{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"categoryState":{"relatedCategories":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2022-08-15T12:31:15+00:00"},"categoryId":33939,"data":{"title":"Home Improvement & Appliances","slug":"home-improvement-appliances","image":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939}],"parentCategory":{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","slug":"home-auto-hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"}},"childCategories":[{"categoryId":33940,"title":"Appliances","slug":"appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33940"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33944,"title":"Ceilings","slug":"ceilings","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33944"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33945,"title":"Cleaning & Organization","slug":"cleaning-organization","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33945"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33946,"title":"Construction","slug":"construction","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33946"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33947,"title":"Decorating","slug":"decorating","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33947"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33948,"title":"Doors","slug":"doors","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33948"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33949,"title":"Electrical","slug":"electrical","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33949"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33950,"title":"Floors","slug":"floors","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33950"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33951,"title":"Plumbing","slug":"plumbing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33951"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33956,"title":"Roofs & Gutters","slug":"roofs-gutters","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33956"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33957,"title":"Safety & Security","slug":"safety-security","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33957"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33958,"title":"Siding","slug":"siding","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33958"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33959,"title":"Walls & Painting","slug":"walls-painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33960,"title":"Windows","slug":"windows-home-improvement-appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33960"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":33961,"title":"General Home Improvement & Appliances","slug":"general-home-improvement-appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33961"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":34371,"title":"Remodeling","slug":"remodeling","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34371"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0}},{"categoryId":34384,"title":"Furnaces & Heating","slug":"furnaces-heating","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34384"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0}}],"description":"Creating and maintaining an amazing home isn't easy — but it's definitely worth it! We'll walk you through everything from choosing the best vacuum to organizing your clutter.","relatedArticles":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles?category=33939&offset=0&size=5"},"hasArticle":true,"hasBook":true},"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"}},"relatedCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"listState":{"list":{"count":10,"total":517,"items":[{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T22:39:50+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-07-28T14:00:41+00:00","timestamp":"2022-07-28T18:01:30+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939},{"name":"Walls & Painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"},"slug":"walls-painting","categoryId":33959}],"title":"Estimating How Much Paint to Buy","strippedTitle":"estimating how much paint to buy","slug":"estimating-how-much-paint-to-buy","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"This article walks you through how to calculate the amount of paint you'll need to paint interior walls, ceilings, doors, and windows.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<p class=\"normal\">Before you begin painting your home's interior walls, ceilings, woodwork, doors, or windows, you need to estimate the amount of paint you'll use. Estimates require specific calculations for each surface you want to paint.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">To estimate the amount of paint you need in order to cover the walls of a room, add together the length of all the walls and then multiply the number by the height of the room, from floor to ceiling. The number you get is the room's square footage. Is that math class coming back to you now?</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >How to determine square footage</h2>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Now you have to determine how much of that square footage is paintable surface area. Because you use a different paint on the doors and windows, subtract those areas from the room total. No sweat, just subtract 20 square feet for each door and 15 square feet for each average-sized window in the room. You end up with a number that is close to the actual wall area you have to cover with paint.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">In general, you can expect 1 gallon of paint to cover about 350 square feet. You need slightly more than a gallon if the walls are unpainted drywall, which absorbs more of the paint. You also need to consider whether to paint more than one coat. If you're painting walls that are unfinished, heavily patched, or dark in color, plan on applying two coats of paint.</p>\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">When painting a dark color, pros often add a color tint to the white primer. Tints for both latex or alkyd paints are available at most paint stores. For best results, choose a tint shade that's closest to the top coat color.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Now for the clincher of the math problem. Divide the paintable wall area by 350 (the square-foot coverage in each gallon can) to find the number of gallons of paint you need for the walls. You can round uneven numbers; if the remainder is less than .5, order a couple of quarts of wall paint to go with the gallons; if the remainder is more than .5, order an extra gallon. Of course, buying in bulk is usually more economical, so you may discover that 3 quarts of paint cost as much as a gallon.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Examples of calculations</h2>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">The following examples walk you through the calculations for determining how much paint you need for a 14-x-20-foot room that's 8 feet tall and has two doors and two windows.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"h3\">Ceiling paint estimator</h3>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Use the following formula to estimate the amount of ceiling paint you need. Double the result if the ceiling requires two coats.</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">1. Multiply the length of the ceiling times its width to find its area.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">14 × 20 = 280 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">2. Divide that number by 350 (the estimated square feet covered per gallon) to figure out how many gallons of paint you need.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">280 ÷ 350 = .8</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">For this example, you want to buy 1 gallon of ceiling paint for a single coat.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"h3\">Wall paint estimator</h3>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Use the following formula to estimate the amount of wall paint you need. Double the result if the walls require two coats.</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">1. Add together the length of each wall.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">2. Multiply the sum by the wall height, to find the total wall area.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">68 × 8 = 544 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">3. Subtract 20 square feet for each door (20 × 2 = 40) and 15 square feet for each window (15 × 2 = 30) to find the actual amount of wall area you're painting.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">544 – 70 = 474 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">4. Divide this figure by the paint coverage (350 square feet per gallon), and the result is the number of gallons to purchase.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">474 ÷ 350 = 1.4</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">For this example, you want to buy 1 gallon and 2 quarts of paint for a single coat.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"h3\">Woodwork paint estimator</h3>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Measure the length of the trim in feet, and multiply that number by 1/2 foot (.5), as a rough size for the width of the trim. Include all the trim around doors and windows, at baseboards, along the ceiling, and for any built-in furniture.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">As an example, imagine that you have ceiling molding running around a room that is 14 feet wide and 20 feet long.</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">1. Determine the total length of molding around the room by adding together the length of all the walls that the molding covers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">Round the numbers off to the nearest foot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">2. Multiply the sum by .5 for an estimated width of the molding.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">68 × .5 = 34 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">3. Divide this number by 350 to estimate the gallons of paint required to cover the molding.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">34 ÷ 350 = .09</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">The result in this example is much less than a quart, but you may paint other woodwork in the room the same color, so buying a full quart may not be terribly wasteful.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"h3\">Door and window estimator</h3>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Use the same figure for estimating door coverage as you use in your wall-area calculations — 20 square feet = one door. Multiply the number of doors by 20, doubling the answer if you plan to paint both sides. Wall paint estimates allow for 15 square feet for each window. Use about half that window area to figure trim and inside sash — the glass isn't important to the calculation.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">For the room in this example:</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">1. Multiply the number of doors by 20.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">2 × 20 = 40 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">2. Multiply the number of windows by 7.5.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">2 × 7.5 = 15 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">3. Add these numbers together.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">40 + 15 = 55</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">4. Divide the result by 350 (the estimated square feet covered per gallon).</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">54 ÷ 350 = .16</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Often, you end up needing to buy only a quart of paint, which goes a long way on doors and window trim.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\"><strong>See also:</strong></p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\"><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/home-improvement-appliances/walls-painting/how-to-paint-ceilings-and-walls-185175/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Paint Ceilings and Walls</a></p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\"><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-paint-paneled-doors.html?cid=embedlink\">How to Paint </a><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-paint-paneled-doors.html?cid=embedlink\">Paneled Doors</a></p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\"><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-paint-trim.html?cid=embedlink\">How to Paint Trim </a></p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\"><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/tools-you-need-for-a-basic-paint-project.html?cid=embedlink\">Tools You Need for a Basic Paint Project </a></p>","description":"<p class=\"normal\">Before you begin painting your home's interior walls, ceilings, woodwork, doors, or windows, you need to estimate the amount of paint you'll use. Estimates require specific calculations for each surface you want to paint.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">To estimate the amount of paint you need in order to cover the walls of a room, add together the length of all the walls and then multiply the number by the height of the room, from floor to ceiling. The number you get is the room's square footage. Is that math class coming back to you now?</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >How to determine square footage</h2>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Now you have to determine how much of that square footage is paintable surface area. Because you use a different paint on the doors and windows, subtract those areas from the room total. No sweat, just subtract 20 square feet for each door and 15 square feet for each average-sized window in the room. You end up with a number that is close to the actual wall area you have to cover with paint.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">In general, you can expect 1 gallon of paint to cover about 350 square feet. You need slightly more than a gallon if the walls are unpainted drywall, which absorbs more of the paint. You also need to consider whether to paint more than one coat. If you're painting walls that are unfinished, heavily patched, or dark in color, plan on applying two coats of paint.</p>\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">When painting a dark color, pros often add a color tint to the white primer. Tints for both latex or alkyd paints are available at most paint stores. For best results, choose a tint shade that's closest to the top coat color.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Now for the clincher of the math problem. Divide the paintable wall area by 350 (the square-foot coverage in each gallon can) to find the number of gallons of paint you need for the walls. You can round uneven numbers; if the remainder is less than .5, order a couple of quarts of wall paint to go with the gallons; if the remainder is more than .5, order an extra gallon. Of course, buying in bulk is usually more economical, so you may discover that 3 quarts of paint cost as much as a gallon.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Examples of calculations</h2>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">The following examples walk you through the calculations for determining how much paint you need for a 14-x-20-foot room that's 8 feet tall and has two doors and two windows.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"h3\">Ceiling paint estimator</h3>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Use the following formula to estimate the amount of ceiling paint you need. Double the result if the ceiling requires two coats.</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">1. Multiply the length of the ceiling times its width to find its area.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">14 × 20 = 280 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">2. Divide that number by 350 (the estimated square feet covered per gallon) to figure out how many gallons of paint you need.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">280 ÷ 350 = .8</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">For this example, you want to buy 1 gallon of ceiling paint for a single coat.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"h3\">Wall paint estimator</h3>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Use the following formula to estimate the amount of wall paint you need. Double the result if the walls require two coats.</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">1. Add together the length of each wall.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">2. Multiply the sum by the wall height, to find the total wall area.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">68 × 8 = 544 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">3. Subtract 20 square feet for each door (20 × 2 = 40) and 15 square feet for each window (15 × 2 = 30) to find the actual amount of wall area you're painting.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">544 – 70 = 474 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">4. Divide this figure by the paint coverage (350 square feet per gallon), and the result is the number of gallons to purchase.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">474 ÷ 350 = 1.4</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">For this example, you want to buy 1 gallon and 2 quarts of paint for a single coat.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"h3\">Woodwork paint estimator</h3>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Measure the length of the trim in feet, and multiply that number by 1/2 foot (.5), as a rough size for the width of the trim. Include all the trim around doors and windows, at baseboards, along the ceiling, and for any built-in furniture.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">As an example, imagine that you have ceiling molding running around a room that is 14 feet wide and 20 feet long.</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">1. Determine the total length of molding around the room by adding together the length of all the walls that the molding covers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">Round the numbers off to the nearest foot.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">2. Multiply the sum by .5 for an estimated width of the molding.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">68 × .5 = 34 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">3. Divide this number by 350 to estimate the gallons of paint required to cover the molding.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">34 ÷ 350 = .09</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">The result in this example is much less than a quart, but you may paint other woodwork in the room the same color, so buying a full quart may not be terribly wasteful.</p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"h3\">Door and window estimator</h3>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Use the same figure for estimating door coverage as you use in your wall-area calculations — 20 square feet = one door. Multiply the number of doors by 20, doubling the answer if you plan to paint both sides. Wall paint estimates allow for 15 square feet for each window. Use about half that window area to figure trim and inside sash — the glass isn't important to the calculation.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">For the room in this example:</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">1. Multiply the number of doors by 20.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">2 × 20 = 40 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">2. Multiply the number of windows by 7.5.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">2 × 7.5 = 15 square feet</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">3. Add these numbers together.</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">40 + 15 = 55</p>\r\n<p class=\"number\">4. Divide the result by 350 (the estimated square feet covered per gallon).</p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">54 ÷ 350 = .16</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\">Often, you end up needing to buy only a quart of paint, which goes a long way on doors and window trim.