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What are some routine home maintenance tips? We just built a new home, and I'm wondering what routine things need to be done to keep everything working, well maintained, and happy. I can think of a lot of things, but the problem with any question like this is you never know what you don't know. So... I'm thinking a ... | clean and inspect gutters- check caulk around all window and door frames- retuck brick when needed- inspect roof yearly- clean chimney-
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Is there a reasonably priced dog door that allows dogs through but stops cats? I have two dogs and two cats. The cats are indoor only and I want the dogs to be able to come and go at will. I've researched online and found electronically keyed very expensive Star Trek style dog doors that are $500+, which is too price... | A weight sensitive mat might let you discriminate between the dogs and cats, but if both cats get on the mat at the same time, that might be enough to trigger the door (depends on how big your cats are). A search for "electronic dog door" and/or "selective dog door" turns up several products ranging from $80 to $200 (t... |
What is the best product for repairing expanding gaps in a brick wall? I am trying to do a structural repair to a brick wall that has some large gaps - 1-3" between some of the bricks due to some foundation movement over the last 300 years. The gaps are essentially vertical cracks where the mortar has broken loose and ... | If you want to fill a large crack you may want to start with a backer rod or material of some sort.
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What primer and paint should I used for a solid-core wooden front door? I recently purchased a new pre-hung exterior door for my house. We opted for a solid-core Douglas Fir instead of the fiberglass models as the wooden door was substantially cheaper. We want to paint it and I'm not sure what kind of primer and pain... | My favorite primer for wood doors is Bins Bullseye, pigmented shellac. I'd usually go for oil based paints.
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How do I install a new exterior GFI outlet? I have an interior outlet. I would like to place an exterior (GFI) outlet in approximately the same position on the outside wall. How should I do that? approx. loc. of desired outlet-| |-------------------------------------------------------- ... | Once you have fished the wire from inside the interior box to the exterior, made your interior electrical connections and secured the cable inside, caulk the exterior hole around the wire with silicon. I saw somewhere that you should use same wire as is currently in use (same gauge).
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Should I attach the fence post(s) where my fence meets my house? How do I do it? I'm going to be building a 6 foot tall cedar privacy fence in the spring (with pressure-treated posts) and need to determine what to do with the two posts that meet the side of my house. In order to ensure that my 15 lb dog can't get thro... | Don't attach them to the house.
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Why can I see roller marks after I painted? I just painted a wall and now that it is dry I can see roller marks. Not ridge lines where I got too much paint, but it looks like two different shades of the same color. What did I do to cause it and how can I prevent it? <Q> The later strokes have less paint, so you're se... | Most likely, you tried to cover too much area between dunks of the roller in the paint.
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Good technique for squaring-up hardwood edges? I'm building a small shelf for organising my desk, using sections of 42mm*19mm hardwood. I've cut the pieces to appropriate length using a hand saw, allowing some tolerance for the kerf. Now I'd like to ensure the cut ends are square. Using a sanding block with some garne... | Another technique you could use in the absence of the proper power tools would be to clamp a guide board to your work piece perfectly square and use it as a guide for you hand saw. Cutting the ends square really should be done in the cutting process, not the sanding stage.
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Can a mix of receptacles and light fixtures be installed on a single circuit? A while ago we had some renovations done in our house. After the electrician was done, we realized we now had one light switch in our kitchen that was no longer connected to anything. It is in a 2-gang box. The other switch in that box still ... | If there is only one cable entering the box and both the black and white conductors are connected to the switch(es), then the voltage feed is coming through the light fixture. The biggest concern is that if you plug in a heavy enough load, your lights might dim due to the in-rush current. You would be well advised to c... |
How can I safely get rid of fire ant mounds in my backyard? I've got around 8-10 fire ant mounds in my backyard, and a puppy that has recently discovered a love for digging in them. We haven't let her out in the backyard unsupervised for the past week since the weather started warming up and the ants are now active. I... | Also having somebody else mess with the ants keeps you safely away from angry fire ants. I'm a big fan of the Ortho Orthene .
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Are cracks on exterior walls serious and can I fix them myself? I recently noticed some mostly-vertical cracks present on some exterior walls. In case it is relevant, this is a South Florida home built in the mid 50s. The downstairs walls are CBS ( Concrete Block Structure ) and the upstairs bedroom/bathroom walls ar... | Small cracks in the mortar of Block walls is not uncommon, however the placement of the cracks is a very important clue as to whether or not it is a structural concern. Obviously, as a contractor, I'd encourage you to seek a professional opinion. However settling could be a reason and also not a major concern.
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How can I quiet a noisy downspout? Possible Duplicate: How do I stop the dripping noise from my gutters? I have metal downspouts that come down from by gutters. One of them happens to be right by my bedroom window. When the rain is just right this downspout will often make an extremely loud pinging sound when wa... | Replace the downspout with a decorative downspout chain. So my solution is to kill the sound!
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How do I rust-proof a metal pole? I have a steel pole holding up part of my house. It is bolted to concrete footings. I am about to build a deck around but would like to rust-proof the bottom before I do this to prevent any future issues. Given that the bottom 30cm will not be visible, what is the best way I can ensu... | As far as rust proofing the steel pipe, clean the metal very well. I would coat the bottom part of the pole with roofing tar, similar to what can be done when setting wooden posts for decks.
