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Home Improvement--General/Questions Answered by Expert Len Kroll
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Hairline cracks in shower wall grout | 11/26/2010 |
| Q: We recently had our roof re-shingled, and the excessive banging appears to have put a few hairline ... A: Travis, Since the cracks are very small I would think caulking will solve any possible problems. ... | |
| Painting a log cabin | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: I own a 4 yr. old log cabin. I used Sashco stain and clear coat on the exterior log surface. I ... A: Tracy, No, there isn't because the stain you used is a semi-transparent, paint is a solid finish. ... | |
| Restoring exterior walls | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a home built in 1939 that has been rezoned for Commercial use. We love it ... A: Lee, I'm not sure what your circumstances are. Is the mold on the outside of the exterior wall or ... | |
| Doors | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: 1. What can be done to make a hollow core entrance door more secure? 2. Steel, wood, of fiberglass ... A: Sef, 1. Replace it with steel, wood, or fiberglass. 2. There isn't any real significant ... | |
| hairline crack in wood exterior house door on jam(side panel near bolt) | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: what causes this line the deepness of a coin(dime) and the length of 3 inches....it appears on the ... A: greg, It looks like the veneer is separating where it is glued to the edge of the door. this ... | |
| Support Beams | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: I have built a garage that is 23'x21'. I have a center beam that is 3 2x10x21' that is suppoted by 2 ... A: Jim, Who ever you will buy the LVL from can tell you the number of plys and the size of the LVLs. ... | |
| siding over a log home | 10/4/2010 |
| Q: We recently purchased a log home. We have come to find out there is extensive dry rot damage that ... A: Melissa, Normally, I don't mix my business with volunteering info on Ask the Experts. The ... | |
| paint | 9/27/2010 |
| Q: Can I use an exterior gloss latex paint in side the house? It was a purchase mistake. A: Carl, Yes you can. Just recognize gloss will accentuate every flaw in the walls. What we have ... | |
| lvl's to support 2nd story addition | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a summer camp on a lake with no access for heavy equipment, so all the work is by hand. The ... A: Alex, I don't clearly understand the configuration you described. If you sketch your intended ... | |
| Stain with color outside of my house | 9/21/2010 |
| Q: I want to stain the dark "redwood" stain on the outside of my wood house with a light blue/grey ... A: Teresa, Any paint store such as Benjamin Moore, Pittsburg Paint, etc. or Home Depot or Lowe's. I ... | |
| Project cost | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: Several years ago you quoted a cost $7300 including $1300 in travel costs for an almost 7000sf house ... A: Bob, I can't determine a budget without knowing a lot more about the details of the house. Also, ... | |
| Re: Carrying up hillside: | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: Re: Carrying up hillside: Dear Len: I live on a hill without vehicle access. Now I need to bring up ... A: Makoto, You could rent a bob cat with a bucket which can handle about 20 to 30 bags minimum, maybe ... | |
| IBEAM | 8/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a 20' x12' raised up 1 level addition that is supported by 4 columns. On the 20' side. I ... A: Garry, To determine the size of the I-beam you need to know the load being carried. You can talk ... | |
| Cedar Stain | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a cedar cabin that faces East the sides and back of the cabin do not receive alot of sunlight ... A: Randy, No matter what finish you put on you need to take the old one off first. You are right the ... | |
| crawl space mold issue | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: I have an unbearable odor issue in the crawl space that leaks into the house especially when it's ... A: Sandy, The mold has to be cleaned and killed. Cleaning does not kill. The odor should go away if ... | |
| facial board | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: We have treated facial board that is splintering and looking bad. It needs more than painting. Was ... A: Peggy, Go to "Sheet Metal Work" in the Yellow Pages. Any sheet metal shop can fabricate a custom ... | |
| Bilco Doors | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: We noticed the area under our bilco doors have been leaking, and water is coming into our basement. ... A: Marianne, There is no way I can determine why water is coming in without seeing the situation first ... | |
| Cedar above shower surround | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: We have just installed a fibreglass shower surround, which is 77"high. We would like to put in ... A: Donna, You can apply a water repellent finish. There are many available and can be found at any ... | |
| stopping rain from coming in garage | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: 9 yrs ago I had enough of the rain coming in under the garage door. I built up the cement on the ... A: Sijka, There is not enough information for me to give a good answer. It isn't clear what door you ... | |
| water proofing rustic log home and deck | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: We have a problem and I hope you have a suggestion or two for us. Our newly acquired rustic log ... A: Cindy, A basic need for waterproofing logs, decks, etc. is to clean the surfaces first. The best ... | |
| Source of Water on 1st Floor | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: I'm wondering what could be the source of my problem. When it rains hard, the floor in my 1st floor ... A: Tanya, All of the above could be the source of your problem. The windows could be leaking, ... | |
| Window installation | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: How do I install vinyl windows to my new shed I'm building if I am only using T-111 with no ... A: Gustavo, You need to frame the window opening with 2x framing to the manufacturer's specification ... | |
| tilted basement stairs | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: I live in an old home and over the years I noticed my basement stairs were tilting towards the left ... A: Michael, I can't understand what exists from your description. Photos would help. A clearer ... | |
| Drain clogging | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: We have drain spout right by basement entrance door, when it rains heavily ,that drain becomes ... A: Paul, Sounds like a drain clogged or possibly a drain that isn't large enough for the volume of ... | |
| removal of spackled ceiling | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: Kroll, I have an older home and all the ceilings have the rough sprayed on spackle. It does not ... A: Carol, I don't know what is on your ceilings so I can't be sure how to deal with it. First, the ... | |
| beam span in basement | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: I read some of your very informative replies, and thought I'd see if you can help me. I am cutting ... A: Matt, There is a code required seat for wood supported by concrete however the LVL mfg's ... | |
| PLYWOOD | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: i hope you can help with my question. I want to purchase plywood. but i am confused about cores and ... A: Maria, I don't know how plywood is classified in the UK. Here in the US, aside from span ratings, ... | |
| expansion beam replacement | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: On the back of our house is a deck inset in the house design. Back of deck is house exterior side ... A: Maury, There are several options. You can use a steel I-beam (wide flange beam) wrapped in wood or ... | |
| repairing lath and plaster ceiling | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: a part of our lath and plaster ceiling came down. i want to repair it without having to tear the ... A: Robert, You can repair it with sheetrock. You have to be sure the sheetrock thickness come to the ... | |
| cedar siding | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: Ok, I don't know what happened there but anyway..I have a cedar home I love and need to treat the ... A: Cindy, Water based stain is environmentally friendly, oil is not. Water based is easier to ... | |
| Windows | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a house with new windows, but how all the windows in the house have mildew. Where does ... A: Louise, Normally, mildew on windows is the result of moisture laden air coming in contact with a ... | |
| Balcony Flooring | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a balcony off the master bedroom that is leaking. The garage is under the balcony with the ... A: Dee, I can't get too detailed because I don't know how the balcony is constructed. Here are some ... | |
| floor soundproofing/insulation | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: I am building a house with exposed log floor joists. Tile and wood floor covering above. What are my ... A: Greg, I don't understand your question. What are you placing the tile or wood flooring on? In ... | |
| Jamb Sizes | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I recently ordered custom security steel doors (for an area that had 10 inch jambs). However, the ... A: Lize, Standard jamb size is 4 9/16"; however many companies make any size you want, within reason. ... | |
| cedar siding semi-transparent stain | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: I would like to remove the stain from my house and refinish with a lighter color or clear. It is to ... A: Mark, There are all kinds of chemical strippers available; any of them can remove the stain. Go to ... | |
| drywall in a log home | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if my husband and I were to purchase a log home, is there a way the interior walls ... A: Diane, Yes, drywall can be installed on the logs quite easily; it is done often in certain ... | |
| water damage | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: This isnt log home but a water proofing question so I thought I would ask. Im looking to purchase a ... A: James, If condensation occurs in your attic it could migrate down rafters onto the soffit and down ... | |
| concrete | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: is there any way to lower the grade ( to a lower level ) on existing concrete without busting all of ... A: Denise, No, not any practical way other than grinding the surface and that could only be done for a ... | |
| wood basement | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: My 4 year old home is in Northern Michigan and we have a wood basement. I want to know if it is ok ... A: Mary, You didn't say if you were talking about the inside or the outside. In my experience there ... | |
| Garage Conversion | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: We want to expand our kitchen by using adjacent space in the garage. Problem is different levels of ... A: Marshall, In a situation such as this I am more prone to frame an appropriate sub floor with ... | |
| knotholes in siding | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: It's time to re-stain our siding. It's redwood and some of the knots have popped out (2-4 inch ... A: Holly, We use several approaches to fill gaps in wood. E-Wood, available from Perma-Chink Systems ... | |
| Single beam sizing for garage ceiling | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a 24' by 24' 2-car garage. The ceiling joists are either 2 x 6 or 2 x 8 since it was not ... A: Bob, If the garage has ceiling joists spanning 24' they would be sagging by themselves even before ... | |
| water damage | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: we had a RO pipe burst under our wood floor in the kitchen. It ruined the room below and that has ... A: Angela, As long as the sub floor is exposed from underneath and the hard wood floor is exposed from ... | |
| caulking/ weatherproofing | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: .I have a question regarding caulking/sealing the outside area of my new modular home. I live in ... A: Mike, I'm am not an expert on modular homes. I can offer these suggestions. Contact the supplier ... | |
| Poly Barrier on Ceiling | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: We have put an addition on. We have insulated the ceiling with paperback insulation and we have put ... A: Heather, Don't know where you are geographically and that makes a difference. Also, don't know ... | |
| cold drafts | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: My house built in 1965 is is cold on the floor at the baseboards say about two or three inches in ... A: Nick, It is possible that the bottom plate of the walls, depending on how the floor/wall connection ... | |
| Sweating Walls | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a basement apartment with two exterior walls exposed. Its an old building and is built with ... A: Bobby, Likely there is no cheap way to solve the problem properly because condensation forms due to ... | |
| A very cold home | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a bi-level home, the first level is half in the ground. It is poured concrete made to look ... A: Brian, You should insulate all the way to the footers not just one foot below grade. Rigid foam or ... | |
| fence repair/replacement | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: len, i have a cinder block retaining wall at the rear of my property. the old chain link fence was ... A: Bob, 1. Dig holes against the back side of the retaining wall, set the posts in the holes and pour ... | |
| installing gutters | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: About how much would it cost to install guttering on a 1300 htsf home that already has 70-80 feet ... A: Mary, Can't answer directly without knowing configuration of the house, downspout requirements, ... | |
