Home Related Questions and Answers

Monday, June 17, 2013

What is a fair price for marble tile floor installation?

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

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

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

Thanks!

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

What is a fair price for marble tile floor installation?

A. For marble labor , floor prep ( unknown because it varies a lot with marble) your looking at 5.00$ a s/f and up.
The proper way to prep for marble is a mud job which gives the absolute best support for marble and will also provide ( when done properly) a flat level floor. That alone can go for 2.00$ a s/f and up depending where you live.
In the real world your looking at closer to 10$ a s/f ( and up)with the prep.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications there. GL

Starting a tile installation company?

Q. I want to start installing tile, and I am familiar with the process, but I have no "real" experience except for the DIY (peel and stick) tile. If I got a tile installation book and practiced on a few tiles on a small scale, how hard would it be to tile a floor good enough to get a positive referral from it?

A. I did a 20 x 18 foot room with 12 inch ceramic tiles. It was a snap really. I used a wide grout line because these were mexican tile. No spacers, just did it by eye.

Plan it so that you dont have "sliver" size peices on any wall , if possible. Rent a wet saw. Or buy one for $89, it will get you through the job.

Now if you are talking tiling a shopping mall thats something different. I have looked at some of that work , and man, those lines are straight for miles. But for homes, you will never see the errors after a week.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

The wind blew over my patio furniture table top and shattered the glass, how do I go about replacing it?

Q. I have had the patio furniture for about 8 years.

A. Good Luck... We had a wind storm and same thing happened to our 7 year old glass table... Couldnt find no one to replace the glass we had to go spend $ on a new one...

How do you remove rust from patio furniture?

Q. i have iron patio furniture and it is rusting...how do i remove the rust and how do i keep the rust off.

A. Sand to remove the loose scaley rust then use the 3 step system by KBS Coatings.
http://www.kbs-coatings.com/KBS-3-Part-System.aspx

What is the market like for wood patio furniture ?

Q. I'm starting a business in Va. making wood patio furniture. I have a number of designs and want opinions on how popular you think this would be. These projects would be of the pre made style that you put together yourself, shiped as a diy project complete with Instructions, parts & pictures for east assembly. Can also provide product in any color you want. Will post pictures at a future date.

A. I want to agree with # 1 though not in a crude way,,,no real offense to him.

Your TARGET MARKET might be narrow at first, and KIT stuff is usually not directed at those who want upscale, and instant. No offense meant to them either. I know a few, very well off people who get their hands dirty.

WOOD is a great premise, and certainly you might also appeal to the Corona, Beach Crowd, who might still want casual, affordable, aesthetically more pleasing than Poly webbing, steel framed, fold up chairs, but again, you should do some market research as to who might actually NOT want to go to a Discount chain, spend $8 and be sitting on a beach or patio within 25 minutes of the purchase.

Sell me a decently constructed Adierondacks Chair, even unfinished but assembled, in Ash, Poplar, Birch, and you can charge me $100 more than I'd pay for a Center Field, Nylon Sling Chair,,,even with two cup holders.

I suspect you have researched some or all of the sceanrios, such as cost to produce, PROFIT, shipping/handling, Venoors, quality control and service call backs should a screw or allen wrench be left out of the package, etc. etc.

Steven Wolf

Oh throw in a fold out/down, foot rest...LOL.

Who has decorating tips for choosing sofa & love seat colors?

Q. I already own a nice black dining set, black accent furniture, and a black entertainment center. The living room and dining room are both one large room, so the black furniture seems connected. I really love black leather sofas, but it seems like it may be too much black. I'm also considering deep brown, tan, or beige leather. Suggestions?

A. have them be the same or variations of the same color. And choose that color in relation to the walls, carpet or another color that is prevalent in that room.

Ok will this theme work and and where can i get it?

Q. Ok I want to re-do my room. I want to the walls to be red, the comforter to be black, the sheet set to be white with red and black plaid on it and black accent furniture. Does that go together nicely? Where can I get that stuff CHEAP? Are there any sites that have a virtual room-put-togetherer? Any answers are appreciated.

A. look here

http://kidsthemebedrooms.com/skater/punk-bedroom-decorating.html

http://teensthemes.com/black-and-white-contemporary-bedrooms.html

Where can I find a TV Bed? Where the TV pops out of the footboard?

