Saturday, June 15, 2013

Is there likely to be a problem if I use ceramic floor-tile adhesive to lay porcelain floor-tiles?

Q. I bought a huge tub of Tile-A-Floor Ceramic floor-tile adhesive. My wife then changed her mind about the floor-tiles and the ones we have now are ceramic. I can't get my money back on the adhesive. Would I encounter problems using the adhesive intended for ceramic tiles to lay a porcelain tile floor?

A. You may..Since ceramic is more pourous than porcelain it may not grip as well. A latex modified thin set is the way to go.The newer mastics stay a bit pliable and since you ll be walking on them I never ;ike to use a pliable glue on floor tiles.GL

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




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Master bedroom furniture is traditional dark brown (new), what color can I paint walls?

Q. Bedroom furniture consits of King size bed, two night stands and nine draw dresser. Considering to have 50" TV over dresser, sitting area and include small kitchenette.

A. Hi!

Brown is a neutral color, so basically, you can paint any color under the rainbow with it... it all depends on what you like. There are a few things to remember though, and I have a few suggestions... Hope this helps:

To have complete color harmony in any room, you need to have 3 colors: 1 dominant color (usually the walls), 1 medium color (usually the trim, molding, ceiling, furniture, etc.) and 1 accent color (usually decorative accents such as cushions, vases, throws, etc.). You can use the same color as your funiture as you do on an accent wall or all the walls... it depends on lots of things like your lighting, but we'll get to that later.

In decorating, black and white are not considered colors. White is the absence of all color. That's why you can match it with any color under the rainbow. Black is the mixture of all colors. That's why it too, can be mixed with any color under the rainbow. It's not necessary to have any white in a room, but it is very important that you have at least one black item: a vase, a picture frame, a throw rug, a cushion, a curtain rod, a lamp, etc.... you get the idea). The black will ground ALL of your colors together. So don't forget to add something black in your room.

What color of brown is your furniture: Black-brown (as in very dark espresso coffee), dark chocolate brown, etc. Since you didn't say, here are some color schemes that work with different types of brown furniture. The way to use them is for the 1st color = dominant 2nd color = medium and 3rd color = accent. Of course, you can use them in any other way you like, thought the ones listed here are best together in just this way. (after, you'll get some links to some nice color inspiration).

Chocolate brown & Terra-cotta & Taupe
Chocolate brown & Metallic Gold & Neutral bisque
Chocolate brown & Delicate teal & Teal blue
Chocolate brown & Teal blue & Gernaium red
Chocolate brown & Brick red & Sky blue

Espresso brown & Soft Orange & Coffee with cream
Espresso brown & Aquamarine & Silver
Espresso brown & Blushing Pink & Silver
Espresso brown & Hot pink and Icy Silver
Espresso brown & Candy apple red & Graphite gray
Espresso brown & Cinnamon & Pale sky blue

Light purple & Teal Blue & Geranium red
Cream & Earthy green & Cinnamon
Gold & Copper & Brownish Taupe
Coral brown & Cream & Rich brown
Brilliant yellow & Lavender & Light brown
Orange & Burnt Orange & Brown
Gray brown & Red & Cream
Orange & Dark brown & Metallic gold
Golden yellow & Sky blue & Velvety brown
Aquamarine & Butterscotch gold & dark brown
Cinnamon & Dark brown & Sky blue

This part would have been easier if you would have given us the style of furniture you have, but the pics should help for color inspiration... I hope you enjoy this, because I certainly enjoyed doing the research for this. I LOVE doing this !!!! :)
http://www.spacify.com/linksimages/bedroom-sets.jpg
http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/44923-30.jpg
http://www.color.interiordezine.com/images/green-feature-wall-color.jpg
http://www.greatpricedfurniture.com/images/website/products/51236543/1.jpg
http://themagazine.info/56/Pictures/Bonsetti/BenzThree.jpg
http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2007/07/30/dod1810-aft1-bedroom-after_w609.jpg
http://www.techline-cu.com/images/showroom2s.jpg
http://www.home-decorating-room-by-room.com/images/bedroom.jpg
http://bedzine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/feng-shui.jpg
http://www.ladddesigninc.com/images/bed.jpg
http://www.pointclickhome.com/files/web/images/roomservice0907_01.jpg
http://www.designerfocus.com/mediac/400_0/media/master$20bedroom_concept$2002.jpg
http://www.thekirivillas.com/images/4bedroom.jpg

So... hope that was fun...

The best and most trusted way to find the color for any room, is to take an accessory or decorative item that will be going into that room: the duvet cover, the curtains, a painting, a rug, blinds, shutters, upholstered furniture, a lamp... you get the idea). Choose the item with passion. Make it something that you ABSOLUTELY LOVE, perhaps it was handed down by your great-grandmother or a cherished item you worked hard for. Or make it something that just SCREAMED out your name when you were shopping, so you knew you had to have it! Choose your color pattern from that item. And take it from there.

