House Renovation Tips

If you’re trying to date your house, you may be able to find a clue in its plastering job. Although it’s difficult to determine the age of plaster itself, you can come up with an approximate date by examining the lath behind the plaster.
The earliest lath was hand-split with a hatchet, resulting in an irregular [...]

To replace a cracked tile, start by using a masonry or carbide-tip bit to drill a hole (any size) in the center of the damaged tile. With a glass cutter, score the tile diagonally from each corner to the center hole. Then, using a hammer and a cold chisel, chip away pieces of the tile, [...]

See How It Stacks Up
Before installing paneling, stack it in the room where it’s to be used. Put boards between the layers of paneling to allow air to circulate. Leave the stack for at least 2 or 3 days a week or more is better to let the moisture in the paneling stabilize. This allows [...]

Solid-core doors are quite heavy, and you can strain your back moving them around. Always try to have them resting on something other than your body.
Most door hinges have removable pins. That means you don’t have to remove the hinge screws just to get the door off. To remove a door, close it and [...]

Bringing color and character to your home
The story of color is too big to cover in brief - but you’ll find that paint manufacturers present their products in color-themed sample sheets, with selections of complementary and contrasting colors to help you select your preferred ‘color-way’ for each room.
Types of paint
Before you select colors, decide on [...]

Get inspiration
If you have difficulty in visualising your bathroom, collect photographs of aspects of bathrooms that appeal. It could be a colour scheme, vanity, window treatment or flooring. Tear out pages from magazines and catalogues and put them together. But don’t combine too many styles, warns Phil. Having a ‘bit of this and a bit [...]

You should always ventilate with fresh air during all phases of installation your carpet. This includes exhausting to the outside and avoiding re-circulation. Most emissions from the installation disappear quickly with adequate air exchange and ventilation.
Vacuum the old carpet before removal to minimize the amount of dust particles.
Vacuum the floor immediately after the old carpet [...]

Indicators of Home Repair Fraud
A salesperson, with no local connections, comes to your door and offers to do home repair work for substantially less than market price.
A salesperson coming to your door saying you need siding, storm windows, or other home improvement. The salesperson also wants you to sign a contract on the spot. The [...]

Planning a bathroom remodel?
Each home project of this nature can be broken down into 5 distinct steps. Following through each step will help this often confusing process make more sense and produce a better outcome.
Bathroom Design
Ask yourself the question - “What will I have when I’m finished”. Similar to planning a road-trip, a successful build [...]

Attic - look for evidence of roof leaks, also openings that permit entry of bats or other pests. Inspect insulation, rafters, ventilation openings, chimney and side walls.
Basement windows - those on grade or slightly above grade, should be examined for decayed frames. replace decayed frames and missing trim.
Bathroom - check for dripping faucets, leaking shower [...]