First of all, congratulations on considering buying a historic building. This is a great question. You've got a lot of questions here. I'm going to try and answer them all.

Before you close escrow on that building...

Look into historic funds for restoring historic landmark buildings.

You might find some very low-interest money in doing this project and it might even be registered on the national historic landmarks. So, look into that. Your local city officials should have that information.

So, do you take a contractor in the walk-through?

Hey, if you have a contractor friend that you know that can walk through and give you some tips, yes. I do a lot of walkthroughs with real estate agents and give my two cents to the potential buyer.

If I walk through a project with a potential customer my opinion is my opinion. It's usually free of charge. It gives me the opportunity to meet a new potential client. So, I look at it that way. Although, if I have to put pen to paper and use my stationery to give an opinion then yes, I do charge a fee for that.

It's usually under $500 to do an opinion on which direction to go with the project. So that's the best thing to do.

And then at that point, if you're really serious I suggest you spend a little bit more money to get a structural engineer and an architect.

You’ll want to make sure the bones are good

You’ll also want to pay attention to the plumbing and the electrical. Has the plumbing and electrical been updated over the years? Is it still knob and tube? How old is the wiring?

"The whole purpose of this show is to give you the best knowledge possible to make your next renovation Home Improvement."

A lot of different things could be happening in a historic home. That means doing a sewer inspection with a camera. Some of these things are going to cost money. So, before you buy that home, it's best to find out what you need to do by spending hundreds of dollars. If it turns out that the renovation is way too much work you're not going to be out a lot of money. It's also good information that you can pass along to the person who might buy the home after you decide to decline.

Helen, this sounds like a really interesting project. I encourage you to go through with it.

Here are some tips for you before you get started:

• Be patient and reach out to the right people to help you make good decisions.
• Have an engineer look at the Roof and Foundation.
• Find out from the building department what code upgrades are going to be required on this home.

For example, it's getting to the point here in California where if you remodel a minimum square footage, you'll have to install a sprinkler system for the house. Not the sprinkler systems in your yard. I'm talking about the sprinkler system for fire and those are very expensive to put in.

Where are your limit lines with the building department? The local building department can let you know. They're going to help you with the steps to guide you through this process.

Don't be afraid to reach back out to me. Send me pictures. I can look at the pictures and give a little deeper opinion on what you're getting in here. But again, this sounds like a great project.

Are You Considering a Home Project?

Ask me your home renovation and home remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com We answer your questions right here on the show You can find qualified contractors for this project / and others in the Directory at AskTheContractors.com.  Request a bid from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros.

Your Questions, Answered Here

This is a very interesting question about load-bearing walls. If the walls are load-bearing, then you're going to have a smaller area to work in. So, you want to be careful. Always make sure that you don't disrupt the load-bearing wall by moving part of it. It is very important.

This won't happen, but...

In the worst case, the walls could collapse and then you're going to have a BIG problem on your hands.

Beyond that, if the split can be replaced, then take the 2x4 out and replace it. I'm going to suggest since you're at the end of that frame plate, pre-drill your holes. That will help you put your screws and nails in easier.

Usually, 16 penny nails are very common for framing. A lot of guys and gals on small projects use screws now. It's sometimes simpler, but pre-drill your holes. If you can get that piece of wood out of there, pre-drill.

Visit your local hardware store, Lowes, or any big box store

It gets tricky. If you can’t fit a hammer and the area is inaccessible or it's going to be a really, really big hassle; check out Simpson brackets. You can go to Lowe's, Home Depot, or any big box store. They have entire isles of Simpson Strong-Tie brackets. You'll be able to find the right connector for the job.

And by the way...

"If in doubt, don't do things that that you're not familiar with."

The Framing Is So Important.

Knowing the basics of building a strong structure will guide what you're doing when framing out a room.

I encourage you to do it yourself, but make sure that you are doing it right. We want to make sure that no one gets hurt when they're in that sauna. Okay?

AskTheContractors.com Pro Tip

• Pre-drill to prevent splitting.
• A lot of times the wood that you buy from the Lumberyard is usually around 19% moisture content. In that case, the nail would so a nail goes through relatively quickly, without splitting.
• Even if the wood's been in your garage for a couple of years, I would pre-drill. It’s worth the extra time.

Roy, you're working in a small area. It's not like you'll have to pre-drill an entire home of 2,400 square feet. Drill each end. I think that's going to be your best bet.