Keep in mind too, that color is an amazing thing! There's psychology behind color - it can make you have wonderful, relaxing dreams... or it can keep you from falling asleep, especially if you're already a wound-up 6 year old little boy! It can make you feel warm and comfortable, or hot and stifled. It can make you feel nice, fresh and cool - or it can make you feel like parts of you are going to freeze off. Color can be your friend or your enemy. And really, the earth can "shed some light" on us to help decide every color scheme. Here's how:
What direction does your room face - North, South, East or West? It makes a difference. If you've got the sun pounding down on your bedroom window, you'll want to stay away from warm colors, such as reds, yellows, oranges, etc. They'll make you feel too hot. Opt for cooler colors, such as blues, turquoise, cool creams... think mediterranean beach style here. In a room facing North, that doesn't get much light, you'll opt more for warmer colors and brighter colors: yellow, bright pinks, golden hues. Here's a most interesting link about how color affects us psychologicallly:

http://keelynet.com/biology/coloraff.htm

That's all I guess... Hope I helped you choose your color ;-)

You're always welcome to email and I'd enjoy knowing what color scheme you chose...!

How can I refinish my bedroom furniture?
Q. My bedroom furniture is worth about $5000, it came from my grandmas, it is all over 50 years old. It is called Hitchcock furniture. Tips or advice on all steps to refinish it? Help please!

A. If the furniture is solid wood, stained and varnished, you can strip the varnish off with paint stripper. Follow the directions on the can.

If the pieces are stained, the stain will remain. It is soaked into the wood. You can now apply a new coat of varnish, water base poly or tung oil (easiest).

If you do not like the stain color, you can paint the furniture. All poly or varnish should be removed. Prime first with a good quality primer. Get it tinted to 1/4 the color of the paint you plan on using if the paint is a dark color. Otherwise use the primer as is.

Then apply a couple of coats of the finish color.
Satin latex for low sheen.
semi-gloss latex for more sheen.

My opinion on old furniture. It if good quality, solid wood, I wood remove the varnish down to the stained wood. then rub on a couple coats of tung oil. Preserves the wood great, shows all the grain, easy to use, no mistakes.

If the furniture has some veneer on it, thin pieces of good wood, you will have to be careful with the refinishing as you could easily cause these thin pieces to lift or if sanded, sand too heavily and sand right thru them.

To paint, you really should remove the doors, hinges, etc to get a smoother job and buy a good quality brush too.
It really makes a difference in the finish looking good or cheap.
A 2" brush should coats $8-10. Home D or Lowes.

What furniture maker makes solid wood bedroom furniture?
Q. I'm looking for furniture makers/brands that make solid wood bedroom furniture without veneers, and preferably ones that use old-fashioned carpentry techniques like dovetails, mortise and tendon, etc... Also, on another note, is Broyhill a good furniture company? My sister is looking into getting the Fontana collection for her room and I wanted to check that out for her. I'm still trying to see if I can find solid hardwood furniture before I give up and go with something else that uses veneers. Thanks.

A. A-America has really nice solid wood furniture. We just bought a bedroom set made from New Zealand Pine....it is very nice and reasonable. www.a-america.com




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when is the best time of year to buy patio furniture?

Q. I want to buy patio furniture but I don't necessarily need it right away. I want to get the best deal. when do stores usually put these on sale?

A. You know how holiday decorations go on sale right after the holiday?

Same with seasonal items like patio furniture.

Best to buy it at the end of the outdoor season, which varies depending on where you live.

Also, moving sales---Many people relocate at the end of the school year and cut back on moving costs by selling lots of nice things at bargain prices.

If you haven't, check to see if your community has a "Freecycle" Yahoo group.

These are places where folks give away items to other folks who want them...you'd be amazed...

We've bought many items from an online company with $2.95 shipping no matter the size or weight of the item.

Recently bought a wonderful couch for around $500. that retailed for $1,500 and it was delivered in less than two weeks for under $3.00 shipping.

Google in Overstock to find the best kept secret in shopping...

Hope it's not unlawful to tell you this here?

We certainly don't work for the company and they haven't gone public with stock options yet~.

Remember to have a great summer no matter what's on the patio.

After all, you'll be the best reason to be there anyway, right? You betcha!

Kath.

What is the best material for unique patio furniture?
Q. I have some experience with Red Cedar patio furniture. I was interested to see if anyone has tried some other material for long lasting results.

A. If you check out this website http://www.patiofurnitureusa.com/ you will find some very high quality patio furniture made out of all sorts of material. There are wicker sets, wooden sets, mosaic, iron, aluminum, etc. Also, the site offers tons of variety of styles! Good luck! Hope this helps!

How do I restore rusted iron patio furniture?
Q. My mom has this great iron patio furniture that has, over the years, rusted and I'm interested in fixing them up for her. I'd like to be able to do it as a mom/daughter project. Any ideas?

A. Unless you are unusually thorough, sanding or rubbing with steel wool will not remove all of the rust. If you do not remove all of the rust it will likely come back fairly quickly.
As others have pointed out, the absolute best way to remove the rust is by sand-blasting or bead-blasting but this is not a DIY project.
If you want to DIY, I would recommend you brush the furniture with a wire brush, apply naval jelly and wash off, dry thoroughly, lightly sand and immediately apply a rust inhibiting primer and coats of paint.
If you want the best result possible, find a shop that does powder-coating. They will generally blast off the rust and apply a baked on durable finish in an assortment of colors, generally for a reasonable price. We had this done to a set of old furniture and the results far exceeded our expectations




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What do lamps give energy to that is a plant?

