Home Related Questions and Answers: 2012-12-09

Saturday, December 15, 2012

How to simply decorate the top of kitchen cabinetry that reaches the ceiling?

Q. My kitchen cabinets have this plain unopened wood area above the actual cabinetry. It actually looks like the retro version of lighted cabinetry most people use to display different things within. I am not into all this excessive clutter of Knic Knacs hanging in every area of space. There isn't much lighting in the small kitchen but I need some decoration that looks clean and simply yet sophisticated and elegant. Also, I am really clueless on how to decorate a section of the cabinets that extend over the kitchen bar area which is also apart of the kitchen/dining room combo. This massive wood area has left the place feeling undone. The two answers I am in need of will have to not include painting the wood!!

A. Of course you wouldn't paint all that beautiful wood! How about some moveabel lights? You know, where you can move the head of the light to wherever you want it to shine? Or track lighting? That would help with your lighting problem. Just a couple of nice vases or a decorative plate or two would do with out making alot of clutter. A simple viney plastic plant would work too. I think those look the best. Hope this helps alittle.

What two colors will work for a living room and a kitchen?

Q. My living room flows into my kitchen and there is a "bar" to separate the rooms. You are able to see into the kitchen so the colors cannot clash. My dilemma is what two colors will go well together or should I pick one color and do different shades? I have a rich brown, comfy couch in the living room with brown furniture and a neutral carpet. The kitchen has dark cabinets and counter tops, light floors, and the appliances are white. The kitchen table is glass and dark metal. Hope that helps!
Thanks!

A. To play off your brown furniture either a sage green or a warm golden color. From the same color strip at least two shades lighter for the kitchen. Considering the furniture and kitchen cabinetry are dark wood I would go for the golden/amber paint color.

What is the best way to repair the inside of my kitchen cabinet?

Q. I have two kitchen cabinets. One is under the counter top and the other under the sink. Both have floors made of some type of wood that has gone bad over the years, it was there when I moved in. They look like they got wet and feel damp sometimes. The parts that are dry feel velvety and when I use my duster I can brush some of it off. I don't know what this kind of damage is called. I just want to repair it and changing all the cabinets would not be worth it. We rent and we will be moving soon.

We want to repair them in a way that can isolate the whole cabinet under the sink and counter top as if we had installed new cabinets.

I hope I have been clear, not sure how to explain it better.

Thanks

A. The first thing to do is to fix whatever leaks you have, this can be a small leak so check thoroughly.
Cabinetry is basically box building. The floor or bottom is part of the structure that holds everything together. This is put in place by the use of dado cuts otherwise called grooves. You will need to remove the bad material completely. If you are able to remove the material in the groove then you can install nailer strips into the grooves using wood glue and screws. If you can't remove the material in the grooves. Then place the nailers at the joint line and attach with glue and screws.
Then you can insert a plywood bottom in place and screw down on the nailers.
NOTE this sounds easy but will require some Patience cutting everything to fit drain pipe, etc.

What color dining room table should I get for my nook?

Q. My entire kitchen cabinetry is oak wood that is stained a medium-mojagany. In my nook area, I have a ton of cabinetry in there, so I'm thinking if I try to match the table to the cabinets, it may be too much. I was thinking a lighter color table... does anyone have suggestions? It cannot be glass of any sort because we have 5 young kids that will use the table for each meal. Thanks in advance!

A. Go with something painted that coordinates with your kitchen outside of the cabinet color/grain -- cream, blue, green, yellow, red, or black. Or change materials -- get a metal and slate/tile table. Or, mix light and dark wood tones so it breaks up the look, but looks deliberate, not mismatched. Or go ahead and match your cabinets for the top of the table, but have the rest be metal or painted another color.

I have a split level home built in 1986. What changes can I make to update it and increase my resale value?

Q. Upper Level - 1 master with small 3/4 bath; 2 guest bdrms; 1 full bath
Mid Level - front room and kitchen
Lower Level - office; 3/4 bath; and family room with fireplace.

We recently had a new roof and siding put on and plan on landscaping the front for "curb-appeal" in the spring. In the meanwhile, we were hoping to get some ideas on how to spruce up the house DIY style.

Initial thoughts are:
1) Replacing vinyl flooring in all bathrooms with ceramic tile.
2) Refinishing kitchen cabinetry (their all wood)
3) Putting in laminate wood flooring in kitchen.
4) Replacing appliances (they're all probably 10 years old) if there's money left.

Any advice or other suggestions.

A. Kitchen remodel is your best "bang for the buck" people really look at the kitchen when looking for a home a up to date kitchen is your best option!

Learn kitchen cabinetry?

Q. I'm interested in learning kitchen cabinetry but don't know where to start. Any tips? I don't mind paying $ to take courses or working as a helper....

A. Check out the national kitchen and bath association's website. www.nkba.com. All the knowledge you need.

In high school do you go to the same classes with your home room or what?

Q. I remember in sixth grade we used to stick with our home room the entire day besides our elective class.

Is it like that in high school? Or do multiple kids from different classes go to a class at the same time as you? Then what about your home room class?

A. Well my high school year this year (9th grade) they made all 4 classes mix with each other for these lessons French , Gym , English , Math , Science. They have different sets like 1st , 2nd , 3rd and 4th. 1st is the top class (clever people) 2nd (slightly less clever) 3rd (Not so clever) and 4th(need some work,is the only way to say it). But they change the sets the people go in depending on how good they are at that lesson.

My home room class stays together for all the other classes, and no other people from the other 9th grade classes join our class.

no child left behind going to get my home room teacher?

Q. i got to a school for ppl who got kicked out of public. most of us have anger issues. are class room s are about 8 ppl each. my class has 3 ppl at the moment. 3 people have dropped out cause of are home room teacher and 1 has transferred to another class. shouldn't no child left behind do something if shes causing this many ppl to drop out this far in the year?

A. You have left yourself behind. All the students there have been kicked out of regular school and most have anger issues.

The problem is with the students and not the teacher.

Model home furnishings and decor?

Q. Is there a place where you can buy complete model home rooms (furnishings and decor)? I live in Southern California (Inland Empire). I've heard that there are model home furniture stores. I wonder if that's the furniture right from the model homes or just identical to it.

A. The best place to buy model home furnishings is at the STORE. Really. Go to the nicest "design furniture" stores (very high end ones) and you'll see that they sell off the model showroom pieces at great discounts. Each store has it's own policy , rates etc, but you can get some very nice stuff a great discounts simply because it was "modelled".

Where to buy solid wood home office furniture?

Q. My friend is redecorating his attic into a home office. Now he needs a nice set of furniture. What is the best place to buy a solid wood home office furniture. He doesn't deal with a limited budget, so it's OK if it not too cheap.

A. If you prefer retail stores, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Henredon, Ethan Allen, Drexel and Arhaus are all good places to search for.

Don't even think about super store, they sell cheap stuff. Not something you're looking for.

Also, check online stores - officefurniture.com, primeofficefurniture.com, everythingofficefurniture.com etc. There are really nice products there. Also, check out Amazon, there are always some good reviews there and you can see what buyers think of a praticular product.

If it doesn't have to be a new piece of furniture, try Craig List or ebay. Hope this helps.

How often does Staples office furniture go on sale?

Q. We're currently shopping for home office furniture and last week found a desk at Staples that we liked. It was significantly marked down as part of a sale. We didn't buy at the time (wish we had) as we were still shopping around for price and style. When we returned today the sale was over.

Could someone tell me how often Staples puts their office furniture on sale? Perhaps a current or former employee would be able to tell me.

Thanks.

A. They have a sale every 30 days. But not on everything. Ask to be put on their email list. They notify you in advance of the furniture sales. ( i don't work for them).

Or ask the store manager to call you when your exact items go on sale. She will call.

