Home Related Questions and Answers: 2013-06-23

Saturday, June 29, 2013

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 ?

what is the best way to level a rough concrete floor and prepare?

Q. it for tile installation?

A. Depends on the type of tile... if you're using a Vinyl Tile... you will need to purchase some Leveling compounds... The best to purchase is either Ardex or Armstrong (these are both Cement based and are very hard once they dry)... this comes as a grey powder... add water and 'float' out the bad spots in the floor... (you want to skim over all of the bad places... and work the floor patch slowly up in the low spots).... for high spots in the concrete... you can still float around them... try to take the ridge out of it (as much as possible)...
Good luck... ;)

Is it appropriate to install tile backerboard over a laminate countertop?

Q. Instead of tearing off the old laminate kitchen countertop and installing a plywood base and tile backerboard on top, is it appropriate to screw/glue the tile backerboard directly onto the laminate countertop for a tile installation?

A. Of course you can do it and it'll probably last for a long time but I would NOT do it. As another pointed out the material under the laminate is probably flake board. you don't want that under your tile job. Tile, grout, concrete backer board and thinset, not one of these are "waterproof". Water and flake board don't mix. Pulling it and putting down some plywood is the best

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

How do I remove asphalt tar sealant from wood flooring?

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

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

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

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

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

How do I know which company's wood is good for wood flooring?

Q. Which company's wood is good for wood flooring. I am thinking about engineered wood. Do you know how to pick a good company?

A. What I do is Google the flooring name and "reviews" and see what others have to say.

How much should i charge to install wood flooring ?

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

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

How hot does a home theater room get?

Q. I am installing a home theater room in our basement and I wanted to know how how the room usually get. The room is 18 ft by 18ft. It is usually pretty cold in the room. I would be putting in a projector, surround sound, leather chairs, xbox 360, and an av receiver. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how many degrees does you're room temperature increase when all of those components are running? thanks. Also, I live in northern california, the north bay area, average temperature is 75 degrees probably

A. It really won't make much difference. Your main heat source will be the projector, which is up at ceiling height anyway. My own music/HT room heats up mainly from amplification (6 channels), but my amplifiers are capable of a total output of over 1,000 watts RMS. A fan switches on when they reach higher temperatures, and it does warm the room significantly. Even so, I only notice this when I'm done and I leave the room--the adjacent areas are definitely cooler!
As an aside, make sure that all of your electronics have plenty of space for cooling, or install ventilation--high operating temperatures drastically shorten the life of electronics.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

do i paint my cabinets dark and walls light or the other way around?

Q. I want to paint my kitchen walls and cabinets but dont know if the walls should be a little darker than the cabinets or maybe the walls light and the cabinets dark. Also I have paneling I want to paint so do I paint it a different color than the walls and cabinets.

A. I'd paint the cabinets lighter and the walls a little darker shade. Nothing hardly makes a house look as old or as out of style as dark cabinets. Dark cabinets just scream 1970's and 1980's. The paneling color partly depends on where it is. You also may want to use some wood putty over the grooves in the wood paneling if it's the wide 1970's style paneling. If the panels are narrower (about 2" or so), I'd leave the grooves in place.

Don't worry about the room being too dark if you go with a slightly darker color for the walls. The walls don't have to be all that much darker than the cabinets. I'd go with a medium tone for the walls and a light tone for the cabinets.

Friday, June 28, 2013

What is the coolest bedroom ever?

Q. teen bedroom. picture please?

A. Something that reflects you. For example: if your spunky or loud then pick bright colors like green,light blue or purple. Here are some pics:
http://www.cool-kid-bedrooms.com/images/goalloutbedding.jpg

http://www.bamboo-blinds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/teen-window-treatment.jpg

http://www.homevisions.com/lycosimages/50375_f.jpg

http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/7-ship-bedroom-dec0707_xlg.jpg

I hope it helps! If you look up Teen Bedrooms on Google that might help. Good luck =)

What are some ideas for redoing a teen girls bedroom?

