Home Related Questions and Answers: 2012-12-16

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Ceramic tiles in a new home-can they be painted?

Q. I am moving into a different home with tan ceramic tiles in good condition in the bathroom. I am not a big fan of the color, and would like to paint them-is this possible and what is entailed?

A. Yes. It's a multi-step process, and your bathroom (shower and bath) won't be usable while it's going on.

Info:
http://www.helpwithdiy.com/painting/painting_ceramic_tiles.html

Is it possible to grow mold on ceramic tiles?

Q. I want to install ceramic tiles in my shower and i need to know if it's possible for mold to grow on it ?
what if there was a ceramic tile and a plastic sandwich bag and only had air? could mold still grow?

A. Yes. Mold can grow on virtually any surface that isn't treated with a mold retardant, it just needs the proper conditions to grow, which are humidity, slight heat and little or no light, along with some type of food source.

ADDITIONAL: If a ceramic tile was placed in a plastic sandwich bag, then mold could still grow. Plastic sandwich bags are not air tight when sealed, so something can still get in. Also, air has other things in it other than gas molecules, so it will carry sufficient moisture and food to allow mold to grow. If you were able to create an airtight seal on the bag and remove most or all of the air, then mold wouldn't be able to grow.

How can I Remove stain from my Kitchen ceramic Tiles?

Q. Trying to clean my kitchen's Ceramic tiles . Does any one know a good way to clean stain from Ceramic tiles and how to prevent it in future.

A. Hi there, in my judgment Ceramic tiles are made from refined clay and other material. Maintenance is important through routine cleaning with mild soap and water. If you have some stains to remove, try a few of these suggestions to get your tile looking new again.
1.Clean the stained area with plain water and a soft cloth. Dry thoroughly.
2.Put on gloves. Use these to protect your hands even if the product is considered natural or non-toxic.
3.Mix borax and lemon juice together on a disposable plate or bowl. The consistency should be a paste-like substance. Rub onto the stain and allow it to dry completely. Rinse the ceramic tile with water and repeat until stain is gone.
4.Use a mixture of a vinegar and salt to make a paste. Apply to the rust stain and wait 4 to 5 hours and then rinse with hot water. Repeat as necessary.
5.Consider purchasing a Lustro Italiano cleaning kit. Apply to area with a moistened, soft cloth. This Lustro Italiano will remove the stain and not scratch surfaces.
These are the steps you want to follows remove the stain from the tile. If you want more information visit the website I search it on a net it helps me a lot if you were interested visit the website which is given below.

Where to buy living room furniture on budget?

Q. I am going to medical school and am buying my first condo. I have saved substantially for this moment, but I am by no means rich. I will be renting out a room in the condo to pay the billls. The point is, I don't have a lot of money. Where can I buy living room furniture on a budget? I've tried rooms-to-go. Any other suggestions??

A. Ikea often has very cheap but good and fashionable furniture. You could also try a local Salvation Army thrift store or one run by a similar charity.

Certain pieces can be got on the cheap from places like Target - they may not sell couches and armchairs, but they have cheap and durable coffee tables, shelves and TV stands.

I'd also suggest yard sales and a local classified ad section, and asking friends if they have any furniture to get rid of. Look also for estate sales.

Where in columbia south carolina can i get some free living room furniture for my friend?

Q. I have a friend who recently got her own place,but she's on SSI and don't have any money right now.She's been working part-time and still looking for a more stable job and most of her money goes toward paying rent and household utilities.She's not from columbia so she don't have from direction on which way to go to find living room furniture for free.I'm not from here either,but i told her that i would ask around.

A. free cycle.com

What does it mean when a guy tells you that you have nice living room furniture?

Q. So this guy was my boyfriends bestfriend. It was the first time I had ever met him. He goes "Hello, My name is *blah blah* you have nice living room furniture." He has never been to my house!

A. If he said it right after saying hello, as in there was no pause in between, he was probably nervous or feels attracted to you, if he actually looked around for a moment then he probably just meant it as what it was.

why are we still using wood to build homes?

Q. living in this age knowing that the forest are depleting, why are we still using wood to built our houses? We have tons and tons of metals from recycled materials that works just as good or even better to support houses.

I know that wood may be cheaper than metals, but isn't there anything that can be done about it?

A. Why use steel when wood is cheap and renewable? It is an unfortunate misconception that we are losing forests to manufacture structural lumber. As mentioned above, forests in 2nd and 3rd world countries without widespread guidelines and regulation are the primary sources of deforestation. The US has always grown more timber than it has harvested. Also as mentioned above, it is more energy efficient to produce the lumber needed to build a house than steel, which means conservation of fossil fuels and less CO2.

If you are passionate about forest conservation, I recommend checking out the World Wildlife Fund (see link below)

How do I remove tree sap from the rubber seats of a swingset?

Q. We recently bought a used wood built swingset. The rubber seats have alot of black tree sap or something on them from being outdoors for so long, what can I use to remove this?
I've already tried scrubbing them with soap & water, Mr. Clean erasers, & Clorox Cleanup.
HELP Please!

A. TRY JUST USING RUBBING ALCOHOL

How can cockroaches eat anything and survive in just about any condition?

Q. just read and watched some documentaries about cockroaches and it says that they can eat just about anything with their relentless appetites including wood built inside walls of houses, book bindings, cardboard and stuff like that.

they would only eat that stuff if they could not find their first choice of food like decaying animals or garbage...

But still??? how can u eat wood and cardboard and continue to live on? where is the nutrition in those materials?

this might explain why they've been around since dinosaurs.

A. The cardboard is made up pulp which comes from trees, this pulp contains mostly cellulose just like wood. The cellulose is nothing but complex form of glucose molecules. But no animal is capable of digesting cellulose, hence in the intestine of cockroach, some symbiotic bateria are present which are capable of digesting cellulose( microbial fermentation) present in carboard and wood.

How much will my interest rate be on a home purchase?

Q. My girlfriend and I are looking to move into a new home come Dec/Jan. She is a 650 credit score, I am a 600. Looking in the price range of a $100-150K home. Planning on putting $2,000 down.

With that being said, what kind of interest rate should I be expecting? Also...I have heard of 80/20 loans. Any feedback on those?

A. I just bought a home about 6 months ago, so I know what your going through. It depends on a few things. Where do you live? How much money do you guys make? What's in your credit history, not just your score!

I can tell you from your credit score that your definitely not going to get the prime rate. You'll probably get a rate a few percents above whatever the best rate is that the mortgage company offers.

An 80/20 loan is two separate loans and the 20% loan's rate is always higher. When you make a down payment on a home that is less than 20% of the sale price then you pay on an 80% loan and also a 20% (both %'s are in respect to the selling price on the home) So therefore, you'll either have to take out a 80/20 or a loan for the sale price and then pay mortgage insurance (PMI) (because your down payment is nowhere near 20%).

I was told not to mess with an 80/20 loan for different reasons but you'll have to do your research in order to make the best decision for you two.

Are there any extra taxes on BSNL 500 home plan?

Q. Last month I was using 250 plan and this month i have brought up 500home plan. Are there any extra taxes on it? Is 500 c better than it ?
I didn't know about the two other plans of rs.500. The officials didn't ask me also.
And they changed it to 500 home plan. Do you think I should change it again?