Has anyone had/have +/- experience with home office furniture made by Aspen Furniture?

Q. At Woodley's & Kacey Fine Furniture in the Denver metro area I have seen knicked/worn floor models of home office furniture made by Aspen Furniture. I am curious whether this is indicitive of the quality of the pieces and/or the manufacturer, or is it because the floor models have gotten moved around/abused at the store. The pieces are made out of hardwood & veneers. I REALLY like the collection & feel it is what I need & in my price range. However, I don't want to spend money on something that won't last but a couple years. Please advise!

A. dont care

Can a half of a can of interior paint that is out in the garage during freezing weather be used again?

Q. I started a project a month ago to paint some interior walls but I got too busy to finish, can I continue with interior paint that has been sitting in our garage in below freezing temperatures to work again? I was wondering if I need to go buy another can of the same paint instead of messing up and taking a risk of using what I have already started to uset. Can anyone help me before I begin the project again. HELP!
Just FYI...the paint is water based. Hope that helps when answering the question. Thanks! :)

A. There is no "set" answer to this, as paint comes in a vast number of chemical combinations, and it depends on the paint you have.

A very broad answer is that some water-based paints will not survive. Others will survive, but may dry with a flaky or loose finish when applied. Some will work nearly, or fully, as well as before.

Oil-based paints are harder to predict. The solvents will be undamaged, but the solids may congeal and become useless.

All you can do is to slowly thaw your paint indoors, (do NOT apply any heat to speed it up,) then try to mix it. If it mixes well, try it on a spare piece of material and let it dry for a few days, then examine it and rub it with a coarse cloth to test its staying ability.

Note

Once it is fully dry, compare the newly-painted piece with whatever you painted before, as the frozen paint may have acquired a colour shift.

Would painting over interior paint with exterior paint on an outside wall hold up in the elements?

Q. I was given the wrong paint while working on a project, and am now worried about the paint buckling because it is interior paint on an outside wall. Can I simply paint over it with exterior paint or would it still lead to buckling because of the binding in the interior paint?

A. Sorry to say but simply painting over the interior paint with an exterior paint will not work. The elements will break down the binding of the interior paint coating and start peeling or splitting both that coat and the exterior coat on top. How large was the area that you have to redo? The best thing is to remove the original layer of paint and re-paint. Unfortunately! You will be told that you can use other products or methods but none of them will work as well as stripping off that layer of interior paint.

Accidentally put interior paint on the exterior of my home?

Q. There was a mix up at the paint store I guess. There was existing exterior paint on the trim, I painted it today with interior paint - can I just put exterior paint over it or do I have to strip it off?

A. You should be ok, especially if the paint was oil/solvent based rather than water based. Whenever you choose to repaint there is no need to strip this off.

Why are the front doors of some homes painted red?

Q. Why are some front doors to peoples homes painted red??? Is this for good luck?

A. It's what they wanted.

How do you remove paint from ceramic tile?

Q. The previous owner of our home painted all the ceramic tile in the bathroom and now it is a peeling mess. Is there any way to remove this paint without damaging the tile?

A. try not to damage the tiles so use a putty knife or razor blade to scrape the offensive paint off the tile surface. use harsher abrasives only as the very last alternative. when the paint has been removed they may look very dull. so insted of replacing them you may want to try using some tile wax. this site has some very helpful advice if you plan to take that route

Removing paint overspray on interior home windows?

Q. we had the interior of our home painted several years ago and are planning on selling it now but there are some bad paint overspray sections from a paint gun on the sides of the interior windows. will paint thinner work or is there another way to do it? what about on the bathroom tile?

A. Use nail polish remover (acetone) on a soft cloth, You could also try alcohol. Don't let it run & drip on Painted or varnished surfaces or set the cloth down on anything painted or varnished. It won't hurt the glass.

Friday, December 14, 2012

How can I sound proof my home.?

Q. I need to sound proof my home.
My exterior walls are brick.
My interior walls are drywall.
My roof is composition shingle.
They built an outdoor gun range by my house.

A. It is an expensive proposition to insulate against noise of this type. It is you who should complain and get them to move to a commercial area.

You have every right to peace and quiet enjoyment of your home. You should not consider moving.

Otherwise, you sue them and sue the government department that gave them the permit. The govt. department is supposed to send a notice to everyone in the neighborhood and should have held a public meeting to hear any objections. I do not think this was done.

Otherwise, get them to insulate your home to your specifications (call a sound engineer for specs) including the basement walls. The shock travels to your foundation too.

Your moving from there is not an option. (unless you hate the neighborhood etc.. and for various reasons you wanted to move - that's diff.)

How much does a professional home exterior and interior paint sprayer cost?

Q. I am about to buy a professional paint sprayer that paints I can use to paint houses. I will be doing interior and exterior paint jobs. Thanks for the help.

A. My graco gas powered sprayer was $5000, no electric required, very nice to have. A good tall boy electric from graco or titan should be about $ 2000 - 3000 based on volume of paint you will. E using per job. You can get an ok (just ok) unit for about 1200. DONT GET A CHEAP SPRAYER OR SPRAY GUN. Make sure gun is rebuildable.

Is there any way to seal brick on your homes exterior?

Q. My house is in need of help. I have a sandy textured brick on the exterior (about 30 years old). The brick seems to have lost its coating and is crumbling off and spaulding out. It gets especially worse during the winter as it freezes and thaws. Is there any product that I could spray on the brick to seal it and stop this?
Thank you for all of your responses. I found more info on the net. Cosmo, you were right about the mortor tuck. Without that done first, trying to seal the brick won't do a thing. I'm having a mason look at it and quote me. I dont want to paint the brick, even though it probly is the longest lasting solution, and my wife is dead set against it. So it looks like Im going to get the mortor joints right first, and then apply the Behr sealer.

A. I am afraid your bricks may be too far gone for a sealer. Thompson's would be one step better than water and, in my opinion would be a waste of good money and even more valuable time.

Your home must be pretty old to have this ocuring. If your brick is to the point of crumbling, I think you are past the point of help for anything that can be applied with a brush or a spray gun. I would consult a mason. Perhaps the damage you are seeing is more cosmetic than structural. A mason may suggest a mortar tuck. This is where you dig out any loose mortar and replace it with new. Its a big job, but at some point in any stone building, it is necessary.

I don't want to alarm you, as your brick is still likely to outlast you.

What building materials for window that can be used to minimise heat transfer.?

Q. What building materials for window that can be used to minmise heat transfer via conduction, convection and radiation.

list all materials and explain why that materials can be used.

A. Double or triple pane glass with a solar blocking film.

Wood for the frames.

Where is there a building material/tile closeout store in the East Bay area of San Francisco?

Q. I am looking for a store that sells building materials and tile closeouts in the east bay area near Oakland and Concord, California. Does anyone know of anywhere? Thanks.

A. Try Urban Ore:

http://urbanore.com/

I'm not sure if that's what you were looking for, but it is an interesting place. If nothing else they can point you in the right direction.

What is the most common building material of the houses in France?

Q. Which city of France and what building material?

A. Unlike the US where wood baloon framing is used, houses in France are generally built with loadbearing concrete walls...

What is the best way or best product to clean Resin/plastic outdoor furniture?

Q. What is the best way or best product to clean Resin/plastic outdoor furniture?

A. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Where is the best place online to purchase outdoor patio furniture?

Q. I am specifically looking for a complete outdoor furniture set that includes a sofa, loveseat, chairs, coffee table, etc. Most of the places I have found either do not sell direct, are expensive, or sell lower quality product than what I am looking for. Any suggestions?

A. hi there! so, you are looking for complete outdoor furniture set. I can suggest you the link below.

Take your time looking around and make sure you sit in the furniture and it is comfortable. We got new patio furniture last year and it took awhile to find a set we both found comfortable and attractive.