</p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\"><strong>See also:</strong></p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\"><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/home-improvement-appliances/walls-painting/how-to-paint-ceilings-and-walls-185175/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Paint Ceilings and Walls</a></p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\"><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-paint-paneled-doors.html?cid=embedlink\">How to Paint </a><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-paint-paneled-doors.html?cid=embedlink\">Paneled Doors</a></p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\"><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-paint-trim.html?cid=embedlink\">How to Paint Trim </a></p>\r\n<p class=\"normal\"><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/tools-you-need-for-a-basic-paint-project.html?cid=embedlink\">Tools You Need for a Basic Paint Project </a></p>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9983,"name":"Gene Hamilton","slug":"gene-hamilton","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9983"}},{"authorId":9984,"name":"Katie Hamilton","slug":"katie-hamilton","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9984"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33959,"title":"Walls & Painting","slug":"walls-painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"How to determine square footage","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Examples of calculations","target":"#tab2"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":219245,"title":"Using Wax When Chalk Painting","slug":"using-wax-when-chalk-painting","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/219245"}},{"articleId":210316,"title":"How to Remove Old Wallpaper","slug":"how-to-remove-old-wallpaper","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210316"}},{"articleId":210314,"title":"How to Hang Things on Hollow Walls","slug":"how-to-hang-things-on-hollow-walls","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210314"}},{"articleId":209905,"title":"Painting a Room: Apply a Base Coat of Paint With a Roller","slug":"painting-a-room-apply-a-base-coat-of-paint-with-a-roller","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209905"}},{"articleId":209904,"title":"Three Tips for Keeping Paint Cans Clean","slug":"three-tips-for-keeping-paint-cans-clean","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209904"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = 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id=\"du-slot-62e2cefa0bf66\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2021-09-16T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":198955},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T08:00:10+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-05-27T13:47:50+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:41+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939},{"name":"Decorating","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33947"},"slug":"decorating","categoryId":33947}],"title":"Arranging Your Bedroom Furniture","strippedTitle":"arranging your bedroom furniture","slug":"arranging-your-bedroom-furniture","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"The bed is the key piece of furniture in any bedroom, and it naturally becomes the focal point. Bedroom furniture is traditionally arranged according to a few g","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<p>The bed is the key piece of furniture in any bedroom, and it naturally becomes the focal point. Bedroom furniture is traditionally arranged according to a few general rules. For the most part based on common sense, here are some general guidelines for you to follow:</p>\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width:520px;\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/472013.image0.jpg\" height=\"395\" alt=\"[Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/hikesterson]\" width=\"520\"/><div class=\"imageCredit\">Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/hikesterson</div></div>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Traditionally, folks tend to place a double, queen-sized, or king-sized bed against the center of the wall opposite the main door to the room.</b> With this arrangement, the headboard is the center of attention as you enter the room.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If the dimensions of your room prevent you from positioning your bed on the wall across from the door, other possible choices depend on which walls are long enough to accommodate the bed. Diagonal placement works well when you have the space.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Do not place a bed under a window, if the window will frequently be open.</b> Open windows can create uncomfortable drafts. Positioning a bed between two windows, however, works well.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If your home is air-conditioned or heated year-round and the windows are seldom open, you may be able to ignore this rule.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Do not place the bed where it obstructs a door into the room or a walkway through the room.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Consider nontraditional furniture arrangements if doing so will free up space or use space in a more interesting way.</b></p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">For example, a bed may look dramatic placed in front of a secure window; on a diagonal, which takes up extra space; sideways along a wall, to maximize floor space; or in an alcove (a technique called <i>lit clos</i>).</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>If your closet is large enough and you'd like to free-up floor space, put your chest of drawers inside your walk-in closet.</b> Doing this will let you add additional pieces of furniture, such as a writing desk, a seating group, or a big screen TV, to transform any bedroom into a luxury suite.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">Bedrooms used by a specific group of people have unique needs. Whether you're decorating a master bedroom, a guest room, or a room for children, the following sections provide you with the tips you need.</p>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Master bedrooms</h2>\r\n<p>A master bedroom doesn't have to be huge, but it does need to offer the amenities you need. If your space is less masterful than you'd like, look at some of the following suggestions for decorating your bedroom:</p>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Make the bedroom look larger by eliminating clutter.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Use only necessary furniture.</b> If you can, push a chest of drawers into a walk-in closet to free up floor space.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Keep the bed visually low.</b> Use a headboard, but don't use a footboard, and opt for something other than a four-poster bed, all of which tend to take up space visually, making the room seem smaller.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Keep all your furniture — like the rest of your color scheme — light.</b> Light colored furniture, walls, floors, window treatments, and bedding make a room seem bigger.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p>Regardless of the size of your master bedroom, the following tips can help you to make it as comfortable as possible:</p>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Add bedside tables that are as big as space will allow.</b> If you read or watch TV in bed, you'll find these tables helpful.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">You can buy restaurant café tables for very little money and drape them with quilts.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Try to make room for at least one comfortable chair.</b> Chairs are great for company on a sick day, for daytime resting, or for reading.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Consider carpeting all bedroom floors to reduce noise in the room.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Add a lady's desk — a small, delicately proportioned furnishing for writing letters and so forth — if you have room.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Teen bedrooms</h2>\r\n<p>Teenagers usually know what they want in a bedroom and aren't slow to tell you that they need storage for books and music and space for their collections of just about anything you can name. They have firm ideas about style and colors, so ask! And when your son or daughter requests a wild color, do your best to persuade him or her to use it as an accent.</p>\r\n<p>More and more activities from surfing the Net to entertaining take place in a teen's room. Extra seating and small tables provide space for visitors. Keep furnishings practical and easy to care for.</p>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Children's bedrooms</h2>\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">Nurseries must be planned with the child's future years in mind. But from the beginning, make room for a changing table near the crib. As always, keep safety in mind. The following tips will help you do all of these things:</p>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Keep cribs away from windows and window blind cords.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Make sure cribs and bunk beds meet federal safety standards.</b> Check to see that mattresses fit snugly against the crib's sides. Slats, spindles, rods, and corner posts should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart from each other. Make sure a child can't release the drop side of a crib.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Choose chests and cabinets that can't be tipped over (even when drawers are opened and a child crawls up and into them).</b> This may call for fastening them to the wall for security.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Find hardware that's rounded, sanded, and has no sharp edges.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Equip all electrical outlets with plastic safeguard plugs.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Eliminate any small throw rugs on slippery floors.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Make sure all flooring is skidproof.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Eliminate dangling cords on window blinds.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Choose bunk beds with sturdy ladders, handrails, and safety rails.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Make sure you have a guest bed for occasional sleepovers. A trundle bed, which neatly stores a second bed beneath a regular one, is the ideal solution for children's rooms.</p>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Guest bedrooms</h2>\r\n<p>Setting aside a room for guests makes their stay more comfortable not only for them, but also for you. You can furnish the guest room with a marvelous bed and all the necessary furnishings and forget about it. Check out the following suggestions for ways to make your guest room comfortable:</p>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Buy a handsome, space-saving daybed or sofa bed that fits smartly against the wall and out of the way.</b></p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The versatility of these beds makes them a delightful option in a home office or other double-duty room. You may even consider installing a Murphy bed that hides away in a closet.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Make sure that your guest has plenty of closet space.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Dedicate two sets of sheets, a comforter, special pillows, a duvet cover, and pillow shams to your guest room.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n</ul>","description":"<p>The bed is the key piece of furniture in any bedroom, and it naturally becomes the focal point. Bedroom furniture is traditionally arranged according to a few general rules. For the most part based on common sense, here are some general guidelines for you to follow:</p>\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width:520px;\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/472013.image0.jpg\" height=\"395\" alt=\"[Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/hikesterson]\" width=\"520\"/><div class=\"imageCredit\">Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/hikesterson</div></div>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Traditionally, folks tend to place a double, queen-sized, or king-sized bed against the center of the wall opposite the main door to the room.</b> With this arrangement, the headboard is the center of attention as you enter the room.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If the dimensions of your room prevent you from positioning your bed on the wall across from the door, other possible choices depend on which walls are long enough to accommodate the bed. Diagonal placement works well when you have the space.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Do not place a bed under a window, if the window will frequently be open.</b> Open windows can create uncomfortable drafts. Positioning a bed between two windows, however, works well.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If your home is air-conditioned or heated year-round and the windows are seldom open, you may be able to ignore this rule.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Do not place the bed where it obstructs a door into the room or a walkway through the room.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Consider nontraditional furniture arrangements if doing so will free up space or use space in a more interesting way.</b></p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">For example, a bed may look dramatic placed in front of a secure window; on a diagonal, which takes up extra space; sideways along a wall, to maximize floor space; or in an alcove (a technique called <i>lit clos</i>).</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>If your closet is large enough and you'd like to free-up floor space, put your chest of drawers inside your walk-in closet.</b> Doing this will let you add additional pieces of furniture, such as a writing desk, a seating group, or a big screen TV, to transform any bedroom into a luxury suite.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">Bedrooms used by a specific group of people have unique needs. Whether you're decorating a master bedroom, a guest room, or a room for children, the following sections provide you with the tips you need.</p>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Master bedrooms</h2>\r\n<p>A master bedroom doesn't have to be huge, but it does need to offer the amenities you need. If your space is less masterful than you'd like, look at some of the following suggestions for decorating your bedroom:</p>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Make the bedroom look larger by eliminating clutter.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Use only necessary furniture.</b> If you can, push a chest of drawers into a walk-in closet to free up floor space.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Keep the bed visually low.</b> Use a headboard, but don't use a footboard, and opt for something other than a four-poster bed, all of which tend to take up space visually, making the room seem smaller.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Keep all your furniture — like the rest of your color scheme — light.</b> Light colored furniture, walls, floors, window treatments, and bedding make a room seem bigger.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p>Regardless of the size of your master bedroom, the following tips can help you to make it as comfortable as possible:</p>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Add bedside tables that are as big as space will allow.</b> If you read or watch TV in bed, you'll find these tables helpful.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">You can buy restaurant café tables for very little money and drape them with quilts.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Try to make room for at least one comfortable chair.</b> Chairs are great for company on a sick day, for daytime resting, or for reading.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Consider carpeting all bedroom floors to reduce noise in the room.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Add a lady's desk — a small, delicately proportioned furnishing for writing letters and so forth — if you have room.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Teen bedrooms</h2>\r\n<p>Teenagers usually know what they want in a bedroom and aren't slow to tell you that they need storage for books and music and space for their collections of just about anything you can name. They have firm ideas about style and colors, so ask! And when your son or daughter requests a wild color, do your best to persuade him or her to use it as an accent.</p>\r\n<p>More and more activities from surfing the Net to entertaining take place in a teen's room. Extra seating and small tables provide space for visitors. Keep furnishings practical and easy to care for.</p>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Children's bedrooms</h2>\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">Nurseries must be planned with the child's future years in mind. But from the beginning, make room for a changing table near the crib. As always, keep safety in mind. The following tips will help you do all of these things:</p>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Keep cribs away from windows and window blind cords.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Make sure cribs and bunk beds meet federal safety standards.</b> Check to see that mattresses fit snugly against the crib's sides. Slats, spindles, rods, and corner posts should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart from each other. Make sure a child can't release the drop side of a crib.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Choose chests and cabinets that can't be tipped over (even when drawers are opened and a child crawls up and into them).</b> This may call for fastening them to the wall for security.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Find hardware that's rounded, sanded, and has no sharp edges.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Equip all electrical outlets with plastic safeguard plugs.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Eliminate any small throw rugs on slippery floors.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Make sure all flooring is skidproof.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Eliminate dangling cords on window blinds.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Choose bunk beds with sturdy ladders, handrails, and safety rails.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Make sure you have a guest bed for occasional sleepovers. A trundle bed, which neatly stores a second bed beneath a regular one, is the ideal solution for children's rooms.</p>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Guest bedrooms</h2>\r\n<p>Setting aside a room for guests makes their stay more comfortable not only for them, but also for you. You can furnish the guest room with a marvelous bed and all the necessary furnishings and forget about it. Check out the following suggestions for ways to make your guest room comfortable:</p>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Buy a handsome, space-saving daybed or sofa bed that fits smartly against the wall and out of the way.</b></p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The versatility of these beds makes them a delightful option in a home office or other double-duty room. You may even consider installing a Murphy bed that hides away in a closet.</p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Make sure that your guest has plenty of closet space.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n <li><p class=\"first-para\"><b>Dedicate two sets of sheets, a comforter, special pillows, a duvet cover, and pillow shams to your guest room.</b></p>\r\n </li>\r\n</ul>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9243,"name":"Katharine Kaye McMillan","slug":"katharine-kaye-mcmillan","description":" <b>Katharine Kaye McMillan,</b> former senior editor of a New York City-based national magazine, is a writer whose work appears regularly in magazines and newspapers. She is a contributing writer to internationally circulated <i>Florida Design Magazine.</i> She is the co-author of several books on decorating and design, including <i>Sun Country Style,</i> which is the basis for licensed signature collections of furniture and accessories by three leading American manufacturers and importers. A graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, she holds a masters degree in psychology and is a doctoral student in psychology at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. <p><b>Patricia Hart McMillan</b> is a nationally known interior designer, whose interior design work for private clients, designer showcases, and corporations has appeared in publications worldwide, including the <i>New York Times</i> and <i>USA Today.</i> Known as a trend spotter and for clearly articulated views on design, she is quoted frequently and extensively in both trade and consumer publications. She a ppears on TV and talk radio. A prolific writer, she is coauthor and author of seven books on interior design and decoration, with Sun Country Style signature collections of furniture based on two books. She has taught decorating courses at several colleges and conducted numerous seminars across the U.S. She is decorating editor for <i>Christian Woman Magazine</i> and reports on design trends for <i>The Sun-Sentinel,</i> a Tribune newspaper based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She has been editor-in-chief of two publications and was head of a New York City-based public relations firm representing some of the most prestigious names in home furnishing and building products. