Home Related Questions and Answers: 2013-02-10

Saturday, February 16, 2013

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

is fine sanding the same as screening a wood floor?

Q. I am tackling a floor refinish on my old oak wood floors soon. I bought a house and found worn (but good shape) old oak wood floors under the carpet. I am planning on screening and re-staining and finishing the floors. will something like 200-grit sandpaper have the same effect as a screening pad? Which option would you suggest?

A. If you were just going to apply another coat of clear finish (polyurethane), then screening is fine. You want to re stain, so you have to remove all the clear finish first. You need to be more aggressive than 200 grit.

Is it better to show an empty house or furnished house when selling a home in an estate?

Q. If furnished, keep in mind that the contents of the home will be that of the deceased. Creepy? Or is it better to have the home furnished and looking "homey"?

A. I like to look at them vacant, but not everyone does.

Remove all personal items, all clutter and keep it simple. Remember that you want people to be able to visualize themselves living there. If they feel like they are intruding on someones home they may not be able to do that.

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 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 much should i charge to install wood flooring ?

Q. As a handyman, how much do i charge per sq.ft to install oak wood flooring? They all need to be glued and there will be alot of cuts because the wood needs to curve in an s shape. There is 1000 sq.ft. I installed 1600 sq.ft before but did not charge my father in law. Thanks for your help.

A. For glue down wood flooring, 4 dollars a s.f. is about what you should be charging.

Can you place wood flooring on an uneven floor?

Q. there is a long hallway in my house I'd like to have wood flooring. but my contractor says that at the end of the hallway there is a slight incline. he says wood flooring would have to stop there and be replaced with carpet. esthetically I think it would look awful. is what he says true or is there another way to keep it all wood?

A. Hardwood floor installation can be slowed by an uneven subfloor. Before installing hardwood floors, use a straight edge to find the humps and dips in the subfloor. Then, using a floor leveling compound or asphalt shingles, shim the dips so the floor is level.

How difficult is it to renovate a home in Italy?

Q. I live in the States and I have no problem doing my own work with major home renovation projects like flooring, electrical, plumbing, etc. But Iâm used to having resources like Home Depot at my disposal with a wide selection of materials, tool rentals, and design help. My question is if my wife and I purchased a home in Italy (say one with a good foundations, exterior walls and roof how difficult is it to renovate the rest of the home yourself? Are their resources in Italy like I enjoy in the States?

A. It will definitely be more of a challange there...the language, smaller less stocked home repair retailers, difference in local requirements and restrictions, etc. Rent the video, "Under the Tuscan Sun". I do, however love your idea.

Grants for "going green" with home renovation?

Q. My parents have been married, and lived in the same home for over 37 years. Their home needs so many updates, and very few can they afford. The house itself is good structurally, but it needs plumbing, electrical, and insulation done/ and or redone. Are there any state or government grants for "going green" with a home renovation? We live in Ohio.

A. There were Federal Tax credits but I pretty sure they expired in 2006. check out the IRS web site. Other than that you are on your own

How should I advertise my renovation company?

Q. Exterior home renovation and remodeling.
Mostly wondering which medium you think would be best to target my customer base.
I think a mail out would be best, but the cost involved is dear, and I'm busy enough as is. I just want to get my name out there, make myself known on a wider basis in my city.
The yellow pages are out in fall at which time I will run my ad.
Do newspaper ads look cheap?
Any thoughts are appreciated, thank you.

A. If you are an established business who is "busy enough as is", the best way for you is to keep doing great job. Happy customers will be eager to recommend you to others.

While YP and newspaper adds are tried and true methods to branch outside your local area, the XXI century requirement for a successful business is a website. A facebook and twitter accounts are also helpful.

When I was looking for a GC a couple of weeks ago, the first thing I did was to search the internet for "general contractor in <name of the town> " I called a few places at the top of the search results and the first guy to pick up the phone got the job.

Of course, if you have a website, people need to be able to find it. For that, you have to blog about it. You can create your own blog on sites like blogger or livejournal or others or you can use a blog service dedicated to marketing like v6transition.com.

The important thing is to maintain your internet presence current which means frequent updates to your site and daily or at least weekly postings to your blog or blogs.