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Can I use a 6 foot long table as the base for a stand up desk? I am looking to create my own cheap stand up desk. My current idea is to take one of the cheap $40 6 foot tables where the legs fold up and buy 4 plastic crates to put on the corners of the desk which will hold a piece of wood the same size as the desk or ... | Since the shelves can be raised/lowered to any height, the monitor can be raised so that the top 1/2 of the screen is at eye level (I believe that's the favored ergo-spot), and another shelf can hold the keyboard so that fingers & wrist are parallel to elbows when typing.
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How do I keep my carpet edges from curling upwards? A brand new rug that was put in under the coffee table has one corner that seems to keep lifting up and people keep stumbling on it. How do I fix this? <Q> They make a product called Rug-Gripper that is specifically designed to hold a throw rug down. <A> I'm not su... | As a last option, if the rug is thick enough, you might be able to thread some wire into the edge of it around the corner and then bend the rug (and wire) flat.
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How long will a treated post last in the ground? The power company says I can put my permanent service entrance on a 6" x 6" pressure treated post. My friend suggested I consider a metal post sunk in concrete, for greater longevity. How long should I expect a treated post to last in the ground? Here's the diagram the... | If you find the RV posts I mentioned earlier, they are steel, treated and when put in concrete will last 25 years or more. I know 100% that a spruce timber post will not exceed 4 years before collapsing with rot once buried in the ground.
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Is having a window in a room that is below grade a requirement? This would be in Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County. I vaguely remember hearing somewhere that rooms that are below grade are required to have a full size window in them or they can't be considered part of the square footage calculation or are a safety haz... | There are also requirements for egress in that you should have two ways to get out of any "living space" room, usually satisfied by a door and a window.
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How do I fix a sinkhole in my backyard? I have a sinkhole in my backyard along the fence line which began expanding during the last few months. There's a slight depression in the ground about 6' in diameter centered around one of the fence posts which is set in concrete. The fence post at the center of the hole is abou... | Depending on the composition of the fill used, you might be able to get away with just dumping earth or sand into the hole, but it sounds like a large area - which means that digging it up, removing the rotting organic material, and replacing it with fresh fill is really the only way to permanently fix it.
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How do I clean stainless steel? We have just finished building a house and we have some small stains on a stainless steel door handle. I was wondering what was the best way to remove them? Unfortunately I'm not sure what's caused them. They appear as small "smudges" along the handle. <Q> Use some Flitz . <S> I use... | So I took the WD40 Residue off with Dawn and water - wiped with a clean towel and all the prints are gone and the WD40 residue as well.
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How do I cut a channel and plaster television cable work in a brick chimney? I am buying a new TV, which I intend to mount on the wall. The wall is a brick chimney breast, early 1900's house. I have heard mentioned on a few sites the idea of cutting a channel, and plastering the cable work in within some sort of trunk... | Perhaps a better way would be to drill a single 1/4" hole through the brick into the wall cavity and run the cable thru the wall.
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What are the pros and cons of engineered hardwood? Are there any downsides to engineered hardwood? I'm looking to install hardwood in dining room and kitchen areas. <Q> Generally speaking, the only downside is that you can typically only refinish (sand down and re-stain) <S> engineered hardwood two or three times, beca... | With cheap engineered hardwood there are likely to be other problems (just like with cheap laminate or even real hardwood) including not using a good quality base, which will warp or absorb moisture, poor manufacturing quality causing the top layer to come off at the ends, or the tongue-and-groove not to fit together n... |
Can I do anything with this gas fireplace? No gas service When I bought my house (it was bank owned and empty for 2 years), the home inspector said that we had a gas fireplace insert, and not a "real" wood burning fireplace. We do not have gas service in this neighborhood, nor could we get it if we wanted it, so there ... | Get a good chimney cleaning company that also inspects flues to clean it well first and run a camera down the length looking for any problems that might need attention and assure you it is safe for a wood fire.
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How to get rid of a burned coal smell that's coming to my flat? I live in a semi-urban area, where most surrounding houses use charcoal or black coal to heat them. Since my flat is on the top floor (2nd), the outside chimneys are not that much above my roof and, in consequence, during the few months of winter, dependin... | You need a high volume of air coming in; basically, you want enough air being pushed into the room that it's going out any other opening, so you won't have any air coming in that's not going through the filter. I can't answer the bit about plants, but based on work I've done constructing clean rooms (not professional, ... |
How soon can I use my shower that I recently grouted and tiled? Should it cure first? We have been retiling my tub surround area and finished grouting the tile last night. I used non-sanded PolyBlend grout (sold at Home Depot) and added a bottle of Grout Boost Advanced Pro . Everything went okay, especially considerin... | We have only ever let our grout cure 24 hours.
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Is there an easy way to remove silicone sealant? Is there an easy way to remove silicone sealant? Having had mouldy sealant have replaced with MicroBan to stop the mould coming back but is there any tips on getting the stuff off for next time? My best tool seemed to be a sharp chisel. <Q> I've used a craft knife to ... | A chisel would work, but chisels are supposed to be very sharp, so I'd be very careful not to scratch whatever surface the caulk is applied to.
