Home Related Questions and Answers: 2013-03-17

Saturday, March 23, 2013

What kind of gun is not lethal but can stun/immobilise a victim? (specifically i'm thinking of home security)

Q. It is specifically meant for personal and home safety. Should not be lethal - hence free from hassles of licensing but have power to stun or immobilise victims; it should be simple and cost-effective enough to make, preferably on our own; it may use chemicals, minor explosives or electronic devices etc but should not be dangerous to keep it; also handy enough to carry around
It should have a reach of at least 30 meters.

A. The very first thing that you need to think about is your safety and the safety of the others in the house that you live in. That also includes any small children that may get a hold of such a thing.Then why non-lethal? Because you would rather not kill a person, if that is your view I completely respect that, or is it the permit issue? Tazers and other non lethal devices can kill or seriously injure a child as easy as a gun. You will need to think about where to store it, how easy it will be for you to get to it, and how effective it will be. They make guns that shoot rubber bullets, or nets that are very effective, but they cost a lot. The cheapest and most reliable device you could use is a 12 gage shotgun. Typically there is no permit issues because they are primarily used for hunting. You can get them with shorter stocks and barrels so they are easier to maneuver in your home. Remember what ever is dangerous to intruders is dangerous to you. If this device is not strong enough to keep them under control until help comes then you only have an angry, injured, criminal which is not a good thing to have in your house.

What are some questions I can ask about in home enviromental safety?

Q. I'm doing a video project for my mass media class. I will be intereview people and asking them questions. I need 2 more questions to ask concering about in home enviromental safety? can someone help me out please?

A. Is the house ventilated? This could be a clue for Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Do you notice any strange smells when you've been gone for a few days? Could be mold.
What kind of cleaners do you use? Some are quite toxic or caustic.
When was the house built? Older homes may have asbestos insulation or lead based paints.
Do you have pets or children? Both can leave little messes if they have accidents.

Would you recommend installing a home security in Wildwood, NJ?

Q. I am buying a house and it had not long ago back door glass broken as nobody lived there for a while. Is it exception or the rule that empty houses are often robbed? Would you recommend to install a home safety system? I mean it is good to have one, but DO I REALLY HAVE TO HAVE IT THERE?
Location - WW close to North Wildwood, between Park and New Jersey. Thank you.

A. Maybe, but I've vacationed at Wildwood for numerous summers and it seems like it's a fine place to be safe, although it is busy and crowded so maybe.
Wildwood is the best! Can I live with you? ;]

where to find good contractor for bathroom remodeling in san jose?

Q. I need to do bathroom remodeling and need to get some estimate from contractors. I'm in san jose, ca

A. Get a free bathroom remodel estimate from local contractors.
You can check
http://remodeling-advisor.com/bathroom-remodel-estimate
and click on the link
It is a great time saving option.

Bathroom remodeling, when should we have windows installed?

Q. We are planning on having our bathroom remodeled. We want to replace the bathroom window, replace the floor tiles, tile and paint the walls, and have a sink and mirror installed. Here's my question: do we have the window installed first before the other things or last?

A. You'll want to tile around the window and make sure it is well sealed so the window goes into the framing, then tile backer board, then the tile. Window first, in other words.

Are there any places that will assist in bathroom remodeling for the elderly in Northwest Ohio?

Q. My father has had 3 strokes. It is hard for him to balance himself to get in and out of the tub. I would like to have his bathroom remodeled for him. I want to have the tub taken out and replace with a walk in shower. The toilet doesn't work like it should, but it works. I would like to get that replaced also. They both need rails around them so he can get in and out the shower and on and off the toilet with ease. Can anyone help me in finding assistance with these needs?

A. Most all Counties and or Cities have programs to aid Seniors- has to be low income person .
Look in phone book for Senior services, or call city hall.

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.

In a bedroom would a different color in a walk in a walk in closet look odd ?

Q. The paint that I used for my bedroom is expensive and I have an off white/tan extra paint on hand. My bedroom is a pastel light shade of orange, if I painted the walk in closet the off white/tan shade-- would that look odd and a mismatch ? Or would you for sure buy the same paint as the bedroom ?

A. If the closet has a door, it would be fine to paint it another color. If it were a dressing room that opened directly into the bedroom, the same color would be preferable, but for a closet? It would certainly be okay - and smart - to use the neutral, light paint you have on hand.

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

Rolled rubber roofing material, where can I buy it?