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a minor in art history (with an emphasis in architecture), from the State University of New York (New Paltz). She was awarded a certificate from The New York School of Interior Design.</p>","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9243"}},{"authorId":9244,"name":"Patricia Hart McMillan","slug":"patricia-hart-mcmillan","description":" <b>Katharine Kaye McMillan,</b> former senior editor of a New York City-based national magazine, is a writer whose work appears regularly in magazines and newspapers. She is a contributing writer to internationally circulated <i>Florida Design Magazine.</i> She is the co-author of several books on decorating and design, including <i>Sun Country Style,</i> which is the basis for licensed signature collections of furniture and accessories by three leading American manufacturers and importers. A graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, she holds a masters degree in psychology and is a doctoral student in psychology at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. <p><b>Patricia Hart McMillan</b> is a nationally known interior designer, whose interior design work for private clients, designer showcases, and corporations has appeared in publications worldwide, including the <i>New York Times</i> and <i>USA Today.</i> Known as a trend spotter and for clearly articulated views on design, she is quoted frequently and extensively in both trade and consumer publications. She a ppears on TV and talk radio. A prolific writer, she is coauthor and author of seven books on interior design and decoration, with Sun Country Style signature collections of furniture based on two books. She has taught decorating courses at several colleges and conducted numerous seminars across the U.S. She is decorating editor for <i>Christian Woman Magazine</i> and reports on design trends for <i>The Sun-Sentinel,</i> a Tribune newspaper based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She has been editor-in-chief of two publications and was head of a New York City-based public relations firm representing some of the most prestigious names in home furnishing and building products. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a minor in art history (with an emphasis in architecture), from the State University of New York (New Paltz). She was awarded a certificate from The New York School of Interior Design.</p>","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9244"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33947,"title":"Decorating","slug":"decorating","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33947"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Master bedrooms","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Teen bedrooms","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Children's bedrooms","target":"#tab3"},{"label":"Guest bedrooms","target":"#tab4"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":208940,"title":"Home Decorating For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"home-decorating-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208940"}},{"articleId":201710,"title":"How to Update Your Kitchen Cabinets","slug":"how-to-update-your-kitchen-cabinets","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201710"}},{"articleId":201709,"title":"How to Use Color to Change a Room","slug":"how-to-use-color-to-change-a-room","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201709"}},{"articleId":201702,"title":"How to Update Old Tile","slug":"how-to-update-old-tile","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201702"}},{"articleId":201701,"title":"How to Choose Furniture for a Large Room","slug":"how-to-choose-furniture-for-a-large-room","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201701"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":265474,"title":"Infusing Hygge Into Your Home","slug":"infusing-hygge-into-your-home","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/265474"}},{"articleId":208940,"title":"Home Decorating For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"home-decorating-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208940"}},{"articleId":208822,"title":"Feng Shui For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"feng-shui-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208822"}},{"articleId":201710,"title":"How to Update Your Kitchen Cabinets","slug":"how-to-update-your-kitchen-cabinets","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201710"}},{"articleId":201709,"title":"How to Use Color to Change a Room","slug":"how-to-use-color-to-change-a-room","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201709"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282278,"slug":"home-decorating-for-dummies-2nd-edition","isbn":"9780764541568","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","decorating"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764541560/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0764541560/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/0764541560-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0764541560/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/0764541560/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/home-decorating-for-dummies-2nd-edition-cover-9780764541568-202x255.jpg","width":202,"height":255},"title":"Home Decorating For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"<b data-author-id=\"9243\">Katharine Kaye McMillan,</b> former senior editor of a New York City-based national magazine, is a writer whose work appears regularly in magazines and newspapers. She is a contributing writer to internationally circulated <i>Florida Design Magazine.</i> She is the co-author of several books on decorating and design, including <i>Sun Country Style,</i> which is the basis for licensed signature collections of furniture and accessories by three leading American manufacturers and importers. A graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, she holds a masters degree in psychology and is a doctoral student in psychology at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. <p><b data-author-id=\"9244\">Patricia Hart McMillan</b> is a nationally known interior designer, whose interior design work for private clients, designer showcases, and corporations has appeared in publications worldwide, including the <i>New York Times</i> and <i>USA Today.</i> Known as a trend spotter and for clearly articulated views on design, she is quoted frequently and extensively in both trade and consumer publications. She a ppears on TV and talk radio. A prolific writer, she is coauthor and author of seven books on interior design and decoration, with Sun Country Style signature collections of furniture based on two books. She has taught decorating courses at several colleges and conducted numerous seminars across the U.S. She is decorating editor for <i>Christian Woman Magazine</i> and reports on design trends for <i>The Sun-Sentinel,</i> a Tribune newspaper based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She has been editor-in-chief of two publications and was head of a New York City-based public relations firm representing some of the most prestigious names in home furnishing and building products. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a minor in art history (with an emphasis in architecture), from the State University of New York (New Paltz). She was awarded a certificate from The New York School of Interior Design.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9243,"name":"Katharine Kaye McMillan","slug":"katharine-kaye-mcmillan","description":" <b>Katharine Kaye McMillan,</b> former senior editor of a New York City-based national magazine, is a writer whose work appears regularly in magazines and newspapers. She is a contributing writer to internationally circulated <i>Florida Design Magazine.</i> She is the co-author of several books on decorating and design, including <i>Sun Country Style,</i> which is the basis for licensed signature collections of furniture and accessories by three leading American manufacturers and importers. A graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, she holds a masters degree in psychology and is a doctoral student in psychology at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. <p><b>Patricia Hart McMillan</b> is a nationally known interior designer, whose interior design work for private clients, designer showcases, and corporations has appeared in publications worldwide, including the <i>New York Times</i> and <i>USA Today.</i> Known as a trend spotter and for clearly articulated views on design, she is quoted frequently and extensively in both trade and consumer publications. She a ppears on TV and talk radio. A prolific writer, she is coauthor and author of seven books on interior design and decoration, with Sun Country Style signature collections of furniture based on two books. She has taught decorating courses at several colleges and conducted numerous seminars across the U.S. She is decorating editor for <i>Christian Woman Magazine</i> and reports on design trends for <i>The Sun-Sentinel,</i> a Tribune newspaper based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She has been editor-in-chief of two publications and was head of a New York City-based public relations firm representing some of the most prestigious names in home furnishing and building products. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a minor in art history (with an emphasis in architecture), from the State University of New York (New Paltz). She was awarded a certificate from The New York School of Interior Design.</p>","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9243"}},{"authorId":9244,"name":"Patricia Hart McMillan","slug":"patricia-hart-mcmillan","description":" <b>Katharine Kaye McMillan,</b> former senior editor of a New York City-based national magazine, is a writer whose work appears regularly in magazines and newspapers. She is a contributing writer to internationally circulated <i>Florida Design Magazine.</i> She is the co-author of several books on decorating and design, including <i>Sun Country Style,</i> which is the basis for licensed signature collections of furniture and accessories by three leading American manufacturers and importers. A graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, she holds a masters degree in psychology and is a doctoral student in psychology at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. <p><b>Patricia Hart McMillan</b> is a nationally known interior designer, whose interior design work for private clients, designer showcases, and corporations has appeared in publications worldwide, including the <i>New York Times</i> and <i>USA Today.</i> Known as a trend spotter and for clearly articulated views on design, she is quoted frequently and extensively in both trade and consumer publications. She a ppears on TV and talk radio. A prolific writer, she is coauthor and author of seven books on interior design and decoration, with Sun Country Style signature collections of furniture based on two books. She has taught decorating courses at several colleges and conducted numerous seminars across the U.S. She is decorating editor for <i>Christian Woman Magazine</i> and reports on design trends for <i>The Sun-Sentinel,</i> a Tribune newspaper based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She has been editor-in-chief of two publications and was head of a New York City-based public relations firm representing some of the most prestigious names in home furnishing and building products. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a minor in art history (with an emphasis in architecture), from the State University of New York (New Paltz). She was awarded a certificate from The New York School of Interior Design.</p>","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9244"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;decorating&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780764541568&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f858128d\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;decorating&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780764541568&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f85819c1\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-05-27T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":144264},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-28T14:39:16+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-21T13:53:32+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:38+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939},{"name":"Walls & Painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"},"slug":"walls-painting","categoryId":33959}],"title":"How to Remove Old Wallpaper","strippedTitle":"how to remove old wallpaper","slug":"how-to-remove-old-wallpaper","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"This video shows you, step by step, how to remove wallpaper, including prep work, scoring the paper, and applying the solvent.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<div class=\"x2 x2-top\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"video-player-organism\"></div>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Audio Transcript</h2>\r\nTo remove ordinary wallpaper, you need to gather a few simple items.\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A pre-tape drop cloth</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A bucket of water</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A paint roller and pan</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A perforator</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A scraper (which looks a lot like a putty knife but has a slot for replaceable blades)</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Wallpaper removing solvent</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">And a bucket full of patients</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The first step is to protect the floor and molding from water damage.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Use a pre-taped plastic drop cloth and tape it to the top of the baseboard floor molding.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Go all around the perimeter of the area and then unfold it into the room to cover the floor.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you skip this step, it can get messy, not to mention the damage that water can do to floors and baseboards.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The second step is to score the wallpaper with a razor scraper or perforating tool.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">It's a perfect gadget for removing wallpaper from walls made of wall board or<b> </b>drywall, because it won't damage the paper face of the wall board. And that means you won't have to spend time repairing the walls later. When you score the paper with holes or slits it allows the moisture, when applied, to break down the adhesive.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If at any time you notice the razor is getting dull, be sure to change it.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The next step is to mix the wallpaper removing solvent with water.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The solvent breaks down the adhesive, so that the wall covering loosens and can easily be scraped off. Use either a 50/50 combination of vinegar and water or a 25/75 solution of liquid laundry softener and water.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The fourth step is to apply the wallpaper solvent with a paint roller or a liquid sprayer.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Start with a three foot section of wallpaper. After a few applications of moisture and a little time to let it soak in, you'll be ready for the next step.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Now peel and scrape off the wet paper. Work on a three foot wide section of the wall at a time and then move on to the next area. As you scrape off the old wallpaper, let it fall onto the plastic drop cloth.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">When all the wallpaper is removed, use a sponge and some warm water to remove any excess paste from the walls.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Then just roll up the entire mess — wallpaper, drop cloth and all.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>","description":"<div class=\"x2 x2-top\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"video-player-organism\"></div>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Audio Transcript</h2>\r\nTo remove ordinary wallpaper, you need to gather a few simple items.\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A pre-tape drop cloth</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A bucket of water</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A paint roller and pan</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A perforator</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A scraper (which looks a lot like a putty knife but has a slot for replaceable blades)</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Wallpaper removing solvent</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">And a bucket full of patients</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The first step is to protect the floor and molding from water damage.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Use a pre-taped plastic drop cloth and tape it to the top of the baseboard floor molding.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Go all around the perimeter of the area and then unfold it into the room to cover the floor.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you skip this step, it can get messy, not to mention the damage that water can do to floors and baseboards.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The second step is to score the wallpaper with a razor scraper or perforating tool.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">It's a perfect gadget for removing wallpaper from walls made of wall board or<b> </b>drywall, because it won't damage the paper face of the wall board. And that means you won't have to spend time repairing the walls later. When you score the paper with holes or slits it allows the moisture, when applied, to break down the adhesive.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If at any time you notice the razor is getting dull, be sure to change it.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The next step is to mix the wallpaper removing solvent with water.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The solvent breaks down the adhesive, so that the wall covering loosens and can easily be scraped off. Use either a 50/50 combination of vinegar and water or a 25/75 solution of liquid laundry softener and water.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The fourth step is to apply the wallpaper solvent with a paint roller or a liquid sprayer.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Start with a three foot section of wallpaper. After a few applications of moisture and a little time to let it soak in, you'll be ready for the next step.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Now peel and scrape off the wet paper. Work on a three foot wide section of the wall at a time and then move on to the next area. As you scrape off the old wallpaper, let it fall onto the plastic drop cloth.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">When all the wallpaper is removed, use a sponge and some warm water to remove any excess paste from the walls.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Then just roll up the entire mess — wallpaper, drop cloth and all.