Roofing: Best Option for Low Slope
I recently purchased a home where part of the roof is not sloped enough for shingles. My home inspector said that portion was …
About Your Questions
Old House Repairs: What should I fix first?532
When planning to start on an old house what would be the first thing to do? The roof and gutters or the inside? I would …
How to Remove Window Grille Dividers in an Exterior Door3K+
I’d like to remove the plastic window pane dividers from a steel door. They seem to be factory installed because nothing …
How to paint a textured brick fireplace
My house is in Evansville Indiana and was built in 1908. I want to paint our brick fireplace white. I know painting means it …
How to Paint Plastic Swing Sets and Toys619
I painted my daughter’s playground about 2 years ago. The wood part was raw painted red and the plastic was originally …
Mini-Split Ductless: Good for Heating and A/C?
I’m looking into putting central air and heat into my home and I was hoping to get your opinion on mini-split ductless …
How to Prioritize Repairs in 100 Year Old Building
I’ve just moved into a new apartment, in a building that’s around a hundred years old. I’ll be asking a lot of …
Tips to Get Rid of Popcorn Ceiling and Make Smooth216
What is the best way to go about smoothing a painted popcorn ceiling? Scraping it is much too hard, so I guess a skim coat is …
Penny Stain: How to Make
I was excited about trying the vinegar and pennies and followed the directions from your article, but nothing happened. The …
MERV Score for Indoor Air Filters?
What rating should indoor air filters have? Many intake filters don’t list the MERV rating.
Basement Water in Old House1K+
We have probably a 1920’s house, and as you can imagine, the concrete floor has cracks (floor is tiled with old linoleum …
Why do I have Moisture on Basement Support Beams?625
There are small moisture spots on the steel support beams in my basement. I could be wrong but to me it seems like they …
Remove Greasy Smoke Stains from Wood Cabinets
I have extremely greasy smoke-stained cabinets (previous owners were smokers). I have tried every cabinet cleaner on them …
Bathroom Remodel | Smaller Bedroom vs. Larger Bath
Hi, I have a nice L shaped master bedroom with this tiny master bath and a normal size closet for an old house. We are talking …
Air Conditioning Ducts Leaking Water: Prevent Condensation
I have a leak from my ceiling in my hallway. Last fall I had two plumbers come out to diagnose the problem and neither could …
What’s the Best Temperature for Attic Fans?2K+
At what temperature should I set my attic power vent fans to keep my attic cool? I live in a hot and humid climate, where …
Can I Add Modern Locks to Antique Door Knobs?366
We’re in the process of remodeling our 1940s house. All the existing doors have mortise-style locks, antiques knobs and …
How to Install Crown Molding the Easy Way128
I would love to install crown molding in my home to add value. All the people that I try to hire want a fortune to install it …
Can I Move My Washer and Dryer to My Garage?4K+
I’d like to move my washer and dryer from my basement to my unheated garage. Other than plumbing for the washer, do …
How to Avoid VOC’s when Painting Cabinets
I’m concerned about VOCs, when painting cabinets. Is it okay to use an oil based primer with a latex paint in order to …
Fix for Basement Leak Near Chimney1K+
I have an old chimney that use to vent the furnace. It has now developed a leak at the lower junction of the chimney and the …
How Durable is Deck Paint?
What do these deck painting companies use to redo wood decks, that they claim it will stain and protect the wood deck to the …
Well Pump Delivers Terrible Water Pressure
We share a well with two other houses, and the well head is at the home furthest from us. They both have great water pressure, …
Does Adding Solar Increase Home Value?
I’m seeing a lot of advertisements for solar energy claiming that it adds value to your home. Is this true?