| Hardiplank mid plank removal | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: I hired a contractor to put hardiplank on my new home. They covered over 3 GFI outlets. What is the ... A: Randy, Use a reciprocating saw with a long demolition blade. Insert the blade under the course you ... | |
| cracks in window water leak | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: "Hi My window frames are made of vinyl. At bottom corner of a window frame (where window sits), i ... A: BHALE, The only way to confirm the source is to trace the water path from where you see it back to ... | |
| attic insulation | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: In a recent occasion, I went to the attic and applied a layer of R-30 insulation on top of the 3 ... A: Brian, There should be no problem with insulation coming in contact with the electric boxes. There ... | |
| Bath tub subfloor | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: Like the previous post, I too have a mysterious missing subfloor! I bought my house a year ago and ... A: Bianca, The sub floor plywood should be there, for just the reason you have noted, to give a solid ... | |
| moisture on interior roof | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: We had a new roof installed in 2006. This included removal of all shingles and replacement of some ... A: Bob, Water infiltration, condensation, vapor pressure, moisture laden air, vapors, etc. are very ... | |
| Wet drywall on exterior walls | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: We have frost at times, and at times discoloration on some of our outer walls. Usually it has been ... A: Kristi, From what you have given me I can't make any assessment of what is happening to cause ... | |
| Missing Sub-floor Under Bathtub | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: I had my bathroom replaced 8 years ago by a local contractor, that's no longer in business, and I ... A: Leah, A sub floor consists of two components (relative to this discussion): floor joists and ... | |
| painting cedar | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: We just purhcased a house a few months ago and the porch has a cement floor with cedar pillars and ... A: Tammy, This is a complicated subject that has been well explained by several associations. It is ... | |
| timber walls | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: I have recently moved into an old cottage where one of the bedrooms walls and ceiling are covered in ... A: Angela, I have no idea what that is. If you were in the US I would tell you to send that picture ... | |
| Garage door opener | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: My door opens and closes perfectly using the switch in the garage but when I use the remote in the ... A: Marilyn, YOu need to check the antenna on the opener to be sure it has not come loose or broken. ... | |
| alternatives to stucco | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I have stucco board and wood on the front of my 25 year old home. Some boards and wood are sun and ... A: Brian, I don't know of any other product short of real stucco or synthetic stucco. You can get a ... | |
| Ref: question | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: Good day, I live in a townhome. It is about 5 years old. I recently noticed on all of my windows at ... A: Sam, There is no way I can tell you what is going on without seeing the condition. From what you ... | |
| Mould growth on ceilings | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: I am a university student studying quantity surveying. i have to write a report concerning a single ... A: Kyriaki, It appears the roof is leaking based on your observation of cracks in the roof covering ... | |
| urine odor in grout & wood | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: We moved into a home where people left their canines alone for hours & there are old urine smell in ... A: George, This question is outside my area of expertise. There are commercial products available to ... | |
| SL 2700 windows installed | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: I recently had window installed by Power Windows and Siding and they charged me 6700.00 for 9 ... A: Sandi, Sorry, but I can't answer your question as vinyl sided houses are out of my field of ... | |
| Replacement Windows | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: I just had replacement windows installed in my house they were double hung, low-e, argon gas, double ... A: Mark, Argon gas conducts heat slower than air, therefore when the space between the panes is argon ... | |
| conservatory floor | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: i have airflow bricks all round my conservatory walls under floor. this causes the room to be very ... A: Robert, Yes, you can use rockwool or batt insulation in your sub floor. The foil should be up ... | |
| water leak in new addition | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: Len, we have recently had an addition on our home (Mar 09 - July 09). I have been away on a jobsite ... A: Bruce, No, I don't have any pictures to describe proper flashing. With brick veneer there should ... | |
| Cement window sills | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: what is the best way to repair deteriorating mortor between the two cement window sill slabs? I have ... A: Vanessa, I would not use clear caulking as this is not the right product. You can rake the joint ... | |
| Remove excess Paint from Deck Floors | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: I have painted poles on my deck and paint was put on the floors. I need to remove the Latex paint ... A: Myra, If you know the product you want to use go to their web site and they will probably have a ... | |
| stove/oven | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: We are planning on replacing our stove- It looks like a slide-in since the controls are on the ... A: Frank, All standard ranges are 30". Depending on your counter top you may have to remove the ... | |
| removing old insulation glue | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I've removed old insulation from an exterior door and want to replace the insulation, however I ... A: Mike, This is not my area of expertise. Here are a few ideas. WD-40 sprayed on and wiped off. ... | |
| Bearing Beam | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: My question is: I had a contractor replaced an 11' long bearing wall with two 2 X 10" wood beams ... A: Armando, I can't answer your question without knowing the load carried by the beam. I can tell you ... | |
| Gap sealling between bottom of the door and its floor | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: this is regarding a room's heavy steel door to seal it from its bottom to its floor and the room is ... A: Zahir, All doors have to have a gap at the bottom so they can swing freely. If the door is an ... | |
| Proper Shower Tile Water Barrier Installation | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I have an issue regarding damaged/wet sheet rock in my shower. I posted a question to another expert ... A: Phillip, The advice you got is correct relative to the tile. From what I can see in the picture, ... | |
| repair base of antique column | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: How can I repair the base of a 2 foot wide by 20 foot high wood column. Half of the base has ... A: Sandra, We use a combination product called M-Balm and E-Wood. M-Balm is a consolidator which ... | |
| strange black looking lines | 11/18/2009 |
| 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 ... | |
| Ceiling mositure/leak | 11/16/2009 |
| 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 |
| 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 ... | |
| How to fill the crack between the window frame and wall? | 11/13/2009 |
| 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 ... | |
| interior door clearance | 11/13/2009 |
| 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" ... | |
| insulating garagr walls | 11/13/2009 |
| 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 ... | |
| condesation on ceiling and around light fixtures | 11/12/2009 |
| 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 ... | |
| windows | 11/11/2009 |
| 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 ... | |
| cedar shower room | 11/8/2009 |
| 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. ... | |
| Basement walls and drylok | 11/7/2009 |
| 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 ... | |
| condensation on windows | 11/4/2009 |
| 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 ... | |
| Cracked Floor Joist | 11/3/2009 |
| 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 ... | |
| cedar painting | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: We have a semitransparent terracota stain over the cedar that mildew keeps showing even though the ... A: Sonya, The first thing you need to do is address the mildew issue. Washing it off does not kill ... | |
| Wet floor and joists | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I have discover that I have a crawl space moisture problem and it is a big one. Our home was build ... A: Robin, I can't be sure why some particle board buckled and some didn't. It is possible, as you ... | |
| Soundproofing | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: I have an corrugated iron room at the back of my house.Im looking for ways to soundproofing it DIY. ... A: Milton, Resiliant channels are made for this application. They can be fastened to the corrugated ... | |
| new ceiling downstairs, old bathroom upstairs | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: We live in a very old house and are redoing the kitchen. Upstairs we have a bathroom and part of it ... A: Sherri, There are literally tens of thousands of homes in America with bathrooms on the second ... | |
| moldy house | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I was searching on google and found one of your older answers regarding moldy flooring, so I thought ... A: Mindy, You can clean the carpeting and use bleach on the subfloor to remove the stains caused by ... | |
| moldy house | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I was searching on google and found one of your older answers regarding moldy flooring, so I thought ... A: Mindy, No, what they are going to do will not fix the problem. Bleach will remove the stains ... | |
| vertical knot holes | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: My brother recently acquired a wood shed. The knots on the vertical pieces of wood (i.e. walls) are ... A: Paul, Mix it and apply it with a putty knife. If there is no backer behind the vertical siding you ... | |
| chinking backer board fasteners | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: What should be used, in what pattern and angle? Am replacing chinking were roofing nails pushed out ... A: Eddy, We don't use nails with backer breakers. We use round or trapazoid backer rod depending on ... | |
| raw cedar wood for walls | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: i am considering some raw cedar planks cut by log mill but not finished or planed...applying them to ... A: Mona, Whether rough sawn lumber is "good" for wall finishing is a matter of personal taste. Here ... | |
| old pine floors with no subfloor | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: We have an 1850s brick PA Dutch farmhouse with hand hewn beam floor joists. We are renovating our ... A: Joey, I can't answer your question without knowing more about the floor circumstances, but here ... | |
| Wall insulation | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: I own a 1940's era, two-story house (Wichita, KS) that I recently found has no insulation in the ... A: Joe, My suggestion to remove baseboards was coupled to using foam not cellulose. Second, if the ... | |
| Wall insulation | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I own a 1940's era, two-story house (Wichita, KS) that I recently found has no insulation in the ... A: Joe, Any insulation is better than no insulation. Without knowing more about the house I'm not ... | |
| sagging 12 foot door on log home/cabin | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: ...i am forwarding a picture of the door so yu can see what I mean....thank you again A: Retta, The picture unfortunately doesn't show me what's going on with the door, however what it ... | |
| sagging 12 ft. patio door on log home | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: we have completely remodeled a 100 year old log home and about 8 years ago put in a 12 ft. patio ... A: Joe, I presume you mean the log or logs above the door are sagging down 1". If that is the case ... | |
| Loghome - reseal / restain | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Our log home's exterior was restored in 2006 with Woodguard products. I noticed in the Spring of ... A: Joanne, Tony Huddleston, manager at Perma-Chink is going to look at the Woodguard color charts and ... | |
| doorway | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: We just remodeled our kitchen and there is an opening to the basement from the new kitchen. ... A: Nancy, What's wrong with a door, period? If there is already an opening why not hang a door in ... | |
| Loghome - reseal / restain | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: Our log home's exterior was restored in 2006 with Woodguard products. I noticed in the Spring of ... A: Joanne, Masking chinking is virtually impossible; it is highly likely that stain will get behind ... | |
| What type of glass to choose for sound proofing? | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I am buying soundproof windows and the manufacturer has given me 2 options to choose from.Which type ... A: Kunal, Sound is vibration in the atmosphere. The most common methods of soundproofing are ... | |
| door sill | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: Because our front door sill sits atop the concrete walkway, water has caused rotting. From some of ... A: Chris, Repair versus replace is a function of cost and skill. If the rot is not extensive it might ... | |
| grouting glass block | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I do handyman work for a friend of mine and have come across a situation that I thought I might ask ... A: Robert, Glass block is not an area I know much about. Here are some thoughts however. You might ... | |
