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. […]
Continue ReadingDoes vermiculite pose a health risk?
A few years ago I moved into an older home and discovered the attic is insulated with vermiculite. I’ve heard this material can contain asbestos. True? Does vermiculite pose a health risk? Vermiculite is a mineral that sometimes contains trace […]
Continue ReadingWhat can I do to warm the floors of my 1875 cottage?
What can I do to warm the floors of my 1875 cottage? I recently bit the bullet, went below, and stuffed two layers of insulation batts between the floor joists. The floor is still freezing. What did I do wrong? […]
Continue ReadingHow can I insulate the double-brick walls of my 100-year-old home?
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 […]
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Learn More from Bailey Line Road
What is the best exterior paint for durability? Oil based paint isn’t lasting like it should!
When the outside of my home was painted three years ago, the painter insisted on oil-based paint instead of latex. Now it’s peeling. How do I proceed and what’s the best paint for the job? Old legends die hard, and […]
Continue ReadingWhat’s the proper spacing for deck boards?
What’s the proper spacing for deck boards? I’m rebuilding three partially rotten wooden decks with boards that are spaced close enough to gather all kinds of gunk. The decks are less than 18 inches above ground. Is 1/2-inch board spacing […]
Continue ReadingQ&A: Insulating a Hollow Block Wall
Q: Is it okay to add wall insulation to a hollow block wall by adding a loose-fill fiber product in the block spaces? The exterior walls of our 90-year-old house are made with stucco-covered cinder blocks. Is it a good plan for […]
Continue ReadingQ&A: Boring Holes in Concrete
Q: Can I drill a two-inch hole through the concrete floor of my basement for the drain tube of an air conditioner? The nearest drainpipe is 25 feet away and I don’t want to install plastic pipes running along the floor. […]
Continue ReadingWhat kind of flooring can I install in our unheated, 140-year-old cottage?
What kind of flooring can I install in our unheated, 140-year-old cottage? The floors are currently covered in very old rolled flooring on top of wide cedar boards. We considered using rolled flooring again, but we don’t want the curling […]
Continue ReadingHow can I deal with the partially insulated basement walls in my new home?
How can I deal with the partially insulated basement walls in my new home? A layer of insulation extends partway down the wall without a wall frame, with nothing at all on the bottom 4 feet above the floor. Should […]
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