| How to Repair Wall Cracks Posted: 10 Oct 2018 01:00 AM PDT Being a homeowner comes with its fair share of maintenance and repair projects, many of which - like fixing minor cracks in the wall - you can do yourself at home. Whether you're dealing with drywall, plaster, or concrete, it's possible to repair cracks in just a few hours with a handful of basic materials. EditFixing a Crack in Drywall - Buy prepared joint compound or mix it yourself. If you buy it premade, look for all-purpose compound which can be used for all coats. If you make your own, use setting-type compound powder and follow the instructions provided on the container.[1] All of these compounds can be found at a hardware store.
- Setting-type compound powder is more difficult to sand and to prepare properly so it is not the best option for beginners.
- Cut a V-notch along the crack. The "V" shape will help keep the compound in place.[2]
- Remove any debris inside the crack with a vacuum hose or by simply scraping it out.
- Apply coats of joint compound over the crack. Use a putty knife. Let the compound dry completely between coats. Layer on as many coats as necessary to fill the crack. The average is 3 coats.[3]
- Depending on what type of compound you use, it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 24 hours to dry.[4]
- If the cut is deeper than , you may need to press a strip of mesh or paper tape into the first layer of compound before it dries to better seal the crack.[5]
- Thinner coats are ideal as they're easier to sand down to match the wall once dry.[6]
- Sand the dried joint compound with medium-grit sandpaper. Use a sanding block to smooth out the section to the flatness of the wall. Always wear a dust mask when sanding to avoid inhaling particles.
- 80-grit (medium-grit) sandpaper can eliminate larger bumps whereas a finer 120-grit can be used for finishing touches.[7]
- One option is to sand in between coats to avoid having to sand as much at the end.[8]
- Paint over the crack with latex primer followed by wall paint. If you don't use primer first, your patched area won't blend in properly with the rest of the wall.[9]
- The exception to this is if you used a paint and primer in one. Then you only need a coat or two of the paint directly on the affected area.
EditRepairing a Plaster Wall Crack - Press gently on the wall near the crack to see if it gives. If it's easy to press down or if the wall flexes at all, the plaster has likely come apart from the lath.[10] This requires reattaching the two together and cannot be fixed by a simple patch job. Contact a professional for help.
- Widen the crack using a putty knife if it's less than wide. It sounds counterproductive but scoring (lightly scratching) the crack creates a wider surface for the joint compound to more easily adhere to.[11]
- Spread a coat of joint compound over the crack. Do so with a taping knife. Use a setting-type compound instead of drywall compound as it is stronger and can affix to plaster more securely.[12] Apply in thin layers.
- Dampening the crack before applying the compound will remove any loose particles and help the compound hold better.
- Press fiberglass mesh tape firmly into the wet compound over the crack. Cut the strips to size with scissors. This self-adhesive tape will prevent the crack from growing.[13] Let dry.
- For the setting-type compound to dry thoroughly, your room should be between .[14]
- Apply 3 layers of compound over the taped area. Let each coat dry completely in between. With each additional layer, extend the compound another outside the previous layer's edges. Your last layer should extend beyond the original area.[15] Lightly sand each layer with a fine sandpaper to remove bumps in between coats.
- Use a feathering technique when applying the compound. With the knife at a 70-degree angle, start at the center and pull the knife to the outside edges of each coat, increasing pressure the further away from the middle you get.[16]
- Paint over the patched area to match the rest of the wall. If you can see a raised section where you did your repair, sand it flush to the wall before painting so it blends seamlessly.
- It's smart to wait at least 24 hours prior to painting to ensure the compound is completely dry.[17]
EditFilling a Crack in a Concrete Wall - Enlarge the crack with a chisel and hammer. A technique known as undercutting (which is essentially chipping away at the concrete) should be done to below the edges of the crack. This provides more surface area for the patching material to grip.[18]
- Clean debris from the crack using a wire brush. A vacuum can also help get rid of dust, pieces of concrete, or dirt lurking in the crack. Rinse it with water and dry thoroughly with a towel.