Where to Buy Nice, Affordable Outdoor FURNITURE in South Florida (Miramar) or Online?

Q. I am looking for a nice set of outdoor furniture to put around my pool. Preferably looking for a place to buy the furniture in Miramar, but willing to go anywhere in Dade or Broward County to purchase as well. My spending limit is set at $450. Thanks :)

A. Check out this site:
http://furniture.buy-stuff.us/Florida/Miramar

It has used furniture for sale in or near Miramar. You can buy and then pick up yourself.

What does every GIRL teen bedroom need?

Q. What does every GIRL teen bedroom need?
besides::
bed
dresser
bedside table
lights and a
mirror

WHAT DO I NEED?
thanks

A. A desk and privacy!
You are good to go!

What are some decorateing ideas for teen bedrooms?

Q. Cool ideas for teen girls bedroom something funky, cool, and teenager like. Ages 14-16 years thanks

A. Choosing a strict color scheme that you like is really important, because often this is what determines the flow of your room. Have two main colors (eg. blue and brown) and one neutral color.

Paint your walls a neutral color like cream or beige (white can be a bit harsh). Studies have shown that a neutral color on the walls and floor of a room increases motivation and self-esteem, if you're interested!

Personally, I love pbteen.com for teen bedrooms. Not all the products come cheap, but all of them could last you a lifetime. PBTeen offers great textiles for any look. If you are a bit strapped for cash then the images on the site on their own are great for ideas.

http://www.pbteen.com/gift/thm/thmgrl/thmgrlpub/
http://www.pbteen.com/gift/thm/thmgrl/thmgrlmcl/
http://www.pbteen.com/gift/thm/thmgrl/thmgrldvc/
http://www.pbteen.com/gift/thm/thmgrl/thmgrlblm/
http://www.pbteen.com/gift/thm/thmgrl/thmgrlmer/
http://www.pbteen.com/gift/thm/thmgrl/thmgrlzcb/
http://www.pbteen.com/gift/thm/thmgrl/thmgrlpre/
http://www.pbteen.com/gift/thm/thmgrl/thmgrlftl/
http://www.pbteen.com/gift/thm/thmgrl/thmgrlhen/
http://www.pbteen.com/gift/thm/thmgrl/thmgrlpas/

Good luck, hope this helped.

any ideas for a glamorous california theme teen bedroom?

Q. anyone has any ideas for a glamorous california theme teen bedroom give me any websites please that would help =]

A. http://teensthemes.com

How to fit kitchen dresser units on to the wall?

Q. We are currently re doing our kitchen and have bought dresser units but we are wanting to have them hanging on the wall, not sat on the worktop. Any help in what brackets we need to use so they don't fall off would be great.
forgot to add, they are going on a freshly plasted brick wall.

A. you should need a high quality and best kitchen dresser units.

Kitchen renovation - suggestions for microwave cooking?

Q. My relative is planning a kitchen renovation for the summer. Most meals will be cooked either on the grill or in a microwave. Can anybody recommend a book on microwave cooking that is GOOD!? I've had a couple of microwave cooking cookbooks in the past, but the results were less than great, so got rid of them. Suggestions welcome. They can't grill when it is raining or windy because it is an unprotected area.

A. We just finished (well almost) a complete kitchen rennovation. We did a lot of the work ourselves so it took a lot longer than we expected. We moved our old regrigerator to the laundry room, and we had an old electric frying pan, an outside grill, a crockpot and a microwave. We eventually bought a toaster oven and a 2 burner butane hotplate. Basically, we cooked about everything that we would normally cook in a real kitchen on those few appliances.

Other than corn and popcorn, I really didn't use my microwave for much except reheating leftovers. I used the crockpot a lot which was quick and easy, but the toaster oven and hotplate were the two things I used the most.

Tell your relative to invest in a toaster oven with temperature controls. We baked everything in there, from baked potatoes to small roasts. Also, tell her to add at least 2 months to any renovation project...it always takes longer than you think it will. Tell her it will all be worth it in the end. I still have a concrete floor, but I LOVE my new kitchen.

Best of luck!!

What is usually the average cost of remodeling a kitchen? I have a small kitchen. ?

Q. My kitchen has enough room for a 2 seated table. I am interested in getting new cabinets above the stove and below the sink. Just getting advice.

A. there is really no average cost. It depends on how many cabinets you order, the quality of the cabinets, how much of the work you do and how much you hire someone else to do. One idea is to check with the kitchen design showrooms or lumber yards in your area to see if they have discontinued displays they are getting rid of...these can be a pretty good deal. Be sure to double check your measurements and maybe bring digital pics of what you have and show someone who knows what they are doing. Good luck!

What kind of flooring should I use?

Q. I need to replace the carpet in my master bedroom. The flooring that leads up to the bedroom is a blond laminate. I do not want that in the bedroom. I also don't want carpet again. Would it be strange to do a different color wood floor? All that is under the carpet is plywood. I want to do this myself. Any suggestions?

A. For resale value of the house, you should stick with the same or a similar color. If there is wood in the room, you could match it to that. If you aren't that crazy about the blond color, use some throw rugs. Never buy flooring to match furniture. Furniture is temporary & floors are not usually.

How easy is it to install hardwood floor? Is it as easy as laying laminate flooring?

Q. I have started my own flooring business. Installing laminante and hardwood. While I am experienced in laminante, I have not had the oppurtunity to install hardwood.
I will be installing prefinished tongue and groove haardwood.

A. That depends on whether you are installing prefinished or unfinished flooring. On prefinished it is not that much more difficult than laminate except you use nails or glue to install it. There are flooring nailers and flooring staplers and you need to know when to use which one. With unfinished it is best to leave that to someone with experiance as the sanding and finishing stages are critical to having a good looking floor. If you are interested in doing quality work, you need to do a lot more research before taking on these floors.

What is the appropriate flooring that need to be in place beneath porcelain tiles?

Q. I am set to install porcelain tile flooring in a bathroom where the house currently has carpet. Provided it is in good condition (which I am assuming it is), is it OK to install the porcelain directly on the floor? Do I need to prepare the floor? If anyone has any pointers, I would appreciate it! Thanks!

A. First things first.. Is the floor concrete or wood?

If it is concrete: Take up the old carpet, pad and tackstrip. Scrape and clean the floor. Check the concrete for any cracks and prepare them with a good crack supression system ( I recommend Protecto Wrap ). After this you are ready to install the ceramic.

If the floor is wood: Follow the above with the added steps of a sturdy cement type backerboard, Wonderboard, HardiBacker or DurRock are just a few name brands. Wood floors need this in order to reduce the flex felt in a wood floor. I have known some installers to nail/screw this down without thinsetting ( tile morter) it down with good results. The correct way is to thinset the board down and then nail/screw it. The reason for this is to bond the board to the floor to reduce movement and thereby reducing cracks in the grout and tiles themselves.

I hope this helps, Good Luck.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

How do you install insulation in attic with flooring?

Q. I need to put more insulation in my attic. It is finished for storage and has a wood floor. Where do I insulate? Do I just lay it on the floor for the winter and put my boxes on top? Do I need to do something special along the edges? What kind should I use and is there a tip for installing? Thanks!

A. If there is no insulation under the flooring (plywood or OSB usually used, you'll have to pry up the floor and place the insulation between the joists. Installing between the joists like I described is merely rolling it out and stuffing it in. Nothing special needed. Typical R-Value for an attic is R-38, but R-values of the insulation will depend on your area of the country. Check out this site for your areas specs:
http://www.powerhousetv.com/stellent2/groups/public/documents/pub/phtv_se_in_gs_000570.hcsp

How can I contend with the heat in an attic room during the summer?

