Home Related Questions and Answers

Sunday, March 3, 2013

is fine sanding the same as screening a wood floor?

Q. I am tackling a floor refinish on my old oak wood floors soon. I bought a house and found worn (but good shape) old oak wood floors under the carpet. I am planning on screening and re-staining and finishing the floors. will something like 200-grit sandpaper have the same effect as a screening pad? Which option would you suggest?

A. If you were just going to apply another coat of clear finish (polyurethane), then screening is fine. You want to re stain, so you have to remove all the clear finish first. You need to be more aggressive than 200 grit.

Will chatter marks come out of a new refinished wood floor?

Q. I just had my wood flooring refinished and my contractor said it was due to the fact that my subflooring was not concrete. He said the floor vibrated from sanding. He also said that even if he did the job over, it would produce the same results. He also said the chatter marks will go away after a few months. Anyone know if this is true? Or is it just a crap sand job?

A. they should go away but watch them to make sure if not, talk to a professional about how to get it done

I have a hardwood floor that is very dull. How can I clean it well and shine it up?

Q. I use Murphys Oil soap on it but i also have pets that don't help things much. I would love to have the floor refinished but thats not a possibility at this point. What kind of products/ideas are out there to clean this filthy floor and make it shine again?

A. Try Howards Restore a Finish available at most home improvement stores in the paint and stain aisle. You can buy it to match the wood tone or in clear. It hides imperfections like doggie claw scratches and leaves a wonderful shine. For your purposes, you can apply it with a sponge mop and follow the instructions on the back of the can. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results because in most cases it makes the floor look new again.

What are some good stores to buy lamps at?

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

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

Where do you get the heat lamps they use in industrial buildings?

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

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

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

Where can I get all the experience lamps in runescape?

Q. I don't want any of the lamps from quests or achievement diary's. I've already gotten one of them from the safety dungeon or whatever it is called south of edgeville. I want the non-member ones.

A. but those two lamps arent availible to every acc. i have 4 accounts and it would only let 2 of them go down into the basement

Interior Designs - Bedroom and Bathroom Designs?

Q. Hey people, my house is under renovation and I need a good website that is realted to Interior Designs, decoration, painting, bedroom and bathroom designs.
Thanks

A. Google your search, that is the best way out! You may also try http://www.smartken.com for Bedroom and Bathroom designs

What is the theme in western-style bathrooms?

Q. I'm doing bachelors of architecture and we have this project of theme-oriented bathrooms. and my theme is to design a western-style bathroom, so i can see the pictures on Google and know some basic things that there should be and i can easily design one, but the thing is that I have to give the theme first, so I need the basic theme on which a western style bathroom is designed.

A. The toilets are bigger than other countries typically. The showers always have some sort of enclosed area unlike other countries which just share the same floor as the bathroom. Besides a master bathroom, typically the size of the bathroom can be smaller, especially the half bath. I don't think other countries share the same concept of half bath.

where can I find bedding for a 20 somthing couple?

Q. My boyfriend and I (25 and 24, respectively) are getting our first apartment together. I looked up some really streamlined/classy marvel comics art and told him he could have the living room as his gaming space/man cave if I could have the bedroom and bathroom to design as I wish. While I find it would be easy to go with some soft pastels/florals, I really don't see him waking up to that. My biggest problem is finding a cheap, quality comforter/duvet cover. So far I've tried
urban outfitters
anthropologie
wayfair
jcpenny
macys
target
west elm
blisslivine home
allmodern
etc.

Where can I find quality for cheap?

A. If they have them in your area, check out the home goods department of the Ross Dress for Less stores. Most people think of them as just clothes but they have terrific deals on quality linens in their home decor area. I bought a gorgeous 400 count cotton steel blue and light brown damask design duvet cover and matching shams there last year for $25 ($15 for the cover and $5 each for the shams). The original prices were $160 for the cover and $30 each for the shams.

Have also picked up a teal blue 100% silk quilted queen sized spread there for $30. I have bought Ralph Lauren, Laura Ashley and Tommy Hilfiger sheets for less than $30 a set and countless beautiful throw pillows (some down filled and hand-embroidered) that were $10 to $15 each. They also have drapes, drapery hardware, small furnishings (upholstered benches, night stands, small cabinets), lamps, framed art, mirrors and small area rugs. Obviously, the selection varies so you have to have patience and check their inventory regularly, but the prices are terrific for quality goods.

