Home Repair and Paint Guide

Carpet cleaning is one of those chores that seems to get delayed long past the time when it should have been done. It’s not much fun and can use up an entire weekend. Furniture has to be moved, pets blocked off from the area, you have to avoid walking on the carpet while still wet, etc. But ignoring the task only causes problems to develop. Stains take a set and are harder to remove. Mold can form under the carpet due to trapped moisture. Odors can become offensive.

In order to keep your carpet in good shape, you need to give it a thorough cleaning on a regular basis. Hiring a company to do this is one way to go. Of course, you still have to be there while work is progressing. You need to make sure the job is completed to your satisfaction, and your furniture stays in your house instead of someone else. Most people I have dealt with were completely honest, but there’s always the chance of getting that certain one.

A hardwood floor is a great looking and durable addition to most homes. Installation is not too difficult if the area is square or rectangular, but as with all home projects, planning and material selection are very important. You might be able to get a good deal on installation if you are going to install flooring over a large enough area. That’s a good way to get the look you want without having to do the work yourself.

Most hardwood floors are coated with multiple layers of clear urethane. The urethane is the surface that is actually exposed to wear and tear. As long as this coating is not worn through, the wood will maintain its look and character. Simply adding a new coat of urethane when wear starts showing will prevent the need for deep sanding.

House cleaning can be done with a sprayer, hose, long-handled brush, and oxygen bleach. A good job of house cleaning can make your home look brand new without having to spend a lot of money.

The exterior of a house needs to be cleaned just like the inside. Regular soap doesn’t work very well for this job. Instead, use an oxygen bleach solution. Oxygen bleach is just a dried form of hydrogen peroxide. When mixed with water, it breaks apart dirt and other stains on the side of your house. The solution doesn’t harm plants or trees as chlorine bleach would do.

Apply the oxygen bleach solution with a regular hand-pump sprayer. Try to work in the shade to minimize evaporation. Let the solution sit on the siding and trim for about five minutes, then wash it off with a solution of regular liquid dish soap and water. You can use a soft bristle brush to remove stubborn stains. The type used to clean cars would work fine for this task. After rubbing the surface with the brush, immediately rinse the area with a garden hose.

Metal buildings require a lot of planning prior to signing a contract. While most companies are reputable and glad to assist you, there are also a few that engage in fraudulent practices and take advantage of customers. Therefore, it is very important to understand how to evaluate suppliers to be sure you are getting the type and quality you need.

When comparing prices for different metal buildings, be sure you’re using the same specifications. Things like overall size, gauge of metal, type of finish, type of fasteners, number and size of doors and windows, accessories included in price, delivery costs, etc. Always buy as much quality as you can afford. A cheaper product might look good on paper, but future maintenance expenses can end up costing more than a high-quality building over time.

The easiest way to handle a ceramic tile floor layout is by using a grid. It allows you to see where each tile will be installed and also keeps the floor square.

Find the largest ceramic tiles you are going to be using. Place about 3 linear feet of this tile end-to-end. Be sure to space each tile for the grout lines. Measure from the outermost edge to the edge of the closest 2 feet of tile, including the grout joints, and write down this measurement.

Go to a corner that has the longest and straightest walls. Using the recorded figure, measure and mark the floor at each end of the wall. Pop a chalk line between the two marks. Now do the same thing on the intersecting wall.

Ceramic tile subflooring must be able to carry heavy loads without movement. This is especially true when installing ceramic kitchen floor tile. Heavy appliances, cabinets, and other items will place a lot of stress on the subfloor. Flexing of the support structure will cause the tiles to crack in a short period of time.

If you decide to apply ceramic tile over an existing floor, make sure it is flat, solid, and well bonded to the subfloor. Cracked tiles might indicate that there has been excessive flexing. This is especially true where the room is on the second level of your house.

Vinyl or linoleum should be removed for best results, but you can also cover it with a proper underlayment such as cement board.

Tile can be installed over an existing ceramic tile floor long as it’s level and in good condition. You may have to roughen the surface of the tile if it’s too glossy.

Kitchen cabinets are available in a huge variety of designs that can really change the look and functionality of the area. Quality ranges from poor to superior, and finding the right match takes a lot of research and patience. Since you will most likely be looking at them for a lot of years, it pays to be thorough during the planning stage.

Cabinets form the core of a modern kitchen. They are surrounded by appliances such as the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and microwave. Some of these appliances are encapsulated by the cabinets and blend with the finish. This is something that needs to be considered when deciding on cabinet style. If you are replacing the appliances at the same time, then matching colors with the new cabinets should be a little easier. Older appliances can look dated when matched with new kitchen cabinets.

There are a lot of reasons for building a fence around yards and patios. They provide a measure of security and also keep roaming pets out of your yard. But what if fences are not allowed by local zoning ordinances or HOA restrictions? In this case a hedge of privacy bushes could work as a very nice substitute. Planting bushes and shrubs will provide a natural look to your yard and can grow high enough for privacy in areas that have two story houses.

So what type of border should you use? A good choice would be what’s known as a “loose border”, consisting of different kinds of evergreens and deciduous plants. This type of layout requires less overall maintenance because the shape is allowed to follow a more natural growth path. All that’s needed is weeding and general shaping to keep things looking good.

Choosing the right lumber is a critical part of building a deck. Get this wrong and you’ll be disappointed with the final result. Maintenance is a big consideration, and using the right materials will make this task easier. Sun and moisture are the primary enemies of deck lumber, but mold and mildew also cause problems. Spills (especially grease from foods) will cause stains that are difficult to remove if sealer is not applied. Using inferior screws during construction will give you headaches because they tend to break when heat from the sun causes the lumber to flex.

Some projects require you to calculate the amount of lumber needed in board feet. For instance, a lumber yard might ask for this figure to provide a price quote, although I haven’t personally had to do this. I usually create a materials list and hand it to the person at the projects counter for a quote. If you need to calculate the board foot requirement when ordering materials, see our post at Lumber Size and Calculating Board Feet.

Composite decks are advertised as maintenance free and able to withstand weather extremes. But this is not necessarily true. Not all composite decking materials are the same. Some are made from recycled materials, and the strength can vary widely between types and brands.

There are a lot of composite deck installations that have not held up to the original claims. There are several in my neighborhood that look very rough. The surfaces show exposed “wood” fibers that are obviously not wood. The fibers look more like old newspaper and are just awful. On top of that, water has started to penetrate and the material looks like it’s getting bloated and soggy. Definitely not something I want on my house.