A. 1) BSNL Dataone plan 250
-- It is not having night free 02:00 - 08:00
2) BSNL Dataone plan 500
--It is having night free 02:00 - 08:00
--2.5 GB FREE/ MONTH /excess will be charged
3) Charges Month / Rs. 500 + Tax nearly 12%
4) Yearly payment Rs.5,000 + Tax Rs.618 = Rs.5,618

I'm trying to find a home plan site that has mid-century modern style home plans. Anyone know any? Thanx.?

Q. I've searched and searched, but I keep getting vintage books on mid-century modern home plans. I'm looking to build a home and I need a home plan that is more recent than that to give to the contractors. As long as the plan loox mid-century modern; tons of windows in the front and lots of open space inside. Any help would be appreciated.

A. I can't think of any right now. Try google.

How long do i keep my turtles lamps on for?

Q. I have one UVB 5.0 Lamp, and 2 household heat lamps. How long do i keep each on for and are there any further instructions?

A. I leave the lamp on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours; this simulates day and night.

How tall should bedroom table lamps be?

Q. I have great table lamps in the livingroom which is in the process of being redone. Would the lamps be too tall for the bedroom? Is there a formula of height requirements for table lamps? For a swag over the kitchen table, what is the clearance?

A. The lamps are not required to be any height...just make sure they are proportioned correctly with your bed post...lamps that are seen as too tall are normally those that are taller than the bed posts!

how best can I use floor lamps to light living room and bedroom with no ceiling lamp?

Q. I am moving into an older apartment and there are no ceiling lamps in the bedroom and living room. I bought a floor lamp from Walmart and 75W 'daylight' energy saving bulb from Home Depot. I find the lighting dull and not good enough to read with-I'm a student. This is really bothering me, how best can I light the rooms using lamps and have adequate light in them? I want them well illuminated and don't want to ruin my eyes either.

A. I had the same problem with lighting.
I ended up putting a big floor lamp in one corner and little lamps in the other corners on my dresser and night table.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Is it possible to grow mold on ceramic tiles?

How can I Remove stain from my Kitchen ceramic Tiles?

Q. Trying to clean my kitchen's Ceramic tiles . Does any one know a good way to clean stain from Ceramic tiles and how to prevent it in future.

I Removed my ceramic tiles now how do you get rid of the left over grout?

Q. I Removed my ceramic tiles now how do you get rid of the left over grout? that was underneath the tiles?

A. Thats not grout under the tile. It is a product called thinset and the only way to get it off is to chip it out with hammer and chisel. Dont use a grinder as this will cause severe damage to the underlayment.

How much should i expect to pay an electrician to move a 220 line in my kitchen over six inches.?

Q. I'm going to move my stove over six inches to accomadate new kitchen cabinetry.

A. why pay an electrician...its a simple move do it yourself and save yourself the money as here in canada an electrician can run anywhere from 80 - 120 bucks an hour

How can I camouflage a bright stainless steel washer?

Q. It's in the middle of my kitchen cabinetry, next to the dishwasher, thanks to my landlord who really should have stuck a cabinet door in front of it. Something solid like a mirror won't work, given the fact that the washer already sticks out a bit from the surrounding cabinetry. I'm thinking of an attractive appliance film of some kind, cut to allow for all the hills and valleys; maybe just a darker shade of metal would hide it. Any ideas?

A. If you put other stainless steel items in your kitchen, like the face of the dishwasher, the refrigerator, etc. Then the washer may not stick out as much. Also if you could paint the lower cabinets to either match or gray, that might help. Roxanne

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.

Home Contractors: What are homeowners like to work with?

Q. Hey home improvement contractors -- when you talk to homeowners about a project, what parts are they prepared for -- and what parts are they usually NOT prepared for?

A. They're seldom prepared for anything.

They usually have an unreasonably low budget, don't appreciate all that needs to be done, and expect that you've got nothing else to do but their job.

It helps to be extremely patient, teach them a little about the entire process, and exercise empathy when they exhibit "sticker shock."

I am searching for best home contractors in Charlestion South Carolina.?

Q. I am searching for best home contractors in Charleston South Carolina. Can any one give me a good reference.

A. I think gatch builders will be good for you. They can help you. http://www.gatchbuilders.com

How do I find an apprenticeship for a general contractor.?

Q. I want to be a home contractor though. Build houses and such. I have looked and craigslist and searched the web, but I guess perhaps the best thing would to be contact other companies who build homes and see if they have any entry positions? also What kind of schooling is required to be a general contractor, I want to eventually be in the supervisory position once Ive learned everything.

A. 1. You should possess a degree or basic qualification in construction, civil engineering or related subjects.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Basic-Qualifications-of-a-General-Contractor&id=5393201

2. You should approach a construction company for apprenticeship.

.

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.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

What's your best money saving tips?

Q. As a SAHM and just in general a frugal person, I am always looking for tips to save money. I will share a few of mine too. Here are my favorite money saving tips

Use a crock pot, it takes less money to run than your oves, saves tons of time, food turns out great, and it doesn't heat the house.

Use a Toaster oven. When I'm not cooking in the crock pot I'm cooking in my toaster oven. I bought one big enough to bake pies, bread, cake in square cake pan, cookies, chicken, steaks, etc..... I bought a regular toaster for making toast. I feel making toast in a large toaster oven is a waste of electricity.

Buy used when possible. I bought my sons loft bed for $150 the same exact bed sales for $1000 at our local kids furniture store. I bought his power wheels 2 seater jeep for $30. and I bought a Quadra Fire gas insert for $250, we were looking at the same one at a local store for $2500. These are just a few bargains I have found.

A. So many tips, so little room! I save plastic bowls from cottage cheese, yogurt, cream cheese, etc. They are great for organizing small items like nails and screws, or can be used when painting. Same for coffee cans. I save my daily newspapers and then wet them and roll into logs that I use in my fireplace in the winter. Freecycle is another great thing! I also clean and reuse plastic water bottles. I save my large plastic bottles for my greenhouse though. I will fill them with water, paint them with black spray paint and use them as a heat sink when the weather gets cold and my greenhouse needs warmth. When it warms up and the bottles are not needed, I use the water from the bottles to water my plants. Right now, I'm saving the caps from beer bottles to make a cool art project outside! It's my sister's idea! I mostly shop at thrift stores or consignment stores for clothing, and yes, I do hang my clothes outside on a clothesline!

Where can i get pottery barn kids coupons or discount codes?

Q. My nephew is 6 years old.I want to buy a pottery barn kids furniture for him .I want to get some coupons to save some money.so how can i get it?thank you

A. I think pottery barn kids is very beautiful. i also like it very much. i got some pottery barn kids coupon from the following site,i hope it is useful for you.

Where can I find a kids night stand sports locker at a reasonable price?

Q. The only place that I can find it is fantasytoyland.com and it is 160.00 and that is a little ridiculous for kids bedroom furniture.

A. i purchased two of them through a cataloge called hold everything if discontuied try sports authority

On Skyrim's Hearthfire DLC, can you make your child move home?

Q. I adopted a child on Skyrim but because it wouldn't let me adopt one at the home i built, i added a childs bedroom on to Breezehome. Now i want my child to move to my build house in Falkreath because i hate Breezehome. Is this possible? Thanks.

