Home Related Questions and Answers: 2013-01-06

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Why is it important for a home appliance such as a stove or washing machine to be good quality?

Q. Also,

Why is it important for a home appliance to have very few company defects?

Please use full explanations for these 2 questions.

A. Home appliances have to be of good quality because of the task they are expected to perform and the length of time they are expected to perform. Buying a cheaper brand may save you initially, but you will be replacing it or repairing it in a few short months. These appliances are expected to last for years.

As for the company defects,,, I would think that a defect would only relate to a safety issue. Meaning the appliance would work okay, but have a hidden defect that could possibly cause harm to you or your home. The company is responsible for notifying you of this, or recalling the appliance.

Who knows where I can download 2008 catalogs of Sony, Samsung, LG and other brands for home appliances?

Q. I need to download 2008 catalogs of Sony, Samsung, LG, Hitachi and other big brands for home appliances. Appreciate your help.

A. You can refer to their individual sites. www.sony.com..........www.samsung.com.....etc.

Why do we use two batteries for common home appliances?

Q. We usually use two batteries for remotes etc and other home appliances.Why there are only few appliances that require only one battery to operate?

A. Anything that uses and LED will probably use at least 2 batteries. The lowest voltage an LED operates from is typically 1.8 or 1.9 volts. Some LED's need an even higher voltage. You could use 1 battery and have a DC to DC converter to supply the higher voltage but it's simply easier and cheaper to design it for 2 batteries. You also get better battery life this way.

How/where to install kitchen cabinets: directly on wood subfloor or on the tile?

Q. My kitchen has been gutted. The walls, the electrical, and the wood subfloor has been preped. Should the base cabinets be installed directly onto the wood subfloor (my house has a 3 to 4 foot crawl space...not concrete slab), or should the kitchen floor be tiled first and then install the base cabinets on top of the tile? What is the proper way to do it? Thanks in advance for your answers.

A. http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Kitchen_Cabinets_and_Floors__Which.html

How can I make our kitchen floor less slippery for my elderly mother?

Q. Our kitchen floor is very slippery. We are afraid that Mom might slip on it. We don't want to carpet it. Is there another solution?

A. If replacing the flooring is an option I would head to Lowe's and look into flooring that is designed specifically for the kitchen/bathroom. Explain your concerns to the sales person and if they don't know, place a piece of the flooring on the ground, dampen it and step on it and just test it to see how slippery it is.

What is the best kitchen flooring for a home with a very slobbery dog?

Q. My dog slobbers a lot on the kitchen floor when we are out. We come home to lots of very watery slobber on the floor. Our current linoleum flooring is old and needs replacement. I would like something in style but it needs to withstand the slobber. Thanks for any suggestions.

A. The subject of kitchen flooring and dogs can be a real dilemma for those who have large rambunctious pups and a small budget. Some of the more durable floor types can be somewhat expensive. When it comes to flooring, you get what you pay for. While some kitchen floor types can entail high upfront costs, in the long run, they may just help you save money.
Some Kitchen Floor Types for Dogs:

Linoleum flooring
Ceramic tile flooring
High-pressure laminate
Rubber flooring

Hardwood is affected by changes in humidity and is not recommended for bathrooms, kitchens, or below grade. Many laminate floors are water-resistant, but you should check the warranty to be sure what is and is not covered.

Does anyone know where I can buy an outdoor lighting fixture?

Q. I want to replace my outdoor wall-mounted light by my front door. The one I have now also has an outlet on it. I find this very handy to plug in my weed whacker, etc. I can't seem to find an outdoor light that comes with the outlet. Have they been discontinued?
Thanks HVAC, I did check in those stores. I guess they don't make them anymore.

A. I have not seen one in a long time. Check at Lowes? home depot? Another thing you could do is when the light is replaced have an outlet wired into the light circuit in the wall, it should not be very difficult for an electrician

Why does turning my outdoor lights on trips my circuit breaker ?

Q. I have 4 outdoor lights, 2 lanterns and 2 recessed lightings. The switch is part of 3 switches that controls indoor lights and sockets. Whenever I turn on the outdoor switch, it triggers the circuit breaker. The other 2 switches don't do this. The 2 lantern lights worked when checked individually. But I didn't check the recessed lights yet. What could be the problem?

A. The easiest way to figure it out is to try the process of elimination. The easiest to eliminate and the most likely source is one of the light fixtures. Remove one fixture at a time and recheck the circuit to see if it trips. If the circuit stops tripping, the problem is in the last fixture removed. If that doesn't help you find it, try reinstalling one of the fixtures and messing around with the switches. It's not uncommon for the 4-way switches to go bad. Like the other contributor said, never upsize a breaker without the recommendation of a licensed electrician. It goes without saying that if you're uncomfortable working around electricity, leave this one to the professionals. If the 120 volts doesn't kill you, the fire will.

How do I make my outdoor lights emit red without changing the bulb?

Q. In my film class, our professor mentioned some type of fiberglass gels that you use to change the color of the light. However, I don't think I heard him correctly and now someone wants to put it over their outdoor lights to make them red for the holidays. I'm pretty sure I have the correct material (the woven fiberglass) in mind, but I just want to make certain. if this is the incorrect material, what else can I use to put over my lights as a gel to make the light reds.

A. yeah ur right its the woven fiberglass
i also did this for the holidays

How can I get the value of my Tiffany lamps without paying for an appraiser?

Q. I received 2 dragon fly lamps and I am curious of their value One is an tall telescoping type with 6 bulbs and all bronze base, The other is a lot smaller with bronze dragonflys of the base the shade rest of three bronze armsThe taller lamp has number eched in the underside of the base with a bid z and a little c brand in felt pen,

A. These sound like "Tiffany-style" lamps. If they are real tiffany they would be marked with the Tiffany Studios mark. There are other makers from the late 19th century and early 20th that are also very valuable. I hope yours are worth $100k. Beware of taking them to an antique dealer. If they are valuable, they will give you a figure high enough to make you want to sell them, but FAR below their actual value.

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.

Can anyone answer a question about the installation of new carpeting?

Q. Just had new carpeting put in and began to notice when walked on you can see the shoe tracks. Is this a characteristic of "cheap" carpeting or is it just a characteristic of new carpeting and something that will go away over time?

A. Just new carpet. When it gets worn they won't show. Enjoy it while it lasts.

What do you think of black walls and grey carpeting?

Q. I have next week off for vacation time and I am considering having my condo painted and new carpeting installed. I want the ceiling and carpeting grey and the walls black. I think that it will go good with the lava lamps and my furniture.

A. I like Black I have black carpet in my daughters room with black and cream bedding. Your choice seems ok.

Can you install carpeting right on top of tile?

