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Construction & Contractors/Questions Answered by Expert Jim Lyon
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Remodeled Travertine Master Shower | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: We had our original UPSTAIR 10 yr old travertine shower demolished and replaced, $10,000. The new ... A: Sorry your experience isn't going well. I need some more information. Is the waterproffing called ... | |
| 4x4 | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: I need to build a box out of 4x4s. It needs to be about 3 feet high. My question is how do I fasten ... A: I would use 6" "pole barn" nails, usually available at a lumber yard. Overlap the corners between ... | |
| Pressure treated wood | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: Is it safe to use pressure treated wood inside the home? We just removed a cabinet from underneath ... A: Although today's pressure treated wood uses chemicals [(ACQ) and copper azone (CA)] that are ... | |
| roof trusses | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: My son purchased a house and the garage roof trusses are made out of 2x4's. Would they be strong ... A: When you say trusses I am assuming that they are commercially made trusses with metal plates, not ... | |
| Keeping track of technological changes in the industry | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I know it's not really question about construction but I am studying interior decor and have ... A: My Opinion of Others in the Industry Kind of difficult to generalize. Architects are responsible for ... | |
| Keeping track of technological changes in the industry | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: I know it's not really question about construction but I am studying interior decor and have ... A: Regarding keeping abreast of technology There are tremendous information resources on the web which ... | |
| views about other professionals in the inudstry | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: I know it's not really question about construction but I am studying interior decor and have ... A: This is an excellent question. You are going to have to wade through the long answer. Let me give ... | |
| using grout from an open bag | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: We moved into our new house 4 years ago. It had been standing for 6months finished, before we moved ... A: From my experience it can take a week or more for the grout to fully cure. Being a portland cement ... | |
| Kitchen walls | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: I got a message that I'd asked too many follow-up questions and needed to ask a new question. If I ... A: Sorry, when I said I think this is old, there was a question from you that had not been responded to ... | |
| Kitchen walls | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: I got a message that I'd asked too many follow-up questions and needed to ask a new question. If I ... A: Well, I am impressed with your meticulousness. Nice job. Based on the measurements, the walls are ... | |
| Kitchen wall | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: A kitchen wall is supposed to be 138" and is 137 1/2", already sheetrocked. The cabinetry I've ... A: All Bertch cabinets are good quality in my experience, no problem there. Looking at the construction ... | |
| Kitchen wall | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: A kitchen wall is supposed to be 138" and is 137 1/2", already sheetrocked. The cabinetry I've ... A: Sorry for the delay responding. I have been out of town for a couple days. A couple suggestions ... | |
| Contractor Estimate Bill? | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: We just received a bill from a contractor we did not award the project to for over $5000 for work ... A: and please accept my apologies, I was on vacation last week and didn't see your question until ... | |
| Front porch expansion | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I currently have a small exposed concrete front porch that is approximately 3 feet high with four ... A: The basic goal here is to tie in the new porch to the existing porch, in a way that doesnt allow for ... | |
| Exterior metal door repair | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: We have an exterior metal door between our sunroom and outside deck. It was installed approximately ... A: 2 things: where is the rust/water coming from, and how to repair it. For some reason some steel ... | |
| My cousin and my basement | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a cousin who got a bachelor degree in Construction management. He has finished our basement ... A: Great question. I think a fair approach would be to pay him as a skilled worker, commensurate with ... | |
| Contractor billing 18 months after project completed | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: We had a local contractor remodel two bathrooms for us in 2007. The final invoice was paid in ... A: Not being a lawyer, I cant tell you about the statute of limitations on completed work in your case. ... | |
| Central Stringer Stairs | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: The house I am building has a "post-industrial" vibe: exposed posts of reclaimed timbers with ... A: Lets assume you have 8-9 ft total rise. I would think that twist is a big potential issue. If this ... | |
| Contractor failed to Show up to work | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: My contractor has failed to show up to our home for 8 days. I just found out he has been ... A: My advice to you is as follows: Step one: hire an attorney. The various issues you have raised ... | |
| insulation between floors | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: I live in a condo in Indiana. My bedroom is over an completely insulated and drywalled garage but ... A: You obviously are addressing the right issues here. As you are no doubt aware, one answer is ... | |
| insulation between floors | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I live in a condo in Indiana. My bedroom is over an completely insulated and drywalled garage but ... A: I might be able to help you but I need to ask a few questions 1.) Does your garage extend past the ... | |
| slight marble crack | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a tiled floor that is surrounded by the standard 4 inch wide marble surround. Lately, I've ... A: There is a technique you can try to fill the crack. If it doesnt work, the piece could be replaced. ... | |
| faux stone over marble | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: Can u put faux stone directly on marble, or do you have to take off the marble? this is on a ... A: This should work without a problem, assuming that the marble is properly adhered to whatever is ... | |
| How long after a project is finished can the contractor bill us? | 10/12/2008 |
| Q: We had a addition completed to our home several months ago. The last invoice we paid was in March, ... A: just following up and I wondered how things are going closing out your project? Thanks, Jim Hi I ... | |
| bathroom window | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: I want to cover over the bath room window with the surround in the shower. but not take it out. It ... A: Its funny, this is the first project I ever handled many years ago and I did a terrible job. Let me ... | |
| bait and switch bid by plumber | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: We hired a plumber to do the finish plumbing in an unfinished basement. It was all roughed in by the ... A: First let me stress that I am not a lawyer and my opinion is strictly based on my very limited ... | |
| verbal contract | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: I had a verbal contact to stain concrete floors for a friend. I was only charging $1500. She ... A: I would suggest that you talk with someone you both trust to act as an impartial party and to try to ... | |
| Taking out window and boarding up hole | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a bathroom window that is approx. 6 feet wide and 5 feet tall. I would like to take the ... A: This is not too hard of a project. I am making the assumption that you have a wood frame house with ... | |
| Billing after the job is completed | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: We hired a contractor to do a new roof, siding, all new windows and to demolish our old front porch ... A: These kinds of problems can be very upsetting and are easily avoided if the contractor takes the ... | |
| Leaking Door | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: Jim, I have a problem with my back door leaking. I noticed the problem when my hardwood floors began ... A: I am assuming your door is a swing type door vs a sliding door. To answer your question about ... | |
| Metal clad door repair | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: Jim, we have an exterior metal clad door that shows some rotting in the bottom of the door where the ... A: I would suggest taking the door out of the frame, cleaning out all the rotted wood, and then ... | |
| marble tile | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: Lyon, I recently bought some marble tile from a home improvement center in my area and this tile was ... A: There are many different types of marble and some are more fragile than others. Probably much more ... | |
| Metal clad door repair | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: Jim, we have an exterior metal clad door that shows some rotting in the bottom of the door where the ... A: Let me ask you a question before I decide how to proceed- how is the weatherstrip attached to the ... | |
Construction & Contractors
Answers by Expert:
Jim Lyon
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Just about anything to do with home repair, home improvements, Kitchens, Bathrooms, and adding onto homes.
Experience
I have worked in the industry for 30 years, first as a carpenter, then as a remodeling business owner for the past 22 years.
Organizations
Home Improvement Council
Publications
The Wall Street Journal Weekend edition, Business First, Builder-Architect Magazine
Education/Credentials
I have completed many courses in the remodeling field including structure, kitchen and bath design, business management, construction scheduling, design-build, construction technology and others. I have completed all requirements but one course required for CGR designation.
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