Home Related Questions and Answers: 2013-01-13

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Who are the best " green " commercial lighting contractors in the Midatlantic region? LEED accredited ?

Q. I am designing a LEED silver office building, and I have some questions regarding daylighting and other energy effecient lighting technologies, from a contractors practical point of view.
Thanks !

A. I don't have any suggestions for the best commercial lighting contractors. However, the U.S. Green Building Council's membership directory is a good place to start. You can access it online at no charge at http://www.usgbc.org/myUSGBC/Members/MembersDirectory.aspx?CategoryID=2&CMSPageID=140. You can retrieve results by category (Contractors and Builders) and State.

I hope this helps. Please let me know if you need more information.

Laura Barnes, MSLIS
Illinois Waste Management and Research Center Librarian

how does emergency lighting work?

Q. Like in a commercial building. Can you buy battery powered commercial lighting thats not connected to a 120volt plug? and what activates emergency lighting?
i figured, that the emergency lights would have to be connected to a 120 power supply from the building to be activated when power is cut. i just dont see how these emergency lights are triggered. unless they are connected to the buildings power?

A. Emergency lighting is always connected to the AC power, both to keep the batteries charged and to detect when to turn on.

If it were not connected to the AC power, how would you charge the batteries?

To repeat, the system is triggered by the AC power going to 0, probably by something as simple as a relay across the AC power leads.

Anyone know anyone who buys unused commercial light fixtures in California?

Q. Im looking for anyone to buy some unused commercial light fixtures that we have left over from a completed job. Does anyone have any ideas?

A. the surplus house

What brand you recommend when it comes to home appliances?

Q. I need new home appliances for my home but not sure which brands are reliable. I am thinking of buying a small appliances, washing machine, and small microwave ovens. Some brands that I consider are Samsung, Kithcen Aid, GE, and BOSCH. Which of the best brands for home appliances?

A. Depends on prices and features: For entertainment I would stick with Samsung. I have Samsung microwave and Whirlpool everything else big, except dishwasher which is a GE brand - and I have to keep cleaning the filter on it which I have never had to do with other dishwashers.

Does Nevada require to install home appliances in a house to be rent?

Q. My friend is thinking to rent her house, and she said it will have no home appliances include fridge. I once heard before that Nevada requires installing certain appliances in a house. Do you know what kind of home appliances has to be equipped in a house for rent in Nevada?

A. There is no law but it would be really hard to rent a house without appliances.

I am planning to buy new home appliances, is there a website where they have reviews and ratings?

Q. I am planning to buy new home appliances, is there a website where they have reviews and ratings?

A. A great place I always check is Amazon.com, but I believe that Target.com has some reviews as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who has the best home loan interest rate for right now?

Q. Who has the best home loan interest rate for right now? Please provide websites if you have them.

A. Best home loans are easy to get if you know where to look. Home loans with low interest rates can make a sizeable difference in your savings, both on a long term and short term basis. However in order to get the best interest rate on your new home loan, you need to follow some tips.

http://www.worldbestloans.com/homeloans.htm

A sure-fire way to finding some of the best home loans rate is by comparing between 3-4 different lenders prior to deciding who to opt for. While most lenders have a wide range of interest rates and schemes, those who offer flexibility in terms and conditions or can customize to your preferences can work the best for you.

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.

Once a baby is birthed, is it necessary to cut the umbilical cord right away?

Q. I was watching 'I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant' and a woman had her baby on her bedroom floor. She was instructed by the the 911 dispatcher to get a shoe string and cut the umbilical cord.

Would it have been detrimental to the child's health had she waited for the paramedics to arrive so they could do it?

A. Leaving it on for a while will do no harm, some people belive you should leave it until it stops pulsating, so that baby gets all the rest of the nutrients.
When the cord touches the air it starts to dry up.
Baby can breath while still attched to the umbilical cord.

Which part from Insidious was frightning to you or creeped you out?

Q. The part that creeped me out more was when the mom was hearing voices in her babys bedroom from the baby monitor. Then when she gets closer to the stairs a voice screams really loud like " I WANT IT NOW". That really creeped me out. So what about you?:)

A. best movie of my life! its so hard to choose but i would have to say when the demon face was behind the dad, or when that man was walking outside the window near the mom and grabbed her haha!

how can i clean my ceramic floor so that it is stainless?

Q. I get alot of stains on my ceramic floor even though my shoes are clean! I only mop it using light detergent.. is there a way to make it stainless? it's very irritating you know

A. I've seen a vinegar/water mix work wonders on some tile before.....

How Close Together can you Set Ceramic Floor Tiles?

Q. We are reflooring our entryway and hall with ceramic floor tile. We want to create a "seamless" look with the ceramic tiles. As a result, we want to set the tiles as close together as possible.
I like to have no space between the tiles, it look nicer.

A. use sand under & I think it will work

When laying ceramic tile floor in a bathroom, do you need to grout/caulk where the floor and walls meet?

Q. I am having a bathroom remodeled and the contractor that did the ceramic floor, put down wood baseboards and then durock before installing the ceramic tile. He then grouted everything, but he didn't grout or do anything around the edge of the bathroom where the floor meets the wall. When I asked about this to another of the contractors, he said that that area would be covered with the shoe molding and didn't need to be grouted. Is this true. Is this common practice or should the very edges of the rooom be grouted too or caulked or something. Is this just a matter of preference among contractors or did they miss a step?

A. You need to allow the floor to expand and contract at a different rate than the walls. Do not fill the voids. Put a shoe moulding over the ends of the tiles near the walls.

Friday, January 18, 2013

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.

Does your 4th house accurately describe your home or room?

Q. I know what the 4th house is. I'd like to know if you've found your 4th house, and what's in it, aspects to it, to accurate describe your home, apartment, room, or whatever you call home. What can be called a reflection of your decisions and tastes, does it parallel what the 4th says about you?

A. 4th house is capricorn...
i guess maybe? i like deep colours, vintage furniture, art prints.

Can you use a thick heavy curtain for a home theater room?

Q. - If I wanted to divide my home theater room from another room without drywall, could I use a thick heavy curtain?

A. You could, but it won't do much in terms of cutting down the noise from the Home Theater system. Curtains, even heavy ones, are limited bandwidth absorbers. In other words, they absorb sounds over a very limited range of frequencies. A dividing wall, particularly a wall that is properly constructed to stop noise, is far more effective.