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33959,"title":"Walls & Painting","slug":"walls-painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Audio Transcript","target":"#tab1"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":219245,"title":"Using Wax When Chalk Painting","slug":"using-wax-when-chalk-painting","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/219245"}},{"articleId":210314,"title":"How to Hang Things on Hollow Walls","slug":"how-to-hang-things-on-hollow-walls","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210314"}},{"articleId":209905,"title":"Painting a Room: Apply a Base Coat of Paint With a Roller","slug":"painting-a-room-apply-a-base-coat-of-paint-with-a-roller","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209905"}},{"articleId":209904,"title":"Three Tips for Keeping Paint Cans Clean","slug":"three-tips-for-keeping-paint-cans-clean","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209904"}},{"articleId":209903,"title":"Three Tips for Cleaning Paint Spills and Spatters","slug":"three-tips-for-cleaning-paint-spills-and-spatters","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209903"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[{"title":"Just DIY It","slug":"just-diy-it","collectionId":292186}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;walls-painting&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f822a614\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;walls-painting&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f822ad5b\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Videos","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":"694591626001","name":"How to Remove Old Wallpaper","accountId":"622696558001","playerId":"default","thumbnailUrl":"http://f1.media.brightcove.com/8/622696558001/622696558001_5436726134001_694591626001-th.jpg?pubId=622696558001&videoId=694591626001","description":"Stripping wallpaper is a serious home-improvement project. Removing old glue from walls before you paint is a must. These tips show how to strip old wallpaper from your walls and remodel like a professional.","uploadDate":"2017-05-05T15:31:04.639Z"}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-21T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":210316},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T09:12:35+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-21T13:47:35+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:38+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939},{"name":"Walls & Painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"},"slug":"walls-painting","categoryId":33959}],"title":"How to Paint Furniture with Chalk Paint","strippedTitle":"how to paint furniture with chalk paint","slug":"how-to-paint-furniture-with-chalk-paint","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn how to use chalk paint to give furniture a new look. The article also includes a video with step-by-step instructions.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<div style=\"position: relative; display: block; max-width: 100%;\">\r\n<div style=\"padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"//players.brightcove.net/622696558001/NykUaUEpl_default/index.html?videoId=5799829606001\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe></div>\r\n</div>\r\nChalk paint can be used to paint almost anything — walls, kitchen cabinets, metal, wood, and even fabric — but the most common use is to give new life to old furniture or to make newer pieces look old. The great thing about <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/home-painting/3-ways-to-create-your-own-chalk-paint/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">chalk paint</a> is that there isn't a huge learning curve or a lot of prep work. You can just dive right in.","description":"<div style=\"position: relative; display: block; max-width: 100%;\">\r\n<div style=\"padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"//players.brightcove.net/622696558001/NykUaUEpl_default/index.html?videoId=5799829606001\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe></div>\r\n</div>\r\nChalk paint can be used to paint almost anything — walls, kitchen cabinets, metal, wood, and even fabric — but the most common use is to give new life to old furniture or to make newer pieces look old. The great thing about <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/home-painting/3-ways-to-create-your-own-chalk-paint/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">chalk paint</a> is that there isn't a huge learning curve or a lot of prep work. You can just dive right in.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9268,"name":"Kelly Dobbs Henthorne, Abshier House","slug":"kelly-dobbs-henthorne-abshier-house","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9268"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33959,"title":"Walls & Painting","slug":"walls-painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":219245,"title":"Using Wax When Chalk Painting","slug":"using-wax-when-chalk-painting","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/219245"}},{"articleId":210316,"title":"How to Remove Old Wallpaper","slug":"how-to-remove-old-wallpaper","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210316"}},{"articleId":210314,"title":"How to Hang Things on Hollow Walls","slug":"how-to-hang-things-on-hollow-walls","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210314"}},{"articleId":209904,"title":"Three Tips for Keeping Paint Cans Clean","slug":"three-tips-for-keeping-paint-cans-clean","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209904"}},{"articleId":209905,"title":"Painting a Room: Apply a Base Coat of Paint With a Roller","slug":"painting-a-room-apply-a-base-coat-of-paint-with-a-roller","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209905"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[{"title":"Just DIY It","slug":"just-diy-it","collectionId":292186}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;walls-painting&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f8221362\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;walls-painting&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f8221aa8\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Step by Step","articleList":null,"content":[{"title":"Pick your paintable piece and gather supplies.","thumb":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/470713.image0.jpg","width":533,"height":400},"content":"<p>In the photo above, a vintage bookshelf/hall table that has seen better days has been selected for painting. Yes, you could choose to strip the finish and restain the wood, but that&#8217;s much more hassle than using chalk paint.</p>\n<p>Because the natural wood that&#8217;s left has a lovely reddish color, the paint color chosen is a darker blue (when distressed later, the red will come through in places, making a nice contrast). The paint used here is Annie Sloan Napoleonic Blue chalk paint.</p>\n<p>Annie Sloan chalk paint is sold in pints and quarts and is the original and still most popular chalk paint on the market. You can purchase chalk paint at some craft and hobby stores, online, or at your local vintage/antique/repurpose shop. You also can <a href=\"https://dummies-wp-content.dummies.com/how-to/content/3-ways-to-create-your-own-chalk-paint.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">make your own chalk paint</a> with a few simple ingredients.</p>\n<p>Also seen in the photo above is a can of wax and a wax brush (for use in a later step), some sandpaper (for use in a later step), a simple chip brush (no fancy brushes needed for the paint), some shop towels (any lint-free cloth or towel works), and a piece of aluminum foil for wrapping your wet paint brush (if you need to take a break and don&#8217;t want your brush to dry out).</p>\n"},{"title":"Clean the furniture.","thumb":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/470714.image1.jpg","width":469,"height":400},"content":"<p>You don&#8217;t need to strip anything off your furniture, which includes old paint or old finishes, but you do need to make sure that it&#8217;s clean and dry. Simple soapy water is the best option. <i>Don&#8217;t use furniture wax to clean it!</i> The wax component of most furniture polishes does not mix well with chalk paint.</p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re a sloppy painter, you might place a drop cloth or old sheet below your item. If you&#8217;re neat, don&#8217;t worry about it. If you do get chalk paint on the carpet or floor, you can remove it easily with dish soap or laundry detergent, water, and a little elbow grease.</p>\n"},{"title":"Use the chip brush to paint your furniture.","thumb":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/470715.image2.jpg","width":535,"height":340},"content":"<p>Here&#8217;s the real beauty of using chalk paint. You don&#8217;t have to be careful to get all your brush strokes going in the same direction; you don&#8217;t have to make sure that coverage is even; you don&#8217;t even have to paint every nook and cranny if you don&#8217;t want to.</p>\n<p>For this particular piece, two coats are required on the table top, because the existing finish has already disappeared. The unfinished wood will take more paint to cover.</p>\n"},{"title":"Lightly sand to create the perfect distressed look.","thumb":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/470716.image3.jpg","width":436,"height":400},"content":"<p>Make sure you are using a fine-grit sandpaper. The rougher the sandpaper, the deeper the grooves created in the furniture. You&#8217;re not trying to sand through to the wood (usually), just to the finish beneath that layer of paint.</p>\n<p>Where and how much paint you sand off is strictly a personal preference. If you go crazy and sand off too much, don&#8217;t sweat it. You can always go back and paint another coat of color. On this piece, no sanding is done in the center of the top, where the existing finish was already missing.</p>\n"},{"title":"Wipe off the sanding dust.","thumb":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/470717.image4.jpg","width":533,"height":400},"content":"<p>Dampen one of the shop towels and run the damp towel all over the furniture. You are trying to pick up any dust that you generated with the sandpaper.</p>\n"},{"title":"Apply the wax.","thumb":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/470718.image5.jpg","width":533,"height":400},"content":"<p>Chalk paint lacks a sealer, which most paint has, so, it requires a wax to seal the color and keep water or other debris from getting into the finish. First, make sure the paint is completely dry.</p>\n<p>You need to use a separate brush for applying wax. Several types of brushes specific to wax application are available; they usually have a slightly rounded tip and are a bit heavier in the handle. These brushes are somewhat expensive, but the good news is that you can use the same brush multiple times to apply wax; however, once you&#8217;ve used a brush for wax, you cannot use it for painting.</p>\n<p>Purchase your wax when you purchase your paint. For this piece, clear wax is being used.</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/home-improvement-appliances/walls-painting/using-wax-when-chalk-painting-219245\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apply the wax </a>generously in small sections at a time. Use the shop towels to wipe off the excess wax as you go. For this piece, for example, wax one of the outer legs and wipe off the excess wax, wax the other outer leg and wipe off the excess wax, wax the inner legs one at a time and wipe off the excess, and so on.</p>\n<p>Note that for outdoor pieces, you do not apply wax; the piece will age and fade more rapidly, but the wax will not set outdoors.</p>\n"},{"title":"(Optional) Apply dark wax.","thumb":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/470719.image6.jpg","width":535,"height":243},"content":"<p>Note that you have a choice between regular wax and dark wax. The dark wax, as you probably have figured out, darkens the color and really does make a piece seem more aged. If you choose to use dark wax, note that you will need a separate brush; after you use a brush with the dark wax, you cannot reuse the brush with the regular wax or with any paint.</p>\n<p>The coffee table shown was painted in <i>La Chaux</i> Candied Yam (two coats), waxed with clear wax, and then waxed with the dark wax.</p>\n"},{"title":"Let dry and enjoy your new, old furniture.","thumb":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/470720.image7.jpg","width":535,"height":400},"content":"<p>For furniture that will be heavily used (such as coffee tables), the setting time for the wax is two to three weeks. If you get overeager, though, and you find a water ring on your chalk-painted item, you can clean it with soapy water and easily repaint or buff it out with some more wax.</p>\n"},{"title":"(Optional) Create a more modern finish with chalk paint.","thumb":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/470721.image8.jpg","width":518,"height":400},"content":"<p>If you aren&#8217;t going to <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/academics-the-arts/art-architecture/painting/dry-brushing-with-chalk-paint-219368\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">distress the piece</a> or let it show its age by having some of the old colors show through, you will want to give the piece at least two complete coats with lots of drying time in between. This is a more modern look for painted furniture. Make sure that you are generous when applying the wax to give the piece a nice sheen.</p>\n<p>The dresser shown was painted with Annie Sloan Paris Grey and Old White, given three coats of color, and waxed.</p>\n"},{"title":"(Optional) Create a two-toned distressed look with chalk paint.","thumb":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/470722.image9.jpg","width":535,"height":302},"content":"<p>If you want a piece to have two colors (one showing through the other), make sure that the first coat is completely dry before painting the second coat of the (usually lighter) top coat. This technique is commonly used for that shabby chic look.</p>\n<p>The table shown was originally a dark brown wood with lots of stains. It was painted with Annie Sloan Florence and Provence, given two coats of the darker Florence, given one coat of the lighter Provence, sanded, and waxed.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-20T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":203283},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-28T14:34:46+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-20T20:59:06+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:38+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939},{"name":"Walls & Painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"},"slug":"walls-painting","categoryId":33959}],"title":"Painting a Room: Apply a Base Coat of Paint With a Roller","strippedTitle":"painting a room: apply a base coat of paint with a roller","slug":"painting-a-room-apply-a-base-coat-of-paint-with-a-roller","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn how to correctly use a roller to paint a wall, including using the tray, and applying paint in a smooth, even manner.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<div class=\"x2 x2-top\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"video-player-organism\"></div>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\nPainting the corners and edges on a wall is the meticulous part; once you've done that, you're ready to paint the main part of the wall. Be sure you have the right tools — having the right roller for the surface of your walls is critical.","description":"<div class=\"x2 x2-top\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"video-player-organism\"></div>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\nPainting the corners and edges on a wall is the meticulous part; once you've done that, you're ready to paint the main part of the wall. Be sure you have the right tools — having the right roller for the surface of your walls is critical.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33959,"title":"Walls & Painting","slug":"walls-painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":219245,"title":"Using Wax When Chalk Painting","slug":"using-wax-when-chalk-painting","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/219245"}},{"articleId":210316,"title":"How to Remove Old Wallpaper","slug":"how-to-remove-old-wallpaper","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210316"}},{"articleId":210314,"title":"How to Hang Things on Hollow Walls","slug":"how-to-hang-things-on-hollow-walls","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210314"}},{"articleId":209904,"title":"Three Tips for Keeping Paint Cans Clean","slug":"three-tips-for-keeping-paint-cans-clean","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209904"}},{"articleId":209903,"title":"Three Tips for Cleaning Paint Spills and Spatters","slug":"three-tips-for-cleaning-paint-spills-and-spatters","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209903"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[{"title":"Just DIY It","slug":"just-diy-it","collectionId":292186}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;walls-painting&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f821a8bc\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;walls-painting&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f821b044\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Videos","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":"1880200962001","name":"Painting a Room: Apply a Base Coat of Paint With a Roller","accountId":"622696558001","playerId":"default","thumbnailUrl":"http://f1.media.brightcove.com/8/622696558001/622696558001_1880262466001_th-506ee6da95afb0e46c32e144-1592194046001.jpg?pubId=622696558001&videoId=1880200962001","description":"Painting the corners and edges on a wall is the meticulous part; once you've done that, you're ready to paint the main part of the wall. Be sure you have the right tools -- having the right roller for the surface of your walls is critical.","uploadDate":"2017-05-04T20:36:23.557Z"}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-20T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209905},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-28T14:34:30+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-20T20:45:29+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:38+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939},{"name":"Walls & Painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"},"slug":"walls-painting","categoryId":33959}],"title":"Painting Projects: How Much Paint Should You Buy?","strippedTitle":"painting projects: how much paint should you buy?","slug":"how-to-know-how-much-paint-you-need-to-paint-your-walls","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"This video discusses how to determine how much paint you should buy to cover the walls, ceiling, and floor in a room.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<div class=\"x2 x2-top\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"video-player-organism\"></div>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\nYou don't want to run out of paint midway through painting a room. Use simple math the determine how much paint you need, and you're good to start painting.","description":"<div class=\"x2 x2-top\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"video-player-organism\"></div>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\nYou don't want to run out of paint midway through painting a room. Use simple math the determine how much paint you need, and you're good to start painting.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33959,"title":"Walls & Painting","slug":"walls-painting","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33959"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":219245,"title":"Using Wax When Chalk Painting","slug":"using-wax-when-chalk-painting","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/219245"}},{"articleId":210316,"title":"How to Remove Old Wallpaper","slug":"how-to-remove-old-wallpaper","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210316"}},{"articleId":210314,"title":"How to Hang Things on Hollow Walls","slug":"how-to-hang-things-on-hollow-walls","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210314"}},{"articleId":209904,"title":"Three Tips for Keeping Paint Cans Clean","slug":"three-tips-for-keeping-paint-cans-clean","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209904"}},{"articleId":209905,"title":"Painting a Room: Apply a Base Coat of Paint With a Roller","slug":"painting-a-room-apply-a-base-coat-of-paint-with-a-roller","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","walls-painting"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209905"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[{"title":"Just DIY It","slug":"just-diy-it","collectionId":292186}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;walls-painting&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f82029e6\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;walls-painting&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f820311f\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Videos","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":"1875296750001","name":"How to Know How Much Paint You Need to Paint Your Walls","accountId":"622696558001","playerId":"default","thumbnailUrl":"http://f1.media.brightcove.com/8/622696558001/622696558001_1875375520001_th-506c54a333b5b0e4e36ee383-590065940001.jpg?pubId=622696558001&videoId=1875296750001","description":"You don't want to run out of paint midway through painting a room. Use simple math the determine how much paint you need, and you're good to start painting.","uploadDate":"2017-05-05T17:41:02.389Z"}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-20T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209874},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:58:19+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-20T20:10:05+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:37+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939},{"name":"General Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33961"},"slug":"general-home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33961}],"title":"How to Fix Everything For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"how to fix everything for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"how-to-fix-everything-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"You may not have bought a fixer-upper, but chances are something in your home will need fixing. Learn how to do some easy repairs yourself.