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Does wifi have any effect on one's health? Does wifi have any effect on health in home? <Q> Compared to holding a mobile phone against your head, the exposure levels are very low. <S> So, even if non-ionizing radiation is found to be a health concern in the future (current studies show no reason for concern), wifi is... | If you are concerned, locate your router somewhere other than directly next to a desk. Beyond a doubt not even possible.
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How can I fix electrical outlets that don't "hold" plugs that are plugged in to them? In short, most of the outlets in my house have one working receptacle and one that any cord plugged in will immediately slip out of. Some of my outlets don't have any working receptacles (I hope I'm using the right terminology here). ... | You will need to replace them (or get an electrician to replace them). If the plugs aren't holding in the sockets then the sockets are potentially dangerous. Get a three pronged wiring tester and test the wiring BEFORE removing the outlets. Always check both outlets before opening. When buying receptacles, ask the hard... |
How do cement boards and Kerdi boards for wall tile compare? I came across an interesting product the other day, and thought it might be perfect for an upcoming project. I'm redoing the tile back splash in my kitchen and was planning on using cement board behind the tile, but now I'm not so sure. From what I've read ... | But the big upside to the Kedri-Board system is the weight.
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How can I fix a Moen faucet that is still leaking after replacing cartridge? I had a leaky Moen faucet (Moen 4600) so I removed the old cartridge and replaced it with a new brass replacement cartridge (model 1200.) Since replacing the cartridge I now have a leak from the valve stem, that leaks faster the more I open th... | In addition, with the original valve removed, I cleaned the inside of the housing with Lime-Away and a toothbrush so that it would be extra clean. Whenever we have had any problem with any Moen faucet that we purchased we just returned the faucet to Moen and they sent us a new one.
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What records should I make of underground infrastructure, before covering it up? We're putting utility services (water, electrical, sewer, telco) in trenches to and on my land. Before we bury everything, what records should I make? Maybe I should take some photographs or draw some maps. ( Accurate mapping is difficul... | Another possibility is to get GPS readings of the locations of the tracks. There are also some newer RFID-based tags you can get that specifically indicate types of cable/pipe (power, water, waste, gas, telephone, etc), and can be read by a special receiver.
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How far from the sink can we install the dishwasher without major remodel? We are buying an old house built in 1935. We do not want to do a major kitchen remodel but we would like to replace the old portable dishwasher (that you roll over to the sink and hookup) with a regular dishwasher. There is no spot next to the s... | You can most certainly find a place to make this connection in a basement. Most dishwashers tie into a sink trap so they are designed to pump only 18-20" high.
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cleats vs. staples for hardwood flooring I'm installing a new hardwood floor, and I'm thinking about using cleats rather than staples. Are there any advantages to using cleats over staples? <Q> Yes! <S> Cleats are pretty much the standard in hardwood flooring. <S> Typically, hardwood floors have 'tongue & groove' join... | You can probably use staples to lay down the backer board under the hardwood floor (if you're in a cold weather/windy area, this will help insulate the house by preventing airflow through the slots in the floorboard).
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How do you maintain good posture when working on things on the floor? Over the past few days I've been working on some aluminum frames which are fairly large and don't fit on any tables (without stuff piled on them) I have. Now, my back is starting to hurt from being hunched over for so long. (How) can I work on thin... | It might worth building custom work tables that would hold the work to a height where you do not have to bend over. Stretch forward, backwards, side-to-side, and twist both ways. Be gentle to yourself. Also, you can do some back-strengthening exercises (when you've recovered from this project) to get you ready for next... |
Are push in connectors up to code? Just came across a neat product at the local hardware store, but I wonder if they are up to code and safe to use. They are a wire nut that allows you to simply push the wires in, instead of twisting on a traditional wire nut. They cost slightly more, and you have to keep a wider var... | I know there are some types of butt connectors that are suitable for in-wall splicing of NM wires, but I don't know if the particular types you are looking at would be acceptable. I haven't found anything in the 2014 NEC that would make push-in connectors illegal to use as long as the manufacturer's instructions are fo... |
How can I clean calcium deposits off my mirror? I live in Denmark and water is containing high amounts of calcium so my bathroom mirror has all these white spots which are so hard to remove, any ideas for a dissolver or something? <Q> Here is a little known secret, don't tell anyone!!!! <S> "Bar Keepers Friend" powe... | Apply vinegar to a damp, clean cloth, or use a spray bottle to apply vinegar to the affected areas. Never try a used blade as any imperfections on the blade could/will scratch the mirror.
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Why is my AFCI breaker tripping and my surge protector clicking? I've really got two possibly related issues here. We have a basement office that we wired ourselves. Code required that we put in an AFCI breaker. From what I've read these can be pretty temperamental and that has been the case with us. The breaker will t... | You need to figure out why the power strip clicks. Another technique you can try to debug this is by swapping in a GFCI breaker, and see if that trips too.
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What would cause a clothes dryers thermal cutoff to keep tripping? I have Kenmore dryer model 110.96588210. For about 10 years it worked flawlessly. Then, its thermal cutoff started blowing in an unreasonable frequency. Since the hi-limit thermostat must be replaced as well when replacing the thermal cutoff, I now hav... | You need to clean the entire duct from dryer to outside vent.