Q. What do lamps give energy to that is a plant? I need this awser for a project and I cant figure out what it is!!

A. Lamps provide the energy to induce the photosynthesis process which causes plants to grow.

The sun usually provides this light energy, but lamps can do just as well, under controlled conditions.

What are some good stores to buy lamps at?
Q. I am looking for some lamps to go on the night stands in our bedroom. What are some good stores to buy them at? I would prefer to buy on-line, but I like to go shopping too!

A. Hi, try this. Go into Google or Yahoo image search. Key in lamps or whatever you think best describes the item you're looking for. Voila, you now have thousands of photographs to choose from. Most images link to a website for more information.

Where do you get the heat lamps they use in industrial buildings?
Q. Would like to buy and install one of those industrial type heat lamps - like the ones that you walk under at the front door when you go into a Costco or other large shopping building. We have a ten year old Ridgeback and Doberman and last winter they spent the days and nights in the basement when it got below freezing- I would leave one of the portable heaters on that turn off if you knock them over. My husband picked up a puppy from the pound and I am now back working so we do not trust to leave the heater on with the crazyness of the new puppy- but the Doberman has arthritis so i'd like to get some heat going in the basement. We thought a large heat lamp we could install above them would work great. Any ideas?

A. The product you are describing is not a heat lamp. They are infrared heaters. There are different types but the best and most commonly used are gas fired. Here is a link to a descent manufacturer but there are others.

http://www.rezspec.com/catalog-rihn.html




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What subsities can you get in Pennsylania for using Solar Energy?

Q. I'm thinking of changing my home to solar energy. Does the State of Pennsylvania or the Federal goverment help with the cost.

A. some of those subcities are: Cheltenham, Upper Darby,Mt.Lebanon, Bethel Park,York...to name a few !!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hope that answers some of your questions!

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

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




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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 to find out a Quality Bathroom Remodeling?
Q. How to find out a Quality Bathroom Remodeling?

A. contact bath fitters they are quick, fast and approachable.




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Friday, June 14, 2013

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

How do you hang Christmas lights in your livingroom?
Q. I live in an apartment but my livingroom is kinda big. I don't know the exact size. What I'm really concerned is what can I put on the walls in order to hang the lights? Can I find that product at target? Ps- I live in Los Angeles, Ca in case you don't know what target is.

A. there is a brand called command that has removable hooks in clear plastic




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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. most grocery stores will let you have some.

How to get my stuff posseions back from 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. Well where i live you would call the police and they would pay him a visit and ask him to arrange a time to collect your things,they would then go with you to the house whilst you got them to make sure there was no conflict.

If you get no joy with that see a lawyer about a court order,have you actually reported him for molesting you though? Seriously if not you should do,he will only go on to do it to someone else and he deserves to be punished for it.

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!




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Where can you get wall lights for your room?

Q. I have been watching room tours on youtube and a lot of people have really cool wall lights (not plain ones, like pink and stuff) ti make there room more fun, they have them over there bed and stuff. So I went to a couple of stores online but none had anything close to that. Please help!

A. Have you tried homedepot ive senn cool lights their

Can I use an AC wall light dimmer as a 12V voltage regulator?
Q. Hi. I need to reduce the voltage of a DC power supply from 16V (external laptop battery) down to 12V so I can use it as a power supply for my other 12 volts gadgets. Can I use an AC wall light dimmer for this? I've read that this works by reducing voltage so an incandescent lamp can be dimmed. I'd like to know your thoughts if it will work for my purpose.

A. You need to learn what regulation means. You might get it to reduce the voltage but that is NOT regulating it.

Replacing a wall light fixture?
Q. I am trying to replace a bathroom wall light fixture. My dilemma is the fixture I took out of the wall has a strip of light bulbs with 6 wires (3 white/3 black). The new fixture only has 2 wires (1 white/1 black). Which wires do I use? What do I do with the extra wires? Will the connection work without the ground?

A. Remove the extra white and black wires, they should be just jumpers connected to the main wires. Then it is white to white, black to black. The connection for a light will work without a ground, but it is safer and to code to use a ground. Usually there is a green or thin bare wire, from the fixture for the ground. It can be directly connected to the box the main wires come into.




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How do you match hardwood floors to exsisting cabinets?

Q. What would be the best color or type of hardwood flooring or other material to match to existing walnut Kitchen cabinetry?

A. most of the time if the cabinets are dark, then the flooring is light and so on. Basically you want a little contrast between the two so the whole kitchen doesn't disappear into a one tone black hole.

Learn kitchen cabinetry?
Q. I'm interested in learning kitchen cabinetry but don't know where to start. Any tips? I don't mind paying $ to take courses or working as a helper....

A. Check out the national kitchen and bath association's website. www.nkba.com. All the knowledge you need.

Can I replace things in an apartment?
Q. I'm currently looking to move into an apartment and was wondering, are there apartments that would allow me to replace amenities if I choose to? Things such as microwaves, ovens, toilets, or kitchen cabinetry? Do apartments normally allow people to paint the walls?
Why would I wish to improve other people's property? Because I'm living there, and I want to live well. Stick to answering the question.

A. NO, you legally can not alter their property.




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




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Cost of Ceramic tile installation?