There is one other effect that may happen. By treating one side of the room, you will throw the tonal balance way off (typically, only the front wall of a theater should be fully covered with acoustic absorption). Things may seem to be shifted to one side if the wall is a side wall. Also, you may dull the sound by putting too much absorption on a side or back wall. Your surrounds may also not work correctly if they are dipoles which depend on sound bouncing off the walls to create an immersive rear channel surround effect.

Removing paint overspray on interior home windows?

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

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

How much do I charge for painting?

Q. I am looking in to doing some interior home painting jobs. I am not sure what to charge? Do you base it on the size of the rooms? How and what do I charge?

A. Charge can be depend on different things like the experience you have and speed of your in doing work! If you are experienced and good in speed then you can go with the Rs/hour, like 50 rs/hour or so! and another you can go with the room size, colors, finishing of walls and many more!
http://equityinspection.com/

How long should I wait to refinance my home? We bought it 2 years ago.?

Q. I pay extra principle each month on it and would like to refinance enough to pay off my vehicle and to do some remodeling on my home, painting, etc. I would appreciate all insight. Thanks!!

A. Usually it takes about 5 years to make it worth refinancing. However, if you have a very high rate of interest already on your mortgage, and you have been paying on principal with paying more than one payment per month, you may be able to refinance now. Interest rates are passed 6 percent now. If your mortgage is 7 or 8 percent and you've paid down on the principal, you may want to talk to your mortgage company or your closing attorney. They may be able to help you.

How do I get home improvement reviews?

Q. I am helping http://www.showroom411.com launch their new site and they need product reviews. What is the best place to find people interested in Home Improvement?

A. Every women is passionate about their house and definitely go for home improvement reviews.
I have gone through your website. I saw affiliate ads, rather than becoming an affiliate i suggest you to introduce contextual ads in your web.
You can either get codes from google that help you to get your company listed in most frequent searches.

Federal Home Improvement Grants, how do they work, how do you apply?

Q. I see advertisements for federal grants that do not have to be paid back that are for everything from small business funding to home improvements. I was wondering if anyone has ever received a grant for home improvement and how you apply and/or qualify to receive one. Basically, how do I get one to do home improvements and renovations??

A. Most of the home improvement grants are for renovating property in low income areas, and you have to use the property for section 8 rentals, not your own home. google search it, I found the site that way. There are grants for everything you can think of. It's a .gov website. Don't subscribe to any service that wants to charge money for finding grants for you, those svcs. are just a scam. Anyone can research and apply. I spent two days scrolling through all of the grant information just to find out that I didn't qualify for anything. Some of them are pretty funny, I saw one grant for immigrants from Africa to study ancestrial drumming. The comedian David Letterman has set up a grant for " mediocre students with little ambition". The only grant I was eligible for was down payment assistance for first time homebuyers, the application process was so long I closed on the house and moved in before I heard anything.

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.

Having a home painted on the outside?

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

Thanks
Alyssa - worthless!

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

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

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

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

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

Tell me how you hire your paint.

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

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

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 is the Average Annual Salary for a Home Renovation Technician?

Q. I am considering taking a home renovation technician program at Humber College or Conestoga College (Ontario) - if anyone knows which would be better please feel free to give feedback - I couldnt find a number in regards to salary online so i was wondering if anyone in that profession would be able to tell me a rough estimate of annual earnings?
Thanks

A. They are self employed, no salary.

Am i required to get my home renovation inspected?

Q. I am planning on doing a major revnovation to an old home, new basement, new roof, remodel interior down to the studs, new flooring, walls cabinets, etc... Am i required to have the remodel totally inspected by a building inspector? or because its a home renovation its not required?

A. you are going to have to get permits and more than one inspection ex after electrical but before sheet rock is installed

Can the Canadian Home Renovation Tax Credit be deferred to 2010?

Q. Can the Canadian Home Renovation Tax Credit be deferred to the 2010 tax year instead of declaring it as part of the 2009 tax year? Thank you! Sources please!

A. I'm afraid not, it has to be claimed on 2009 tax return.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

who to go to for a design of a Bathroom ?

Q. Who or what is the proper place to go to when you have a bathroom design and you want it to come into reality and not just an idea?
Oh no, I mean I have a bathroom design and I want to bring the idea to a place, I haver an invention is more like it. =).

A. Your local plumbing supplier,should have many bathroom designs set up. The average bathroom is 5'x7'. How ever you can make it bigger and add what you want.

How do you find out what paint color was used here?

Q. http://www.besthomedesigns.org/trends-on-modern-bathroom-design-remodeling/nice-modern-bathroom-ideas/

Or does anyone know something similar to this color or what it is?

A. Answer above is good. I would call this color slate blue. http://www.computerhope.com/htmcolor.htm

Interior Designs - Bedroom and Bathroom Designs?

Q. Hey people, my house is under renovation and I need a good website that is realted to Interior Designs, decoration, painting, bedroom and bathroom designs.
Thanks

A. Google your search, that is the best way out! You may also try http://www.smartken.com for Bedroom and Bathroom designs

What is the best bedding for dwarf hamsters?

Q. I have tried a few different kinds of bedding, but I am not sure what is the best.
I have also heard that cedar and pine shavings are bad for their lungs.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

A. Eco bedding is a shredded paper bedding that lasts longer than just regular shredded paper. They like to tunnel through it too. I use it for my hamsters and gerbils.

What type of bedding do you like best for hamsters?

Q. Has anyone tried the shaved pine for hamster bedding? I found some but it looks like pine dust instead of shavings? What do you think?

A. i don't understand why people are getting thumbs down on the use of cedar and pine, some people like to argue "oh, it has never hurt my hamsters, and its fine for you too!" this is completely wrong, cedar and pine releases toxins into the air when urinated on, and over time cause respiratory problems, and if long enough, death, its so sad but its so preventable, you should never purchase cedar or pine wood shavings or dust, any type of dust shouldnât be used because it gets in the hamsterâs eyes, and can cause repiratory problems

the ONLY wood shavings you should be using are aspen wood shavings, they are safe for the hammy, and absorb odor fairly well, its also fairly cheap, the only downside to this is that sometimes there can be a particularly sharp piece, and can cause cuts on your hammyâs feet =\

my favorite type of bedding by far is carefresh, it is the best as absorbing smell, making a soft bed, and it comes in bigger pieces so it wonât get kicked out of the wire cage as much as other bedding will, the only downside is that it can be a tad expensive, but its really worth it

yesterdayâs news is also a very good bedding, it is made of recycled newspaper, it is soft, absorbent, and has other good characteristics like carefresh, downside being that it isnât as widely available as carefresh is, and i have yet to find it in a pet store near me

timothy hay is another bedding widely used, its probably the cheapest bedding to buy, but I personally donât like timothy hay, it doesnât help with smell, it is ALWAYS getting kicked out of the cage, and the sharp edges of the hay can cut the hamsters feet

there are also pellet forms of bedding, I have never used this kind, but its fairly inexpensive, plus it is very good at absorbing odors, the only thing i can think about it that would be bad, is it probably would get kicked out the cage constantly because of its small size

oh btw, donât use newspaper either, the ink on the paper is bad for the hamsters if they ingest it, some hamsters donât have a problem, but most die from ink poisoning, so donât run the risk with your hamster and donât use newspaper

EDIT: THANK YOU hamsterzgurl for just copying my answer, thats really mature, and is against the rules

At what age can I start butting ârealâ bedding on my 2 year olds bed?