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What is my drill hitting and not penetrating when I hang curtains? I'm living in an apartment. So far I've put up 2 sets of curtains and had the same troubles with both attempts. One set was over a sliding mirrored closet door (tacky!) and the other set was over a window. What's happening is there's something behind t... | If you're drilling within about an inch of a corner, then the drywaller may have put a corner bead there to protect it from damage.
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Standard height from floor to ceiling? Is there a standard height from floor to ceiling. I want to install some false ceiling (plaster board) ... I seem to remember there was a standard but i don't remember it Any help really appreciated <Q> Simple answer, If your community subscribes to the the national IRC buildin... | In the United States: Standard ceiling height is 8' 0". Most building codes consider a "habitable room" (such as a living room or bedroom) to only have the square footage that has an average height (from nominal top of floor to nominal bottom of ceiling) of at least 7' 0".
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How do I trace the cabling in a “Ring Main” I have a " ring main " with many sockets on it, it is clear that it has been extended over the years. How do I trace the cabling to. Check that it is a single ring That only one socket is on each spars That there are not any other issues. I am hoping for a testing meth... | if you have one outlet that you can be fairly certain is the first or last outlet on the ring, you can use that as your bridged outlet, then figuring out the order of the ring is as simple as sorting the list by resistance. I bought a decent book on house wiring with good diagrams and checked many website before attemp... |
What are Automatic Garage Door Options for a Garage with a Low Ceiling Clearance? I have a tuck under single car garage in my bungalow that currently has carriage doors that have seen better days. I would like to replace the carriage doors with an automatic (and insulated) door, however, everything I've seen seems to ... | you might consider a roll-up garage door.
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Repairing bubbling (blown) plaster on an interior wall I have no idea what kind of wall this is. Both my walls that are near radiators have this bubbling plaster look. I have read that painting with temperature differences may cause the bubbling (such as painting in the winter and then the heater is turned on). It was ... | If it's just the paint, and ALL layers of paint are pealing off as a whole, I'd say the issue is moisture.
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How to tell if your locks are bump proof? I was reading about lock "bumping" where burglars buy 'bump' keys and can open locks very quickly. I was also reading that some locks are bump proof (double chamber perhaps?). My question is: how can I tell, by looking at the locks currently on my door, if they are bump proof ... | Lever key mechanisms, and disk detainer mechanisms, for example, are BUMP-PROOF.
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Can a tub and shower share the same drain? Can a shower and tub share the same drain? <Q> Of course they can as long as you have proper drainage angle and double venting and traps. <S> If this is an installation of a new fixture, you need a permit and a master plumber to sign for the permit. <S> Get a plumber and d... | Yes, they will both be using the same drain pipe at somepoint inside or outside of your house.
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Converting from Oil to Gas heat. Any recommendations? I've received news that I'll need to get a new boiler. My wife and I want to take this opportunity to switch to natural gas from oil. I'm a technical guy, but I'm having trouble deciphering the power output of my current boiler to size a replacement. I'm looking fo... | instead of sizing your current boiler, i would instead have a heating professional visit your home and calculate the heating requirements of your home from scratch.
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Can I erect a barrier to keep water out of my garage? Within the last year, I have purchased an 80+ year-old house. The house has a sealed blacktop driveway that runs parallel to the house. The house has an integrated garage with swing-open (horizontally opening) doors. The garage floor is about 2-3 inches lower than t... | The only solution is to stop the water from getting in. Very helpful to get a good answer is to make an elevation drawing, showing the side view of the property and what slope there is.
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Storing riding lawnmower under deck I have a ceiling system under my deck so that no water gets to anything under there. I'd like to store my riding lawnmower under there. The surface of the ground isn't wet, but I wanted to put something down over the dirt, to park it on. I can't afford to put concrete in, but I wa... | Another good solution is to use a garage mat over the base to park heavy objects on. You could also use a clean "packing gravel" which is a very coarse sand used under concrete slabs etc.
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How can I improve the cold floor in my ground-floor unit? My home is a ground-floor unit in a condominium. The floor is really quite cold and I'd like to do something about that. I saw in another question the suggestion to use Platon. Would I be able to put laminate on top of that? Or is there something else I shoul... | The result was actually quite comfortable, even at sub-zero temperatures (in F). If you're not on slab, and there is an unheated crawlspace or basement below you, and your floor is a wood floor, the best option is to insulate from underneath (something presumably your landlord should be doing). The may electrrical heat... |
How do I paint a basement ceiling and heating pipes? What is the best way to paint a basement ceiling? Can I paint the copper baseboard heating pipes? Do I have to use special paint? <Q> Take a look at the other questions in the painting tag here for lots of good tips. <S> Definitely invest in an extension pole ... | Painting a ceiling is not that much different from painting any other surface.
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How can I repair scratches in engineered hardwood floors? I have two large dogs, of which one has nails that any woman would kill for, and the energy of a nuclear power plant. My home's primary living areas are all hardwood floors: kitchen, bath, living room, dining room, and staircases. I have an open floor plan. ... | If it was just a couple of scratches you might be able to sneak by with a filler, but not for a refinishing job in a larger area as you describe. You could use a non-slip underpad.
