Kathy Parks sent in some photographs of an interesting project that she is undertaking. It is a paper bag floor. She's wallpapering her floor with paper bags to mask an ugly floor. The paper bags, once dry, get coated with clear urethane to make them somewhat durable. We will let Kathy fill us in on Read More »
Jim Elliott had some engineered hardwood installed at his home in Encinitas, CA. However, the installers were rookies. Let Jim tell you why: "We just had engineered hardwood flooring installed in our living room and dining room by a contractor. I wasn't available to make an examination of the floor until after they had left our Read More »
DEAR TIM: I've got numerous cracked ceramic floor tiles and my wife wants them replaced. I'm very lucky in that the builder and previous owner left extra tile for just this reason I suppose. I've never done this before and feel like a lost ball in the high weeds. Can you guide me through the Read More »
Heidi Halvorson had a sewage backup in her Rushford, MN home. Guess what happened to her flooring? "What kind of flooring do you suggest for a basement? We put a laminate board type thing down (suggested by Menards) but had a sewer backup and the flooring is curling around the edges. We need to replace, but Read More »
Thanksgiving and Christmas are bearing down on you. When I still was building and remodeling six days a week, I clearly remember how customers wanted me gone and out of their homes during this festive season. The stress level that accompanies turkeys, family, gift giving and parties is already high enough so the dust, plastic Read More »
Quick Column Summary: Parquet flooring on tile delaminating Organic mastic can't form bond Adhesive chain Joe McGarvey lives in a house in Glenview, IL where the oak parquet flooring is unruly. "My 30-yr, oak parquet floor, adhesively bonded to porcelain tile, has begun to delaminate. What is the best way to stop this delamination?" Joe, Read More »
Quick Column Summary: New building upgrades Credit for standard cabinets or flooring Original pricing for cabinets / floors plus price of upgrade Larry Niccum, who now lives in Ogden, UT but is moving west to Mesquite, NV, had a stumper question to a sales rep at a Del Webb community. Here's what Larry sent me: Read More »
Quick Column Summary: Reclaimed cedar siding Can you use it for flooring Cedar is too soft for floors Try oak or maple Teresa, from Dove Creek, CO, asked a pithy question about recycling cedar siding. "Does reclaimed cedar siding make a good floor?" Here's my answer: Teresa, cedar is a very soft wood. I'd never Read More »
Quick Column Summary: Wood floor wanted for basement Current floor gets condensation in winter Consider vinyl tiles that look like wood They look great Gordon Polson, from Mercer Island, Washington, is remodeling his basement. His wife wants a wood floor, but ... There's always a but: "We're finishing our basement floors. My wife favors a Read More »
Quick Column Summary: How to install laminate flooring Make sure subfloor is flat Cut laminate slowly Stagger seams of flooring DEAR TIM: My husband wants to create a man cave for himself and I have my eyes on a corner of our basement for a craft room. I’m not a fan of harsh concrete floors Read More »
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