Q. ...I am a renter, my room being upstairs. There are 3 knee doors to the attic space around the room. The attic is not insulated and has one slatted opening at one end of the space.
I am pondering on a cheap and easy fix for the unbearable heat that will ensue this summer. Should I maybe insulate just the knee doors? Someone recommended a dehumidifier, but moisture isn't the problem. And if I were to get a high-powered attic fan or two, it might be a little pricey on the electric bill...

A. If you leave the door to your attic room open and place just a regular fan in an attic window(facing out) you will replace the hot air in the attic with cooler air from below in no time at all.

How is the ventillation in the normal attic?

Q. If there is a gas leak in the attic or some air pollution in the attic, how does the attic vetillate it? In a normal house, the attic ventillation is good enough to circulate air quickly?
I don't have a gas leak. But if there is possibly a gas leak in the attic where gas furnaces are located, do I need to worry about it?

How strong is the attic ventillation? Sometimes, I feel the negative air pressue when I open the door that leads to the attic.

A. A gas leak in any enclosed space is dangerous. You should be able to tell pretty easily how ventilated the attic is. If the house is old, and has not been reroofed recently, it is likely not to have ridge vents, or soffit vents and may not have much ventilation.

Even with ventilation, you don't want a gas leak in the attic. "Pollution" on the other hand will likely be drawn outside instead of into the living quarters, as you indicated in your question (air is drawn out of living quarters into attic). The attic has a chimney effect, drawing air out of a house.

The specific answer to this question of how quickly it is ventilated has a lot to do with age and style of the house, and where it is located. It is also pretty common that people shove insulation over soffit vents, reducing the ventilation.

What is the special quality of a pet dog which give it access in to the home & bed room?

Q. Pet dog play daily, go for walking daily, welcome us when we return to home daily in fact there are many qualities in pet dogs; which generally, we all like. However there must be some very special quality in pet dogs which give them access in to the home & bed room and my question is what is that special?

A. Remember, as far as a dog is concerned, they are part of your family. I know, my dog thinks she's my mother, always shouting at me. Love her to bits. Remember also, they are VERY protective of their owners.

Is a video projector a good solution for a home cinema room?

Q. I want to make one of my apartament's rooms a Home Cinema Room. I don't know what to use: a large screen LCD TV, or a video projector. I am tempted to buy a video projector but I'm not sure about the image quality. Are the images created by video projectors good enough to be copared with the ones from an LCD TV? Can you help me by naming some trusting products? Preferably from own experience.

A. Projectors needs a big room and a dark room. Pick up a copy of Home Theater Magazine March issue, it list just about every projectors in the market today. Keep in mind that the lamp for a projector only last about 2,000 hours and replacement lamps can cost you a minimum of $250. You also need a video screen will will cost around $250 to $3,000. I have used a Panasonic projector for many years and is only used to watch blu ray disc movies at night. An entry level projector that is recommend by Home Theater Magazine and cost you $2,300 and the high end to around $10,000 or more. You can now get a 65" Plasma tv from Costco for $2,000, it is a Panasonic Plasma tv. Panasonic is the top quality product when it comes to tvs. Read the reviews on tvs and the pro and con of Plasma and LCD at Home Theater Magazine. Hope this will help you out.

How hot does a home theater room get?

Q. I am installing a home theater room in our basement and I wanted to know how how the room usually get. The room is 18 ft by 18ft. It is usually pretty cold in the room. I would be putting in a projector, surround sound, leather chairs, xbox 360, and an av receiver. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how many degrees does you're room temperature increase when all of those components are running? thanks. Also, I live in northern california, the north bay area, average temperature is 75 degrees probably

A. It really won't make much difference. Your main heat source will be the projector, which is up at ceiling height anyway. My own music/HT room heats up mainly from amplification (6 channels), but my amplifiers are capable of a total output of over 1,000 watts RMS. A fan switches on when they reach higher temperatures, and it does warm the room significantly. Even so, I only notice this when I'm done and I leave the room--the adjacent areas are definitely cooler!
As an aside, make sure that all of your electronics have plenty of space for cooling, or install ventilation--high operating temperatures drastically shorten the life of electronics.

How to get my stuff/possesions back from my Evil Stepfather?

Q. Hey, I was wondering if you guys could help me out here...

My Evil Stepfather, that actually molested me and my little brother, (not that, that has anything to do with this question)...refuses to give my stuff back(he has it all in his storage)

furniture, clothes, and pictures of my family and friends...

Can I sue him in small claims or call the police. What can I do to get my stuff back??

I just want to get my things, flip him off, and move on with my life!

A. Dude yes! Get help!

What are some design eras of the last 100 years?

Q. and what do you think is the most interesting?
and what do you think you be easiest to do a rm gcse project on ( making phone charger, ipod docking station, radio, or small storage furniture from)?
thanks.

A. Arts and Crafts Movement
Cubism
Proto Egyptian (dscovery of Tutankhamun's tomb)
Art Nouveau
Art Deco
Bauhaus
International Modern
Utilty - WW2
Abstract Expressionism
Post war 'Festival' Style
Sixties 'futurism'
Swinging 60's and acid style pop
Seventies 'Post Modernism'
80's PM Classicism
Retro

I would go for something like Bauhaus

How long do fleas live in an environment without a host?

Q. No pets now in home. Only two adults highly allergic to flea bites. The home is without fleas except for one room where we put diatomaceous earth and sprayed, but due to storage of furniture and boxes, we could not get the poison into all of the areas of the room. We will probably have to brave the fleas and go back in to spray, but how long will they live if we just leave the door closed?

A. meptastic is right, is not the live ones, it is the eggs that hatch and the cycle does not need hosts to feed on to keep producing

those fleas are prolly living in your boxes and fabric furniture
The average life span of an adult flea is probably about 6 weeks - but fleas can live as long as a year under certain conditions. A female flea can lay 20 to 28 eggs a day. She may lay several hundred eggs over her life span. These eggs fall off the pet and develop where they land. They are small and can even develop in the cracks in wood floors or other small crevices. A larvae hatches from the flea egg. It takes as few as 9 days to as long as 200 days to go through its growth stages. At this time is forms a pupae and waits for the right time to hatch. Fleas prefer temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees and humidity of 75 to 85 per cent. This range determines the period of time that fleas are a problem in your particular area. For some areas of the country, this is all year. In others, the flea season is relatively short. It is estimated that for every adult flea found on the pet, there are about 10 developing fleas in the pet's environment.

In other words, you need Orkin to come in a take care of this, and then come back every two weeks for a couple months to go ove the room again. If you vacum, you can get eggs in the works of your cleaner, emptying the bag wont help rid the fleas and then if you vacum into another room it just spreads them back into a new area.

How can I make a cold bedroom warmer?

Q. My bedroom has been really cold. How can I make my bedroom warmer when I sleep?
A heater might warm my room too much, that could be unhealthy, but thanks for the suggestion. My room is next to two windows, that could be blowing cold air. My room is also next to my sister's room, which is a warm room by itself. Please help me, everyone.

A. If its for sleeping, there are many ways keep warm in that cold bedroom of your 2icarly3. If you have a cat, have him (or her) snuggle up with you and hold it. That's one way to keep warm. The rest can be found here in the article URL if its for sleeping: http://www.ehow.com/how_4693077_sleep-cold-house-stay-warm.html
if its to keep your house warm, click here: http://www.ehow.com/how_4847629_stay-warm-cold-house.html

And last and maybe not the final one: http://www.ehow.com/how_2001834_stay-warm-cold.html

Hope any of these works carl. have a happy holidays.
-Hawkeye

We own a 4 bedroom house in a middle class neighborhood. How much should we charge for rent?

Q. The home is 4 bedroom. It has an inground pool. It is in a middle class neighborhood. The basement is full exposure and remodeled. It is 3200 square feet. We live in Janesville, Wisconsin (southern Wisconsin). What should approximate rental be? It is about 35 years old, but updated. Please only answer if you are very knowledgable about this. Thanks.