Q. Can you install carpeting right on top of tile or does the tile have to be removed first?

A. You can put most anything removable over a tile floor - but for carpet you need to use underlay. You might damage the tiles using carpet tacking bars, so ask a professional carpet layer before trying to install the bars on tile. It might be possible to glue the bars instead of using screws. But whatever you decide, do not remove the tiles.

Is blow-in insulation good for use between an attic floor and a second floor ceiling? If so what precautions?

Q. should be taken? There is no heating in the attic, but two chimney pass thru the entire house and attic to the roof. Are they a danger of fire or smoke or smoldering of the insulation? And the manufacturer warns of light fixtures recessed in the ceilings of the room below. How can one know without tearing up the entire attic floor where those fixtures exactly are?

A. Cellulose insulation does not settle. Blown Fiberglass does. Cellulose is also extremely fire-retardant and the bugs don't like it.

The main concern regarding the light fixtures, in as far as cellulose insulation, is that they can overheat and fail to function.

Your best course of action would be to remove the flooring in the attic. If you choose to replace it, be sure to fur out the ceiling joists so that you don't compact the insulation (whichever you decide to go with) and lose R-value.

My house was built in Los Angeles in 1906. I wish to to convert the attic to a bedroom?

Q. the attic to a bedroom with a bathroom including a shower and tub.. What changes to the foundation.and ceiling will I be required to make to satisfy the building codes and mitigate problems if there is an earthquake.

A. You need to find out if the house is a qualified Historical structure or property. If it is, I would not recommend you doing the remodel if you are on a tight schedule. If you have the time or it's not considered Preservation worthy, then you can proceed. Since the house already have an attic, the only thing that you really have to concern yourself with are the floor structure, shouldn't be a problem since the house will be conventionally framed. Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing will be huge, since you have to replace everything. Insulation and window exiting clearances needs to be considered as well.

How can I insulate my rented attic bedroom?

Q. I rent, and my bedroom is a large attic conversion. It's very energy inefficientâI can feel heat loss through the ceiling even on a cool summer night. How can I make it more energy efficient without making structural changes that will require my landlord's cooperation? I plan to put weatherstrip around the windows and I'm considering caulking the joists, but the only other thing I can think of is tacking blankets up on the walls and ceilingâa fire hazard, and not very elegant.

A. Hi, check out encapsulated insulation batts, it's insulation that is in a plastic type blanket. If you have knee walls and attic access, just staple it between the joists. When you move you might take it with you too! Another solution might be blue board, its a foam board that you could put up and tape seams making it tight, but it may have to be trimed just for that space and it's best to leave it. If your landlord pays any utitlity you might say you get the material I'll put it in. B

Friday, January 11, 2013

I want some really comfortable outdoor furniture?

Q. I've been looking at all sorts of home stores at all-weather patio furniture. I have found styles I like, but when I sit on them they just aren't comfortable. Or the style is awful, but seats like a nice indoor leather sofa. Anyone have outdoor furniture that just makes you saw "ahhhh" when you sit down? I use my patio after work to relax and would like an "ahhhh" style couch/love seat and a couple of chairs.

A. Those sets of plastic wicker with cushions made of weather resistant material are pretty good if you find one of good quality but the most comfortable outdoor seating I have found are those round multi position loungers. You can sleep on them. Can be found at most patio furniture stores, at least in my area. Hope you are as fortunate.

outdoor bar furniture, where can i find it around orlando florida?

Q. looking for outdoor bar, and stools and outdoor furniture

A. Hey neighbor!! Try Furniture Land, Badcock, and Sears. I saw some nice stuff at the Florida Mall too.

How much does it cost to rent furniture for a one day event?

Q. I am trying to rent outdoor furniture for a reception. There are places like CORT online but they do not indicate how much? Any idea how much it would cost to rent some outdoor furniture?
I'm looking for outdoor furniture, couches, club chairs, coffeetables. Not fold up chairs and tables. I'm looking for furniture that stagers would use. Sorry I didn't give explicit detail, If you would like to help please put a response if not, don't bother.

Yeah, that's right.

A. Your best bet is a party rental company in your area.

How to prep subfloor for wood flooring?

Q. I've installed prefinished wood flooring before but the kitchen has ceramic tile glued to 1/4" plywood, which is then (I assume) glued and nailed to the original sub floor. I need to remove the tile and 1/4" plywood so I can put our new wood flooring on the original subfloor. What is the best way to do this? I was planning on using a hammer and chisel but is there a specialized tool i can use?

A. Yes there is.. A hammer and wide chisel... In your case , and I ve removed 100s of floors over the years and that what you need to do. Hammer and chisel off the tile, using caution. Chips FLY!! Then you can use a crow bar to get under the wood and go at it.If your lucky it was screwed down and you can unscrew a lot of them. But most will pull through the 1/4" luan and then deal with that later.
Your lucky it was installed wrong this is an easier rip out, Suggestion. Safety glasses, long sleeve shirt sand ear protection to prevent chips in the ears ( I m not kidding) Cover doorways to help prevent dust and put a fan in a window to suck dust out.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications GL

What type of cleaning technique should I use on bamboo wood flooring?

Q. I just recently bought a house and the house has bamboo laminate flooring what type of cleaner should I used to clean the floor. Will a steam mop do the trick? I was told Murray's oil is a good cleaner for wood flooring.

A. Do not use Murphy's. Use Bona wood floor cleaner. They even make a spray mop that is similar to a wet swiffer.

How do I remove asphalt tar sealant from wood flooring?

Q. We removed tile from the original wood flooring in our bedroom but they layed it down with asphalt tar sealant and it is stuck to the wood floor. We have bought a sealant stripper but it is coming off with difficulty. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

A. You'll be lucky to remove enough of it to save the floor beneath it. This is bad news. The commercial stripper is time-consuming, but it is the better option if you're even considering trying to rehab the wood floor.

If the wood floor is not that great of a concern, cosmetically speaking, you have at least one other option, but it is no less back-breaking or time-consuming than using chemical stripper - heat stripping. Use a heat gun to loosen the tar sealant and scrape off the wood with a steel putty knife or tile scraper. Try to scrape the loosened sealant in the direction of the wood grain as much as possible.

There are several risks involved with this method, the most significant being fire. Improper use of a heat gun can set fire to the sealant and/or the wood beneath it. The best way to guard against this is to work in small areas, scraping what is completely loose before moving on to another patch of floor. Never put the heat gun directly on the surface of the floor, no matter the surface covering. The other, less deadly, risk is the chipping, gouging and scratching the wood floor itself endures from the scrapers. Most light surface damage can be sanded out, but gouges are forever.