Q. I'm looking for a retail dealer in east Texas that sells rolled rubber roofing material at least 8 ft. wide.

A. don't think HD has it. and it is not really a DIY product. i've used it a few times and there are a few special methods you need to know.

try this site, they have someone in texas. i think you want to ask for edpm roofing: http://www.roofingproductsunlimited.com/aboutus.html

try: http://www.gaf.com/General/GAFIntro_MAIN.asp

also try: Modern Building Supply. 31209 State Highway 64. Wills Point, TX 75169 (903) 865-6762 [they're a little east of Dallas]

We need to replace roofing material-shingles or the metal ones that seem to be getting popular-?

Q. We have a simple 2 story farmhouse in the midwest US. Anyone have pros and cons on roofing materials, as to cost, durability, etc.? Thanks a bunch!

A. a good shingle roof is fine. but with the price of petroleum based products going so high, a metal roof may be more economical in the long run.

A wise old troll wants to make a small hut. Roofing material costs five dollars per square foot and wall mater?

Q. A wise old troll wants to make a small hut. Roofing material costs five dollars per square foot and wall materials cost three dollars per square foot. According to ancient troll customs the floor must be square, but the height is not restricted.
(a) Express the cost of the hut in terms of its height h and the length x of the side of the square floor.
(b) If the troll has only 2535 dollars to spend, what is the biggest volume hut he can build?

I already have a. I got 5x^2+12xh for a but I can't figure out b!

A. For b, what you have to do is maximize

h * x^2

while

5x^2+12xh = 2535

we can solve for h in terms of x, then use calculus to find the local extrema of [h * x^2]

h = (2535 - 5x^2) / (12x)

plug into

h * x^2

[(2535 - 5x^2) / (12x)] * x^2
=
(2535 / 12) * x - (5 / 12) * x^3

we'll call this f(x)

f(x) = (2535 / 12) * x - (5 / 12) * x^3

now we need to solve f'(x) = 0 so that we can find the local extrema.

f'(x) = (2535 / 12) - (5 / 4) * x^2

f'(x) = 0

(2535 / 12) = (5 / 4) * x^2

x^2 = 169

x = + or - 13

-13 is impossible, so x = 13

now we just plug this into f(x) (f(x) is the function for the volume only in terms of x)

(2535 / 12) * 13 - (5 / 12) * 13^3
=
10985 / 6
=
1830.83 cubic feet

Whats the best way to shine ceramic flooring?

Q. I just installed some ceramic flooring but it has a haze to it! Its already sealed with sealer! How can i get it to shine or keep that wet look?

A. Hi there, thatâs a nice question you ask in my opinion Stone Cleaner and Polish Cleaner and Polish specifically designed and PH balanced for Marble, Granite, and Dimensional Stone Surfaces. If you want more information visit the website given below it helps you a lot you can buy a stone cleaner and polish from this web from which you can shine your ceramic flooring visit the website.

What's the best way to care for & clean ceramic floors?

Q. I recently got ceramic floors put it, but I don't know the best way to care for them or clean them? What products do you recommend? Also, we have 2 dogs & these floors act like a magnet for hair.

A. In my old house i has smooth ceramic floors. At my new house i have bumpy ceramic floors. If your have grout that's another thing to maintain.
If you have the smooth or bumpy ceramic floors make sure that you sweep the floors daily. You can keep dirt build you mop the floor every other day at least. I like to clean my floors every day.
The only thing with bumpy ceramic floors is that you have to spend a little more time keeping them in tip-top-shape. Sometimes you may need to scrub to get it nice and clean.
For the grout you can also buy liquid that will make it water proof. Grout tends to take in water. Buying this can help your grout from becoming dark and ugly 9it can become brittle if it holds in a lot of water). You can go to your local HomeDepot to buy it, I'm pretty sure they sell them there. While you are there you can see many other products to care for your new ceramic floors.

Hope this helped some. :)

How to drill a screw hole in ceramic floor tile?

Q. We just installed ceramic floor tile. We removed a set of bifold doors and will be replacing them with by-pass doors. Fot the bypass doors, a center guide for the doors needs to be attached in the center on the tile floor.

What type of drill bit? What size? One slightly smaller than screw like drilling wood or not? Any helpful hints, tips also appreciated! Thanks!

A. From your hardware store get plastic screw plugs to suit the screw you want to fit. get the corresponding masonery bit also get a smaller one to drill first. It is also easier yo drill a small hole and make it the right size than ues the right size and make it bigger.
Don't use a nail and a hammer as mentioned eairler as you may eaisly crack the tile if it is not glued to the surface fully

Friday, March 22, 2013

How do I know what voltage outdoor lights to get?

