Quick Column Summary: No one buys paint online Color needs to be seen in person Order from home I don't have a record of when the meeting happened, but my guess is it was 2004. I was in the offices of Miller Brothers Paint in Norwood, Ohio meeting with the owner of the company and Read More »
Last week I did something new. It's good to do new things. I taught myself how to tie a bow tie. It's really pretty simple. Here's a photo of one I tied last Friday just before I started to board passengers onto the scenic train I work on here in New Hampshire. I watched a Read More »
Quick Column Summary: Flooded, drywall damaged How high up do you replace Make it easy on the drywall finisher Add extra electrical outlets now Ms. Lisa Reynolds, who works for the Federal Department of the Interior in Colorado, had her offices flood with water. Heck, I'll let her tell you the rest: "Our office suffered Read More »
Quick Column Summary: Want to hang porch swing without thru bolts What size eyelet lag bolt Not safe to use single eyelet bolts Hang from a created, steel bar Sean Kelliher, who lives in Readington, NJ, reached out with a compliment and a question. "I'm an avid reader of all your tips and you've been Read More »
Quick Concrete Overlay Summary: Stamped concrete overlay on the patio Big differences in two estimates Both overlays will work if done correctly Bruce Laybourne, who probably eats lots of Skyline Chili and Aglamesis Mocha Chip ice cream because he lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, is scratching his head over two bids for putting a stamped concrete 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: Install a blacktop driveway over gravel Is additional gravel needed You need the right gravel, installed in layers Dawn Coleman, from Munford, TN, is about to install a new blacktop asphalt hot top driveway. But she doesn't feel good about the estimate she received. Let her tell the story. "I currently have 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 »
Guess who tied his first pretty decent bow tie yesterday? Did you guess me? Congrats, you're right. I'll have a photo for you on Wednesday. Speaking of photos, I received an email from Ed Moore a few days ago that made me laugh OUT LOUD for a few minutes: "I get your newsletter at work Read More »
Quick Column Summary: Patched drywall does not match finish Get the right brush and finishing compound Practice the pattern on scrap drywall John Ryland, from Maumee, Ohio, has a tough a problem as any tailor trying to patch clothes. "I took down a small wall in our kitchen and either side of where the wall Read More »
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