A. What you have does NOT matter. What do other 4 bedroom rentals charge. You charge the current market rate

What color should I paint my bedroom to compliment whitewashed furniture?

Q. My bedroom set is whitewash in color...like a very light tan, but whitewashed. Unfortunately my walls are a very light brown. To make matters worse I have a tiled floor and the tiles are almost the same color as the furniture. I have to contrast anywhere and the room is VERY boring. I have no idea what wall color would go well with the furniture. Can you please help me?

A. Check out "tempo teal" on bedroom #3 in this link.
http://sherlink.sherwin.com/swapp/color_visualizer/index.jsp
Just click on "paint an interior," then "bedrooms." Then you can type "tempo teal" in the search field, or just start trying on colors. It's fun.

where can i go to look for new cute teen bedrooms?

Q. I get really bored sometimes and i LOVE looking at teen bedrooms. So if you could give me a website i would love that!

A. well, i got a room ''makeover''!
walmart and target r gud places to look and some ideas can based off of youtube.
walmart has good comforters and target has good accesories.
hoped we all helped:)

What does every GIRL teen bedroom need?

Q. What does every GIRL teen bedroom need?
besides::
bed
dresser
bedside table
lights and a
mirror

WHAT DO I NEED?
thanks

A. A desk and privacy!
You are good to go!

any ideas for a glamorous california theme teen bedroom?

Q. anyone has any ideas for a glamorous california theme teen bedroom give me any websites please that would help =]

A. http://teensthemes.com

What size wire would I need for a 450 foot run to my gate for a Mercury Vapor security light?

Q. Only going to run a SEcurity Light at the gate. Although may have an outlet, but it would not be used when the light is operational.

A. If you keep it at a Security light only...no outlet 12-2 with ground on a 20 amp breaker will work If you add an outlet for any reason then I would go wit 10-2 but keep it on a 20 amp breaker.

Why is the security light on my Camaro coming on all of the sudden?

Q. I've had a '97 Camaro for a few months and all of the sudden the security light is coming on when I try to start it disabling the starter. I've been using the same key the whole time. I have had no problems with this car until now. I have to wait 3 minutes and then it will start. The key is in good shape. Not dirty or wet. Is there an underlying issue I should check out? Thanks.

A. Do NOT replace the ignition by yourself! My car's ignition was replaced by the dealer (not a Chevy dealer, just a used car lot) and now my light will NEVER go off. Take it to a Chevy dealer and they CAN help you. If it is the ignition then they will be able to fix it, but if you replace the ignition yourself then you risk having that light on forever because the ignition was not programmed into the car's security system. The guy I got my car from said they didn't have a key for my car and that is why they replaced the ignition but if he would have actually read the owner's manual it says that if you take it to a dealer they can make a new key that is made specifically for that ignition. I don't know what could be wrong with it, but if you have the funds to do so, I would take it to a Chevy dealer.

How do I start my 1993 Infiniti G20 when the security light is on?

Q. The security light is on. And now the car won't start.

A. push to start

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

First time home painting project?

Q. Any tips for a first time home painting project?

I have never painted before in my life. The cost-saving is the major driver for this DIY project and I am actually very excited to do it myself. I am looking to paint the entire interior of our first home. I have about 3 weeks and a help who is equally or more inexperienced...

Where can I find some Paiting 101s?

A. I just painted the interior of my house, and there are some good places you can go for basic advice, like Lowe's website, or Home Depot's. My advice to you is to prep thoroughly- have all of your equipment ready and purchased ahead of time so you don't have to make repeat runs to the paint store. You want to make sure your walls are fairly clean, with no really dirty spots- check behind the TV, it can be very dusty! Spackle then sand all nail holes or uneven areas. If the walls already have color on them, you may want to prime before you paint. You'll get truer color and use less coats. Tape off any trim and windows using blue painter's tape, not masking tape. Take your time with the prep, and your final result will look much better.
As far as the paint goes, measure your rooms and take the information to the paint store-they'll help you figure out how much to buy. Generally, you'll use flat or eggshell finishes on the walls, and I recommend egshell, it has a sheen to it and reflects light better, giving you a richer color. For trim, you'll use a satin paint. If you're having trouble choosing colors, Sherwin Williams has a great feature on their website that allows you to choose a room type, then "paint" the room, walls, trim, ceiling and all!
I hope this helps! Have fun, and good luck!

Having a home painted on the outside?

Q. When having your home professionally painted ( I assume with a gun ) how far can the fine mist travel? I realize there are varying factors, but am looking for a generalized answer. Typically how many feet?

Thanks
Alyssa - worthless!

A. Painters will take every precaution from overspray as they are responsible and accountable.

On a windy day I have seen overspray from soffits go over buildings and mist coat cars some 100 feet away.
A little heads upâ¦ and question to ask your painters. Ask them if they back roll when they spray.
This is something I require from all the painting contractors when doing homes, it extends the longevity of the job; although not as much so when shooting a nonporous job

How Do I get home owners to hire me to paint their homes? As a home owner, would door to door sales, work?

Q. I run a small home painting business in the East Bay of San Francisco. I use C.L. , its free and seems to work, I dont trust the yelllow pages, am I wrong? How do and would you hire a house painter.

Yellowpages?
Online Postings
Google ads?
Door to door
Flyers or doorhangers?
Guy with white overalls at aint store?

Tell me how you hire your paint.

A. I would place my advertisement every were I could that my budget allowed. Even door to door. If your nice and professional looking and can talk good you could pull it off. Yellow pages are a good source.

Do they make a conducting gel or compound to put in my loose outdoor lighting sockets?

Q. I have Malibu outdoor lighting with pinch type pieces of metal that hold on to the little bulbs. I've tried pinching the 2 pieces closer, but this works for about a day before it loosens and the light goes out. Is there any type of product that conducts electricity I can put in this socket to make the connection more stable?

A. Yes go to your local electrician and ask for nolox. This is used to stop corrosion caused by the outside elements and the corosive effects of copper on aluminum. This will help a little with the warping effects of heat. If that doesnt work get a refund.

What size screw do i need to mount something (outdoor lighting transformer in this case), to vinyl siding?

Q. Just got a new transformer for outdoor lighting and the screws provided could not even touch the wood behind the vinyl siding (at least I think there is wood behind it). The screws provided were about an inch long. What size do I need to penetrate the wood deep enough to hold a 4lb transformer?

A. A 3/16" or 1/4" lag bolt 2 1/2" long is stronger ..... pilot drill ( just the diameter of the screw core) .... test for strength, if too weak , find the nearest stud .......tiny amt rust wont be seen

How to replace one of the three regular outdoor lights for motion sensing light?

Q. I have three outdoor lights operated by one switch and I'd like one of them to replace with motion sensing light. I do not want the rest two lights to be ON all night, i just want one light to bi sensor operated over the night. And again, all three are on the same switch. How do i do this?

A. You'll need separate wiring to the motion light in order to not go through the switch.

What color goes best with CORAL for decorating a home office?

Q. I have painted the walls in my home office coral. What other color should I use to decorate it? Please provide pictures of you can find any. Thanks for your help!

A. Ivory, with black furniture or accesories

Help Feng Shui my home office?

Q. I've just moved into a new home office. I'd like any general feng shui advice, and I have a specific question too.

Here's the office layout:
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/1892/office333zi5.jpg

I have a picture of a lighthouse and calm sea that I'd like to hang on one of the walls. Where's the best place for this picture with water in it?

General question: does anyone have any other advice on the layout? I've taken care not to have my back to door or window. Anything else?

Thanks!
Hi guys,

Some more details:

BOD: 30 Aug 1978

I started an <a href="http://www.logon.ie/">internet marketing business</a> about 8 months ago - see link for details.