What color should go with my bedroom furniture?

Q. I have all black bedroom furniture ( my husband picked it out lol ). I have no idea what color accents or b edding to get. Any suggestions?

A. Get lots white room accents (lamps, vases, clocks, etc) with a little colour in there like bright blue or scarlet (in the smaller accents like candles, etc). bedding should be simple if you have lots of colourful accessories, but if you stick with white try something crazy and multi-coloured! Paint the walls a colour that shows up in your bedding (but one that doesn't show up a lot).
Ikea is an excellent store to go to, great design and unbelievable prices. Almost any art museum will actually have nice stuff, too. Target is another good place.

What is the best, if any, way to sell my oak bedroom furniture, please read ?

Q. I have a beutiful set of oak bedroom furniture that i actually got for next to nothing but it is great. I don't know anything about the value of furniture, but now that I am 56, I am finding that things I have in my house are actually collectibles etc. I guess there is something good about being on the wrong side of 50 :) :) :) I bought it "used" in 1989 but it is like perfect and includes 2 night stands, big chester drawers with mirror and head for bed. ?? thanks for you furniture people I can help with children things and sewing :) and selling on ebay and of course jesus things

A. The sad part of having anything beautiful, like well-made furniture, is that many people can't or won't appreciate it. I found this to be true when an Appraiser came through an estate I was handling and put these ridiculously small values on some fine pieces of furniture. His answer was that there is a small market for "used" furniture; most young people today would rather go to a "Big Box" store and buy some "you-build-it" crap made out of particle board than spend a few dollars more and have something they can cherish for years.
You can certainly try selling the suite on eBay, but unless the set is really old, you may not find a buyer...
You may want to try placing an ad in the classifieds of your local paper, but that usually entails alot of unwarranted phone calls.
We have "consignment" shops in this area that will take in items like this, but, if you have a timely need for cash, you may have to wait a while before the set sells.
Auction houses are always looking for quality merchandise, but there again you have to be careful, as their costs may eat up a lot of your possible gain.
Word-of-mouth may be the easiest; letting people know at work, your place of worship, etc.
And then, there is always donation. You state that you got for "next to nothing", so if you're not looking to make a few bucks, need the space, and want to feel good about it, you can call a local charitable orgainzation. They could come pick it up for nothing and you get a decent tax write off.
Good luck....Like I said, nice pieces can be difficult to "get rid" of. I have two of my parents solid mahogany dressers that neither of my sons want, so I don't know where they will end up..........

How long does it usually take to get bedroom furniture? Do most stores have you "order" the furniture?

Q. I'm in the market for some new bedroom furniture. I'm not necessarily in a hurry to get it, but I am curious about how long I can expect the process to take. I plan on buying from a "showroom" type furniture store, as opposed to a warehouse or clearance center. Plus, I'm getting a king bed and I hear that most stores cater towards customers looking for queens. I guess I will have to "order" the furniture. If you ordered from a store like this, how long did it take?

Also, I did find one set that i like, but i was told they cant deliver for 7-8 weeks due to back order. Is that standard wait time or way too long?

A. If you really like the set and the price, then I guess it is worth the wait.

I had to wait that long to get the living room sofa I special ordered.

And my bed took even longer but then we had an artist make a special headboard.

What is the best product to use on my teak wood patio furniture to keep it looking new?

Q. I have exspensive teak wood patio furniture, now a couple of years old, but they need help. They are seasoned and need to be brought back to life. Is there a simple way to clean & finish them? Is there an oil to rub on them?

A. The Premium Teak Wood Oil gives your teak wood long lasting protection against the elements. The ultraviolet absorbers in the oil helps maintain the warm natural coloring. This particular brand is rated #1 in independent testing, and lasts 4-6 times longer than other standard teak oils.

http://www.outdoordecor.com/product_detail~item~NWD14014:Furniture-And-Leisure:Furniture:Teak-Furniture:Wood-Care-Products.asp

Have a Great Day

The wind blew over my patio furniture table top and shattered the glass, how do I go about replacing it?