Q. I hate that I do not have ârealâ bedding on my 2 year olds bed yet? When Can or should I start doing this? I would love to go in and see a bed that is made up and not just a crib sheet.
And I am not sure that they will even sleep under the sheets!

A. Like yesterday :) Two is usually the age where they can start using real bedding so have at it!

How can an Interior Decorator get a Designer or Trade Discount?

Q. I am curious if it is possible to get a Designer or Trade Discount from home furnishing stores as an Interior Decorator (not an Interior Designer). Does anyone know if this is possible, and if so- what kind of proof (certificate/professional membership/etc.) must an Interior Decorator show to the stores in order to receive the discount? In general, do most home furnishing stores offer discounts if you are an Interior Decorator versus and Interior Designer? Thanks for any info.

A. You can register at big box stores ( Home Depot, Rona, Lowes etc.) as a contractor, with a business licence and business cards showing proof that you are a designer. Wallcovering, paint, furniture and flooring stores will also do the same if you are an acknowledged professional. Smaller operations will have their own system of passing on discounts, or not, to designers who frequently purchase product from them. They will then subsequent mark it up realistically to their client, as designers do have to earn a living, and the client will still probably benefit by a somewhat discounted product, better than what they would have gotten.
If you are in business, I don't believe the difference between a decorator or a designer effects your discount. Keep in mind though that retailer's are wary of people posing as such to simply get a deal. Hope this helps.

How can i sell goods to the large builders?

Q. HI i work at a Home furnishing manufacturer company and i wanted to see if anyone know how does the building process work and how can i get into the big builders business to sell them my goods.
For example we sell moldings. Is it stupid to approach the builder with my moldings or the architects are the one who i have to tackle?

A. start with construction supply companies. your nearest supplier. give them good prices to stock your materials so they can resell them at a good profit margin is a place to start and build quality rating from there,then others will look to get your products in there supply stores also.

How should I arrange my comforter set so that it looks picture perfect?

Q. I have various comforter sets. I want to acheive a look that makes my bed look like those in home furnishing magazines. Does anyone have any ideas and tips?

A. Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns, as long as colors coordinate with one another.

Buy Euro pillows and shams, along with small pillows in various shapes.

I have a king bed and use king pillows, euro pillows and standard size pillows. I like the contrast of sizes.

Browse websites that sell bedding for inspiration. Also watch and go online and look at HGTV. Lots of inspiration there.

Good luck!

Interior Designs - Bedroom and Bathroom Designs?

Q. Hey people, my house is under renovation and I need a good website that is realted to Interior Designs, decoration, painting, bedroom and bathroom designs.
Thanks

A. Google your search, that is the best way out! You may also try http://www.smartken.com for Bedroom and Bathroom designs

What is the theme in western-style bathrooms?

Q. I'm doing bachelors of architecture and we have this project of theme-oriented bathrooms. and my theme is to design a western-style bathroom, so i can see the pictures on Google and know some basic things that there should be and i can easily design one, but the thing is that I have to give the theme first, so I need the basic theme on which a western style bathroom is designed.

A. The toilets are bigger than other countries typically. The showers always have some sort of enclosed area unlike other countries which just share the same floor as the bathroom. Besides a master bathroom, typically the size of the bathroom can be smaller, especially the half bath. I don't think other countries share the same concept of half bath.

where can I find bedding for a 20 somthing couple?

Q. My boyfriend and I (25 and 24, respectively) are getting our first apartment together. I looked up some really streamlined/classy marvel comics art and told him he could have the living room as his gaming space/man cave if I could have the bedroom and bathroom to design as I wish. While I find it would be easy to go with some soft pastels/florals, I really don't see him waking up to that. My biggest problem is finding a cheap, quality comforter/duvet cover. So far I've tried
urban outfitters
anthropologie
wayfair
jcpenny
macys
target
west elm
blisslivine home
allmodern
etc.

Where can I find quality for cheap?

A. If they have them in your area, check out the home goods department of the Ross Dress for Less stores. Most people think of them as just clothes but they have terrific deals on quality linens in their home decor area. I bought a gorgeous 400 count cotton steel blue and light brown damask design duvet cover and matching shams there last year for $25 ($15 for the cover and $5 each for the shams). The original prices were $160 for the cover and $30 each for the shams.

Have also picked up a teal blue 100% silk quilted queen sized spread there for $30. I have bought Ralph Lauren, Laura Ashley and Tommy Hilfiger sheets for less than $30 a set and countless beautiful throw pillows (some down filled and hand-embroidered) that were $10 to $15 each. They also have drapes, drapery hardware, small furnishings (upholstered benches, night stands, small cabinets), lamps, framed art, mirrors and small area rugs. Obviously, the selection varies so you have to have patience and check their inventory regularly, but the prices are terrific for quality goods.

Also check out The Company Store, who may have the widest range of quality linens. They are not cheap but sometimes they have good deals in their clearance section. They have beautiful and classy designs that appeal to guys as well as women.

http://www.thecompanystore.com

L.L. Bean has nice bedding but the designs are not particularly exciting.

Would converting a bedroom to a second bathroom add or subtract value to my home?

Q. I have a 5 bedroom home (more like 4 bedroom and a den.) I was wondering if converting one of the upstairs bedrooms into a second full bathroom would increase or decrease the value of my home?
My father is a contractor so i would pay minimal cost. Would it be more appealing to the market as 4 bed 2 bath or 5 bed 1 bath?

A. Increase especially if it is part of the Master bedroom. Most buyers want at least a 2 1/2 bathroom house

How can I turn my bedroom into a spa retreat? Please give me tips to make it a relaxing & tranquil atmosphere?

Q. My bedroom has gray-lavender walls, with white ceilings and light hardwood floors. Very simple.

I would really want to turing it into something that looks like a spa room. Something with beautiful (but contemporary/modern) decorations and ultra soft, romantic glowing lights.

