What’s the best kind of glue for joining parts of a wooden plant lattice? I’m building it to support a trumpet vine above a veranda railing and I suspect that regular carpenter’s glue won’t be up to the job. What […]
Continue ReadingHow should I build my deck for my new home?
I’m having a new house built and need to know about adding a deck to it. Can I build the deck right away? What type of footing do you recommend? Should the deck be attached to the house or not? […]
Continue ReadingCan 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?
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 […]
Continue ReadingWhat’s the maximum length of insulated duct I can install with my new heat recovery ventilator (HRV)? Is 18 feet too long?
What’s the maximum length of insulated duct I can install with my new heat recovery ventilator (HRV)? Is 18 feet too long? I’ve never seen figures for the maximum length of insulated flex pipe you can use with an HRV, […]
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Learn More from Bailey Line Road
Where’s the best place to locate a furnace?
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 […]
Continue ReadingWhat 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 […]
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