Recent content by HandyMac

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/citguide.html#howtotest While I agree problems from radon exposure are a bit ambiguous, there are reasons to abate radon in a home. Resale is one reason, insurance can be another, and peace of mind is the third. You have actually done the second step in...

Public library. There is a world of difference between a finish carpenter and a cabinet maker. Finish carpenters install moldings, doors, waincoting, stairs, and built in shelving as well as other things. Cabinet makers/installers make/install cabinets. One way to dive in is to go to a...

Use an area rug. You should be able to find some at flea markets and just spray paint them. The heavier material will be a better insulator also.

Primer is your friend. Use better tools. Get a 2" tapered cutin brush, I like Purdy brand---the brush should be recommended for the type of paint being used---the dust cover on the brush will tell that. Use the smaller 1" diameter rollers, you will get better coverage and no roller lines...

If there is a flexible supply hose connected to the faucet for the hot water, check it for interior swelling. A very simply way to do that is to switch the hot and cold hoses and see if the cold is then slow.

I painted all these walls over 10 years ago. The original paneling was dark walnut, circa 1978. Two coats of tinted Zinsser Bullseye 123(water based) and two coats of latex enamel---15 year warranty paint by Glidden. I purposely used a brush, as roller painted paneling looks fake.

Look up the contact info for the nearest chapter of Habitat for Humanity. They often have Resale Stores where material is less expensive---and possibly can arrange some assistance. There are also other organizations like Christmas in October that assist low income families.

The amount of water in the pipes from the heater to the main shower/tub is the problem. Adding a circulator as Manual suggested is a fix---or adding a tankless heater in the bath will solve the problem. That way you could replace the current heater with a smaller unit---although it will be...

A 30 gallon heater can be cycled in less than 20 minutes---meaning the entire 30 gallons of hot water is used`---and the useage flow is high enough to prevent the incoming water to be heated. If the problem is new---meaning the water heater is sized correctly for your family, and the heater...

Corian is installed by companies certified by the manufacturer----that way the job is done to specs. Tile, laminate, stone, manmade, and wood are options. There is one more---and can be DIY---concrete. Dyes can be added to the mix and there are available guides for doing concrete countertops.

One way to tell in a single story house is to look in the attic. If there are trusses, there is a good chance all interior walls are nonloadbearing. Most walls parallel to attic framing members are also nonload bearing. If trusses were not used and if you are not sure, having a structural...

Home improvement stores sell basic electrical wiring books that include installing a ceiling fan. The book will tell you each step, from which type of box to use and how to mount it to running and connecting the wires.

Look in the garage for a GFCI duplex that is tripped. Often, outside circuits are fed from a garage circuit---and a GFCI receptacle is required in the garage---except for a freezer/refrigerator installation. There could quite easily have been two or more workmen installing...

Stairs have a higher load than floors due to a smaller area and generally less secure under structure than a floor---so stair treads have a tendency to have more noise problems than flooring. Plus the difficulty in edge banding the three treads and the top landing. It should not be too...

Sounds like a seasonal framing movement problem. Adding more tape/mud is not going to work, as the movement of the house is much stronger than the tape/mud. You might try waiting until the gap is at the widest and filling with a flexible caulk. That will allow for movement without seperating...