| Drain tiles and crawl spaces | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: We own a split level house built circa 1949-1951 The vented crawl space adjacent to the half ... A: Rob, First, I don't know where you live, but where I live this year has been as rainy as I can ... | |
| Basement Waterproofing | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a 80 year old house, and the basement is fairly dry other than a one problem area that needs ... A: Derek, Drylok is designed to be applied directly to masonry for the purpose of filling all the ... | |
| towel bar installation | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: My bathroom is big but designed in such a way that there is no room on the walls for the towel bar. ... A: Irina, I would not glue a towel bar to glass in the shower stall. If the shower has a door with a ... | |
| Load bearing support | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: Len, In my basement I have a support wall for the floor joists. It is made of 2x4 under each ... A: Daniel, A double 2x12 will work ok. It would be better if you placed a strip of 1/2" plywood ... | |
| exterior renovation | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: My home has had the stucco removed from the exterior. I am putting on 2 inch fidgid foam insulation ... A: Linda, House wrap can be installed over rigid foam or over wood nail base. I would recommend ... | |
| repair window sill | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: My lab puppy used the window sill for his chew toy. It didn't damage much, I don't want to replace ... A: Christine, You can repair it with E-Wood, an epoxy compound that hardens and can be sanded & ... | |
| Log Home Roof Counterflashing | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: Len, My Father has a Log Home constructed with the Square type of Logs. In the process of building ... A: Mark, If the L-flashing is properly interlaced with the shingles you simply need to remove the ... | |
| loose vynl fence post repair | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a six foot privacy fence with two loose post. How do I repair? A: Charlie, If by loose you mean they are not securely anchored in the ground, then you need to dig ... | |
| lvl beams | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: can you use lvl beams to construct and out door back porch? the porch is 14 foot off the ground and ... A: Carl, A pressure treated LVL is available for exterior applications. If you use a non-pressure ... | |
| Log checks have insects | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: We are going to restain our log house. Many of the log ends have large (mostly downward facing) ... A: Sandra, If you are going to restain you will have to clean the logs first. If you are cleaning ... | |
| floor leveling | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: We are about to fully remodel our kitchen and the first thing we need to do it fix the floor. ... A: Tabitha, Here are four suggestions to accomplish leveling the floor. First, if possible, you can ... | |
| attic insulation | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a hip roof around the entire parameter of my house, my soffits are open not inclosed, each ... A: David, If you use poly vent baffles you can just cut a slot in the baffle so it fits over the ... | |
| Driveway slabs | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: the concrete slabs on my driveway are pulling apart leaving a 4 in+ gap between slabs. How do we ... A: Karen, Before you repair the gaps you need to stop the movement. This can be done by embedding ... | |
| Cedar stain turning black | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: I had sided my cottage in pine with an semi-transparent oil base cedar stain three years ago. The ... A: Wayne, The finish applied must contain UV protection and a water repellent. The discoloration is ... | |
| Log siding care & maint. | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I live in Missouri and my siding is exposed to many types of weather. We built our home 4 years ago ... A: Susan, You didn't say what product you are using so I can't address that. If you are only getting ... | |
| white pine post 6X8 or 8x8 | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I am attemping to build a post and beam cabin in northern ontario. I have some standing white pine ... A: Todd, You can erect the frame and let it dry standing. White pine is fairly stable but there is ... | |
| Bathroom remodel | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: We are planning on remodeling our 55yrs. old bathroom in our cape cod style home. The room is about ... A: Ivette, First, I am not a real estate expert so I can't offer any useful opinion about remodel ... | |
| Cleaning very dirty unfinished redwood paneling | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: The situation: a 70-ish year old house with gorgeous redwood paneling in several rooms inside, ... A: Sarah, I don't know of any product specifically aimed at nicotine. Most cleaning products will ... | |
| Stange odor in 3 year old home | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I live in a tri-level townhome with people on either side. The house is only 3 years old. I have ... A: Karon, You didn't say if there is a crawl space or basement or is the townhome on a slab. If there ... | |
| Load bearing wall removal | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: I have done quite a bit of remodel, but never removed a load bearing wall. I have read and ... A: Richard, You said the roof is a truss system. That would likely mean there is no load bearing ... | |
| basement wall paint? | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: Can you recommend a paint for our basement wall? We don't get water in the basement BUT there is ... A: Carol, There are a variety of masonry paints available that serve both the cosmetic purpose and to ... | |
| OLD WEATHERED LOG HOME KIT | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE BEEN DELAYED FOR 5 YEARS BUILDING MY LOG HOME. THE LOGS ARE YELLOW PINE AND ARE EXTREMELY ... A: Kevin, I don't see the conflict. I stated that bleach can negatively affect the stain finish and ... | |
| OLD WEATHERED LOG HOME KIT | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE BEEN DELAYED FOR 5 YEARS BUILDING MY LOG HOME. THE LOGS ARE YELLOW PINE AND ARE EXTREMELY ... A: Kevin, First, bleach does not kill mold. It will remove it but it doesn't kill it. In this case ... | |
| how to avoid frozen pipes | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: I'm from Southern CA where pipes don't freeze and the average temperature is 75 degrees. Spoiled, I ... A: Annie, Frankly, there isn't a lot you can do unless you have access to attic spaces, crawl spaces ... | |
| Shower bench material | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: I want to have a shower bench installed, and need to determine the best practice. Is it to use wood ... A: Rayna, I would not use cinder blocks to make the bench. We would frame then use Hardi-Board backer ... | |
| pool tiles st water line | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: My old tiles are aqua, stained, some are cracked. Is there a simple, easy, cheap fix or do all the ... A: Gary, Given your criteria, "...simple, easy, cheap fix..." the answer is no. If you left "cheap" ... | |
| load bearing wall removal - install 25' LVL - opening wall between kitchen and livingroom | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: I see your not only an expert, but very clear in your advice (many thanks). i am removing a 25' ... A: Karl, If the 6x6 posts are relatively evenly spaced the LVLs are adequate. The best way to anchor ... | |
| leaky log cabin | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: We just bought a 20 year old log cabin last fall. When we arrived this spring, there had been ... A: Jane, Take a pressure washer and blast the log walls to see if water comes through. If you don't ... | |
| load bearing wall removal - install 25' LVL - opening wall between kitchen and livingroom | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: I see your not only an expert, but very clear in your advice (many thanks). i am removing a 25' ... A: Karl, If I understand your description correctly you are removing a wall that runs parallel to the ... | |
| restoring old cedar lap siding | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: We have a 1950's ranch house with the original cedar lap siding. I know the siding has been painted ... A: Tim, You can strip the old paint off a variety of ways. The least costly is to pressure wash the ... | |
| insulating and venting a cathedral ceiling | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a 60 year old home in Atlanta with a small attic space that was finished in the 1960s. The ... A: Dave, I can help you with all of these issues. This is an area of construction that I specialize ... | |
| Mouse issue from Weep Holes | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I am a single mom, and a first time home owner. I bought an inventory house in Allen, TX. I own it ... A: Apps, I would think this is something that you can ask the pest control company to address. That ... | |
| mold in walls (new construction) | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I bought our bi-level home just over 2 years ago and just started working on ... A: Michelle, First, I don't know what plastic you are talking about. I also don't know how the ... | |
| indoor cedar | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: I just found a question someone asked you about cleaning rough cedar on the living room walls. You ... A: Sue, You will have to clean the walls by hand using a stiff bristle brush. If you have a Lowe's or ... | |
| Picture Frame effect | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: We have a new Log Home, and most of the interior is either log or tongue and groove (Pine). We did ... A: Dort, Unfortunately prevention would have been better then the remedy. It is commonly thought that ... | |
| Semi transparent stain to solid | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: Our cedar home has always been stained with oil base semi transparent( app. 30 years old). We would ... A: Pam, You need to clean the surface to remove all dirt, old stain, weather stains, etc. Since you ... | |
| Semi transparent stain to solid | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: Our cedar home has always been stained with oil base semi transparent( app. 30 years old). We would ... A: Pam, Before applying a new finish the wood needs to be cleaned and prepped. Cleaning should remove ... | |
| stripping cedar siding | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: We need to strip a failed Behr Super Liquid Rawhide finish from our cedar sided home and are not ... A: John, Cedar is wood, in spite of its favorable moisture resistance, and it will deteriorate if not ... | |
| Bay window and 1/2 log to build under neath | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a job that the home owner wants to use the 1/2 logs to build underneathe the bay window. If ... A: Steve, Email to len@woodhouseconstruction.com. Be sure the pictures show your knee brace ... | |
| Bay window and 1/2 log to build under neath | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a job that the home owner wants to use the 1/2 logs to build underneathe the bay window. If ... A: Steve, When we use log siding on applications with corners we do one of two things. Our log siding ... | |
| Water Damage in Ceiling | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: I love in a garden condo and my upstairs neighbor's toilet overflowed. My bathroom ceiling and ... A: Pat, I would recommend replacing the sheetrock. It has been compromised by the water sitting on it ... | |
| BLACK LINES ON CEILING | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: I have black pencil thin lines across my living room ceiling and 2nd bedroom ceiling. Both rooms are ... A: Tania, It sounds like moisture is getting on the back side of the ceiling. This can be from many ... | |
| wood deck | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: So you told the guy to be sure his wood was treated to prevent water absorption, but here we are ... A: Kate, I don't remember the circumstances or details of reference you alluded to. But here are the ... | |
| windows on a log home | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: len, my boyfriend lives in southern california and owns a log home. Recently he hired a company to ... A: Sherri, The type windows in the photo could be one of two types: a simple fixed glass pane which ... | |
| windows on a log home | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: len, my boyfriend lives in southern california and owns a log home. Recently he hired a company to ... A: Sherri, I assume the windows are double glazed by your comment that water ran down inside the ... | |
| Log Home - stain | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: I recall you answering a similiar question for me on this same subject, but I can not find it - my ... A: Joanne, We recommend Perma-Chink Systems Products, Ultra II Exterior finish with Advance top coat. ... | |
| beam for 12 foot span | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: what is the sizing for a 12 foot span supporting a second floor and roof. I plan to remove a load ... A: Mo, I can't answer your question because I don't know the configuration of the roof or second ... | |
| Water stains on cedar ceiling | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: What solution do I use to clean water stains from cedar tongue and groove ceiling caused by leaking ... A: Katrina, We use oxcalic acid to remove stains on wood. You can find this product at any paint ... | |
| mold under the subfloor in crawlspace | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: several years ago, an inspection for refinancing alerted us to rotting supports under the house ... A: Louise, Moisture in the form of vapor may have gotten under the underlayment by permeating the felt ... | |