Q. I have 5 outdoor lights in my front yard that are on a timer, and the transformer is in the garage. These lights are (I believe) not low-voltage.. I use 25 watt bulbs in them. There is a thick black and white insulated wires running to each light. I need them replaced. I am not 100% certain what type of lights to get. Any help is greatly appreciated!

A. Pete, you got me confused. You say that you think they are not low voltage but you also say there is a transformer in the garage. If there is a tranformer, check that to see if it is 12 or 24V. also see if there is a wattage rating on the transformer somewhere. You should only go 70-75% of load. The type of bulb will depend on your fixture. Some take a standard screw in type. some are bi-pins and then there are the MR types that project light.Any more help can be had by e-mailing me.

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.

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.

What can I put on a wooden cabin bed give it a white effect?

Q. I am expecting a baby and bedroom will be shared, my partners daughter comes to stay every 2 weeks and were have a beech colour cabin bed for her although I have picked white nursery furniture. Don't really want to buy a bed to fit in as she's hardly sleeping here! Any ideas how I could make bed white whit out painting it?? Pls

A. Decorating it with fabric like her bedspread or wrap white ribbon around the bed's legs to 'fool' the eye into thinking it is white. Wrap ribbon so closely or far apart to contrast w/ the wood color. Since she is a girl it is a nice feminine touch also. You might finish it w/ a bow that you tie?

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.

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

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

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

how to get rid of cigarette smell in furniture?

Q. I bought some dining room furniture and the previous owners were smokers. It is glass and wood. I have cleaned all surfaces but everything still smell the smoke.What can I use?. Air freshners, Fabreeze and plug ins just mask the smell. It is still there.

A. You can get rid of the smoke smell with White Vinegar.

Vinegar destroys cigarette smell on a molecular level. It doesn't just cover it up, like air fresheners do. It destroys it.

Pour undiluted White Vinegar into a spritzer bottle and spray the furniture with this.

The vinegar works best at 100% strength.

Yes, vinegar stinks, too, but unlike cigarette smell, it dissipates within hours. And once it does, the cigarette smell will be gone, too. It works every time.

-

I need a wall color that will work with a sage green sofa & loveseat. The living & dining rooms are 1 area.?

Q. The dining and living rooms form a "L" and both areas are open to the kitchen. The dining room furniture is dark brown wood. I plan to purchase an entertainment center or armroire in the near future that I may paint or stain. My kitchen cabinents are red oak and so is the flooring throughout all 3 spaces...help!

A. I would go with a soft beige color; that color goes well with any decor.

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Linoleum flooring
Ceramic tile flooring
High-pressure laminate
Rubber flooring

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

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.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

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?

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

How do I know what voltage outdoor lights to get?

Anyone know of a good place to find leads for tile contractors?

Q. I'm trying to locate tile installation contractors throughout the US, no matter how big or small, anybody have any good contractor refferals, or know where I can find them?

A. Yellow pages

Or find a trade organization for tiling. They would have a directory. Look in Yellow pages and see if any list membership of a trade organization

How do you get grout coloring off the surface of terra cotta (clay)tiles?

Q. Contractor used grout in terra cotta tile installation between the tile. He left grout marks on the tile surfaces. Ordinary washing and wiping doesnt get them out. Tile is made of clay,not stone or ceramics. They make them by baking the clay in ovens on trays, then cut them when they coll.How do you get those stain marks from grout out?

A. == it will eventually fade and wear off ... get the contractor to fix his over grout ... the porous clay tile has been used for years and the grout should scrub up with soap and water and a stiff plastic brush ...

how much should I pay for getting my 900-square foot apt painted and the floors tiled?

Q. Hello,
Does anyone know how much it would normally cost to get a 900 square foot apartment to be painted? I also need tile installation for the floors,i am looking not for a very high quality paint,just decent work and inexpensive tiles on the floor. I will rent this apartment, that is why i need to watch my cost. Thank you everyone for the answers
Have a nice day
S.

A. where ?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Online shopping websites for home decorating?

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

Any ideas are welcome, thanks!

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

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

free furniture building plans?

Q. Im looking for free furniture building plans. Im quite new to woodworking and looking good site to start and building something on my own Where should i start.

A. You should check out wworkplan.com They have superb guide and over 16 thousand different plans with easy to follow instructions. They also have lots of turoials in video and text

What kind of wood is used or how is it treated to prevent it from splitting?