Q. I want a black or white tv bed really bad!!! Where can I order one from in the U.S.? I have mirrored nightstands and accent furniture, so I want something to go with it. Any suggestions?

A. If you can afford a bed like that this is how much the lift cost they have some here

http://www.importadvantage.com/Uplift-3500

What is the best machine to clean my wood floors?

Q. Almost all of my house is covered in wood flooring and there are about 8 people in the house. So you can imagine how hard it is to clean massive wood floors that get ALOT of traffic. I need some kind of machine to effectively clean my wood floors. I've been researching steamers and steamer vacuums, but I want to know which machine will work best. Also, my wood floors are surface sealed.

A. Use a damp mop with vinegar and water mixed 10 to 1. Why waste money on a machine that may ruin your floors? If there is any break in the finish on your floor, a steamer is forcing moisture into the wood. This will cause stains and possibly rot. You want as little moisture on your wood floors as possible.

What is the best place to start a wood flooring business?

Q. I had success running a wood flooring biz in Colorado, but I moved to San Diego and I'm finding that th pay vs cost of living arent too good here, plus alot of work is taken by immigrants. I dont want to mov back to Colorado so I'm looking for a city I could have the same success. Thanks

A. Excellent question. My sand and finish guy moved from Nebraska to Central Florida when Central Florida was having a housing boom....now that times are tight, he's looking at moving to Texas. He quickly found out the cost of living there is not great, plus...he has to start over from stratch. Personally, I think he's going to have the same problem there.

I fully appreciate what you're experiencing, fighting the substandard labor market. The problem is, when times get tight - new home builders start looking for ways to cut costs, and that usually means quality goes as well. Focus on retrofits....people with wood floors who need them redone. Make sure you visqueen off any areas not getting redone. Make sure you put plastic over the kitchen cabinets. Make sure your equipment is in perfect working order. Make sure you have sanding equipment with a vacuum attached, and then after you're done....vacuum with a heavy duty vacuum again. Make sure when you say you're going to be there Tuesday the 6th at 9:00am...You are there the Tuesday the 6th of the month you discussed at 9:00am...not 9:30 - not 4...but 8:45am to 9am. You and your crew should have matching shirts, khakis(they do sell them at WalMart), no visable tats, piercings, a sign on the van, and look like you can walk into a 5 million dollar home or a $5,000 home, with no issues whatsoever.

In this day and time of things getting tighter...NOTHING is going to go as far as customer service. Setting yourself as better than the rest. And word of mouth, is the most powerful advertising form. If you cost a bit more...make sure you have a reason why, and be able to back it up. This is not a quick solution, but one that takes time and patience. We've all had to take a second job to support our passion, but quality in workmanship, with the right clientele will always win out....you might have to do a job or two for "the fun"....and tell them....I'm doing this at a reduced rate - to prove what I can do. Of course, you'll always have your tight wads, who don't care if their floor has swirls, and bubbles - but most people want their friends to come in and say...Wow...who did your floors! NOT ....ummmm..so who did your floors?

So, while that didn't answer your question as to geography...if you're happy in the area....work your butt off....call on commercial companies as well, don't forget - to keep up with your education on every product.

Good Luck!

Can laminate wood flooring in two adjoining rooms be mismatched?

Q. We are moving into our first home and we are replacing the carpet in the living room with laminate wood flooring. The floor in the dining room is already laminate wood and joins up with the living room floor. We are trying to pick out new floors and are wondering if we can get a different color wood floor for the living room or if we need to match it perfectly with the dining room. Would mismatching the wood look tacky?? Calling all interior designers! I need your help!

A. What you are asking is a question of personal taste. I (being a wood lover) think it's kinda cool to bounce to contrasting wood off one another, But thats just me.

Can a half of a can of interior paint that is out in the garage during freezing weather be used again?

Q. I started a project a month ago to paint some interior walls but I got too busy to finish, can I continue with interior paint that has been sitting in our garage in below freezing temperatures to work again? I was wondering if I need to go buy another can of the same paint instead of messing up and taking a risk of using what I have already started to uset. Can anyone help me before I begin the project again. HELP!
Just FYI...the paint is water based. Hope that helps when answering the question. Thanks! :)

A. There is no "set" answer to this, as paint comes in a vast number of chemical combinations, and it depends on the paint you have.

A very broad answer is that some water-based paints will not survive. Others will survive, but may dry with a flaky or loose finish when applied. Some will work nearly, or fully, as well as before.

