Home Related Questions and Answers

Monday, March 25, 2013

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.

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

Sunday, March 24, 2013

What is the best home design/home fix-it show?

Q. Just bought a house and I want to do some work on it in the future. I would like to start watching a good home design/home fix-it show to give me some ideas. Can someone suggest a good one to watch that is on a basic cable channel? I only have 78 channels.

A. All of the best one are all gone now. all that is out there is like game show ones

So if you find one please let me know. I don;t even watch them any more. There are way to fofo and only decorating stuff. But before there was this old house, bob vilias home again, michal halagans, that guy and girl team that sells the cutting thing infomercial, I learn more from the tv show "home improvement with time the tool man taylor" then I do from all of the shows that are on now.

Are there any free online home design tools that work like the Sims games?

Q. I played the Sims for years...only to creates houses on it. I'm looking for a free online home design tool. I found some that come close, but aren't what I'm looking for. I want one that will create a roof for me, let me design the interior, exterior...etc. Not just blue prints and layout software.

A. Check out piratebay

What type of home designing software should i get?

Q. I'm looking for a software that is easy to use and very detailed to design my new home with. I'm short on money so AT LEAST $100 or less...

Can anybody help???

I've seen the Home Design Software from Better Homes And Gardens but I dont know if that's a good program or not.

A. Please contact me troyalamillo@yahoo.com. So I could further help you.

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

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

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

4035 S Decatur Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89103

(702) 644-8747
www.sammysdogs.com

Where can I buy sustainable wood lumber for restoration renovation, I do custom woodworking in PA, NJ area?

Q. Where can I buy sustainable wood lumber for restoration renovation, I do custom woodworking in PA, NJ area?
I am looking for old growth lumber, high quality timber, virgin wood reclaimed wood. I am in the Philadelphia manayunk area wood building trades. I do wood working, a number of projects right now are unique pieces, i am trying to stay with using old character antique lumber. My passion is for beautifully aged beams timber with outstanding patina and rich colors. Anywhere in Southeast Pa or NJ will do? I only use antique reclaimed beams from locally knocked down buildings. I like the raw wood beautiful timbers and handcraft it into wood furniture and custom woodworking.

A. Try us Atlas Wood Products in Phila Pa.
215-843-0313
Ask for me Nick Sucic "wood man" for a discount.
someone said to us "your a great source for all types of reclaimed wood. i tell my friend how nice and helpful you guys are"
we might have the largest selection of different used reclaimed wood in Phila,Pa.
Located in North Philadelphia near Manayunk.
Our wood is from the Philadelphia's area.
215-843-0313
Atlas Wood Products
2101 w lippincott ave Phila, Pa 19132
try us first or last for a great price and friendly service.
We think we are the only green woodworkers under roof, exclusively offering a huge selection of completely different selection of material for sustainable lumber uses reused lumber, compared to anyone else for restoration renovation, custom wood working in southeast PA. We do wooden furniture repair, rustic wooden tables wood benches, wood bar stools, millwork planing, large bandsaw resawing sanding surfacing etc.
Source(s):
Atlas Wood Products 215-843-0313 phila pa
http://woodrecycling.me/about/ look at our first blog

How much will cost wood, to build a deck onto my house (not too big)?

Q. How much will cost wood, to build a deck onto my house (not too big)

A. Treated wood will be $1,500 - $2,000. The plastic wood stuff is great but cost will be double.

What color accents works well in a bedroom with turquoise and brown walls?

Q. What kind of accents, furniture, etc. will work well with the color of my bedroom walls? They are a turquoise/aqua and brown color, but i'm not sure what color accents to use - i was thinking of something like black picture frames for a modern look, or funky white lamps. Any ideas?

A. usually natural colors and black and white look good with those colors

Hardwood floor, lavender colored walls, and white accent furniture?

