Home | Wednesday, October 18,2006

Insulating basement walls

You can’t go wrong with polyisocyanurate foam

Dear Gene: I want to insulate a cinderblock basement wall. I want to avoid any moisture problems in the insulation and thought of using foam panels, but I’d like the highest possible R-value. Ca

Home | Wednesday, October 18,2006

Fire-starters

Techniques for building a hot fire, and reducing creosote build-up

By James Dulley

Dear Jim: I plan to use my fireplace often this winter to lower my heating bills, but I have never been very good at getting a fire started and keeping it going. Is there a proper method of building a

Home | Wednesday, October 11,2006

Keeping mold off the roof

How to use and install zinc strips

By Gene Austin

Dear Gene: I have heard that zinc strips can keep mold from forming on asphalt-shingled roofs, but how are the strips installed and where can I get them? Zinc strips are available in 3-foot lengths a

Home | Wednesday, October 4,2006

Hitting the bricks

How to tuckpoint your home

By Gene Austin

Dear Gene: I live in a 50-year-old brick house. The material surrounding some of the bricks has disintegrated, and the surface of some bricks also shows damage. How can this be fixed without replacing

Home | Wednesday, September 27,2006

Patch driveway cracks

Dozens of special products are made for this purpose

By Gene Austin

Dear Gene: Is it really impossible to patch a concrete driveway? A couple of contractors want to replace the entire driveway, at high cost. The largest crack is about 8 inches long and 1 inch wide. I

Home | Wednesday, September 20,2006

Water, water everywhere

When the regulator valve fails, it’s time to adjust the pressure

By Gene Austin

Dear Gene: A few years ago the pressure-regulator valve on our main water line failed and some water pipes in our home burst, causing considerable damage. We have a new valve, but I worry that it will

Home | Thursday, September 14,2006

Mind in the gutter

Regular maintenance will help avoid clogs

By Gene Austin

Dear Gene: I recently had my rain-gutter covers removed because they did not keep out small debris. These covers had two rows of slots that got plugged up with fine stuff from my trees. Is there some

Home | Thursday, September 7,2006

Cleaning hardwood floors

It all depends, of course, on the type of finish

By Gene Austin

Dear Gene: What is the best way to clean finished hardwood floors? Should we use plain water, vinegar-water mix, oil soap or what? I get a lot of conflicting advice. How you clean depends on the type

Home | Wednesday, August 30,2006

Squeegee it

How to keep a glass shower door clean

By Gene Austin

Dear Gene: I have a relatively new glass shower door. I also have hard water. What is the best way to keep the door clean? After every shower, wipe the inside of the door dry with a squeegee, just as

Home | Wednesday, August 23,2006

Sticking it to the bricks

Here’s how to repaint your fireplace

By Gene Austin

Dear Gene: We have a brick fireplace that was painted white but has become sooty and drab. We want to repaint it. I have had different opinions on whether I can use regular paint or must buy expensive