Home Related Questions and Answers

Monday, May 27, 2013

What color dining room table should I get for my nook?

Q. My entire kitchen cabinetry is oak wood that is stained a medium-mojagany. In my nook area, I have a ton of cabinetry in there, so I'm thinking if I try to match the table to the cabinets, it may be too much. I was thinking a lighter color table... does anyone have suggestions? It cannot be glass of any sort because we have 5 young kids that will use the table for each meal. Thanks in advance!

A. Go with something painted that coordinates with your kitchen outside of the cabinet color/grain -- cream, blue, green, yellow, red, or black. Or change materials -- get a metal and slate/tile table. Or, mix light and dark wood tones so it breaks up the look, but looks deliberate, not mismatched. Or go ahead and match your cabinets for the top of the table, but have the rest be metal or painted another color.

I have a split level home built in 1986. What changes can I make to update it and increase my resale value?

Q. Upper Level - 1 master with small 3/4 bath; 2 guest bdrms; 1 full bath
Mid Level - front room and kitchen
Lower Level - office; 3/4 bath; and family room with fireplace.

We recently had a new roof and siding put on and plan on landscaping the front for "curb-appeal" in the spring. In the meanwhile, we were hoping to get some ideas on how to spruce up the house DIY style.

Initial thoughts are:
1) Replacing vinyl flooring in all bathrooms with ceramic tile.
2) Refinishing kitchen cabinetry (their all wood)
3) Putting in laminate wood flooring in kitchen.
4) Replacing appliances (they're all probably 10 years old) if there's money left.

Any advice or other suggestions.

A. Kitchen remodel is your best "bang for the buck" people really look at the kitchen when looking for a home a up to date kitchen is your best option!

How do you match hardwood floors to exsisting cabinets?

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

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

Sunday, May 26, 2013

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

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

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

Bathroom remodeling, when should we have windows installed?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A. Yellow pages

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

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

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

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

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

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

A. where ?

Why so many No-show Home Improvement contractors?

Q. Over the years, I have had several Home improvement contractors show up to take measurements for floors, windows, plumbing, etc, but then they never follow through and send an estimate.

Why do you think that is happening? I have money to spend and tried to track themn down for their quote but they gve me the runaround.

A. I have had the EXACT same problem! It is sooooo frustrating. I can only guess that it's because there is so much work out there, and if they feel like the job is going to be small, or if a bigger job comes along, they don't want to waste their time.

How do I get a contractor's license in OHIO?

Q. Their website is unclear. I want to know if there is an exam. want to obtain a home contractor's license, and curious about the steps, and how they figure out if i'm qualified.

A. You DON'T obtain a HOME contractor's license from the STATE of Ohio. Only COMMERCIAL contractors are licensed at the state level. Home contractors MAY require a LOCAL license. In order to determine the rules in you locality, you need to specify which PART of Ohio you wish to be licensed in.

Im looking for a reputable mobile home repair contractor in the dallas area?

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

A. John Miliara Contractors, Inc.
972-259-5034
Ask for John :)

How much does it cost to finish an attic?

Q. Okay so it doesn't need heating, air, or plumbing. It already has electricity. It already has stairs going up to it. I just want it insulated, drywall up, flooring finished (the ply wood stops about 3 deet from the edge on 2 sides.), and maybe a closet put in.

A. Depends on how large it is and to a lesser extent what kind of flooring. You can probably get it insulated, drywalled and painted for roughly $4500, maybe a little less if you find an out of work handyman on Craigslist etc. to save on labor or a bit more if it has a high ceiling.

Add another $1200 if the floor only needs to be extended on the boarder with plywood and putting down cheap linoleum or carpet, more for hardwood or tile, or for a mix of these. Add another $1000 if the existing plywood is not sufficient for regular travel, needs to be replaced with some that is thicker.

The rate will also vary based on your location, the only way to get an accurate estimate is to get a contractor to come and make a bid after you've decided the particulars of how it is finished.

What do i use to prepare a basement floor for finishing?

Q. I have a Superior Wall basement. When they finished it had expansion seams in the floor and a 2"x2" hole in each of the four corners. Most of my moisture is coming from these holes. I want to prepare the floor for finishing but i need to adress these holes and seams but just don't know how.

A. The joints can be caulked. A flexible caulk will still allow for expansion and contraction.

What were the holes in the corners for? Might they be for a drainage system? Did the installer say anything about that? How deep are the holes, are they filled with dirt? Does water stream into your basement through the joints or those holes? Are the walls and floor dry, damp or wet? Did the basement floor get poured over foam insulation or gravel or just dirt? Is the basement heated and air conditioned?

The simple answer is to caulk the joints and fill-in the holes with cement. Then lay down a heavy gauge plastic vapor barrier and build a 2x4 framed, 3/4" thick plywood subfloor. Then you could install whatever flooring you wanted on top of that.

However, if there is regular moisture on the floor then you run the risk of mold growth and that woul dbe a bummer.

You might want to get some estimates from several contractors and see what issues they might have with the current foundation/floor. You may want one of them to do the job if they are a reputable company and will provide some sort of warranty against moisture entering through the floor.

How do you get cat urine out of a hardwood floor?

Q. After we came home from vacation, we discovered that one/both of our cats had taken up urinating on the rugs in the room where their kitty litter box is. They are pretty old and moody cats and I am not completely surprised, although the behavior is new. We did not leave them alone. In fact someone was living in the house just to take care of them.

Anyway, with other material (the rugs themselves, carpeting, etc) I know how to remove it or can easily discard it, but with bamboo flooring I am at a loss! We discovered the spot originally after they had been doing it for some time. Am I out of luck and have to replace my new flooring or is their something that can be done. Most treatments I think would ruin the flooring/finish itself not to mention what seeped through the cracks.
Has any one had luck with Urine off?

A. the urine itself probably already ruined the finish, due the it's acidic nature.

Try bleach, then refinish the floor

or get a new floor

Sorry

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.

Can you paint a ceiling light fixture? I want the actual glass globe painted - is this possible?

Q. I'm looking to paint the ceiling light fixture in my baby's bedroom. I am doing a Dr. Seuss theme and I haven't been able to find a ceiling light fixture and that's what I want. So, I want to know if it's possible to do and if so what type of paint is safe to use (non toxic, non flammable and so on) to paint Dr. Seuss characters on it. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

A. Seems like a bad idea. It will block the light and, if you ever want to change the theme, you will have to buy a new light. Just paint the ceiling around the light.

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

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

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

Can I power a light switch and two ceiling lights from an adjacent duplex outlet?

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

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