Q. I'm making my room right now and the room has dark mahogany color floor, and I added white accent furniture and my walls are a light lavender. I am given the option of getting a carpet put in or leaving it as it is. Should I leave it as it is, only based on the looks! Not the difficult maintenance of the hardwood floor, I've lived with those types of floors my whole life I know how to maintain them! Thanks(:

A. I think you should leave it as it is. You can always put area rugs down if you want too, and hardwood floors (in my opinion) give the room more character. Plus, I think it will look really good with the mixed wood colors! Good luck, and I really like the wall color you're thinking of by the way. (:

Not Registerting and asking for gift certficiates at a house warmong party?

Q. I am having a house warming party at the end of January and all of my friends are telling me to register for gifts. I pretty much have a handful of kitchen appliances and really only need big stuff like bedroom furniture and accent furniture. I really dont want to enforce gift giving at my party but I feel like I should. I honestly would just rather recieve gift certficates rather than picture frames and 5 of the same kitchen appliances. I know that is tacky to talk about gifts in an invitation but how can I go about it the right way? HELP!!

A. Etiquette dictates that YOU do not ask for gifts in an invitation. Tell your friends if someone asks them what to get you that a G.C. at certain stores would be great. Otherwise, you get what you get, or don't get for that matter.

What is a website or store where I can find random, funky wall art?

Q. I want to find random, funky wall decor. I once found an '&' sign in Earthbound Trading while on vacation, but their website doesn't allow you to buy anything and I'm nowhere near another Earthbound store. Are there other stores that might have better websites where I can look for random and cool things like that '&' sign?

A. Try this!

www.google.com

Keywords: funky wall decor

What kind of wall decors will you use to decorate your room? Wall Shelf or wall paper or wall light?

Q. What kind of wall decors will you use to decorate your room? Wall Shelf or wall paper or wall light?
Personally , I love wall paper/wall pics. hehe ^-^

A. In fact, i like wall art, something like this one: http://www.hihomedecor.com/contemporary-flower-pattern-hand-painted-unframed-canvas-wall-art-set-5pcs but i don't know what your room style...

What are some cheap ways to decorate walls?

Q. I just moved into a new apartment and the walls are bare and boring. I'm REALLY tight w/ cash right now so I cant go out and buy a whole bunch of paintings/ frames/wall decor, etc. I also don't own the apartment so I cant paint the walls any other color.
What are some cheap ways I could make the walls look interesting and original?

A. Got some photos you wanna hang but no money for frames and you don't want to damage the pics?

Step 1. Go buy some 1 inch wide black or whatever colored ribbon and stretch a piece horizontally and secure in place with tack or some small nails.

Step 2. Secure a length or ribbon vertically at the top to the back side of the horizontal ribbon with a safety pin (so the pin doesn't show).

Step 3. Use masking tape to tape the backs of the pics to the ribbon. It recommend taping across the ribbon instead of making a tape "loop" to try to hold the pics to the ribbon. Intersperse the pics along the ribbon length.

Step 4. Add more vertical ribbons and pictures until you have a beautiful hanging picture gallery. Space these as you pleas and change them as you please. You can even use different length vertical ribbons or put your pics at odd lengths to give them a random and chic look.

Step 5. Complete the look by attaching large funky looking beads (or whatever you want) with safety pins to the bottom of the vertical ribbons to function as weights and to add depth to the overall look.

This whole thing shouldn't cost you more than like $5 plus a little time.

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You can get nice, fairly large, mirrors for around $15 from the Dollar Store or Walmart. Mirrors add A LOT of punch in any given room and help to add light. Check yard sales, thrift stores, and others and you might find them cheaper.

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Use bright tacks, ribbon, clear spray paint (to spray the paper to add shine) and construction paper to make a funky decolage background for a wall clock. I made mine into a 4 point star and used the tacks to hold the ribbon so that my 4 point star became an 8 point one. Adds depth to the room and makes use of a small wall clock that by itself would be boring.

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Yard sale, yard sale, yard sale! Go early in the morning and you can find some AWESOME stuff for REALLY cheap. I mean pennies on the dollar! This also applies to thrift stores! Look around and see what you can find. You don't have to decorate it all at once!

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.

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.

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.

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.