Q. I want to redo my bedroom and i love the color blue. I can't find the color blue paint i want though.. Where is the best place to get bright blue paint. I was thinking of having a black and white bed spread. Have any other ideas? please help. I also wanted to add sparkles to the paint as well. Here are some pictures with the color blues i like. Please help.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://hgtv.sndimg.com/HGTV/2010/05/14/HSTAR5_Hampton-blue-black-white-bedroom_s4x3_lg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/colorful-teen-bedrooms/pictures/page-5.html&usg=__-a_wP5s5BLzi1ujPMpUwZKITM9s=&h=462&w=616&sz=68&hl=en&start=46&zoom=1&tbnid=Qimb8EGHKWiwNM:&tbnh=136&tbnw=199&ei=Euz7TYG0NoqftweE7py8Dg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dblack%2Band%2Bwhite%2Bteen%2Bbed%2Brooms%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1041%26bih%3D469%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=563&vpy=139&dur=1575&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=150&ty=137&page=6&ndsp=9&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:46&biw=1041&bih=469

http://www.home-designing.com/2009/03/teen-room-design-set-6-random

Please add pictures if possible:)

A. Movie theme pillows, bedsheets and table cloths.

where can i go to look for new cute teen bedrooms?

Q. I get really bored sometimes and i LOVE looking at teen bedrooms. So if you could give me a website i would love that!

A. well, i got a room ''makeover''!
walmart and target r gud places to look and some ideas can based off of youtube.
walmart has good comforters and target has good accesories.
hoped we all helped:)

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.

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

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

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

How to remove exterior paint from clothes?

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

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

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

Good luck

Where can I go to find contemporary home office furniture in Birmingham, AL?

Q. I live in Birmingham, AL and I am looking for home office furniture. I do not want the typical rooms to go or Ashley furniture, I have already been and do not like the selection.

A. try Office Depot, or even Office MAX

Where to buy solid wood home office furniture?

Q. My friend is redecorating his attic into a home office. Now he needs a nice set of furniture. What is the best place to buy a solid wood home office furniture. He doesn't deal with a limited budget, so it's OK if it not too cheap.

A. If you prefer retail stores, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Henredon, Ethan Allen, Drexel and Arhaus are all good places to search for.

Don't even think about super store, they sell cheap stuff. Not something you're looking for.

Also, check online stores - officefurniture.com, primeofficefurniture.com, everythingofficefurniture.com etc. There are really nice products there. Also, check out Amazon, there are always some good reviews there and you can see what buyers think of a praticular product.

If it doesn't have to be a new piece of furniture, try Craig List or ebay. Hope this helps.

How often does Staples office furniture go on sale?

Q. We're currently shopping for home office furniture and last week found a desk at Staples that we liked. It was significantly marked down as part of a sale. We didn't buy at the time (wish we had) as we were still shopping around for price and style. When we returned today the sale was over.

Could someone tell me how often Staples puts their office furniture on sale? Perhaps a current or former employee would be able to tell me.

Thanks.

A. They have a sale every 30 days. But not on everything. Ask to be put on their email list. They notify you in advance of the furniture sales. ( i don't work for them).

Or ask the store manager to call you when your exact items go on sale. She will call.

Replacing a wall light fixture?

do i paint my cabinets dark and walls light or the other way around?

Why is my outside wall light going on and off?

Q. I have a mains powered wall light with a motion sensor. Since that very cold weather, when it senses motion and comes on, it flashes on and off, on and off...
Could something have been damaged by the severe cold?
Is there a part I can replace/fix, instead of replacing the whole light?
Thanks folks

A. My light suffered the same way. The sensor is a sealed unit so a new light is the only solution. I bought a new one and it looks better than the other one and works better.
My old one sometimes came on in bright sunlight and took ages to come on when dark.

What is the biggest difference between building materials and building assemblages?

Q. Building materials include the fasteners.

A. The mind of the beholder.

At the right level of scale, any material becomes an assemblage. For example:

1. concrete

Concrete consists of a cement holding significantly stronger materials together, just like fiber-reinforced plastics. But clearly, when you start with separate cement, sand and aggregate, it is an assemblage.

Add in steel reinforcement, and it it even more clear that as a construction process, it works like an assemblage.

But from the perspective of the overall design, it just a material.

2. wood

Wood itself is just a bunch of oriented cellulose tubes in a matrix of lignin, etc.

But what about plywood? Is is a material or an assembly?

What if I take a number of long boards and laminate them together with glue to form a beam that is much longer, thicker, and wider than any of the individual pieces. Is that an assemblage or a material?

What if I assemble a floor by gluing the sub-flooring (oriented strand board, plywood, etc.) to the joists. Most would still consider it an assemblage, but how is it different?

3. steel

Steel is generally considered a material. If I were to rivet or bolt two pieces of steel together, that would be considered an assemblage. But what if I welded them together?

Then there is the a type of welding where the goal is not to join to pieces of metal but to add more material to an existing piece of metal.

