Stubborn wallpaper yields to water
Q Our bedroom was rebuilt by the previous homeowner (after a fire) with what I'm guessing is an old style of wallboard; wallpaper was then put directly over that wallboard....
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Old knob-and-tube wiring raises red flag
Q We purchased our home in July 2005. The house is about 120 years old and in great shape, but there's a ton of knob-and-tube wiring. Someone mentioned recently that...
Neighbors might raise a stink over polyurethane
Q Having removed all the wall-to-wall carpeting throughout our home, we are not only trying to decide if we should replace with same or go with area rugs, but also...
Neighbors might raise a stink over polyurethane
Q Having removed all the wall-to-wall carpeting throughout our home, we are not only trying to decide if we should replace with same or go with area rugs, but also...
Where there’s smoke, there’s a fireplace problem
A number of questions lately have centered on wood-burning fireplaces and just about any problem that arises with their use. A recent one concerned using a fireplace with a heat...
Ring stain may be set in stone
Q I have a very expensive stone dining room table, imported from Italy, that has some type of finish on it. Recently, I discovered a ring stain from a glass....
5 steps before tackling an exterior paint job
Wait until dry weather to make use of this advice from Debbie Zimmer of the Paint Quality Institute on ways an exterior paint job can be messed up: Failing to...
Venting into the attic poses problems
Q My wife and I recently bought a house where the three bathroom fans are vented into the attic. There are no vents coming through the roof. We notice unsightly...
Trying to keep radiant floor project out of hot water
Q: We are having an enclosed porch, which was badly done long before we bought the house, remodeled. We are replacing baseboard heating with a hot-water radiant-floor system. The contractor...
Vinyl floor stains: We’ve got them covered
More this week on vinyl floors being discolored by rubber-backed rugs. I really didn't know how widespread the problem was when I first wrote about it because I don't have...