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What are some computer interfacing electric energy meters on the market? Does computer interfacing electric energy meters exist? With possibilities to get/log current power usage and monthly used kilowatt hours. With ethernet/rs232 etc interface. I am looking for this for European current 3phase, 230V. Looking for affo... | On top of the hardware, you'd have to write all the software for logging and viewing the data, or interface into the Google Powermeter API .
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Understanding water and sewer In my water bill (in U.S.), thereare two charges, one for waterconsumption and the other for sewerconsumption. I was wondering whatthe difference between water andsewer is? This month, our water and sewerhave the same amount of consumption.I was wondering if theirconsumptions are supposed... | So to answer question 2, it is possible in some locations to have a different amount of consumption depending on the rules of the water and sewage municipality.
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Has anyone ever used IdeaPaint? Someone sent me the link to IdeaPaint which appears to be a paint that turns any surface into a whiteboard. It looks pretty appealing, but I was wondering: Whether anyone here has ever used it and if so whether they are happy with it? What if I want my wall to be a magnetic whiteb... | After 14 months of fairly heavy use as a daily whiteboard in my home office, I can say that I'm quite impressed with this stuff and will never pay the ridiculous sums that others charge to buy real whiteboards.
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What is the best way to clean your clothes dryer exhaust? My dryer exhaust goes out of my laundry room, into my attic, and runs for about 15 feet before it gets outside. Over time the lent has built up quite a bit. What is the best way to clean this? The sections in the attic are connected via duct tape. If this isn't... | I believe some air duct cleaning companies also do dryer vent cleaning as well.
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Mild water damage on drywall from leaky roof We have a fairly new house (built in 1997). Cheap roof and we had a big windstorm a few years back that resulted in some lost shingles that I had patched -- no major problems. Recently we had a much more mild windstorm that stripped off some more shingles. I was lazy, didn't... | While you're there, check the insulation for blackening that would indicate mold is growing there, and if so, replace any damaged pieces. However, I would just take my 6" drywall knife (get a nice metal one), and scrape out anything that is bulging.
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Water level gets lower and lower in toilet The water level in the bowl of our toilet has slowly and steadily gotten lower over the last year or so. I replaced the flapper last year, could changing anything in the tank affect this? Or would that be looking at the wrong end, and I need to replace the wax seal? Any ideas... | The only possible reason for the water loss, and that if you're not getting any noticeable leakage, is improper venting, as described here .
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What is this mysterious odor from the kitchen sink and how do I fix it? The kitchen sink in our home has recently been producing an odd aroma - depending on the day, it's a mix of boiled eggs, sulphur, brackish water, or old food. What we have tried garbage disposal cleaner clorox ajax regular dish soap After a... | After a minor plumbing disaster a couple months ago, it was discovered that the drain from the garbage disposal to the main pipe was not installed properly - after it was replaced, the smells have completely disappeared. Throw some baking soda in it and turn it on.
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Why do I have two parallel gas pipes? I've got a water heater and a hot water radiator furnace sitting next to each other, both on gas. The strange thing is that there are two parallel gas lines feeding each one of these which come from across the basement but branch off from the same gas line. Why was there a need f... | Each appliance has a certain volume of gas per second that it needs to operate, but it usually works on a smaller pipe than the one that enters your home (most of the stuff in my house is on 3/4" pipe).
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Is there a standard height for wall mounting flatscreen TVs? Is there a standard height for wall mounting flatscreen TVs? <Q> Eye level <S> The center of the TV should optimally be lined up to your eyes. <S> In the kitchen, our TV is about 6 feet off the floor over the counter top because we do a lot of cooking / bak... | This will change based on the purpose of the TV. TVs is that it must be higher than the kids can reach, but not to high that it looks like you are looking up at the sky all the time.
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Should I have multiple cable runs for a room, or just one? My girlfriend is finishing up her basement and has set up a good layout for electrical outlets throughout the rooms (family room, bedroom, and office), but she's only accounted for a single coaxial cable run to each room for her ideal furniture arrangement. I ... | I finished my basement a few years ago and ran two coax, two ethernet, speaker and phone lines to each room. It doesn't mean that there will be that many in every room, but it allows that any given room should be able to accommodate most needs that way. " I have found from experience though that when you have a TV, Wii... |
Mowing a badly inclining lawn I've got a lawn with a rather steep drop that I'm finding difficult to mow. My wife thinks we should get a self-propelled push mower, but I don't think anything in a consumer range is going to be mighty enough to go up that hill. What are my options? Am I wrong to think a mower in the $... | If you can't hold the mower upright as you walk across the hill, then my only suggestion is to rig some kind of winch at the top of the hill, and slowly drop the down the hill, then winch it back up for the next pass.
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What good storage rack or furniture are there? What considerations should I have to build one? I'm thinking of buying a new furniture for my consoles. I've got a NES, Super Nes, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and probably a Wii in the future. I'm thinking of maybe having a carpenter make a custom furniture for my "entertai... | If you build your own, or have someone build one for you, I would suggest the following: Give yourself room for more consoles to add to your collection unless you plan to switch them out at some point Leave plenty of openings and space in the back for cables and possibly even some built-in cable management.