If you've already made the investment of time, energy and money to remove the tile from your wood floors, I'm guessing that you're up for the challenge of restoring your floors. I hope this alternative method helps and wish you good luck in pursuing the results you want for your home.

How do I remove hair dye stains from my countertops?

Q. I dye my hair by myself using Just For Men, but the stupid thing bubbles all over my bathroom countertops, especially if I run it through my hair. Does anyone know how I can get these stains out? I don't want to be charged a cleaning fee for my appartment...

A. Hydrogen peroxide should take it out.

How do you get a stain out of a corian countertop?

Q. Help! I accidentally left a glob of hair dye on my corian bathroom countertop overnight and now I have a burgundy red stain left. I tried alcohol but it didn't budge. Any other ideas? The counter is off-white. Would bleach hurt? OOOOPPPSSS!

A. Try some bleach water....
I found this web site it may be of some help. Good luck! :)

can i add a ceramic bullnose tile to my already existing laminate countertop and how?

Q. I have a bathroom countertop that is very nice. the only problem is someone put a horrible color laminate for the edging. Can I do a bullnose tile over it and will I have to add any wood to it first or just go right over it. Im also doing tile backsplash

A. ODD... no offense meant. Why not just bite the bullet and cover the existing top with Concrete backer board, and tile the entire thing? To just bullnose the face and backsplash would leave an area that you claim is NICE as a depression over all.

More directly stated "CAN I?" is a question I so often answer in the same way..."CERTAINLY."

"Will you be satisfied" is often an add on I apply to the question.

Steven Wolf
thousands of sq. ft. of tile/ many bathroom remodels

Should the stain color in your hardwood floor match the stain color in furniture?

Q. I have light oak dining room furniture and will soon be putting in hardwood flooring. Does the color in each, have to match or should they contrast with one another?

A. Your floor choice should not depend on your furniture color as it will be there for a very long time and your furniture may be replaced in the future. So, why restrict yourself?
A medium oak will be better for resale and also much easier to maintain. Darker floors show the dust more. Your best to place an area rug down to break it up. If you think about it, would you not move into a home based on your furniture? Choose something that goes with the style of your home. I have used walnut floors in a very formal area with mahogany furniture but...had large Persian rugs to set the furniture on. For resale it wasn't the best choice as people have different styles of furniture. Look at the white and red oak.
http://www.wideplankflooring.com/wood-floors-by-wood-species.aspx

Is there a way to remove the cigarette smoke smell from wooden furniture?

Q. My mother gave me her dining room furniture. It's stored in my garage and it smells like cigarette smoke. I'm worried once I move it into the house, the house will smell like stale cigarette smoke. No one smokes in my house. Will it always smell like smoke?

A. I would try Orange Glow on it. I have a wooden bench that had sat in storage and smelled like mold and nastyness, and we used Orange Glow on it and it smells great now. Hope this helps!

Can someone recommend a good three part art print series for a dining room?

Q. I'm looking to get some artwork for my dining room. The furniture is dark wood, almost black. I would love something with scenery cut into three parts. Thanks!

A. Go to a craft store and look for a picture you like have them cut it into 3 pieces and frame it for you or do it yourself. Roxanne

IM SICK & TIRED of people saying i cant be a minimalist if i have a computer in my home and tv. Im a minimalis?

Q. t because i dont buy things i dont need
and i throw away a lot of stuff every week, at least 1 bag of junk.

and just because i have a big pile of books, i like to read, how does that make me non-minimalist?

A. You will be a true minimalist when you are no longer dependent upon the approval of others to affirm your identity. ( :

But anyhow...I never heard of a minimalist before. That's cool. I'm kind of like that. I don't have a microwave or television or a car or a computer. I housesit to get caught up on tv, I use the computer at the library, and I like to make healthy meals from scratch. Thanks for the word. I'm going to add it to one of my profiles.

Any ideas for area rugs in my living and dining rooms, please?

Q. My living and dining rooms are in an open L shape. The walls are pale cream. Dining room furniture is cream lacquer with brass trim. Living room furniture is a cream background with a narrow old rose stripe and a wide delicate leafy floral stripe in pale green/old rose/blue. I have two slate-ish blue chairs. The floors are oak hardwood (I just ripped up cream wall to wall). I need area rugs, but I'm baffled by trying to get something to go with the floral furniture. I thought to get a green in the living room and the same rug but lapis in the dining room. I don't want anything dark, my whole house is airy and light colored. I'm looking at Milliken border rugs. I like the Remington but am afraid it's too severe. I looked at one with an Ionica border, but am not sure about the floral border with my floral furniture even tho they are both delicate. Oriental style is not an option. I have grandsons who are often here so a too light color might not be good. Any help is greatly appreciated.
What I really need is suggestions on patterns.

A. Go into your local carpet store and select a really nice carpet that suits your style. Have them order a large enough piece and have it bound to the exact size you want it.

Then you can get a really nice, well wearing rug and not spend an arm and a leg on it.

what would be the best color or stain to match black dining room set of black w mahoghony top?

Q. Dining room furniture is matte black w mahogony top and china cabinet is also black w mahogony accents. The home we purchased is circa 1900 w 2 bulit-in cabinets in the dining room which were refinished in a shotty manner and stained cherry but look horrible. What other color may be suitable w my dining set??/

A. About a year ago, We painted the laminate sink cabinet & mirror in my bathroom with a red primer, and then a light layer of black on top (done with a foam brush). It looks great, almost like mahogany. Perhaps you could try that technique.

What is the best way you have scored cheap furniture?

Q. I am moving into my new condo in less than two weeks and have no living room and dining room furniture. What do you believe is the best/cheapest/easiest way to obtain a couch or futon/table? I want to hear other peoples experience in this.

A. Rent a truck and drive to a furniture store. Tell customers that you are a free delivery service and then just take their stuff when they put it in your truck. (he-he, just kidding)

Thursday, January 10, 2013

How does one 3 wire pull switch light one lamp first, two lamps next and finally all lamps in a 3-lamp cluster?

Q. This is an old table lamp with 3 bulbs and one pull chain. It sequences by lighting lamp 1 on the first pull, lamps 2&3 on the second, and all three on the last pull. How does this switching work and where can I find a similar pull switch?

A. when you pull the string, it turns a gear 1/4 of the way. (the fourth setting is off) at every 1/4 gear turn, it connects a different part of the circuit to allow electricity to pass through it and to the corresponding lamps. the fourth setting (off) doesnt have an electrical connections assigned to it.

Do salt lamps really clean the air?

