Drip, drip, drip . . .  It has to be one of the most annoying noises to a homeowner. Other than leaving a rag at the bottom of the shower, how do you fix it?! While installing a new shower will fix the problem, it isn’t always the most cost effective for everyone. So, the shower experts at Janssen Glass & Door did their homework to help you fix that dreaded drip! Most single-handle, cartridge-style faucets can be repaired in an hour or less with basic tools. You’ll need a 4-in-1 screwdriver and an adjustable wrench. Here’s how to do it:

Remove the Shower Handle Cap

First things first, turn off the water supply to your shower. Turn off the water at the fixture shutoff valves or at your home’s main valve. Next, pry off the handle cap so that the internal handle screw is exposed.

Take out the Cartridge

Next, pull off the stop tube. Pry up the cartridge retaining clip with a small screwdriver. Remove the handle washer and then twist the cartridge stem loose and pull it out with pliers. Virtually every faucet manufacturer has a different method of securing the cartridge to the faucet body. Look for a clip or spring and remove it. Cartridges are often difficult to pull out. Some manufacturers include a removable cap with new cartridges. Align the cap with the old cartridge ears and try to twist the cartridge loose. Then pull it out with pliers.

Look on the handle or trim for the faucet brand or manufacturer. Take the old cartridge with you to a plumbing parts store or a home center to find an exact replacement. A sales associate at a plumbing parts store may be able to identify the brand and model from a photo.

Related Read: Remodeling Your Bathroom is a Safe Investment

Install the New Cartridge

Turn the hex screw by hand until it bottoms out. Snug up the hex nut by hand and tug on the cartridge puller handle. If the cartridge won’t pull out, hold the puller handle steady and tighten the hex nut two full turns. Pull the cartridge out of the faucet body. Buy an identical replacement cartridge, align it properly and reassemble the parts.

And that’s it! Some faucets will require different instructions. In that case, it’s best to contact the manufacturer. If you decide it’s just time to get rid of that old shower and faucet, contact Janssen Glass & Door at (913) 677-5727. We can help make the new bathroom of your dreams a reality.

One of the latest interior design trends that has caught fire is gallery walls. A gallery wall is comprised of several pieces of wall art (mirrors, paintings, photographs, objects, etc.) arranged in an appealing or provoking manner on one wall. Whether the point of the gallery wall is create balance or draw your eye to a certain view, you can make this trend work in your home with your favorite custom mirror from Janssen Glass & Door. You can even create a gallery wall with all mirrors! Be sure to pick mirrors of different sizes, reflective properties, and styles for the most interesting wall.

Pick a Focal Point

When creating a gallery wall for your Kansas City area home, be sure to pick a point of focus. Using a custom mirror makes a great focus for your gallery. The reflective properties of mirrors make for a great juxtaposition to matte paintings and objects.  

Related Read: How to Use an Oversized Mirror to Make a Room Appear Larger

Create Balance

Next, decide how to balance your gallery wall. A great idea is to lay out all the pieces on the ground just below the wall to see what it will look like. Play around with it to find the right balance. All pieces on both sides of the focus point don’t have to be completely balanced in size and placement for it to look right, though. Think of it more in terms of overall mass on either side of the focus of the wall.

And if your room isn’t quite balanced, with more furniture on one side than the other, use an unbalanced gallery wall to create a visual balance to it.

Once you know exactly how you want the gallery wall to hang, outline all of the pieces with construction paper and tape them to the wall where you want to hang each piece. This will make hanging the wall much less stressful.

Be Creative

When it comes down to it, a gallery wall is meant to be creative. There are no hard and fast rules. Show off your most visually provoking and captivating art pieces that will draw visitors’ eyes to your gallery wall. Then, continue to add to it over the years. It’s like a supersized scrapbook for your life that’s always on display.

Call Janssen Glass & Door today at (913) 677-5727 to help you create the perfect custom mirror piece for your gallery wall.