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Q & A
Q: Our kitchen needs updating. What are the most popular features in today's kitchens?
Kitchen transformations are exciting. Kitchens have become a status symbol and the cabinets set the theme of the kitchen and sometimes the overall look of the home. One of the most popular trends in kitchens today is to use different wood species. That choice does not need to be tied to the type of woodwork in the rest of your house. It's whatever will maintain a continuous and harmonious look with the rest of the house. Richer, warmer, darker woods are a trend with an increased preference for spice tone maples. The list of color options doesn't end with natural wood. Glazing - overlaying contrasting color stain on a base finish have jumped to the forefront. This gives depth and personality to your cabinets. You may want to use that process as an accent element - making one piece of your cabinetry such as a hutch stand out as a "piece of fine furniture". Staggering cabinet heights is becoming more popular and gives your kitchen its own personality. Another trend in today's kitchens is the use of more architectural detail in the cabinetry, such as crown moldings, railings or even wood appliqués. Built-ins can range from "appliance garages" that hide aging toasters behind pull down doors to tilt-out sink bay drawers perfect for stashing sponges and scrubbers. Spice racks built inside cabinets allow easy access to small jars and their labels. Topping the list for the most-wanted built-ins are trash bins, for invisibility where you want it most.
Q: We built our house 5 years ago. When the weather starts to warm and humidity rises, our garage floor sweats excessively. Is there anything we can do to stop this?
The dampness may be caused by the original preparation of the floor, a lack of drainage, a lack of crushed stone, or a vapor barrier. Until the floor warms to the ambient temperature the use of a fan may help a great deal.
Q: I'm retired and have lived in our country home for over 40 years. We have put a lot of ourselves into it and want to stay. Our home is situated so we must enter on the lower level and walk up stairs to the main living area. Arthritis is making it harder to climb the stairs, carry in groceries, etc. We are forced to make a decision either to move to a one level townhouse or to make our home more accessible as we age. What can we do?
It is hard to overstate the emotional and psychological importance of the ability to remain in your home where a lifetime of memory moments have been created. The most comprehensive solution to multiple level access concerns can most often be remedied by an elevator. The issue of location can best be solved with an onsite assessment in order to define all of the issues that bear on the installation. Oftentimes the least intrusive space is in the garage which may require adding an additional garage bay, so that garage space for cars, etc is not compromised. This also minimizes the invasiveness into your existing home.
Q: After the towel bar in my bathroom had become loose, I attempted to tighten the screws but found that the large drywall plugs had created dime-sized holes. How do I repair the holes in a manner that will allow me to re-hang the bar in the same spot?
The best way is to cut out the drywall and install backing between the studs. Repair the drywall, paint, and then re-attach through to the backing.
Q: My house is about 15 years old and some of my hardwood floors are really starting to squeak, are there any easy and inexpensive ways to fix them?
An effective way to silence your floors is with a cleverly designed piece of hardware called the Squeak-Ender. It consists of a threaded rod attached to a flat mounting plate and a steel bracket fitted with a squared-off hook on one end. Installation is done from below the floor and is pretty easy.
Screw the mounting plate to the underside of the subfloor with the four screws provided. Position it directly under the squeaky spot. Slide the bracket over the threaded rod and hook it onto the joist. Spin a nut onto the rod, then tighten it with a wrench until the subfloor is pulled down snug against the joist.
Q: My pipes groan every time that I flush the toilet. Why do they do this and how should I go about fixing them?
It seems that there may be a venting problem or clogged drain pipe. If the noise is coming from the toilet itself, it may need to be seen by a plumbing professional. In any case, groaning noises are not normal and it is imperative that they be checked out in order to prevent any future damage.
Q: Recently I had a small oil leak that left a stain ion my garage floor. Can you recommend safe a solution for removing the oil stain?
Kitty litter is an excellent grease and oil absorber. Be sure to use a kitty litter that contains an absorbent clay (and deodorizer) as this will absorb the oil and cause it to clump up. Pour the fresh litter on your stain and work it into the stain with a broom. Allow the litter to stay on the oil over night. Next, be sure to sweep up all of the litter and dispose of it properly. Remember that the litter should be considered flammable so leave it outside - at a safe distance from your house until you are ready to dispose of it in the proper manner.