Q. I just heard about these Himalayan "salt lamps." They're supposed to ionize and clean the air. Have you ever used one, and do they really work?

A. I don't think so. You could try placing dishes of salt around your house if you want to test this theory before purchasing one, particularly if the lamps are expensive. Honestly though, I think it takes more than a chunk of salt to clean air.

How can I get the value of my Tiffany lamps without paying for an appraiser?

What is a good blueprint for a balsawood building to support alot of weight?

Q. What is a good blueprint for a balsa wood building to support alot of weight?

In class im going to have to build a balsa wood structure (don't know how much wood or materials i get ) but it has to support alot of weight. Any ideas?

A. This sounds like a standard hands-on assignment for strength of materials class...it's pretty good, too, cause it helps you really get a feel for things.
--Use triangles in your design.
--copy other designs you see around you that carry lots of weight--high tension power towers, TV and radio transmission towers, water towers.
--give it as wide a base as you can, keep it as short as you can.
--if they are going to load it (with bricks or something) like for a contest, build a deck at the top to take the first brick. If one part of one leg breaks, the whole thing could collapse, even if it's an excellent design.

Where do I buy wood to build a catapult?

Q. I want to make a catapult out of wood. Where can I find a store that sells wood for building around California. I live around Los Angeles. Also it would be helpful from people who had experience mention what type of wood would be best suited for building a catapult, budget wise also.

A. I would go to a local hardware store and tell them what you are building and let them assist you in deciding what materials to use. Also, do you have some printed blueprints for it or are you trying to design it yourself? If you have blueprints, maybe the designer of the plan should recommend what materials to use.

What type of company would you call to repair the outside wood area of your chimney?

Q. When it rains, the guttering spills over and down the wood built around the chimney...yes, i know the gutters need repaired, but i'm looking at the wood part for now.

A. Just about anyone with carpentry skills. Your safest bet is to contact a reputable remodeler in your area. Ask your friends and neighbors. There are, also,a lot of great carpenters who are not as easy to find as bigger name contractors who usually can be less expensive due to lower overhead. ALWAYS get references and CHECK THEM no matter who you hire.

When making storage furniture does it have much use of computer aided design/manufacture?

Q. I am making a small wooden storage box in my d.t class at school and i need to find out whether or not it uses cad/cam. Thank you :)

A. I don't know what D.T. class is. If you have easy access to CAD/CAM (computer aided drafting/computer aided manufacturing) and you know how to use it, then draw your design with details on size 'c' format. This way you can show the details, and B/M on one sheet. Include on this drawing a final 3D assy. in the upper right hand corner. It is always nice to use and store a professional drawing.
And, if you want to make changes to the project, very easy for additions or revisions. For record keeping you'll have a disk instead of a paper copy and future projects can all be stored one this one disk. A nice way to go.

Is there an danger in keeping your furniture in storage?

Q. I'm moving out in a few weeks to go live with my Mom while I save up some money to get an apartment. While I'm living with her I was thinking of getting a storage unit to keep furniture I buy while I live with my mom, so when I move out I'll have furniture for my apartment. Is there any danger in keeping nice new furniture in a storage unit? Specifically in Florida.

A. Only if you put it in a climate controlled storage facility. Otherwise the extreme heat in summer and cold in winter will damage your things. Honestly it would be best if you wait to see what kind of apartment you will be renting before buying anything. The size of the space and the degree of difficulty in getting your furniture in should be the determinant on what you buy. Otherwise you can wind up buying oversized pieces that will not fit and you will feel cramped. So put your money for furniture into a savings and wait to see where you will be living before buying.

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.

Who has decorating tips for choosing sofa & love seat colors?

Q. I already own a nice black dining set, black accent furniture, and a black entertainment center. The living room and dining room are both one large room, so the black furniture seems connected. I really love black leather sofas, but it seems like it may be too much black. I'm also considering deep brown, tan, or beige leather. Suggestions?

A. have them be the same or variations of the same color. And choose that color in relation to the walls, carpet or another color that is prevalent in that room.

Ok will this theme work and and where can i get it?

Q. Ok I want to re-do my room. I want to the walls to be red, the comforter to be black, the sheet set to be white with red and black plaid on it and black accent furniture. Does that go together nicely? Where can I get that stuff CHEAP? Are there any sites that have a virtual room-put-togetherer? Any answers are appreciated.

A. look here

http://kidsthemebedrooms.com/skater/punk-bedroom-decorating.html

http://teensthemes.com/black-and-white-contemporary-bedrooms.html

Where can I find a TV Bed? Where the TV pops out of the footboard?

Q. I want a black or white tv bed really bad!!! Where can I order one from in the U.S.? I have mirrored nightstands and accent furniture, so I want something to go with it. Any suggestions?

A. If you can afford a bed like that this is how much the lift cost they have some here

http://www.importadvantage.com/Uplift-3500

What is the best kitchen flooring for a home with a very slobbery dog?

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!!

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.

Who's responsibility is it to prep an outside area on a building to be painted by a contractor?

Q. I am having a dust up with a home painting contractor. I told him I wanted the place that's going to be painted cleaned and stripped before he applies the new paint. He said if I wanted that done, I'd have to do it myself, otherwise he just paints over the area "as is." The contract doesn't mention anything about the prepping. I thought that goes without saying that the place to be painted needs to be cleaned and stripped. Who is correct?

A. a contract is a contract , if you sign it, you are agreeing to the terms.However painting generally requires some prep work , And In many cases, the prep work can be 80% of the job.

he should have clarified all this beforehand...find annother painter. he is being sneaky and not honest right from the start

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.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Why is it important for a home appliance such as a stove or washing machine to be good quality?

Q. Also,

Why is it important for a home appliance to have very few company defects?

Please use full explanations for these 2 questions.

Who knows where I can download 2008 catalogs of Sony, Samsung, LG and other brands for home appliances?

Q. I need to download 2008 catalogs of Sony, Samsung, LG, Hitachi and other big brands for home appliances. Appreciate your help.

A. You can refer to their individual sites. www.sony.com..........www.samsung.com.....etc.

Why do we use two batteries for common home appliances?

Q. We usually use two batteries for remotes etc and other home appliances.Why there are only few appliances that require only one battery to operate?

What are the steps to carpeting a concrete floor, like a basement floor?

Q. wall to wall carpeting for a living room or a bedroom. What materials do I need, what tools? What is the cost?

A. It depends on the type of carpet you are going to put down. If the carpeting you are looking to laydown is a berber or indoor/outdoor rated gluedown, you don't have to worry about padding or tackstrips. If you are looking for a padded berber, plush or texture then there is more materials that is needed for the job, such as the padding, tackstrips, kneekickers, ect. I would go to your nearest carpet/home improvement store to start pricing the exact type of carpet you are looking for, while you are there, look at the how to books for a step by step guide for installation, such as Flooring 1-2-3 by Home Depot. It has step by step instructions, a time frame for installation and the tools you'll need.