Sometimes the material added is the same as the rest, sometimes it is a special coating. Is the result a material or an assemblage? Or does it depend on the material added?

What if the steel is treated in such a way that parts of it change their nature? For example the outside may be made harder, leaving the inside soft and tough. Is the result a material or an assemblage?

If individual fasteners, are materials, then so are I-beams, but what about prefabricated trusses? What about wire rope (an assembly of individual wires)?

And if steel I-beams are materials, what about wooden I-beams?

Where can I find used building materials?

Q. I am looking for a website that sells used building materials in the Syracuse NY area anyone have any idea of a link for them?
I tried to do a search for building restoration materials but everything comes up from out of state or in Canada.
I am looking for the material in or near Syracuse NY Not Canada

A. I usually go to FreeCycle.org to find used building materials. Instead of throwing stuff away people post their things on this site. It is set up locally by chapter and I believe the Syracuse area has one. It is a great resource.

In the past I have found tons of old deck materials and other lumber that is in great shape.

The best part is that it is free!!!! People are not allowed to charge for their products. It is very cool.

What local building materials are available in Haiti?

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

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

A. There is still lots of rubble.

And still so much devsataion (n Port-au-Prince), that they can't get machines and backhoes to help clear it up.

But some have been very cleverly been using hand-cranked rubble crushers. It takes 2-3 guys to operate, two to crank, one to put chunks into the hopper. But they are slowly clearing their own neighborhoods - AND using the crushed rubble as a building material for concrete, foundations, new bricks, and the like. Ingenious.

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...

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Looking for contemporary log home interior pics?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finding out how much home interior is worth?

Q. I have some 70's era home interior and need to see if it is worth anything. I can't find anywhere to figure that out.

A. Look around your local antique dealers....many are dealing in the retro items now..ask them..it will give you a start, then you can price the piece accordingly if you wish to sell them. You can also google searches for items similar to what you have to see what people are asking for them. Just remember, you can ask what you want, but you might not get it, so there can be a large variance in the prices you see...take the middle ground to be safe.

What local building materials are available in Haiti?

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

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

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

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

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

How can I find out what company supplied the cement and building materials for a state construction project?

Q. If anyone knows about the building materials used in Boston's Big Dig... that would be helpful. I am very interested in the cement...not the bolts holding up ceiling.

A. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of separate contracts for the project known collectively as "the big dig". "Aggregate Industries" supplied much of the concrete, but virtually every plant in the New England area supplied at least some of the mix used on the project. Many construction contracts included both construction and materials, so the concrete supplier did not submit a separate bid, but was priced in with the contractor's bid.

The custodian of records at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority has a list of all bid opportunities and all bidders selected. The material is public record.

Massachusetts Turnpike Authority
State Transportation Building
10 Park Plaza
Suite 4160
Boston Massachusetts 02116
617-248-2800

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 is the best bedding for dwarf hamsters?

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

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

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

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

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

Why does my Sims 3 stop working suddenly in Buy Mode?

Q. Usually when I try to buy kids furniture or when I try to buy a toilet, the game just freezes and turns off. Then an error pops up saying "The Sims 3 has stopped working suddenly."
Why is this happening, and what can I do to make it stop? It's making me so frustrated.
My graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE.

A. what is your pc specifications?

also the game could be corrupted so when you click on something it doesn't load or the game crashes.

Do anyone know where I can Find Free Furniture?

Q. I just moved out of a very bad situation and Now me and my kids need furniture example Couch, bedroom set. Please help.

A. Wanted add on Craigslist or local news classified

Would a picnic blanket be considered as outdoor furniture?

Q. I am doing a furniture project and I am trying to find out if a picnic blanket would be considered a kind of outdoor furniture? I read online that furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects ('mobile' in Latin languages) intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things.

A. A blanket is a 'soft furnishing' rather than 'furniture'.

Looking to buy high end outdoor furniture...where can I buy this?

Q. I am looking to buy some awesome outdoor furniture (chiase lounges, talbe/chairs, etc.) for my outdoor pool area. I've always loved the outdoor furniture that high end hotels have. Does anyone know where I can buy this stuff?

A. http://www.homedecorators.com/Outdoor/

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

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

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

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

what happens if you use exterior paint on the interior of your home?

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

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

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

How to remove exterior paint from clothes?

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

I am desparately in need of a way to remove the odor of dog urine from carpeting. Solutions ?