- If you don't have a wire brush, a flat head screwdriver or air compressor will work.[19]
- Prime the area with a concrete bonding adhesive. This will help the patching material adhere better to the concrete. You'll want to use an old paintbrush to spread a thin layer around the edges and deep into the crack.
- Apply multiple coats of concrete patching with a putty knife. Press each layer into the crack and let dry completely in between coats. Repeat until the crack is filled and level with the rest of the wall.
- You can also use a pointed trowel if you don't have a putty knife. This is good for pushing the patching into the crack.
- Add texture to the patched area before it dries. Matching new concrete to old concrete is difficult because it's so smooth. Rough the last layer up with a broom or any tool while it's still wet to make it look more worn.[20]
- Sealing the patch with a heavy-duty water-based polyurethane with a brush can prevent stains and other marks.[21]
- If cracks are long or very deep, the repair process is much more involved and beginners may want to hire a professional.
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| How to Take a Mental Health Day Without Feeling Guilty Posted: 09 Oct 2018 05:00 PM PDT Medical experts claim that in order to remain productive and perform, workers should take a mental health day every now and then. However, most people still feel guilty being away from work to rest their brain. Here are a few steps to take that much needed day off without adding guilt and pressure. EditIdentifying The Need For A Day Off - Think about your sleeping pattern. Whether you've experienced nightmares that have been waking you up at night or overall insomnia, a disrupted sleeping pattern can signal stress and a feeling of anxiety. Monitor your sleep in the last six weeks. Have you noticed a difference? Do you sleep significantly less?
- Use sleeping pills with caution. Their usefulness is debated and there are accidental deaths linked to them. Never use them without talking to your doctor.
- There are several reasons for which you might not sleep. Make sure your mattress is good and your bedroom dark. You should also talk about your sleeping problems with your doctor. You might be suffering from a condition such as sleep apnea.[1]
- Reflect on your stress tolerance. You don't deal with stress as well as you used to and you feel more fragile. Each deadline is a source of major anxiety and you don't know how to cope anymore. If you notice a negative evolution in your stress tolerance, it's probably time to act.
- A lower tolerance to stress than usual is usually a sign of exhaustion or burnout.[2]
- Don't feel guilty and don't lose faith in your ability to work if you're more stressed than usual. We all have ups and downs.
- If you work in an abusive environment where the boss is using stress as a tool to increase productivity, a day off will not help. You should talk to your trade-union or HR and see if the law is on your side.
- Discuss with your family and friends. Those who know you the best, your family and friends, will probably notice if you're in desperate need for a break. Talk with them about your stress and ask them for their opinion. If you have a strong relationship, they will give you the best advice.[3]
- Remember that communication is fundamental in a relationship. If you have been fighting with your partner recently, explain that you feel pressurised at work and are struggling. Let your partner express his/her feelings too. It's important to realise that a stressed person is difficult to live with.[4]
- Check that you're not suffering from a serious condition. A day off is ideal to relax but not enough when you have a serious physical or mental condition. You should talk to a doctor or a specialist if you suspect a depression or any other health issue.
- Identify the signs. If you feel sad and down for weeks or months, you might be depressed. Depression is a real illness and has nothing to do with being weak.[5]
- If you notice any unusual symptom, such as a rapid loss of weight, go immediately to your doctor.
EditPlanning Your Day In Advance - Identify the right day. Plan your mental health day during a slow time at work. Make sure your day off doesn't bring stress on others. Check the calendar and your schedule to ensure your day off works for everyone.
- Pick a Friday or a Monday if you don't work during the week-end. Three days without working can do miracles.
- Plan with your boss and colleagues. Instead of saying that you are stressed, just tell your boss that you have a few important personal appointments or matters to address and would like the day off from work.
- Be calm and confident in your approach and reassure him/her that you will have your work covered and/or deadlines met in time.
- Don't pretend to be sick. If your boss doesn't believe you, you might be in trouble.
- Don't tell co-workers or clients that you need a mental health day. Some people are unfortunately intolerant toward health issues.