Is there any way to remove gum stuck to carpeting, without damaging chemicals?

Q. My carpeting is light, so I'd prefer not to use chemicals that may cause discoloration. Thanks.

A. Getting gum out of carpet is alot like getting it out of your hair. Use an ice cube! Apply the ice to the gum and it hardens up to a much more manageable form; if you can get it cold enough, and depending on the type of gum, you may be able to 'pick' it out when it's all hardened. Yeah, stay away from chemicals as they won't get gum out.

Else you may be able to cut it out very carefully when it's in its hardened form - use a short pair of scissors to cut its way out of the fibers.

How can I remove a cat vomit stain from carpeting?

Q. I have beige carpeting (standard synthetic) that was stained by cat vomit. The stain is pink in color. I've used several methods to clean the carpet such as Resolve carpet cleaner and Spot Shot. I also tried wetting the stain and putting baking soda on it to see if the soda would absorb the color. Nothing has worked. Can any of you recommend something else I should try?

A. Kitty barf stains can be hard to remove. Three things you can try:

Orange oil (citrisolve or goo gone.) this may dissolve what the carpet cleaner did not.

Simple Green TM

Windex TM glass cleaner. I have found this very effective at removing all sorts of stains from nylon carpet.

Be sure to first remove any chunks and the majority of the spew before cleaning. You don't want to spread it around. a Wet/Dry vacuum works well for this.

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 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.

What shall I do If my security light comes on in my chevy impala?

Q. Im having a passlock problem in my 2002 chevy impala. The security light blinks on and the car wont start. I have to wait like 10 minutes before it resets itself. The dealor says it cost 600.00 to fix and no one else would touch it. Ive called around. Is there an easier way out of this?

A. all chevrolets have this problem, even mine. this summer i found out what my problem was. first the light blinks then, my tahoe woulg turn off while i applied the break peddle. killing all power to vehicle.
chevrolrt dealer told me same thing $600 to fix.

i thought the all\arm system was holding it off, on anti-thift, cause i could hear the alarm box making clicking sounds

the problem with mine was a loose positive battery post.
even tho the post was tight, just wasn't tight enough'
post was tight into the battery, but loose between both cables that hooked to the positive pose, not much just enough to cause problems.

what i did was put a lock washer between both cables, and installed cables in a v shape from bottom looking up.

havent had the problem again.

around here, i know at least 7 people with same problem

give it a try, before spending $600

How do you remove rust from patio furniture?

Q. i have iron patio furniture and it is rusting...how do i remove the rust and how do i keep the rust off.

A. Sand to remove the loose scaley rust then use the 3 step system by KBS Coatings.
http://www.kbs-coatings.com/KBS-3-Part-System.aspx

How to determine what size patio furniture to use?

Q. I'm finishing up a small patio but I want to know if there's a general rule or some sort of online calculator which will help me determine what size patio furniture to put in this space. It's a 7 1/2" by 7" space - but I want to know ALL of my options

A. I found this site, it might help at least give an idea. It sounds like you want to at least give yourself 2-3 feet between the patio furniture and any other obstruction. (Plus I found some really nice patio furniture on this site!)

What is the market like for wood patio furniture ?

Q. I'm starting a business in Va. making wood patio furniture. I have a number of designs and want opinions on how popular you think this would be. These projects would be of the pre made style that you put together yourself, shiped as a diy project complete with Instructions, parts & pictures for east assembly. Can also provide product in any color you want. Will post pictures at a future date.

A. I want to agree with # 1 though not in a crude way,,,no real offense to him.

Your TARGET MARKET might be narrow at first, and KIT stuff is usually not directed at those who want upscale, and instant. No offense meant to them either. I know a few, very well off people who get their hands dirty.

WOOD is a great premise, and certainly you might also appeal to the Corona, Beach Crowd, who might still want casual, affordable, aesthetically more pleasing than Poly webbing, steel framed, fold up chairs, but again, you should do some market research as to who might actually NOT want to go to a Discount chain, spend $8 and be sitting on a beach or patio within 25 minutes of the purchase.

Sell me a decently constructed Adierondacks Chair, even unfinished but assembled, in Ash, Poplar, Birch, and you can charge me $100 more than I'd pay for a Center Field, Nylon Sling Chair,,,even with two cup holders.

I suspect you have researched some or all of the sceanrios, such as cost to produce, PROFIT, shipping/handling, Venoors, quality control and service call backs should a screw or allen wrench be left out of the package, etc. etc.

Steven Wolf

Oh throw in a fold out/down, foot rest...LOL.

Why do my newly refinished hardwood floors have dents and bubbles all over?

Q. We recently had our hardwood floors refinished by a friend of a friend who said he knew what he was doing. The floor has dents/waves in it and the finish is not smooth but has small pimply bumps on it. Is there any way to fix this without refinishing the floor entirely? We haven't paid this "friend" yet - what should we do?
The dents/waves were not in the floor before it was sanded. Could the sander have caused them? Is there a way to fix without resanding all of the newly applied stain and polyurethane?

A. Those dents and waves are a direct cause of the belt floor sander being improperly used. If the belt sander is allowed to sit to long in one spot it will eat away too much wood causing dips and waves in the flooring. You will have to re-sand to fix this unless this guy ate to much into the wear layer of your flooring then you will have to replace it (this usually won't happen unless you've had your floors sanded several times before). From the sound of the pimply bumps you are either looking at particulate (improper cleaning before finish is applied) that has been finished over leaving a sandy like finish or fish eyes which can be caused several things. If it is just particulate that has been finished over this can be buffed out then refinished again after a good cleaning. If it is fish eyes in the finish they may be sanded out depending on their size. But like I said in order to fix the waviness you will have to resand anyway.

How To Remove Scratch of a Refinished floors?

Q. I recently had my 50+ years old pine hardwood floors refinished with 3 coats of oil based. Looks really nice and shiny. Now I made a light/clear scratch from moving furniture and I can't get it off by using an eraser or water+soap. Any other ways to remove a simple clear scratch/scuff from the top coat? Thank you!

A. Try a little bleach, don't pour it directly on the floor, put some on a towel, or sponge and a little elbow grease.

What do I do to fix a hardwood floor after refinishing problem?

Q. We sanded our hardwood floor to refinish it. All of a sudden, the nails showed up - we couldn't really see them before sanding, now we have black nail heads on nice brown hardwood. How do we fix it so the nails don't show so drastically?