Oil-based paints are harder to predict. The solvents will be undamaged, but the solids may congeal and become useless.

All you can do is to slowly thaw your paint indoors, (do NOT apply any heat to speed it up,) then try to mix it. If it mixes well, try it on a spare piece of material and let it dry for a few days, then examine it and rub it with a coarse cloth to test its staying ability.

Note

Once it is fully dry, compare the newly-painted piece with whatever you painted before, as the frozen paint may have acquired a colour shift.

Would painting over interior paint with exterior paint on an outside wall hold up in the elements?

Q. I was given the wrong paint while working on a project, and am now worried about the paint buckling because it is interior paint on an outside wall. Can I simply paint over it with exterior paint or would it still lead to buckling because of the binding in the interior paint?

A. Sorry to say but simply painting over the interior paint with an exterior paint will not work. The elements will break down the binding of the interior paint coating and start peeling or splitting both that coat and the exterior coat on top. How large was the area that you have to redo? The best thing is to remove the original layer of paint and re-paint. Unfortunately! You will be told that you can use other products or methods but none of them will work as well as stripping off that layer of interior paint.

Accidentally put interior paint on the exterior of my home?

Q. There was a mix up at the paint store I guess. There was existing exterior paint on the trim, I painted it today with interior paint - can I just put exterior paint over it or do I have to strip it off?

A. You should be ok, especially if the paint was oil/solvent based rather than water based. Whenever you choose to repaint there is no need to strip this off.

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

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

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

A. Have a look at companies like Bunnings and Colli they are builders merchants that stock timber.

Jarra is popular in western Australia but WA is also the only place on earth it grows so unless you can sell ice to eskimos..

Can you recommend a good interior designer to do a 30-sq condo in the Philippines?

Q. I need an interior designer for a 30-sq condo. in Quezon City Philippines. We have a new baby, need a working little kitchen, and a nice bathroom. I prefer Japanese design, minimal furniture, built-in cabinets. Interested parties can reply to this question or email me:tometooo@yahoo.com. Many thanks.

A. I am a decorator and home stager and it would be my pleasure to design your new room. I can even give you testimonials from my clients. All you have to do is pay my air fare round trip. I can also work with email and digital photos. Feel free to contact me at info@divadecors.com

How can I know if I'll be a good Interior Designer?

Q. I really want to be a good Interior Designer but I keep getting scared that I won't be able to do it. There are many things on my side such as creativity, good taste, like to research products and have an interest in all things related to it (even learning some electrical, plumbing, construction, and furniture building). But I think I can be a little ADD and miss details which I know are important. I'm going to try some medication for this but it still scares me. Also I can be impulsive. Any suggestions? How will I know if I'll be a good Designer? Also how would you recommend getting into the field. I'm in school for my ID Associates Degree but would love advice on how to get in there. (No furniture sales store rep!) If you were to hire an intern what would you look for? Thanks

A. Are you able to envision the finished project before you begin? People who are creative enough to have a vision for their work seem to make the best Interior Designers. However, you have to be practical enough to integrate your client's financial preferences for spending and also, you have to take into account practical considerations like natural lighting, color & style preferences, and the intended use of the space. You can be the most creative visionary, but if your client thinks it is just impractical, you won't get much return business.

How can I refinish my bedroom furniture?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What furniture maker makes solid wood bedroom furniture?

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

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

Where can I find good quality bedroom furniture for cheap?

Q. I'm getting some new bedroom furniture, but I don't have that much money to spend. Any suggestions for stores or sites? Thanks :)

A. Someone suggested thrift stores, and to that, I'd add consignment stores that carry furniture. Sometimes you can find nice pieces at Goodwill or Salvation Army. Someone suggested Big Lots, and they are worth a look, too.

Bear in mind that your furniture does not have to "match" - it doesn't have to be a set. For instance, you could have a wrought iron or a wicker headboard ( these are pretty inexpensive), an inexpensive round table covered with a tablecloth for a night stand/bedside table, and a dresser or chest of drawers, small chair, etc. Pier One has some cute wicker chairs that are reasonably priced.

If you are handy at refinishing furniture, you could pull together a shabby-chic look with used pieces that you strip and paint ivory or white.

You do not have to spend a lot of money to have an attractive room. Your accessories will make all the difference.