		24 ¼” or 616 mm		43  19/32” or    1,107.44 mm
36”H X 36”W    Or 914 mm X 914 mm		36 ¼”or 921 mm		36 ¼”or   921 mm		51”             or     1,295.40 mm
36”H X 48”W    Or 914 mm X 1,219 mm		36 ¼”or 921 mm		48 ¼”or 1,226 mm		60”             or     1,524.00 mm
48”H X 24”W    Or 1,219 mm X 610 mm		48 ¼”or 1,226 mm		24 ¼” or 616 mm		54”              or    1,372.00 mm
48”H X 36”W   Or 1,219 X 914 mm		48 ¼”or 1,226 mm		36 ¼”or 921 mm		60”              or    1,524.00 mm
48”H X 48”W   Or 1,219 X 1,219 mm		48 ¼”or 1,226 mm		48 ¼”or 1,226 mm		68”              or    1,727.20 mm
60”H X 24”W   Or 1,524 mm X 610 mm		60 ¼” or 1,530 mm		24 ¼” or 616 mm		65”              or    1,651.00 mm
60”H X 36”W   Or 1,524 mm X 914 mm	60 ¼” or 1,530 mm		36 ¼” or 921 mm		70”              or    1,778.00 mm
60”H X 48”W   Or 1,524 mm X 914 mm	60 ¼” or 1,530 mm		48 ¼” or 1,226 mm		77”              or    1,955.80 mm

 INSTALLATION

1.      Ensure the base of masonry opening has a ½” rebate in preparation for installation

2.      Using a 6.35 mm or (¼”) Steel bit drill one hole on the vertical member of the window (Stile) 8” from the bottom corner on the outside of the window and 6” from the top on the inside of the window.

3.      Drill two holes 4” from both corners on the head and bottom sill of window but ½”from the inside of the bottom sill.

4.      Place window 25.4 or (1”) mm from the outer side of the masonry opening, ensuring the window is square and level on the three axes A, B and C. (Refer to section C).

5.      Use spacer or shims where necessary as to not distort the window. (As shown in section C).

6.      Mark points in masonry opening in preparation for drilling.

7.      Remove window and use a 1/4” concrete drill bit for masonry opening (or a bit suited for materials you are using.)
8.      Remove window and use a 6.35 mm or (1/4”) concrete drill bit for masonry opening or a bit suited for materials you are drilling into opening.
9.  Drill holes approximately 50.8 mm or (2”) into the walls of the opening.
10.  Use green Rawle Plugs to insert into the holes of the masonry opening.
11.  Place window back into the opening and re level window using spacers
12.  Fasten window using 1 ½”X 10 Ga. PHS Stainless Steel Screws.

13.  Pump or place caulk (sealant) or expanding foam into the gap between

Window’s frame, jambs and sill in making window water tight.

14.  Remove and disposal of all waste from the surroundings.

The Author trust that the infomation helped. If you need further infomation please write.
Good luck on sucessfully installing your windows.

ACCOMPLISHING YOUR DREAM

Hello Guys

The author need not be a financial analyst, in suggesting that, the average thirty year old professional living in Trinidad and Tobago, wouldn't have three hundred thousand dollars sitting in an account or a couple earning a combined monthly salary of fifty thousand dollars, as is the required downpayment by the financial institutions. 

In this blog, with the assistance from you great bloggers, the author will explore methods in obtaining a dream home in spite of your current financial status. With tried and proven methods, the author himself has accomplished his dream home..

1. Post a conceptual image of the dream house on a calender on the wall of your current home. This will allow your dream to remain top of mind and time bound. 

2.  Analyse the couple's monthly earnings and measure against their monthly expenditure.  The intent of this exercise will be to extract twenty percent of  monthly earnings towards saving for your dream home.

Note:
This is a hard task and will involve enormous sacrifices. 

3. In five years of continuous savings of twenty percent of the couple's earnings, would result in achievement of a sizable amount towards the targeted down payment.

The author and his wife had a combined monthly earning of eighteen thousand dollars, for which he realised, the target of three hundred thousand was still out of his reach, and he needed to have other income to supplement their shortfall. Notwithstanding the time frame for saving, the author never stopped looking at the real-estate market for properties which met his requirements.

The author also consulted an Architect to help crystalize his vision. It also important to note that the couple's financial and other needs changed over the period, but the desire to have a home didn't. And in some cases you may have to scale down the wish list. But there are ways of getting the same dreams for less, by doing it yourself. "DIY"

 4. Engage professionals in solidifying the vision, as design and material play an important part in reducing cost.

5.  Start discussions with Mortgage companies as you will be in a stronger financial position,  the monthly savings will also demostate to the mortgage officer the ability to re - pay a loan.