Q. I have had the patio furniture for about 8 years.

A. Good Luck... We had a wind storm and same thing happened to our 7 year old glass table... Couldnt find no one to replace the glass we had to go spend $ on a new one...

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

Friday, February 15, 2013

How do I remove dirt and dead skin?

Q. I do a lot of furniture building and my hands have become extremely dry. I moisturize often, but my skin is like sandpaper!!
There is also dirt set deep into the dry skin on my hands. I've scrubbed for ages with no success. Beginning to get a little frustrated >:( What is the most effective way to soften my hands (gently)?
Home remedies please !

thanks so much. x

A. Find something like a face wash that is an exfoliator gently rubs in small circles all over your ruff skin rinse then dry and remember to add a moisturizer back on afterwards

Where would you hole up during a zombie apocalypse?

Q. I'd go to the Menards hardware store near my place. They got food, furniture, building supplies for barricades, power tools ... pretty much everything. The only thing that it doesn't have is guns, but there's a Gander Mountain a block down the road, and I could always build a tunnel there with the stuff in Menards.

I'm a genius and ready to bust some shuffler's heads.

A. I'm going to your house

International Exhibition for interior design, furniture & Home materials?

Q. Dear All,

We are planning âcouple with one childâ to travel to United States during May â June 2011, there is an interest to find Exhibition centre for interior design, furniture & building materials.

Kindly, could you guide us to any global exhibition events during the above period and closing to Washington DC / North Carolina or any states â¦

A. Dongguan International Famous Furniture Fair (3F)

Dongguan International Famous Furniture Fair, commonly known as 3F, is one of the premier furniture fair in China since 1999. This fair was jointly organized by Dongguan City Government, Houjie Town Government, Dongguan Famous Furniture Association, International Furniture and Decoration (Hong Kong) Association & Guangdong Modern International Exhibition Centre. More than 900 exhibitors from across China participated in the event to showcase their latest products & approximately 1 lakh professional visitors

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).

Whats a reasonable rate for getting your floors sanded and refinished?

Q. I want to get my floors refinished but not sure what a good price is for that type of service. I live in New England if that helps.
2000 sq ft pine

A. Depends on the square footage. On average you are looking at between $1500-$2000.

The location is tricky. You could be looking at maybe $3/sq.ft. At best you are looking at $2000. But I'd venture to guess it would be between $4000-$6000. Try to find a guy who works for a small company or works for himself. You would probably find the better deal that way.

What is the best wood polish or wax to use on hardwood floors?

Q. I just had my hard wood red oak floor refinished. It looks beautiful. The refinisher told never to use water on them to clean them. What do you recommend I clean them with? Also I live in the southwest, where it is very dry, how often do I polish or condition them and what do you recommend? THANKS in advance!

A. I have hardwood oak floor in kitchen and dinning area, I use white vinegar and water, yes water, but don't use a mop, I use a damp not wet sponge in the vinegar and water solution, it is a get down on you knees job, then I apply a coat of orange glo for hardwood floors really puts a shine on the floor. Depending on the traffic in the area where the floors are you can run a dust mop over the floors and sweep up any excess dirt, dust etc. I clean mine once a month and do the orange glo for hardwood as these areas of the house get alot of use. Make sure not to track in any stones in your shoes, we usually take our shoes off and put on slippers when we come in the house. You may want to get a humidifier since your area is dry.

How To Remove Scratch of a Refinished floors?

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.

Without the t-mobile hotspot @ home plan, would I still be able to place calls using any WiFi network?

Q. I plan to buy a Blackberry Curve 8320. I know that the hotspot at home plan allows you unlimited minutes through WiFi but that's something I don't need.

A. Yes you will, but your talk time will come out of your plan minutes.

can you use a home plan from a builder for your personal plot of land?

Q. Can you use a home plan from a builder for your personal plot of land? In other words, if I like a model home that I see for a popular builder can I use the floorplans that they have and get my own contractor to build the same home?

A. You can although like all intellectual property you have to pay for them

how do i find the sq footage of a home plan?

Q. is there any website or anything online that can help me learn to find the sq footage of a home plan?

A. zillow.com is pretty good for finding sq ft.
You could also check the county tax assessor's web site for the county the house is in.

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.