Q. I want to dabble in rustic log furniture building. Wondering what kind of wood is used and/or how is it treated to prevent it from splitting as it ages. See http://www.yellowstonefurniture.com/images/alderchair.jpg

A. For branch-built furniture, willow is a good choice.
For log furniture, it's fairly typical to use species of pine... as the knots provide interest. (Sometimes the splits do, too.)
To keep from splitting, would recommend using seasoned wood... wood that has been dried in a kiln or left to dry naturally for at least a year. More is better. Moisture is the enemy and if you work with green wood, it will eventually shrink and may split. Another tactic is to pre-drill all the fastener holes and use dowels and/or mortise/tenon joints.

But, that's for big things like beds and large chairs. For bentwood... it's branches and brads or binding material to hold shape. Rawhide makes a good lashing... put it on soaking wet, let it dry = super strong.

And, of course, I'm sure there are a host of DIY sources on the web.

Good luck.

What are the most sought after type of wood in Australia?

Q. I reside in a country in Asia which is rich in its natural revenue and I have a wood manufacturing business. I'm looking to expand it to Australia via exportation and I need to know what the market demands nowadays in Australia - for furniture, building, whatever it is - I heard that the most sought after right now is Red Oak for flooring is that right? What other type of wood is popular over there?

And any legal requirements, unwritten rules among manufacturer/exporter, ANY info would be very much appreciated! :)
Thank you

A. the Aussies have a problem with termites so any high quality hard wood might be useful. There is an abundance of Eucalyptus trees in Austrailia but I don't think they are used for flooring.
Other hardwoods could as hickory, cypress, chestnut, walnut, ash, teak, mahagony.
I presume if you are in Asia you have access to teak & mahagony.
Beware of the Asian Long Horn Beetle. It comes from Asia & has been killing a lot of trees in part of Noth America.

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

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

I want to start building a miniature house, how should I get started?

Q. I'm a psych major but have a guilty pleasure in designing homes and architecture. I have many sketches that I want to bring to life. How do I get started? Not only have I sketched homes but I've also dobe the interior layout. What type of wood should I use? Not anything super huge just a decent size and I plan on doing all this by hand and from scratch.

A. All my experience says to first have a good complete set of plans and secondly have a good complete set of plans. I honestly believe an arcetec is a good investment in this venture to finalize the plans and bring everything into conformity with building codes When it comes to wood you can save a small fortune by getting green or partially seasoned (recommended) wood from a small independent sawmill in fact many small mills can take the materials list from your complete set of plans and cut out your house for you at a tremendous discount over what a building supply will charge. Pneumatic nailers will also save you a great bundle of time

Photos/ideas for cottage or country themed landscaping?

Q. I want to do work on landscaping the and lawn and need to get ideas that would complemtnt with home architecture. links to websites, additional tips/ideas would be really helpful. thanks

A. Add a picture of the area that you want to work on please, and I will tell you, One set up won't work in two different places.

describe how mature boulevard trees add curb appeal to residential neighborhoods?

Q. how do they work together with old homes and architecture to make a neighborhood 'appealing' to a homebuyer?

A. A large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house or take it seriously based on its curb appealâthe view they see when they drive by or arrive for a showing.
Trees add value to a home as well as being essential to a healthy community. The well-placed tree can:
Cut utility costs in half
Protect a home from wind
Cause people to spend more time outside
Act as a sound barrier/buffer
Add dimension to a home's landscape
Contribute to a lower rate of neighborhood crime,it's actually been proven that adding trees to a streetscape lowers crime!

Also, trees in front of an older home evoke a snese of nostalgia...summer days spent playing, the lemonade stand you were sure was going to make enough to buy that bike. They give a sense of the amount of time the house has been there, and the family that must have grown there. People want to feel that the home they are buying has a history, that it has been lived and loved in. Trees do this.

What paint colors would be ideal for a serene home office with Scandinavian-modern furniture and aesthetics?

Q. My stepmom is in the process of converting two small guest bedrooms into one large home office that is adjacent to a nursery. The room that is connected to the nursery (by a bathroom) is currently painted a medium-hued turquoise called Blue Ground by Farrow & Ball, and will serve sort of like the sitting area of the office. She adores the color, and will most likely keep it. The other room is wallpapered, but they're going to remove the paper and paint. There is still a partial wall up, so even though the space is open, there is a separation between the two rooms. This is why I think it would be nice to have the rooms two different colors that harmonize with one another. She is considering painting three walls a cloud white and having one accent wall with color.