| mold under the subfloor in crawlspace | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: several years ago, an inspection for refinancing alerted us to rotting supports under the house ... A: Louise, I don't know what you mean when you say ...between the floor and sub floor. If the area ... | |
| sheetrock question | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: Can you sheetrock over paneling in the wall and sheetrock over these soft material in ceiling. ... A: Kimberly, You can sheetrock over paneling as long as it isn't distorted to the degree it affects ... | |
| garage door astragal replacement | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: I want to replace the astragal on my garage door myself. The old one should just slide out, and the ... A: Linda, Sorry, but there are literally hundreds of different doors with different arrangements. ... | |
| cleaning exterior cedar | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: I have black mildew stains on my exterior clear cedar siding. There are a lot of differing opinions ... A: James, "...a lot of differing opinions..." about what? "...the best procedure..." to do what? Not ... | |
| Leaks around tops of windows | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: Len, I have 2 separate vinyl windows on the same side of my house that allow or show leaks from the ... A: Daniel, Sorry, I can't envision the circumstances from your description. Maybe you could take a ... | |
| log home window sealing | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: I built a log home 3 years ago and it is almost complete. The home is in very northern VT and it is ... A: Kevin, I just wrote a long answer to your question but when I hit "Send" it sent it to oblivion ... | |
| Reducing noise | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: I bought a new home 5 years ago, at the time the house was quiet.Now we can hear the neighbors ... A: Mark, No, sound is transmitted by vibrations which will simply pass through the added sheetrock. ... | |
| roof support | 12/29/2008 |
| Q: does the ridge board need support on a 6/12 roof with a span of 26'. 2x6 rafters are collar tied ... A: Andy, Rafters with collar ties and ceiling joists generally will not need a structural ridge beam. ... | |
| Moisture | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: I am having trouble with moisture under my home. I have installed vents thru out the foundation. It ... A: Jerry, You didn't give me enough information to answer the question. When you say "sweating" do ... | |
| Drying pine beams | 12/9/2008 |
| Q: I am getting a stock of wood beams together for a DIY timber frame construction project. I am ... A: Keith, You need to be sure none of the timbers are dead packed, where they touch each other. ... | |
| mechanical ventlation in crall space | 11/30/2008 |
| Q: is there specific rules for mechanical ventilation in crawl spaces .if so what are they? A: Don, Mechanical ventilation is one of two methods required in unvented crawl spaces. This ... | |
| Attic Insulating | 11/30/2008 |
| Q: I am adding the 15 inches of blown in fiberglass insulation in my attic. What's your take on sealing ... A: Al, A ridge vent has very little value is you don't have an equal net free vent area at the ... | |
| Insulating 100 year old farm house | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: I purchased an old farm house earlier this year. I knew from the beginning it needed a lot of work ... A: Lisa, The greatest heat loss is normally through the roof, so this is the best place to start. ... | |
| Leaking Box Window | 11/26/2008 |
| Q: For years we have had a problem with a leak and we are getting ready to sell and need to correct ... A: Bill, You need to find a local handyman, remodeler, carpenter who is recommended by someone you ... | |
| Raw Cedar Planks on Walls | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: Read your response to Laura. I am keeping the raw planks, from the 1970's, on the walls, but would ... A: Shirley, You didn't say whether the wood is inside or outside. There are a variety of wood ... | |
| odd smell | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: we have lived in a house 4 over 2 years now and every so often there is a bad smell in my sons room, ... A: Shelley, If the smell is from urine the only way to completely remove it would be to replace the ... | |
| Aluminum siding over log home | 11/7/2008 |
| Q: We built a log home approximately 3 years ago and the contractor did not stain or seal the home ... A: Jimmy, If the logs and other wood materials are properly treated, sealed and waterproofed the ... | |
| Effect of Heat and Water on Dry Wall | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: Unfortunately my house was on fire, there was extensive heat inside the house, all my TV's were ... A: Sanjeev, I would not leave the dry wall on the walls. It will have a lasting odor that you won't ... | |
| Water in Basement | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: Len - I recently found water coming in my basement via a pre-drilled hole that was put in from the ... A: Alan, Normally, when you penetrate a foundation you need to seal the penetration ASAP with grout, ... | |
| Bay Window Gap | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: We have long vertical gaps approx. 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide down both sides of our bay window (on the ... A: Jon, The gaps exist because the brick stops short of the window opening. Normally, brick mold is ... | |
| crawl space access | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: We have a small crawl space that we had made access into several years ago. The opening is 3'x4'. ... A: Lori, If the door you made is adequate but only lacks tight closure why don't you simply screw the ... | |
| log home staining | 10/20/2008 |
| Q: We have a 5 year old log home that is in need of staining/sealing. We are not impressed with the ... A: Babe, Painting is a mistake; paint works by forming a film on the substrate. Logs expand and ... | |
| lath/plaster in historic home | 10/20/2008 |
| Q: We have a mission revival home built in 1904. Most everything seems to be original including the ... A: JR, A competent electrician can upgrade wiring with minimal collateral damage, removing only what ... | |
| painted log cabin | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: Five years ago I purchased a log cabin that had just been painted. I have re-painted it twice ... A: James, Practically, no there is nothing you can do except wipe up the pitch until the pitch pocket ... | |
| Grout Seperation Repair | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: What is the easiest way to repair Grout Separation in a shower? I currently have a shower stall ... A: Glenn, It would take me too much time to describe the process in detail. Go to this site: ... | |
| Filling knot holes and cracks in cedar siding. | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: Could you please tell us the best product to use in filling knot holes and cracks in the cedar ... A: Judy, Abatron and Perma-Chink Systems both make an epoxy wood filler. This product will harden ... | |
| siding on house | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: The permanent siding around my house is starting to streak from the windows on the east and west of ... A: Dave, I didin't address cleaning the stains because that is the easy part. I agree with the local ... | |
| siding on house | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: The permanent siding around my house is starting to streak from the windows on the east and west of ... A: Dave, I don't know what kind of siding you have--vinyl, aluminium, cedar, cypress, pine, etc. ... | |
| bay window problems | 9/29/2008 |
| Q: I read the posting about bay windows that was sent in a few months ago. I am having some of the ... A: Bonnie, If done properly I think it would look good and it would make solving the leaks at the roof ... | |
| noise reduction | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: i have a three unit apt building and i live in the first floor apartment. there is a one bedroom ... A: Brad, Insulation is used to stop the transfer of heat from one area to another area. It does not ... | |
| Cement patching color | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: How can I lighten the "Ready Mix Concrete Patch" material from dark grey to more whitish to match ... A: Donn, There are concrete color additives available to tint concrete. I don't know what colors are ... | |
| how to support my roof | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a 26'long garage with a room on top. The floor is supported by 14" wooden I-beams, the silent ... A: Randy, You don't need a double collar tie, a single is adequate. We often placed collar ties on ... | |
| Gaps between interior wall top plates and trusses bottom rafters | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: This summer I built (framed and mechanicals) a 21 x 28 Maser suite on our home. The exterior walls ... A: Jim, With all due respect (my dad, bless his soul, was the consumate tool and die maker and ... | |
| cedar siding | 9/20/2008 |
| Q: Len,here's my problem: I used a bleach/detergent solution (recommended by Forest Products Lab in ... A: Rich, Perma-Chink's Prelude is a very good product, as are all of their products. We are a ... | |
| how to support my roof | 9/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a 26'long garage with a room on top. The floor is supported by 14" wooden I-beams, the silent ... A: Randy, First, you can still leave the ceiling a cathedral ceiling with collar ties exposed below ... | |
| cedar siding | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: Len,here's my problem: I used a bleach/detergent solution (recommended by Forest Products Lab in ... A: Rich, My first thought is the use of bleach. It does remove mildew but it changes the ph of the ... | |
| how to support my roof | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a 26'long garage with a room on top. The floor is supported by 14" wooden I-beams, the silent ... A: Randy, Sorry, but your description leaves me lost as to what you are doing and why you have a ... | |
| renew | 9/12/2008 |
| Q: Best method to waterproof cinder block from outside? How do I cut Lexan? Is there a hand tool ... A: S, The answer depends on the circumstances of the site. Simple foundation waterproofing "tar" may ... | |
| Cleaning interior cedar siding | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: I've recently bought a home with rough cedar siding on the living room walls. The house is about 30 ... A: Susan, You have to clean the siding with a brush and an appropriate cleaning solution. There are ... | |
| log home restoration | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering what the downsides are to using an osborn brush to take off sikkens stain on my log ... A: Craig, There are no real problems witht the Osborn brushes. The dust can be blown off with a leaf ... | |
| fungus rot on cedar garage door | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: one year ago we had a new garage door installed (we live in south florida); the door is metal frame ... A: Steven, The mildewcide is the fungicide. Many products already have UV inhibitors and fungicides ... | |
| fungus rot on cedar garage door | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: one year ago we had a new garage door installed (we live in south florida); the door is metal frame ... A: Steven, First, the panels are getting wet, probably from rain water that is splashing back off the ... | |
| put dry wall on ceiling in the basement | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: I try to put dry wall on ceiling in the basement and want to make it as higher as it can go. Can I ... A: JZ, You can nail the dry wall to the floor joists directly, without any affect on the air ducts or ... | |
| basement waterproofing | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: We are planning a very simple semi-finish of our basement. We live on Long Island in New York in a ... A: Cathy, Before you deal with the specifics of patching the leak in the foundation let me address a ... | |
| Waterproofing a crawl space | 9/1/2008 |
| Q: I own a cottage that was built in the 1940s with no real foundation. Water sits under the cottage ... A: Phil, First, if you have standing water in the crawl space, and I assume you have a crawl space ... | |
| window in shower | 8/31/2008 |
| Q: I am rebuilding/redesigning my house after fire. We demolitioned the house and are building on the ... A: Jeanne, They put wooden boats in the water and sail them for years and years! Sure you can put a ... | |
| making a window into a doorway in a log home | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: We`ve built a deck outside our bathroom and would like to cut an existing window into a door (and ... A: Kelly, You need to look at what will be left over the door/sidelight after you cut the opening ... | |
| Brass | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: What's the best way to clean the brass fixtures (kickplate, lock and handle) on the exterior of my ... A: Charles, I would use a commercial brass cleaner such as Brasso and follow the instructions on the ... | |
| Cedar Cladding preservation | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: Our new extension is clad in untreated cedar which was applied three months ago. Already the timber ... A: Richard, You can simply pressure wash the cedar siding to remove the gray tint. You can use a ... | |
| bathroom drywall | 8/24/2008 |
| Q: I am in the process of finishing a bath in the basement. I am wondering if I can use regular 1/2" ... A: Aaron, You can, but I would advise using moisture resistant green board which is made for high ... | |
| log home cleaning | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: i am about to clean the exterior of a log home, which has gray logs in areas, what is a good cleaner ... A: Greg, Normally, all that is required is a pressure washer with 2500 to 3000 psi and preferably 4 to ... | |
| Replacement Windows | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: Len I am having Tilt & Turn windows installed to replace my old ones. The contractor appears to have ... A: Ed, Sorry, but I didn't follow your question or logic. Let me address your question the following ... | |