- Find a co-worker to back you up if there is an emergency at work and you're needed.
- Consult with human resources to figure out how to categorize your day off. In some cases, the company may have actual mental health days built into your benefits - another reason why you should not feel guilty.
- Ask your family for peace. You might want to make the day off about you and only you. It shouldn't be about fetching the little one at school or buying nappies. Discuss the planning in advance and make sure that everybody will respect your peace and quiet.
- Offer to do more for the household before or after your day off to compensate. The key is respect and understanding.
- Tell your family not to call you on your mental health day, except in case of emergency.
- If you want, it's also perfectly fine to spend your day with your family. It's all about what you want!
- Determine what you will do in advance. You want to make sure that your day off work is as relaxing as possible. A bit of preparation will help considerably. Make sure that you have all you need in advance. You don't want to get stuck in a line at the supermarket's cashier on your day off.
- Make a list the day before and go buy what you need. Buy the essential, such as food and drinks, but don't forget things that might make you happy.
- Make a schedule of your day and fit in priority what you would really want to do.
- Create a good resting environment. It's better not to have any work at hand for your day off. Leave everything at your office place. Turn off your phone and avoid your emails.[6] Make a resolution that you will not work and truly commit to taking your mental health care day seriously.
- If you want to keep your phone turned on, make sure to turn off the emails to avoid any temptation.
EditMaking The Most Of Your Day Off - Catch up on sleep. If you've been exhausted or not sleeping, your day off should be spent in bed, resting your body and brain. You don't need to sleep the whole time if you don't want to, but you should definitely allow yourself to rest a few more hours than usual.[7]
- Don't forget to disconnect the alarm.
- Once you're awake, take a long and warm bath to relax your muscles.
- If doing chores and housework will make you feel a little saner on your day off, go for it. A mental health day doesn't mean that you have to just sit around relaxing. In some cases, restoring order to your surroundings will bring you to a place of peace.
- Go for a nice meal. You've been working so much that you have eaten your sandwiches in front of your computer for the last four months. It's time to go to a restaurant and enjoy a lazy lunch with a friend.
- Go for a healthy meal and don't eat too much if you don't want to feel sleepy during the whole afternoon.[8]
- Relax your body. Office work is stressful for the body and the spirit. There are several activities which will allow your muscles to stretch and your mind to relax. Here are a few suggestions:
- There's nothing like sport to make you spend some energy and stretch in a fun way. Try to pick a sport you like and avoid injuries!
- Go for a massage to feel truly relaxed and pampered.
- Aromatherapy is a good alternative. It is relatively cheap and can make you feel very good.
- Reconnect with friends and family. If work has taken you away from the ones you love, spend the day making time to be with those important folks. For example if you've been working endless hours, seven days a week and haven't had a chance to spend time with your daughter, plan an entire day around what she wants to do.
- You can also combine a few nice activities at the same time. Why not having a go at a good restaurant with your friends before heading for a massage with your family?
- Avoid any guilt. If you're a workaholic, you will probably feel uncomfortable or guilty during your day off. Brush this feeling aside. Everybody deserves a day off once in a while and should be allowed to relax.
- Remember that you need to care for yourself in order to continue being a productive worker and present parent/ family member.
- Things at the office will not fall apart if you're gone for one day.
- Getting a break can help you refuel and regain creativity to approach new problems.
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| How to Drink Matcha Green Tea Posted: 09 Oct 2018 09:00 AM PDT Using matcha is a great way to upgrade your tea time! Native to Japanese culture, matcha is powdered tea that's packed with antioxidants useful for boosting metabolism and preventing cancer, among other health benefits. It's quite simple to make. The basic method is to add boiled water to a small bowl with a bit of matcha in it. After carefully whisking the tea, it's ready to drink![1] EditMaking Matcha Green Tea the Traditional Way - Boil 3/4 cup (180 ml) of water and pour it into your matcha bowl. A matcha bowl is a traditional tea drinking bowl of Japanese culture. It's small and usually doesn't have handles.[2]
- Whisk the hot water with a chasen. A chasen is a Japanese tea whisking tool made of bamboo.[3] This step warms up the bowl and softens the whisk's bamboo tines. As a result, the chasen becomes flexible and springy for effective whisking.