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

Thursday, February 14, 2013

How can I get a stain out of hardwood floor finish?

Q. In this case I have two stains. One is from green velvet which went around our Christmas tree, and got wet and bled onto the floor. The second are small tar looking stains from the wheels on our upright piano. The floor finish is a very hard catalytic (i.e. two reactive agents were combined) - unfortunately the firm that did the floor finish is no longer in business.

Thanks for any insights & help!

A. If only the floor finish itself and not the wood has been stained you can use an extra fine nylon rubbing pad with a good oil soap to remove just enough floor finish to get the mark out. Goo-Gone also works wonders, especially on the tar.
Worse case is sanding to the wood and refinishing.

What is the difference between a floor plan and a floor finish plan?

Q. Can you also give an example on what things are to be placed in a floor plan and floor finish plan.
Thanks!

A. Floor plan is the whole layout of the house from bird's eye view.

Floor finish is what you use to make the floors look good.

what causes bubbles in floor finish?

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

A. Sereral possibilities.

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

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

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

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

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

Are commercial kitchen appliances really better than home appliances?

Q. Can't you use home appliances to cook in a restaurant? Is that legal?

A. Yes it is illegal to use home appliances in a commercial setting.

Commercial ones are more efficient, bigger, and conform to all the health and safety requirements.

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 are the front doors of some homes painted red?

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

A. It's what they wanted.

How 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. There is a great chance you have built up enough equity over the past two years to make this possible. Keep in mind your rate will more than likely go up and so would your payments but it may still save you some money. If your not sure if you have a prepayment penalty you can always check your original documents you signed. Many home owners do debt consolidation like you are considering as the interest you pay on your vehicle is not tax deductible like the interest on your home is. Make sure you consult a CPA to go over the pros and cons. If you need any help or have any questions feel free to email me tadgeman@yahoo.com.

How do you remove paint from ceramic tile?

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

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

Is there any good home improvement blog with lots of tips and tricks?

Q. Hi, I am looking for a home improvement blog that contains a lot of information about contractors and also have some legitimate tips and tricks.

A. There are plenty of home improvement blog online but not all of them are useful. It's a bit difficult to find a very useful home improvement blog. But according to my experience http://homecontractorsblog.com, this is a good blog with lots of information about the contractors and about the tips and tricks you want. Try it.

How can I get more customers to call me 4 home Improvement work beside adds in the paper or flyers?

Q. I am home Improvement company I really don't have alot of money to put adds out.I have put in yellow pages and handed out flyers what can I do 2 get more customers.If there anyway to get addeds in papers 4 little money please help in any way

A. Find out if there are any business groups in your area who trade referrals. I am in one group and we have representatives from a lot of diffferent industries (e.g. real estate, tile & granite, insurance, web design etc) and at the end of each meeting we trade referrals. Basically, if I know a person who is looking for home improvement or if the realtor in the group knows a home owner who needs work you would get their name and contact info so you can get the business. It has been great for me and most the members of our group see a significant imporvement in business. We did have a landscape person who eventually had to stop coming because he was too busy!!

You may also want to see about local chamber of commerce events like business after hours etc. It is a lot of work, but referrals are worth their weight in gold!!!

What home improvement, home renovation and home restoration grants should I apply for if I live in upstate NY?

Q. Hello. I live in Broome County, NY. My family needs money to fix up our house with. What home improvement, home renovation and home restoration grants should I apply for since I live in Broome County, NY? Please let me know. Thank you.

A. The first step is to check with your local bank and realtors...there are also national grants available from the government. Take a look at this article 'How to Get a Home Improvement Grant' http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/459112/how_to_get_a_home_improvement_grant.html for some tips.

Good luck!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Are commercial kitchen appliances really better than home appliances?

Q. Can't you use home appliances to cook in a restaurant? Is that legal?

A. Yes it is illegal to use home appliances in a commercial setting.

Commercial ones are more efficient, bigger, and conform to all the health and safety requirements.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Exploring Options for uising a General Contractor for a kitchen remodel?

Q. We are considering a kitchen remodel. We've hired a general contractor and a kitchen designer for the DESIGN PHASE (a seperate agreement will be presented for the BUILD PHASE). We would like to explore other paths in lieu of hiring a GC.