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What size posts do I need to use to build a wooden driveway gate? I have just built a 6 foot fence all the way around my property. To finish it offI need to build a driveway gate. The gate will be 15 feet wide and have two swing gate sections. I have used 4x4x8 foot posts buried approximately 26" and cemented. I was ... | I know that applies here tells me to use at least 6"x6" posts for wide gates concreted into a 3ft deep hole. You might get away with firmly bolting the two posts together, but I would be wary about compromising on the depth...
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How do I reduce how much the sun heats up a front room of my house? My office room is in the front of the house and facing south. It gets hot very fast during hot days (even in spring). It is a fairly small room and I have computers there attributing to heat. There's a small double pane window with cloth blinds. There'... | There are ones on the market that are UV blocking that will help cut down the heat in the room without affecting how much visible light comes through. Get an IR thermometer to check all your walls and various other heat sources. A good deciduous tree helps, but it will take a while for that to work.
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Should I seal my granite countertop? I recently redid my kitchen and brought new granite countertops. The company that did the installation was crappy and I had to put in my own supports and other odds and ends that I thought was standard for installation. I asked if the granite was sealed, and they said they didn’t kn... | To know whether your counter needs sealing, try to sprinkle some water on it and see if it beads up, if it doesn't, it time to seal your granite. Many stores sell granite sealers, usually the companies that sell granite have high quality things.
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What should I do with abandoned cinder blocks? I recently moved to my first home (with a modest yard). The previous owners left behind about 20 cinder blocks. I'd like to build something constructive with them in lieu of discarding them. Any suggestions? I was thinking about a BBQ smoker. Is that possible with cinder ... | You could build an outdoor fire pit.
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What is your top tip for painting? Simple really - add your best tips for painting (a room, that is). Ideally one tip per answer for ease of voting. <Q> Take off outlet face plates, unscrew light fixtures, etc. <S> Bag the light fixtures. <S> I've seen a lot of painted-over receptacles. <S> There's no reason to do t... | Make sure that the surface you are painting is clean and dry, free from any loose flakes of old paint. Tape over the outlets and switches. For a short break, wrap brushes and rollers in saran wrap, and squeeze it tight. Keep a damp rag in your pocket for the odd drop here and there. Instead of orienting to use the widt... |
How to prep existing floor for installation of self-adhesive vinyl flooring? Some quick background to preempt some discussion about quality, longevity, rental issues, etc.: I'm in a rental that is literally "anything goes". It's a long story, but suffice it to say if it does not require a building permit (or does but... | Get the floor clean, dust-free, and dry. Any loose old tiles, you have to glue them down or staple them with heavy duty staples. You can also use a mix of regular bleach, TSP, and water. Let me say first, that I don't condone doing work that requires permits without them, as it often leads to crappy quality or safety i... |
What is the best way to seal this old fireplace vent? I am doing some minor renovations to my basement with the drop ceiling and found that one of the geniuses that owned the house before me, used fibreglass ceiling tiles to seal off an old vent for a gas fireplace. Obviously this will not do. I'm thinking of building ... | If it's really not being used, I'd cover the vent itself in plastic from the inside wall (staple and caulk it to make it weather tight) or some other seal.
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Do I need an egress bedroom window if I have a walk-out exterior door? I have a basement with three hopper windows and a walk-out door. There's also a staircase that connects the basement with the upper (main) floor of the house. If I build a bedroom, do I need an egress window or is the basement walk-out door acting... | I would imagine if your door to the outside is in a different location than the stairway to the upstairs (main floor) you may be OK. We turned our attic into a bedroom and only had 1 exit (the main stairway).
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Why is my dishwasher causing the dishes to have an odor? I have a GE Profile Triton XL dishwasher and the dishes come out clean but have an odor to them, it's a metallic/sour smell. Any idea on the proper way to clean it? There is no built in clean cycle. There's no food trap either (as far as I can tell). <Q> Dishw... | One of the best ways eliminate the odor is, empty rack and run the dishwasher by using a normal cycle.
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Do I need to sand this unfinished table? I've gathered that the step immediately before staining a table is to sand it. However, I wonder how to tell when the table is smooth enough? Can I skip the sanding step? In my case I bought an unfinished pine table (new, not antique) which, to my touch, is rather smooth. Runn... | The amount of sanding required for a good looking finish you put on any wood depends on the type of finish.
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How can I get my sprinkler / home irrigation system to not ruin my car with water spots? I have a sprinkler system (i.e. irrigation system) at home. Occasionally I park my car too close and it gets hit with the water. This causes horrible water spots. I've seen that some do-it-yourself car washes have a "spot free rins... | More frequent car washes might be--a good coat of wax can help the water slide right off, rather than sticking and then drying in place.
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Should I buy a drill or an electric screwdriver? I wanted to buy a drill, but some friends suggest I buy an electric screwdriver instead. They say you can use an electric screwdriver more than a drill, but I'm still unsure which to buy. I think a drill would be more useful than an electric screwdriver. Which would be... | I would think that a drill is more useful since you can attach any type of bit to it , including all types of screw drivers (star, flat, philips, etc), actual drill bits of various sizes, and other miscellaneous attachments.
