What Are Precious Metals?


What Are Precious Metals








How to Attach Wood to the Stucco Wall

Depending on the function of the wood item, there are corresponding methods builders use in attaching wood to a stucco wall or surface. 

Construction Adhesive

  1. Clean the stucco surface area using a scrub brush and cleaning solution.  Make sure to remove the dirt, grit, and grease especially to the spot where you intend to install the wood. Using a dry rag, wipe it out and allow it to dry.
  2. Carefully read the instruction for the construction contact adhesive to identify the set time for adhesive before applying it.
  3. Squeeze and apply adhesive into the wall and on the rear side of the wood. Put and press the rear face of the wood against the stucco that is coated with adhesive. Firmly press and hold the wood against the stucco as indicated set time for the adhesive. 

Mount to Stud

  1. Find studs by stretching a tape measure from the exterior wall corner to the center of the wall or search using stud finder from the interior of the building. Usually, studs are spaced 16 inches on center. From your measurements, minus the width of the stucco layer and wall sheathing. Then, using a pencil mark the location of the stud fo reference. 
  2. Fasten the wood drill bit to the power drill. Select a bit that is almost close or equal in diameter to the smooth portion of the lag screw shank. Take note that the smooth portion excludes threads. Cut a hole through the wood and attach a masonry drill bit to the drill. On the stucco stud mark, drill a hole. 
  3. Fasten a wood bit to the drill. Choose a quite smaller in diameter than the lag screw’s smooth shank so that there’s sufficient wood for threads to grab. Through stucco’s hole, feed the bit and start drilling a starter hole into the stud. The depth of the starter hole must be approximately equal to the length of the screw.
  4. Fasten the nut driver to the drill. Place the hole in the wood and the hole in the stucco in alignment with each other. In the nut driver, mount the head of the screw. Push the screw tip through the wood and the stucco’s hole until the tip reaches the stud. Drive the screw into the stud and keep working until the crew’s head pulls the wood flush against the stucco surface.

Wall Anchor

  1. Mark using a tape measure and pencil the spot where the fastener of the wood’s surface is located. Fasten the wood a little to the power drill then drill through the wood exactly at the mark. Place the wood against the surface of stucco at the preferred installation spot. 
  2. Fasten the masonry bit to the power drill. At the fastener mark, drill through the stucco surface until the bit reaches the wall cavity. For the toggle bolt’s toggle, unfasten the screw.  Right through the wood’s hole, use the pencil to draw a fastener mark on the stucco surface. 
  3. On the surface of the stucco, feed and pish the toggle. The wood flush must be pressed against the stucco surface. In order to draw the toggle against the interior of the wall, turn the screw clockwise using a screwdriver. Just continue to tighten the screw until the screw head flush lies against the wood and strongly attach the wood to the stucco.  

How to Replace Sprinkler Valve

If you have a sprinkler, you should know that there will come a time for you to replace its valve. It’s typically located inside a valve box where there are four to five valves, there are some signs that can indicate that it’s the right time to replace it. To enlighten you, here are some of the signs that you should look after:

  • The sprinkler doesn’t easily turn on,
  • The leakage on the valve or sprinkler head, not allowing the sprinkler to turn off completely, and
  • Insufficient water goes to the sprinkler head.

Now, there are some things that you must do before and after buying a replacement valve.

Make sure that you choose the correct and exact replacement part for your sprinkler valve. You can do this by:

  • Making a list of the type and the size of the valve before buying; or
  • Removing the actual valve from the valve box and bringing it to the store.

Also, make sure to bring a PVC adapter or ask for one in the store just to see if it fits perfectly on your new valve. Typically, the PVC adapters have two different ends – one male-threaded end for the valve socket and one female slip-fit end for the PVC irrigation pipe. 

Speaking of PVCs, the job will also require you to do some works related to PVC by joining the PVC with solvent cement. 