| Window sill rot | 8/17/2008 |
| Q: Good morning Len, I live in the South and yes have the wood window sill " Wood Rot" Help ! I have ... A: Margie, You can repair rotten sills and casing with epoxy wood. Using this method can be expensive ... | |
| windows | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: what is a double hung window and what the meaning of double hung thank u for your time Lenton A: Lenton, A double hung window is a window with two sashes, one above the other. Both sashes ... | |
| Mold in my insulation | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: My Minnesota home is 4 years old. It is a split level. The lower level is unfinished, just insulated ... A: Beth, First, in cold climates a vapor barrier is a good thing because it prevents warm humid air ... | |
| new log home contruction - mold damage | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: We are in the process of having a log home built. As stated by the builder, it normally takes the ... A: Brian, I'm not sure why the builder says it will take 3-4 weeks but is inexperienced and it is ... | |
| Mold in New Construction | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: We just recen't bought a brand new construction and have lived there for about 1 month. When we ... A: Carin, Moisture enters a building in various ways. Narrowing attention to the basement leads to ... | |
| balcony doorway leaking | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: How can I seal, waterproofing the bottom of a balcony doorway. The balcony flooring is tile and the ... A: David, The only way to seal such a leak is to remove the door and start over. Flashing needs to be ... | |
| bay window water penetration | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: We replaced a regular window with a bay window. We never had a water penetration problem with the ... A: Janet, I am referring to the roof on the bay window not on the house. The roof of the house is not ... | |
| bathroom tub Caulking | 7/19/2008 |
| Q: the caulking around the tub is dirty and really looks bad and has come off in places I like to ... A: veronica, You just have to pull it all out, scraping when necessary but being careful not to ... | |
| replacing ceiling tile in mobile home | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I live in a mobile home and had a leak in the extended section of the home. I have repaid the roof ... A: Wynonna, Yes you need to remove the insulation if it got wet. It is worthless if it has been ... | |
| bay window water penetration | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: We replaced a regular window with a bay window. We never had a water penetration problem with the ... A: Janet, The original window, you said, was a regular window, not a bay window. A regular window is ... | |
| Widening log home doorway | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I need to widen the doorway opening by 4" in a New England Log Home. I am installing new sliding ... A: Ripley, We normally first chalk a line where we want to cut, then we use a circular saw set ... | |
| bay window water penetration | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: We replaced a regular window with a bay window. We never had a water penetration problem with the ... A: Janet, Bay windows are notorious for leaking. Generally, the leaks are either at the hips where ... | |
| applied stain to thick | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: i recently applied an extremely heavy coat of semi transparent behr chestnut brown stain to my cedar ... A: Mark, Yes, time or stripping either by water, corn media, sand or chemicals. Yor have to let time ... | |
| Wood Basements | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: I read your answer on the hazards of having a wood basement. We put in one in 1985. We had 3 small ... A: Paula, To the best of my recollection I have never answered any questions about the hazards of ... | |
| Fence staining | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: Good afternoon, Len I have several questions to ask regarding staining a wooden fence. I bought a ... A: Nestor, One of the best products we have used is Sikkens Rubbol Siding Finish. This is an ... | |
| Trim and door paint | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: Our house is 48 years old and has been painted many times. I need to paint the trim and doors ... A: Jennifer, With multiple layers of paint, and who knows what type each layer is, it is really ... | |
| revive ceder home | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: i have a cedar home that i bought in 2000...am trying to remove this black paint/stain with strip ex ... A: Will, Chemical stripper, pressure washing, corn blasting, sand blasting and sanding are the ... | |
| Stain/seal for log home interior walls | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: We have a brand new pine D-log home in western North Carolina. The interior walls are that are not ... A: Valerie, We believe the interior wood should have a finish applied. Leaving it raw is an ... | |
| Caulking Concrete Slab Joints | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: Can you apply a second bead of caulking to a newly cured bead, and will it bond properly? The ... A: Terry, I can't address your questions because I don't know what product was used, or what the ... | |
| water damage | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: Sorry for the length of this email. Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. ... A: Nicholas, I don't mind your long email; you have a "long" problem that has a short solution. ... | |
| moldy cedar siding | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: Our home in central Oklahoma, built in 2000, has a porch with rough sawn cedar siding. We were ... A: Konnie, I would start with a pressure washer. You need as much water flor as possible, like 4-6 ... | |
| porch steps | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: We are enlarging our cement porch and the step from our dining room to the patio. There currently is ... A: Debbie, The code rules for stairs are very detailed and are not applied evenly throughout the US, ... | |
| crawl space odors through furnace/ac | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: Hope you can help...we just replaced our furnace/central air conditioner and now I'm noticing a ... A: Helen, If the furnace & ducts are installed correctly they should not be picking up dust and dirt ... | |
| Cedar fence staining | 6/12/2008 |
| Q: We live 20 minutes north of Denver, Colorado. Last summer we built a cedar fence and applied ... A: Ruben, There are many quality semi-transparent stains available; any of the quality brands will do ... | |
| Advice - Tankless Water Heaters | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: I finally decided to replace the tank water heater I have with a tankless one. After some research, ... A: Sandy, Rinnai offers units that have output rates from about 4 to 10 gpm. You need to estimate the ... | |
| musty odour in the cottage | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1500 square foot 2 story cottage in the Niagara Falls area. There is a musty odor inside ... A: Mike, The vapor barrier will only work if the crawl space is completely enclosed. If it is then ... | |
| plastic leak | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a leak in a water filter made of plastic , it is a pin whole. I tried epoxy but it won't ... A: Vonna, Since I don't know any thing about the filter, its shape, which plastic it is, etc. it is ... | |
| External Home Repair | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: In addition to a new roof, we need to replace part of the cedarwood and stucco siding. (The lower ... A: Dawn, The best way is to get a referral from a trusted friend, co-worker, neighbor, etc. Next you ... | |
| Cedar siding paint | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: I just read a 04/2007 article on painting or staining cedar shake siding. The home I just bought ... A: Paul, Your proposed steps are fine. We do not use paint, except on rare occasions; we use solid ... | |
| Cedar Siding | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: Hey there, I actually have several questions. We have a two story, cedar siding house that was ... A: Kathryn, If you use a good quality finish system it should last longer than two years. For ... | |
| load bearing wall | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a raised ranch built in 1966. In the master bedroom the original owner added a small addition ... A: Jo-Ann, If you are going to remove a load bearing wall you will have to replace with something to ... | |
| Cedar Shakes - When to replace & What to do if they are painted | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: We are purchasing a home that has cedar shakes siding. The siding looks very tired, but it has been ... A: Maya, Paint protects wood by forming a skin that stops water from getting on the wood; it also ... | |
| Cedar Shakes - When to replace & What to do if they are painted | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: We are purchasing a home that has cedar shakes siding. The siding looks very tired, but it has been ... A: Maya, You have to do a thorough inspection to determine the condition of the shakes. If you don't ... | |
| Painting a cedar sided home | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: My home is cedar siding. It currently is coated with a dark natural stain. I am tired of the log ... A: Melanie, You need to thoroughly clean all of the wood surfaces that will be stained. Cedar often ... | |
| crawl space | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: My pipe broke from my washer and caused my crawl space to flood with water. Not alot, but what water ... A: Joan, It seems unlikely that the few gallons of water in a washer would have caused "all" of the ... | |
| Bathroom remodeling | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a rental log cabin in Pigeon Forge. The cabin is a "true" log cabin in the sense that the ... A: Linda, I'm afraid I'm not comfortable recommending anything but tile. Some might say you can use a ... | |
| How to transfer load from ridge beam to foundation? | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: We are thinking of having a vaulted ceiling in one of our rooms, and I read an earlier answer of ... A: Ananth, You have the idea. Here is how the load goes to the foundation. If the ridge is sized ... | |
| cedar presavtive application | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: should i apply preservative to my cedar siding with a paint sprayer or brush it on? I have a three ... A: George, The best method of application is airless sprayer with thorough back brushing. Rough sawn ... | |
| Log Cabin Paint | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: I own a log cabin built in the 1930's - I've had it for a few years. It is painted dark brown, and ... A: Mike, Your question, "...is it reasonable..." is not a question I can answer. If the cabin, in ... | |
| Concerte drive | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: The concerte was laid in the the rain, I found out and my new home's driveway and porch is cracking ... A: Charles, Unfortunately, terms are very important when dealing with concrete problems. So, be ... | |
| log home window/door framing | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: I own an eastern white pine (6"x8" D logs) log home; since buying I have learned that it was not ... A: Kevin, Be glad to help you but it would take too much time to write all of what I need to explain ... | |
| Moldy Bathroom Ceiling and Walls | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: I have a master bathroom that has black mold growing on the ceiling and is starting to spread down ... A: David, No, I have not used such products. However, lets say your theory is correct. Cleaning the ... | |
| cleaning mold from stucco | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: One of the experts advised me to use TSP and bleach (you too!) to remove mold and mildew from the ... A: Bill, You need to apply a mildewcide to the surface. You can find such products at contractor ... | |
| Low Pitch Roof Truss | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: I'm planning to add a dining room extension with an open space of 18' x 18' but i'm limited to a ... A: Rodrigo, If this is to be a gable roof the span of the rafters will only be 9'. 2x6 SYP rafters ... | |
| cedar siding | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: Len, We are planning on using cedar siding on our home. We want the grey look but also want it ... A: Lana, You can use Cabot's bleaching oil to start the greying process. Just follow the directions ... | |
| QUICK CRETE | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: can I mix this product in a hole in the ground. I am installing a light pole in the garden. Lowes ... A: David, The reason the instructions don't refer to mixing in ground is because this can compromise ... | |
| Sweating Basement Wall | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: We are in the process of building a new home which has a basement that will be finished. All rough ... A: Tricia, Sounds like water is coming in from above and maybe also through the walls. If the house ... | |
| Water damage to sheetrock | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: I recently noticed loose tiles in the shower stall, I removed the tiles only to find rotted sheet ... A: Ron, I would remove tile in an ever expanding circle till I saw no more moisture on the sheetrock. ... | |
| Sweating Basement Wall | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: We are in the process of building a new home which has a basement that will be finished. All rough ... A: Tricia, You didn't say where you are building; if you are in a cold climate the earth behind the ... | |
| rain coming through Bilco door | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: A guy we hired installed a Bilco door that leads to stairs that go down into our finished basement. ... A: Diane, There are numerous ways that Bilco doors are attached to the concrete or block walls so I ... | |