We are interested in hearing from homeowners who have done kitchen remodels as to the options they pursued? How many served as their own GC's? How did that go? How many worked with the local home center for cabinets, floors, etc and left the structural stuff to someone else? How did that work? We're not interested in being our own GC, but there has got to be a less expensive way! We're making quality decisions and downgrading OUR choices for OUR kitchen just to pay the GC's fee and overhead costs. For example, we did all the work to select over $10K worth of appliances (which will be delivered and installed) and the GC will stand to earn quite a bit for what appears little work (enough for another appliance). Are there any other options?

A. best thing is go to places research your materials price them out & compair prices through differant places to save money, then go home measure then measure again! sometimes sandpaper, new paint & hardwear, with some ellbow grease goes a long way man save alot of money to then you can buy new appliances lol to go with new look!

Is it normal for contractors to include a fee on cabinets as a part of a kitchen remodel?

Q. The quote from our contractor includes an 8% contractor's fee. This fee is applied to all aspects of the kitchen remodel-the demo, electric, etc. and it even includes the cabinets although the cabinets are ordered through a separate company and that company is responsible for installation. Just curious if it's normal to pay this as we could save over $1,000 if the fee was removed for that portion of the project!

A. Sounds like he is being upfront that he is charging 8% for being you contractor on each area. Do it yourself and save that plus you can hire who you want, not his buddies?

What color kitchen cabinet finish would best go with mahogany flooring?

Q. Kitchen Remodel

A. Go to this web page http://onlinedesigner.hgtv.com/visualizer/GettingStarted.do;jsessionid=23152D44CA959BEB25FC6832BB81A3D0 and look at all the options...it may help you. I am partial to colored plastic front cabinets...go wild! You can do mahogny cabinet with glass fronts too...that would be pretty...

Anybody ever get a home energy audit?

Q. Has anyone ever hired someone to do a home energy audit where they connect a blower on your door and test your house for leaks? Was it worth it? Did you notice much change in your utility bills after doing it and having the leaks fixed?

A. yes and no.

What home energy saving scams have you found?

Q. open4energy has published a list of home energy scams to help energy conscientious home owners avoid being taken advantage of. They range from down loadable plans to build a magnetic generator, a solar panel or a windmill, to energy saving plug in gadgets, to full blown sales promotions for kvar power factor correction units which have negligible savings capabilities for even the biggest homes.

Each one we find is another community we can protect!

A. The most common website I encounter is DIY solar panels. The claim is that "for under 200 dollars you too can build your own solar panel and save thousands" I do not dispute the validity of that claim. I do take issue with what they don't say. There are some building code violations to say the least. I have posted a blog on this very issue, and will continue to do so on a weekly basis. It is my goal to bring clarity to the cyber solar world. Check out my post "To build or not to build that is the question" at http://www.solarmandan.com.

P.S. Maybe we could post links to each other"s sites.

Can any one recommend a good home energy auditor for GTA ?

Q. Looking for a good home energy auditor for GTA. How do you determine whether one is better than the other ?
Does it matter or are they all the same ?
Was wondering whether anyone could recommend good ones.
Area : GTA -Canada

A. HERS Raters are trained in energy audits

CRESNET is the authority in Canada They have a list of HERS Raters

I would want one that has the following equipment.

Blower Door checks the leakage on your home

Duct Blaster checks the leakage of your ducting system.

IR Camera finds areas of heat loss, moisture, and missing insulation

I would want to know the fee over the phone

Can you refer someone in Mumbai who can repaint my Godrej Steel almrah artistically in patterns?

Q. I have a beautiful godrej almirah which i got as a part of kids furniture set. The colours dont match with my interiors and so I want them repainted professionally in some artistic patterns.

A. Check this link for a list of Art Colleges in Mumbai:
http://mumbaieducation.net/EducationProfile/Colleges/Art/

I would start there as you could make contact with one of the instructors and get a good reference for a paint artist. You may also get a good price.

What are some good kids furniture sites?