Here are the actual steps for replacing the sprinkler valve:

  1. Turn off the water source. To do this, rotate the valve handle on the main supply pipe of the system. If the handle is perpendicular to the pipe, then the valve is securely closed. If you don’t have a direct shutoff for the sprinkler, turn the water off directly in the water meter or your house’s main shutoff.
  2. Disconnect the wiring. As you disconnect the wirings, make sure you remember the exact placement where the low-voltage wires are attached because you should also do it the exact way for your new valve. You can do this by taking a photo of the wiring before removing it.
  3. Remove the old valve. With a hacksaw, a reciprocating saw, or a PVC pipe cutter, cut through the PVC irrigation pipes just below the old PVC adapters. Make sure you do this as close as possible to maintain the pipe’s length. With this, your replacement valve will be just a little lower than the one replaced. Then, remove the plastic burrs with a utility knife or sandpaper. Make sure that no debris gets into the pipes. 
  4. Prep the new valve. Use a plumber’s tape to install the new PVC male on the replacement sprinkler valve. Wrap it around the threaded end of each adapter and thread it into a valve socket. Then, tighten the adapters with tongue-and-groove pliers. Make sure you don’t overdo this to avoid cracked plastic parts. 
  5. Install the new valve. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for the PVC. You will need a PVC primer and solvent glue to apply on the insides and outside pipe ends of the female adapter sockets. Then, fit the replacement valve to the pipes by pushing it down until it fits snugly on the adapter sockets. Let it dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 
  6. Attach the wires back and test. Now, use the picture you took of the wirings earlier and apply it to the new valve. Slowly turn the shutoff to turn the water on. As the water run, check for any leakages or faults. To ensure that the wire works just fine, check if the timer works with the new valve. 

That’s it! You can now enjoy your sprinkler without any leakages and other faulty functions. If this has helped you with your problems, don’t hesitate to share this with others!

How to Turn on Sprinkler System

After the harsh winter season, comes springtime. Depending on where you live in the United States, reopening your sprinkler systems might be during early spring in the South, and later in the North. The estimated time is to assure that the occurrence of freezing sprinkler pipes will not happen. 

And so, how do you open your sprinkler system for springtime? This post is to help you open up your sprinklers without problems. Follow these steps, and you’ll have your sprinklers running!

1. Investigate the lawn first

The first thing you need to do is to determine if the sprinkler system is ready to operate again for the spring season. By checking the ground beneath if it’s still frozen, you can prevent the scenario of having broken pipes and other damaged components, which can end up with costly repairs. 

Begin by digging up soil at a remote area in your yard. The depth should be at least 1 foot deep. If the ground beneath is still frozen, that means you have to postpone your plans to reopen the sprinkler system. Wait for a few weeks until the soil beneath is not frozen anymore.

2. Turn on the control panel

Once the ground is not frozen anymore, you can now open up the sprinkler system! Before that, you need to do some things first. First, locate the control panel installed outdoors. Open it up, and check the settings to determine if there are changes or you want to make changes. Replace the batteries of back-up power if it has one, if all of those are past six months old.

3. Inspect the sprinkler heads

Before opening up the main valves, you should check the condition of the sprinkler heads first. Otherwise, it will cause problems like uneven irrigation in some areas in the lawn later on. Make sure almost all the sprinkler valves are closed, except the one far away from the water source since that’s where the stuck-up air from the pipes will come out. Then, inspect the sprinkler heads one by one. If the nozzles have obstructions, then brush it off with an old toothbrush. 

4. Open up the main water supply valve slowly

Once the visual inspection of sprinkler heads is over, it’s time to open up the main water supply valve gradually. Suddenly opening up the main valves will cause the pipes and valves to suffer extensive damage due to sudden and immense build-up of pressure. 

The proper way to do this is to slightly open up the main valve (preferably about ¼ of full opening), to reintroduce water into the pipes. The gradual opening will also force out the air at the open sprinkler head at the farthest distance from the main valve. Wait for several minutes, then gradually open in intervals of every few minutes until fully opened.