Q. How much per sq foot should ceramic tile installation cost? I would like to get my kitchen and connected bathroom (260 sqft) done. I plan on spending 2 per sq ft on the actual tile.

A. Contact a ceramic tile installer or go to a showroom which sells ceramic, They will tell you the cost of material and the cost of installation. You can determine if you DIY.

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 ...




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Thursday, June 13, 2013

Master bedroom furniture is traditional dark brown (new), what color can I paint walls?

Q. Bedroom furniture consits of King size bed, two night stands and nine draw dresser. Considering to have 50" TV over dresser, sitting area and include small kitchenette.

A. Hi!

Brown is a neutral color, so basically, you can paint any color under the rainbow with it... it all depends on what you like. There are a few things to remember though, and I have a few suggestions... Hope this helps:

To have complete color harmony in any room, you need to have 3 colors: 1 dominant color (usually the walls), 1 medium color (usually the trim, molding, ceiling, furniture, etc.) and 1 accent color (usually decorative accents such as cushions, vases, throws, etc.). You can use the same color as your funiture as you do on an accent wall or all the walls... it depends on lots of things like your lighting, but we'll get to that later.

In decorating, black and white are not considered colors. White is the absence of all color. That's why you can match it with any color under the rainbow. Black is the mixture of all colors. That's why it too, can be mixed with any color under the rainbow. It's not necessary to have any white in a room, but it is very important that you have at least one black item: a vase, a picture frame, a throw rug, a cushion, a curtain rod, a lamp, etc.... you get the idea). The black will ground ALL of your colors together. So don't forget to add something black in your room.

What color of brown is your furniture: Black-brown (as in very dark espresso coffee), dark chocolate brown, etc. Since you didn't say, here are some color schemes that work with different types of brown furniture. The way to use them is for the 1st color = dominant 2nd color = medium and 3rd color = accent. Of course, you can use them in any other way you like, thought the ones listed here are best together in just this way. (after, you'll get some links to some nice color inspiration).

Chocolate brown & Terra-cotta & Taupe
Chocolate brown & Metallic Gold & Neutral bisque
Chocolate brown & Delicate teal & Teal blue
Chocolate brown & Teal blue & Gernaium red
Chocolate brown & Brick red & Sky blue

Espresso brown & Soft Orange & Coffee with cream
Espresso brown & Aquamarine & Silver
Espresso brown & Blushing Pink & Silver
Espresso brown & Hot pink and Icy Silver
Espresso brown & Candy apple red & Graphite gray
Espresso brown & Cinnamon & Pale sky blue

Light purple & Teal Blue & Geranium red
Cream & Earthy green & Cinnamon
Gold & Copper & Brownish Taupe
Coral brown & Cream & Rich brown
Brilliant yellow & Lavender & Light brown
Orange & Burnt Orange & Brown
Gray brown & Red & Cream
Orange & Dark brown & Metallic gold
Golden yellow & Sky blue & Velvety brown
Aquamarine & Butterscotch gold & dark brown
Cinnamon & Dark brown & Sky blue

This part would have been easier if you would have given us the style of furniture you have, but the pics should help for color inspiration... I hope you enjoy this, because I certainly enjoyed doing the research for this. I LOVE doing this !!!! :)
http://www.spacify.com/linksimages/bedroom-sets.jpg
http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/44923-30.jpg
http://www.color.interiordezine.com/images/green-feature-wall-color.jpg
http://www.greatpricedfurniture.com/images/website/products/51236543/1.jpg
http://themagazine.info/56/Pictures/Bonsetti/BenzThree.jpg
http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2007/07/30/dod1810-aft1-bedroom-after_w609.jpg
http://www.techline-cu.com/images/showroom2s.jpg
http://www.home-decorating-room-by-room.com/images/bedroom.jpg
http://bedzine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/feng-shui.jpg
http://www.ladddesigninc.com/images/bed.jpg
http://www.pointclickhome.com/files/web/images/roomservice0907_01.jpg
http://www.designerfocus.com/mediac/400_0/media/master$20bedroom_concept$2002.jpg
http://www.thekirivillas.com/images/4bedroom.jpg

So... hope that was fun...

The best and most trusted way to find the color for any room, is to take an accessory or decorative item that will be going into that room: the duvet cover, the curtains, a painting, a rug, blinds, shutters, upholstered furniture, a lamp... you get the idea). Choose the item with passion. Make it something that you ABSOLUTELY LOVE, perhaps it was handed down by your great-grandmother or a cherished item you worked hard for. Or make it something that just SCREAMED out your name when you were shopping, so you knew you had to have it! Choose your color pattern from that item. And take it from there.

Keep in mind too, that color is an amazing thing! There's psychology behind color - it can make you have wonderful, relaxing dreams... or it can keep you from falling asleep, especially if you're already a wound-up 6 year old little boy! It can make you feel warm and comfortable, or hot and stifled. It can make you feel nice, fresh and cool - or it can make you feel like parts of you are going to freeze off. Color can be your friend or your enemy. And really, the earth can "shed some light" on us to help decide every color scheme. Here's how:
What direction does your room face - North, South, East or West? It makes a difference. If you've got the sun pounding down on your bedroom window, you'll want to stay away from warm colors, such as reds, yellows, oranges, etc. They'll make you feel too hot. Opt for cooler colors, such as blues, turquoise, cool creams... think mediterranean beach style here. In a room facing North, that doesn't get much light, you'll opt more for warmer colors and brighter colors: yellow, bright pinks, golden hues. Here's a most interesting link about how color affects us psychologicallly:

http://keelynet.com/biology/coloraff.htm

That's all I guess... Hope I helped you choose your color ;-)

You're always welcome to email and I'd enjoy knowing what color scheme you chose...!