| restoring logs | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: We have a home that is about 150 years old and the ceiling of the basement is huge logs. They are ... A: LeAnn, First, we usually clean logs with a pressure washer @ about 3000 psi or a little less. We ... | |
| wood paneling | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: I need a source for two sheets of 1970's style wood paneling for a repair. Any help you can give me ... A: Wayne, You didn't say what size you are looking for; length, width, thickness? If you are talking ... | |
| copper roof over bay window and leak... | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: Kroll: We just got over a major storm that resulted in a ceiling leak in our dining room. This ... A: Clare, Yes, cracks in the stucco can easily result in leaks and in fact are very common. The ... | |
| white pine walls | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: how is the best way to finish walls and ceiling that are white pine lumber? How to keep them from ... A: Colene, All wood products will darken over time. You can impede this process by using a high ... | |
| door jamb sizes | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: I read your responses to the previous questions about jamb extensions. We have a log home with 14" ... A: Jim, I presume, since you said your existing jambs are 9-1/4", that the logs were tapered down to ... | |
| hone lower level leak/drainage | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: We have a duplex--the problem is in the second unit. In the lower level room; every time it rains, ... A: Damarys, You have given me no information on which to analyze the problem. I have no idea where ... | |
| Storm rain leakage into our house, help! | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: Today's (01/04/2008) crazy storm in California bay area triggered some serious storm rain leakage ... A: Peter, Agreed, any competent remodeler or home repair contractor can fix this type of damage and ... | |
| Drywall over Unfinished Cedar Wood | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: It makes the space seem closed in and dark. We were thinking about putting up drywall over the wood ... A: Laura, Being in the wood business I hate to see wood covered up. I'd rather opt to prep the wood ... | |
| Log rot | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: Recently we found some rot on our logs due to failed mortar chinking. We replaced the mortar with ... A: Paul, Our advice would be the same--replace/repair the logs, then apply Shell Guard, then seal the ... | |
| Rain leak makes the carpet leak | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: We have lived in the same apartment home for five years but this problem started to happen from this ... A: Kyunghee, I would need much more information to help you. Water infiltration into a building ... | |
| water coming in | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: i have water coming in through my windows. we had a snow storm about three days ago and now water ... A: Sharon, There is not enough information to answer your question definitively. Here's my first ... | |
| fog coating | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: we recently had our house remodeled. part of it was getting our existing stucco fog coated. what i ... A: Jason, Stucco is outside my area of expertise, but I'll give you a lead you can talk to. We buy ... | |
| Finishing Basement | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: I am thinking to finish my basement I have 8ft ceiling in my basement from floor to till 2X4 of ... A: Raj, The proper way to build walls is to use a 2x4 bottom plate and a double 2x4 top plate with ... | |
| Door Jambs | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: Len, I'm in a bit of a mess and hope you can help. I have 2 2868 fixed doors that are going to act ... A: Zack, Sure, just put jamb extensions on them. We do that on every window and door we install in ... | |
| Painted log ceiling joists | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: We are trying to invest in a log home in which the previous owner has painted exposed log ceiling ... A: Justin, We strip stain and paint off logs, and other wood components for a living. You need to get ... | |
| Walkup basement and belco doors | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: Len: We are interested in getting a walkup basement with belco doors for our existing house. It is ... A: Sandya, It is not difficult to add a Bilco door to an existing basement. Any legitimate excavator ... | |
| Sealing knots | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: What kind of caulking can I use to seal knots in pressure treated lumber (decking)? I do not plan to ... A: Bob, When you say "seal" knots I'm not sure what you are asking. The entire board is pressure ... | |
| Wall grout cracking | 10/23/2007 |
| Q: I have a similar problem with hairline cracks forming between the wall tiles. Most of the time it ... A: Adam, There are probably some products that can be applied to fill the hairline cracks, but I would ... | |
| Log Homes - woodpeckers | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: I have depended on you for your expertise several times before. The gable are on our home is pine ... A: Joanne, Carpenter bees drill a small hole, about 1/2 inch round and about 3/4 inch deep then they ... | |
| Cement expansion joint - caulking | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: I need to fill the expansion joint between cement slabs in my driveway....they once had plastic ... A: Jo, A specific caulk is made for this purpose. You can get it from any of the big box stores like ... | |
| waterproofing foundation wall | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: We have dug down to the footings to solve drainage problems by replacing and properly sloping the ... A: Jan, First, the proper way to place a drain tile is to set it in a bed of gravel aside the footer, ... | |
| replacement of basement window | 9/30/2007 |
| Q: First let me state that I am a novice. I need to replace a wooden basement window. The frame is ... A: Tomas, I can't answer your question without more information. I need to know the size of the ... | |
| protect wood | 9/23/2007 |
| Q: I am planning on moving a coffee table, looks like maybe made out of maple or some other heavy wood, ... A: Gabe, There are several ways to protect the wood. There are two issues that need to be addressed: ... | |
| Log Home w/siding | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: I wish I could do a followup to a Q&A from me on 4/2006, I can not find an option to do so. After ... A: Joanne, Let's make sure we are using correct terms. The term "eave" is usually meant to describe ... | |
| wetness by window wall | 9/20/2007 |
| Q: my house was built in 2004. One year later i noticed that water was coming from the wall in the ... A: Edith, Obviously, the source of the leak was not where the contractor caulked. I can't offer any ... | |
| adding on | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: If needing more space in our home, is it easier or cheaper to add a second story or add a wing. A: Mike, There is no definitive answer to that question because there are too many variables that can ... | |
| covering bricks with wood | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: we have a brick fireplace and would like to cover it with wood. it is about 12 feet high. we waqnt ... A: Linda, Without knowing the details of the shape and configuration of the fireplace its a little ... | |
| hairline cracks in walls of shower grout | 9/14/2007 |
| Q: We added a bathroom to our second floor six months ago. It has a large walk-in shower with porcelain ... A: Cathy, First, the walls under the tile should have been covered with a water resistent cover before ... | |
| How often should you refinish ? | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: We have a timberframe home, the out side has cedar, and many rooms has pine walls ( toung grove ) ... A: Joy, Let's deal with the inside first. Theorhetically, if the interior t&g was finished with ... | |
| Sealing under sliding doors | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: I have had a room built on and the builder did not silicone under the doors, we had heavy rain and ... A: Shannon, I don't like to be in a position to criticize other trades people, but it sounds like you ... | |
| Basement cleaning | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: I had a flood in my basement. I called a carpet care company. Owner did not gave me any estimates, ... A: Stanley, I am not a lawyer, but I will offer these thoughts. I doubt that the document is a legal ... | |
| Log Cabin Chinking | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: My (old school) Father-in-Law is building a 12'X12' log cabin. It has a cement foundation, slab ... A: Bryan, We do not use cement chinking. We use synthetic mortar because of its superior properties ... | |
| Garage Leaking during heavy rains | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: I just bought my first home. When it rains heavily, water runs down the slope on the side of my ... A: Nathan, The minimum slope is 1/4" per foot away from the structure and you should maintain this ... | |
| Bay Window | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: I would like to put a Bay Window in my basement; my husband is afraid that it will leak. Thoughts? A: Melissa, You have the designers taste; your husband has the sage's wisdom. Only kidding! Bay ... | |
| vent pipe | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: i'm getting an gaseous odor from the upstairs toilet?? cause? it flushes fine... i have sign of ... A: Johnny, First, make sure it is the toilet; to be sure seal the drains on the other fixtures in the ... | |
| moisture in basement | 7/22/2007 |
| Q: Can I repair cracks and seal my underground basement from the inside. The very old poured concrete ... A: Robert, Yes you can. There different products for different situations but all are available from ... | |
| LVL Beams | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Kroll: Thank you for this opportunity. I am expanding my current single car garage to a two ... A: Clyde, You didn't make all of the orientations clear, but let me explain the process and we can ... | |
| metal shed insulation | 7/3/2007 |
| Q: I live in south florida in a small mobile home community, so therefore indoor storage is a problem. ... A: Wayne, In S. FL hot humid air is on the outside of buildings. If you insulate you should place the ... | |
| Log Home / after restoration | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: We just finished a total exterior restore of our log home. It was taken returned to it's wood by cob ... A: Lindsey, The old house borer makes an oval exit hole. When the hole exits, the larva has exited. ... | |
| Log Home / after restoration | 6/24/2007 |
| Q: We just finished a total exterior restore of our log home. It was taken returned to it's wood by cob ... A: Lindsey, All of the holes should have been sealed. NBS-30 is a powerful product but I believe ... | |
| Balcony leaking water into the garage | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: We bought a home with a balcony off the bedroom. The balcony is directly above the garage. The ... A: Monika, There are a number of products that can be used. Not all are available everywhere. The ... | |
| Replacing a support wall with LVL beam | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: I live in a 50 year old home on a coventional slab on praire dirt (shifting!). I want to span 15 ... A: Chester, Can't answer without more information. I need to know the layout of the house so I can ... | |
| scraping paint off log cabin | 6/14/2007 |
| Q: I live in a log cabin built in 1928. About two-thirds of the house is either original logs or ... A: Patti, Without seeing the log I can't be sure what to recommend. Here are the most logical ... | |
| crown replacement | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: I would like details on replacing a rotten crown on a Scandinavian scribed log building. so that the ... A: Denton, I presume by "crown" you mean the outer portion of the log that tucks under the log above ... | |
| Shower stall Sealant | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: We bought our house (1 yr old) last year. In a few months we noticed that there was mold around our ... A: Kiran, You need to find a home improvement specialist or a general contractor that does home ... | |
| balcony addition | 6/12/2007 |
| Q: I want to add a balcony to the back side of my newly built house? Do you know how much it can cost ... A: asad, Depending on how high the work is, a pressure treated balcony of simple design would cost ... | |
| Hairline Crack in Shower Grout | 6/10/2007 |
| Q: I just purchased a new home, and I now see hairline cracks starting to develop where the shower ... A: Jason, You should be concerned. It is almost a sure thing that water will get under the tiles. ... | |
| cedar siding | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: I read your reply to the question regarding stripping cedar siding. Is it more economical to ... A: Kathy, The answer depends on what is on the siding now. If a semi-transparent stain is on it ... | |
| cedar shake siding paint removal | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: I have a 51 year old cedar ranch house (shakes) in Chicago. The previous owners painted it blue and ... A: Michelle, There is no such thing as "the only way" to remove the finish from wood. You can remove ... | |
| stain | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: I recently had a new cedar fence installed. A painter offered to seal the fence, and I agreed, ... A: Jo, As an aside, I can't believe a painter would do something like that. They are in the "cosmetic ... | |
| Natural stone in a basement absorbs moisture? | 4/29/2007 |
| Q: We are going to finish the basement and our contractor suggested natural stone (as opposed to ... A: Janet & Steve, All concrete, cement, cement block, etc. will absorb moisture from the earth. ... | |