Q. I am looking for a kids love seat or kids rocking chair?

A. http://discountkidschairs.com/childrens-furniture.html

http://www.kidschairs.com/?gad=COjjvsoCEghrEMjNO3n_gBiGx8z9AyDc1_Ad&OVRAW=kids%20rocking%20chair&OVKEY=kid%20rocking%20chair&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=942851022&OVKWID=4701554022

http://www.bizchair.com/kilose.html

http://www.target.com/gp/search/190-5344060-7299147?field-keywords=chair_kid_rocking&LNM=chair_kid_rocking&CPNG=Furniture&AFID=yahoocom&LID=6272353&ref=tgt_adv_XSYH0083

http://www.onewayfurniture.com/kids-rocking-chairs.html

http://www.ecmdstore.com/product/productList.aspx?category=458&es=5412900000W&CMP=KNC-ECMD&OVRAW=kids%20rocking%20chair&OVKEY=kid%20rocking%20chair&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=5578064511&OVKWID=28198638511

http://www.sensoryedge.com/rockingchairs.html

http://coolkidschairs.com/rockers.html

http://www.furniturebuzz.com/category.asp?type=kid_rock&source=Xchange

http://www.kidsdesk.net/Kids_Rocking_Chairs_s/105.htm

http://www.thefurnitureparadise.com/kids-rocking-chairs.html

http://www.blissliving.com/kids-rocking-chairs.html

http://www.allchildrensfurniture.com/Kids-Rocking-Chairs-C10217.html?refid=OV1751.child+rocking+chair

Where can I buy bedroom furniture for my loft conversion with slanted ceilings / awkward walls?

Q. I'm ideally looking for a specific company that can supply kids bedroom furniture as IKEA and HABITAT etc don't fit the strange angles. I could get bespoke cupboards and drawers etc, but that would be so expensive. Just some links would be great...

A. Check this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=tent%20loft%20bed&tag=ya-us1-20&index=garden&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

How do you clean outdoor furniture pads that are not removable?

Q. We have outdoor wicker furniture on our screened in porch. They have white cushions which have become dirty and stained from polen, cats, etc. Won't spot cleaning leave only patches whiter than the rest?

A. I am in the furniture industry and the cleaning will depend on what type of fabric the cushions are made out of. If they are micro fiber or durapella, you can use a very mild soap like neutrogena acne soap ( liquid ). You might also try to use a product called unbelievable. You should be able to get this at any type of cleaning supply store or even a carpet store. I have used it several times!! If you have a tag on the cushion, please let me know the brand of furniture and the cleaning code and I can get you the exact reccomendations from the manufacture.

Outdoor furniture question?

Q. I'm looking for outdoor furniture for the patio and have found a set that I really like and is reasonably priced. It is made of kiln-dried hardwood, not teak, so I am wondering how bad it is to leave some of it outdoors over the winter. We live in CT so winters can be bad here. While I will probably be able to store some of it indoors, I'm just not sure if we have room to move everything indoors for the winter. I would obviously cover everything with furniture covers if left outdoors, but it would likely sit in some snow at some point. Will it be destroyed? I'm going to look for other options if you all think it's a bad idea. Thanks in advance for your advice!
I would take it inside as I know that would extend the life of it, unfortunately, that just isn't an option for me...we just don't have room for it. We are trying to build a shed for some of it but the town is giving us grief...that's a whole other story though...so I'm not counting on that as a storage space as of now.

A. I would go ahead and get the furniture and then coat it with maritime epoxy.

What you do is take two seperate portions and mix them together and apply it with a brush. Once it hardens it forms a clear plastic like layer and will keep all of the moisture and water out. This stuff is used to seal wooden boats so the wood doesn't wear out from being in the water. It is fairly expensive, around $50-$100 a gallon so plan your job accordingly. If you've ever been to a restaurant or bar that has wooden tables with pictures and coins and crap sealed under "plastic like" stuff on the table top, this is what that is. I would recommend using this same stuff on anything wooden that you plan to keep outside year round. Call a few of your local boat dealers/repair places and I'm sure they will be able to lead you where to go for it. I'll paste a link to a PDF that helps explain what I'm talking about.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

A. Dude yes! Get help!

What are some design eras of the last 100 years?