A. All you can do now is use a nail punch and counter sink the nails and then fill the holes with a putty. Use a putty you can stain by using some of the stain you used for the hardwood. Then just touch up with the same urethane.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar. GL

I have noticed large stars on home exteriors. What do they stand for? Is it like the Mason symbol?

Q. These stars have been painted different colors on different homes. They are five pointed stars and I only see one on a home's exterior. My mother thinks that it means "Order of the Eastern Star." Is this true?

A. I know what you are talking about. I have seen them as well. I am a Mason, and although the women's Masonic group called the order of the Eastern Star uses a star symbol, the symbols you are referring to are actually North American Barn Stars, originally hung on barns and houses by the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish for good luck, and have no Masonic connection. They have become popular as a decoration, even for the non-Amish.

Please feel free to contact me with any other questions.

What website can I upload my own photo to and choose paint colors?

Q. I'm trying to choose colors for my homes' exterior and I don't want to use the photos that they give me. For example Lowes allows me to use a paint tool on their website with given photos, but no option to use my own.

A. Behr Paint's website will allow you to do this for $4.95. You choose your color first, and then click "preview" and then it will give you the option of uploading your own photo.
http://www.behr.com/behrx/workbook/

You can also post a photo of your house on Roomvues.com. You can either tell them specific colors that you would like to see or get color suggestions from them, and they will photoshop them onto your house for you. It's free:
http://www.roomvues.com/

What is the general installation cost for a home monitoring system?

Q. 5 cameras for a 2 story home. 2 exterior and 3 interior cameras.

A. Wireless cameras from trendnet are about $150, I would recommend those for the exterior and run ethernet cable to the others unless you can run ethernet to all of them. Then you can access all cameras from a computer on your home network or even have them set up to view away from home. The good thing about POE cameras is you don't need to run power to them, they get their power over the ethernet line.

wireless
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=ProView+Wireless+N+Internet+Camera&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14539041441216387408&sa=X&ei=hvenT6ztCo2btweQrZiWDA&ved=0CMYBEPMCMAI

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Wireless+N+Day%2FNight+Internet+Camera#q=Wireless+N+Day%2FNight+Internet+Camera&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=LvinT5vIJYfHtgffqJmXDA&ved=0CLABEK0E&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=db1187cf115279fd&biw=1121&bih=914

wired (POE power over ethernet)
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=ProView+PoE+Internet+Camera&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=7096260418526820499&sa=X&ei=gfinT5qZEsmltwfL-dCqDA&ved=0CKYBEPMCMAI

If you get the wired ones they are cheaper, and you would just need to make sure they aren't exposed to direct rain and they will work and are about half the price of one designed for exterior use.

Also if you put a pan and tilt one on a corner outside it may do the job of 2, another way to save $$.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

What are engineering challenges to develop solar energy for comfort/home uses?

Q. What are engineering challenges to develop solar energy for comfort/home uses?

A. Solar is an old technology now and is fairly developed. Cost is a bit of a barrier but that is coming down quickly. Production scale could also be considered a barrier, as the industry can't yet make enough solar panels to satisfy demand. The panels themselves are limited in how much energy they can take out of the sun's rays, but they are getting better at this. Materials are a big thing now, mostly in trying out different materials and structures in the cells to bring down the cost and boost the efficiency.
I came accross a new, proven and tested home made wind power system and solar power system which eliminates our electricity bills. It was written by a Renewable energy enthusiasts Michael Harvey the diy called Earth4energy. You can get your copy to save energy and help environment while eliminating your power bills. Get it from here:
http://buildyourownhomeenergy.blogspot.com/

What are engineering challenges to develop solar energy for comfort/home uses?

Q. What are engineering challenges to develop solar energy for comfort/home uses?

Q. How the electricity is produced by using solar energy?

Q. Please describe in details how do the whole mechanisms work? How it is developed? What apparatus is required? How the solar panel is constructed and how it works? Explain me all questions by using 3d figures or images or video if available. I have no prior knowledge about solar electricity so; please guide me in the easiest way as much as possible; I want to make electricity for my home by using solar energy what should I do? How can I achieve or construct it myself?

A. U will Find lot of in to
http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm
at this Site

Need help finding a website like Pinterest but is about home decorating only?

Q. A while back I found a website that was like Pinterest but for home decorating/planning your dream home... if you know what it is, please help.
Thank you for yalls help, I found the website it's www.houzz.com :) thanks again!

A. I don't know of one but try these boards :

Nice homes :
http://pinterest.com/kaitdelallo/dream-home-decorating/
http://pinterest.com/smoutsatsos/decorating-home/

http://pinterest.com/search/boards/?q=home+design

More a teen girl style-
http://pinterest.com/onlyforforever/drop-by-when-you-can/
http://pinterest.com/nstanford28/home-decorating/

Will you be going out on Black Friday or be at home decorating for Christmas?

Q. I'll be at home decorating for Christmas! I do all my Christmas shopping online! :)

A. I would rather take a leap from a tall bridge than fight the crowds on that day.

I will spend the day eating as much as I possibly can of the wonderful leftovers from the meal of the day before, and beginning to decorate my house for Christmas.

I will actually spend more time with the eating and then some napping than getting much work done.

Online shopping websites for home decorating?

Q. I am looking for some websites where I can purchase home decorating products (from furniture to decoration, like candles and cushions!) Something along the lines of the Ikea website would be great (unfortunately most of their items must be bought in store - and I really need home delivery) I am based in Italy, but am from the UK so anything that delivers to either of these countries would be great!

Any ideas are welcome, thanks!

A. Look on apartmenttherapy.com & etsy.com.

Does the home loan interest rate vary between online quotes and the real ones ?

Q. - I am planning to buy a home
- i have put an offer on a house and almost 100% done deal

Now I have to look out for a home loan. I am looking at several online interest rate quotes what lenders are giving based on my facts.

Some of them are sending quotes for 4.78% 4.5% , now does these rates change when we actually sign there application or do they have to stick with the rates what they have quoted me online ?

A. John Paul,
First, I hope you contacted a good, reputable loan office BEFORE putting an offer on a home. And I hope you are getting good professional guidance through the process. The home buying process can be a thorny one if not handled properly...and the same is true of the home loan process.

There is no question that there are some great deals out there...and some great rates. But you have to think of the online deals as "big tent" offerings ... while they may well apply to your particular circumstance ... they also very well may not. Every lender, online or off, has their pool of offerings ... some broader than others. Each has certain criteria that must be followed in securing that loan. And not every loan is available for every borrower. Are you self employed? Do you have a regular salary? Do you get hourly pay? How long have you been working for your current employer? What other fixed debts do you have? Do you pay child support or allimony? Do you have any positive or negative offsetting factors? What are your credit scores? These things, and many other factors, impact what type of loans you may qualify for ... and what types may not be available to you at all.