| cedar siding | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help... I have a 51 year old cedar ranch home in Chicago. The previous owners ... A: Michelle, First, let me tell you something I have observed in the course of my business. It would ... | |
| Water Damage to ceiling / floors | 4/20/2007 |
| Q: I live in a 3 story condo on the first floor. The 3rd floor Neighbor left her facut running during ... A: Dustin, It is likely that the drywall has been damaged. Mold is a distinct probability, ... | |
| Maintenance on log cabin | 4/20/2007 |
| Q: I bought a 20-year-old log cabin two years ago in western Tennessee. I'm here from sw Florida only ... A: Sherri, If you can email a tracing of the end of a log I can get you a replacement. However, in my ... | |
| Bay Window | 4/4/2007 |
| Q: Len, I have a bay window in my dining room and there is a window in a bedroom on the second floor ... A: Dennis, I can probably help you but I need to understand the circumstances better. Bay windows are ... | |
| Fascia board repair | 3/15/2007 |
| Q: My home owner's association is demanding the repair of a rotting fascia board. It is a strip of wood ... A: Shlomo, First, before repairing the damage, you need to determine the cause and fix it. When a ... | |
| Painting | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: I have wallpaper on my bedroom walls right now and my dad says that they aren't finished and have no ... A: Allie, The wallpaper is stuck to something--likely, either sheetrock or plaster. There has to be ... | |
| Removing a Support Post and adding Two in its Place | 1/14/2007 |
| Q: I am finishing my basement and want to remove one 4” diameter Support Post in the middle of the room ... A: Dan, I can and I am happy to help, but the situation is too complex to do so from your explanation. ... | |
| plastering over greenboard? | 1/7/2007 |
| Q: I was planning on putting greenboard in my bathroom ceiling so that the moisture does not get ... A: Steve, There is no need to plaster over green board; it serves the purpose of resisting moisture. ... | |
| how to measure for a replacement window | 12/30/2006 |
| Q: I have 1 window that is rotted in the sill and on the sides. I was injured working with the ... A: Bill, When you take the window out an opening will remain; this is your starting point. If nothing ... | |
| Stucco | 12/25/2006 |
| Q: I have to clean a building thats built with stucco. What chemicals would you recommend to get the ... A: Rob, There are many commercial house cleaning products available. I would recommend you go to a ... | |
| WATER IN BASEMENT | 12/22/2006 |
| Q: Older home, we have had no water for 2/3 years. Sandstone foundation, some crumbling. This past ... A: Carol, Here's my guess based on these assumptions. I assume you applied drylock to the exterior ... | |
| frame a wall | 12/22/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to install 2 pantrys and a 36 wide cabinet over a refrigerator and I need to bring 2 18 ... A: Scott, I can help you with this but I need a clearer picture of the circumstances and what you are ... | |
| swanstone shower base | 12/17/2006 |
| Q: A contractor installed a swanstone shower base in our new shower. It "squeaks" and "groans" when ... A: Bet, Not having the opportunity to see the circumstances makes it a bit difficult to assess the ... | |
| Snow Removal from Wood Deck | 12/10/2006 |
| Q: This seems like a basic question but I can't find any info on this subject. I would like to know if ... A: Will, You didn't say what the deck is made of. If it is made from pressure treated wood it will ... | |
| leaky basement | 11/28/2006 |
| Q: I have an old rental that has a leaky basement. There is an area between the sidewalk and base of ... A: Janet, Sorry about the delay but this question just appeared when I sent an answer to another ... | |
| Restore Log Homes | 11/16/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to find a list of contractors that restore log home for my area. Is there a specific ... A: Jim, I don't know of such a list. There are a limited number of log home restoration companies, ... | |
| Metal Tile in Bathroom - Rusted Through | 11/9/2006 |
| Q: I own a house built in the 50s and with the help of paint stripper, uncovered metal tile. So far, ... A: John, I haven't seen metal tile of the type you are probably talking about for years; not since I ... | |
| Water leaking through the box window | 11/9/2006 |
| Q: Many thanks for the response. The exterior of the house is aluminum siding if that adds any light ... A: Kevin, The proper way to flash the finished roofing on the bay roof is: if the finished roofing is ... | |
| Water leaking through the box window | 11/8/2006 |
| Q: I have a bay ( box ) window in the front of the town house. I am receiving water from rain at the ... A: Kevin, Most leaks on bay windows occur in one of two places. First, is the way the flashing is ... | |
| DIY first time in Los Angeles, CA | 11/4/2006 |
| Q: CA. It is an upsloping lot and am trying to determine if a first time DIYer like myself can pull ... A: Theo, All I can tell you is I could build that house for under $400,000 here in Knoxville, TN. I ... | |
| ceremic tile on kitchen counter top | 11/3/2006 |
| Q: I want to replace my old ceremic kitchen top tile with new tile. can I just take the old tile off ... A: Bob, You need to remove all of the old scratch coat; you should be applying a new coat on a clean ... | |
| The BEST way to decide what to do | 11/2/2006 |
| Q: I have a home that I absolutely LOVE in Phoenix, Arizona. It has SO much potential! I have just ... A: Allyson, Sorry, we are a design/build firm and only interested in structural engineering and ... | |
| adding color to cement | 10/30/2006 |
| Q: I think I wrote this down wrong. I did not get any instruction with my color but what I was trying ... A: Keith, How do you know to mix 3 quarts of water to the color? Where did that instruction come ... | |
| adding color to cement | 10/29/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to make landscaping blocks for my yard. I recently purchased a cement mixer, and I ... A: Keith, The only concrete color systems I am familiar with require one bag per yard of ready-mix ... | |
| hidden beam retrofit | 10/27/2006 |
| Q: In the interest of expanding the kitchen, I need to move a load-bearing wall that supports the ... A: Michael, First, the load involved is about 10,000 lbs., or 5,000 lbs. going to each post, or about ... | |
| 14 ft beam | 10/27/2006 |
| Q: I will try one more time. The house is sitting on a foundation wall that is 30 ft from south to ... A: At best it is marginal. Here's my suggestion. Sketch the layout and go to any building supply ... | |
| 14 ft beam | 10/25/2006 |
| Q: I am wanting to open up a room in my basement. My house is a ranch built over a full basement. The ... A: I'm sorry but I cannot understand the circumstances of the construction you are trying to describe. ... | |
| FOUNDATION | 10/23/2006 |
| Q: Two questions: I own an 80 year old end row house in Baltimore, MD and its foundation wall is made ... A: Al, There are concrete sealers available. You can get information on these products from any of ... | |
| Cleaning of vinyl siding. | 10/18/2006 |
| Q: My vinyl siding is getting stained and dirty due to the brownish stuff (probably rust) ... A: You can get vinyl cleaner products at any building supply store or many paint stores. Follow the ... | |
| exterior door | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: We bought a new exterior door and the door frame is 4" thick, but our existing door frame and wall ... A: Joyce, I doubt that the new door frame is 4" thick unless you had it custom made. Standard doors ... | |
| removing wall paint from prefinished trim | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: Kroll: A home that I am interested in purchasing has had the interior walls repainted and evidently ... A: Dee, You have to explain what you are refering to when you say "prefinished trim", and "prefinished ... | |
| cathedral ceiling | 10/12/2006 |
| Q: Len, regarding my earlier question...all references to 6"x6"s should be 2"x6"s...Also I understand ... A: David, A ridge board is a nailer to which rafters are attached; it serves no structural pupose and ... | |
| Replacing hurricand damaged roof | 10/12/2006 |
| Q: Len, I was impressed with your answer to Don re: collar beams. I have a similar Quest. We are ... A: David, If I have all the numbers correct, and I think I do, because they all work out correctly, ... | |
| some help | 10/9/2006 |
| Q: ok this may be out of your realm but you deal with log homes...its certainly relates. the ... A: We pressure wash decks to clean and remove old stain. Sanding has the disadvantage of not being ... | |
| converting a single house into a duplex | 10/8/2006 |
| Q: I live in Harris County Texas. I have a large house. I'm converting it into 4 units. Where do I ... A: Every jurisdiction is different. If you need a building permit you would normally get it from a ... | |
| Black spots and areas on new cedar cladding | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: We're in the process of recladding our home in cedar and on one wall in particular one of the boards ... A: Lynne, Although I have travelled extensively throughout the world, I never been to New Zealand, so ... | |
| insulation | 9/29/2006 |
| Q: has many people insulated with polystyrene pellets blown in walls of old house A: I have not heard of pellets being used to insulate. Vermiculite was used in concrete block walls; ... | |
| Moss | 9/18/2006 |
| Q: We recently purchased an older home that has had very little up-keep over the last 10+ years. There ... A: Mike, There are a lot of commercial products available to remove mold and mildew from various ... | |
| 31 years old house | 9/2/2006 |
| Q: I am about to buy a house and it is 31 years old. I have concerns regarding the structure, ... A: Ibrahim, I recommend that you hire a qualified home inspector to inspect the house and give you a ... | |
| Clean pet urine on wooden deck then seal | 8/27/2006 |
| Q: I have an antique dog who totters outside only so far as the deck to do her business. I have ... A: Toni, This is not really my area of expertise but I will offer the following. When we do ... | |
| paint removal from cedar siding | 8/27/2006 |
| Q: We need to restore cedar siding after vandals spray painted it. The cedar siding was stained and ... A: Cheri, I'm not familiar with the Rymar product but from your description it is abviously a ... | |
| LVL beam post support-foundation | 8/10/2006 |
| Q: I read your answer to another Beam question and thought you may be able to offer some advice. We are ... A: Erin, Let's go backwards. You are creating a point load on the basement floor where the posts sit. ... | |
| Balcony floor | 8/10/2006 |
| Q: Mr Len Kroll Hello! I have to redo my balcony flooring,but rather ... A: Harbinder, You didn't say whether the balcony is inside or outside, if there is living space below ... | |
| wet basement wall | 8/9/2006 |
| Q: My home is 8 years old and has a poured concreate foundation. We moved into this home in June last ... A: Alex, I'm sure I can give you some assistance, but I need to understand more about the ... | |
| stone chimney on log home | 8/8/2006 |
| Q: What is the best way to fix a 2inch gap that has developed between older log home and it's stone ... A: Rich, We usually repair such gaps by inserting appropriate backer rod then chink over the backer ... | |
| waterproofing foundation wall & tinting cement patio | 8/7/2006 |
| Q: I'm having my back yard concrete patio broken up so as to waterproof the foundation wall in the back ... A: Ken, Your plan can work if you do every step very well. In other words, no skips in the tar, no ... | |
| Log Home w/ Vinyl Shutters - followup Q&A | 8/7/2006 |
| Q: Len, I was going to write a private email to you, perhaps making this public can help someone else. ... A: Joanne, I cannot advise you of color combinations because as you know "beauty is in the eye of the ... | |
| Log Home/double pane window-condestation | 8/4/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Kroll, Our home is log and one of our double-pane windows is holding condesation. How is this ... A: Joanne, This happens when the seal around the edge of the glazing breaks and allows vapor to enter ... | |
| Exterior Shutters/Log Home | 8/4/2006 |
| Q: We are about ready to start a restore on our exterior logs, due to purchasing a log home that was ... A: Joanne, Yes, vinyl shutters can be used and are a good low maintenance choice versus wood shutters. ... | |
| Replacing Purlins and Kickers with Kneewalls | 7/30/2006 |
| Q: I am hoping you can help me out here. I am rennovating my 24' x 26' cottage which has a 6/12 pitch ... A: Doug, You will need to fax some drawings so I'm sure I follow what you described. My comments ... | |
| Exterior Draintile | 7/26/2006 |
| Q: ..You help tremendously on my last question re: Sweating Block Foundation. I have a follow-up ... A: Sandra, If this were a new construction situation we would waterproof the wall before backfilling, ... | |
| mold on stairs | 7/24/2006 |
| Q: I am doing a whole house renovation. I have put in new pine stairs to the basement. The bottom end ... A: Dennis, You should have cut the stringer rise for the first riseer 1.5" less than all other risers ... | |
| Sweating Block Foundation | 7/23/2006 |
| Q: I have a block wall foundation. The problem is that only one wall is sweating. Could you help by ... A: Sandra, Sweating is either condensation formed when vapor comes in contact with a cold surface, or ... | |
| CLEANING WOOD SIDING | 7/1/2006 |
| Q: To start there is so much information on cleaning wood siding on the net,but, each is promoting ... A: Alan, The fact is that there are a lot of products on the market that are effective for cleaning ... | |
| Deck vs siding stains | 6/27/2006 |
| Q: We are trying to make a determination on what to use to stain rails and post on a new (year old) ... A: Gerald, First, let's address the reasons for applying a finish to pressure treated wood. They are: ... | |
| Staining | 6/23/2006 |
| Q: I have just finished rebuilding an outdoor wooden swing set. The structure was originally built 5-7 ... A: Barry, You sould clean the wood before staining, both the new and the old. If you pressure wash ... | |