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

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

I would go for something like Bauhaus

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

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

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

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

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

What should we do with a wall between kitchen and livingroom?

Q. We have a wall between our kitchen and livingroom (with a door on the side of course. We are considering cutting a large space out of it and fitting it with a bar to have a breakfast bar situation, plus it will be nice to be able to see into either room from the other. But I was standing looking and wondering if we should just go all the way and knock out the whole wall, which would make for one big kitchen/living area. Our two rooms are neither one very large. Can anyone speak from experience on doing such a change? I fear too if we do the breakfast bar thing we'll be limiting our wall space as far places to put furniture...of course if there is no wall there, then we're really messing ourselves up.

A. I have done this before in my house so you are in luck!
What you should do is made a breakfast bar area in between the rooms by cutting a large hole in the wall put a counter in so there is a table and then add decor. One the empty space left of the wall you didn't cut hang shelves make some small and others larger and place wine glasses and cook books [etc.] on the side that is in the kitchen. On the side that is the living area space add shelves but on this side put small plants, books, candles, and other items that will fit with the decor of your home.

I really hope this helps and i am glad to help will anything that has to do will home design. Enjoy your new breakfast bar!!

What color should I paint 1 wall in between livingroom and hall?

Q. I have a small hallway that I am painting yellow . The livingroom and hallway have one wall that is in both rooms. Should I paint it yellow like the hall,or keep it taupe like the livingroom? Or other ideas please?

A. It depends what kind of look you are going for, but for me I would Paint it a really suddle green colour that ties into the yellow. To go along, get some really nice furniture, or paintings that go super well. A nice antique brown would go great with the green.

What would be a good paint color for our livingroom?

Q. Our livingroom sort of flows into our kitchen so the color will have to blend well with our kitchen color, which is now "Cafe Au Lait". Thanks for your suggestions!

A. Hello my suggestion is to choose a color that creates a mood for your living room and at the same time matches with Cafe Au Lait, I would take a look in the following guide to make up my mind

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

How do I salvage building materials in Northern Illinois?

Q. I am wondering how people get started or find used/ recycled building materials (wood etc). Obviously I could buy them from a salvaged materials dealer but how I can do this myself? I have several projects on the burner and am just trying to figure out where to begin.

A. The real question is, what are you looking for? If you are looking for lumber, ask someone that removes and replaces it. If you are looking for old hardware or plumbing fixtures then talk to a plumber.
If you don't want to go to a dealer, go to their source. Bypass the dealer and contact the contractors that tear out the materials.
For the most basic start, contact your local Home Builders Association to get a list of contractors that may work in the area you are looking.

What local building materials are available in Haiti?

Q. What building materials are readily available to construct housing in post-quake Haiti? Is their concrete production local or imported? Do they have wood available and if so what kind (hardwood, softwood, timber)? Also are earth-made dwellings common in vernacular architecture?

I'm doing a school design project on this topic and I'd like to her from preferably a first hand source who has been there and had a chance to see for themselves what the situation is like.

A. I was there in July 2010. They haven't really started re-constructing any buildings that were damaged in the earthquake. Most of the buildings in Port-au-Prince were made out of concrete blocks but they are mostly demolished now.
At the church I was working with, they had hired a group of guys to build a wall around the property. The guys mixed their own cement and molded the blocks with it. So they do build with locally made concrete blocks.
The people who have been relocated after the earthquake are mostly living in designated "tent cities", in houses made from tin sheets, cardboard, and tarps if they can get one.
Samaritan's Purse also are providing houses for some villages. They are very simple and small- pretty much a wood frame with some tarps stretched across it.

tent city- http://www.flickr.com/photos/59993791@N08/5474414499/
port-au-prince after earthquake- http://www.flickr.com/photos/59993791@N08/5475010422/
samaritans purse village- http://www.flickr.com/photos/59993791@N08/5475010384/

Have home building material prices decreased since the home building boom went bust?

Q. few years ago I had an estimate done for a home addition. They claimed back then prices were high because the housing boom in the Southeast and Southwest was pushing up the prices of building materials. Given that the boom has gone bust, anyone know if the price of construction materials has eased?