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How do I rehang a wooden door with worn screw holes? I have a wood door in one of my rooms where the top screws no longer hold the hinge to the wall because the screw holes have worn loose. I have tried slightly larger screws and filling with wood toothpicks, which usually lasts about a year. I would like a permanen... | I used the plastic wall plugs you'd normally use for brick or concrete walls, it worked perfectly, you need quite a small size so it fits into the existing hole, tap them in lightly with a hammer then screw hinge back on
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How to stop windows from sliding down? About 10 years ago I had all the windows in my apartment replaced. Four or five years later, when I would open them to insert a fan or an air conditioner, the top window would slide down 6-12 inches in a few of the windows. Is there anything that I can do to adjust the windows s... | Assuming the siding is wood, I have used wood hardener applied in small amounts, to the edges of the window and the length of the window track, with a q-tip.
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What is the best way to strip woodchip wallpaper? I spent a large proportion of a (glorious) Sunday stripping a relatively small area of woodchip wallpaper from my spare room in an ongoing war to banish the stuff from my house. I have a good steamer which is helping matters along, but due to five layers of paint and t... | I am stripping woodchip right now and I have found the best way is to soak, soak, soak.
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Wanting to make a frosted-glass dry erase whiteboard I want a frosted white glass dry erase board for my office. I can hardly find anybody who offers this without 'call us for prices'. I figured it can't be too difficult to make? Purchase sheet of glass (from where?) Cover the back with frosted spray paint or film ... | You can buy some glass at big box hardware stores.
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How do I remove the sink drain in this situation? I am replacing the faucets/drain in one of my bathrooms. I am trying to remove the drain, but I'm having a lot of trouble. I think it might be soldered on, but I'm not sure why it would be. What's the easiest method for removing the drain? (below sink) (above sink) ... | I got it off by lifting the flange+tailpiece up from below the sink, and then sliding channel lock pliers below the flange.
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Has anyone here ever rented a trencher? What was your experience? I need to dig a 2 feet deep trench, about 100 feet long. Has anyone used one of these trenchers? The first one in particular? http://rentalsunlimited.com/catalog/trenchers/trenchers.html What was your experience? Any alternatives? Does Home Depot o... | I rented a trencher at Home Depot that had a large wheel with teeth. A power trencher, or Ditch Witch, is a fairly easy machine to use.
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Building a raised wall for a pond We are looking to build a small pond (9'x18'x6'), but we want the edge to be raised up about 8". I am thinking about using CMUs ( Concrete Masonry Units ) which are 8x8x16. The entire pond will be lined with an EPDM pond liner. My question is that since some of the water will be pus... | You could also drive a rebar stake on the inside of each block against the side holding back the water.
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White solid drain pipe vs black flexible corrugated pipe for a french drain Which one is preferable if you have a straight line 2 feet deep trench in mostly clay soil? I'll put either one in a sock with gravel. There are some roots around the trench so I thought the solid pipe would be sturdier. Any comments on this... | Solid pipe would be fine for a floor drain etc, but by definition, a French drain is a continuous porous downhill drain.
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Any words of advice on dealing with termites? I have confirmed today that I have a termite infestation in my house. We found a recent tube build through the crack in the foundation and some termite activity outside.Any words of advice on treatment options? I already heard that the two major options are a liquid "perim... | Termite bait stations are used more as a preventative measure, or for termite monitoring - to see if there's a problem.
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What wood to build a bath-tub tray? I'm new to wood working and I want to build my wife a bathtub tray that can hold a laptop (for Hulu watching) and a glass. It doesn't need to hold anything else really. But I don't know what type of wood to use for this. What wood would be good?! <Q> I would suggest using a hardwo... | Another option would be any tight-grain, dimensionally stable hardwood, like cherry or birch, and finish with a marine-grade urethane spar varnish.
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What to do with small patch of wallpaper in middle of wall? I have a patch of wallpaper in the middle of a wall I am trying to paint. Its only about 18 inches tall and 6 inches wide. It doesn't seem to want to come off, I tried using a razor blade to take it off, but its on there too good. I believe it to be very o... | Try just taking a sponge of warm water and rubbing it over the patch and then scrapping it off. Even if you can't get the backing layer off the wall you should be able to get the top layer off.
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Why are there bubbles in my bathroom toilet and sink? I have had a lot of really odd things happen in my bathroom this weekend and I want to make sure it is nothing too serious. Ok so when I was taking a shower I heard the toilet bubble up. A few minutes later I noticed that my shower drain was going slower than norma... | Sounds like you have a clog in the drain system downstream of your bathroom, or an obstruction in your drain vents, or both.
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Why are homes wired using solid wire rather than stranded? If stranded wire can carry more power for a given wire gauge, why are homes typically wired using solid? If solid wire is less expensive to make, that provides a compelling reason why solid is used, but if an electrician or homeowner wanted to use stranded, is... | At a given wire gauge, stranded is going to be larger than solid wire
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Can porcelain tiles be installed over ceramic tiles? We have a large portion of our house with ceramic flooring which is now looking very old fashioned. It has large grout lines (3/8 inch) which are white and almost impossible to keep clean. We do not want to have the entire floor taken up and replaced and were wonde... | If the ceramic is curved or bulges in the middle, you may crack the tiles you put over it, when you add weight to them. Invest in a good setting material (superflex Thinset).