How can I refinish my bedroom furniture?
Q. My bedroom furniture is worth about $5000, it came from my grandmas, it is all over 50 years old. It is called Hitchcock furniture. Tips or advice on all steps to refinish it? Help please!

A. If the furniture is solid wood, stained and varnished, you can strip the varnish off with paint stripper. Follow the directions on the can.

If the pieces are stained, the stain will remain. It is soaked into the wood. You can now apply a new coat of varnish, water base poly or tung oil (easiest).

If you do not like the stain color, you can paint the furniture. All poly or varnish should be removed. Prime first with a good quality primer. Get it tinted to 1/4 the color of the paint you plan on using if the paint is a dark color. Otherwise use the primer as is.

Then apply a couple of coats of the finish color.
Satin latex for low sheen.
semi-gloss latex for more sheen.

My opinion on old furniture. It if good quality, solid wood, I wood remove the varnish down to the stained wood. then rub on a couple coats of tung oil. Preserves the wood great, shows all the grain, easy to use, no mistakes.

If the furniture has some veneer on it, thin pieces of good wood, you will have to be careful with the refinishing as you could easily cause these thin pieces to lift or if sanded, sand too heavily and sand right thru them.

To paint, you really should remove the doors, hinges, etc to get a smoother job and buy a good quality brush too.
It really makes a difference in the finish looking good or cheap.
A 2" brush should coats $8-10. Home D or Lowes.

What furniture maker makes solid wood bedroom furniture?
Q. I'm looking for furniture makers/brands that make solid wood bedroom furniture without veneers, and preferably ones that use old-fashioned carpentry techniques like dovetails, mortise and tendon, etc... Also, on another note, is Broyhill a good furniture company? My sister is looking into getting the Fontana collection for her room and I wanted to check that out for her. I'm still trying to see if I can find solid hardwood furniture before I give up and go with something else that uses veneers. Thanks.

A. A-America has really nice solid wood furniture. We just bought a bedroom set made from New Zealand Pine....it is very nice and reasonable. www.a-america.com




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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 do you use to clean the plastic webbing on outdoor patio furniture?
Q. The plastic strapping/webbing on my outdoor patio furniture has become "grungy" over the past year. I would like to know what is the best method to clean the furniture webbing/strapping?

A. I use Mean Green, and scrub, outside, with a toilet brush.

What can I use to weatherproof fabric for my patio furniture?
Q. I found the perfect fabric for my patio furniture but i don't know how to make it weather and water proof. Any suggestions?

A. First of all, you may want to verify that the fabric will actually hold up for being outdoors. Some fabrics will fade quickly in the sun and some fabrics will become moldy so these are definitely two things to consider. The fabric types I would consider are Sunbrella, Outdura, Vinyl, and Spun Polyester. These have been created to withstand the harsh outdoors and are fade resistant. Then, I would use a water repellent spray, such as Scotch Guard to ensure the water-proofing of that fabric.

Good Luck!




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

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

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

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

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

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

Good luck!

How much can you spend without asking, and without your husband or wife getting upset?
Q. What is that magic number you can get away with spending at the mall, at the bar, at the electronics store, in the Apple store, at the home furnishing store, etc etc, without your spouse getting upset that you spent way too much? $50? $100? $500? Just curious as to what point you stop and ask yourself if maybe you should run it by your husband or wife first?
Maybe I'm not articulating this the right way. I didn't say that ME AND MY WIFE don't communicate, have issues, or that there should be a set amount that all couples should follow. I'm simply asking how much is too much? If you went out and spend $475 on a new iPad or $350 at the mall, would your husband be upset that you didn't ask him first? If you spent $500 on a new watch or $100 at the sports bar with your buddies, would your wife be upset that you spent too much without asking?

A. We still keep separate accounts, because it has been working for us that way. We each pay half towards the bills and that money goes into a joint account. Anything that comes out of my personal account, I don't have to check with my husband

What should I get my mom for her birthday?
Q. I'm not really sure what to get her. Sephora recently had their "Best of 2008" thing so I was thinking about getting some of those products but they're all like $25+ and I'd like to keep it within the $50 limit and I think it'd be a little cheesy to get her just two products. She likes home furnishing, she likes jewelry. I don't want to get her clothes and she doesn't like going to spas. Thanks for the help!

A. Please look jewelry for mom at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_jw?url=search-alias%3Djewelry&field-keywords=mom&x=0&y=0&tag=discount.save-20

Hope this help.

Good Luck.




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My friends are moving to a new apartment soon and for X-mas i want to get them a giftcard for home furnishings

Q. They are expecting a new baby and moving to a new apartment and I want to get them a giftcard to a home furnishing store, but I cant think of a good one all of a sudden. Any ideas??

