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Question Archive C

Can a Home Inspection Help or Hurt?

Buying, Selling or Building a Home, Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter...

We bought our home, new, when it was first built. We had an inspector about a month before closing. Our home will be eleven years old.  Would it b...

Can You Save Moldy Furniture?

Furniture Refinishing & Repair, Mold...

This week’s question comes from DeeDee, “Help!  We own a 121 yr old Victorian home in Galveston, TX.  She survived another hurricane, standing strong ...

Caulk Gaps In Winter

Caulking, Kitchen Remodeling...

Dear Tom & Leslie,In our nine year old house, the spaces where the cabinets meet the drywall were caulked. After about three or four years the ca....

Caulk Talk

Bath Remodeling, Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter...

What is the best way to remove & replace the caulking around sliding shower doors, as well as a tub? ...

CFLs and Dimmers

Electrical, Fall, Lighting, Spring, Summer, Winter...

I’d like to change the lighting in my home over from incandescent to the newer energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), is there a...

Check Wall Repair Before Painting

Painting & Staining, Walls & Ceilings...

Dear Tom and Leslie,On the walls in my hallway I did some spackling before priming and painting the walls. When you look at the wall from a side view....

Choosing a Hybrid HVAC System

Fall, Heating, Winter...

It’s about time for me to upgrade my home’s HVAC components, and I’ve been hearing a lot about hybrid systems. Can they really keep my home comfy ...

Cleaning Dryer Vents

Appliances...

My clothes take a long time to dry and I’m wondering if the vent could be blocked.  I tried cleaning it with a vacuum but can’t get too far.  Is ther....

Cleaning Roofs

Cleaning, Roofing...

Dear Tom & Leslie,I noticed those unsightly black stains on my shingle roof a few months ago.  I'm guessing they are the fungus/mold that grows .....

Clearing the air about air cleaners: Whole-house vs. room

Air Conditioning, Fall, Heating, Spring, Summer, Winter...

Tips on the differences between whole home and room air cleaners. ...

Concrete Driveway Repair

Driveways, Paths & Sidewalks...

I have a home with concrete driveway and walk - is concrete sealer recommended to seal the concrete from oil and water?  If so, which type of sealer ....

Condo Basement Leaks

Basements & Crawlspaces, Buying, Selling or Building a Home, Spring...

 I am trying to purchase a condo and during my home inspection of the home, I noticed standing water in the basement near the center of the baseme...

Converting Garage to Workshop

Garage...

This week’s question comes to us from Nick in Bethesda, Maryland, “I’m self-employed and with the economy being tight, I’m spending a lot more time at...

Corian Care

Cleaning...

Joan in Hauppauge, NY: I used a product for my self cleaning oven and some of the liquid spilled into my Corian white sink.  It left yellow stains.  I...

Creating More Space in a Tiny Laundry Room

Appliances, Fall, Spring, Storage & Organization, Summer, Winter...

My tight-squeeze laundry area has turned into a disorganized mess I dread, and our family laundry volume shows no sign of letting up. Got any idea...

Curtain Drain Solution for Soggy Back Yard

Lawn & Garden, Spring...

To move standing water out of a low lying area in your yard, a “curtain drain” works well. A curtain drain is a shallow trench dug to collect water ...

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