I've never been a fan of "shopping rates" for the simple reason that they don't tell the whole story. I remember a buyer of one of my listings "got a great deal" from a particular lender (which he happened to find online). Problem was when he got to closing NOTHING in the loan package bore any resemblance to the loan he THOUGHT he was getting! He thought it was a fixed rate loan ... it was not. The rate he'd been quoted was not the rate he actually got. He'd never heard of "negative amortization", and his loan had it. He never gave any thought to a "prepayment penalty" ... his loan had that, too! With a lot of work we were able to get the prepayment penalty waived (this is a BIGGIE because the penalty was over $7,000 in the event he sold his home or refinanced within the FIRST 3 YEARS of the loan!) Even though the terms were horrible, he DID close on his purchase ... and went right out and immediately refinanced his new home!

My point is that WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW can cost you big time. This is not something to "wing it" with. Talk to friends & coworkers & family who've dealt with reliable lenders in the past and ask for recommendations. Most certainly if you are working with a real estate agent, ask them for recommendations as well. We deal with lenders all the time and if the agent is experienced, they have an assortment of lenders they know are professional, reliable, ethical people ... and they also know who to avoid!!!! Talk to a few recommended lenders ... have them prequalify / preapprove you, making recommendations on programs they think your financial profile best fits. As long as the rates they offer are "in line" with with the market in general, I wouldn't worry about getting the best "deal". When you're looking at just raw numbers, you don't know what is being "cut" to get to that number. Quite often it's reliability and/or service.

By the way, my preference is to ALWAYS deal with a lender who will shephard you through the process from application to closing on your purchase. As the process moves along, you want to have a real live person you can call to answer questions, follow up to be sure all the proper steps are being taken, and to hold accountable if/when they're not.

Good luck! I know this is an exciting time and I hope all goes well for you!

What will happen to my home loan if WaMu closes or gets bought?

Q. I have my home loan, home equity, checking and savings accounts at WaMu. I know my checking/savings in insured by the FDIC but I am concerned about my home. Is it safe?

A. Your home loan would get bought up by another bank. For instance, Bank of America would buy it from WaMu. Often at a discount, but that has no roll down effects to you. They'll contact you and tell you the loan has been sold and where to send your monthly payments.

How long does someone have to wait after applying for a home loan?

Q. After applying for a home loan, and all the information is in for them, how long does it take? An average would be nice.

A. Oh ok... I got this for you...

better check on it... Im pretty sure you'll discover something

http://www.home-loan-made-ez.com

How do you remove cigarette burns off of a bathroom countertop?

Q. It is a standard bathroom countertop with cigarette burns on it and the management company wont change it. It looks horrible.

A. change the whole counter top not as expensive as you think for the bath rooms in an apartment

What other materials can I use as a bathroom countertop besides the expensive granite?

Q. I am updating my bathroom. Granite countertops are so expensive. I have looked into using a wood slab or glass. Any other cost saving solutions out there?

A. Formica is relatively inexpensive. Swanstone or Corian would be somewhere between granite and Formica.

Does a cultured marble bathroom countertop fall under the category of "engineered stone?"?

Q. I'm remodeling a bathroom. The contracter specified cultured marble. I see that Consumer Reports gives engineered stone the highest rating for bathroom countertops. So is what I'm getting an engineered stone, or not?

A. David B is 99.9% rt. Cultured marble is a marble dust poured together w/ resins and epoxies to form a solid surface( so you have a 'stone" in it lol), very durable but not an engineered stone as your thinking. GL

What if there are no home improvement items In the store on virtual families?

Q. I am playing the lite version for iPad, and there are no home improvement items or "various items" available in the store. I'm not sure if that is just a downside of the lite version or if that is not normal.

A. That's the downside buy the full version if you want to buy improvements to the house

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.

Info on learning how to make wall decor signs with lettering?

Q. I would like to learn how to make those wall decor signs that always have some quote, phrase, name or word on it. For example I have seen some that say "cafe" or "this is where our story begins". Does anyone know if there are places that have classes for this or a book or magazine that teaches you how?

A. I think you need special machines for that. They arent that expensive and I know of a company that can customize what you want and at fairly cheap. You should email them. I had a friend who put cool quotes throughout the ceiling with their vinyls... looked great.

check out http://www.carfacial.com/gallery.html adding decal to your wall would look super cute!!!

Can you help me find this cool wall decor I saw?

Q. I saw this cool wall decor in a store called Psychic Fair and they no longer have it. You mount it to a wall and it's a ladies face like a statue I think, and red liquid pours from her mouth like a fountain. I have no idea where to find it online.

A. if they no longer have it, why didn't you ask the name of it? that would much help to find a thing

Where can i buy gymnastics wall decor?

Q. I want to buy gymnastics wall decor but i don't want a poster. Like a picture with a frame, i don't know what there called but yeah, they have frames and a picture with gymnastics inside it. Like one says cool beams and it's a girl on the beam and it has a frame and glass in front of the picture. Where is a store in Colorado that would sell those? Thank for help. hopefully that made sense just post a question on and i'll clearify.

A. http://girlsthemebedrooms.com/sports/decorating-girls-sports-theme.html

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D18%26ref_%3Dnb%5Fsb%5Fnoss%26y%3D22%26field-keywords%3Dgymnastics%2520wall%2520decor%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=mariesmanor0b-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

Monday, January 7, 2013

How do I trade off waking up for the baby with my husband?

Q. We have one baby, 3 bedrooms, and one baby monitor. We have been all sleeping in separate rooms. My husband and I both work and we both seem to be losing a lot of sleep. I am still nursing at night. How do we share the load?

A. If you are still nursing this really makes it difficult... it probably should still be you in the middle of the night unfortunatly. Unless you want to pump and then put it in bottles for him to give to your baby.

That's really the only option right now... or possibly you can do all the getting up and nursing one night and then the next night he could go get the baby - change him/her and bring the baby to you in bed to feed it. then when you're done - he can take the baby back and get him/her back and settled down again. This trading off can work out if you don't want to pump.

good luck. I know what you are feeling :/

Can someone find me a picture of Miley's new bedroom in Hannah Montana Forever?

Q. i cant find a picture of her new bedroom on Hannah Montana Forever on google or anything. Not her old baby-ish bedroom from tennesee. her new room her and lilly share in the barn. i want a picture of at least just miley's half of the room because i want to do my room somewhat like that. someone please find me a picture and post the link on this question ! thank you !