The author invites Bloggers to comment and post photos, in helping others to realise thier vision of a dream home.

BEGINING TO DREAM

Living in a small expensive apartment in east Trinidad, the author had just gotten married and the couple were expecting a baby in four months time. With a three hour commute into Port of Spain the capital of the island, the couple started the process of acquiring their dream home. 

For most of us, a new home is borne out of necessity rather than a dream. The challenge which most people encounter is conceptualizing and financing a new home. The author decided in 2010 to embark on the biggest adventure he had ever faced in his life.

Firstly built on the advice from the blog before, the author wrote the desires and wish list of  his wife and himself. 

• Four Bedrooms including a Master bedroom.
• Large Kitchen with Breakfast Nook and Pantry.
• Large Living Area or Great Room
• Entertainment and Family Room that accesses a Patio area.
• Large Windows and Doors in living Room which allows natural light.
• High ceiling in Great Room.
• Three Bathrooms and one Powder Room.
• Two Car Garage.
• Laundry Room accessed from the Bedroom area.
• Man Cave and Study area.
• A Pool.
• Hardwood floors finishing throughout the house.
• Most of all, the property must have a Mountain View.

The author wrote the wish list and desires of his wife and himself and consulted online realstate listings in finding houses which met the couple requirements.

The author was pleasantly surprised in finding so many houses which met all their items on their check list. At the time the most popular mortgage financers were Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Financing Company, (TTMF). 

The author realized that he didn't meet the financial requirements which would afford him his dream home. The list price for these homes ranged from three million to five million dollars. The basic requirements of starting the financing process are:

• Ten percent down payment of asking price. (approximately four hundred thousand dollars)
• Legal fees, closing and Valuation fees. (approximately one hundred thousand dollars)

Please write and tell me if you had a similar experience.

BEGINING TO DREAM

Living in a small expensive apartment in east Trinidad, the author had just gotten married and the couple expecting a baby in four mouths. With a three hour commute into Port of Spain the capital of the island. The couple started the process of acquiring their dream home. 

For most of us, a new home is borne out of necessity rather than a dream. The challenge which most people encounter is conceptualizing and financing a new home. The author decided in 2010 to embark on the biggest adventure he had ever faced in his life.

Firstly built on the advice from the blog before, the author wrote the desires and wish list of  his wife and himself. 

• Four Bedrooms including a Master bedroom.
• Large Kitchen with Breakfast Nook and Pantry.
• Large Living Area or Great Room
• Entertainment and Family Room that accesses a Patio area.
• Large Windows and Doors in living Room which allows natural light.
• High ceiling in Great Room.
• Three Bath Rooms and one Powder Room.
• Two Car Garage.
• Laundry Room accessed from the Bedroom area.
• Man Cave and Study area.
• A Pool.
• Hardwood floors finishing throughout the house.
• Most of all the property must have a Mountain View.

The author wrote the wish list and desires of his wife and himself and consulted online realstate listings in finding houses that met the couple requirements.

The author was pleasantly surprised in finding so many houses that met all their items on their check list. At the time the most popular mortgage financers were Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Financing Company, (TTMF). 

The author realized that he didn't meet the financial requirements that will afford him his dream home. The list price for these homes ranged from three million to five million dollars. The basic requirements of starting the financing process are:

• Ten percent down payment of asking price. (approximately four hundred thousand dollars)
• Legal fees, closing and Valuation fees. (approximately one hundred thousand dollars)

Please write and tell me if you had a similar experience.

DOING IT YOURSELF

One of the most rewarding experiences in life, will be the acquisition of your own home or realizing your vision in  home renovations.

Most D I Y blogs focus on small decorative projects, transforming small items and outdoor spaces.

This blogs take a critical look at the issues and formulate a road map in transforming your vision of your home into reality.   

The most common or basic desire is a home. 
Where should you start? 
With a dream.
There are some basic steps in achieving your goal of a dream home or perfect home renovation.

By utilizing the experiences of others, the author developed a road map to accomplishing a dream home or a major renovation project. 

By following the steps below the author will solidify the process which you may already know and fill in the gaps that you don't. 

• Write down a wish list. e.g. A view, A stream or pool
• Do not consider financing at this point.
• Consider all future growth and aspirations. e.g. Family expansion and commute to utilities.

• Identify areas on map that embody your desires

• Visit these areas with camera and checklist. 
• Select the locations that best meets your wish list.
• It is important to consult other stakeholders e.g. wife or husband. 

• Review your selection with consideration to major utilities providers, proximity or commute to schools, hospital and place of employment.

• Research design concepts and real estate websites in formulating your vision. Here are a couple of websites you can start with:

• http://www.thebuildingsource.com/

• http://trinidadrealtor.com

Let me Know what you think about these sites and you can look forward for more information in upcoming posts.