Q. Carpeting is BERBER ... 1 year old. Has been cleaned professionally and by myself.

A. There are a couple of new products out there - One is called "Urine Gone". I think the other is called "O". Both are supposed to work really well, and go through the carpet to the under pad to get rid of the entire smell. I've seen the "Urine Gone" at our local JC Penney's before.

How do you remove mildew stains from carpeting?

Q. We live on a boat, and there is always some degree of mositure inside the boat. There is carpeting on the walls, so I need to remove the mildew, but I don't want to use a cleaner that may change the color of the carpeting. Any ideas?
We live on a boat, and have carpeting on the walls. There is moisture constantly inside the boat, and mildew stains have grown. I need a home made remedy, as we are traveling on the Meditterean sea, currently in Spain. So USA store products are not available here.
We live on a boat, and have carpeting on the walls. There is moisture constantly inside the boat, and mildew stains have grown. I need a home made remedy, as we are traveling on the Meditterean sea, currently in Spain. So USA store products are not available here.

A. There are commercial mildew stain removers available. Before moistening the carpeted walls with any product, check to be sure that under the carpet is not wood. Moisture soaking into the wood and not drying will compound your problem.

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

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

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

How often does furniture inventory turnover at a large retailer?

Q. We've found furniture that we like but aren't moving into our new house for about 6-8 months as it is being built. We don't have any room to put new furniture but don't want it to be gone/discontinued by the time we need to buy it.

A. It depends. Some retailers sell "open stock" They order furniture, often by the container load, and sell it when it comes in. When it's gone, it's gone and they may or may not order more of the same or even keep the same manufacturer.

Others sell a manufacturer's line and will have display models and inventory or order things just like it as sold. They will continue to sell as long as the manufacturer makes that model and/or they have some in inventory.

Others are "made to order" particularly upholstered furniture. You pick out the style and the fabric (sometimes from 1000s of options). As long as the fabric is available (average lifespan 3-5 years) they will make it for you.

The other thing to do is just ask the retailer. They may know if the style is being discontinued soon. If so, you can buy it and have them hold it for you until you are ready. This may involve a storage or warehousing charge. Or you can put down a deposit and have them let you know if this is happening during the time you're waiting.

How would I clean a Leather couch that has been in storage for a long time?

Q. the couch is blue leather and has been in storage for quite a while and is covered in dust/dirt. I have found products to condition leather and read NOT to use soap and water... any suggestions for cleaning and wiping the couch down prior to conditioning?? Please help

A. You need to use a good quality water based foam leather cleaner.
DO NOT use anything containing oils, waxes or silicones. (Most 'conditioners' contain waxes or oils so should not be used) and furniture polish (Pledge etc)contains silicones which will destroy the finish on the leather.

BABY WIPES are the worst thing you can use as they will destroy the finish on your leather. They are very strong alkiline cleaners to neutralise urine (acid) on babys skin so they are not the right thing to use on leather.

Saddle soap is too harsh to use on todays furniture.

A lot of leather wipes contain chemicals which will also destroy the finish or leave residues on the leather which will damage it. They are not cheap in the long run as you would need a lot to clean a whole leather sofa. A bottle of foam cleaner should do your furniture 1-2 times.

Fairy liquid contains more salt these days to get dishes clean and this will break the finish down on your leather. This has been verified by the manufacturers (as with the baby wipes).

You should also follow cleaning with a good water based leather protector which will act like a 'scotchgard' and inhibit dirt and stains from being absorbed and make cleaning easier the next time.

Dry leather needs rehydrating with water and oils and waxes should not be used as the natural oils do not dry out of leather. Wiping over with a damp cloth regularly will help to do this.

It is important to maintain a regular cleaning regime cleaning dirt off the surface regularly and inhibiting the absorption of body oils into the leather with a protector is the best way of doing this.

The alternative is a brand new product on the market called Lazy Leather. This is the latest technology in cleaning and combines an effective cleaner with a protector. It is quick and easy to use and should be used as a maintenance product once your suite has been cleaned or from new if you have just bought it.

f you clean and protect your leather properly there is no need to cover them, leather is the most hard wearing 'fabric' there is.

Using household products may appear to work but will in the long run deteriorate the leather finish quicker and it may tehn be impossible to restore. May seem cheaper to use products from the supermarket but if they do not work or damage the leather then it is a short sighted saving.

Source(s):

http://www.LTTsolutions.net
Leather care consultants to the furniture and cleaning industries

rearranging furniture in small trailer bedroom?