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"It's a good idea to be prepared for things going wrong in your home, whether it's something relatively simple that you can fix yourself, or a more complex problem requiring a qualified professional.\r\n\r\nFollowing is advice for both situations. First, we list some <em>non-tool</em> items you'll want to have around for DIY home repair. We also suggest questions you should ask before hiring a professional to make a repair or renovation in your home.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_289055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-289055 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_748171426.jpg\" alt=\"Man fixing window\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" /> © Andrey Popov / Shutterstock.com[/caption]","description":"It's a good idea to be prepared for things going wrong in your home, whether it's something relatively simple that you can fix yourself, or a more complex problem requiring a qualified professional.\r\n\r\nFollowing is advice for both situations. First, we list some <em>non-tool</em> items you'll want to have around for DIY home repair. We also suggest questions you should ask before hiring a professional to make a repair or renovation in your home.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_289055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-289055 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_748171426.jpg\" alt=\"Man fixing window\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" /> © Andrey Popov / Shutterstock.com[/caption]","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9214,"name":"Gary Hedstrom","slug":"gary-hedstrom","description":" <p><b>Gary</b> and <b>Peg Hedstrom</b> are self&#45;taught repair masters with experience in carpentry, plumbing, appliance repair, and more. <b>Judy Ondrla Tremore</b> is a writer and editor for various newspapers and magazines. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9214"}},{"authorId":9215,"name":"Peg Hedstrom","slug":"peg-hedstrom","description":" <p><b>Gary</b> and <b>Peg Hedstrom</b> are self&#45;taught repair masters with experience in carpentry, plumbing, appliance repair, and more. <b>Judy Ondrla Tremore</b> is a writer and editor for various newspapers and magazines. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9215"}},{"authorId":9216,"name":"Judy Ondrla Tremore","slug":"judy-ondrla-tremore","description":" <p><b>Gary</b> and <b>Peg Hedstrom</b> are self&#45;taught repair masters with experience in carpentry, plumbing, appliance repair, and more. <b>Judy Ondrla Tremore</b> is a writer and editor for various newspapers and magazines. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9216"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33961,"title":"General Home Improvement & Appliances","slug":"general-home-improvement-appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33961"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":206815,"title":"How to Fix a Squeaky Floor That’s Carpeted","slug":"how-to-fix-a-squeaky-floor-thats-carpeted","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206815"}},{"articleId":206814,"title":"How to Fix Loose Ceramic Floor Tiles","slug":"how-to-fix-loose-ceramic-floor-tiles","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206814"}},{"articleId":206813,"title":"How to Fix Ripped or Torn Carpet","slug":"how-to-fix-ripped-or-torn-carpet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206813"}},{"articleId":206812,"title":"How to Fix Wallpaper Bubbles","slug":"how-to-fix-wallpaper-bubbles","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206812"}},{"articleId":206811,"title":"How to Patch Mortar on Brick Walls","slug":"how-to-patch-mortar-on-brick-walls","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206811"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":210315,"title":"How to Install Weather Stripping","slug":"how-to-install-weather-stripping","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210315"}},{"articleId":209356,"title":"Home Maintenance For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"home-maintenance-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209356"}},{"articleId":209317,"title":"DIY and Home Maintenance All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"diy-and-home-maintenance-all-in-one-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209317"}},{"articleId":207269,"title":"Fixing Holes in Carpets","slug":"fixing-holes-in-carpets","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/207269"}},{"articleId":206815,"title":"How to Fix a Squeaky Floor That’s Carpeted","slug":"how-to-fix-a-squeaky-floor-thats-carpeted","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206815"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282289,"slug":"how-to-fix-everything-for-dummies","isbn":"9780764572098","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764572091/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0764572091/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/0764572091-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0764572091/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/0764572091/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/how-to-fix-everything-for-dummies-cover-9780764572098-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"How to Fix Everything For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"<p><b data-author-id=\"9214\">Gary</b> and <b data-author-id=\"9215\">Peg Hedstrom</b> are self-taught repair masters with experience in carpentry, plumbing, appliance repair, and more. <b data-author-id=\"9216\">Judy Ondrla Tremore</b> is a writer and editor for various newspapers and magazines. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":9214,"name":"Gary Hedstrom","slug":"gary-hedstrom","description":" <p><b>Gary</b> and <b>Peg Hedstrom</b> are self&#45;taught repair masters with experience in carpentry, plumbing, appliance repair, and more. <b>Judy Ondrla Tremore</b> is a writer and editor for various newspapers and magazines. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9214"}},{"authorId":9215,"name":"Peg Hedstrom","slug":"peg-hedstrom","description":" <p><b>Gary</b> and <b>Peg Hedstrom</b> are self&#45;taught repair masters with experience in carpentry, plumbing, appliance repair, and more. <b>Judy Ondrla Tremore</b> is a writer and editor for various newspapers and magazines. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9215"}},{"authorId":9216,"name":"Judy Ondrla Tremore","slug":"judy-ondrla-tremore","description":" <p><b>Gary</b> and <b>Peg Hedstrom</b> are self&#45;taught repair masters with experience in carpentry, plumbing, appliance repair, and more. <b>Judy Ondrla Tremore</b> is a writer and editor for various newspapers and magazines. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9216"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[{"title":"Just DIY It","slug":"just-diy-it","collectionId":292186}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;general-home-improvement-appliances&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780764572098&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f81f0080\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;general-home-improvement-appliances&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780764572098&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f81f07bb\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":195428,"title":"Non-Tools You Need for Home Repairs","slug":"non-tools-you-need-for-home-repairs","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195428"}},{"articleId":195426,"title":"Questions for a Contractor or Home Repair Specialist","slug":"questions-for-a-contractor-or-home-repair-specialist","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","general-home-improvement-appliances"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195426"}}],"content":[{"title":"Non-tools you need for home repairs","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Sometimes, home repair jobs call for everyday items and not just tools. This shopping list has <em>non-tool</em> items you should have around for home repairs:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>All-purpose utility knife:</b> It has many uses and it&#8217;s handy when you’re doing a fix-it project.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Bin or Klitz</b> <b>sealer:</b> These are the only two primer/sealers that seal water-stained drywall or cover crayon, ink, and felt-pen marks on walls. Nothing else can match them.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Bleach:</b> Not just for laundry, it works great on grout, mildew, stains, and minor drain blockages. Never mix it with ammonia; the two make a toxic gas that’s dangerous to inhale.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Brushes:</b> Get soft-bristle brushes to remove dust and small particles.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Clamps:</b> Ratchet straps, a variety of plastic or metal clip-type clamps, and one or two C-clamps of different sizes come in handy for a variety of fix-it projects. Ratchet straps are also great for securing mattresses on the roof of a car and maneuvering large appliances.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Duct tape:</b> Okay, you can laugh, but once you have it around you’ll find ingenious ways to use it — and probably never for wrapping air ducts!</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Dum Dum toy putty:</b> This putty never hardens and although developed for puttying windows, it’s great for keeping pictures and mirrors level and temporarily securing photos and posters. It doesn’t damage paint or paper.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Masking tape:</b><i> </i>Don’t settle for one width; you’ll inevitably wish you had the other as well.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Old toothbrushes:</b> Use them to clean the gaskets sealing refrigerators, freezers, and ovens, scour around faucets, and get paint and dirt out of crevices.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Plunger:</b> Use it to unblock drains and toilets.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Putty knife:</b> Use this non-tool tool for fix-its, scraping wallpaper, stripping furniture, getting under surfaces. You’ll use it a lot.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Rulers and yardsticks:</b><i> </i>These are an absolute necessity if you want to cut wood, drywall, or anything else. If you splurge just a little, you can get metal rulers that won’t snap or break.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Sandpaper:</b> Buy an assortment from very fine grit to coarse grit and you’ll have them available when you’re working on a project.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Single-edge razor blades:</b> One small package will last a long time because they’re reusable, especially after scraping paint splatters off glass.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Steel wool:</b> You don’t need a lot, just fine, medium, and coarse grades.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Stud finder:</b> Stop guessing where to drive a nail into the wall. It locates nails in your drywall, and thus, the stud.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>Double-sided tape:</b> Also called carpet tape, this holds down throw rugs and, temporarily, loose carpeting and vinyl. You’ll find other uses as well.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>WD-40:</b> Use one or two drops on hinges, locks, and anything else needing lubrication.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b>White vinegar:</b> Use it on rugs and tablecloths when someone spills red wine.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Questions for a contractor or home repair specialist","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>When getting bids from a professional for a home repair project, make sure you know exactly what the job entails. Research your contractor, like checking with the <a href=\"https://www.bbb.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Better Business Bureau</a> to see if any complaints are filed, before you sign a contract. Before hiring anyone for your home repairs, make sure you ask these questions:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>Do you have a list of referrals? </b>Ask for<b> </b>names and phone numbers of people that had similar work that the contractor or specialist completed.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>How long have you been in business?</b> Sometimes contractors want to retire and sell an established business with a good reputation, but there’s no guarantee that the new owner will know as much or be as good.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>Can I see your certificates of insurance?</b> You want to know that the contractor is licensed and bonded, and that they carry workers compensation insurance.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>Who will do the actual work, the contractor, an employee, or an independent contractor retained by the company?</b> If the contractor outsources the job, that might entail potential risk on your part if that person is injured.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>Can I have a detailed contract?</b> It should describe the project in detail and what materials and products will be used, as well as labor costs, and the contractor’s name, address, phone number, and license numbers with the city and state.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>Can I buy the materials myself and have them delivered to my home? </b>You might save money that way.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>How long will the project take? </b>Get a specific date for starting and ending the project.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>Who is responsible for cleaning up after the project is completed?</b> If it’s the contractor, make sure you have it in writing.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>Is a building permit needed for the work?</b> Make sure the contractor will get it.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>Can I have a warranty on work and materials?</b> Is it a full warranty on repair or replacement of the product and for how long — 90 days or a year?</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><b><i></i>Can I establish a payment schedule for work that will take some time to complete? </b>Never agree to pay all costs up front because if you’re dissatisfied with the work, you’ll never be able to get the contractor back to your home.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2021-10-20T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209416},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T19:44:51+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-20T19:45:39+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:37+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939},{"name":"Floors","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33950"},"slug":"floors","categoryId":33950}],"title":"How to Install a Ceramic Tile Floor","strippedTitle":"how to install a ceramic tile floor","slug":"how-to-install-a-ceramic-tile-floor","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn the steps for installing ceramic tiles on a floor, including laying out lines, spreading mortar, and cutting tiles.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Installing a ceramic tile floor may appear to be beyond the abilities of some homeowners, but most DIYers can handle it. Just don’t rush it — have a little patience! The materials are relatively easy to work with, and you can rent the tools, even the big ones.\r\n\r\nInstall ceramic tile over a subfloor that’s no less than 1 1/8 inches thick. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout — and a lot of headaches. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment, such as plywood. The boards come in 3-by-5-foot sheets and are available where tile and grout are sold.\r\n\r\nAfter you establish your guidelines or layout lines, it’s time to install the tile:\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/291634.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"399\" height=\"400\" />\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Before you think about setting the tile in place with mortar, make sure that the layout is even from side to side in both directions. To do so, dry-fit the tiles along the layout lines in both directions and make sure that the finished layout looks good to you.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">One important measurement to note is the width of the tiles that meet the wall. Make sure you never have less than half of a tile’s width at the wall. If you do, adjust the layout until you get an adequate end tile size. After you establish this, snap a new layout line to follow.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pick up the loose tiles and set them aside.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Use a notched trowel to spread thin-set mortar over a 3-by-3-foot section at the intersection of the layout lines.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Trowels come with different-sized notches, so check the tile manufacturer’s recommendation for the correct size.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Working in small, square sections — say 3 feet by 3 feet — is important. If you work with a larger section, the mortar may harden (known as setting up) before you put the tiles in place. Be careful not to cover the layout lines.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Begin laying tiles at the center point of the two layout lines, setting each tile into the mortar by tapping it gently with a rubber mallet.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Use plastic spacers at each tile corner to maintain even grout lines between the tiles. Spacers are available where tile is sold.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Continue laying tiles until you’ve covered the mortared area.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Continue the process by applying mortar to another section and then laying tiles.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Fit the last tile in the row at the wall.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">This step usually requires that you measure and cut the tile. First, set a scrap tile against the wall — it allows space for grout. Next, place a loose tile directly over the last full tile you laid (this is the tile you’ll cut to size). Then place another tile on the loose one and up against the tile on the wall. Mark the loose tile and cut it to fit along the edge.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">After all the tiles are set in the mortar, mix the grout according to the manufacturer’s instructions and install it by using a rubber grout float.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Use a sweeping motion, pressing the grout into the gaps.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Wipe away the excess grout with a grout sponge. Let the grout dry slightly and then wipe off the haze that appears.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Cutting the tiles</h2>\r\nFor most installations, you need a tile cutter, which you can rent. To make a straight cut with a tile cutter, simply place the tile face up in the cutter, adjust the cutter to the proper width, and score the tile by pulling the cutting wheel across the tile’s face. Then snap the tile along the scored line.\r\n\r\nIf you need to make a cutout, say to go around a corner, mark the area you plan to cut out. Secure the tile in a vise or clamps — just be sure to cushion the vise jaws to protect the tile from scratches. Cut along the marks with a tile saw, which is a hand saw that’s similar to a coping saw, except that it has a carbide saw blade designed for cutting ceramic tile.\r\n\r\nIf you need to make a round or circular cut, mark the area and then use a tile nipper to nip out small pieces of tile until you reach the line. A tile nipper is similar to a pair of pliers, but it has hardened cutting edges for cutting through ceramic tile.","description":"Installing a ceramic tile floor may appear to be beyond the abilities of some homeowners, but most DIYers can handle it. Just don’t rush it — have a little patience! The materials are relatively easy to work with, and you can rent the tools, even the big ones.\r\n\r\nInstall ceramic tile over a subfloor that’s no less than 1 1/8 inches thick. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout — and a lot of headaches. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment, such as plywood. The boards come in 3-by-5-foot sheets and are available where tile and grout are sold.\r\n\r\nAfter you establish your guidelines or layout lines, it’s time to install the tile:\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/291634.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"399\" height=\"400\" />\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Before you think about setting the tile in place with mortar, make sure that the layout is even from side to side in both directions. To do so, dry-fit the tiles along the layout lines in both directions and make sure that the finished layout looks good to you.