A. Some building materials have in fact increased in price. It's a case of supply and demand. In the UK there are the effects from the high demand from Europe and the rest of the world.
Ja.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What's the best type of outdoor furniture for a rainy climate?

Q. I live in the Pacific Northwest which is famous for its frequent rain. We relish the few months of nice weather we have, but even in the summertime we can get some rainfall. I want to have some outdoor furniture in our back yard, but I don't want it to be ruined if it gets wet. I like the idea of padded chairs, but since we don't have a shed or covered patio, they are likely to get rained on and I don't want them to grow mildewy or whatnot.

What materials are the best for rain?

A. Enamel coated extruded aluminum will outlast both of us. In any climate. It is a bit pricey, but if you wait until fall, you will find great sales.

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

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

A. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

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

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

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

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

What's your best money saving tips?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

How do I stop my two 9 year old dogs from urinating on the patio furniture?

Q. The dogs are males, they are Cocker mix (probably cockapoo) and they urinate on patio furniture and on the potted plants all the time.

A. And have been doing this for 9 years, and it's suddenly a problem now??
You just have to train them to not pee there.. Which is going to be a little tough, as it's gone on a long time now. Try taking them out and past the patio and blocking the patio so that they can't get to it to pee..

Edit: NO don't rub their nose in it, this is a STUPID suggestion, this is old time training crap that doesn't work. You only suceed in teaching the dogs that you are mean, and pee in general is bad.. You don't want them afraid to pee, you just want them to pee in a more appropriate place.. Don't slap their nose or rub their nose in pee.. This is not positive training, this is ABUSE!

How do I stop birds from eating the stuffing out of my new patio furniture?

Q. I recently bought patio furniture with outdoor safe cushions. But the cushions are already being pecked to pieces by the birds in my backyard! They have made several holes in the new cushions and it's clear that it's the stuffing they are after. Does anyone know how I can keep this from happening?

A. They aren't eating it, they are using it to build their nests. The only thing you can do is put them away until the nesting season is over. Once they have found that good stuff for their nests, they won't leave it alone!

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.

Where to begin the custom-home building process?

Q. Can someone point me to a good consumer-oriented website or offer advice on the steps toward getting a custom home built? My wife and I have a couple lots in mind, we're narrowing down a list of floor plans. We could use some guidance as far what tasks â and in what order â we should be planning for.

A. the process is going to be different for different areas. i would recommend going to amazon.com and buying a few books on how to be your own general contractor, and how to build your own home. (i have i think is called "building your own home on a shoe string") some go into more detail than others. but read a few and get aquainted with some of the terms and such. they will also go through the steps.
but here are the basic steps.
1) find /buy land. make sure it meets all of your requirements, and the local requirements for building. consider a perk test, septic planning, access roads, frontage, any minimum size requirements.
2) site planning. where is the septic located (or are you on town sewer and water). where is the house going, where is the well going (if not on town water) where is the electric going to come in from. and which way will the house be oriented (stake out the corners)
3) excavation and foundation (this will go off the plans that you have decided on) (be prepared for the unexpected, who knows what they will find when they dig)
4) framing
5) skinning (roof and exterior walls and maybe siding, windows) inside is now protected from the elements)
6) electric, plumbing, hvac
7) insulating
8) interior walls, floors, ceilings
9) appliances, painting, finish electrical and plubing fixtures.
10) final walkthrough, cleanup, touchup.

those are the basics

Monday, February 11, 2013

Where should I look for free plastic milk crates?

Q. I'm moving into a dorm soon and need some extra storage/furniture. I've found them outside behind a local pizza place, but was wondering if there are any particular stores/gas stations/wherever that anyone has had good luck with?

A. No, but I'd check Walmart or thrift stores. You could also use baskets. Roxanne

Where should I look for free plastic milk crates?

A. most grocery stores will let you have some.

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

A. Dude yes! Get help!

How soon after laying ceramic floor tile can you apply grout?

Q. I'll be putting ceramic floor tile in a bathroom today. How long after laying it should I wait to put in the grout?

A. Under normal heat and humidity conditions you can grout tomorrow as long as you don t finish late tonight.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications there. GL

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.

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.

What kind of regular maintenance is needed for house?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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