A. see the skyrim adoption guide:
http://www.rarityguide.com/articles/articles/3332/1/Skyrim-Hearthfire-Adoption-Guide-How-to-adopt-a-child/Page1.html

also the list of children you can adopt:
http://orcz.com/Skyrim_Hearthfire:_Adoptable_Children

why can't my female character in skyrim hearthfire build a house?

Q. when i started the game up this time the yarl said i could buy a childs bedroom, but i do not get the message to build a house as a female character. am i missing something ?

A. well.....im not exacttly sure but....i know its not because your a female and i hope you have a great time with heartfire when you get it to work i would suggest visting the jarl of....marthal maybe?

What kind of carpeting for a child's bedroom?

Q. I'm not sure what kind of carpeting to put in a grade school child's bedroom. What is going to make it show less wear? Will it help if it's textured? What will make it shows stains less? Will a darker color, texture, a varied color pattern, or some kind of stain-proofing treatment help?

A. I'm with the no carpet crowd. Almost anything but carpet. I do not care how clean and neat you are carpet is a dirt magnet, can't stand the stuff. Don't have any in my house..

What are some good online stores for home decor or clothing?

Q. Please list any good online stores that you can think of for home decor or clothing. I'm always looking for new places to shop. Thanks.

A. At Directly Home , also pick up a 10% off coupon for them at http://www.007coupons.com/Home---Garden/DirectlyHome-com-Coupons/index.html for a discount

Where can I buy really cheap home decor?

Q. I am buying my very first home, and I want it to feel exactly like that. HOME. Who wants a plain house with nothing in it? Besides the outrageous cost of getting the house, and having to fix up a few things, plus furnishing the place, I need some decor to make it feel more homey. I dont have much money left after buying all the other things. Does anyone have suggestions for cheap, nice home decor?

All suggestions are much appreciated! Thanks!

A. The very best way to obtain home decor at a rock bottom price is to always be on the lookout for these types of places:

Garage/Yard Sales
The GoodWill
The Salvation Army
Thrift Shops
Second Hand Shops
Consignment Shops
Your Friends and Family's Basements and Attics

Look past the finish on furniture and pay attention to the lines. You can refinish or paint just about anything. A $3.00 lamp base at the Salvation Army that is ugly can have new life with a can of spray paint.
Gaudy picture frames can become great frames for a mirror. Take the drawers out of a dresser, sand and stain them along with the dresser top, then paint the dresser black. A great look, indeed. An outdoor bench is a great asset in a house. You can get anything from rugs to liquor decanters at thrift shops. Shop for pillows in the clearance sections of Marshall's, TJ Max and Home Goods. Do not overlook new or used outdoor furniture to use inside. I made a great headboard out of a three paneled door turned sideways after filling in the doorknob hole and the hinge screws.

Find out when bulk pick up day is conducted in surrounding towns. Go out with a truck and you will be amazed at what people are throwing away. The best time to shop the Salvation Army and the GoodWill is in October, November and December when people are getting rid of their old furniture and replacing it for the holidays.

Paint is the least expensive and single most dramatic change you an make in any room. Pick warm colors and please do not pick white paint for your walls because it seems like a safe way out. Color in your home will instantly add the homey look you are after. Really.

Remember, buy only things you like and are capable of fixing up or you will end up with a bunch of stuff you hate in the long run.

Good Luck to you in your new home.

how do I find manufacturers for designs of home decor?

Q. I design jewelry and ceramics and recycle items into useful but decorative home decor items. I just don't know how to find manufacturers of home decor that would buy my designs or how to submit them.
Can anyone out there clue me in on how to do this?

A. interior design magazine would be a good resource, especially the annual buying/ merchandise guide, as it has the vendors broken down by category, incl. home decor. This or any other magazine aimed at the trade would be a better bet than, say, magazines aimed at homeowners, because trade pubs will have more manufacturers and fewer distributors. Good luck!

When a new President and his family move into the White House?

Q. Do they throw out the old bedding, towels, etc. Or is it like a hotel, and they wash and re-use them? What about the mattress' and the kids furniture. How much redecorating can they do to personalize their space, especially the space for the kids?

A. Hmmmmm.

Dunno about bedding and towels.

I doubt they replace the matresses every time, but who knows?

I bet the White House web site talks about this somewhere -- did you look there?

The White House usually gets some redecorating, color changes (inside, obviously) and probably some new furniture with each new administration.

But check the site; I'd be surprised if they don't mention this there.

http://www.whitehouse.gov

Looking for materials for interior designing and Chiasso coupon or deals on them?

Q. I am in the process of revamping the interior of my house and am looking for cheap flooring materials as well as various furniture, such as office furniture and kids furniture. Of course, not to mention, matching rugs, vases, planters, etc. Please suggest sites where I can get this for less!

A. Chiasso coupons or offers that are going on :
âRefer a Friend, save $25â, âGreat Savings at Chiasso Sales Centerâ âInspired Design for Homeâ etc.

You can access this at http://www.couponscave.com/go/stores/chiasso-coupons/

Let me know if that works, or else, I can suggest a few other sites and offers.

What's your best money saving tips?

What do you have to do to an attic or basement to make it liveable space?

Q. I want to add my attic and basement to the overall square footage of my house when I list it for sell. What is required to make an attic listed as a bedroom and a basement listed as a den? Can I just list them as that or do I have to remodel something?

A. If your attic and basement are unfinished no (decent) agent will list them as living space. If you're selling the house yourself and you list unfinished areas of your home as rooms, buyer will consider you dishonest and wonder what else you've lied about. Finishing an attic as a bedroom would probably be easier than remodeling a basement (especially if it has any dampness). The walls of an attic will need to be insulated, have a moisture barrier put over that. Electrical outlets and lighting need to be wired to code, then sheetrock the walls (which should be taped, sanded and primed, at the least). Attention should also be given to flooring. A DRY basement could be finished much in the same way, but consideration need to be given to furnaces, hotwater heaters, etc. that are often in them, and be up to code. If your basement is damp, remodeling can get costly and may not give you a good return at sale.

How to locate a live wire in the attic to tap a power outlet.?

Q. In the attic, I see a wire that I suspect is going to a standard outlet below. I'd like to tap a wire from this line to a ceiling outlet for my hanged TV. How do I make sure that this is really a live wire that goes down to an outlet and not a mere switch line, or something else. Thanks.

A. You could do what I did for my neighbor who wanted an outlet on the ceiling for her 42" LCD TV mounted on the wall. I ran a heavy duty extension cord(14 ga) in the attic from the wall outlet in the central air/heater unit closet and mounted a junction box on a 2x4 stud installed between the attic ceiling studs(16" apart) and flush mounted it to the ceiling. Didn't have to worry about taping into any power lines in the attic. Was a very easy job and it worked great.

Should i ventilate the attic when the airconditioner is running to cool of the downstairs?

Q. This is a one hundred year old three story house. It has insulation in the walls up to where the attic starts. No attic floor insulation. Attic ceiling is A frame peak with insulation in the sealing. No attic vents, so I put the fan in the window to blow out the hot air. Close the attic door and turn on the whole house airconditioner which really is only effective on the first floor with a little effect in one bedroom.

A. you are better off ventilating the attic, not only will it help keep your house cooler, it will also extend the life of your shingles

Any ideas on how to come up with window treatments fast and cheap for my new house that has tons of windows?