Also check out The Company Store, who may have the widest range of quality linens. They are not cheap but sometimes they have good deals in their clearance section. They have beautiful and classy designs that appeal to guys as well as women.

http://www.thecompanystore.com

L.L. Bean has nice bedding but the designs are not particularly exciting.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

How do I restore rusted iron patio furniture?

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

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

What is the best product to use on my teak wood patio furniture to keep it looking new?

Q. I have exspensive teak wood patio furniture, now a couple of years old, but they need help. They are seasoned and need to be brought back to life. Is there a simple way to clean & finish them? Is there an oil to rub on them?

A. The Premium Teak Wood Oil gives your teak wood long lasting protection against the elements. The ultraviolet absorbers in the oil helps maintain the warm natural coloring. This particular brand is rated #1 in independent testing, and lasts 4-6 times longer than other standard teak oils.

http://www.outdoordecor.com/product_detail~item~NWD14014:Furniture-And-Leisure:Furniture:Teak-Furniture:Wood-Care-Products.asp

Have a Great Day

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...

Need help finding a website like Pinterest but is about home decorating only?

Q. A while back I found a website that was like Pinterest but for home decorating/planning your dream home... if you know what it is, please help.
Thank you for yalls help, I found the website it's www.houzz.com :) thanks again!

A. I don't know of one but try these boards :

Nice homes :
http://pinterest.com/kaitdelallo/dream-home-decorating/
http://pinterest.com/smoutsatsos/decorating-home/

http://pinterest.com/search/boards/?q=home+design

More a teen girl style-
http://pinterest.com/onlyforforever/drop-by-when-you-can/
http://pinterest.com/nstanford28/home-decorating/

Will you be going out on Black Friday or be at home decorating for Christmas?

Q. I'll be at home decorating for Christmas! I do all my Christmas shopping online! :)

A. I would rather take a leap from a tall bridge than fight the crowds on that day.

I will spend the day eating as much as I possibly can of the wonderful leftovers from the meal of the day before, and beginning to decorate my house for Christmas.

I will actually spend more time with the eating and then some napping than getting much work done.

Online shopping websites for home decorating?

Q. I am looking for some websites where I can purchase home decorating products (from furniture to decoration, like candles and cushions!) Something along the lines of the Ikea website would be great (unfortunately most of their items must be bought in store - and I really need home delivery) I am based in Italy, but am from the UK so anything that delivers to either of these countries would be great!

Any ideas are welcome, thanks!

A. Look on apartmenttherapy.com & etsy.com.

is there a catalog like AVON, that people can work for commissions selling home interior decorations?

Q. I know someone who saw this particular catalog, but did not get the name other than "home interior decorations". the door to door seller
would go with this catalog in a very AVON-lady way.

Is there one particular company or many? I'm not talking about direct mail services, but where an individual seller can work on commission for.

A. I believe it what you are referring to is Home Interiors & Gifts, Inc. It has no relation to Avon although Avon has its own separate home design catalog. Anyway, they're not in business anymore because they got bankrupt.

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. If you go to "vintage pictures.com" you may get the help you need. Lots of luck to you!

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

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

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

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

Any ideas?

Thanks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

When should floor kitchen cabinets be screwed to the wall if at all?

Q. Should kitchen floor cabinets be screwed to the wall when installing? We just finished installing the wall cabinets. The floor cabinets are level. We have shemed the cabinets. Any suggestions? Do we need to wait until we have our counter tops installed?

A. Yes, screw them to the wall and to each other. You need to start with the corner cabinets. For complete instructions, see www.kitchen-design-angel/how-to-install-kitchen-cabinets.html

How/where to install kitchen cabinets: directly on wood subfloor or on the tile?

Q. My kitchen has been gutted. The walls, the electrical, and the wood subfloor has been preped. Should the base cabinets be installed directly onto the wood subfloor (my house has a 3 to 4 foot crawl space...not concrete slab), or should the kitchen floor be tiled first and then install the base cabinets on top of the tile? What is the proper way to do it? Thanks in advance for your answers.

A. http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Kitchen_Cabinets_and_Floors__Which.html