All of the furniture that will go in the room has a Scandinavian-modern aesthetic to it, sort of like the IKEA style but higher quality. Most pieces are either white or blonde wood, and have clean lines. There is a lot of natural light streaming in. She is wanting the space to have a serene vibe to it with colors that are calming but not boring. We're in Southern California, so she's considering incorporating some ocean-inspired decor, like a driftwood coffee table and maybe sea glass colors, but it won't be like a "beach theme."

Do you have any paint color suggestions? Unfortunately, I'm in college several hours away, so I don't have any photos to share of the space.
This is the color of the room that is already painted: http://us.farrow-ball.com/blue-ground/colours/fcp-product/100210

A. I think I'd go for a light grey, either true grey or possibly a little on the blue side. It's certainly serene. It looks businesslike. It can go with an ocean theme. Think of the colour of an ocean just after a storm.
It will go with the furniture. A sand colour might be all right too but you'd have to be sure it goes okay with the blond wood. You could accuse grey of being boring, but it makes an excellent background colour and if you put an interesting piece of art or two on a wall, that will liven it up a lot.

I like that turquoise colour a lot too but combining with other colours is a bit tough without having it look like a kid's playroom. Anything red, pink, or coral is out. Yellow might work but it better be a very subdued yellow. Green just won't go. A medium blue might be okay but if it's too pale it will look cheap beside the turquoise and too dark will overwhelm everything else.

What are essentials for a home office?

Q. I want to convert a section of our home basement into a home office? What are essentials to creating an excellent home office environment?

A. The first step in creating a home office plan that works is to evaluate what you plan to do in the space.

A home office can have different zones for various tasks, equipment, and furniture needs. A desk and computer area may be one zone, while bookshelves, storage, and filing are another.

Furnishings. Make sure that you allow for adequate desk space for your equipment, and space to store materials, records and supplies.

Outlets. Are there enough electrical outlets to safely accommodate all of your business equipment (computer, telephone, copier, fax, clock and desk lamps)

Invest in a second phone line for your office.

Choose bright colors that will reflect light and keep you in a productive mood.

you'll need some sort of bookshelf-or shelves-and file drawers that are easily accessible without you having to get up.

Bulletin and chalk boards are a great way to keep home office reminders front and center.

accessories like pencil holders and divided containers.

personal art and pictures, family portraits.

A computer, desk chair and obvious things like that also.

Plants help make it more inviting.

Warm lighting, stay away from fluorescent lighting.

Help with becoming a better sales person?

Q. I work for a company called Winport USA. It's a small company that imports school, home, and office furniture. The company actually has really, really nice furniture, that is not common in the US. I have to start calling schools and asking them if they are interested in buying any school furniture. I am supposed to set up a meeting with them if possible, and give them our website address.

I honestly don't even know where to start. This is my first sales job, and the entire company is counting on me. I have no experience whatsoever. Any advice?

Thanks!

A. The trick is to listen. hear what they want or need and fill that gap. Keep working even when everyone says no.

Good luck!

What is a reasonable price to pay for carpeting stairs?

Q. I have 13 stairs and wish to have them carpeted. I have some leftover carpeting I would like to use. Can anyone estimate for me how much carpeting would generally be needed to carpet 13 regular stair steps. Also, what would be a good price to pay the handyman to do this for me?

A. um...lets see here...120 for carpet, 50 for padding, plus the money for the strips....around 200 i would assume...depends on the quality of the things u buy i suppose.

Is it possible to remove only a section of carpeting without having to replace the entire thing?

Q. My dog dug a hole through my carpet about 4 in by 4 in, and the carpet is still new. Do i have to rip out the entire carpeting in the room, or is there a way to just patch the whole? The foam was not damaged.

A. First here is a link http://www.doityourself.com/stry/patchin...

We repair carpet all the time and it is part art and a lot of Patience. You need scrap carpet. A Straight Edge. A carpet Knife (Home Depot) Roberts carpet glue and seam tape. If the carpet is thick you have a better chance to not have the seams show. It is important the nap is running the same direction or you can see the patch. We use a pencil and paper. Place the paper on top of the carpet and pencil on top of the paper. Run your hand back and forth over the pencil and the paper will move. This is the direction the nap is running.. On you scrap you want to do the same thing and mark on the back the direction the nap is running. CUT Carefully and exactly. IMPORTANT. After you make your cuts dry fit and adjust till it looks great. Next Use the Roberts glue to seal the edges on both the carpet and the scrap edges and let it dry. Otherwise it will fray. Place seam tape on the edges of the carpeting and place the scrap on it. Use a shoe brush to adjust and clean the nap. Trim any loose fibers.
NOTE if you use new scrap carpet you will notice the patch.
Good Luck

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

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

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

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

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

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

My bathroom has a really strong urine smell what could this be caused from and what is a way to get rid of it?