Q. It is an old cottage with lots of charm. I plan on painting it all light, and sanding the wood floors light, so I want the curtains to be light too.

I need ideas for window treatments that are affordable, but creative. This house is covered with lots of windows, and I don't know what I'm gonna do.

A. You know how people throw the sheets up well i have revised it since it is a cottage style Sheet's are a wonderful window treatment amd they already have a slot for the rod this is what i did for the mean time and the mean time is been like 5 years already ..lol .....UKAY i bought some cheap sheets at a discount store with flowers and plaid bright soft colors. then i went to my local harware store bought some dowels (round wood rods)usally 3-4' tall 5/8-1/2" and if i had a larger window i used a closet rod and cup hooks to hold them and this is the afforable but creative treatment. In the kitchen i divided the window and covered half and the other half i draped the top rod so i could have some sunlight in. Oh yes i used material glue for the edges. I didn't want to sew. It was fun easy and afforable and I am into victorian look so it was chic to me .

What kinds of window treatments can you hang when you have wood blinds?

Q. I am trying to decorate my living room, specifically I am looking to add window treatments. I have wood blinds (medium oak color) and wood trim (same color). Everything else in the room is really neautral - all khaki. I am wondering what kinds of things I can do for window treatments. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

A. Sounds like we have the same blinds. The wood is so beautiful you really shouldn't cover it up. We put up simple valances in a neutral color ( close to khaki ) so when the blinds were open they were hidden and we had an open view. When they are closed you get the full effect of the wood. It would be a shame to hide it. It took us a few days to get used to just valances, but it works. Also it is cleaner. Less dust and less curtain cleaning.

What color window treatments in kitchen with gray walls and hunter green counter-tops?

Q. In the house we are buying my kitchen will have light gray walls, hunter green counter-tops, and white cabinets. What color window treatments should I go with?

A. Have you thought about installing shutters to your windows? Not only are they more effective at saving energy and insulating than blinds/shades, they last longer and are beautiful to look at. If you arenât familiar with shutters, they are solid window coverings that consist of a frame surrounding an inset of fabric, glass, a solid panel, or most traditionally, louvers. Louvers are panels that can be adjusted to allow different amounts of light into your home. Shutters can be hinged and movable or fixed in place, and can be placed either on the interior or exterior of your home. Shutters placed in the interior of your home can replace what would have been curtains. Not only would they last longer, but they are more elegant and serve a function. White shutters would look amazing in the kitchen you just described! Here are pictures of shutters (http://bit.ly/lSuo8x) if you're interested.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

do i paint my cabinets dark and walls light or the other way around?

Q. I want to paint my kitchen walls and cabinets but dont know if the walls should be a little darker than the cabinets or maybe the walls light and the cabinets dark. Also I have paneling I want to paint so do I paint it a different color than the walls and cabinets.

A. I'd paint the cabinets lighter and the walls a little darker shade. Nothing hardly makes a house look as old or as out of style as dark cabinets. Dark cabinets just scream 1970's and 1980's. The paneling color partly depends on where it is. You also may want to use some wood putty over the grooves in the wood paneling if it's the wide 1970's style paneling. If the panels are narrower (about 2" or so), I'd leave the grooves in place.

Don't worry about the room being too dark if you go with a slightly darker color for the walls. The walls don't have to be all that much darker than the cabinets. I'd go with a medium tone for the walls and a light tone for the cabinets.

Why is my outside wall light going on and off?

Q. I have a mains powered wall light with a motion sensor. Since that very cold weather, when it senses motion and comes on, it flashes on and off, on and off...
Could something have been damaged by the severe cold?
Is there a part I can replace/fix, instead of replacing the whole light?
Thanks folks

A. My light suffered the same way. The sensor is a sealed unit so a new light is the only solution. I bought a new one and it looks better than the other one and works better.
My old one sometimes came on in bright sunlight and took ages to come on when dark.

How do I decorate a wall with a light in the center of it?

Q. I have a wall in my living room that has a wall light right in the center of it. I have no Idea how to decoate it. It seems so plain and I want to cozy up the room. The walls are painted a brick red and we have dark brown leather furniture. Thanks for your ideas.

A. I would suggest hanging art but making sure that you have symmetry on either side of the light. Another idea is to switch out your existing light to a modern track light (like you would normally have on your ceiling) if you had 3 track lights facing down onto three pieces of art that would look good. Or another option would be to add a console table against that wall, one that is a good width, then add some interesting pieces on it like large candles, a plant or sculpture and the light on the wall above it will feel like a part of the whole vignette.

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

How hard is it to remove/hide a fireplace no longer wanted.?

Q. We are turning this room into a childs bedroom.

A. The easiest way I can think of would be to attach studs to the existing walls around the fireplace. Then you can build a box that will fit over the fireplace and attach it to the studs that you already put up. This way if you decide at some point in the future that you DO want a fireplace in that room it will be fairly simple to take down the "false" wall or box. Any more questions, feel free to shoot me a message.

I need to know where i can find disney cars curtains for bedroom?

Q. Disney cars curtains for my childs bedroom

A. try here, they have the bedding, am guessing they will have the curtains
http://boysthemebedrooms.com/cars/race-cars-boys-theme-decorating-ideas.html

What's the normal length for Window Valance to fit most Windows?

Q. How many do you need to buy in order to cover two windows in your childs bedroom?

A. The size of the valance should be printed on the package. Measure the window and add a couple of inches on each side to find out the minimum size you need. You should only have to buy one per window, unless the windows are inordinately large.
Windows vary a lot in size, so there are several "standard" sizes. If in doubt, buy the larger one and you can bunch it up on the drapery rod.

What kind of regular maintenance is needed for house?

Q. I'm a new home owner and don't know a thing about home maintenance. I change the air filters about every 2 months, but that's about it. What do you do to maintain/care for your house? any help would be appreciated.

A. I touch up paint the baseboards annually. Clean the vents over the stove weekly to prevent grease build up which could cause a fire. Clean out the aerators on the faucets monthly because little rocks and impurities accumulate affecting water flow. I remove the screw off drain caps on all of the sinks to remove hair and really yucky gunk that accumulates and impedes the sink for draining properly. At the same time, I dump a cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of baking soda down the drains to keep them flowing freely.

I utilize the free services provided by my utility provider to have the AC inspected prior to the first use in the summer season and my gas heater inspected before the cold weather sets in. Annually, I drain my hot water heater to keep impurities and mineral deposits from accumulating on the elements to keep it operating efficiently. I have a fireplace and have a chimney sweep clean it out, check the flu and spark arrestor once before burn season starts and then every cord of wood thereafter. Although I have animal and debris guards on my gutters, I still get up there and make sure they are clear before the rainy season starts. Although my smoke detectors are hard wired, they do have battery backup and I check them to make certain they are still good with my battery tested twice a year when we change time.

I check my automatic sprinkler system every 3 months to make certain that all of the heads are adequately watering the plants and not the cement, no pipes are broken and they aren't clogged. I power wash my house in the autumn after our windy season (we get a lot of dust accumulation after Santa Anas) and have my windows, tracks, and screens both inside and outside cleaned twice a year. I test my burglar and fire alarm system every three months and check the battery back-up every 6 months. I inspect my driveway for rust, fluid drips and tire marks which I clean up every 3 months. I use the free inspection services from the pest control companies to have my property inspected annually for pests, termites, rodents, bees, etc.

