Reader Inquiry: How to cover water heaters

Old Water Heater (Photo credit: smysnbrg)

Water heaters are unsightly and as such usually are located in a closet or room that is usually utilitarian in nature. However, you may still feel it needs to be covered. My suggestion is to either invest in a Shoji screen/room divider like these:



You can also easily build your own room dividers by using louvered door panels that are attached via piano hinges. Piano hinges run the length of the screen or a good portion of it and are fairly sturdy. See Below examples:



Yet another solution may be to simply use a tension rod and hang an attractive drape in front of the offending water heater. Tension rods are great because they can adjust to the size you need very easily. You can use shower curtains with rings,(clip rings are a great way to convert an ordinary flat sheet into a drape) drapes with large grommets or tabs, or a sheet with clip rings attached. See examples below:

Removing "popcorn" ceilings

If you watch interior design shows, home hunting shows, etc. one thing you will see time and time again is homeowners and buyers with a strong aversion to the dreaded, "popcorn" ceiling. Popcorn ceilings were popular in past decades for adding texture to what seemed at the time a bland overlooked surface in the home. If you live in South Carolina, and want to have your home checked for lead, asbestos etc. see the link at the bottom of this article. Like many design tactics, it was a design feature that would come back to haunt homeowners later on. The question is should you remove it, or leave it and avoid the mess and time it would take to remove? Before you make a decision, it is best to ask and answer the following questions.


Is your home older than 1978?
Homes built prior to 1978 used lead in the paints, removing a popcorn textured ceiling may seem like an easy update to your home, but if the ceiling was painted (and most were) it could have lead in the paint. What does this mean to you? Scraping, sanding, and repairing could release lead particles and allow them to become air born. Exposure can occur from deteriorating lead-based paint, pipes, or lead-contaminated dust or soil.

Was your home built prior to 1985?
Asbestos was banned for use in building materials in 1985, however, for homes built prior to 1985 asbestos was used in almost every aspect of building materials from insulation, to floor tiles, roof coverings, and siding. Removing the "popcorn" textured ceiling could result in gouging out part of the ceiling, and causing asbestos to become air born. If there is any asbestos, experts recommend having the ceiling removed by professionals, or go over the existing ceiling with fresh drywall.

If you live in South Carolina, and  you think your home may have asbestos or lead you need to see: EnviroDemo Contractors before you take on any construction project, even removing popcorn ceilings.

Related articles by this author:

• Addressing problems in your room
• Color trends that date a home
• When design must meet lifestyle
• Lovely Hydrangeas for your garden

********Converting a closet into an office space

A wall closet in a residential house in the United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Convert that unused closet into a functional office space...

It may be hard to believe but there are times when you may need an office area far more than you need a closet. In those times, it is easy to take a spare closet and convert it into a functioning space. Latest and probably lasting trends that will be seen in the housing market is new construction that is accommodating to the needs of most home buyers to have a home office. For those who have an older home improvising is the name of the game.

Things You'll Need:

1 piece of 4 X 8 plywood (this should be enough but measure)

(2) 2X4X8's or(1 X 5's can also be used) You may need more so make sure to measure.

Box of 1 1/2 inch nails, or screws

(1) handsaw or skill saw

(1) level

(1) drill

molly bolts

Step 1

 First things first, you will want to measure your closet sides, and across the back. The closet in the photograph is the kind with two bi folds, so the measurements were roughly 2 1/2 feet on each short end and approximately 6 feet across.

Step 2

 Cut your 2 X 4 that will be mounted on the interior walls across the back and sides to fit according to your individual closet size. Nail one nail in the center of each 2 X 4 this will allow you the ability to move your 2 X 4 and adjust it to be perfectly level. Make sure to use a level and mark the wall with a pencil. You can now screw it into place using molly bolts and your drill. Add enough to make it very secure, and repeat this with the end too.

Step 3

 Now that your 2 x 4's are all in place and level and securely attached to your walls, it is time to cut your ply wood to fit on top. Make sure to put in several notches along the back of the plywood to allow for your computer wires, etc. Once cut simply place on top of the 2 X 4 braces and nail along the edges. If you want this space to also serve for other uses like sewing, its a good idea to place a 2 X 4 brace up from the floor to add extra support for a heavy sewing machine.

 

• Decorating for the potential buyer of your home
• Definition: Great room
• How to stage an older home for sale
• Giving space an identity in your home