| Subject | Date Asked |
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| existing ceramic tile floor | 2/20/2006 |
Q: I have an existing ceramic tile floor. I want to put down vinyl flooring. I have a dillema. the ...
A: The problem with an overlay is the method of fastening the underlayment. If you try to fasten the ...
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| Ceramic Tile Deck | 2/15/2006 |
Q: Dave, I just purchased a home that was built 5 years ago. I have a 10'x 14' screened in deck (2nd ...
A: This is what I would do. Start with the 40mil membrane that is used for shower pans. It is PVC and ...
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| Wood Floors | 2/14/2006 |
Q: How would I strip and refinish a floor?
A: It can be messy but a good paint stripper may be a good way to go. It lets you control the amount ...
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| removing ceramic floor | 2/13/2006 |
Q: I have a floor that has 13"X13" ceramic tile(pretty thick 3/8'to1/4")that is set in thinset over a ...
A: A hammer and chizel are the first choices, however there are tools you can rent that will help. As ...
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| FRENCH OAK FLOOR | 1/28/2006 |
Q: I am an American living in the Netherlands with my Dutch husband. My husband and I have been ...
A: If the oak is NOT finished and is still raw lumber....anything will help. If it is ...
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| ceramic tile | 1/25/2006 |
Q: I have a kitchen that has linolium tile down over cement board (which is glued). Can I lay ceramic ...
A: NO. The plain and simple fact is the ceramic needs to be installed onto a cementous layer, either ...
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| underlayment | 1/21/2006 |
Q: I'm finishing my basement and plan to put in a bathroom. This is a 2 year old town house in ...
A: "They are called sleepers". If you can install some 1x4's on the floor, either with glue or ...
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| cement porch | 1/18/2006 |
Q: I have an old house that has a cement or concrete porch. I was able to get the lovely green indoor ...
A: In case you are open to another suggestion...try a power washer. You should be able to rent one. ...
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| stepdown living area with radius / curves on step | 1/18/2006 |
Q: How would I install hardwood / pergo flooring on a sunken living area that has a radius / curves on ...
A: You may need to use a carpet strip instead of a wood trim to be able to bend around the radius. ...
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| linoleum installation problems | 1/16/2006 |
Q: My husband and I just recently had sheet vinyl installed in our kitchen (Mannington African Slate ...
A: Only if the installer is licensed....he is fully responsible for the finished install. If He messed ...
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| self stick tiles | 1/16/2006 |
Q: Is it okay to put self stick tiles over existing linoleum or vinyl flooring in a kitchen after ...
A: I do my very best to try and help people make this mistake. Those self stick tiles are the worst ...
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| Two Collies & Prefinished Hardwood floors | 1/15/2006 |
Q: I am planning to install prefinished BR111 brazilian teak in our whole house. I am wondering how ...
A: If you have an active dog....it will scratch the finish...moderately. It may not actually get ...
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| Locating toilet flange | 1/15/2006 |
Q: I'm undertaking my first tiling project in a small 15 sq. ft. half bathroom. Is there a quick and ...
A: Where the hole should be cut depends on where it is on the floor. Is it supposed to be 15" away ...
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| Hardwood floors - some areas of our pine floors in the kitchen | 1/10/2006 |
Q: have worn off the finish, down to the original wood. It's not all over the floor, just in a few ...
A: If the pine is still in good condition you can lightly sand the raw areas and apply a new finish ...
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| shower unit | 12/15/2005 |
Q: my house is 7 years old now and my shower unit(not a bathtub) has had 3 leaks so far. The shower ...
A: YOu faired better than I. I bought a brand new house. In 2 months the shower drain broke. After ...
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| grout | 11/15/2005 |
Q: I have here limestones (kind of natuaral tiles) installed less than a year ago. The grout is ...
A: There is an "add mix" that is used for bonding. If you were to use this and add it to another grout ...
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| Scratched Hardwood Floor | 11/6/2005 |
Q: Do you know anything about hardwood floors? I moved into my new house yesterday and when my friends ...
A: If you have some handyman skills, you probably do a reasonable job of fixing it. Take a steam iron, ...
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| Shower Base | 11/3/2005 |
Q: I am trying to get a second opinion on installing Swanstone shower base in a different direction ...
A: You might be dollars ahead to order a shower pan to fit your exact need. Custom shower pans are not ...
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| ceramic flooring | 11/2/2005 |
Q: I have ceramic tile in my kitchen. I hate it. Is there any kind of flooring I can put down over it ...
A: It is uncommon for ceramic tile to be on floors...and I guess you can understand that. Most ...
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| woodfloor laminate | 10/24/2005 |
Q: We have a home that needs some fixing. One project I would like to do is replace the vinyl flooring ...
A: A little education is called for. Laminates is a reference to plastic floors. Engineered floors ...
