| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| hanging curtain rods | 11/20/2009 | Bill Hutson |
Q: I read your answer on how to hang curtain rod hardware when you hit metal. I believe I am hitting a ...
A: Dee Dee, Any high speed metal bit should do, it make take just a little leaning into the drill, ...
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| OAK FLOORS STAIN/POLY | 11/20/2009 | Steve Young |
Q: SANDED THE PINK OAK FLOORS, VACUUMED, TACK CLOTH, PUT ON THE CABOT STAIN/POLY FINISH... I AM ABOUT ...
A: That's great! I was going to suggest a second coat. Red Oak is a beautiful wood and I'm glad that ...
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| Exterior peeling paint. | 11/19/2009 | Bill Hutson |
Q: In May 2005, we Primed & painted our house (concrete bloks) with Behr's products from Home Depot. We ...
A: Luis, The old paint did not adhere to the block. Use a pressure washer to clean the block ...
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| Flashing window in stucco house | 11/18/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: Bill, I'm having trouble figuring out how to flash my new nail-fin aluminum windows in my stucco ...
A: Building Envelope Innovations makes a non adhesive flashing called "Sure Flash" that you could use ...
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| strange black looking lines | 11/18/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: ive noticed strange dark sooty looking lines appearing in 2 of the bedrooms on the ceilings which ...
A: Shell, It sounds like the discoloration is from mold. You may have water or condensation forming ...
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| strange dark lines on ceiling | 11/18/2009 | Harvey Chichester |
Q: ive noticed strange dark sooty looking lines appearing in 2 of the bedrooms on the ceilings which ...
A: This is really not may area but it sounds to me like mold. You may have moisture forming along the ...
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| wheelchair vehicle ramp | 11/18/2009 | Bill Hutson |
Q: I need a 6 foot ramp to allow a power chair access to a minivan. The rise is 18 inches. There is ...
A: Eric, It sounds to me like you already have this one solved, you could indeed do this with a 3/4 ...
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| invisible water leak | 11/18/2009 | Bill Hutson |
Q: I am desperate for help. My mother's house has a water leak somewhere, and I can't find it. There ...
A: Jerry, This sounds like a roof leak, there shouldn't be any water lines in the attic, so you either ...
|
| Replacement windows. | 11/18/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: I am beginning to remodel my single story ranch and have decided that windows would be first. The ...
A: Insulated ( double layer ) glass is the only way to go. Depending on your type of siding and ...
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| water coming in from driven rain | 11/17/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: I own a 22nd floor oceanfront condo in Ocean City, MD, northside of the building (my condo unit does ...
A: I wish I was able to help you in person on this one. Typically the intersections of walls and floors ...
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| Flashing window in stucco house | 11/17/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: Bill, I'm having trouble figuring out how to flash my new nail-fin aluminum windows in my stucco ...
A: Wow! You've really got a project on your hands. It looks to me that you also have recessed set ...
|
| waterproofing | 11/16/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: I have an unfinished basement and i have water leaking in around my basement window. There is a deck ...
A: It sounds like you have a wood "pony" wall sitting atop your foundation. Deck connections are often ...
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| Ceiling mositure/leak | 11/16/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: Condo building-ground level, not an end unit. Corner of bedroom ceiling. A sliding window is located ...
A: Lilly, I don't know where the putty is and how it relates to this issue. Don't know where the ...
|
| trusses | 11/16/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: I have a older 25x50 home can I put vaulted trusses with all open being supported by a 2x4 out side ...
A: Neal, Yes you can. The top plate where the trusses will rest should be a double plate. The ...
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| Window problems | 11/16/2009 | Donald Bosch |
Q: I live in a townhouse community and I seldom check the exterior of my house. This afternoon I found ...
A: I'm not 100% certain , but I would be willing to bet that you have a big colony of carpenter ants or ...
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| Discoloring of the stucco | 11/15/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: I recently noticed that the stucco wall under the windows (vinyl) had some black color. For some ...
A: You did not tell me where you live but from your description I would guess it is a wet or at least ...
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| Frosty storms | 11/14/2009 | Donald Bosch |
Q: I get frost on the inside of my storm windows (in other words, in between the inside window and the ...
A: Simply put, these windows are not designed for comfort. Storm windows are not known to be very ...
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| sewer vent | 11/14/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: I'm having trouble with my toilet flushing. I checked the clean outs and I have flow. could it be ...
A: A plumber, I'm not but I doubt seriously that an obstructed vent pipe would affect the flushing ...
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| How to fill the crack between the window frame and wall? | 11/13/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: I asked an expert how to fill the crack between the outside window frame and the wall. I was told to ...
A: Ray, When a gap is that large a backer rod should be inserted first, then the caulk can be ...
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| Vinyl Windows | 11/13/2009 | Donald Bosch |
Q: I had vinyl windows installed 4 years old. I live on a busy street and can hear traffic as if they ...