A. Target is great for these occasions and they have online gift cards available too.

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.




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How to get a contract with homebuilder for tile installation?

Q. I am a ceramic tile installation specialist. Does any one know how to search for a homebuilder directory and post your self as a potential contractor.

A. go to all the tile centers and carpet places in ur area and touch base with them....get to know all ur other installers and maybe u can take up some of thier over flow,,......even if its small it gets r foot in the door......go to the local building inspectors office and ask to see the permits for new construction and this will give u a lead on who is building and thier contact #.......

lic. gen. contractor

What is a fair price for marble tile floor installation?
Q. I need to install marble flooring throughout the house, and I was wondering, what is the fair price per square feet for tile installation?

I already have the marble, so the installer just needs to provide the underlayment, thinset, and floor leveling.

Also, the tile would need to be installed in 45 degree angles, instead of straight rows.

Thanks!

A. I don't know what part of the country you're in but in the southeast you would typically pay $5 to $8 per sq. ft.. There are lots of people who think they can lay tile so be sure to look at examples of their work before you choose one. Tell your installer you want them laid on the "diagonal". Good luck with your project.

What is a fair price for marble tile floor installation?
Q. I need to install marble flooring throughout the house, and I was wondering, what is the fair price per square feet for tile installation?

I already have the marble, so the installer just needs to provide the underlayment, thinset, and floor leveling.

Also, the tile would need to be installed in 45 degree angles, instead of straight rows.

Thanks!

A. About 4.00 a square foot just make sure to use membrane on all joints and cracks or else you will be replacing cracked marble tile good luck




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

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

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

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

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

What's your best money saving tips?
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.




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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

I would like to listen opinions.does it looks good for a 15 y/o men teen to have its room decorated NYC theme?

Q. I would like to know if it looks good for a 15 year old men teen to have his room decorated with everything NYC themed or if that is only for girls? Thank You!

A. bring in silver, chrome with black white and red. Very sophisticated.
http://teensthemes.com/black-and-white-contemporary-bedrooms.html

What are some decorating ideas for a 9 year old boys room?
Q. We just moved and are looking for a new fun way to decorate his room. It is his first time having his own room he had to share with his sister up until now. So this is new and exciting for him! Its hard because there are far less boys room decorating options out there. We dont want a charcter theme, he is "too old" for that. :) Thanks in advance for your ideas they are highly appreciated!

A. Get some plywood, some upholstery vinyl fabric ( I like the carbon fiber one), some carpet cushioning and cover one wall with squares of upholstered plywood. Looks very nice. Also Get a small dead tree with the roots if possible and paint it flat black. Looks surreal and nice. Also some kind of posters such as a movie poster or posters with sick cars in them. I like the Dub magazine posters. TiS. That's how my room is and I get a lot of complements!!! Well, except for the gargoyles!!!

what colours are currently fashionable for decorating a bedroom?
Q. ok so i'm having my room decorated this week and i'm not sure what colours etc to have it. it is currently painted pale pink with silver tv/bed/clock etc and i have lilac bedding and curtains. i'm a 16 year old girl. any suggestions are welcome.

A. Bright colors are "in" right now, but so are pale colors. It really depends on your style.
If you're into brighter colors then lime green, bright purple, bright blue, hot pink, etc.
If you're into paler colors then a light orange, grey, sky blue, white, etc.
But like I said, it depends on your style.




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How to make my kitchen bigger and get the most return value?

Q. My kitchen is tiny - I guess you could call it a kitchenette, but it does have full size appliances.

Anyways - what can I do to get the most money when I sell the house? I am thinking new countertops (the ones now are just standard cheapy stuff), and new appliances.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

A. The kitchen is the one room that has the most "stuff", bathrooms next. The other rooms are just boxes with labels like livingroom, bedroom, etc. There's not much you can do to improve the look of the boxes short of adding recessed lights, ceiling fans, crown molding, paint, etc.

If your kitchen has any non-load bearing walls that can be opened up to provide a visually larger area, do it. If it's possible to combine a dining area with the kitchen, do it as well. This will result in a larger kitchen.

There are companies that re-face kitchen cabinets with new doors, rather than spend the money on new cabinets. This has the appearance that there are new cabinets without the cost.

The majority of interior home improvements are in the kitchen. The highest return on investment is, (guess where?) the kitchen. Replacing your counter top with granite slab will make it look like an updated kitchen. Replacing the appliances is another fast way to increase the saleability of your house.

I have many Asian (Chinese and Indian) clients in the past that replaced all the appliances and all the toilets (obvious reasons) when they moved into a home. They didn't want to spend the time to clean the old owner's mess, regardless how spotless it appeared.

Here are a few hints to get it ready to sell:
1. Clean everything
2. Clean everything
3. Clean everything (get the idea?)
4. Remove all personal pictures from wall, tables, desks, etc.
5. Your taste may not be the same as the buyer's. Decorate with neutral items, rather than what you dearly love.
6. Shampoo all carpets
7. "Curb appeal" is what draws them into the house. Be sure the front of the house is spotless! No dead leaves, garden hose, lawn cut, etc.
8. If you have messy neighbors and they don't want to clean their front yard, volunteer to do it for them. Nobody wants to live next to a mess.
9. Clean out and organize your closets. Everyone opens them and if they see a mess, it reflects on the owner.
10. Reduce your furniture count. Comfortable lounge chair is great for you to relax in, but may be way oversized for the room it's in, making it look a lot smaller than it really is.
11. If possible, re-arrange large furniture (couch, TV, etc.) along the wall, rather than in the middle of the room. Makes the room look larger.
12. If possible, hire a "home staging" company. They do this for a living and can guide you.