Any tips?

A. Your walls are a perfect color as are your floors. They speak to a contemporary look. Choose a rich silver blue fabric for your bedding. Night tables should be simple and elegant or build them into the wall on either side of the bed. Use wall sconces with up/down lighting on either side as opposed to table lamps. If you can wire your ceiling hang a classy chandelier on dimmers. Use silk floor to ceiling drapes at your windows. If your bedroom is large enough, add an ottoman in a rich lustrous fabric....something soft. Add a soft furlike throw to the bottom of the bed. A wonderful chair/lounger in a soft fabric would be a great addition if you have room. Accessories should be simple. A few tall floor vases with reeds, pick up additional colors by adding simple contemporary artwork, and keep your dressers clean and simple. Comfort and spa is defined by clean lines and mute colors. It doesn't mean you can't have a piece of artwork that adds a burst of color. It's more about clean soft comfy fabrics and colors.

How can I make a cold bedroom warmer?

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

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

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

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

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Is there a way to figure home building costs without labor?

Q. I am curious if there is a way to figure how much it would be to build a home without the labor. Every sight I search shows the national average cost for home building but they throw in the national labor wage. How do I figure it out?

A. Average cost / 3 = materials cost only in general practice.

This was taught me, some 45 yrs. ago and seems to hold true today. The scope and size of contract when going the other way, as in pricing, "what to charge a customer" from a contractors point of view has a bearing on stipulated price, that in turn contains both material and labour. They seem to charge (material cost X 3.33 = contract price) on average. Maybe this is "Murphy"s Law" allowance

You can check it out simply by taking a set of drawings into "Big Box Store" for material take-off and pricing, Then take the same drawings to 3 contractors for Estimates, Subtract material cost from Estimates, average your results divide by material cost and see how close to "TWO" the result is, closer to "TWO" the better!

In residential construction I always say spend more on the materials and less on labour...

What are the major (and minor) risks in owning a home built in 1916?

Q. I came across a beautiful Craftsman style home built in 1916 and wonder how much of a task it would be to keep up a home that old.

A. Old homes can have character. I bought a home built in 1910 and my only apprehension was that I knew nothing about steam heat. But the boiler was only 1 year old and heatinghelp.com helped me tune that for comfort and efficiency, so I now actually prefer that over scorched air. The steel combo storm/screens are quite old, but seal the old windows up in winter for no drafts, and previous owner had insulated. Thermal mass of drywall over plaster holds the temperature, and residual heat from steam radiators makes a lower temperature comfortable. So my highest gas bill for 3 bedroom home in sub-zero F temperatures has been under $200.

Basically hire someone to do a good inspection to see if the home has issues or if it has had upgrades that would minimize anything major in the near future.

How can i get home building materials at builders cost?

Q. all home building supplies at the best price and home blueprint

A. The idea of material suppliers giving wholesale or discounted prices has to do with perceived volume of business. If you are building a house, take the total material list to a couple of lumber yards for a bid on the total package. Most of the time, a lumber yard will bid a complete house material package at or near the wholesale price. Builders who buy half a million dollars a year from a lumber yard are going to get the best prices and likely have an assigned salesman to cater to him. Having an apartment building or a contractor's license is not going to give someone the right to demand any significant discount. If you are a high volume buyer with the money to pay, that will the only credential you will need for the best service and the best prices from any business you walk into.

If you are just wanting wholesale prices on small quantity odds and ends, your best bet is to go to a place like Home Depot. I have found the level of service at Home Depot to be in line with the volume of my business there, which is minimal.

How do I care for my new granite bathroom sink top?

Q. I just got my bathroom remodeled and I spent the extra dollars for a granite countertop. It looks beautiful but I need to know how to care for it. I know granite is porous and over time it can lose its shine if not cared for. How do I clean it(what products & where to buy) and what products do I use to keep the shine? I spend a lot of time in Lowes,Home Depot and in Bed Bath and Beyond. Let me know if any products are in these stores. Thanks

A. Here are some helpful links to help you.... congratulations on the new remodel!

http://www.ehow.com/video_18200_clean-granite-countertop.html
http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-counter-top-care.html
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/granite
http://www.onlinetips.org/granite-countertops
http://homeimprovement.superpages.com/kitchen/how-to-care-for-your-granite-countertops.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Cleaning-Granite-Countertops&id=66329
http://improvementweb.com/5-ways-to-take-care-of-granite-countertops/36/

That should do it... ;-)

When planning a remodel how far out should you get estimates?

Q. I am doing a bathroom remodel and have already talked to a contractor for a general ball park. I am a property manager so I have a good relationship with several contractors. I expect to have the money in Sept. It is a big job and will require permits. When should I start getting firm estimates?
That does not help! Don't bother answering if you are just going to make a stupid comment.
Nope- In Oregon, sorry.

A. ask the contractors how long their prices are good for usually three months

Thinking about redoing my bedroom and bathroom?

Q. cheap places for bedroom furniture, bedding, and bathroom stuff???

like i like wake up frankie stuff but walmart is too pricey for my budget.

also how much would it cost to get a small full bathroom remodeled?
by price range i mean under 400 for bathroom if i remodel and under 200 for bath and bedroom each.

A. Check out this site and read the article about Bathroom Remodeling Ideas.

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

Bathroom Sink Above or Under Granite Countertop?

Q. Just wanted an idea. We are looking to redo all of our bathroom countertops from tile to granite. I can't decide if I like the above the counter sinks or to place the sink below the countertop. Below is much more expensive. About $200 per cut. Anyway, any suggestions? Thank you.

A. My wife and I recently remodeled our bathroom with granite tile countertops. We went with square, top mounted sinks for more of an older look. Personally, I don't like the undermounts with granite or sold surface. It's just something about the way they treat the edges and rim that takes something away from the character of the sink and makes me think of a hotel bathroom. Also, the top mounts have a more detailed edge and rim so I just think it looks a little nicer. It's all just personal preference.

Bathroom Countertop problem?

Q. I just purchased a new home, and the guest bathroom countertop has been badly burned by what looks like a curling iron. It is a solid surface, but beyond that I have no idea what type of surface. How can I find out the surface type, and if it is fixable, or needs to be replaced?
The house is a foreclosure, so there is no communication with the previous owner. The bank is not willing to fix it, but they are willing to lower the price/give an allowance back, for it to be fixed.