I have my very tall trees pruned annually if needed and hard prune back all of my bushes and woody stemmed shrubs that bloom on new wood, generally in the autumn. I inspect my landscape lights to make certain they don't need bulbs and are illuminating areas that could be attractive to burglars. I have my lawn aerated either in spring or autumn to prevent soil compaction. I over seed the lawn in autumn because our rainy season starts then. I use a pre-emergent weed and feed on my lawn in the spring and a winterizer in the autumn. During the spring bloom season and throughout the summer, I use liquid fertilizer on my plants and beds as needed (about every 90 days). I have dogs and have a lot of wildlife in my area bringing in fleas and ticks that are dangerous to my pets. So I not only treat them, but I treat my lawn and beds every 90 days.

I live in an area prone to devastating wild fires. So, I clear all brush and debris around my home and 100 feet from any structure to create a fire break. I make certain all leaves, pine boughs, dead branches, etc. are removed prior to fire season.

I clean out my dishwasher by running an empty load on the longest cycle with a cup of vinegar on the bottom and the soap dispenser filled with baking soda to keep grease from accumulating. I also clean out the filter at the bottom where food particles accumulate. About every 4-6 months, I pull out the fridge, clean the coils and anything that has accumulated under and behind it. At the same time, I check the date on the ice maker filter to determine if I need to change it. I also pull out the washer and dryer to clean behind them. I inspect the dryer venting system and check that the animal guard outside is still in place and not clogged with lint.

Finally, annually I review all of my insurance coverages to make certain that I have not made improvements which could impact my coverages or create a situation where I am underinsured.

A lot on the to-do list to be a responsible home owner, huh?

Who can I contact to do maintenance on foreclosed properties in southeastern michigan?

Q. Who can I contact to do maintenance on foreclosed properties in southeastern michigan?

I own a lawn maintenance and home maintenance (inside and outside) and would want to work on these homes to maintain for the lender, realtor, bank etc.

But I am unable to finds out who to contact, does anyone have and leads that I can geta hold of?

A. This can be complex. In many cases, the lender hires a loss mitigation company to handle their foreclosures. This can be subbed out to yet another company. From my friends that work in foreclosures, there can be about 5 companies involved in financial decisions on these properties.

Your best bet is market yourself to Realtors who will ultimately list these properties. Most have weekly meetings, ask if you can make a short presentation at a meeting. Or get some inexpensive flyers printed up with pricing or information about services you offer and drop a few at every RE office in your area.

Do men make a naturally better stay at home parent in this day and age?

Q. In the modern workforce, women seem more suited to the office routine, social scene and nature of much of the repetetive work. Men today, while staying home are more apt to keep the children active, can become adept at most housekeeping skills, and perform other home maintenance duties that women typically refuse to do. Also, in most families, fathers handle most of the discipline. Should women now work to support a husband and children?

A. Like Helena said, natural roles are myths. You should figure what your strong points are and apply them in life. Some women are more suited to be a stay-at-home mom and some are not. Same goes for men. Some are suited to be a stay-at-home dad while some are not. And some men shouldn't get married or father children at all. Vasectomy is the best option for them.

What color should i paint my living room?

Q. I have a brick red couch, tan carpet, black accent furniture and earthtone decor.

A. play around with the Sherwin Williams color visualizer to find something that you like. It is the best paint visualizer on the web, imho. I like how their color palette is laid out, I like that you can search by color family & color name, the "painted" rooms look the most realistic, and it suggests coordinating color schemes. You can literally spend hours:
http://www.sherwin.com/visualizer/

I think it would look wonderful to paint your room a color called "perfect greige" (# 6073) It's a neutral tone - a combo of gray & beige & I think it would look gorgeous with the brick.

Furniture is medium gray. What should I buy?

Q. So far all I have is medium gray loveseat and sleeper. How can I decorate? what colors? theme? accent furniture....Give me tips on decor please :)

A. All Sherwin Williams colors:

Walls: Quixotic Plum
Trim: Chinchilla
Ceiling: Inspired Lilac

accent in bright not bold yellow's, not golds.

What color should I paint my master bedroom accent wall?

Q. We are thinking about painting 3 walls a creamy off-white color and would like an accent wall. Our carpet is beige and we have mint green bedding with chocolate brown accents. Our furniture is a medium oak color. What colors would you recommend for the accent wall? I was thinking a light blue shade, but I do not have much experience decorating.

Thank you!

A. You can go with brown or chocolate color, what ever goes well with your furniture.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I'm trying to find a home plan site that has mid-century modern style home plans. Anyone know any? Thanx.?

A. I can't think of any right now. Try google.

What are some websites with 'green' home plans?

Q. Meaning environmentally-friendly home plans. Websites please.

(United States only, please.)

A. Let me start off by saying we (my family and I) live completely, 100% âoff of the grid and are completely self sufficientâ

The house is built utilizing natures natural elements, in the shape of an octagon with 8ft wide arch doors on every wall to catch every angle of wind (typical 4 sided homes have half the chance as one with 8 sides. A circle being the most efficient design). Woodburning stoves, solar chimney, solar AC, solar heating, solar water heating (pool and home), solar stove, solar power, wind power, hydrogen powered back up generator, hydrogen back up water heater, hydrogen stove, 2 hydrogen powered trucks, 1 EV (electric vehicle) and satellite internet.

We also built many green small cabins on the ranch that we offer to family, friends and our on-site off-grid workshop guests, including one straw bale, one papercrete, earth bag and adobe, one cob and cordwood, one underground and rammed earth, one log and post and beam and one rock. Each one actually started as a test for what the main house would be and were later finished and turned into guest cabins. I later wrote a guide on how to build with alternative materials using alternative methods for next to nothing.

We raise meat and milk goats, chickens for meat and eggs, ducks for meat and eggs, trap havilina (wild boar pig), rabbit, quail. brew our own beer from home grown products, preserve our fruits, vegetables, etc. smoke and jerky the meat, make our own soap, cheese.

There are no utility lines, no water lines, no roads, tv, cell service, etc. on our ranch. EVERYTHING needed is produced here. All electricity comes from 27 solar panels, 2 main wind gens and a back hydrogen generator if needed (typically we can last 9 days with all luxuries of sunless windless weather, hasn't happened yet). Water is caught and storaged from the rain. Hot water is made with solar batch water heaters with an on-demand hydrogen hot water heater as backup. Even our vehicles use alternative energy (2 hydrogen trucks, 1 EV electric vehicle converted). Because of this we have no bills, no debt and no mortgage.

Anyone interested can check it out at..

www agua-luna com

I believe this is the first step anyone can make âhelp the environmentâ. Once you convert your own life style to a greener more eco friendly route, you can start helping others.

my home has all the comforts listed above plus some. we live very comfortable without effecting the environment. just saying that tol et you know it's possible. you may not want to go as extreme as me and my family but anywhere in between is something.