5.  Check for any problems while the sprinkler system is running

While your sprinkler system is now operational for its first watering in springtime, use this as an opportunity to detect unseen problems. Begin by using the control panel to open up one zone at a time and check if there are unusual occurrences like malfunctioned sprinkler heads. The instance of a water stream coming out of sprinkler heads at low pressure is a possible indication of a damaged water supply pipe. 

To verify if it’s a damaged water supply pipe, maintain the water supply at the zone to see if an area in that zone becomes soggy. If it occurs, turn off the main water supply and replace the broken pipe. 

There might also be instances where some sprinkler head’s spray pattern is unusual. Which is why, noting which sprinkler heads need adjustments during the first watering is crucial. 

After resolving the issues that occurred in the first run, do another run and see if there are other issues. If everything is now okay, then it’s good to run until before winter.

And with that, you can now turn on your sprinkler systems by yourself! If you think this has helped you, then please don’t hesitate to share this with others!

How Much Does A Sprinkler System Cost

There are several reasons why you would want to purchase a sprinkler system. 

First, it’s convenient. If you have a sprinkler system, there’s no need to drag the garden hose around and spend time watering the lawn. 

Second, it’s efficient. Having a sprinkler system will mean uniform and complete coverage of lawn watering in a short period thanks to its programmable features.

Third, it’s eco-friendly. And I don’t just mean ecological, but also economical! Its efficiency prevents water wastage, which also saves money from costly water bills.

With all that said, how much would a sprinkler system cost? 

For this post, we will elaborate on the cost of a sprinkler system, and the comparison of cost between residential and commercial use.

Cost of an Automatic Sprinkler System 

Using an automatic sprinkler system is a wise choice, especially if your house has a large lawn. There would be no need to walk around with a garden hose in hand, which will consume time that otherwise, you can use for other chores. Not only that, by adjusting and programming the sprinkler system, it will automatically uniformly water the lawn, which will prevent some areas from being oversaturated with water. You can leave it to function for three seasons, until it needs to be winterized for the winter season.

Based on the statistics from Home Advisor, purchasing an automatic sprinkler system costs $2,630 on average for a 1/4-acre yard, which is the average lawn size in the entire United States. However, the general lawn area still varies from state to state. 

The provided cost of the automatic sprinkler system includes the controller, which is priced from $10 to $325 on average. The most expensive options are generally smart controllers and ones that can be adjusted from your phone, which allows you to take control of the system even if you are far away from home.

Commercial-use vs. Residential-use Sprinkler System

However, the cost of the commercial use automatic sprinkler system is different than that of residential use. It’s because the expenses for a commercial irrigation system is generally higher than a residential one thanks to the larger pipes, more powerful equipment, and extra-durable materials used, to cover an even larger area. The actual price for each project is dependent on the size of the job and the number of zones required to cover the entire place. Talk to a pro for an accurate estimate to install commercial irrigation.

Above-ground vs. Underground Sprinkler System

Now, let’s compare the difference in pricing when it comes to sprinklers that run above the ground, which is the drip irrigation and the underground one, which is the automatic sprinkler system. The price of a drip irrigation system is from about $1,800 to $2,500 per acre. That is according to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. As expected, the expenses are a fraction of the traditional option, which costs about $10,280 per acre on average, which is much more economical.

If you can afford to purchase and install a sprinkler system for your lawn, make sure you do! Having one will cut time and expenses.

How to Repair Sprinkler Line

Despite the unimaginable amount of convenience that sprinkler systems have brought to homeowners across the world thanks to their intuitive and nearly human intervention-free function, they are not without their fault. As wonderful inventions of the 21st century as sprinkler systems may be, they are still susceptible to damage from all sorts of reasons.

Perhaps the most common issue that you may face would be a blown sprinkler line or a leak in the pipes. This is a problem that’s plagued residential and commercial owners alike for decades, and the troubleshooting and fix for it may appear to be too intimidating for the average homeowner.

I can assure you, though, that fixing this issue is as easy as can be. Let’s begin with what to prepare.