Q: Should I consider an air purification system?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental risks to public health. Lung-damaging indoor pollutants may include house dust, pollen and pet dander particles, and tobacco smoke, fumes released by chemical-based cleaners or gases produced by synthetic building materials. Health risks from exposure to indoor air pollution may include headache, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. While air purification cannot solve all indoor air pollution problems, the technique is an important part of the EPA's recommended strategy for improving indoor air quality.
Q: What regular or annual maintenance should be done on a garage door with the eye or beam system?
Maintenance on a door and operator is recommended twice a year under normal operating conditions, we recommend in the spring and again in the fall. You should lubricate with a light 10 weight oil, WD-40, LPS II, or similar product. You should lubricate the rollers, hinges, springs, and bearings of the door and the chains, trolley slider, and sprockets of the electric operator. You could also check the cables on your door to make sure they are smooth and not bumpy or frayed. (If bumpy the cable could be breaking internally and if frayed it could break completely and allow the door to jamb in the opening or fall, damaging the door, or anything under the door.)
Q: What is the best way to repair a squeaky hardwood floor board?
Wood floors usually squeak when a board becomes loose and rubs against another board or subfloor. Squeaks are easiest to fix if you can get at them from under the floor - from a basement or crawl space, for example. Figure out what element of the floor is squeaking by asking someone to walk on it while you watch for movement from below. If there is a gap between a joist and the subflooring, drive a glue-coated shingle or shim between the joist and subfloor. If the joist is sagging and the subfloor is flat, cut a piece off of a 2-by-4 to extend 12 inches beyond the gap on either side. Nail it to one side of the joist. For squeaks coming from between joists, re-nail any loose planks. Finished flooring that does not fit flush with the subfloor can be tightened from below. Drive screws through the two from below with washers to ensure that the screws will not be pulled into the subfloor. When you cannot access flooring from below, nail finished flooring to the subfloor, using ring-shank flooring nails at an angle. Drill angled pilot holes first so that the wood does not split. Fill any visible holes above the nails with wood putty or wood plugs made for the job.
Q: How can I remove a scratch from our hardwood floor?
Using a "Touch-up Kit" for urethane finishes as supplied by the hardwood manufacturer can repair scratches in hardwood. "Touch-up Kits" do have their limitations; more severe scratches may require the entire board to be replaced. If there are numerous scratches throughout the floor, a polyurethane top dressing could be applied over the entire floor. This process is similar to that of waxing a sheet vinyl floor...again, this may have limitations for hardwood that has severe damage. A full sand and refinish may be the only answer.
Q: All of the ceiling fans in my house wobble at higher speeds. They did not do this previously. Although they don't appear to be worsening significantly, they are certainly not getting better either. Do you have any idea how I can correct this problem or keep it from getting worse?
Most ceiling fans are not balanced at the factory and will wobble at higher RPM. Much like a car tire, you'll only notice it at higher speeds. There are balancing weight kits available to correct the problem. These kits should be available at your local lighting or home improvement store.
Q: Help! I'm having trouble with the commode flushing. The bowl water level is high and I have to use a plunger ever time we flush the commode.
If you have other toilets in the house that are not experiencing the same problem, then the problem is likely with that particular toilet. If the toilet is older than 10 years old, there could be lime build-up in the passageway, restricting the flow of water, or there could be an object (such as a child's toy, bottle cap, toothbrush, etc.) lodged in the trap of the toilet. In order to remove an object from a toilet it usually has to be taken out and turned upside down in order to get access to the obstruction. If the problem came on suddenly, it's probably an object in the toilet. If the problem came on slowly, it is more likely lime build-up.
Q: My master bathroom smells awful. I think it's the drains in the sink and shower. Is there something I can pour into the drains to solve this problem?
Often hair build-up can harbor bacteria, producing a foul odor. There are enzymes that can be poured into the drain, but removal of the build-up would be quicker. Another possible cause for the odor is dry traps in the shower and sink. If there is a ventilation problem in the plumbing system, the traps could be siphoned dry by flushing a toilet, allowing sewer gasses to re-enter the living space. If either of these two options doesn't resolve your problem, a plumbing contractor or leak detection company could perform a smoke test to reveal any leaks in the plumbing system.
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