It may be difficult to change the orientation of the door (as I do not own the house), but I will see if it's possible.

I understand that more precise details are required for a thorough analysis, but it's unfair for me to look for such detail in a free answers forum. I'm happy to learn from whatever you guys can share.

You can contact me via the business website if you need to get in touch.

Thanks!

A. first, i like to emphasize that fengshui is only good when the whole house is involved, even if you only stay in 1 room, it is required that the whole house is fengshui'd. the reason for this is that we often use the fengshui chart of the whole house to be applied on the 1 room in the house.

next, my comments below are not precise, it is just based on the picture you attached. fengshui is better when it is precise and personal. personal, because your birthdate/ time and certain info regarding you and your house are used in the calculations.

comments:
- can you make the door to open the other way, so that the person coming in can find you right away.
- there is a special formula to see whether the angle from the door to the diagonal corner is healthy to the occupant/s; this is known to most fengshui practitioners
- general layout is okay, except for the door.
- regarding the picture, you can put it anywhere you like. it is not fengshui when you use a picture or a furniture to attract wealth into your life. that is just what most western writers like people to believe. it is much more complicated than that. regarding the picture, it will not affect you in anyway, if you put it anywhere, as far as fengshui is concerned.

I own a second home in a location where I travel for business. What travel expenses can I deduct?

Q. When I travel to the second home location, I stay in the property rather than renting a hotel. Can I deduct some costs associated with this property? For example, depreciation of the purchase price? What about office furniture? What about other furniture? Management fees, utilities, etc?
Thanks to all who responded. I did speak to an accountant per your suggestions. I ended up only deducting a few specific things here (such as a printer, desk, etc.). Most of the other items might have been OK but I wasn't sure so decided to play it conservative.

A. For business travel, many lodging expenses are tax deductible. This could be a HUGE deduction, so collect your paperwork and call up an accountant. Tell him you want a FREE 5 minute consultation, first of all. Say you want to know if your house can be tax deductible. If he says yes, then book a date right away. You'll probably have to invest alot into getting a good accountant before taxes are due, so make sure the deduction will be big.

See the Irs website: http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc511.html

What is a fair price for marble tile floor installation?

Q. I need to install marble flooring throughout the house, and I was wondering, what is the fair price per square feet for tile installation?

I already have the marble, so the installer just needs to provide the underlayment, thinset, and floor leveling.

Also, the tile would need to be installed in 45 degree angles, instead of straight rows.

Thanks!

A. For marble labor , floor prep ( unknown because it varies a lot with marble) your looking at 5.00$ a s/f and up.
The proper way to prep for marble is a mud job which gives the absolute best support for marble and will also provide ( when done properly) a flat level floor. That alone can go for 2.00$ a s/f and up depending where you live.
In the real world your looking at closer to 10$ a s/f ( and up)with the prep.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications there. GL

Starting a tile installation company?

Q. I want to start installing tile, and I am familiar with the process, but I have no "real" experience except for the DIY (peel and stick) tile. If I got a tile installation book and practiced on a few tiles on a small scale, how hard would it be to tile a floor good enough to get a positive referral from it?

A. I did a 20 x 18 foot room with 12 inch ceramic tiles. It was a snap really. I used a wide grout line because these were mexican tile. No spacers, just did it by eye.

Plan it so that you dont have "sliver" size peices on any wall , if possible. Rent a wet saw. Or buy one for $89, it will get you through the job.

Now if you are talking tiling a shopping mall thats something different. I have looked at some of that work , and man, those lines are straight for miles. But for homes, you will never see the errors after a week.

Cost of Ceramic tile installation?

Q. How much per sq foot should ceramic tile installation cost? I would like to get my kitchen and connected bathroom (260 sqft) done. I plan on spending 2 per sq ft on the actual tile.

A. Contact a ceramic tile installer or go to a showroom which sells ceramic, They will tell you the cost of material and the cost of installation. You can determine if you DIY.

what is a good home design software that is free?

Q. Something similar to the HGTV Home Design software would be great. I want to be able to design the floor plan and the architecture of the home.

A. Hi there! There are a lot of design software you can download online, but the only ones I know of are those from IKEA, Google (Sketchup), and Alljoinery Solutions. When it comes to kitchen floor plans, living room floor plans, and even home architecture design, these ones are the best, at least based on my own experience.

What is the easiest home design software to use?

Q. My 12 yr old son wants to be an arcitect and we have played around with some of the less expensive ($9.99) home design software, but they seem a little hard to get started with. Anyone know if a very simple one to purchase? We were thinking of the Better Homes & Gardens series, maybe find one on e-bay..

A. Google SketchUp is free. If your 12yo is anything like my 10yo he should be able to become proficient at that pretty quickly. My son goofs around with my AutoCAD which is NOT inexpensive nor would I have thought it easy, (considering what I charge for drafting)!
You can get it here.....

http://www.sketchup.com/

is there an inexpensive or free home design software out there for a normal homeowner?

Q. its just that I want to play around with some home design ideas with my house for a small addition, & I need some kind of basic program to use. Thanks!

A. I know they can be hard to find. I think Lowes has one on their website, I used it for a kitchen once, but it takes some patience. I have always done my design ideas in The Sims 2, because it is much more user friendly and quick. I never really get around to playing the actual game though. The only problem with this is sometimes the location of things isn't exactly where you want it, but it's a good way to get the idea of what you want to do.

How do I wire an electrical outlet from a wall light?

Q. I want to install an electrical outlet on a wall that doesn't have any other outlets. There is a wall light directly above the place where I need the outlet so I want to use that junction for the power source. I do not want the wall light's switch to control the outlet. How do I wire this?

A. Depends on how the light is wired. If it's got only a black and a white wire, the only thing you can do is have the switch control the whole circuit. With only two wires, the black wire is made/broken at the switch, so the only way to get a circuit is to have the switch on.

If you have two black and two white, you're OK. One B/W pair will go to the switch and the other B/W pair provides the power. If you have this, notice that one pair is wired across the black of the other pair. That is, a black wire coming in ties to another wire going out without going to the light. The companion wire of the one going to the switch should be wired to the light. That's your switch leg, and it is made /broken at the switch. The white wire of the leg in should be on the other pole of the light. You want to take your new wire and add the black to the connection on the black coming in. You'll now have three wires there - hot in, hot out to switch, hot to your new outlet. Take your white from your new run, undo the white of the leg in at the light. Connect those two and add a white pigtail. Wire the pigtail to the light.

Be sure all circuits are off, and if you're not sure which wire is which, use an ohmeter to test. Be sure all grounds are connected in each box. Check out what will be on the circuits and make sure you don't overload them, and also that your boxes are rated for the amperage/wires you'll be using.

How do I stop my wall light bulbs making black marks on the ceiling?

Q. My wall light bulbs make black marks on the plaster coving and ceiling in my room. I understand you used to be able to buy little press on metal caps to stop this.

Does anybody know if these are still available and where I can get these from or any other tip to help

Any help would be very much appreciated
Unfortunately I am only using 25 watt bulbs now to help this so really can't go much lower but thanks for this idea

A. Use lower watt bulbs. The heat is causing the marks.

How do you make the wires safe before you put a blanking plate on when you remove wall lights.?

Q. We want to remove 2 wall lights, but we do not want to permanently remove the wires, so we will use blanking plates, but are not sure how you make the wires safe first. Does anyone have suggestions please?