Materials and Tools

Here are a couple of tools and materials that you’ll be needing and using this endeavor. Be sure to prepare them all beforehand so as to make the entire process as seamless as can be.

  1. Hand Trowel
  2. Cloth
  3. Hacksaw
  4. Band Clamp
  5. Slip Coupling
  6. Screwdriver

Step 1: Finding the Leak

The first thing that you should do is to locate where the actual broken pipe. This can be done in several ways, all of which will require a lot of your patience because you will have to be looking for damaged pipes below ground.

Regardless, they’re relatively easy to spot so long as you look for irregularly wet sections of the soil. Check and see the puddle in it If you can see bubbles flowing from up underground, indicating that the water in the puddle is coming from underground.

Step 2: Dig, dig, dig!

After you’ve found the problem site, first turn off the sprinkler system to stop the leak. Then, with your hand trowel, dig very carefully around the area where you suppose the broken section of the pipe would be. Lift the sections of soil up and set it aside until you can very clearly see the pipe that has leakage. Clear a bit of the soil around it so you can move and work on it freely.

Use the cloth or any other rag to clean the pipe from any debris before you begin tinkering on it.

Step 3: Fixing Time

Now is the actual time to fix the leak. With the hacksaw, cut the section of your pipe that’s broken clean off, making sure that the slip coupling you have will fit in it. Then, place the band clamps on each cut end of the pipeline.

Insert the slip coupling and use the screwdriver to finish the job by tightening the band clamp and sealing the pipe.

Step 4: Job Well Done!

The last thing you’ll have to do—before you cover everything up to return it to how it looked before—is to turn on the sprinkler and check for a leak. That way, while the pipe is still exposed, you can see and make sure you’ve done a good job. Once everything is a-okay, return the soil to where it once was and tidy everything up—good as new!

How to Winterize Your Sprinkler System

To winterize means that you have to prepare something for the upcoming winter season. The sprinkler system is no exception. After working it’s hardest on the summer season, it’s time to put it to rest during the winter season. It’s because winter will cause the water inside your sprinkler system to freeze, which in turn, will cause damage and rupture to your water pipes, valves, and fittings. That’s why it’s crucial that before winter, you’ve already winterized your sprinkler system.

And so, how do you winterize your sprinkler system? There are two processes you need to do to put your sprinkler system to rest during winter, and those are:

Rid the sprinkler system of water by manual draining.

To do so, you need to shut off the backflow valves that prevent the water in the sprinkler system to backflow into the house water system, and then open the manual draining valve of the sprinkler system. With this, the water inside the sprinkler system will flow out by itself. However, since the underground pipes of the system is subject to shifting over time due to various reasons, there might be leftover water that cannot be removed with this process. That’s why you need to the next process to completely drain the sprinkler system of water.

Use an air compressor to remove the remaining water inside the sprinkler system.

You need to do this to remove the leftover water inside the system. However, caution must be exercised at using the air compressor since it might cause irreversible damage to the sprinkler system. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Make sure the backflow valves are shut off first.
  2. Turn off the water supply valve for the sprinkler system.
  3. Set the system timer to open just one zone.
  4. Remove the plug at the blow-out port and insert the air compressor hose adaptor.
  5. Plug the other end of the hose adaptor to the air compressor.
  6. Proceed to blow out the remaining water out of the sprinkler in the zone. Release the air pressure once the head of the sprinkler comes out and begins releasing water. This is to prevent the tiny plastic gears inside the sprinkler head from being damaged.
  7. Once done, open up another zone and redo number 6.
  8. Once the entire sprinkler system is free of leftover water, remove the hose adaptor and seal the blow-out port with its plug.

Keep in mind a few things before doing this process. If you have an irrigation plan, check the respective output of each zones (in gallons per minute or GPM in short) then divide the values to 7.5 to see how much airflow in CFM you’ll need to blow out water without damaging the pipes in the zone. Or just use a 10 CFM (cubic feet per second) air compressor instead. Then set the air compressor’s pressure regulator to a maximum of 50 psi for the flexible black polyethylene pipe or 80 psi for rigid PVC pipe.