Without getting to in depth here, Using alternative fuels in your vehicles and harnessing your own electricity from the sun, water, earth and wind are the 2 are key elements in making a green transition and erasing your carbon footprint.

here's a calculator to find out how much of a green impact your making (carbon footprint)

http://www.conservation.org/act/live_green/carboncalc

if you'd like to make your next step feel free to contact me personally at www agua-luna com

I've been installing home made Solar panels. Solar stoves, Solar batch and inline hot water heaters. Solar radiant heating. Solar home heating and AC, along with home made wind gens and other alternative energy items for the last 3 years.

You can even make the above projects on site with simple parts from the local hardware stores or auto stores or junk yards. For more info check out some guides I wrote / compiled on how to DIY www agua-luna com

Again these projects can be accomplished anywhere by anyone.

if you absolutely can't do anything in your home at least you can put alternative fuels in your car. most major automotive manufacturers (Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, etc) recommend the use of bio fuels, and nearly every car manufacturer in the world approves ethanol blends in their warranty coverage.

In fact your probably even driving an ethanol car and didn't even know it.

The trick is finding fuel.

I've been producing biofuel for about 3 years now, it's not extremely difficult. Basically you need general household ingredients, a processor (or still for ethanol) and some used oil. Blend it, let separate, screen and use. I complied a guide a while back to help walk you threw the process step by step, just email me or check out..

www agua-luna com

as for recyling the best way i've found without taking money from your won pocket is to join a free freecycle group in your area or visit the habitat for humanity.

If youâd like help in making your self sufficient steps, feel free to contact me directly. Iâve written several how-to DIY guides available at www agua-luna com
on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others âhelp the environmentâ.

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if youâd like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, Iâm

What does the abbreviation "Par." mean in a house plan?

Q. I'm looking at home plans and I don't know what some of the abbreviations mean. What is Par.? It is the label of a room in some plans, and it seems to be a different type of room in every one. Can anyone help me out here?

A. Maybe it means parlor or it could be an abreviation for a partition(room divider)

how can I convert my home air condition system into solar energy?

Q. i want to convert the electrical system in my home air condition into solar energy. I have central air at this time.

A. Depending on your location, the size of your home and cooling capacity of your central A/C unit it might be hard to covert 100% of the power use of your central A/C to solar. Not to mention very expensive.

Now if you have a 2,500 sq-ft house and use a 3 ton standard A/C unit at 16 EER it could draw as much as 25amps at 220v you would need about 5.5KW of PV plus a large battery bank to handle surges at (start up, blower, ect.) 250w PV panels are about $1000 each and figure about 2x the PV costs for batteries, inverter, installation, wiring, ect. You can see how this gets expensive quickly.

Living in different part of the US may require even more PV panels. Plus, you will need to put the PV panels on a tracking system (a mount that tilts the panels to be perfect aligned with the sun's path) There are always cloudy days, so if the humidity is not too bad you can hopefully shut the A/C off and credit your electric bill by turning your electric meter backwards.

A better option might be to sell your central A/C and replace it with a heat pump system. A heat pump uses the ground temperature to cool and heat. It may seem more complex but is rather simple can be far less expensive than a full blown PV system. The heat pump can run 24/7 cooling or heating as needed and can provide 4 times the amount of energy they consumes.

Dept of Energy Heat Pump information
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12610

Hope that answers some of your questions!

Info on Solar energy in a home?

Q. Where can i find information about building a home that uses mostly solar energy? Are there websites for this?

A. Google search "solar builders" for a good start.

Can solar power really be cost effective in the near future?

Q. In the next year or two, Will consumers choose to power their homes with solar energy based on saving money alone?

A. Solar energy is definitely an alternative to wasteful and harmful burning of fossil fuels. Now I will admit solar panels used to produce energy is a bit costly but in the long run it pays for itself by cutting your energy bill dowm drastically

How often does furniture inventory turnover at a large retailer?

Q. We've found furniture that we like but aren't moving into our new house for about 6-8 months as it is being built. We don't have any room to put new furniture but don't want it to be gone/discontinued by the time we need to buy it.

A. It depends. Some retailers sell "open stock" They order furniture, often by the container load, and sell it when it comes in. When it's gone, it's gone and they may or may not order more of the same or even keep the same manufacturer.

Others sell a manufacturer's line and will have display models and inventory or order things just like it as sold. They will continue to sell as long as the manufacturer makes that model and/or they have some in inventory.

Others are "made to order" particularly upholstered furniture. You pick out the style and the fabric (sometimes from 1000s of options). As long as the fabric is available (average lifespan 3-5 years) they will make it for you.

The other thing to do is just ask the retailer. They may know if the style is being discontinued soon. If so, you can buy it and have them hold it for you until you are ready. This may involve a storage or warehousing charge. Or you can put down a deposit and have them let you know if this is happening during the time you're waiting.

How would I clean a Leather couch that has been in storage for a long time?

Q. the couch is blue leather and has been in storage for quite a while and is covered in dust/dirt. I have found products to condition leather and read NOT to use soap and water... any suggestions for cleaning and wiping the couch down prior to conditioning?? Please help

A. You need to use a good quality water based foam leather cleaner.
DO NOT use anything containing oils, waxes or silicones. (Most 'conditioners' contain waxes or oils so should not be used) and furniture polish (Pledge etc)contains silicones which will destroy the finish on the leather.

BABY WIPES are the worst thing you can use as they will destroy the finish on your leather. They are very strong alkiline cleaners to neutralise urine (acid) on babys skin so they are not the right thing to use on leather.

Saddle soap is too harsh to use on todays furniture.

A lot of leather wipes contain chemicals which will also destroy the finish or leave residues on the leather which will damage it. They are not cheap in the long run as you would need a lot to clean a whole leather sofa. A bottle of foam cleaner should do your furniture 1-2 times.

Fairy liquid contains more salt these days to get dishes clean and this will break the finish down on your leather. This has been verified by the manufacturers (as with the baby wipes).

You should also follow cleaning with a good water based leather protector which will act like a 'scotchgard' and inhibit dirt and stains from being absorbed and make cleaning easier the next time.

Dry leather needs rehydrating with water and oils and waxes should not be used as the natural oils do not dry out of leather. Wiping over with a damp cloth regularly will help to do this.

It is important to maintain a regular cleaning regime cleaning dirt off the surface regularly and inhibiting the absorption of body oils into the leather with a protector is the best way of doing this.

The alternative is a brand new product on the market called Lazy Leather. This is the latest technology in cleaning and combines an effective cleaner with a protector. It is quick and easy to use and should be used as a maintenance product once your suite has been cleaned or from new if you have just bought it.

f you clean and protect your leather properly there is no need to cover them, leather is the most hard wearing 'fabric' there is.

Using household products may appear to work but will in the long run deteriorate the leather finish quicker and it may tehn be impossible to restore. May seem cheaper to use products from the supermarket but if they do not work or damage the leather then it is a short sighted saving.

Source(s):

http://www.LTTsolutions.net
Leather care consultants to the furniture and cleaning industries

rearranging furniture in small trailer bedroom?

Q. I desperately need to get more room in my mother's trailer for the summer. Bringing back all of my stuff from school (most of which are not going to be used i.e. sheets and towels), and not sure how to fit it all in. I know I need to rearrange, but a few suggestions about storage and rearranging furniture would really help. Especially if you live in a small trailer or small bedroom.

A. Take graph paper and draw the room to scale. Take another sheet of graph paper and make each furniture piece to scale and cut them out. Then you can acurately "arrange" the furniture pieces on the graph paper, till you find what works best. Saves a ton of time.

