On June 12, 2012, Shae from Sterling, Virginia wondered if a light colored, floating wood floor would work well with the dark, walnut paneling in her foyer. In this video I address the technical side regarding the new breed of…
Is there a cheaper way to control wintertime window condensation and icing than installing a $2000 heat recovery ventilator? Yes, there is another way to get rid of moisture, but you’re not going to like it. The alternative to an…
How can I stop white, salt-like powder from appearing on the block walls of our basement cold room? I brushed it off then washed the wall with muriatic acid, rinsed it down with water, then applied a coat of paint…
The challenge with any kind of masonry surface is cleaning the paint out of all those pores:
Can I use regular insulation batts to replace the paper-backed batts used between the ends of the floor joists where they meet the outside walls in a basement? The fact is, neither paper-backed nor plain insulation batts are ideal where…
Where’s the best place to locate a furnace? My wife and I are designing a new home, and our plans require two furnaces. We’ve heard different viewpoints about where to place the second unit: basement, second floor, even the attic….
Last winter I had a lot of rooftop ice build up that led to leaking, and now I plan to install heating cables to prevent the problem in the future. I’ve heard these cables work well, but also that the…
How can I eliminate window condensation in a multi-story condominium unit? We’ve been experiencing lots of condensation for the seven years we’ve lived in the building. Window replacement isn’t an option since they’re considered common elements in this building. Judging…
It’s not unusual to require insulation upgrades in floor cavities that sit over unheated spaces, and there are two things you must consider when settling on an approach. If this were my project, I’d go with professionally applied, spray-on foam….
Question: We’ve just gone to a lot of trouble and expense installing drainage tiles around our basement, but we’re concerned it might not stop dampness and white, fuzzy efflorescence coming up through the concrete floor. We’re planning to finish the…
How can I insulate the double-brick walls of my 100-year-old home? One contractor says he can drill holes in the plaster and blow insulation into the space between the bricks. Another contractor says this isn’t possible. Who’s right? Home heating…
How can I remove white pine sap from the 10-year-old cedar deck at the cottage? I’ve tried deck cleaner, scraping, sanding, acetone and Comet. Nothing works. What you need is a compatible solvent, and I know for sure that turpentine…