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




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How much can you spend without asking, and without your husband or wife getting upset?

Q. What is that magic number you can get away with spending at the mall, at the bar, at the electronics store, in the Apple store, at the home furnishing store, etc etc, without your spouse getting upset that you spent way too much? $50? $100? $500? Just curious as to what point you stop and ask yourself if maybe you should run it by your husband or wife first?
Maybe I'm not articulating this the right way. I didn't say that ME AND MY WIFE don't communicate, have issues, or that there should be a set amount that all couples should follow. I'm simply asking how much is too much? If you went out and spend $475 on a new iPad or $350 at the mall, would your husband be upset that you didn't ask him first? If you spent $500 on a new watch or $100 at the sports bar with your buddies, would your wife be upset that you spent too much without asking?

A. We still keep separate accounts, because it has been working for us that way. We each pay half towards the bills and that money goes into a joint account. Anything that comes out of my personal account, I don't have to check with my husband

What should I get my mom for her birthday?
Q. I'm not really sure what to get her. Sephora recently had their "Best of 2008" thing so I was thinking about getting some of those products but they're all like $25+ and I'd like to keep it within the $50 limit and I think it'd be a little cheesy to get her just two products. She likes home furnishing, she likes jewelry. I don't want to get her clothes and she doesn't like going to spas. Thanks for the help!

A. Please look jewelry for mom at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_jw?url=search-alias%3Djewelry&field-keywords=mom&x=0&y=0&tag=discount.save-20

Hope this help.

Good Luck.

What should I use my gift cards on?
Q. I have a good amount of gift cards from a well known home furnishing store. My plastic containers fall out at me from the cabinets, as do my pots and pans. We have a small condo. I'd also like a metal trash can (which are expensive) or a nice toilet brush set. I love vacuum cleaners, but already have a Dyson and Hoover (so I think I don't need another?). We are expecting a baby next month too. What are some good items to get?
Does anyone have an ideas on what to use them for as far as decorating or remodeling the interior goes?
Bed Bath and Beyond doesn't have all those things. Their sister store might, but its too far.

A. Baby crib, mattress, blankets, clothes, bottles, formula, bottle sterilizer, potty, diapers, stroller, car seat....they do cost a lot, don't they.




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Can exterior paint be used to paint an interior room?

Q. I was wondering if I could use exterior paint to paint my son's bedroom? I want something that will be very durable. If I can't use exterior paint to paint his room then I would like to know why I can't and a suggestion for something else that can hold up to being in a child's bedroom. Thanks!

A. exterior paint is a bad idea. it is very durable for outside, but stays much softer than interior paint, so that it will give/flex with the expansion/contraction of your exterior siding. also, it will smell much worse when applied. the epoxy idea that someone suggested is really stupid. you cant put epoxy over regular paint, it will lift/melt the latex paint that is on the walls. bad bad bad idea!!!
my solution:
first: quality if key to a good paint job
use benjamin moore paint, it is very good. i would suggest either an eggshell finish, which is more durable than a flat. as an alternative, the best, most durable, washable paint you can buy is a product called Regal Matte finish. it is a scrubbable flat finish that will be more durable than any other paint on teh market. it is expensive, but VERY good. you can get the regal matte finish at your local benjamin moore retailer. find one at http://www.benjaminmoore.com

What if I use exterior paint on the interior?
Q. I have some leftover exterior paint and I'm thinking of painting the inside of my garage with it. Is it okay to do that? Please explain.

A. It's okay to use exterior paint on the interior, but not vice versa. Exterior paint is more weather- and wear-resistant. Won't hurt a thing to use it indoors.

what happens if you use exterior paint on the interior of your home?
Q. I was given some exterior paint. And I want to use that paint and mix it with a small amount of interior paint (white & yellow) to paint my nursery. The home depot said it will crack after it drys. Is that true?

A. Not only crack, but it will never stop smelling like paint.




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




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

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

A. free cycle.com

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

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

Inexpensive living room furniture?
Q. I am moving in October and would like to buy new living room furniture. Basically I would like a sofa, chair, some type of tables (but not committed to anything). ottoman and TV armoire. Because I bought all of this only a few years ago, I don't want to go overboard, but want something modern and comfortable. And of course not too expensive.

A. try the ikea website for ideas.




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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

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.




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

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

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

where can i buy 4 x 4 colored ceramic tiles in southwest missouri or online?
Q. I'm a budding mosaic artist and am in search of ceramic tiles of all colors (not just the black, blues and whites sold at Home repair stores). It doesn't matter if I have to order from out of state.

I have an endless array of glass/stain glass and don't need them.