Best way to change room color without damaging walls?

Q. I want to change my baby blue bedroom to black and orange but I'm 20 and should move out in a couple years and my parents don't want either color on the walls because they are hard to paint over. I was wondering if there was an easy way to change the color without doing anything to the drywall? Are there cheap temporary wall panels I can put up and paint?

A. Sounds like you have bold taste, and it is definitely time to get rid of that baby blue. One option might be to promise to paint the room back to whatever color your parents choose when you leave, but I think you may be happier implementing your bold choices in a different way to create more focus and impact to your design.

Suggest painting the walls a dark or light gray that your parents could approve, and then incorporating the bold black and orange colors in furniture, linens and accessories. If you take a look at the following websites, you can see that the bold colors you love really "pop" against the more neutral,contrasting background.

I noticed that several of these photos have a feature wall, or portion of a feature wall, that is painted orange. You could get the same impact by making a large headboard covered with orange fabric or out of wood, painted orange. Have attached a website with simple ideas for headboards.

Hope this helps!

Air conditioning is it safe to use in a young child/babies bedroom?

Q. We live in a hot country and have had air conditioning put into our bedrooms and lounge. We are constantly being told it is bad for you, to use it, but, as the weather in my town often gets into the 50's c, plus a relatively high humidity, we need something to keep us cool. We are worried that if we use it in our grandchild's room, it will cause health problems for her.

A. There is nothing wrong with using air conditioning around children. If it is a window unit, insure that it is tilted slightly to the outside of the house so that it drains properly or mold may grow in it. Mold is bad so you want to prevent it.

just curious to see what every one thinks, closing an infants bedroom door?

Q. recently a friend of mine told me that the doctors scolded her and told her NEVER to close an infants door because if there is a fire you need to get in and out without any delays. But say there was a fire and it was outside of the babies bedroom, wouldn't a closed door minimize smoke and slow down a fire from reaching his bedroom?

my sons door isn't ever closed always cracked to keep noise distractions and pets out.

A. The only time I could see it being a big deal is if the fire started in the infants room because with the door closed the handle maybe too hot to use to open it, but as long as you have a baby monitor on I don't really see an issue it is very unlikely that an accidental fire starts in an infants room (they don't smoke, no cooking is done in that room, and normally they don't have that many electronics plugged in)

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

How to get past a security light?

Q. I'm sneaking out tonight, and we have security lights in our yard. How do you get past them without making them turn on?

A. best way is to go to your circuit breaker in the garage and find the breaker for the security lights/that side of the house. turn it off. then wala, problem solved.
another way would be to remove the sensor on the lights
remove the light bulbs
avoid the lights/sensor
tape the sensor up (during the day or something)
or as someone else said, avoid emitting Infra red radiation

actually, I think the way you COULD do this seriously, is the following:

find/buy one of those "space blankets". (reflective blankets meant to keep you warm by keeping in all IR heat) you can buy em at walmart and camping store as well as the kennedy space center if your interested haha.

then, cover yourself in it COMPLETELY shielding yourself form the camera, and go for it, walk, dont run, past the sensor, and you may be able to sneak past it because the blanket will hide your IR radiation from view of the sensor.
I haven't tried it, but I think it might work, seeing as how the blankets ar meant to keep IR radiation in. so they wont let it out and will act like a sort of camo from the sensor.
btw, the blankets go for like a max of 20 bucks.

*edit*
The walking slow thing, may work a bit, but you must understand how this stuff works to understand that it wont work well. maybe at all. the security light sensor is looking for a "change" in the IR temperature it is sensing. so if you move really slow, it might not detect a change. but then again, it might. its not worth trying. US a highly reflective material like a space blanket or shiny shiny aluminum.

If you have a lien on your house can you get a home improvement loan on the property?

Q. The property is financed through a private party, not a bank or mortgage co. Can you get a home equity loan to fix it up? Or a home improvement loan? even though there is a lien on the property?

A. Yes. The mortgage company will want to get the home appraised to make sure it is worth how much you are trying to take from it. But as long as you have enough it should not be a problem. You can either keep your current mortgage and also get a second mortgage for however much you are looking to get. You also have the option of refinancing and paying off the original lien and receiving the rest of the money from the loan payed out to you so that you can use it for home improvements.

How to get a home improvement loan?

Q. My parents and I own 2 homes on the same lot. We havent had home owners insurance for over 10 years. I want to get a home improvement loan, so I can qualify for home owners insurance and improve my living situation. What can I do? I need the electric, plumbing, and the outside of my house done. No, I don't qualify for hud.

A. Why don't you qualify for homeowner's insurance?

While a lender would usually require insurance, having insurance doesn't imply that you can get a home improvement loan.

Should we wipe out savings or go with home equity line of credit to finance home improvements?

Q. My husband and I are debating how to finance some home improvement projects. He says use savings, I say use a line of credit(repay within two years hopefully) I am afraid if we use savings we will never replace it. He doesn't want debt. Any opinions?

A. If you got the equity then go with the HELOC. If the home improvements are going to increase the value of your home then it's a no brainer. As long as you're not going to buy a car or take a vacation with it. Leave your savings alone.

...OR say you can get a HELOC @ 6% APR. Then the money in your savings account that you would have spent on your house - put that money in a CD (or some other investment vehicle) that earns 6% interest and then you're pretty much getting your home improvements for free. If you got 6% going out then see if you can get at least 6% coming in.... and then you'll make that much more when you sell the house because you didn't really pay much for the improvements.

Monday, December 17, 2012

How much will my interest rate be on a home purchase?

Are there any extra taxes on BSNL 500 home plan?

I'm trying to find a home plan site that has mid-century modern style home plans. Anyone know any? Thanx.?

A. I can't think of any right now. Try google.

what colors would be good in a livingroom?

Q. I have a two tone livingroom, and its blue. Ew. That's how my livingroom was when my husband and I moved in. We are desperate to paint, but we want to keep the two tone look, but we want something different from the normal browns and creams. Also light colors, nothing too dark. Any suggestions?

A. Badge,light orange or light green

where can I find someone to come into my home and advise me on how to arrange my livingroom?

Q. I don't know how to arrange my livingroom, it looks cluttered and out of order?

A. Both Ethan Allen and Thomasville offer this service, free. You of course could call an interior rearranger or an interior designer or a stager for an hourly fee.

What color should I paint my livingroom?

Q. I have navy blue carpeting and a charcoal grey couch. I am looking to paint the walls and window trim of my livingroom. Any ideas on what would be a good color combination?

A. light blue/gray

Wayfair Coupon for buy Boys bedroom furniture which is vibrant and trendy, need good site suggestions?

Q. Need best Wayfair Coupon site suggestions for boyâs bedroom furniture which is comfortable and safe, to decorate room for my naughty twins.

A. You Need Wayfair Coupon For buy Boys bedroom furniture visit http://homeshoppingblog.com/wayfair-coupons-wayfair-coupon-code-exclusive-deals.html . Suggest this because these people know their part best, at the end you get a tight hug from your child with a wide grin what else does one need. You must visit this site and decorate your childâs room as per his character; they have beautiful quality stuff bunk beds and other boyâs bedroom furniture just for twin boys as well.
You can gift your child his perfect personal comfortable space and save some perks as well through , they have good deals, coupon codes and promo codes helping you save a lot.