Q. I know it's a bathroom of course it's gonn'a smell like urine but it's so strong I can't barely stand it. I clean my bathroom about 3-4 times a month.

A. Do you have men or boys in your home? If so, the floors and walls around the toilet need to be cleaned regularly, as well as the toilet itself. You may need to replace the toilet seat and any bath mats or rugs that you have in the bathroom.

If you have carpet around the toilet it should be cleaned with something that will neutralize the urine. I've found that spraying white vinegar on the carpet works well. The vinegar smell will dissipate as it dries and you can then clean the carpet with something a little more fragrant.

Wall paper will also absorb urine and I've tried lightly spraying and wiping it with vinegar and it helps, but I've also had to completely strip the paper and paint the bathroom to get the smell out of the walls. Good luck. I hope you find something that will solve your problem.

When painting a bathroom, do you have to use a special paint to withstand heat and humidity?

Q. I am going to be painting my bathroom this weekend. I was wondering if I can use the regular matte finish in there or do I have to get a little gloss so it can stand the heat. I never close my bathroom door because it's inside my bedroom so I just close my bedroom door. It never gets THAT steamy in the bathroom because of that. I am just wondering though. Also, do you think it's nice to also paint the ceiling the same color as the walls? Or should I leave it white? I am doing a light pinkish color.

A. Don't use flat paint, I't grows mold really easy. I used to own a painting busines. We always used semi gloss or gloss paint for the bathrooms. I saw some one else recomend Behr paints from Home dept, My advice is not to use it. I found it required a lot of extra prep and even mutiple coats to get good coverage. I like the look of the bathroom walls and ceiling the same color.Good luck

What kind of ceiling lights or bathroom lights would be good for a teenagers bedroom or bathroom?

Q. For the bathroom I'm looking for one with three bulbs and for the bedroom a flush mount. my bedroom is aqua.
i'm not sure about the other details. and could you also add pictures with your answers?

A. A mini chandelier is a really cute and unique addition for bathroom lighting. It will help add some decor to the room. Check some out

http://www.everychandelier.com/Mini-Chandelier-C53035.html

What are the standard sizes of bathroom countertops?

Q. What are the standard sizes of bathroom countertops, two sink version(s)? If I am not doing a special order or trimming, what are the usual sizes to work with? Do you know any sites online that list this info? I am going crazy looking this up online, seems like it would be in the interest of online sellers to list standard sizes of countertops. Guess they earn more if they get more special order sizes. Thanks!

A. Hard to answer your question, in most homes there is no standard anything. If you mean depth, it is usually just a little deeper than your bathroom cupboards. The length is usually determined by how much room you have and how much free counter space you want. Most counter builders bill the lengths in even footage (if you want 9 ft. 5 in. they bill you for 10 ft.) in 6, 8, 10, and 12 foot lengths. This probably didn't help but go to a local hardware store that sells counters and counter tops and talk to them, they can give you a good idea.

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.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

How do you make fleece bedding for a Guinea Pig?

Q. I've heard that fleece bedding is cheaper thank regular Guinea Pig bedding. How do you go about doing this? Do you put twoels underneath the fleece or something? Also we have several fleece blankets already at our home. Will thoes work?

A. The first response is extremely incorrect. The only way hay can be used as a bedding, is if it's changed daily. Hay molds very quickly.
Fleece is an excellent and inexpensive bedding.
For my fleece, I use fleece with an under bedding of matress pads.
This is an excellent article on fleece how-tos.
http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/bedding/21568-fleece-project-study.html

How often should i clean the bedding of my snake?

Q. I have aspin bedding on the bottom and im getting him soon so how often should i clean it? Its a ball python btw and how would i bathe him or is it not required?

A. Ball pythons only need to eat once a week. The packaging on most bedding says to change it every 2 weeks, but I only change my once every month. The aspen bedding collects the snake's waste easily so you can just take the waste balls out. You should change it immediately; however, if you ever notice mold or anything that shouldn't. That is possible since you need to spray the bedding often with water to keep the humidity up.