A: You did not give me much to work with but I'll do my best to help you. When you initially chose a ...
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| interior door clearance | 11/13/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: Is there a formula for hanging interior doors, how should a door fit regarding space above or below ...
A: Mike, Generally, the rough opening for a door is 83" high and 2" wider than the door size. A 2'8" ...
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| insulating garagr walls | 11/13/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: can u apply insulation to cement wall without causing moisture buildup. ...
A: Joe, You can insulate a cement wall from the inside. Insulation with a kraft backing will prevent ...
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| Prevent from rain coming in - caulk or textured concrete? | 11/12/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: Rain comes in from a crack between the outside of window frame and the wall. I would like to fill ...
A: I would choose a color as close to the brick as you can get that way the wavy line will disappear ...
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| condesation on ceiling and around light fixtures | 11/12/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: I live around the Chicago area, its getting cold and I have condensation around my light fixtures ...
A: Danny, Condensation occurs when warm vapor laden air comes in contact with a cold surface. The air ...
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| Prevent from rain coming in - caulk or textured concrete? | 11/12/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: Rain comes in from a crack between the outside of window frame and the wall. I would like to fill ...
A: You should use a color matched caulking something like Xtra Bond 9500 from Premier Products. Follow ...
|
| mastic remover | 11/11/2009 | Harvey Chichester |
Q: I can not get mastic off my basement floor. I have had experts come by and they told me about bean e ...
A: Brett, two type so of mastic are most often used. If it is black it is asphalt based and mineral ...
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| windows | 11/11/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: What are the most apparent physical differences between storm windows & a vinyl windows?
A: Mary, Not to be rude, but this is like asking what are the differences between an elephant and an ...
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| cedar shower room | 11/8/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: i have just ripped off the fake tiling on my 7 by 4 foot shower room. What's underneath is 3/4 inch ...
A: Suzanne, I know of no waterproofing product that will hold up to daily wetting with hot water. ...
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| Reflective Foil | 11/8/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: I have looked up on the internet the use of reflective foil as a radiant barrier over existing ...
A: I prowled around the web to read about the two foils you're interested in. I really found little ...
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| Basement walls and drylok | 11/7/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: Fist I sent you a question about 2 months ago and never....never got a reply. Then yesterday I ...
A: Richard, As I said, I answered this question some time ago and have had no notice from AllExperts ...
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| Reflective Foil | 11/6/2009 | Bill Hutson |
Q: I have looked up on the internet the use of reflective foil as a radiant barrier over existing ...
A: Richard, I'd say R-50 is pretty darn good, I have never used this foil, but, I did look into using ...
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| Shutoff valve issue | 11/6/2009 | Bill Hutson |
Q: I am finishing my basement and I have 2 spigot shutoff valves in different locations up between the ...
A: Kevin, My first 2 questions are, 1. what are they for? 2. do they need to be there? 3. are they ...
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| Water infiltration | 11/5/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: We have purchased an apartment that faces the sea ( 4 yrs old) . The apartment has a 1st floor ...
A: It's my understanding that James Hardie company is an Australian company. Is it their siding that ...
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| condensation on windows | 11/4/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: my mother and i live in northeast Ohio, she has a home that is about 6 yrs old, and when the weather ...
A: Gina, Condensation is the result of high relative humidity in the house; when the moisture laden ...
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| Cracked Floor Joist | 11/4/2009 | Warren Harper |
Q: This house was built in 1962, this cracked floor joist is right underneath of bathroom tub. I am ...
A: Some sort of steel (channel, angle, I-beam) attached either above or below the electrical wires ...
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| Cracked Floor Joist | 11/4/2009 | Bill Hutson |
Q: This house was built in 1962, this cracked floor joist is right underneath of bathroom tub. I am ...
A: Salem, You can just use a couple pieces of 2x8 (one on either side) and put 3/8 carriage bolts %26 ...
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| Cracked Floor Joist | 11/3/2009 | Len Kroll |
Q: This house was built in 1962, this cracked floor joist is right underneath of bathroom tub. I am ...
A: Salem, There is visible deflection of the joist so you must jack it up and hold it in place while ...
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| bathroom reno | 11/3/2009 | Bill Hutson |
Q: I have alot of problems with water damage to my shower area because someone used a cloth shower ...
A: Simon, I believe that those newer cloth shower curtains have been treated with a waterproofing to ...
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| Mirrors | 11/3/2009 | Bill Hutson |
Q: How do you remove old mirrors with out damaging walls
A: Eugene, That is a very good question, I would like to know that answer myself. Unfortunately, they ...
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| Therma Tru French Patio Door | 11/2/2009 | Bill Rodgers |
Q: Bill, you stated this statement in a previous response about a Therma Tru French Patio Door : Not ...
A: Therma Tru makes a DP 50 door system that WILL solve your issue. Check them out here: ...
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