A. http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9d3yrz9XV1qdcy7so1_1280.png?AWSAccessKeyId=0RYTHV9YYQ4W5Q3HQMG2&Expires=1294104000&Signature=r5aN%2BpN1afV7xBw1J9mbOEv4o48%3D

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9xibjwaNB1qdcy7so1_500.png

hope that helps, it was all i could find

Doing a wall mural in babies bedroom, what paints are best to use?

Q. I am doing i Winnie the Pooh wall mural in my babies room. What kind of paints would be best to use? I keep hearing Acrylic paints would be best, but then some say just regular interior wall paint would be fine too.

A. You can use acrylics and/or actual latex wall paint. I do tons of murals and I use house paint. Exterior paint for outside murals and interior for inside murals. I often buy the returned or improperly colored paint from Lowe's and home depot (it's usually very cheap). I tint it with acrylics if needed. Home Depot and Lowe's also sell small cans of bright colors of paint that I use to tint.

Looking to identify name of a picture/painting for home interior?

Q. I remember as a child a framed picture my mother used to have. I have searched with no luck for the name of this picture. It was what appeared to be a Hispanic woman sort of cradling her baby. I'm not sure if it was the brand Home Interior but it was an oval shaped picture. She had long hair. I could be mistaken and maybe she was kissing the baby, not too sure. Please help me find the name of this picture! Any suggestions will help.

A. That is a tough one.There are so many paintings like the one you described. Try searching in google images phrases like "painting of mom and child", "painting of mom cradling child", "Hispanic mom and child art", "mom and child paintings". You can also try searching ebay.com They usually have a lot of antique paintings.

Thought this might also help:

http://www.art.com/gallery/id--b206872/mother-child-posters.htm

Hope you find the painting. =)

I am a Home Interiors Consultant. What are some good ways to get my name out to gain customers and earn more?

Q. I have been a Home Interiors Consultant for over a year and I need to really boost my business. I also work a full time job with alot of over time. It is time to slow down and make Home Interiors take off.

A. Hi, you could ask a close friend or family member to hold a presentation for you to help kick start your business. Surely they will invite someone you don't know that would possibly book a presentation from your friend or family. That is what I just did. I am an consultant with a Swiss Skin care company and my neighbor is holding a presentation for me on the 13th of July. I will offer incentitives to the attendees for holding one at their house like paying back their s&h from the one they are attending. Just an idea. Good luck to you. Terri T

how to decorate for a home interiors party?

Q. Its going to be a BINGO Home Interiors Party! (Outside) How can I decorate to make it look more fun.

A. You could use the H.I. merchandise, that way people could get a good look at it as they're playing bingo. For example, have tables w/tablecloths set up outside, and have arrangements in the center of the tables w/candlesticks, vases, etc. (whatever items you want to display).

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.

Modern living room decorating : What's the most popular tip ?

Q. I just wonder what the most popular idea at modern living room decorating is ?

A. I think the most popular living room decorating idea is harmony of colors, lights and furnitures.

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How should i decorate other girls doors as a prank in a hotel?

Q. This weekend,a bunch of girls from my church on going on the revolve tour and we all stay in different hotel rooms.Every year me and the other girls in my room decorate other girls doors and i need some ideas on what to do.

A. whatever you put on the door make sure it can easily come off without damaging the door. you dont want to get busted for that lol. another thing to make sure you dont do is write anybodys name who is in the room onto the door. it is just plain unsafe. but i think its always fun to cut up a bunch of paper, or get confetti, put it in a small paper type box and secure it onto something with a string. tie the string to the door handle, and when they open the door the paper box will drop the confetti. another fun thing to do is streamers (on the roll) you can put them all over in front of the door by taping them to the door frame. then when they try to come out of the room they are trapped in by streamers. have fun

How can i persuade my dad to decorate my room before my birthday (two weeks time) rather than after?

Q. My birthday is in two weeks and i would like my room decorated, i am having one wall wallpapered and the other painted creamy/whity, and the wallpaper i'm going to paint on top with a nice teal. I'm going to get cream carpet, new curtains, new bin, new chair, new bean bag! But how can i persuade my dad to decorate my room before my birthday comes rather than after my birthday!

A. Show him this
Dear Sir, I feel I must put pen to paper to say how in this day and age it is so gratifying to hear a young person speak in such loving caring tones about their lovely Father.I dont think she could have painted a nicer picture of you even if you decide to decorate her room before her birthday which would be fantastic.You sir are a national treasure (or will be if you bring forward the decorating)
Best wishes

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.

what is the difference between interior design and professional home design?

Q. i am interested in becoming an architect. i know what kind of architecture i want to be. but i dont know what its call. i just want to draw a single homes w/ rooms, bathroom, living room and ext from foundation up. what is it call? interior design or professional home design?

A. That is called an architect.
An interior designer is a licensed professional (as is architect) who is the type of person who helps out on the show trading spaces. They "design interiors." They will usually be knowledgeable in fabric, color, material, and geometric organization.
A professional home designer is usually a person who is not licensed or registered and draws up house plans. They call themself home designer because they are not licensed and not allowed to use architect.
An architect is a registered professional licensed to practice architecture and design buildings (including homes)

What is the best home design/home fix-it show?

Q. Just bought a house and I want to do some work on it in the future. I would like to start watching a good home design/home fix-it show to give me some ideas. Can someone suggest a good one to watch that is on a basic cable channel? I only have 78 channels.

A. All of the best one are all gone now. all that is out there is like game show ones

So if you find one please let me know. I don;t even watch them any more. There are way to fofo and only decorating stuff. But before there was this old house, bob vilias home again, michal halagans, that guy and girl team that sells the cutting thing infomercial, I learn more from the tv show "home improvement with time the tool man taylor" then I do from all of the shows that are on now.

What are good websites or place for home decorating ?

Q. I just bought a home and I want to decorate in brown tones, but I dont know how to organize everything. I want to see what places I can shop at or websites for interior design and home decorating.

A. http://mariesmanordecorating.com/

Any good home decorating magazines?

Q. My husband and I just moved into a new house. I am so confused about how I want the place to look. Does anyone know of any good magazines for home decorating?

A. Lowes has a great selection. I went through 50 or so magazine and books while we were building our home. Something I found that made it easier, cut out the ideas you like and put them in a folder. This saves you from flipping through the book over and over again.

I found Lowes had one of the best collections. Borders has good one also. My favorite is anything by HGTV. You can go to their website for ides also.

Need help finding a website like Pinterest but is about home decorating only?

Sunday, January 6, 2013

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.