Q. I desperately need to get more room in my mother's trailer for the summer. Bringing back all of my stuff from school (most of which are not going to be used i.e. sheets and towels), and not sure how to fit it all in. I know I need to rearrange, but a few suggestions about storage and rearranging furniture would really help. Especially if you live in a small trailer or small bedroom.

A. Take graph paper and draw the room to scale. Take another sheet of graph paper and make each furniture piece to scale and cut them out. Then you can acurately "arrange" the furniture pieces on the graph paper, till you find what works best. Saves a ton of time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What essential accessories should an student photographer have?

Q. What filters should I have, or lighting accessories, I'm more the outdoors type so I don't need a lot for studio shooting.

A. You should get a gray card. It is about 8x10 inches and costs under $10. It should actually be required. And I agree that a reflector and a diffuser are indispensible when you need one. These are all great for an outdoor photographer. The gray card will help to get proper exposure readings from your meter. The reflector and diffuser are used to control the sunlight to get better natural light without harsh shadows or splotches of light and shadows. Do a good search before buying a diffuser or reflector. B&H and adorama are good places to buy one.

And a good tripod is definitely nice to have. You can get a good quality Manfrotto for as little as $60:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?ci=2635&N=4291756644+4291348219+42&Ns=p_PRICE_2%7C0

Few beginning classes are going to go over flash much if at all so you may not even learn how to use it if you buy one. I would wait on that unless your instructor can help you learn to use it. A better idea is to get a diffuser for the built-in flash on the camera just in case you need it for fill flash.

Where can I get the Batman Batarangs and Safety Light Accessories?

Q. I am searching the best quality Batman Batarangs and Safety Light Accessories for buy.

A. As neighborhood drama teachers began patronizing the Fun House, the stores reputation grew. With each year came new and strange requests (the stranger the better!) Halloween products now consist of costumes, masks, boxed costume sets, accessories, makeup, wigs, prosthetics, theatrical costumes and other specialty designed products. Rubies also manufactures a wide array of Carnival, Christmas and toy merchandise. Their catalog consists of so many products that it will take us a very long time to get all of them up on our website. If you are looking for something specific, drop us an email. We might be able to get it for you.

http://www.nothingbutcostumes.com/batman-batarangs-and-safety-light-accessories-p-15193.html

How do I install LED lights into my new car?

Q. I recently got a package deal on LED Neon lighting accessories for my 2001 Chrystler 300M. I dont have much running through the car, I've never had any power problems at all. My question... if I were to install everything that came in my package (White Underbody Neon, White Interior Under Dash Neon, New Blue Halogen Lights, and White Blinker Arrows that attach to the Side-View mirrors) do you think it would put a drain on my battery? I know lighting doesnt take too much to run, but is that pushing it a little too much?

A. No. You should be fine.

I have no idea why you'd want to mess up your underbody or under dash with neon lights, but you'd have to install much much much more than just lighting to put enough drain on your altenator to keep it from charging your battery.

Also remember that LED lights draw much less current than regular incandescent lighting.

Install your lighting and enjoy your new found artificial daylight.

Hope this info helps.

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

Removing paint overspray on interior home windows?

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

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

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Americans, what would be the best gun for home protection?

Q. I'm from the United Kingdom and I am looking to move to the USA in April, I have always wanted to purchase a gun but they don't give us that right back here. So my question is, what gun would you say would be effective for home safety? And also what gun do you use?

A. For home defense I would recommend a Remington 870 pump shotgun 12 GA or 20 GA if the recoil from the 12 is to much.

If you want a handgun, depends on you price and what is comfortable to you.

For beginners I recommend you practice with a. 22 and move up to the 9mm.

For home defense/ carry with a handgun the 9mm and .45 ACP are good.

Since I'm 19 I still got another year and a half before I can get a CCW and handgun. But there are many great choices these are popular brands:
Colt
S&W
Ruger
Glock
CZ
Beretta
H&K

In America you can go to a shooting range and rent a few guns to shoot and see what you like.

Normally I would say the larger .45 ACP for home defense but given your lack of experience a 9mm hollow point would be best. The Glock 17 and 19 are good aswell as the CZ 75 sp-01 and Beretta 92. If you decide to go with the .45 ACP try a Glock 21 or 1911. For a revolver a S&W chambered in .357 Magnum is good also. You should try each to see what fits you best.

Here's a link to S&W website:
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category4_750001_750051_757767_-1_757751_757751_image

What is your favorite weapon of choice for securing your home? I'm about to make a purchase.?