- Discard the hot water from the bowl. Dump it into the kitchen sink. Dry the inside of the bowl with a clean, dry cloth.
- Scoop 2 tsp (1.5 heaping teaspoons or 10 g) of matcha into a fine mesh strainer. If you use a chashaku, the scoop should be round. A chashaku is a Japanese tea ladle (also known as a teaspoon).[4] The matcha should reach the point where the chashaku starts to bend.
- For thin matcha ("Usucha" in Japanese), use 1 tsp. (5 g) of matcha and 2 oz. (60 ml) of boiling water.
- For thick matcha ("Koicha" in Japanese), use 2 tsp. (10 g) of matcha and 1.4 oz. (41.4 ml) of boiling water.
- Sift the matcha into your empty, dry bowl. This gets rid of the clumps. As a result, your tea will be smooth enough to enjoy drinking.[5]
- Pour boiling water into a teacup. Let the water cool down for a minute. Aim for 185F or 85C.[6]
- Add a small amount of hot water into the matcha bowl and whisk it. Take the chasen in one hand and the rim of the tea bowl in the other hand. Carefully blend together the matcha and hot water until you have a solid mixture.[7]
- For Usucha, whisk the matcha and hot water briskly. Move in a quick, back-and-forth motion as if you were drawing the letter W or M. Use your wrist instead of your arm. Whisk the surface of the tea when it has small bubbles until a thick froth appears.
- For Koicha, move in a slow kneading motion from left to right as well as up and down. Since you're not aiming for froth, gently rotate the whisk in a 360 motion to achieve a thick, smooth, and even consistency.
- Add the teacup water to the bowl until it's 1/3 full and continue whisking. Toward the end of whisking, draw a circle and move the chasen to the bowl's center to finish the whisking. The center will have a slightly higher fluffy foam as a result. Your matcha green tea is ready!
- Clean your utensils. You just need warm water and a dry, clean cloth for this step. Thoroughly rinse the chasen and matcha bowl with warm water after each use. Make sure you stand the chasen on its base so the tines are sticking up in the air. Just wipe off the chashaku with the cloth.
EditCrafting a Matcha Latte for Sweetness - Bring 3/4 cup (180 ml) of milk to a bare simmer in a small pot. You can use unsweetened almond milk, soy milk, rice milk, or cow milk. Make sure the small pot is over medium-high heat. Don't let it boil.[8]
- Bring 1/4 cup (60 ml) of water to a boil in a different pot at the same time.
- Add 1 tsp (5 g) of matcha in a heatproof cup. If you want thicker latte, add 2 tsp. (10 g). A heatproof cup can be a tea or coffee mug.
- Add in 1/4 cup (60 ml) of boiling water as you whisk it. Whisk in a slightly slow, rotating motion. For more froth, whisk in the shape of the letter M or W.[9]
- Use an electric hand whisker for a smooth and even consistency. Be careful not to whisk too fast with this tool.
- Pour in your milk and continue whisking. Slightly tip the cup to create more foam. Sweeten the tea with agave syrup if you'd like. Now, you can enjoy your matcha latte!
EditDrinking Matcha Beverages Properly - Drink your beverage at home. This is how the Japanese typically consume matcha green tea. Being in a comfortable environment adds to the calming effect the tea possesses.[10]
- Enjoy drinking throughout the day. The Japanese typically drink this tea in the morning, afternoon, and evening. It's a great way to achieve alertness early in the day and relaxation in the evening before bed. It won't keep you up at night.[11]
- Drink the beverage quickly. The powdered tea is a suspension. It will settle at the bottom if you let it sit for too long.
- Use a small bowl, not a mug. This is the traditional way to go. It's about the sensory experience of cupping the bowl in both of your hands, bringing it your nose, and breathing in the aroma. The dome shape of the bowl over the nose and mouth intensifies the aroma better than a mug.
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