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| laminate flooring | 10/15/2005 |
Q: I wish to lay laminate flooring in a hallway with five doors. I understand that I have to leave a 10 ...
A: First and formost...ignore that warning of space around the edge. The manufacture cannot predict ...
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| hard wood flooring | 10/6/2005 |
Q: Dave-- We just bought a 17 year old house in St Louis and we want to replace all the carpet with ...
A: You may have some luck with Home Depot contractors...but dont hold your breath. Nevada Home Depots ...
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| Hardwood Floor Finish | 9/27/2005 |
Q: We just sanded our hardwood floor (beach and maple) and put a good penetrating stain on (lightly) to ...
A: YOu are in the ideal condition to do this right. Varnish or Shellac will exceed your expectations ...
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| tiles are buckling | 9/23/2005 |
Q: We put down a subfloor, spread a layor of linoleum tile adhesive to seal the floor, then layed down ...
A: You would be far better off...not using the self adhesive tiles. If you went to the commercial VCT ...
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| Tile on tile | 9/20/2005 |
Q: I am in Thailand and have a 500 sq. foot tiled living room floor which I would like to change. Here ...
A: There are two issues with this situation. Is the current floor soundly installed? If you have ...
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| American Cherry Hardwood Floor | 9/2/2005 |
Q: I just ordered American Cherry Hardwood Flooring and was a bit disappointed that most of the planks ...
A: Start with Clorox as strong as you can stand it. 50/50 will work, but stronger is better. Pour it ...
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| wood flooring | 8/23/2005 |
Q: I am buying a house and want to put wood flooring in the living room and dining room. I am not sure ...
A: The definitions range widely. Different manufacturers want to sound like they are "in" the newest ...
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| ceramic floor | 8/21/2005 |
Q: I installed a ceramic floor (12'' sq.) over existing vinyl floor which has a plywood underlayment. ...
A: I have been telling clients for years...you dont lay tile over any soft surface. Tile layers still ...
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| Hardwood Floor Installation | 8/17/2005 |
Q: Dave I am getting ready to install a hard wood (3 1/4 prefinished bruce) floor in my home. ...
A: Any location that may allow moisture in to any hardwood floor needs some special attention. The ...
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| Glued Wood Floor Repair | 8/12/2005 |
Q: Last week I installed about 350sf of Bruce 3" plank engineered wood over old terazzo. Since I live ...
A: I have two thoughts on your problem. The glue may not be bonding to the terazzo, or the terazzo ...
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| hardwood flooring tounge and groove | 7/29/2005 |
Q: how do i check a room for being square thank you
A: Generally you would measure from corner to corner and the measurements should be equal. It is not ...
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| The right flooring for a sub-basement room | 7/19/2005 |
Q: Dave, I live in a tri-level house. I'm looking to make-over my bottom floor family room, which is ...
A: Even tho I am not a fan of Laminates....Pergo or WilsonArt would be the best choice for this area. ...
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| Removing tile floor | 7/14/2005 |
Q: Considering removing the existing tile floor in our kitchen and would like to know just how ...
A: Tiles do come out easy...after you practice it for a while. Getting a start point is the hardest. ...
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| hardwood floors | 6/29/2005 |
Q: i own a home built in the fifties. i sanded the floor and got it smoothed out. in some places all ...
A: If you gave it a "fine" sanding...it could be ready to refinish. The most popular, (not the most ...
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| wood filler | 6/12/2005 |
Q: I have 2 large wood poles that support a little roof in my deck. They developed very large splits ...
A: I will offer a second remedy. Use an exterior spackle, then go over that with a latex caulking. ...
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| removing vinyl backing from concrete floor | 6/4/2005 |
Q: I removed a 25 year old solarian vinyl from my kitchen floor. The paper backing did not come up, ...
A: Asbestos is not a problem. In the early 70's it was removed for the industry. Removing as much as ...
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| water damage on hardwood floor | 6/3/2005 |
Q: i put down a vinyl remnant in the hall while doing some wall repair to protect the floor. the dogs' ...
A: I am so sorry to tell you...not repairable. Hardwood is a wonderfull floor, but not forgiving. A ...
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| Scratches in finish on hardwoods | 6/3/2005 |
Q: We have prefinished hardwoods all throughout the house and have a dog who has scratched them up ...
A: Depending on the extent of the area...surface fixes are fairly easy. Using a 300,400 grit wet/dry ...
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| grout and tile | 5/25/2005 |
Q: I just finished tiling my shower; however, I screwed up b/c at the bottom I have about a half inch ...
A: I would try the grount first...several layers to prevent cracking...you cant do a one fill process ...
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| Hardwood Finishing | 5/15/2005 |
Q: Dave, I had hardwood floor installed in several rooms about 1 1/2 yrs ago. The installer used a ...
A: Those "combinations" are NOT floor worthy. They are mostly for furniture and nick nack stuff. ...
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