| Subject | Date Asked |
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| Insulating an old church conversion | 3/30/2008 |
Q: WE have recently purchased an 80 year old church in COLD Saskatchewan. We are converting it into our ...
A: The best way to do this is to remove the lath, plaster, and wood shavings - re-insulate and drywall. ...
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| replacing rotted sill plate | 3/29/2008 |
Q: I recently bought a 30-year old house in North Carolina and just found about 20' of rotted sill ...
A: I would probably just replace the rotten pieces as 1/2" is not much in home construction. I don't ...
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| Air Nailers | 3/15/2008 |
Q: I am planning on building a garage and would like to purchase a framing nailer, i have done some ...
A: The angles just have to match the gun with no real other purpose than to sell the manufacturer's ...
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| Air Nailers | 3/14/2008 |
Q: I am planning on building a garage and would like to purchase a framing nailer, i have done some ...
A: Everyone has their own preference. We use Paslode air strip nailers for most work and for production ...
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| Creaking Walls | 2/19/2008 |
Q: I read a question from one reader about creaking in the house and wanted to get your advice as ...
A: Hey Anthony, I live in Canada most of the year too and this problem with creaking and banging is ...
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| Attic Storage | 2/4/2008 |
Q: I have a three stall garage with the third stall very commonly unfinished. The rafters over the ...
A: Trusses are almost never there for looks and may be part of the main roof and buried in the garage ...
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| Attic Storage | 2/2/2008 |
Q: I have a three stall garage with the third stall very commonly unfinished. The rafters over the ...
A: Cutting trusses is a big no-no. Trusses can be eliminated with proper engineering. This will make it ...
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| water apparently leaking between walls into basement | 1/30/2008 |
Q: I am trying to sell my home, but have discovered a leak. It appears to be running between the wall ...
A: Without seeing the problem I would have no idea where the water is coming from. Water can travel in ...
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| Basement Insulation | 1/27/2008 |
Q: Michael, I recently purchased a home in northern Virginia (close to Washington DC) that was built ...
A: I am not familiar with the climate in your area so I can't say what difference insulating the walls ...
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| Hardwood | 1/12/2008 |
Q: How level does the subfloor have to be to install a solid hardwood floor? I have a 4 ft level when I ...
A: When it comes to houses an eighth of an inch on four feet is negligible and found in most new homes. ...
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| basement reno | 1/11/2008 |
Q: i am finishing my basement and i would like to remove a telepost to add to my layout options. Do i ...
A: This does make a difference as it should now be possible. I would still go with steel. I use an ...
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| Creaking walls in the wind | 1/11/2008 |
Q: I live in an approximately 16-year-old two story brick house with a walk out basement. I have been ...
A: Most houses make noises from time to time and even loud bangs. Your type of noise is uncommon. I ...
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| drywall 3/8 j-channel | 1/7/2008 |
Q: Where can I buy? All the jobers and moble home dealers have no idea. Have tryed all lumber yards ...
A: I must admit I have never used this product. I have only worked on a few trailers and they had ...
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| Two storey addition | 11/9/2007 |
Q: We are planning to move house and are interested in a very small bungalow in Cambridge which has an ...
A: I cannot answer your question as this job need to be measured and estimated by a contractor. It may ...
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| bulkheads over ducts | 11/8/2007 |
Q: Are bulkheads necessary in homes to cover heating duct or can they be avoided and how?
A: Bulkheads are necessary when ducts run in the opposite direction from the joists. They can be ...
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| insulation of addition floor | 11/8/2007 |
Q: i have an addition on my home that is my dining room. it is a 17' X 15' room that is new ...
A: First of all do not insulate the floor - period. Insulate the walls of the crawl space and heat that ...
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| building in the winter | 11/8/2007 |
Q: We are about to finalizing the plans for an extension on our home. The extension will push out the ...
A: Building in the spring would be ideal, however, the concrete has additives for colder weather. I ...
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| false roof | 10/30/2007 |
Q: Last year I purchased a house built in the 1890s with a flat 'widow's walk' peak and four gabled ...
A: You can do this work from outside by strapping the rafters and adding insulation and an air barrier. ...
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| Concrete broken slab | 10/22/2007 |
Q: I have a 24' x 36' garage with a slab that has several large, wide, long and very deep cracks. The ...
A: Your existing slab probably has no rebar or mesh in it. You would be best to raise the garage, pour ...
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| walk in closet addition | 10/21/2007 |
Q: Michael, I'm trying to add a walk in closet to my master bedroom on a preexisting slab under a ...
A: The problem is that the house has a foundation below the frost line and does not move. The slab ...
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| walk in closet addition | 10/21/2007 |
Q: Michael, I'm trying to add a walk in closet to my master bedroom on a preexisting slab under a ...
A: You can't tie into a slab in a cold climate unless the slab is part of a slab your house is on. The ...
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| attaching house to garage with a breezeway | 10/13/2007 |
Q: good day, i have a 30 x 30 detached garage that is about 8-10 feet from my house. i want to attach ...
A: If both structures are slab on grade or their is no frost in your area, you should good. If not the ...
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| Attic reno | 10/3/2007 |
Q: I have huge available space in the attic of a 2 storey house. I am wondering if I can create this ...
A: Your attic should be easy to convert but will need work. The ceiling will need upgraded to floor ...
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| Adding a 2' extension | 9/30/2007 |
Q: We're in Calgary, AB, and have a 10 year old house on a nice, wide lot. Wondering about the ...
A: This addition will require a building permit and to get this you will have to show how you intend to ...
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| Options for extending a concrete slab | 9/12/2007 |
Q: I have a single story house built on a concrete slab and would like to extend the footprint and add ...
A: I would suggest you build the addition the same as the existing so that it looks as original as ...
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| civil | 9/7/2007 |
Q: 1) What is the difference between vitrified tiles and ceramic tiles
A: Vitrified tiles are a fully homogenous tile and far superior to ordinary ceramic floor tiles. ...
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| painting | 9/7/2007 |
Q: what is the difference between oil bound distemper and water bound distemper. What does the number ...
A: With paint oil based needs solvents for cleanup etc and water based can be cleaned with water. The ...
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| roof vent | 8/23/2007 |
Q: I live near Knoxville, Tennessee. Our three year old house has a ridge-top vent (I think that's what ...
A: The space between the plywood and insulation I was referring to is around the top of the walls. If ...
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| Closing in a patio | 8/20/2007 |
Q: I am also and "all experts" in the electrical division, but carpentry is way beyond me. I have a ...
A: You should use PT lumber and plywood for this and forget the vapor barrier as it can contain ...
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