And with that, your sprinkler system is now ready for the oncoming winter season! If you think these tips have helped you winterize your sprinkler system, don’t hesitate to share this with others!

How to Remove Rust from Concrete

No one likes seeing rust stains on their driveway or sidewalk, and it can be a mystery to some people how these stains came to be there. Rust stains can easily form on any surfaces, including concrete. 

When metal gets wet, it goes under chemical processes and creates rust, and it can leave rust stains onto your concrete surfaces. Whatever cause it may come from, rusts can tarnish your home’s appearance.

It is important to keep in mind that rust stains that have been on the concrete may take a longer time before it can be cleaned. With that being said, we will break this tutorial into two parts: removing minor rust stains and removing major rust stains. If you do not know how long the stain has been on your concrete, you can start treating it using processes from removing minor stains. If it does not work, you can move on to treatment using processes from removing major stains. Let’s get started.

Minor Rust Stains

  1. Start by cleaning the concrete using soap and water. This process will wash away surface-level grease or dirt that may prevent the acid from removing rust. Simple dish soap should do the trick.
  2. After cleaning the surface, you may start adding pure lemon juice. Don’t use a diluted one, as the stronger the acid, the better it can remove stains. Once you’ve soaked the stain with lemon juice, leave it that way and let it sit.
  3. Once you’ve let the lemon juice sit, you may now start brushing the stain away. If you are worried that you might strip off your paint, you can always use a nylon brush or any delicate brush. If your wall is extremely delicate, you can use a sponge; however, it might not be as effective.
  4. After doing all of these, rinse the spot with water and let it dry. If it still has some stain residue, go at it again using the same process, but now adding some stronger acids, like white vinegar.

Major Rust Stains

If the lemon and vinegar process just won’t cut it, try a commercial rust cleaner instead.

When looking for a rust remover, look for a product that contains oxalic acid, as this ingredient will get the job done. Another acid to look for is the trisodium phosphate. However, when this acid was left sitting on the concrete for too long, it might turn the concrete blue.

When working with acids, make sure that you are wearing the right gears and equipment, as acids can harm our skin.

By process, it is most likely just the same with the minor stain processes, however, you will now use powerful rust cleaners instead of lemon juice and vinegar. 

  1. Clean the surface using soap and water.
  2. After cleaning the surface, this is when you will put the rust remover. Apply thoroughly and generously. Let it sit for a while and let the stain fully absorb it.
  3. After letting it sit, this is where you can start scrubbing the stain away. The brush that you need to use will depend on how sensitive your paint is.
  4. After doing these, if there are still stubborn stain marks, just use a pressure washer. If it still can’t remove it fully, repeat the process all over.

How to Patch Stucco

Your stucco walls might be bothersome for you if you see that it has cracks or holes. Even if it needs low maintenance, like other things, it will need a repair if it is damaged. Doing that will be pretty easy. Here is how you can do it.


Before doing anything, the best step is to inspect your wall first. Try and look at the damage and see its depth and how serious it is. Most stucco cracks are only on the surface and does not affect structural integrity. You may also look for holes that might not be too obvious, but also needs repair.

Repairing Tiny Holes

Patching holes in your stucco wall is easy, as long as they are tiny. That is why inspection is important, to see if you can do repairs yourself or if you need the help of an expert. You will need to prepare the following materials:

  • wire brush
  • caulking
  • caulk gun
  • protective equipment

To start the process, pet your caulking and cut the tip at an angle. Make sure that the opening is as small as possible, so it is easy to put it inside the hole. Before applying anything, clean the area first using a wire brush or blow into the hole to get rid of dust and debris inside. After that, you may load your caulking gun with caulking and fill up the hole. Check if there are gaps and get rid of them. Do not overfill the hole, just make sure it has enough caulking. Allow it to cure entirely. The caulking may shrink a little after it dries, but do not worry as this will work to your advantage. Apply a second layer of caulking and try to imitate the rough finish of the wall. After it fully cures, you may paint over it to hide the repair.