A. You don't say where you are. If you are in the UK you will need to use connector blocks (min 5amp rating) as we stopped using screw on type connections, such as wire nuts /midgets, many years ago. Connector blocks are widely available from diy shops.
Don't rely on turning the wall switch off to make the cables dead as there may still be live cables present. It is probably simpler for you to turn off the main switch (Usually the biggest switch at your fuseboard) After making sure that the cables are definitely dead, put the cables into your connector in exactly the same order as they were connected in the fitting. ie if a black and red cable were connected together in the fitting they must be connected together when you reconnect them. Many people make the mistake of not noting how it came apart. Put all your earth cables together and after gently tugging at all the cables to make sure it doesn't fall apart tape the connectors up before pushing back into the wall and covering with your blank plate.
You may be lucky and find that on removing the old lights you have existing connectors you can retain. In which case visually check there are no loose strands of copper after disconnecting the light and simply tape the connectors up.
If in any doubt of how to make it safe don't attempt it yourself, get someone in. Electricity kills.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Is it appropriate to install tile backerboard over a laminate countertop?

Q. Instead of tearing off the old laminate kitchen countertop and installing a plywood base and tile backerboard on top, is it appropriate to screw/glue the tile backerboard directly onto the laminate countertop for a tile installation?

A. Of course you can do it and it'll probably last for a long time but I would NOT do it. As another pointed out the material under the laminate is probably flake board. you don't want that under your tile job. Tile, grout, concrete backer board and thinset, not one of these are "waterproof". Water and flake board don't mix. Pulling it and putting down some plywood is the best

Difference in Marble and Ceramic Tile installation?

Q. I am building a new home and being as a new do-it-yourselfer , I want to know the difference in Marble and Ceramic tile installation. Which is easy to install or alternatively i have to hire professionals for this purpose

A. Hi there, in my opinion the most important ingredient to any Marble job will be your 4' level. You see Ray because the average grout joint is either 1/16" for the experienced installer or 1/8" for the not so experienced, every tile will need to be either level or plumb to it's adjacent tile. Thats going to take time and patience as this will involve multiple handling of nearly every tile...either to add setting material or remove setting material because the floor or wall you are covering is seldom perfectly flat. There will always be a hump or bow or a belly that will need attention to make things run straight and true...follow me? I always use a larger notch trowel when doing Stone work. It makes having to deal with challenging substrates alot easier. Combing out more material may cost slightly more but it pays dividends at the point of install. One thing people don't understand about Natural Stone is the nearly all of the lighter colored stones have a degree of transparency to them. If you hold it up to a light you can see the shadow of your hand behind the stone so if you use a darker thinset (grey) then it will darken the shade of the stone, if you use a white thinset it will keep the stone close to the shade you liked when you picked it out in the first place. You should also "back butter" (skim a coat of thinset to the back of every piece of tile) the tile to maintain a uniform moisture level that will show through to the surface of the tile till it all cures out. Some times you can see where the installer used a 5 spot install for the stone because you will be able to "see" 5 circles (usually as round dark spots) right on the surface of the stone until it all dries out...even then, it doesn't necessarily always go completely away so the skim coat will eliminate that happening to any great degree ok? It won't matter whether you are installing the Marble on the wall or floor, or even the tub deck. The running plane must be flat tile to tile so visibly it will all look great, that's where the level will help you keep things running flat course to course both level and plumb. Ok Ray I hope this gives you a means to track your progress as you build or run out the Marble. Bear in mind that you shouldn't run more than 4' of tile "up" the wall as the weight of the stuff will crush down spacers too much as you go. Feel free to return anytime.If you want more information i search a web on net if you were interested visit the website which is given below.

Did anybody else have a bad experience with King Tile Installation, out of NJ?

Q. Nathan King and his Company King Tile Installation from of West Orange NJ did a horrible tile installation job at my home. I was wondering if anybody has bad experiences with this person or his company?
The company I dealt with was NOT Kings Tile out of the Matawan/Old Bridge area

A. I'm from NJ and in the tile business. I've heard of Kings Tile but the owners name isnt Nathan,its Steve,and they are out of the Matawan/Old Bridge area.

Sorry to hear of your poor installation and hope you find some kind of resolution.

Good Luck

Bellzie...

What are the steps to buying a home via a va home loan?

Q. We're a military family, and I believe eligible for a VA home loan. We have about 30K in credit card debt, but are hoping to pay it off before applying for the loan. Just wanted some info on what to expect.

A. Got to get your VA certificate first, then apply like any other mortgage. I wouldn't use a VA home loan if you don't have to. You have to pay a funding fee ontop of your regular closing cost. But good luck.

What is the difference between pre aproval and pre qualify in home loan?

Q. I keep seeing people talking about being pre approved for a home loan or being pre qualified, one being quicker and easier than the other. What is the difference/benifit of the two?

A. Preapproval is a conditional approval usually received after you have applied for a home loan. A final approval is given once a underwriter has reviewed the loan.

A Prequalify is given to people that have passed a general screening process based on the lenders guidlines. A prequal doesn't mean you are preapproved, preapproval will usually be given once you apply and meet the the lenders qualifications.

The process for either or will be the same. If you have a preapproval from your current mortgage provider then that means they did a more in depth research to prequal and the process maybe quicker with them.

What's the difference between home loan modification and mortgage refinancing?

Q. home loan modification vs mortgage refinancing, are they the same thing?

A. A mod will take your existing loan and make changes to it it can lower your interest rate and your payment or just lower your payment the bank will take your financial information from you and then they will determine how much you can afford to pay a month then the mortgage company will make a decision based on the information they have got from you if they will do the mod but with the new obama plan they will give you a mod for 3 months to see if you can make the new payments is you can then you get the mod if you can't then you don't and the obama plan will give you a fixed interest rate instead of an adjustable one
A refinance will give you a completely new loan so you could get a lower interest rate and a new payment but if you are behind in your current mortgage most banks will not touch your loan and you will have to try and get a modification

How would you tear carpeting out of your house , is it possible to do it yourself?

Q. What tools are required for tearing out your own carpeting and how would you do it?

A. Of all home improvement products, ripping out carpet is the best!!

I first tape off section of carpet. I wouldn't say that everyone does this, but it's what we do.

Then you take a very sharp hooked carpet knife and start to cut. Between that and a box cutter, you have to be careful. Just cut away until you reach the end, roll up the carpet and toss outside!! I can't say a pro would do it like this, but it's fun. It's great. And it works with the padding too.

If you have hardwoods underneath, I would use a different rolling method to avoid injury to the wood.

I am desparately in need of a way to remove the odor of dog urine from carpeting. Solutions ?

Q. Carpeting is BERBER ... 1 year old. Has been cleaned professionally and by myself.

A. There are a couple of new products out there - One is called "Urine Gone". I think the other is called "O". Both are supposed to work really well, and go through the carpet to the under pad to get rid of the entire smell. I've seen the "Urine Gone" at our local JC Penney's before.

How do you remove mildew stains from carpeting?

Q. We live on a boat, and there is always some degree of mositure inside the boat. There is carpeting on the walls, so I need to remove the mildew, but I don't want to use a cleaner that may change the color of the carpeting. Any ideas?
We live on a boat, and have carpeting on the walls. There is moisture constantly inside the boat, and mildew stains have grown. I need a home made remedy, as we are traveling on the Meditterean sea, currently in Spain. So USA store products are not available here.
We live on a boat, and have carpeting on the walls. There is moisture constantly inside the boat, and mildew stains have grown. I need a home made remedy, as we are traveling on the Meditterean sea, currently in Spain. So USA store products are not available here.

A. There are commercial mildew stain removers available. Before moistening the carpeted walls with any product, check to be sure that under the carpet is not wood. Moisture soaking into the wood and not drying will compound your problem.

feng shui- Color, decor and elements should I use for my home office located @ the south corner of the house?

Q. Yeah basically want to know what are the most auspicious colors and elements as well as decorations, I should use for my home office located at the south corner of my house, the office is a room located in a garden-level basement with nothing other than a door & 2 windows. Thanks.