Why does my new oak bedroom furniture keep cracking?

Q. We bought some new solid oak bedroom furniture recently, and the oak keeps splitting. The company has already replaced the wardrobe doors but it has happened again, and the other furniture is now showing small cracks. The room is normal tempurture, it cost us a small fortune, and we are at our witts end thinking what to do. Any advice greatly appreciated.

A. Sounds like you may have a high humidity level in your home which can cause cracking in any wood...Moisture gets in and causes the cracking..Get a dehumidifier and place it in the bedroom..That may fix the problem..Also use some lemon oil on your furniture to protect it or look for some polish called Guardsman..It also is very good in conditioning the wood..I hope this helps.. Good Luck

What color should I paint my bedroom furniture?

Q. I want to paint my bedroom a sunny yellow color. My bedroom furniture is black right now, but I'm going to refinish it to be a lighter color. The furniture has a shiny black finish on it. How would I refinish it? Should I paint or stain it? And what color should I make it that would look nice with cream plantation shutters, beige carpet, and light yellow walls?

Thanks.

A. NAVY BLUE or ORANGE are right colours u

what causes bubbles in floor finish?

Q. I had this happen when I finished some floors yesterday. The floor is black & red v.c.t. and the bubbles kind of look like drops of water hardened under the floor finish. It didn't happen until I applied the 2 coat & only got worse with the 3rd. I gave extremely sufficient dry time, a lot more than usual (hours) and the weather here was extremely dry & sunny. I have never had this problem.
The floor was given 1 hour to dry with a lot of air flow in about 85 degree weather. The area that bubbled is just as you walk inside the building, about 2 rows of tile deep.(2 ft.) They aren't really bubbled, but look like it, you can barely feel it. Seems like it is somewhat like a shallow pitted effect?
By the way, I am a janitorial service...I have never seen this..kind of wild but my dad has been in the flooring business for 40 years and said he was unsure unless there is water trapped under the tile and coming through. But I appreciate everyones help. I think it may be air.

A. Sereral possibilities.

Air entrainment.. either during pouring or during brushout..

I like using a lambswool applicator for floors, which puts down a smooth coat.

Pulling the coat too quickly can entrain air.. try a slower motion.

Too THICK a coat in your DRY conditions may be causing the coat to skim too fast and not let the microscopic air bubbles out. You can add a retarder (like Penetrol for oil base finishes). This will let the finish level out. The draw back is more dust

Finally, water-based finishes are less likely to form bubbles since each coat is thinner and can level out

What type of floor finishes would you recommend for the following cases?Justify your answer please...?

Q. What type of floor finishes would you recommend for the following cases?Justify your answer.
a) A chemical laboratory
b) A hospital
c) A garage
d) A bath room

A. a) Chemical resistant coating on a concrete floor.
This will allow for a variety of spills without degrading the concrete's strength

b) Jointed flooring system
This will allow for an easy installation on a large surface area. It will also allow spills to be cleaned up easily without any seeping through.

c) Concrete floor with a standard sealant
This will keep the dust down and allow for easy cleaning or such things as oil spills. It will help prevent permanent staining of the concrete,

d) Ceramic tiling
With the large amount of moisture that this flooring will be subjected tom you need a material that is impervious to moisture. Ceramic deters the growth of mold and mildew as it is a nonporous surface.

Hope this helps!

how do can i repair a deep scratch in my hardwood floor?

Q. we recently moved some furniture and scratched a long gouge in the hardwood floors right in the middle of living room. the floor finish is varathane. can i do a touch up job over the existing finish and if so, how do i do that or will i have to sand down the entire area and refinish the entire room?

are there any good quick fixes to this type of problem?

A. A quick fix is wood putty and sand paper, then use an Old English that matches the wood.

When doing taxes can you deduct home improvement expenses every year or only the year you sell?

Q. I was told that you could deduct home improvement expenses until the year you sold your house. Is this true?

A. Home improvement costs generally increase your adjusted basis to your house and not deductible during current year. If you took a loan to pay for these improvements, the interests you paid are deductible. Also, if your home improvement is only repainting the house, it is not considered home improvement and you cannot add the costs to your adjusted basis regarding capital gain taxes. But if the repainting job is part of a bigger home improvement project, then it's ok to add the costs to the your adjusted basis.

Now make sure you keep very good records on the costs for home improvement so you don't run into problems when you sold your home and report it to the IRS.

What type of lincensing do I need to start a home improvement company?

Q. I want to start a home improvement company
in the state of Maryland

A. You need an EIFN number so you can setup an LLC or some sort of corporation (See: http://www.maryland.gov/portal/server.pt?open=18&objID=419626&mode=2&cached=true ). You also need a Sales and Use tax certificate. The license info you need can be found here: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/occprof/homeim.html for home improvement.

Are there any home improvement sites for renters?

Q. We're renting a house, and I want to fixup the bathroom and the kitchen, but all the home improvement and makeover sites I've been to only have stuff that I know I can't and don't want to do, so if anyone knows of any sites, or if anyone has any ideas of their own, I would appreciate it! I'm looking for things I can do myself.

A. How extensive a "fixup" were you going to do? Check your lease first to see what you're allowed to do without prior written consent from the landlord. Most residential leases, at least in my market, limit tenant alterations to reasonable changes that can be easily restored to their original condition when the tenant leaves (e.g. painting, hanging shelving and pictures).

Major renovations, such as replacing cabinets, tile, appliances, must only be done with the landlord's consent. He'll be living with your choices long after you move out, so HE has the right to say no, or, if he says yes, to approve styles and materials. Also, all improvements belong to the landlord, so unless he's cut you a deal where you fix the place up in exchange for much lower rent, you're losing money on the deal.

That being said, there are plenty of things you can do to fix the place up. Paint is the easiest way to liven up the kitchen and bath. Even if you're not up to decorative painting, a good fresh coat of paint will brighten any room. For kitchen and bath, make sure to use a semi-gloss paint (there are some that are specifically for kitchens and baths)--this will hold up to the moisture, dirt and grease and be easier to clean.

Use baskets or boxes covered with cloth or contact paper to corral small or oddly-shaped items in kitchen and bathroom cabinets or shelves. Cheap and decorative way to increase storage space and keep the place looking neat.

If you need more cabinet space in the kitchen or bath, try to find old dressers, china hutches, bookcases or cabinets on Craigslist or your local freecycle--these can be cleaned, painted, and moved around to suit your space. I used an old 1940's metal dresser for years as a kitchen island/storage for pots and pans. Dressers with missing drawers make good deep shelving for large pots and baking sheets: just cut plywood to fit where the drawer bottoms would sit.

With your landlordâs permission, you can paint or reface existing cabinets. If not, you can usually cover objectionable cabinets with contact paper or starched fabric without permanent harm to the surface. (Contact paper has gotten a lot cooler--it now comes in all sorts of styles, including faux leather, faux granite, real cork, brushed aluminum and copper, etc.).

Also, you simply must check out Craftster! Itâs not a home improvement site, as such, but it has every sort of craft and DIY project you can imagine, from what to do with old light bulbs to decorative painting, furniture design and complete room makeovers, in every style from classic to gothic and back again. And if you ask nicely, the members will often give you a free tutorial. :D