Repairing Hairline Cracks

Another common problem you might have is cracks in your stucco. They are quite easy to fixe. Here are the materials you will need:

  • Sponge
  • A bucket of water
  • caulking gun
  • caulking

Clean the crack first and the area around it using a sponge and a bucket of water. Remove any grime or dirt buildup that may affect the adhesion of the caulking. Dampen the area before applying the sealant. Next, you may fill the crack with caulking. Avoid gaps for a better job. Spread it evenly, and clean up the excess. Let it cure entirely. You may do another layer as the caulking might shrink, and you may use it to imitate the texture of the area. You will need to use a brush or sandpaper. Ensure that everything will have enough time to dry. With repairing cracks, the outcome might be too obvious, so you may repaint the area if you want. It is up for you to decide.

If you think that the problem is too much for you to handle. You may always call an expert to help out. Surely, there will always be a repairman ready to aid you. 

How to Remove Paint from Concrete

Paint makes our house brighter and beautiful insight. it sometimes defines our personality just by looking at the colors that we choose. But what if the paint accidentally spilled on the surface? That’s not a problem!

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to remove paint from concrete:

First step: 

Clean the surface. To remove all the dirt and debris, First, prepare a mixture of soap and water or a Trisodium Phosphate (It is a cleaning agent that is advisable to use for tough cleaning jobs.) Just dilute it with water but also, be careful about using it because it is so potent. Just to be sure, wear hand gloves. Second, sweep off all the dirt and debris, you may also remove the loose paint as much as possible. Lastly, use the soapy water or diluted trisodium phosphate to scrub it off with a brush. Rinse it and allow one to three hours for the surface to dry. 

Second step: 

Use chemical paint strippers. After doing the first step, some paint started to loosen or chip that you may scrape or peel it away. You may use a scraper or a knife in doing it. Now, get the chemical paint stripper. But before using it, make sure to wear appropriate protective gear like a mask, gloves, and long sleeves. The chemical paint stripper that you will use may vary depending on the type of paint that you are trying to remove. If you are uncertain about what to use, oil-based paint stripper will be your best option. Apply a generous layer of paint stripper.

Third step:

Leave it and let the chemical do its job. A Chemical reaction will take place and do its job to remove the excess paint on the surface. Of course, it will take time for the chemicals to take effect so check the instructions given by the manufacturer. It is usually seen at the side of the can. Mostly, this is for about one to eight hours.

Fourth step: 

Scrub and clean it again. You may use wire srub and scraper to remove the paint. To remove all traces, use a pressure washer. It is okay to repeat the procedure. Now, if it still has traced, use the paint stripper for the second or third time. It is sometimes needed to thoroughly remove the paint.

You had the huge paint spilled on the surface? No problem!

You only have to do the same step-by-step guide but with a little difference. Instead of just using a pain stripper and pressure washer, get a ground clay powder. It is an absorbent material that is useful in absorbing that paint on the surface. Doesn’t have ground clay but you have cute little cats in the house? Problem solved! You may use kitty litter. Just pulverized it and you are all set!

For this procedure, just follow the first step on the guidelines above then let’s proceed for the guides on using this another mixture.

First step: Make a paste. Mix the stripper and absorbent material. Make sure that it is not too watery nor too gooey.

Second step: Apply it on a surface. Apply a generous amount of the mixture then spread it. It takes time for the stripper to work so allow 20 minutes to an hour. Make sure to add thinner to the mixture now and then during the process to keep the mixture active. 

Third step: Scrape off the paste. The chemical reaction brought by the mixture has done the work for you. Scrape it using a scraper or a knife. If there’s a remaining paint on the surface, repeat the process.

Fourth step: Now, scrub and clean it again. You may use wire scrub and soapy water to remove the excess particles.