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Repairing a hole in a door I now have a wonderful hole in a bathroom door, as a result of door-stop not being installed in the proper place, and the door being shoved up against a towel rail (picture attached). As can be seen, this door is of the cheap variety and consists of plywood (right name?) front and back. My ... | You can try something similar to the fix for a drywall hole, just with glue instead of screws due to how thin the material is: Cleanup and smooth the opening and make a replacement piece that fits the hole.
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How can I seal a below-grade window permanently? I purchased my home a couple of years ago and this year I am going to replace the deck and build a fence. The deck was in terrible condition so I completely took it down. To my surprise I found 2 below grade windows under my deck that had been dry walled over on the in... | In a similar situation, I cut a piece of flashing to the size of the window opening, then used metal screws to attach it to the (also metal) window frame. I thought about filling in the opening with concrete afterwards but never bothered. It's really easy to apply, is airtight as long as you apply it properly
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Is there any alternate of conventional Air Conditioner? Is there any alternate of conventional Air Conditioner, which are costly and increasing green house effect? <Q> Simpler alternatives are opening the windows, a house fan , swamp coolers - depends on how hot/humid it gets <A> geothermal ceiling fans larger ov... | Geothermal Heat pumps are more efficent than a traditional Air Conditioner/Heat Pump - if they are possible/practical/cheaper depends on your circumstances.
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What types of flooring can be used with electric radiant heat? I am considering converting an old enclosed sleeping porch into a usable room year round (in Ohio). Currently the floor is a big slope to allow for drainage when it was still open, obviously I want to level the floor but was considering installing electric... | Some electric radiant systems can be used with laminate floors, e.g. http://www.suntouch.com/mats/ , or even floating/engineered wood floors according to http://www.thermosoft.com/radiant-floor-heat/ . I've seen similar systems (water tubing based) installed under carpeting, though if there is any moisture potential, y... |
Thin walls means lots of noise My bedroom is directly under my neighbors living room, he has crazy hours and I find myself waking up constantly. I tried talking to him and he's trying his best but it's just not good enough. What can I do (other than buying a white-noise machine which I did and is helpful but not help... | And then before installing the drywall on the ceiling, we would install resilient channel that keeps the drywall from directly contacting the joists. Or, turn your bedroom into a day room and invest in a really nice futon/pull out couch for your living room. Check out this website soundproofing america ; they sell DIY ... |
How much weight can you mount to a wall? I would like to mount a fairly heavy shelving unit (~150lbs) to a wall with a number of L-brackets. It being a shelving unit, I would be putting all kinds of books and random stuff on it, thus increasing the weight. This seems like a bad idea to me. I have no idea how heavy it... | Finally make sure the material you choose for the shelf is capable of bearing the weight and won't bow (or even break) under the load. In any case, there is no written limit on weight, but a lot of common sense has to be used in this case.
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Remodeling a pre-1920's home with planks on the interior walls I own an older home in central PA; my guess it is pre-1920's and I was going to remodel the living room and insulate the walls and run new wiring. The walls are horse hair plaster; when I removed the plaster and lath there are planks that run horizontally o... | As far as whether or not it is structural, we went with the assumption that it was.
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What should I do with wires that are too large for back-stab terminals on a receptacles? I am replacing all my electicial outlets and only one has wires that are too big to put into the back of the new outlet. Any suggestions? <Q> As long as you are going through the trouble to replace your receptacles, I have some rec... | Get receps that have screwdown clamps.
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How can I clean floor tile grout? Someone I know had tile laid in their kitchen and was supposed to seal the grout after the work was done. This never happened and now they have dirty grout. What's the best way to make the grout look new? Is re-grouting an option? By that I mean just putting a new thin layer of grout ... | Regrouting is an option if all attempts at cleaning have failed, but I'd scrape some of the old grout away first
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Do I need a moisture barrier between my bedroom and attic? This is related to my other question about moisture barriers . There is an attic above the bedroom and there is insulation with paper backing in place. The attic area seems far more likely to get moisture as the bathrooms both vent directly in to the attic a... | Because the area behind the vapor barrier can still breathe, even with the insulation, there is little chance of there being enough water in the wall to damage the studs or cause mold to form on them. Neither of these are continuous; the insulation is cut to fit inside the studs, and so air and thus moisture can still ... |
Should I install an indoor or outdoor sump pump, or both? I have a full basement in a cold climate (North Dakota). The previous owner had a raw hole broken out of the cement floor that must have served as an emergency sump pump hole. We haven't had water in 8 years and did landscaping around the house to slope water... | If your basement is flooding, and you live in freezing climates, an indoor sump pump is a pretty important.
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How can I install the drain for my reverse osmosis water filter? I have purchased a Whirpool Reverse Osmosis Water Filter which installs under the sink. I am trying to install it and have run into an issue with the drain: the revers osmosis filter has a red tube which needs to be connected to the drain of the sink, s... | If you can find a way to lower the trap and remount it closer to the floor, then you should have room to install the new piece.
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