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">One important measurement to note is the width of the tiles that meet the wall. Make sure you never have less than half of a tile’s width at the wall. If you do, adjust the layout until you get an adequate end tile size. After you establish this, snap a new layout line to follow.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pick up the loose tiles and set them aside.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Use a notched trowel to spread thin-set mortar over a 3-by-3-foot section at the intersection of the layout lines.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Trowels come with different-sized notches, so check the tile manufacturer’s recommendation for the correct size.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Working in small, square sections — say 3 feet by 3 feet — is important. If you work with a larger section, the mortar may harden (known as setting up) before you put the tiles in place. Be careful not to cover the layout lines.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Begin laying tiles at the center point of the two layout lines, setting each tile into the mortar by tapping it gently with a rubber mallet.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Use plastic spacers at each tile corner to maintain even grout lines between the tiles. Spacers are available where tile is sold.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Continue laying tiles until you’ve covered the mortared area.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Continue the process by applying mortar to another section and then laying tiles.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Fit the last tile in the row at the wall.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">This step usually requires that you measure and cut the tile. First, set a scrap tile against the wall — it allows space for grout. Next, place a loose tile directly over the last full tile you laid (this is the tile you’ll cut to size). Then place another tile on the loose one and up against the tile on the wall. Mark the loose tile and cut it to fit along the edge.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">After all the tiles are set in the mortar, mix the grout according to the manufacturer’s instructions and install it by using a rubber grout float.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Use a sweeping motion, pressing the grout into the gaps.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Wipe away the excess grout with a grout sponge. Let the grout dry slightly and then wipe off the haze that appears.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Cutting the tiles</h2>\r\nFor most installations, you need a tile cutter, which you can rent. To make a straight cut with a tile cutter, simply place the tile face up in the cutter, adjust the cutter to the proper width, and score the tile by pulling the cutting wheel across the tile’s face. Then snap the tile along the scored line.\r\n\r\nIf you need to make a cutout, say to go around a corner, mark the area you plan to cut out. Secure the tile in a vise or clamps — just be sure to cushion the vise jaws to protect the tile from scratches. Cut along the marks with a tile saw, which is a hand saw that’s similar to a coping saw, except that it has a carbide saw blade designed for cutting ceramic tile.\r\n\r\nIf you need to make a round or circular cut, mark the area and then use a tile nipper to nip out small pieces of tile until you reach the line. A tile nipper is similar to a pair of pliers, but it has hardened cutting edges for cutting through ceramic tile.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33950,"title":"Floors","slug":"floors","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33950"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Cutting the tiles","target":"#tab1"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":206748,"title":"How to Get Wood Floors Ready for Sanding","slug":"how-to-get-wood-floors-ready-for-sanding","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206748"}},{"articleId":204799,"title":"How to Stain and Seal Hardwood Floors","slug":"how-to-stain-and-seal-hardwood-floors","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/204799"}},{"articleId":201693,"title":"Measuring to Buy Ceramic Floor Tiles","slug":"measuring-to-buy-ceramic-floor-tiles","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201693"}},{"articleId":195448,"title":"How Much Vinyl Flooring Do You Need?","slug":"how-much-vinyl-flooring-do-you-need","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195448"}},{"articleId":195440,"title":"How Much Ceramic Tile Do You Need?","slug":"how-much-ceramic-tile-do-you-need","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195440"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[{"title":"Just DIY It","slug":"just-diy-it","collectionId":292186}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;floors&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f81d6521\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;floors&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62b36f81d6c5d\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-20T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":184386},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T19:44:51+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-20T19:27:06+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:37+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939},{"name":"Floors","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33950"},"slug":"floors","categoryId":33950}],"title":"How to Lay Out a Ceramic Tile Floor","strippedTitle":"how to lay out a ceramic tile floor","slug":"how-to-lay-out-a-ceramic-tile-floor","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn the basic steps of laying out ceramic tile for your flooring project, including establishing reference lines.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Planning the layout of your tile floor is an essential step in guaranteeing the success of your project. Ever wonder how a professional tile layer always seems to get those tiles at a perfect 90- or 45-degree angle to the wall? You can do it, too, and here’s how.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292152\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-292152\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/AdobeStock_205538505.jpeg\" alt=\"man installing tiles on the floor\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" /> ©Andrey Gonchar / Adobe Stock[/caption]\r\n\r\nInstall ceramic tile over a subfloor that’s no less than 1 1/8 inches thick. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout — and a lot of headaches. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment, such as plywood. The boards come in 3-by-5-foot sheets and are available where tile and grout are sold.\r\n\r\nBegin planning by using a pair of perpendicular reference lines for establishing your layout instead of relying on measurements from walls, which are neither straight nor square to each other. To ensure the reference lines are square, use a 3-4-5 triangle rule as follows:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Establish your first reference line by measuring across opposite sides of the room. Mark the center of each side and then snap a chalk line between the two marks.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Measure and mark the center of that line. Then use a pencil, a framing square, and a straightedge held against its shorter leg to mark a second 4-foot-long line perpendicular to the first line.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Before snapping a second line across the room, you want be sure the angle you formed is truly 90 degrees.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Measure out 3 feet from the intersection and mark the penciled line. Then measure out 4 feet from the intersection and mark the spot on the chalk line. Measure the distance between the 3-foot and 4-foot marks.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The distance should be 5 feet — the 3-4-5 rule. If it isn’t, make an adjustment and pencil a new line. Now snap a chalk line across the room that falls directly over the penciled line.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nAfter you have reference lines, use them to establish layout lines, which actually guide tile placement. Dry-set two rows of tiles, extending from the center to adjacent walls. If the last tile in a row would be less than half a tile, plan to shift the first course to be centered on the reference line rather than next to it. Snap your layout line a half line away from the reference line. Repeat the procedure for the other row.\r\n\r\nLaying out your tiles at 45-degree angles instead of 90 isn’t that difficult. You need only a couple more layout lines. Mark the two layout lines as you would for a 90-degree job and then follow these steps:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Measure out the same distance (for example, 4 feet) on the perpendicular lines.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">From these points, make marks 4 feet out at right angles to the original lines.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Snap a chalk line through these new marks and through the intersection of the two original layout lines.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The two lines are now your layout lines for a 45-degree pattern.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>","description":"Planning the layout of your tile floor is an essential step in guaranteeing the success of your project. Ever wonder how a professional tile layer always seems to get those tiles at a perfect 90- or 45-degree angle to the wall? You can do it, too, and here’s how.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292152\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-292152\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/AdobeStock_205538505.jpeg\" alt=\"man installing tiles on the floor\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" /> ©Andrey Gonchar / Adobe Stock[/caption]\r\n\r\nInstall ceramic tile over a subfloor that’s no less than 1 1/8 inches thick. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout — and a lot of headaches. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment, such as plywood. The boards come in 3-by-5-foot sheets and are available where tile and grout are sold.\r\n\r\nBegin planning by using a pair of perpendicular reference lines for establishing your layout instead of relying on measurements from walls, which are neither straight nor square to each other. To ensure the reference lines are square, use a 3-4-5 triangle rule as follows:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Establish your first reference line by measuring across opposite sides of the room. Mark the center of each side and then snap a chalk line between the two marks.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Measure and mark the center of that line. Then use a pencil, a framing square, and a straightedge held against its shorter leg to mark a second 4-foot-long line perpendicular to the first line.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Before snapping a second line across the room, you want be sure the angle you formed is truly 90 degrees.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Measure out 3 feet from the intersection and mark the penciled line. Then measure out 4 feet from the intersection and mark the spot on the chalk line. Measure the distance between the 3-foot and 4-foot marks.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The distance should be 5 feet — the 3-4-5 rule. If it isn’t, make an adjustment and pencil a new line. Now snap a chalk line across the room that falls directly over the penciled line.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nAfter you have reference lines, use them to establish layout lines, which actually guide tile placement. Dry-set two rows of tiles, extending from the center to adjacent walls. If the last tile in a row would be less than half a tile, plan to shift the first course to be centered on the reference line rather than next to it. Snap your layout line a half line away from the reference line. Repeat the procedure for the other row.\r\n\r\nLaying out your tiles at 45-degree angles instead of 90 isn’t that difficult. You need only a couple more layout lines. Mark the two layout lines as you would for a 90-degree job and then follow these steps:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Measure out the same distance (for example, 4 feet) on the perpendicular lines.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">From these points, make marks 4 feet out at right angles to the original lines.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Snap a chalk line through these new marks and through the intersection of the two original layout lines.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The two lines are now your layout lines for a 45-degree pattern.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33950,"title":"Floors","slug":"floors","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33950"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":206748,"title":"How to Get Wood Floors Ready for Sanding","slug":"how-to-get-wood-floors-ready-for-sanding","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206748"}},{"articleId":204799,"title":"How to Stain and Seal Hardwood Floors","slug":"how-to-stain-and-seal-hardwood-floors","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/204799"}},{"articleId":201693,"title":"Measuring to Buy Ceramic Floor Tiles","slug":"measuring-to-buy-ceramic-floor-tiles","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201693"}},{"articleId":195448,"title":"How Much Vinyl Flooring Do You Need?","slug":"how-much-vinyl-flooring-do-you-need","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195448"}},{"articleId":195440,"title":"How Much Ceramic Tile Do You Need?","slug":"how-much-ceramic-tile-do-you-need","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195440"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[{"title":"Just DIY It","slug":"just-diy-it","collectionId":292186}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;floors&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" 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id=\"du-slot-62b36f81bd993\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":null,"sponsorEbookTitle":null,"sponsorEbookLink":null,"sponsorEbookImage":null},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-20T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":184385},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T22:58:42+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-20T19:08:41+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:37:37+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Home Improvement & Appliances","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33939"},"slug":"home-improvement-appliances","categoryId":33939},{"name":"Floors","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33950"},"slug":"floors","categoryId":33950}],"title":"Measuring to Buy Ceramic Floor Tiles","strippedTitle":"measuring to buy ceramic floor tiles","slug":"measuring-to-buy-ceramic-floor-tiles","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"This article shows you how to measure and determine the number of tiles you'll need to complete a ceramic tile flooring project.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Buying ceramic tile for floors requires measuring and math. Estimate how many ceramic tiles to buy by calculating the total floor area you plan to cover and dividing that number by the size of one tile. Ceramic floor tiles typically come in 4-, 6-, 9-, 12-, and 18-inch squares.\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">First, determine the square footage of the room (don’t forget the closets!); just multiply the room’s length by its width.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">[Length of Floor] x [Width of Floor] = Total Area.</p>\r\nChoose your tile size from the following list and use the accompanying equation to figure out the number of tiles to buy:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li class=\"child-para\"><b>4-inch tiles: </b>Total Area ÷ 0.1089 = Number of 4-inch tiles needed</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"child-para\"><b>6-inch tiles: </b>Total Area ÷ 0.25 = Number of 6-inch tiles needed</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"child-para\"><b>9-inch tiles: </b>Total Area ÷ 0.5625 = Number of 9-inch tiles needed</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"child-para\"><b>12-inch tiles: </b>Total Area = Number of 12-inch tiles needed (you’ve measured your room in square feet, and a 12-inch tile is 1 square foot)</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"child-para\"><b>18-inch tiles: </b>Total Area ÷ 2.25 = Number of 18-inch tiles needed</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBecause there are variations in the color of tiles from one tile run to another, buy enough tiles to complete the job and have some leftovers for later repairs.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">You can always bring your room dimensions to a tile dealer, who can help you figure out how much tile and other supplies to purchase.</p>","description":"Buying ceramic tile for floors requires measuring and math. Estimate how many ceramic tiles to buy by calculating the total floor area you plan to cover and dividing that number by the size of one tile. Ceramic floor tiles typically come in 4-, 6-, 9-, 12-, and 18-inch squares.\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">First, determine the square footage of the room (don’t forget the closets!); just multiply the room’s length by its width.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">[Length of Floor] x [Width of Floor] = Total Area.</p>\r\nChoose your tile size from the following list and use the accompanying equation to figure out the number of tiles to buy:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li class=\"child-para\"><b>4-inch tiles: </b>Total Area ÷ 0.1089 = Number of 4-inch tiles needed</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"child-para\"><b>6-inch tiles: </b>Total Area ÷ 0.25 = Number of 6-inch tiles needed</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"child-para\"><b>9-inch tiles: </b>Total Area ÷ 0.5625 = Number of 9-inch tiles needed</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"child-para\"><b>12-inch tiles: </b>Total Area = Number of 12-inch tiles needed (you’ve measured your room in square feet, and a 12-inch tile is 1 square foot)</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"child-para\"><b>18-inch tiles: </b>Total Area ÷ 2.25 = Number of 18-inch tiles needed</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBecause there are variations in the color of tiles from one tile run to another, buy enough tiles to complete the job and have some leftovers for later repairs.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">You can always bring your room dimensions to a tile dealer, who can help you figure out how much tile and other supplies to purchase.</p>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9983,"name":"Gene Hamilton","slug":"gene-hamilton","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9983"}},{"authorId":9984,"name":"Katie Hamilton","slug":"katie-hamilton","description":"","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9984"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33950,"title":"Floors","slug":"floors","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33950"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":206748,"title":"How to Get Wood Floors Ready for Sanding","slug":"how-to-get-wood-floors-ready-for-sanding","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206748"}},{"articleId":204799,"title":"How to Stain and Seal Hardwood Floors","slug":"how-to-stain-and-seal-hardwood-floors","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/204799"}},{"articleId":195448,"title":"How Much Vinyl Flooring Do You Need?","slug":"how-much-vinyl-flooring-do-you-need","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195448"}},{"articleId":195440,"title":"How Much Ceramic Tile Do You Need?","slug":"how-much-ceramic-tile-do-you-need","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195440"}},{"articleId":195438,"title":"Calculating the Amount of Carpet You Need","slug":"calculating-the-amount-of-carpet-you-need","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","home-improvement-appliances","floors"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/195438"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[{"title":"Just DIY It","slug":"just-diy-it","collectionId":292186}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;home-improvement-appliances&quot;,&quot;floors&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" 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Home Improvement & Appliances Articles