A. For the South or Li area of your homes you can use the Primary Colors (Enhancing)Fire colors- red, burgundy, maroon, orange, purple. Although one accent wall of such a yang color would be enough. You have to be careful with red if you have the negative 5 flying star in the south. The flying star system is a deeper level of FS and gives you info on your house based on its birthday and facing direction. The other group of colors is the Secondary Colors (Nourishing) In other words wood nourishes fire and helps it grow. Wood colors are Green, Olive, Light Green, Hunter Green, Chartreuse, Teal
Shapes and Patterns are triangular, conical, and pyramidal ,zig zag and star
Avoid ocean scenes and too much blue. Wood would be best for office furniture.
EnhancementsRED signage or logo for a business that you work for. Tall, healthy plants.
Objects of recognition such as diplomas, endorsements, university credentials, certificates of appreciation from work, the community or family.
Personal Associations /Symbols/ ArtAwards, diplomas, trophies, prizes/ people, fire, sunshine, sunflowers, fireworks, famous people you admire, picture of yourself in red.
Auspicious paintings of birds, with strong red coloring such as the phoenix, roosters, or flamingoes. These are just some ways to interpret the Li trigram which is the south.
Good luck with your new home office.

What color goes best with CORAL for decorating a home office?

Q. I have painted the walls in my home office coral. What other color should I use to decorate it? Please provide pictures of you can find any. Thanks for your help!

A. Ivory, with black furniture or accesories

Help Feng Shui my home office?

What do lamps give energy to that is a plant?

Q. What do lamps give energy to that is a plant? I need this awser for a project and I cant figure out what it is!!

A. Lamps provide the energy to induce the photosynthesis process which causes plants to grow.

The sun usually provides this light energy, but lamps can do just as well, under controlled conditions.

What are some good stores to buy lamps at?

Q. I am looking for some lamps to go on the night stands in our bedroom. What are some good stores to buy them at? I would prefer to buy on-line, but I like to go shopping too!

A. Hi, try this. Go into Google or Yahoo image search. Key in lamps or whatever you think best describes the item you're looking for. Voila, you now have thousands of photographs to choose from. Most images link to a website for more information.

Where do you get the heat lamps they use in industrial buildings?

Q. Would like to buy and install one of those industrial type heat lamps - like the ones that you walk under at the front door when you go into a Costco or other large shopping building. We have a ten year old Ridgeback and Doberman and last winter they spent the days and nights in the basement when it got below freezing- I would leave one of the portable heaters on that turn off if you knock them over. My husband picked up a puppy from the pound and I am now back working so we do not trust to leave the heater on with the crazyness of the new puppy- but the Doberman has arthritis so i'd like to get some heat going in the basement. We thought a large heat lamp we could install above them would work great. Any ideas?

A. The product you are describing is not a heat lamp. They are infrared heaters. There are different types but the best and most commonly used are gas fired. Here is a link to a descent manufacturer but there are others.

http://www.rezspec.com/catalog-rihn.html

Where to sell dining room furniture for the amount it's worth?

Q. It's very fancy furniture, worth a lot. But were only go to sell it for the amount it's worth. So where is a good place to sell it at.

A. Used furniture will not sell for it's original price, so be prepared to come down from that level. Try your local Recycle or similar throwaway adverts. Even Craigslist (but include pictures in your post)

Original Question

I want to change the finish of my dining room furniture. How can I do this?

Q. I have high gloss furniture in my dining room. I'd like to make it matte, or at least get rid of the high gloss. And of course, I'm looking for easiest (I have to do this myself) and cheapest way (I have very little to spend on this). Do I have to remove the high gloss varnish (if i did, could I just leave a little of the finish on it?) or can I just put some sort of clear matte finish on it?

A. my husband works for sherwin williams, and if you stop in a local store, they will answer any question you have. they will tell you exactly what to do, and what to buy.
hope this helped!
sherwinwilliams.com

Original Question

Should my dining room furniture match my cupboards?

Q. Open concept kitchen, table and chairs and such are now a maple finish, new kitchen is a mahogany finish. Dining area runs right into kitchen. Should I have matching furniture?

A. No, just find other ways to tie the rooms together, for example, if you have stainless steel appliances, get a stainless steel vase or bowl for the table. If you have red placemats, get red accents for the kitchen. Having wood that is different finishes, but still looks good together shows that you put some thought and creativity into the room. It won't look like you walked into the showroom and cashed in on the maple finish close-out sale.

Original Question

What color furniture and accents should I use with white walls and beige/off-white carpet?

Q. I just moved into my first place and my landlord won't let me paint. The cabinets in the baths and kitchen are a golden brown stain and the is that pink/light brown color that a lot of houses (that I've been in) have. I also need help with what color towels, shower curtain, etc. works well with the above bath furnishings and is the current trend that all the rooms in your house match or can I use different colors in different rooms.

A. I would select one overall theme to use, and then use different variations of that theme throughout your new home. For instance, earth tones are very popular, so you could do terra cotta in one room, gold in another, and a green in another. Or, if you choose a "bright" theme, you could do orange in one room, hot pink elsewhere, and turquoise somewhere else...see what I mean?

Personally, earth tones are very popular, and I just used them in my new home: Terra cotta, light gold, and avocado green. It's very easy to find accessories to go with this theme and it's very welcoming and warm.

Original Question

What colours accent chocolate brown walls and cream furniture?

Q. I am redecorating my livingroom, and would like to paint the walls chocolate brown. I have cream leather furniture and oak trim and gas fireplace. I also have wood window valances that have been covered with fabric that would need to be replaced. I just don't know how to go about it. I think that reds would compliment nice but how do I do it and what other colours would anyone suggest with the brown walls? Thanks

A. I think red would be too dark with the brown paint and oak trim. A palette of brown, cream, periwinkle blue and a light shade of yellow would be nice, bright and inviting.

Although this is wallpaper, I've seen valances in a similar fabric and color that were just gorgeous: http://www.thibautdesign.com/Collection/patternDetailWall.aspx?Pid=300&prdid=2009

Original Question

What color wall paint goes with chocolate furniture and red accent accessories?

Q. I have a microsuede chocolate twin chair and otto, along with a dark brown armoire in a small "loft" area (more like a seating area). I want to put red throw pillows on chair, and a set of red panels on the windows. However, I have no idea what to paint the walls? Any suggestions?

A. The lovely thing about brown is that it goes well with nearly any colour. However, seeing as you have red accents, I think you may probably want to go with a warm colour.

Of course, there's always neutrals. Different forms of beige always work, but I tend more to creamy tones that look more fresh and inviting than beige. These cream tones also have the benefit of working with nearly any colour scheme, if you ever redesign.

Possibly try yellow, which is a fairly neutral colour, but still has some character. You can do light creams with yellow tones, buttercup yellows, or very robust golden tones. I think a bright gold colour will offset the chocolate brown furniture very well, and will seem to mirror and reflect sunlight.

You may notice I've been skewing towards lighter colours? Darker colours make a space smaller (but cosy) and lighter colours tend to expand it. You can always go for a shade of brown, varying from a light coffee colour with a hint of sienna, to just another deep chocolatey shade, but I think that it may give an overdose of brown. Matching is all well and good, but I usually like to have complementary contrast. Seeing as you have red accents, it's probably best to stick to lighter wallpaint to offset the rest of the bright colour.

If you really love brown and think you can accommodate the smaller feel that will result, go ahead! Just make sure you have some spots of lighter colour, like white lampshades, a light rug, or something similar.

I'm not sure if you have a nearby Home Depot, but mine offers small samples of Ralph Lauren paint. If you can get those, choose a few colours you love and will look great with your furniture (you think) and then paint them on the wall! See which colour matches best.

Ralph Lauren does indeed have lovely paints; the selection is more limited, but each colour is quite carefully chosen, in my view.

I wish you luck with your painting. ^^

Original Question