A. Go to your local hardware store ask to see samples in kitchen counter tops the have alot of samples you can go throu and make sure you write down to color that you see it in this way if they have a sample it would be easier .If they do have the kind you have make sure you ask who makes it in case they dont know hoe to fix it you can go online to as how to fix (oh kitvhen bathroom all the same)

How can I add a pull chain to a ceiling light fixture?

Q. The previous owners of the house put a ceiling light and a fan with a light kit on the same wall switch. I'd like to have the fan on without the lights. I can use the pull chain on the light kit to kill the light on the fan, but the ceiling light is controlled by the switch. Is there a kit available that will allow me to add a pull chain to that ceiling light, as well?

A. I would check in the electrical department of a big home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowes. They could give you the right advice based on the type of light your are talking about.

Can I power a light switch and two ceiling lights from an adjacent duplex outlet?

Q. In my bathroom, there are two ceiling lights controlled by an SPST switch. Next to the switch, in the same box in the wall, is an outlet. The lights no longer turn on. I tried a new switch, no dice. However, the outlet right next to that switch still works. They each (the switch and the outlet) have a different feed coming to them as far as I can see, looking inside the wall. In other words, I don't see one of them branching of from the other. So, I am wondering if it is possible or advised to connect the switch to the outlet, and run new wire to the ceiling fixtures, so I can power the lights again? Also, I'd prefer the switch to control the lights only, not the outlet.

A. If you're correct that rhe switch is fed from a different circuit than the outlet, start looking where the lighting circuit goes to from that two gang box. If the lights worked before, now they don't, you could have a tripped breaker or a loose connection somewhere. Good luck and Merry Christmas.

How to install a light switch and additional ceiling lights?

Q. I have a ceiling light with a pull chain in my attic. I want to add two additional ceiling lights with pull chains. I also want to add a switch so all three come on at once. I believe to do this, I can take the wire leading to the first light, wire the black and white to the switch, and the grown as well. Then run a new wire to the first light, and then to each subsequent light. Am I over simplifying?

A. You basically have it. You keep the black wire black and the white wire white splicing a connection at each box. The black wire is supposed to be the "hot" side so your switch will be a break in the black wire and your white will just be connected without the switch.

Do a google on "residential wiring" or "home wiring" there are many sources with pictures and advice.

How do i dispose of soiled living room furniture?

Q. My living room furniture is in terrible shape and i want to trash it. I live in an apartment complex and the only thing i can think of is to put it in the dumpster?

A. You are going to have to set it by the dumpster anyways but you can call your city department of public works and ask the refuse department to pick it up. I think they may have to have a special truck or something to come and get it.

How much walking space/clearance do I need when laying out living room furniture?

Q. How much walking space/clearance do I need when laying out living room furniture?

We are moving into a new, unfurnished house -- it's a big blank slate! I am excited about decorating everything, but I don't want to cram too much into the space and make it feel small. What's a good clearance around furniture, so that it doesn't make for a cramped waking flow through seating areas?

Specifically, how much space should there between a coffee table and the couch? And how much space should be between a built-in wall unit and a couch that sits perpendicular to it? The doors on it are 12", so I'd need at least 12" to allow the doors to open; I don't think just 12" is enough, but is 20" too much?

TIA to everyone!

A. Between the coffee table and sofa, you should leave at least 18". That distance provides enough clearance, but still anchors the table to the sofa.

Between the sofa and wall unit, you may find that 20" is just enough to get into the wall unit and still be comfortable while peeking in the door. I recommend actually opening both doors and then see what room you need to maneuver around to access the storage comfortably, especially if you are storing items you will need frequently. Pulling the sofa back also makes viewing the TV easier when the sofa is perpendicular to the TV. If you have an end table or floor light at that end of the sofa, adjust your distance accordingly. Make sure to leave a pathway in and a pathway out of your furniture grouping, it will feel less claustrophobic that way and be more visually pleasing and functional. At *least* 36" if you don't have to worry about access for people in wheelchairs or walkers, etc.

If you arrange your furniture and it still seems too spread out, one thing you can do is find a big area rug to tie all the pieces together visually. This also helps to divide a larger room (like an open kitchen, great room situation.) Make sure the rug touches all furniture pieces of the grouping. But don't spread things out too much, or it wont be comfortable or functional. If the room is very big, consider two separate groupings, the second doesn't need to be more than two wing chairs, a small side table, and a reading lamp (don't forget the rug!) for quiet conversation/reading. Lighting also can make things more intimate.

good luck!

Do my dining room furnitrure have to match the colors of my living room furniture?

Q. My dining room is part of my living room (its a combo). Do u think my dining room furniture has to match the colors of my living room furniture, or can it be a different color scheme?

A. Since it is one room there should be something similar in the design or colours. Example..if you have espresso coloured tables in the livingroom, then a dark or espresso dining set would be nice with the same lines as the livingroom furniture. You can use the same curtains in both ends of the room, or pick up similar colours in art or photos on the wall, or use the same runners on tables..that sort of thing. You can be different, but if you are doing that, then make it a colour for example of the chair upholstry that will match well with the livingroom. Just keep something uniform between the two rooms to unify them.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

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.

How to fit kitchen dresser units on to the wall?

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

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

Kitchen renovation - suggestions for microwave cooking?

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

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

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

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

Best of luck!!

What is 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.

what type of roofing material should i use to lay flag stone in the low slope porch?

Q. i want to install flag stone in my deck
right now the deck is with torch roofing material but i want to lay stone. please somebody recommend is there any material i can use so does not leak

A. There are two problems with this idea. First of all is the weight. Flagstones are heavy and this presents a dead load, (it is there all the time) that may stress the capacity of the roof. Any material of weight will add to the load.

The second issue to consider is that this kind of approach is also going to press into the torch down material. You won't necessarily notice when the edge of a flagstone when stepped on presses into the material.

Flagstones can also get very hot and on a roof where there is no heat sink below them they will probably get very very hot. There is a reason why boardwalks are made of wood.

For these reasons the best approach is usually to put down some kind of wood deck that doesn't sit directly on the roofing material and is easily removable for re-roofing. But I have also seen boardwalk like sections made to sit directly on the roof.

Flagstones are typically set in dirt, sand or concrete. All of these materials will tend to be hard on the roof and difficult when faced with re roofing.

Best roofing material for rain/snow protection?

Q. We live near Seattle. It rains a lot. It snows on occasion, not usually hard. Rarely, there are windstorms and we have lots of tall trees that like to drop their branches during such storms. Our roof has a pretty normal pitch.

What roofing material would last the longest, require the least maintenance, be easy to repair, and really be the best damn investment into a home we plan to be in for a long time? Any articles you recommend we read?

Thank you!