Q. I'm about to purchase a Mossberg 500 Tactical Persuader and a Glock 21 .45 or M&P45. Let me know if there are any better selections for personal and home safety.

A. Moss 500 is excellent with either pistol grip only or fold out stock. Glock in .40 S&W is tops. a S&W M&P .45 is a good choice too.

However, I personally prefer a standard Gov't 1911A1 and for a long arm, nothing makes them think twice like racking back an L1A1.

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 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

What would I need to build a tall pet gate for blocking livingroom from hallway?

Q. What would I need to build a tall pet gate for blocking livingroom from hallway. My dogs love to see visitorsbut they jump all over them. So I want to build a tall pet gate to block the livingroom for when visitors do come. I am no DIY'er but I want my guests to feel welcome without the slobber and being malested by my dogs. :-)

A. Unless they are larger dogs maybe a pet gate would be suitable, and a lot less trouble and cheaper as well. http://www.overstock.com/Pet-Supplies/Carlson-Lil-Tuffy-Expandable-Pet-Gate/5156686/product.html Good Luck

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

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

How To Remove Scratch of a Refinished floors?

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

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

Where can I rent a thermal imaging camera to peform my own home energy inspection?

Q. Does anyone know where I can rent a thermal imaging (infrared) camera to perform my own home energy audit? How much $ for a 1 day or weekend rental? I'm in Northern Virginia. Do any national stores rent them?

A. Seems like i remember you could buy a type of 35mm film for a camera that picked up infra-red heat. You may ask a camera store. Who knows maybe they rent thermal imaging camera's

Anybody ever get a home energy audit?

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

A. yes and no.

What home energy saving scams have you found?

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

Each one we find is another community we can protect!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When did nails and screws become common in home building?

Q. Obviously, nails and screws are the common fastener for home building these days, but I am curious when they actually became the standard? I am having a debate with someone who seems to think that they are necessary to make a nice house, but this person doesn't understand that they use to be very expensive; and as such, most homes were built without them. I just can't figure out when that time frame was.

Any help on pinpointing the date would be helpful (with some citations would be preferable).

A. "I am having a debate with someone who seems to think that they are necessary to make a nice house"

Loghouses and log cabins were used by First Nations and settlers long before metal became used for nails, as did mud huts in Africa and thatch cottages in Britain, adobe brick houses in Mexico and the Mediterranean.
A nail is hardly the be all and end off of 'nice house' design.

"but I am curious when they actually became the standard?"

No clue, I cheated lol - the source link follows.

"In the 16th century the invention of the first water powered slitting mill introduced the first cut nails. Hot iron was hammered into sheets and each sheet was slit into bars by rollers that cut like shears. Each bar was then made into nails and spikes by "nailers". The head and the point were still forged and this type of nail was used from the 16th to the 19th century.
In the year 1811 the first machine cut nails were produced. These nails were flat and had no head. Sections of rolled plate iron were cut into strips the same width as the length of the nail. Each strip was then place under a contraption that cut each nail at an angle. The sheet was then turned over and the next nail was cut. The result of this process produced a nail that tapered to a point on only two sided.
In the 1840's a machine capable of making a headed nail was introduced. Stamping machines were being used by the late 1860's and several types of nails could be stamped at the same time.
Wire nails are now common and are the dominate type of nails used today but cut nails can still be found and are not uncommon.

Early wood screws were developed in the mid 16th century. The wood screw which is really nothing more than a round nail with a threaded shaft and a slot in the head for removal was first used in locks and clocks. They were very expensive to produce and were not used for everyday woodworking.
The first machine made screws were introduced in the 18th century. They had blunt ends. The first pointed end screws were produced in the 1840's by an English inventor George Nettlefield. They became widely used with this new type of production."
http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Wooden-Storage-Shed---The-History-of-Nails-and-Wood-Screws&id=3390880

Hope that helps :)

What can I do now to start a custom home building Company?

Q. I'm in high school and I want to own my own custom home building business. Unfortunately I don't know much about construction. What can I do now to get started in this career? What skills should I learn?

A. You need to take some classes on architecture and maybe some type of electrical classes and you need to learn how to do plumbing and roofing which can be taught to you by a person who already has the trade. I would say maybe you could contact some one already in the business and maybe think about helping them with a job first. Learn everything before you start. You should talk to your guidance counselor and see what college classes you need to take and what colleges you need to consider.

How much does a professional home exterior and interior paint sprayer cost?

Q. I am about to buy a professional paint sprayer that paints I can use to paint houses. I will be doing interior and exterior paint jobs. Thanks for the help.