Creating and maintaining an amazing home isn't easy — but it's definitely worth it! We'll walk you through everything from choosing the best vacuum to organizing your clutter.

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Walls & Painting Estimating How Much Paint to Buy

Article / Updated 07-28-2022

Before you begin painting your home's interior walls, ceilings, woodwork, doors, or windows, you need to estimate the amount of paint you'll use. Estimates require specific calculations for each surface you want to paint. To estimate the amount of paint you need in order to cover the walls of a room, add together the length of all the walls and then multiply the number by the height of the room, from floor to ceiling. The number you get is the room's square footage. Is that math class coming back to you now? How to determine square footage Now you have to determine how much of that square footage is paintable surface area. Because you use a different paint on the doors and windows, subtract those areas from the room total. No sweat, just subtract 20 square feet for each door and 15 square feet for each average-sized window in the room. You end up with a number that is close to the actual wall area you have to cover with paint. In general, you can expect 1 gallon of paint to cover about 350 square feet. You need slightly more than a gallon if the walls are unpainted drywall, which absorbs more of the paint. You also need to consider whether to paint more than one coat. If you're painting walls that are unfinished, heavily patched, or dark in color, plan on applying two coats of paint. When painting a dark color, pros often add a color tint to the white primer. Tints for both latex or alkyd paints are available at most paint stores. For best results, choose a tint shade that's closest to the top coat color. Now for the clincher of the math problem. Divide the paintable wall area by 350 (the square-foot coverage in each gallon can) to find the number of gallons of paint you need for the walls. You can round uneven numbers; if the remainder is less than .5, order a couple of quarts of wall paint to go with the gallons; if the remainder is more than .5, order an extra gallon. Of course, buying in bulk is usually more economical, so you may discover that 3 quarts of paint cost as much as a gallon. Examples of calculations The following examples walk you through the calculations for determining how much paint you need for a 14-x-20-foot room that's 8 feet tall and has two doors and two windows. Ceiling paint estimator Use the following formula to estimate the amount of ceiling paint you need. Double the result if the ceiling requires two coats. 1. Multiply the length of the ceiling times its width to find its area. 14 × 20 = 280 square feet 2. Divide that number by 350 (the estimated square feet covered per gallon) to figure out how many gallons of paint you need. 280 ÷ 350 = .8 For this example, you want to buy 1 gallon of ceiling paint for a single coat. Wall paint estimator Use the following formula to estimate the amount of wall paint you need. Double the result if the walls require two coats. 1. Add together the length of each wall. 14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet 2. Multiply the sum by the wall height, to find the total wall area. 68 × 8 = 544 square feet 3. Subtract 20 square feet for each door (20 × 2 = 40) and 15 square feet for each window (15 × 2 = 30) to find the actual amount of wall area you're painting. 544 – 70 = 474 square feet 4. Divide this figure by the paint coverage (350 square feet per gallon), and the result is the number of gallons to purchase. 474 ÷ 350 = 1.4 For this example, you want to buy 1 gallon and 2 quarts of paint for a single coat. Woodwork paint estimator Measure the length of the trim in feet, and multiply that number by 1/2 foot (.5), as a rough size for the width of the trim. Include all the trim around doors and windows, at baseboards, along the ceiling, and for any built-in furniture. As an example, imagine that you have ceiling molding running around a room that is 14 feet wide and 20 feet long. 1. Determine the total length of molding around the room by adding together the length of all the walls that the molding covers. Round the numbers off to the nearest foot. 14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet 2. Multiply the sum by .5 for an estimated width of the molding. 68 × .5 = 34 square feet 3. Divide this number by 350 to estimate the gallons of paint required to cover the molding. 34 ÷ 350 = .09 The result in this example is much less than a quart, but you may paint other woodwork in the room the same color, so buying a full quart may not be terribly wasteful. Door and window estimator Use the same figure for estimating door coverage as you use in your wall-area calculations — 20 square feet = one door. Multiply the number of doors by 20, doubling the answer if you plan to paint both sides. Wall paint estimates allow for 15 square feet for each window. Use about half that window area to figure trim and inside sash — the glass isn't important to the calculation. For the room in this example: 1. Multiply the number of doors by 20. 2 × 20 = 40 square feet 2. Multiply the number of windows by 7.5. 2 × 7.5 = 15 square feet 3. Add these numbers together. 40 + 15 = 55 4. Divide the result by 350 (the estimated square feet covered per gallon). 54 ÷ 350 = .16 Often, you end up needing to buy only a quart of paint, which goes a long way on doors and window trim. See also: How to Paint Ceilings and Walls How to Paint Paneled Doors How to Paint Trim Tools You Need for a Basic Paint Project

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Decorating Arranging Your Bedroom Furniture