A. Best? That's really difficult to say. That kind of depends on your budget, among other things. You could go for standing seam stainless steel, or copper. That's probably the best in the long term, it's been known, in the case of copper, to last hundreds of years with no repairs, or very few.

The principle thing you will want to do, is get a good underlayment. The self stick rubberized material is a good choice here, be sure it's the self sealing kind, that will heal itself and seal around nails and things. You might look at slate, clay barrel tiles, or a newer cement product made to look like slate. All of these options will be expensive. Before you do any of it, make sure what's underneath is in good shape and protected as best it can be. Even a thick coat of latex paint with sand sprinkled over it while wet will help the underlayment. Hire people that have lots of experience and have good references is the best advice.

Who supplied the roof deck material for Aloha Stadium, Hawaii in the last two years?

Q. Does anyone know who provided the roofing material for the current roof deck (the section which was replaced recently) on Aloha Stadium?

A. Malaysians

What happens if I try to use an exterior paint inside the house?

Q. I have some leftover exterior paint that I would like to use in a basement stairway. Any harm?

A. use it theres more anti mildew and mold killers in it and pros like me use outside paints satins and so on iin the washing areas and kitchens and baths and the basements and in some wet or humid areas i wash the walls then add an oz of bleach to the paint and mix it in and inhibit the midew for months good luck an old dude

How to remove exterior paint from clothes?

Q. I got exterior paint on some clothes, and I was wondering if there is a way to remove it without damaging (bleaching) the fabric.

A. If it's a water based paint, then soap and water should remove it.
If it's a spirit based paint, then you'll need something like Turpentine (turps) to remove it.

DON'T put them in the washer until the paint is out as the hot water will 'set' the paint.

Good luck

How much does it cost on average to have a 2 story house (exterior) painted?

Q. We just bought a house and need to get the exterior painted. Should we do it ourselves, or hire a professional? It's a basic 2 story house. Not big at all.

A. Hello,
I am a contractor and I might be able to answer this question more acurate. There are a few aspects to determine a price of an exterior job.
1) how big is the home? ( yours though is a small home)
2) How much damage is done to boards( If wooden exterior) and/or paint).
I usually charge somthing between $1000- $3000 depending on the scope of the job.
Some people feel uncomfortable to work on the ladders;If you have worked on the ladders before and feel comfortable you can do it, if not you should look for scaffolding systems. Make sure that you prime and caulk boards property to prevent early water damage/decay to the bords. recently home depot ( BEHR) offers a new product that one coat of it does the job for prime and paint( Two in one).
If you decide to hire a professiional contractor, make sure he or she is licensed and have liablety insurance.
if you have any questions do not hesitate to e-mail me.
Best Regards
Nima

Monday, January 14, 2013

need to find out how to wire a transformer and outdoor lighting?step by step?

Q. i installed outdoor lighting and im not sure if my wiring is right because i get a huge voltage drop. someone keeps telling me to loop the wiring and im not too sure what they are talking about. if someone can h thank you

A. Looping the wiring means connect both ends of the wiring together....ex: you have a 20ft wire....you connect one end to the transformer and tape up the other end,or bury it etc. so instead of tape it or burying it run the end back to the transformer so you have a "loop" or closed circuit. However if the lights keep cycling on and off it means that the transformer is overloaded. a quick fix is basically just add 1 or 2 more lights to lower the voltage going back into the transformer.

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

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

A. Well.........since all 3 are currently on a switched system (all the same) then you need to rewire the one you want to be "constant" as not to be on the same switch control.

You first need to determine if the wiring goes directly to the switch or to a basement/attic junction box.

If you can locate the wiring that goes out to the one you want seperate, you are halfway home. Now you need a voltage meter for the next part as you need to find a 115vac that is not on the load side of that switch. If all 3 go to the switch box, its as simple as removing the one you want constant from the wire nut (or however all 3 were tied together) and instead place it on the line side of that switch instead (the other side of the screw.

If they do not go to the switch, but instead to a junction box,....then its the same process as in the switch box except you dont add it to the line side of a switch but merely wire nut it to the constant hot (which can be determined by measuring the voltage with the switch off and the one that still reads 110~120vac is your "constant"). If none give a reading with the switch off then you only have the switchlegs in that junction and you will need to run a new wire to get the constant 115vac. Difficulty varies but this is a job best suited for an electrician.

If this seems foreign to you then DO NOT DO IT YOURSELF as it is something that should be done by someone with electrical understanding.

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

Regarding organizational architecture, why has tipping emerged as a way to compensate waiters?

Q. In terms of the organizational architecture, there seems to be three aspects of it, decision rights, rewarding individuals, and evaluating their performance. I am having troubling applying this concept to compensating waiters. I would think that it has emerged to allow customers to measure and evaluate a waiter's performance and service, while providing them with an incentive...but I am not sure.

A. I am not quite sure myself but I used to waitress and tips are highly appreciated. Most waiters and waitresses only make $2.13/hr. and by law that is all they can make hourly. This leaves them to rely on tips to survive. I think that only the customer can decide what kind of service they got from a waiter/waitress and it is basically been left up to them to decide what they earned for their time. I think it is supposed to motivate the waitress/waiter to do her best with each customer as to earn the most for her time. However there are flaws. There are always flaws. 1) Some waitresses/waiters just don't care. I have seen servers that still just don't put in the effort and only do the minimal to get through their day. I have seen some that just treat the customer like dirt. 2) The customer is NOT always right. I have seen customers that got excellent service and either don't have the cash or are cheap and obviously did not tip the right amount for the service they recieved. Now if you don't have the cash, I personally think you shouldn't be going out to eat. If you are cheap, don't go to a place where you have to tip. Some customers are just rude, leaving a penny is a sure fire way to quickly anger a server especially if they gave great service. Now I am not sure what works for you, but as for myself and being a waitress in the past, I choose to tip 25-30% Most people tip under 10% and the people that do tip the norm of 15% are great but most servers bust their butts for minimal money. I tip 25% for good service and 30% for great service. I have tipped 100% for flawless service before too. It really is up to you what you decide to tip and if you decide to tip. Just take in to consideration a few things the next time you get waited on. Are they friendly? polite? helpful? knowledgable? timely? do they refill your drinks? take your empty plates out of your way? and just all around make sure you have everything you need? Because our job as a server is to basically pamper the customer while they are out from their home whether it is a low-priced diner or an expensive well known restaurant. I hope this helps. Take care and enjoy your dining experience.

What is the best type of laptop for an architecture major?