A. My graco gas powered sprayer was $5000, no electric required, very nice to have. A good tall boy electric from graco or titan should be about $ 2000 - 3000 based on volume of paint you will. E using per job. You can get an ok (just ok) unit for about 1200. DONT GET A CHEAP SPRAYER OR SPRAY GUN. Make sure gun is rebuildable.

Is there any way to seal brick on your homes exterior?

Q. My house is in need of help. I have a sandy textured brick on the exterior (about 30 years old). The brick seems to have lost its coating and is crumbling off and spaulding out. It gets especially worse during the winter as it freezes and thaws. Is there any product that I could spray on the brick to seal it and stop this?
Thank you for all of your responses. I found more info on the net. Cosmo, you were right about the mortor tuck. Without that done first, trying to seal the brick won't do a thing. I'm having a mason look at it and quote me. I dont want to paint the brick, even though it probly is the longest lasting solution, and my wife is dead set against it. So it looks like Im going to get the mortor joints right first, and then apply the Behr sealer.

A. I am afraid your bricks may be too far gone for a sealer. Thompson's would be one step better than water and, in my opinion would be a waste of good money and even more valuable time.

Your home must be pretty old to have this ocuring. If your brick is to the point of crumbling, I think you are past the point of help for anything that can be applied with a brush or a spray gun. I would consult a mason. Perhaps the damage you are seeing is more cosmetic than structural. A mason may suggest a mortar tuck. This is where you dig out any loose mortar and replace it with new. Its a big job, but at some point in any stone building, it is necessary.

I don't want to alarm you, as your brick is still likely to outlast you.

how much will it cost to replace home exterior?

Q. i'm thinking of buying a house that has ugly painted cedar exterior and replacing it with a nice italian/spanish stucco. does anyone know how much it will cost and if it's a wise and durable option? how long it will take to do? (i really don't like vinyl siding).

A. if it were me i would just change the color but if you want stucco you would have to remove the old siding and reseal the house stucco is not hard to do but it takes time need to hire a contractor to do it mite get a better price if you tare off the of siding and help with the project

Monday, June 24, 2013

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 companies are major producers of commercial roofing material?

Q. can anyone help me find out what companies are the main manufacturers of commercial roofing material (BUR, singly ply, etc)

A. Mexico and Canada have the best ones.

How do I paint on textured walls and create a cute teen bedroom?

Q. I want a cute teen bedroom but my walls are all textured and its really hard to paint on them! I wanted to stripe my walls, but idk how to get a clean line. Also if anyone has any cute color ideas. thanks!

A. Have your mom or dad help you use a laser level and put up painters tape where you want the stripes. Usually it looks better to have them horizontal, rather than vertical.

As far as colors, it depends what theme you want in your room!

Beachy theme: go for a greyish/muted blue
Tuscan/Italy: A rich apricot color
Mexican/Siesta: Rich golden yellow or bold green

You can do whatever your favorite color is! Because your wall is textured it will take multiple coats, unless you want a more weathered look, then you can do a quick fast coat on the taped off area.

Good luck!

What are some good furniture stores for teen bedrooms?

Q. Im looking to get a room makeover. And was looking for white wood or metal (perferably wood) furniture for a teen bedroom. Pls and thanks:) Will vote for best answer

A. ikea!!!! My old room at my moms house is done all in ikea furniture. We're definitely an ikea family, they have so many great pieces

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom

What is the coolest bedroom ever?

Q. teen bedroom. picture please?

Where can I rent a thermal imaging camera to peform my own home energy inspection?

A. Seems like i remember you could buy a type of 35mm film for a camera that picked up infra-red heat. You may ask a camera store. Who knows maybe they rent thermal imaging camera's

Anybody ever get a home energy audit?

A. yes and no.

What home energy saving scams have you found?

What color should i paint my living room?

Q. I have a brick red couch, tan carpet, black accent furniture and earthtone decor.

A. play around with the Sherwin Williams color visualizer to find something that you like. It is the best paint visualizer on the web, imho. I like how their color palette is laid out, I like that you can search by color family & color name, the "painted" rooms look the most realistic, and it suggests coordinating color schemes. You can literally spend hours:
http://www.sherwin.com/visualizer/

I think it would look wonderful to paint your room a color called "perfect greige" (# 6073) It's a neutral tone - a combo of gray & beige & I think it would look gorgeous with the brick.

Furniture is medium gray. What should I buy?