| shower wall seal | 6/23/2006 |
| Q: Going to put up cement board. Can just a cement sealer (like you use to coat basement blocks for ... A: Julie, No, you can not leave the cement board exposed to the water, it will deteriorate over time ... | |
| Log Cabin Retrofit | 6/9/2006 |
| Q: I am upgrading a log cabin (w/logs milled on three sides)with electricity. What tool/s do you ... A: Rich, You can cut out electrical boxes several ways. An old fashioned chisel and hammer will do ... | |
| mold removal | 6/7/2006 |
| Q: We have a cottage that was badly insulated and we discovered mold under the wood ceiling... we ... A: Cindy, The simplest and cheapest way to remove mold is with household bleach, mixed 1/3 bleach 2/3 ... | |
| Staining antique furniture | 5/29/2006 |
| Q: I bought a piece of furniture. I was told it was old and had been refinished. Wood type is "mango ... A: Nelia, I am not a furniture expert, but I can tell you about two products I have used on ... | |
| Basement waterproofing | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: I m going to waterproof my basement, which is partially in a ground, leaks only in case of havy ... A: Boris, First you should locate a concrete/masonry supply house. You might find them in the Yellow ... | |
| where do I begin??? | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: first i need to tell you the log cabin i need to ask your help about is in texas. west texas. the ... A: Rae, If I could find the time to finish my book on how to maintain log homes, I'd simply send you a ... | |
| Atrium door refinishing | 4/29/2006 |
| Q: I have these atrium doors that lead out onto my deck. Over the winter, there's some evidence of ... A: Charles, For small volume jobs where the wood is damaged and unsound and needs to firmed up before ... | |
| wood beam (header) on brick wall after demolition | 4/25/2006 |
| Q: I need to expand my kitchen by opening it up to the adjacent room. There is a brick wall between ... A: Roger, I can't answer your question without more information. I need to know what is the wall in ... | |
| Log Home vs Vinyl Siding | 4/1/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Kroll, We currently have a log home, built in 1988. We are currently in legal matters due to ... A: Joanne, I have to start by saying why would you want to put vinyl siding on the home? All it ... | |
| moisture in yhe attic | 2/10/2006 |
| Q: I live in northeast. recently replaced the roof, in June, however I just noticed shingles have ... A: Mike, There are many details necessary to give a clear statement as to the problem and solution, ... | |
| gaps in porch | 12/14/2005 |
| Q: need a temp, to hold thru the winter.the gaps in the porch r about 3/4inch. which is causing a ... A: John, I can't picture what you are describing. If you have gaps you can temporarily fill them with ... | |
| strand sound in home | 11/18/2005 |
| Q: Our home is a conventional house. The problem started after using the heated air. So it sound more ... A: Jun, A P.E. is a professional engineer. Although they are trained and certified in structural ... | |
| windows | 11/7/2005 |
| Q: I have thermal windows some have fog in between the glass is there a way remove the fog. Thanks ... A: Dino, If moisture has entered the space between the glass the seal has been broken. The glass ... | |
| second story addition | 10/27/2005 |
| Q: I am looking for information and advice on adding a second story to our ranch home. The house was ... A: Bill, This too broad a question to answer usefully. I can give you some ideas that might be ... | |
| Home Fixing | 10/17/2005 |
| Q: I am a journalism student at Sacramento State University. I have an article - that is open to ... A: Jimmy, I'm sorry I can't really help with the generic questions, because the answers would be so ... | |
| Sealing Knotholes | 9/8/2005 |
| Q: What is the best way to seal knot hole in my Pan Abode cedar log home A: Michael, We normally fill small voids with a product called E-Wood. If the void is unsound (loose ... | |
| basement | 8/19/2005 |
| Q: i hope you can help me or put me in the right direction. How do you get rid of musty smell on the ... A: Nino, Your question is so broad I have no clue where to begin. A musty smell can come from so many ... | |
| CEDAR SIDING FINISH | 8/12/2005 |
| Q: I am about to install cedar siding to a small addition to my home. My plan is to apply boiled ... A: John, I am not a fan of linseed oil. There are too many circumstances were the oil can leech out ... | |
| Waterproofing | 7/22/2005 |
| Q: I have purchased a camp on a lake in Vermont. There is a lot of moisture under the camp. The camp ... A: Robert, The vapor barrier by itself will eliminate a great deal of moisture laden vapors from ... | |
| Tinted waterseal | 6/30/2005 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help. My mother just put waterseal on the wraparound deck at her house in North ... A: Tracy, The only practical thing you can do is use a stripper. Being such a recent application no ... | |
| Solid hard wood floors. | 5/9/2005 |
| Q: Kroll, I really like the solid hard wood planks compared to the engineered. Some companies said ... A: Phyllis, You can lay hard wood floors on concrete. Here's how we do it. First we use a liquid ... | |
| Deck stain | 5/9/2005 |
| Q: I stripped and pressure washed a deck this past weekend and am looking for a quality deck stain ... A: Scott, In our preservation and restoration business and included in our log packages we use ... | |
| Black color on subflooring. | 5/2/2005 |
| Q: Len, 2 years ago I put a new edition on my house. During the remodeling (new edition) I had some ... A: Jim, Undoubtedly it is fungus (mold). If the subfloor shows no signs of rot I would simply wash it ... | |
| Cleaning Deck | 5/1/2005 |
| Q: I have a pressured treated deck but am stymied right now as how to get it back to the original wood ... A: Normally, all we do to clean decks is pressure wash. All of our pressure washers are 3000 psi or ... | |
| Log home door replacement | 4/29/2005 |
| Q: My house was built in 1975, complete with "amber" everything! I'm trying to replace the door & side ... A: Leslee, First, a door frame should never be load bearing. You didn't tell me if the door is in a ... | |
| moisture in double pane windows | 4/22/2005 |
| Q: Is there any way of removing moisture trapped between the panes of a double pane sliding door? Can a ... A: Steve, I know of no way to do this in the field. I would simply buy a new glass unit. Replacement ... | |
| Some minor repair work estimates | 4/10/2005 |
| Q: I am going to purchase a 1996 built home. I did an inspection myself and noted a few repair work to ... A: KD, Without actually seeing the repair items it is virtually impossible to estimate cost to repair. ... | |
| steps to basement | 3/15/2005 |
| Q: len, we are building a new house on a slope so we surprisingly got a partial basement because of the ... A: Gail, The rules for stairways are quite specific, detailed and complex. The relatively new ... | |
| mildew | 1/24/2005 |
| Q: I don,t have a log home but you still might be able to help me . I have mildew growing on all my ... A: Bob, I could spend a lot of time discussing all of the ins and outs of vapor, condensation, ... | |
| Staining treated wood | 1/9/2005 |
| Q: My question doesn't involve log homes, but it does have to do with staining wood, which you listed ... A: Gary, You didn't say what stain is on the cedar house. My first suggestion is to find out if the ... | |
| Ceiling mold? | 12/4/2004 |
| Q: We had a leaky flat roof that is being repaired. I am noticing a bit of mold at the ceiling/wall ... A: Gavin, When a roof leaks and the result is visible water problems inside the living space it is ... | |
| varnish on woodwork | 12/2/2004 |
| Q: We recently moved into a 20 year old house. It hadn't been lived in for the summer or winter. Now ... A: Emma, I would have no idea what caused the problem; it could be any number of chemicals. However, ... | |
| CLEANING | 11/26/2004 |
| Q: It needs work and I'm going to have an inspector come out. My question is about Mold. What is the ... A: Angie, The best cleaning products depend on where the mold is. Different substrates require ... | |
| System | 11/3/2004 |
| Q: What is the best log cabin building system? Thank you, Randy A: Randy, As you probably know there are many log building systems in existence. Each has strong ... | |
| insulation | 10/23/2004 |
| Q: I have an A Frame configuration home, 12/15 pitch roof with 2 x 10 rafters. At the top of a vaulted ... A: Bob, If you saw the worksheet used to calcullate the thermal performance of a house you would note ... | |
| insulation | 10/23/2004 |
| Q: I have an A Frame configuration home, 12/15 pitch roof with 2 x 10 rafters. At the top of a vaulted ... A: Bob, You didn't tell me where you live; that would help in determining the practicality of ... | |
| WINDOW UPGRADE | 10/15/2004 |
| Q: SHOULD I CONDIDER INTERIOR STORM WINDOWS MADE OF GLASS OR PLASTIC? I LIVE IN COLD CENTRAL NEW YORK ... A: Lew, On the surface this seems to be a purely altruistic decision, if you do not live in the ... | |
| Steps from house to patio | 9/16/2004 |
| Q: How big does the "base" step need to be? The step you step out onto from the house. And does it have ... A: Soren, The first step below the door sill needs to be 5 11/16" below the door sill; the next step ... | |
| Steps from house to patio | 9/13/2004 |
| Q: I'm in need of some stems from a new installed Patio Door on to my patio. The bottom of the door is ... A: Soren, Since the steps will be outside they should be built from pressure treated lumber. Most ... | |
| cleaning fireplce stones | 9/9/2004 |
| Q: what is a good cleaner for the stones on a floor to ceiling fireplace,just the stones facing in the ... A: Jim, The only specific product I know of for cleaning brick, stone, etc. is muriatic acid. Start ... | |
| Need your opinion on a product | 9/6/2004 |
| Q: I'am wanting to buy a commercial type electric "Paint Sprayer" that you use with a 5 gallon pale of ... A: Dino, First, don't buy new; search out the sprayer repair shops in your locale. Most of them sell ... | |
| mold | 6/2/2004 |
| Q: Would a professional mold remediation expert have equipment to detect mold within a wall or ceiling ... A: Deana, It sounds like the source is the lack of venting and shower/bath vapors are condensing on ... | |
| mold | 6/2/2004 |
| Q: Do you have any experience curbing mold infestations? I am considering buying a "fixer upper" but ... A: Deana, If mold is visible on walls, ceilings or floors it may be surface only, or it may be within ... | |
| Wood basement vs. poured concrete | 6/1/2004 |
| Q: Len, I read with great interest your reply related to all wood vs. superior walls foundations. We ... A: Susan, This is tough! I have a history concerning arsenic, so you should know I am biased. This ... | |
| Trusses | 5/13/2004 |
| Q: I am going to replace my roof. I have a 3 1/2x12 pitch now with w-trusses on 24" centers, I'm ... A: Don, Let's not bog down in the intricacies of structural engineering. Go back to the point I made ... | |
| Noisy Door | 4/19/2004 |
| Q: I am living in a house and can hear my roomate opening and closing the bedroom and bathroom doors. ... A: If oil, grease, or graphite don't work then I would pull the hinge pins out, remove the door from ... | |
| log home finishing and staining | 4/9/2004 |
| Q: Len.. My small log chalet home 24 x 36 in upstate ny is almost ready for staining and finishing. A ... A: Bob, I can't answer you directly because you didn't give me enough info be definitive. Here's some ... | |
| Cleaning a wooden exterior deck and stair | 4/1/2004 |
| Q: The appearance of my deck and staircase has deteriorated because I have neglected it for a couple of ... A: Art, The best way to clean a pressure treated deck is to use a good cleaning agent and pressure ... | |
| Log Replacement | 3/29/2004 |
| Q: I'm in the process of buying a log cabin that has several tiers of very rotted logs (non repairable) ... A: Rob, I can help you with the process of replacing rotted logs. I can also help you with the ... | |
| I want to construct a hard... | 3/26/2004 |
| Q: I want to construct a hard standing driveway outside my house. It currently has a concrete drive to ... A: Tim, I'm not sure I fully understand your question. You said there is currently a concrete ... | |
| question on log homes | 3/25/2004 |
| Q: I have several home improvement website I market heavily on the internet. I'm looking to expand the ... A: Damion, I would be interested. I own and operate three companies. Brentwood Log Homes which is a ... | |
| basements | 3/10/2004 |
| Q: What do you think of precast walls by superior walls ? Do you think their is a better basement for ... A: Although I haven't used a Superior wall yet, I am waiting for the first opportunity. I am aware of ... | |
| Preserving cypres log home | 2/17/2004 |
| Q: We have a 2 story home made of cypress logs that is 20 yrs old. The exterior looks like it has ... A: Betsy, The process to restore the exterior of your log home is the same regardless of the species ... | |
| Caulking | 2/11/2004 |
| Q: I had some remodeling done and in the bathroom the vanity top sits away from the wall about one-half ... A: Bob, Depending in how large the gap is and how it varies in width from one end to the other you can ... | |
| insulation | 2/10/2004 |
| Q: I am renovating a 30year old home. When I pull down the walls the old insullation is in good shape, ... A: Stan, I would pull out the old and replace it with new; at only about $0.30 per square foot don't ... | |
Home Improvement--General
Answers by Expert:
Len Kroll
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can provide advice on the proper design, construction, maintenance, restoration, preservation, cleaning and waterproofing of log homes. Questions concerning proper cleaning, sealing, staining and waterproofing are within my area of expertise. My expertise includes new construction and existing log structures. Chinking application or restoration, log replacement and repair are also in my area of expertise.
Experience
Past/Present Clients
References on request
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