Planning a Saint Patrick’s Day Party

It may be early in the year, but now is the time to start planning your spring get togethers! If you are planning on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a party, here is a handy timeline to follow!

Four Weeks Out

–       Create a budget

–       Choose a theme

–       Write a guest list

–       Choose a location

–       Send invitations

–       Decide on a menu (If you are cooking, make as much as you can ahead of time to minimize cooking on the party day! Make a timeline for cooking, freezing, thawing, reheating, etc.)

–       If it’s potluck, assign the dishes.

–       Order any extras you might need (cakes, pies, cupcakes, etc).

–       Confirm your rental items (plates, cups, glassware, coffee urns, tables, chairs, table linens, serving pieces, etc. Arrange for early delivery on party day.

–       If it is a large group, consider hiring help for kitchen, serving, or bartending.

Two Weeks Out

–       Confirm everything from 4 weeks out has been done

–       Assemble party favors, if desired.

–       Start compiling party music, games, and other entertainment.

One Week Out

–       Review menu preparation timeline: are you on target with make-ahead dishes?

–       Purchase non-perishable food items and candles, firewood, etc.

–       Finalize RSVPs.

Two Days Out

–       Make sure the venue is ready.

–       Purchase perishables such as meat, dairy, and produce.

–       Make sure camera is charged and ready.

One Day Out

–       Set table, decorate buffet, set-up the bar.

–       Purchase and arrange flowers and/or decorations.

Party Day

–       Purchase fresh seafood.

–       Buy party ice.

–       Take delivery of rented equipment.

–       Garnish party platters with fresh herbs, edible flowers, and fruit.

–       Eat something light before guests arrive.

–       Relax. Seriously. A relaxed host makes for happy guests.

–       Spin the tunes and greet your guests.

For help planning your next party, stop by and see the experts at Action Rental and Sales! We look forward to showcasing the wide variety of party rental items we have. From chairs to china to lighting to tents to linens and more we have everything you need to have the best event in town! Stop by our showroom at 1861 N. Eastman Road, visit our website or call us at 423-246-5181.

 

DIY Project – Installing Carpet

If you are like many, the New Year has brought you a new list of “To-Do” items. If installing carpet is one of those “To-Do’s” here is a list of instructions on how to do it! At Action Rental & Sales Equipment Division, we have the tools you need to turn your next “To-Do” item into a “Done” item!

Step 1: Determine the area of your room by measuring the longest walls in your room. Multiply the length and width, and divide by 9 to determine the square yardage. A helpful hint is to add 10 percent to allow for errors, irregularities and pattern matching.

Step 2: Make sure the surface to be carpeted is smooth and clean. Ensure any paint or joint compound has been scraped up. Finally sweep and vacuum the floor completely.

Step 3: If possible, remove any doors from the room so you will not have to work around them.

Step 4: Install the Tackless Strips by cutting the strips to size with a strip cutter or heavy snips. Next, nail the strips 1/2″ from the wall. Make sure you don’t install tackless strips across thresholds or doorways; the tacks on the strips are sharp and could poke through the carpet and hurt your feet. Tackless strips are available a variety of widths, thicknesses and heights.

Step 5: Lay out the carpet pad perpendicular to the direction you plan to install the carpet and staple it near the tackless strips with a staple hammer.

Step 6: Staple the seam of the pad, alternating staples so that they don’t end up beside one another. Make sure to stretch the padding so that the pieces are butted tightly together.

Step 7: Feel through the padding to locate the tackless strip. Then, use a utility knife to cut away the padding along the interior edge of the strip so that all the tacks are exposed.

Step 8: Notch corners for trimming by measuring the room at its longest point, and add 3″ to the measurement. Helpful Hint – Take the carpet outside if possible, and notch the back on both sides at the appropriate length.

Step 9: Roll the carpet with the back facing outward until the notched areas show. Next, make a chalk line that goes from notch to notch. Cut the back of the carpet along the chalk line, roll up the carpet, and take it back inside.

Step 10: Roll out the carpet into the room. Try to keep it as straight as possible and then cut away excess carpet. Make sure to leave about 3″ extra next to the walls.

Step 11: Where carpet edges join, you will need to create a seam. The seamed edges of both carpet segments must be straight. Helpful Hint – Make sure to check the edges. Don’t assume that a factory edge is straight.

Step 12: Place a piece of seaming tape under the seam, adhesive side up. Heat the seaming iron to the temperature recommended by the tape manufacturer, and rest it directly on the tape for 15 to 30 seconds. Next, slowly slide the iron along the tape, and press the seam into the melted glue behind the iron. After the pieces are joined, place heavy objects on the seam to hold it in steady as the glue dries. Seams need to run parallel to the room’s main light source. Helpful Hint – Make sure the pile of both pieces leans in the same direction.

Step 13: Make sure the carpet fits around obstacles. Use a carpet knife to trim if necessary.

Step 14: Attach the carpet to the tackless strips at one end of the room, using a knee kicker. Make sure to place the face of the knee kicker against the carpet about 3″ away from the wall, and then forcefully hit the padded end to stretch the carpet over the tackless strips.

Step 15: Trim excess carpet near the walls with a wall trimmer, which rests against the wall and provides a straight cut at the correct spot. Use a stair tool to press the cut edges underneath the baseboard trim.

Step 16: Attach the strips on the other side of the room using a power stretcher. For corners and alcoves where the power stretcher might not be able to reach, use the knee kicker and stair tool.

Step 17: Any areas where the carpet ends without abutting a wall, such as a threshold, you will need to nail a binder bar there. Stretch the carpet using the knee kicker tool in order to connect to the hooks in the binder bar. Next, use a wooden block or scrap piece of lumber to close the binder bar onto the edge of the carpet.

Step 18: When all the carpet is in place to your liking, cutout the vent openings.

For help with this and any other DIY project, come see the experts at Action Rental & Sales in Kingsport, Tennessee. We have the tools and expertise to help you finish your “To-Do” List. Stop by our showroom at 1861 N Eastman Road, visit our website or call us at 423-246-5181 for a complete listing of products and pricing.