Q. So far all I have is medium gray loveseat and sleeper. How can I decorate? what colors? theme? accent furniture....Give me tips on decor please :)

A. All Sherwin Williams colors:

Walls: Quixotic Plum
Trim: Chinchilla
Ceiling: Inspired Lilac

accent in bright not bold yellow's, not golds.

What color should I paint my master bedroom accent wall?

Q. We are thinking about painting 3 walls a creamy off-white color and would like an accent wall. Our carpet is beige and we have mint green bedding with chocolate brown accents. Our furniture is a medium oak color. What colors would you recommend for the accent wall? I was thinking a light blue shade, but I do not have much experience decorating.

Thank you!

A. You can go with brown or chocolate color, what ever goes well with your furniture.

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

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

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

Where can I get fairly good living room furniture, for a good price?

Q. hey im 20 and getting ready to move out of moms for not twice but the THIRD time ;p anways this time im living on my own without roomates, we rented really nice leather furniture last time.....but this time i dont want to go down that route again, where can i get GOOD cheap living room furniture/tv stands etc.?

A. You are going to get your best furniture for the money second-hand.

I used to sell new furniture and I was surprised to find the $3000.00 bedroom sets I was selling were attractive veneer over pressed wood. (A corner chipped from the footboard of the bed and exposed the pressed wood.)

I used to be in the antiques and collectibles biz and your best furniture for the money will be from the 1950's and before. It will be solid wood. The dresser drawers will have solid wood sides, backs, and bottoms. The back of the piece will often be wood, also. They may even have dovetailed construction attaching the sides of the drawers to the front of the drawer. Check out drawers nowadays. The sides and back are not wood, and neither is the back of the piece. They use this cardboardish stuff a lot of the time.

The dining tables will be solid wood, as will the cocktail and end tables. Find a piece with the shape or design you like. You can always spray paint it and/or change out the hardware. One or both of those two steps can completely transform a piece.

I had an incredibly unattractive chest of drawers once-they were in brown and yellow. I was going to get rid of it but before I did that, I examined it. It was superbly constructed-I just hadn't paid much attention to it because I had found it at a great price and bought it for resale. I re-did it for a child in my family in blue and white with pewter looking Winnie the Pooh hardware (knobs). It looked great.

You can get armoires from the 1940's that are sturdy and can be used for your TV and other electronics. (Make sure the sides and back can support the strong shelving you need.) Since they are not that old or valuable you don't have to feel badly about drilling holes in the back (for the cords) or installing shelves. Dealers order this furniture from England in big shipping cartons. Find someone who does that-you can probably get the piece for $150 or less. You can change out the piece later and install bookshelves or as a hanging closet (it's original use) if you choose to.

Another TV stand option is a sofa table, cocktail table, or chest of drawers. The drawers can be used to store music and DVDs. You can paint it a flat black and put silver or pewter hardware on the drawers for a contemporary look. You can even put a piece of clear glass or mirror on top for more sparkle.

Thrift stores, garage sales, consignment shops and even the curb (you can't believe what I have found on people's curbs that they were discarding) are all good furniture options. Think outside the box, look at the lines of the furniture and what it can be, not what it currently looks like. (That's what paint is for). Avoid cheap furniture-anything of pressed wood or with pseudo wood grain on it.

Note: There are some specific techniques to spray painting:
1-Initially shake the can upside-down for three minutes. I know it is boring but it makes a difference.
2-Do not try to cover the piece in the first coat. Each coat must be light. The first coat will leave much of the original finish showing. Count on at least three coats. Four if it is a surface that will get handled or used a lot. Shake often. If you get impatient and coat it too heavily, it will run. Not attractive and easily avoided with care and patience.
3-Unless it is a small,inexpensive, decorative piece that will rarely get handled, don't buy the cheapest spray paint at $1.00 per can. There is a quality difference. The more expensive paints have more pigment and cover better.

Good luck with your new place.
You'll have more success if you don't worry about furnishing it instantly and take your time looking. Great things will pop up if you are patient.
It does not have to be done in one week or even a month.

If your room seems empty as you are looking for furniture, add a couple of large trees or plants to the space. Tell people you are going for the minimalist look :)

Full set of used Living Room furniture for sale - where to find buyers?

Q. I have a full set of good quality Italian used living room furniture for sale. Can anyone let me know where to find buyers? Thanks.

A. Ebay, local newspaper, consignment shop, our town has a radio swap meet that sells everything! If you live in a lg. town there's a lot of venues open to you!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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