What kind of bedding is good to use for my rabbit?

Q. I got a rabbit and we are moving him outside. I use care fresh bedding now but would like to change it to something more cheaper and better for outside. If you can please include specific details on how to use this bedding or where to get it from. All information is helpful.

A. I use to use straw with ASPEN bedding underneath which is dust free with no harmful chemicals like pine and cedar have. But now my bunny is inside so he has fleece :D But you can use fleece outside too if he is litter trained.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Does any one have any experience with having their home build on their own land?

Q. Since cost of new home still pretty high in North East region, I am wondering if any one have experience with having a New home build on their own land.
I am thinking about buying a land and then having a home build with developer so I can save some money in process.
2 Q
1. Is that a good idea?
2. Will I save some money by doing this?

A. Building your own home can be a great experience. You get to be involved in all of the decision-making process, you choose exactly how you want things to look, etc.

It can be a nightmare though---bad contractors, delays because of weather, etc.

Just make sure that you are very careful when contracting, and don't try to start building in the middle of winter!

You can save money by building on your own, but don't use cheap contractors that will use substandard materials. Research everything and everyone you use carefully. You can also save money by working on some of it yourself---if you have skills in construction. Don't try to take on a job that you aren't qualified at(like wiring---when you have no idea about being an electrician!!) because you could end up paying for it later on.

Best of luck!

What are the issues with copper plumbing in a home built in 1988?

Q. I have a friend who has a home that has copper plumbing. The residence was built in 1988, and she was told by a neighbor that copper plumbing is bad and has to be removed/replaced in order to keep the value of the home for resale. This doesn't seem to make sense and the home DOES NOT have any plumbing issues to date. The neighbor cautioned that copper plumbing can burst. Is there any ring of truth to this or is the neighbor thinking of something else. A home built in 1988 doesn't seem that old to me.
Please help. All answers are welcome. Thanks.
Additional details. Here is the suspected issue:

Different metals or types of pipe: copper and galvanized iron, were directly connected in the potable water supply system

From this point of view, we are told the entire plumbing in the home needs to be changed. Can this be right?

A. If the copper pipe is stressed, it will create a leak, but only if stressed. By this I mean thin wall, kinks, etc.

I have never heard of copper pipes devaluing a home. If anything, copper will add value compared to CPVC or galvanized. If there are no issues with leakage or significant corrosion, leave it.

what are the steps to getting your own home built on your own land?

Q. I have land that I want to build a home on. I am a single mother and I do not know where to begin to get me a home built. I would like to know if there are any programs out there to help me get my house built on my property for a decent amount of money. I have 3 acres to put a home on. I am in the state of Florida.

A. If you sit with a loan officer for 30 minutes, they can explain all the programs available to you. Once you have that done, pretty much all you have to do is pick the builder you want. There are many private builders that offer warranty. I've seen some here in san antonio texas that build for as little as $60/square foot on custom homes. Google custom home builders in your city/state. or yellow pages.

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?

In a bedroom would a different color in a walk in a walk in closet look odd ?

How long do ceramic tiles take to dry after washing?

Q. I heard that ceramic tiles absorb water and we have ceramic tile in the downstairs bedroom. After I wash the tile floor how long do I wait until I can move our dressers and furniture back on the tile? Because once I bring in the dressers I don't think the tiles will have a chance to dry because it is fully covered by the dressers, right?

A. Natural tile that is not sealed can take up to 24 hours to dry. I recently re sealed my tile floors, and had this same question. I called a few contractors, and asked some questions. If you are not putting down some type of sealer or something that requires it to be EXTREMELY dry, a few hours, or overnight is fine. If you want to speed up drying time, turn up the heat in the house, and put a box fan in the room to circulate air. Also, is there airflow under the dressers (do they have legs?). If so, you won't run into as many issues. Here's an article on sealing floors that has some cleaning info. too. Good luck!

http://hubpages.com/hub/Refinishing-a-Tile-Floor

Can I put a concrete overlay in basement with ceramic tile but new french drain and concrete around perimeter?

Q. They had to jackhammer through ceramic tiles around the perimeter. So the perimeter is concrete that is about 1/8-1/4 inch lower than the remaining tiles. Can the overlay be poured over ceramic tile? Will it level out easily at the perimeter? thanks!

A. What kind of overlay? How large are the existing ceramic tiles? You will need to score the glazing of the tile to ensure good adhesion. For this you can rent a diamond "buffer" from a rental store. If you are using real true concrete most manufactures/suppliers require a minimum of 3" of concrete to be laid and reinforced.