Article / Updated 05-27-2022

The bed is the key piece of furniture in any bedroom, and it naturally becomes the focal point. Bedroom furniture is traditionally arranged according to a few general rules. For the most part based on common sense, here are some general guidelines for you to follow: Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/hikesterson Traditionally, folks tend to place a double, queen-sized, or king-sized bed against the center of the wall opposite the main door to the room. With this arrangement, the headboard is the center of attention as you enter the room. If the dimensions of your room prevent you from positioning your bed on the wall across from the door, other possible choices depend on which walls are long enough to accommodate the bed. Diagonal placement works well when you have the space. Do not place a bed under a window, if the window will frequently be open. Open windows can create uncomfortable drafts. Positioning a bed between two windows, however, works well. If your home is air-conditioned or heated year-round and the windows are seldom open, you may be able to ignore this rule. Do not place the bed where it obstructs a door into the room or a walkway through the room. Consider nontraditional furniture arrangements if doing so will free up space or use space in a more interesting way. For example, a bed may look dramatic placed in front of a secure window; on a diagonal, which takes up extra space; sideways along a wall, to maximize floor space; or in an alcove (a technique called lit clos). If your closet is large enough and you'd like to free-up floor space, put your chest of drawers inside your walk-in closet. Doing this will let you add additional pieces of furniture, such as a writing desk, a seating group, or a big screen TV, to transform any bedroom into a luxury suite. Bedrooms used by a specific group of people have unique needs. Whether you're decorating a master bedroom, a guest room, or a room for children, the following sections provide you with the tips you need. Master bedrooms A master bedroom doesn't have to be huge, but it does need to offer the amenities you need. If your space is less masterful than you'd like, look at some of the following suggestions for decorating your bedroom: Make the bedroom look larger by eliminating clutter. Use only necessary furniture. If you can, push a chest of drawers into a walk-in closet to free up floor space. Keep the bed visually low. Use a headboard, but don't use a footboard, and opt for something other than a four-poster bed, all of which tend to take up space visually, making the room seem smaller. Keep all your furniture — like the rest of your color scheme — light. Light colored furniture, walls, floors, window treatments, and bedding make a room seem bigger. Regardless of the size of your master bedroom, the following tips can help you to make it as comfortable as possible: Add bedside tables that are as big as space will allow. If you read or watch TV in bed, you'll find these tables helpful. You can buy restaurant café tables for very little money and drape them with quilts. Try to make room for at least one comfortable chair. Chairs are great for company on a sick day, for daytime resting, or for reading. Consider carpeting all bedroom floors to reduce noise in the room. Add a lady's desk — a small, delicately proportioned furnishing for writing letters and so forth — if you have room. Teen bedrooms Teenagers usually know what they want in a bedroom and aren't slow to tell you that they need storage for books and music and space for their collections of just about anything you can name. They have firm ideas about style and colors, so ask! And when your son or daughter requests a wild color, do your best to persuade him or her to use it as an accent. More and more activities from surfing the Net to entertaining take place in a teen's room. Extra seating and small tables provide space for visitors. Keep furnishings practical and easy to care for. Children's bedrooms Nurseries must be planned with the child's future years in mind. But from the beginning, make room for a changing table near the crib. As always, keep safety in mind. The following tips will help you do all of these things: Keep cribs away from windows and window blind cords. Make sure cribs and bunk beds meet federal safety standards. Check to see that mattresses fit snugly against the crib's sides. Slats, spindles, rods, and corner posts should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart from each other. Make sure a child can't release the drop side of a crib. Choose chests and cabinets that can't be tipped over (even when drawers are opened and a child crawls up and into them). This may call for fastening them to the wall for security. Find hardware that's rounded, sanded, and has no sharp edges. Equip all electrical outlets with plastic safeguard plugs. Eliminate any small throw rugs on slippery floors. Make sure all flooring is skidproof. Eliminate dangling cords on window blinds. Choose bunk beds with sturdy ladders, handrails, and safety rails. Make sure you have a guest bed for occasional sleepovers. A trundle bed, which neatly stores a second bed beneath a regular one, is the ideal solution for children's rooms. Guest bedrooms Setting aside a room for guests makes their stay more comfortable not only for them, but also for you. You can furnish the guest room with a marvelous bed and all the necessary furnishings and forget about it. Check out the following suggestions for ways to make your guest room comfortable: Buy a handsome, space-saving daybed or sofa bed that fits smartly against the wall and out of the way. The versatility of these beds makes them a delightful option in a home office or other double-duty room. You may even consider installing a Murphy bed that hides away in a closet. Make sure that your guest has plenty of closet space. Dedicate two sets of sheets, a comforter, special pillows, a duvet cover, and pillow shams to your guest room.

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Walls & Painting How to Remove Old Wallpaper

Video / Updated 04-21-2022

Audio Transcript To remove ordinary wallpaper, you need to gather a few simple items. A pre-tape drop cloth A bucket of water A paint roller and pan A perforator A scraper (which looks a lot like a putty knife but has a slot for replaceable blades) Wallpaper removing solvent And a bucket full of patients The first step is to protect the floor and molding from water damage. Use a pre-taped plastic drop cloth and tape it to the top of the baseboard floor molding. Go all around the perimeter of the area and then unfold it into the room to cover the floor. If you skip this step, it can get messy, not to mention the damage that water can do to floors and baseboards. The second step is to score the wallpaper with a razor scraper or perforating tool. It's a perfect gadget for removing wallpaper from walls made of wall board or drywall, because it won't damage the paper face of the wall board. And that means you won't have to spend time repairing the walls later. When you score the paper with holes or slits it allows the moisture, when applied, to break down the adhesive. If at any time you notice the razor is getting dull, be sure to change it. The next step is to mix the wallpaper removing solvent with water. The solvent breaks down the adhesive, so that the wall covering loosens and can easily be scraped off. Use either a 50/50 combination of vinegar and water or a 25/75 solution of liquid laundry softener and water. The fourth step is to apply the wallpaper solvent with a paint roller or a liquid sprayer. Start with a three foot section of wallpaper. After a few applications of moisture and a little time to let it soak in, you'll be ready for the next step. Now peel and scrape off the wet paper. Work on a three foot wide section of the wall at a time and then move on to the next area. As you scrape off the old wallpaper, let it fall onto the plastic drop cloth. When all the wallpaper is removed, use a sponge and some warm water to remove any excess paste from the walls. Then just roll up the entire mess — wallpaper, drop cloth and all.

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Walls & Painting How to Paint Furniture with Chalk Paint

Step by Step / Updated 04-21-2022

Chalk paint can be used to paint almost anything — walls, kitchen cabinets, metal, wood, and even fabric — but the most common use is to give new life to old furniture or to make newer pieces look old. The great thing about chalk paint is that there isn't a huge learning curve or a lot of prep work. You can just dive right in.

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Walls & Painting Painting a Room: Apply a Base Coat of Paint With a Roller

Video / Updated 04-20-2022

Painting the corners and edges on a wall is the meticulous part; once you've done that, you're ready to paint the main part of the wall. Be sure you have the right tools — having the right roller for the surface of your walls is critical.

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Walls & Painting Painting Projects: How Much Paint Should You Buy?

Video / Updated 04-20-2022

You don't want to run out of paint midway through painting a room. Use simple math the determine how much paint you need, and you're good to start painting.

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General Home Improvement & Appliances How to Fix Everything For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-20-2022

It's a good idea to be prepared for things going wrong in your home, whether it's something relatively simple that you can fix yourself, or a more complex problem requiring a qualified professional. Following is advice for both situations. First, we list some non-tool items you'll want to have around for DIY home repair. We also suggest questions you should ask before hiring a professional to make a repair or renovation in your home.

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Floors How to Install a Ceramic Tile Floor

Article / Updated 04-20-2022

Installing a ceramic tile floor may appear to be beyond the abilities of some homeowners, but most DIYers can handle it. Just don’t rush it — have a little patience! The materials are relatively easy to work with, and you can rent the tools, even the big ones. Install ceramic tile over a subfloor that’s no less than 1 1/8 inches thick. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout — and a lot of headaches. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment, such as plywood. The boards come in 3-by-5-foot sheets and are available where tile and grout are sold. After you establish your guidelines or layout lines, it’s time to install the tile: Before you think about setting the tile in place with mortar, make sure that the layout is even from side to side in both directions. To do so, dry-fit the tiles along the layout lines in both directions and make sure that the finished layout looks good to you. One important measurement to note is the width of the tiles that meet the wall. Make sure you never have less than half of a tile’s width at the wall. If you do, adjust the layout until you get an adequate end tile size. After you establish this, snap a new layout line to follow. Pick up the loose tiles and set them aside. Use a notched trowel to spread thin-set mortar over a 3-by-3-foot section at the intersection of the layout lines. Trowels come with different-sized notches, so check the tile manufacturer’s recommendation for the correct size. Working in small, square sections — say 3 feet by 3 feet — is important. If you work with a larger section, the mortar may harden (known as setting up) before you put the tiles in place. Be careful not to cover the layout lines. Begin laying tiles at the center point of the two layout lines, setting each tile into the mortar by tapping it gently with a rubber mallet. Use plastic spacers at each tile corner to maintain even grout lines between the tiles. Spacers are available where tile is sold. Continue laying tiles until you’ve covered the mortared area. Continue the process by applying mortar to another section and then laying tiles. Fit the last tile in the row at the wall. This step usually requires that you measure and cut the tile. First, set a scrap tile against the wall — it allows space for grout. Next, place a loose tile directly over the last full tile you laid (this is the tile you’ll cut to size). Then place another tile on the loose one and up against the tile on the wall. Mark the loose tile and cut it to fit along the edge. After all the tiles are set in the mortar, mix the grout according to the manufacturer’s instructions and install it by using a rubber grout float. Use a sweeping motion, pressing the grout into the gaps. Wipe away the excess grout with a grout sponge. Let the grout dry slightly and then wipe off the haze that appears. Cutting the tiles For most installations, you need a tile cutter, which you can rent. To make a straight cut with a tile cutter, simply place the tile face up in the cutter, adjust the cutter to the proper width, and score the tile by pulling the cutting wheel across the tile’s face. Then snap the tile along the scored line. If you need to make a cutout, say to go around a corner, mark the area you plan to cut out. Secure the tile in a vise or clamps — just be sure to cushion the vise jaws to protect the tile from scratches. Cut along the marks with a tile saw, which is a hand saw that’s similar to a coping saw, except that it has a carbide saw blade designed for cutting ceramic tile. If you need to make a round or circular cut, mark the area and then use a tile nipper to nip out small pieces of tile until you reach the line. A tile nipper is similar to a pair of pliers, but it has hardened cutting edges for cutting through ceramic tile.

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Floors How to Lay Out a Ceramic Tile Floor

Article / Updated 04-20-2022

Planning the layout of your tile floor is an essential step in guaranteeing the success of your project. Ever wonder how a professional tile layer always seems to get those tiles at a perfect 90- or 45-degree angle to the wall? You can do it, too, and here’s how. Install ceramic tile over a subfloor that’s no less than 1 1/8 inches thick. A thinner subfloor will cause the floor to flex due to the weight of the tile. A flexing subfloor results in cracked tiles and grout — and a lot of headaches. Most tile manufacturers recommend installing a cement backer board instead of any other type of underlayment, such as plywood. The boards come in 3-by-5-foot sheets and are available where tile and grout are sold. Begin planning by using a pair of perpendicular reference lines for establishing your layout instead of relying on measurements from walls, which are neither straight nor square to each other. To ensure the reference lines are square, use a 3-4-5 triangle rule as follows: Establish your first reference line by measuring across opposite sides of the room. Mark the center of each side and then snap a chalk line between the two marks. Measure and mark the center of that line. Then use a pencil, a framing square, and a straightedge held against its shorter leg to mark a second 4-foot-long line perpendicular to the first line. Before snapping a second line across the room, you want be sure the angle you formed is truly 90 degrees. Measure out 3 feet from the intersection and mark the penciled line. Then measure out 4 feet from the intersection and mark the spot on the chalk line. Measure the distance between the 3-foot and 4-foot marks. The distance should be 5 feet — the 3-4-5 rule. If it isn’t, make an adjustment and pencil a new line. Now snap a chalk line across the room that falls directly over the penciled line. After you have reference lines, use them to establish layout lines, which actually guide tile placement. Dry-set two rows of tiles, extending from the center to adjacent walls. If the last tile in a row would be less than half a tile, plan to shift the first course to be centered on the reference line rather than next to it. Snap your layout line a half line away from the reference line. Repeat the procedure for the other row. Laying out your tiles at 45-degree angles instead of 90 isn’t that difficult. You need only a couple more layout lines. Mark the two layout lines as you would for a 90-degree job and then follow these steps: Measure out the same distance (for example, 4 feet) on the perpendicular lines. From these points, make marks 4 feet out at right angles to the original lines. Snap a chalk line through these new marks and through the intersection of the two original layout lines. The two lines are now your layout lines for a 45-degree pattern.

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Floors Measuring to Buy Ceramic Floor Tiles

Article / Updated 04-20-2022

Buying ceramic tile for floors requires measuring and math. Estimate how many ceramic tiles to buy by calculating the total floor area you plan to cover and dividing that number by the size of one tile. Ceramic floor tiles typically come in 4-, 6-, 9-, 12-, and 18-inch squares. First, determine the square footage of the room (don’t forget the closets!); just multiply the room’s length by its width. [Length of Floor] x [Width of Floor] = Total Area. Choose your tile size from the following list and use the accompanying equation to figure out the number of tiles to buy: 4-inch tiles: Total Area ÷ 0.1089 = Number of 4-inch tiles needed 6-inch tiles: Total Area ÷ 0.25 = Number of 6-inch tiles needed 9-inch tiles: Total Area ÷ 0.5625 = Number of 9-inch tiles needed 12-inch tiles: Total Area = Number of 12-inch tiles needed (you’ve measured your room in square feet, and a 12-inch tile is 1 square foot) 18-inch tiles: Total Area ÷ 2.25 = Number of 18-inch tiles needed Because there are variations in the color of tiles from one tile run to another, buy enough tiles to complete the job and have some leftovers for later repairs. You can always bring your room dimensions to a tile dealer, who can help you figure out how much tile and other supplies to purchase.

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