We’re planning a kitchen remodel this fall and have been having a hard time locating a contractor we were totally comfortable with. The estimates are all over the block and we can’t seem to be able to compare and contrast because every contractor has their own set of product selections, cabinets, faucets etc. Completion time …
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Will OSB Make Me Sick? Is it Strong?
Hi Tom. My parents are considering a new home in retirement community. My question is what are the pros and cons of a home built with particle board, and specifically OSB? OSB was used throughout the house and my parents worried about the glue that the glue used could have negative health side effects. Also, …
Need More Storage
I have a question about outdoor storage. I need a space that is weatherproof. Do you have any suggestions?
Air Conditioning Options: Central, Ductless, or Through-the-Wall?
Learn the difference between central air conditioning, ductless air conditioning, and through-the-wall air conditioning, and which would best suite your cooling needs. Find out which would be the most cost and energy efficient, central air conditioning, through-the-wall air conditioning, or ductless air conditioning.
Air Conditioning Options: Central, Ductless, or Through-the-Wall?Read More
Do it Yourself Garage Floors Save Money
I am considering putting down a new floor over the concrete floors in my garage and breezeway. I’m thinking about hiring a company who which uses a “hybrid polymer” as the new floor. The price is about $5.95 a square foot which amounts to $3,100 based on the size of my garage and breezeway. Do …
Poor Water Pressure
I very much enjoy your show on 77 WABC, NY. I have a well and the water pressure is very low, especially on the 2nd floor where the showers are. It affects the dishwasher as the dishes usually don’t come out clean. Is there any possible fix for this? The house is a bit over …
Gas Log is a Bad Idea
We want to convert our wood burning fire place to natural gas. Natural gas service is readily available in our home as we use gas for our stove. How do we do it and who do we call? Even though I’m a do-it-yourself proponent, this is definitely one area where you DON’T want to do …
Sanding Hardwood Floors
What is the maximum depth that you can safely sand a standard ¾ inch thick hardwood floor before affecting its strength and structural integrity?
Asbestos Ceiling Tile Risk
My house was constructed in 1986 and I have a finished family room/play room in the basement. I do not know when this room was constructed-whether it was original or not but assume that it was constructed close to this year. We just had the suspended ceiling tiles changed out by a Contractor. I asked …
Electric Water Heaters Available Tankless?
Are there any whole house on-demand electric water heaters capable of supplying sufficient hot water for a 3 bath house or is point of use or a combination of the two a better alternative?
Macho Makeover for Garage Floor
I just reorganized my garage. However by getting everything off the floor, I now noticed how grotesque my floor looks. I filled in all the cracks, but the floor is not very easy on the eyes. Is there a low cost option to pretty it up (in a masculine sorta way)? It’s a cement floor …
Trenchless Pipe Repair Options
I need to replace the old terra-cotta waste pipe from my house to the street, but there is a mature tree over the line. What can you tell me about the feasibility of using the trench-less system where they reline the waste pipe with an epoxy similar to the way they reline chimneys.
Refinishing Old Railings
My husband and I are the proud owners of one of only three Sears Honor Built Magnolias known to exist in the United States. The house was offered by catalog from 1918 to 1921. It is located in Piedmont, Alabama and therefore is subject to all the harsh weather the South has to offer!! The …
Storm Doors are Ancient History
We have a metal front door that faces south. We would like to add a storm door but have heard that this may not be a good idea because of heat built up. The door has shade from two very large trees. What are your thoughts on this?
Help with Stenciled Concrete
Our patio and home are 43 years old. Over the years the patio has developed some uneven sections that have been corrected with mud-jacking. Now we are considering rejuvenating the look of the patio by having it professionally stenciled. We’ve been told that they clean the patio, then spray the color of our choice then …
Need Help with Leaking Roof
We are experiencing a roof leak in our 5 year old home and are about to replace the ceiling in my daughters room due leak damage. The problem seems to occur when snow, which sits on top of a roofing vent, begins to melt, although I can not confirm this. I’ve contacted our insurance agent …
Solving Copper Pipe Leaks
Can plumbing just “spring a leak” if there’s been no stress on it? My 30 year old townhouse has copper pipes and I noticed a wet spot in the ceiling in the basement last night. Got the ladder out and peered up into the ceiling from the work room (could see the pipes going around …
Need Help Getting Organized
The holidays are here, and I am in desperate need of a way to stay organized! I have coupons overflowing in my purse, gift ideas scribbled on scraps of paper on the fridge and even lost a party invitation for one of my daughter’s recently. Do you have any solutions that won’t cost me a …
Solving Pinhole Leaks in Copper
I’m experiencing a problem w/our copper water lines/pipes corroding from the inside out. I purchased this home back in April 2016. So far the corrosion appears to be limited to just the Hot Water lines, but I’m afraid to take a look inside the cold water lines. What’s happening is we keep getting pinhole leaks …
Vinyl Siding Dilemma
My house has cedar wood lap siding which looks good but the north side takes some pretty rough weather. I don’t want to repaint again and wonder if it would it be OK to put either vinyl or metal siding over it? I’m thinking it might act as sound barrier if I kept the old …
Bath Stuck in the 60’s
We have a 60’s style bathroom with dated but well maintained tile on the floors, lower walls and shower. The shower tiles though are becoming cracked and difficult to keep clean. I’d like to either cover the shower with a fitted plastic surface or rip out the tiles and redo the whole shower. What can …
Need Energy Advice
I have lived in a 1960 single-family, split-home for about 5 years and during the fall/winter time, my house is extremely cold. The walls are cold and I have already replaced just about every window in the home except one! We recently made a hole in the wall to find out if it had insulation. …
Gutters or Not?
We have a 1960 plantation style home with crown molding under the flashing (no gutters). My lot is 1.5 acres and has an elevation change of 25 feet from the street (high point) to the river (low point). We are installing a French drain system to carry water away from the house, but should we …
Burning Question About Newspaper
I have a question that could save my life. My husband insists on burning newspaper in the winter, one sheet at a time to get warm as he sits directly in front of it. Now, this winter, he is going to roll up papers, tie them like a log and then burn them for warmth. …