How do I 'stick' ceramic tiles to a wooden contertop?

Q. I would like to place ceramic tiles on a wooden kitchen countertop? What kind of glue would be best?
would grouting be required between the tiles?

A. First let me caution you about attaching to wood...wood is NOT a stable surface. It contracts, and expands which will break the tile, or grout at some point.
If you can use Hardi Backer (concrete board) it would greatly improve your chances of the tile lasting. Then use a thin set morter to "glue" it down (please don't use glue of ANY type). Depending on the tile you choose...some tiles can be butted up against each other so the grout lines are 1/8" or smaller. But this can't be done with all tiles. Check with the place you bought the tile.

Good luck.

Monday, March 18, 2013

What is the best way/place to get an entire kitchen remodel done?

Q. Where should we go to get the best possible kitchen remodel done? Criteria:
1. Budget
2. Service
3. Choice
4. Timing

A. First do your homework...You should not even think about hiring anyone until you know : What exact cabinets youwant,what sink you want,counter tops,faucets.....appliances, Etc warming drawers to keep food warm, wine fridge,microwave drawer,..........If you know nothing of the above spend some money on a "kitchen designer". A designer would be a good start and they should be able to give you a "ballpark " figure on how much project would cost. Next get estimates from local builder or remodeler. "GET REFRENCES" Check if they have INSURANCE.!!!!!!!Good luck

How much deposit and payment percentage for kitchen remodel?

Q. What percent to order and install a kitchen remodel. My contractor wants 50 percent to order and 40 when install begins and 10 at completion. Is that about right for licensed and insured contractor in Florida?

A. I am a kitchen designer in Boston. Our installers are all fully licensed and insured . If we are selling you cabinets and our guys are doing the install, we charge 30% the day you order, 30% the day your cabinets are delivered, 30% the day your countertops are templated or delivered and 10% whe nthe whole project is complete.

I think that's an extremely fair deal. I got my start as a designer at Home Depot. When I worked there, they took 100% the day you ordered. Now THAT"S scary...

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

How can I make a cold bedroom warmer?

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

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

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

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

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

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

What are good websites or place for home decorating ?

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

A. http://mariesmanordecorating.com/

Any good home decorating magazines?

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

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

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

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

looking for a reputable mobile home contractor in dallas tx area?

Q. Im looking for a reputable mobile home repair contractor in the dallas area.I have a kitchen floor that needs to be replaced. this contractor has to be bonded and licensed..Anyone know of any contractors??

A. All you need is a handyman or carpenter. Anyone who can replace floors can do manufactured homes. Ask a friend for a referral.

Home Contractors: What are homeowners like to work with?

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

A. They're seldom prepared for anything.

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

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

Where can I find a contractor in Columbus, OH?

Q. I live in Columbus, OH and I need to find a home contractor who charges less money to finish a basement. Please provide the name and address or any other details.

A. CV Perry Remodeling
- www.cvperry.com
370 S 5th St # 2, Columbus - (614) 221-4131
Directions and more

When should floor kitchen cabinets be screwed to the wall if at all?

Q. Should kitchen floor cabinets be screwed to the wall when installing? We just finished installing the wall cabinets. The floor cabinets are level. We have shemed the cabinets. Any suggestions? Do we need to wait until we have our counter tops installed?

A. Yes, screw them to the wall and to each other. You need to start with the corner cabinets. For complete instructions, see www.kitchen-design-angel/how-to-install-kitchen-cabinets.html

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday, March 17, 2013

How to get past a security light?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Does a motion security light necessarily need to be connected to a switch?

Q. I'm wanting to install some motion security lights on the outside of my home. This job can go from easy to totally ridiculous if i have to install a light switch for it.

A. === as a home and business shop wire it myself electrical amateur your best course is to wire it direct and in doing so you must be careful to turn off the breaker and use a junction box or a connection box to follow the AWG wiring codes === American Wiring Guide Codes === the purpose of the box is to be a spark arrestor and tape the wire nuts into place with the black electric tape so if and when you ever sell the home you have done this job correctly ==== NO .... you do not need to have a switch but it should run off a separate breaker if possible [[ for your own safety when doing the wiring ]] respect that power even if it is only 110 volts --- if you already understand most of this and I have been redundant it is meant to help you get it right ....

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

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

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

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

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

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

havent had the problem again.

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

give it a try, before spending $600

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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