Q. I'm going into architecture this fall, and I have no idea what laptop I would need. I have yet to check the college's specs, but what's a general preference of architecture majors? PC or Mac? And what specifications? Thanks.

A. Go with your school's specifications. They may even ask you to purchase the computer (and the accompanying software) from a company of their choosing.

Most architecture students use PCs (AutoCAD has not yet been released on a MAC). If you will be doing heavy 3d rendering, drafting, and processing, you will want decent processing power, a really good graphics card, and plenty of memory. Most students rely on a desktop for their rendering needs in studio, but also have a laptop to so they can work at home, play music, or work on other things while the desktop is processing a rendering.

Good luck! Check with your school first!!

What's the difference between Pre-Fabricated Architecture from Portable Architecture?

Q. I'm an architecture student from Manila, researching for Pre-Fabricated Housing, while i'm confused with prefabrication from portable architecture. Please help me... i'm planning this to be my thesis topic...

A. Broadly speaking, Pre-Fabricated Architecture is a structure that is largely fabricated off-site, often in a modular fashion, and then assembled / finished on-site.

Portable Architecture is any structure be easily moved (relatively speaking) to another site, either by an intrinsic transportation method (think mobile home on wheels) or by partially disassembling and then reassembling later (see OMA's prada transformer).

Hope this helps. Best of luck.

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 do I make a homemade composting bin?

Q. I've looked at composting bins online and the prices are steep for a a house of college students, ranging from 150-200$. I was wondering if anyone knew how to construct one for a lesser cost.
A slat wood built bin?, Can one just be made out of a large rubbermaid bin? Other ideas?

A. Good Evening ShyGirl,

I was always to poor to know any other way. I have been gardening for 60 years. I don't know why people love to spend so much money on gardens. I use nothing but natural ingredients. I use no chemicals or pestcides. I think people forget they eat whatever they put on their plants or in the soil. My garden is 20x20 ft, and I have nine (9) rare fruit trees. You see why I have two 55 gal compost drums.

You sound like you need help on making a good compost bin. Since you are new at compost, it may be easier for you to start with a plastic bin. A 32 gal is just find.

Make sure your bin is away from the house. Compost bins will give off odors. Cut out the bottom and add holes around the sides. You must vent the sides. Place four inch bricks shaped like the letter "I_I" or V" on the ground. Place your bin on the top of the bricks. You can shovel compost out of the open end of the bricks when your compost is ready.

Layer in your soil, your vegetable and grass cuttings, dead plants, egg shells, and coffee grounds. I do not use other materials because they can draw mice, and the smell is bad. Never use meat or cooking oils. I mix my compost with chicken manure. Chicken manure is by far the best. Therefore add chicken manure every (about 2 cups) few inches. Keep the mixture lightly moist. You will never buy soil again. A 1cu. ft. of chicken fertilizer will cost about $4. The plastic can will cost about $20.

Do not use wood of any type. Wood will draw termites in the summer in certain areas of the country. It does not take them to long to find wood and dirt. I hope I helped. Good luck to you and your family, from Los Angeles.

Anyone know the name of that one popular pastrami place in Vegas?

Q. Last time I was in Vegas was in 1995. There was a small food place, no drive thru, order at a window, long wood building, a few eating tables outside. The line was always super long, and they were famous for making people so full, it would be rare to see a person eat there twice in one day. Their sandwiches were soooo good, and I think they only had one location. I was wondering if anyone knows the name of it, and if it's still around?

A. Sammy's L.A. Pastrami ! Delish!

4035 S Decatur Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89103

(702) 644-8747
www.sammysdogs.com

How good are home security alarms in apartment buildings ?

Q. Are home security alarms necessary in apartment buildings. We own our condo and were considering installing a home security alarm. What do home security alarms do, what are they capable of ? Is it worth paying $ 30 a month for an alarm ? Is Brinks a good name in the alarm industry. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or ideas.

A. It really depends on the system. All of the bigger alarm companies use around the same level of product as far as quality. Be advised of the following, what the alarm companys do is sign you to a contract for years at a time. Say 4 yrs for 199.00 Right? ok and what they do is incrementally increase your monthly fee after that. The average total equipment cost for a small residential alarm system is right around that 199.00 wholesale so they lose a few bucks on the initial install to get you signed on for years at a time. They usually tie right into your phone system and if improperly installed , depending on your area they may have fines for false alarms. If you live in an area where home invasion is a possibility I would have one installed for sure. But make sure you shop around, Brinks and ADT are national companys. they sometimes pay installers by the job so sometimes these guys race in and out and are pulling baseboards to route wires all over and if improperly done can be a real mess. Professional installations costs far more, not so much for the equipment as they are typically about the same at the entry level, but for the time for a professional installer to come in and hide every wire. I would insist that not a wire show and that can be done , dont let them tell you different as I have done it, 15 yrs ago I did so. I am now a licensed master electrician and do much larger scale work. So in summation, if you feel unsafe in your neghborhood, have a high crime area, its worth it for the fire and the ability to silently call for help from a key pad. Things to avoid, Wireless systems, more trouble than what they are worth. Get a good Hard wired system installed professionally and make sure you read the total cost of what your signing. make sure they will pay for any fines incurred by an ill operating system. And if you do have one installed make sure they take hours with you to completely train you in the operation of your alarm system. get them to include this service in writing up front. And lastly I hope you never need to use an alarm. Other questions to ask, The systems use a dialer to call in, if in an emergency the alarm will cut off telephone service until it is finished dialing in. Also check and see where and how fast there dial up system is. I have seen where in remote locations its a long distance call to a monitoring center and there are also little system checks that can report in requiring a phone call usually programmed in the night. But if this call is long distance it can add to telephone bill. Also the battery back up on the controls, for 30 dollars a month you should get a new battery installed for free every two years or so, I would also ask for this. Watch for wording in the contract that allows them to raise the rates , and especially after your contract expires expect the rate to rise, they do this to all of there customers. i once went to a clients home to find she had been paying 90 dollars a month, She had been a customer with them for many many years. What i did was replaced her old system with a new one, charged her nothing, and placed her on a new contract... Probably why i dont work there anymore LOL......Anyway I have saved people with alarm systems and I have seen where it was a bad place to have it.Oh if you have pets , dont let anyone fool you into saying they have a special pet lense, its all BS, they always end up setting it off trust me I have taken them out in the old days..

Good Luck

A FREE DIY Home Security System? Does anyone know where i can get a free diy home security system?