A. Hi gushpuppy,
You can buy 4 x 4 colored ceramic tiles on Amazon, here is the link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3a%2f%2fwww.amazon.com%2fs%2fref%3dnb_sb_noss%3furl%3dsearch-alias%253Dgarden%26field-keywords%3dCeramic%2bMexican%2bTile%2b4%2522x4%2522%26x%3d10%26y%3d22&tag=digitsy-post3-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

How to remove the ceramic tiles on dry wall in the bath room?
Q. The walls in the bath room of my house are with different ceramic tiles. May be the previous owner changed the tub & the walls around it but not the walls in other parts of the bath room. I checked with the ceramic tile shops & am able to buy the same tiles as those around the tub. Is it advisable for me to remove the tiles on the dry wall beyond the tub & install matching new tiles without replacing the dry wall? How to remove the tiles? What details I have to pay attention to?

A. You can carefully remove the tile on dry wall by using a flat pry bar or wide flat chisel. Do not pry on the tiles you can go right through the dry wall. Get behind them and pull or use a hammer to get behind them with a flat bar or chisel and take them off.
You will pull some hunks and tear paper, most of these can be repaired and gone over with new tile. You ll have to do some patching and sealing of old paper ( just primer paint).
The other choice is to cut the dry wall out and replace with a 1/2" cement board, dry wall or a product called Denshield.
The use of a cement board or the Denshield is suggested if any of this area is in a water area.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications there. GL




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

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

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

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

Laura Barnes, MSLIS
Illinois Waste Management and Research Center Librarian

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

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

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

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

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

A. the surplus house




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How can I Remove stain from my Kitchen ceramic Tiles?
Q. Trying to clean my kitchen's Ceramic tiles . Does any one know a good way to clean stain from Ceramic tiles and how to prevent it in future.

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




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How do you stop cold air from attic vents from allowing cold air into the living area?

Q. I have a continious ridge vent, soffit vents, and gable vents in the attic.
The thing is with this house, the walls are not insulated. There is also a breathing space that runs from the attic to the basement on all sides.
My fear is that cold air can come through the walls or electricial outlets when my natural gas furnace sucks air. I wonder if I could block the breathing space that runs from the attic to the basement in the winter?

A. your house has to breathe i would insulate the attic floor and that should give you the results you want

Is blow-in insulation good for use between an attic floor and a second floor ceiling? If so what precautions?
Q. should be taken? There is no heating in the attic, but two chimney pass thru the entire house and attic to the roof. Are they a danger of fire or smoke or smoldering of the insulation? And the manufacturer warns of light fixtures recessed in the ceilings of the room below. How can one know without tearing up the entire attic floor where those fixtures exactly are?

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

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

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

My house was built in Los Angeles in 1906. I wish to to convert the attic to a bedroom?
Q. the attic to a bedroom with a bathroom including a shower and tub.. What changes to the foundation.and ceiling will I be required to make to satisfy the building codes and mitigate problems if there is an earthquake.

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




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Monday, June 10, 2013

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.

Is there a book for new homeowners that breaks things down month by month?
Q. We just bought our first home and I am looking for something that tells when I should do each type of home maintenance. Like I know I should clean chimney and gutters in the fall, but how often do I get the furnance cleaned or change the filter. Stuff like that.
i am looking for a book that kind of goes over ALL home maintenance. and when I should do it

A. I'm not being condescending. These are really good books. I've learned alot from them myself.

Home Maintenance 4 Dummies

http://www.amazon.com/Home-Maintenance-Dummies-James-Carey/dp/0764552155




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Do most youngsters get adequate guidance and discipline training from their parents?

Q. Esp on home-safety, fire-safety, vehicle-safety and other aspects of safety? Isn't this the right time for more family bonding and to nurture kids properly, for a better tomorrow?

Your valuable comments would be much appreciated!

A. From where I am, parents teach, guide and discipline youngsters on the basics of safety, good behavior and manners. We don't even spare the rod, so to speak, if a child does wrong. But we explain to him why he is being spanked - not because we love him less but because we want to instill in his young mind the importance of knowing what is right and what is wrong, that there are certain rules to consider and must be obeyed to make him a better person when he grows up and that includes thinking not only for his own self but to consider others as well.

Can an employer require an employee to take a TB test?
Q. My husband works for a small company doing installations & structural modifications for home safety. His boss is mandating that all his employees get a tuberculosis test so that the company can get some sort of certification. Please note that, as far as we know, there is no indication that anyone has been exposed to TB. Is it reasonable or legal for his boss to require to him to take this test, especially since the company doesn't even provide health care insurance that would cover the treatment of any side effects that resulted from the test? Also, can anyone suggest any good on-line resources that deal with situations like this?

A. The staff is going into people's homes and touching their stuff and cannot be spreading a communicable disease.

How can I keep my house safer from break-ins?
Q. We've had some burglaries lately in our neighborhood. I'm just looking for some ideas on home safety, with or without a security system or alarm.

A. Leaving an inside light on when you are gone makes a thief wonder if someone is there. Not the bathroom light or a porch light.
Leave a radio on low to fool the thief.
Put a recorder on the telephone. If the telephone rings while one is trying to decide if anyone is home the recorder can say something like this, "Will call you in a few minutes."
Don't let the mail or newspapers pile up.
A camera is good to put up.

A sign that says,"Security or dog guard on duty 4 days and nights, pick your night."
Don't let people know when you are going to be gone unless it is a neighbor that you trust.




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