Q. Hey I can't really afford a home security system. Are there any sites out where I can win a free home security system? I'm not talking about a system that has monthly fees or any of that bullshit. I want one I can install myself, and is easy to install. I don't want no damn salesman, or contracts. I just need a cheap alarm system to protect my apartment, and I can take with me when I leave. Any websites out there offering a chance to win a free diy home security system?

A. Actually in all reality you can win a Free DIY Home security system at http://www.americadefendyourself.com/blog/free-gifts/2012/12/free-diy-home-security-system/
I think if you sign up for their newsletter on how to keep your home and apartment safe they will automatically put you in a drawing to win everything from pepper spray to what they consider in their reviews the best diy home security systems out there.

Can someone tell me what to buy so I can set up a home security camera?

Q. I want to set up a home security camera that is motion sensitive to record video when it detects motion and record the video on my home PC. I need to know what to buy exactly, I dont' think I have a video recording card. Any brand names that are good would help and where to buy them.

A. There are home security shops which sell a complete kit with everything you need as you described

Can you give me information on solar energy?

Q. I would love to use some solar energy in my home. What can you tell me about how much it costs to begin? Is there some sort of federal tax credit? What all do I need to buy (panels, batteries, etc)? Can a homeowner do the installation or must it be done by a professional? Would also appreciate any websites for retailers of solar energy items. Thank you very much for any information.

A. When I was gainfully employed, prior to experiencing the bliss of retirement, I worked for a hardware store that marketed a solar energy system for single family residences.

The cost profile (this stuff is expensive) suggested that, if you planned to live in your home for 19 years post-installation, you would amortize the cost.

There were federal and California state tax credits available at the time, as well as a rebate from Pacific Gas and Electric (primary utility provider in No. Calif.) which produced a net cost near $20K.

You need to determine if your local power company is obligated to buy back surplus power from your solar system first. If they are not legally required to do so, that will make amortization more difficult.

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://how-to-build-cheap-solar-energy.blogspot.com/

How can I get my house converted to work on solar energy and is it expensive?

Q. I saw an episode in extreme makeover home edition were they built a house for a family and they used solar energy to power the house I like that not just because is good for the envirorment but because I think is better for us too, If we take care of the Earth we live in I think is going to last more.

A. Hurray for caring about Mother Earth. The cool thing about converting to solar energy is that you can do it a little at a time if you want to. One of the best sources in checking out all the options is the magazine Mother Earth News. This magazine has been around for as long as I can remember and have hundreds if not thousands of articles about solar energy projects. A good library will probably have back issues and I imagine you can go on line and get some article straight from the source if you are so inclined. As with any project it is the proper installation that is key in making the project worthwhile. So you either do it yourself, right, or hire people who have many years of experience in doing these types of installations. You might also be interested to know that the government gives very nice tax right offs for folks who convert to solar energy and some states can be very generous indeed. So check out all your different sources both on line and at the library to get the best information you can. Enjoy the process it is really fascinating overall.

Which is a better way to use solar energy, mass-production or individual home usage?

Q. I know we need to put a ton of effort towards research in renewable energy, specifically solar. But when it actually becomes a viable alternative to oil, and we can ~store~ solar energy efficiently, would it be best put to use atop individual homes and buildings, or as a source of electricity for whole cities?

A. The biggest problem you have with large solar installations is finding a large area near a major population center. In many cases the town councils love the IDEA of solar energy BUT just don't want the solar energy farm IN THEIR TOWN!

In terms of efficiency, a large solar installation is far more efficient than solar panels on everybody's roof.

However in this case the Political decision ends up trumping the Engineering decision.

Can you use ceramic floor tiles for shower walls and around the tub?

Q. I am planning to redo my bathroom and my contractor introduced me to a friend selling floor ceramic tiles. They were telling me that I can also use it for the shower walls. Is this correct? Can I really use ceramic floor tile around the bath tub and shower area?
Isn't there such a thing as impervious tiles, semivitreous tiles that are good for the bath tub? I am just worried that if I use the floor tile that it does not have the right quality in the shower area? I do not want to redo the bathroom again after a few years.

A. Yes you certainly can as long as the tile has a trim pc call a SBN ( surface bull nose) to finish off the edges in a neat and professional way. Other wise you need to treat the edges in a special way that can be ugly or down right hidious (sp?) looking.
Always use a 1/2" backer board recessed into the wall so the dry wall and the backer board is flush, Again to give you a professional look.
I ve done this 100s of times.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications there. GL

What is the easiest way to go through doorways when laying ceramic floor tile?

Q. What techniques and tools would make it easier to go through doorways when laying ceramic floor tile

A. When installing ceramic tile, great care should be taken when measuring around your doorways. The doorways are the hardest place to apply tiles, as the area has many sizes to take into consideration. Cutting and installing ceramic tile around doorways should not be seen as a daunting task.Before you begin, you will want to first take careful measurements at your doorway.

Once you have the proper measurements, you will then want to cut your tile using a masonry saw. Cut your tiles to fit the measurements of your doorway and lay them in the doorway as you cut them to help you keep track of where each tile should go. you can find some good tile saws in my source site.

What is the best cleaner and or way to clean ceramic tile floors?

Q. What is the best solution and mop to use when cleaning ceramic floors, what makes them shine the best and what cleans them the best. Everything I seem to try is to soapy and does not clean good. Thank you.

A. I've had ceramic tile floors in the whole house for over 25 years and agree, soap doesn't work. I've always used warm water with white vinegar in it. It cuts grease and puts a great shine on the floor -- also, does NOT make the tile slippery like soap can.
Hope it works for you.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Can you help me identify and locate an old home interior picture?

Q. I can remember almost 30 years ago my mother bought me a home interior picture that was in a very heavy metal frame with a rounded glass, the print was a small boy kneeling and praying into a beam shining down on him.
I know that I have seen the picture in some bibles and I would like to know the name of the print. I would also know how I might be able to buy the picture, frame, glass etc. that was purchased for me. I have tried the homeco and the home int. web site but without the name of the print I'm having no luck.

A. If you go to "vintage pictures.com" you may get the help you need. Lots of luck to you!

Looking for contemporary log home interior pics?

Q. My husband and I were looking to build a log home, but only if we can have a somewhat modern/contemporary look for the interior. Neither one of us are really into the primitive or Americana decor, but we do like the look of the lighter log home interiors like this one:

http://www.mhwood.com/images/image41.jpg

Anyone know of any log home interior pictures that have a modern look?

A. http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=contemporary+log+home+interior+pics&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

Can you help me identify and locate an old home interior picture?

A. http://www.sonyaharrisgiftsandcollectibles.com/images/tn_Boy_Praying.jpg

is that the picture? You may also want to go to art.com and search praying