Do You Have a Home Improvement or Home Remodeling Question?

I want to be your source for information about your home and your home improvement projects. Request an estimate or just communicate with me. I will answer your questions and again, if I don’t know the answer, I’m going to ask someone who has the answers, so we can figure out this together.

You’ve been listening to AskTheContractors.com. I’ve been your Host Todd Bird. Thank you so much for listening and I’ll catch you on the next one.

We have great people in our Directory of Contractors

Like LL Flooring. If you want to put new floors in your home, you will want LL Flooring.

They are one of America's largest specialty retailers of hard surface flooring. They offer over 400 floors at the best value. Use their Floor Finder tools like Picture It, their online visualizer. You can see the flooring in your space before you install it. They can make your project successful.

So, thank you everyone for sending me these questions. I really enjoy answering these questions on AskTheContractors.com. This is your source for local Home Improvement Pros. We cut through it all and nail things down. I'm your host, Todd bird. Thanks for joining me.

Well, I haven't seen your floor, but if it's an older floor the best way to put tile over an older floor is, yes...

It's Called Self-Leveling Concrete and It's Easy to Use.

It's very easy to use. And, you can also etch it a little bit so that when you put that tile down on its mortar base, the mortar has something to grab onto. Usually, say this as a cement floor in a garage. Well, that's very smooth concrete. Whatever you put on that concrete, it's only as strong as what's grabbing it. In fact, most concrete floors are very smooth. That's not a broom finish. It's a very smooth finish.

So I would advise you to put the floating floor down. Again, it's very easy to do. It almost works by itself. You may have to move it around with a trowel but it does level the low spots in that slab. It's going to make your tile floor much better, and look much more professional.

Don't Skip This Step

So, C.H., let me tell you what's going to happen if you don't use a self-leveling concrete. You're going to put a beautiful tile floor down...

"In the summertime, your home heats up...

In the wintertime, it cools down...

Your flooring will expand and contract, and you're going to have tiles popping up."

...and then all that money you put into that floor will be wasted. And you've already paid your contractor, and he or she's gone down the road. It's going to upset you when the tiles start popping up.

You want as close to a perfectly level slab so you can get before you put tile, wood, or anything down on that slab. You don't want a big dip on your floor. Okay? That's not good.

That's what I would do.

I Think Your Contractor's Wrong On This One.

You do need a self-leveling, Floating cement system?

Thanks for the Question, C.H.

If you have a question for me, send it to me.

I want to be your source for information about your home and your home improvement projects. Request an estimate or just communicate with me. I will answer your questions and again, if I don’t know the answer, I’m going to ask someone who has the answers so we can figure out this together.

You’ve been listening to AskTheContractors.com. I’ve been your Host Todd Bird. Thank you so much for listening and I’ll catch you on the next one.

Past Questions, Answered Here:

This is a very common question we receive with interior remodels. I am going to answer it right here with the help of our friend, Mike Dawson with Rustic Brick.

Great. Again, from Rustic Brick here in Sacramento. In fact, they are located on Power Inn Road. Check them out. I've been there a million times. They have a great showroom with a lot of selection to go through to make your project look very beautiful. 

Mike, thanks for joining us. 

Todd: Is there any particular stone that would be best for her situation, Mike?

Mike: Well, anything that’s lightweight. She'll have to take the drywall off and put cement board up. You will need something strong, so you need some kind of a substrate that the mortar or thin settle will stick to. So, once you've done that, any thin veneer, Natural Stone, these Stack Stone, Natural Stone panels, Imitation Stone, or Thin Brick. Any of those would work for that project. 

Todd: That now if she takes the drywall off and puts a thin-set on backer board, whatever you want to call it. Also known as cement board. There are a lot of names that people call them.

Sara Can Go with Real Stone If She Wanted That Option

Mike: Yeah. Anything thin and lightweight is good. Veneer, Natural Stone, or imitation Stone, for example. Either of those would work 

Todd: And the weight factor is an issue because if you go with something that's heavier than what it should be, then you'd have to have that floor probably beefed up. To carry that kind of weight. So, it would be best to go with something lightweight. 

In fact, that's a really good point about taking the drywall off, because here's the thing... and I want my listeners to know this... 

What you Attach to the Drywall is Only As Strong As the Paper of the Drywall. 

Mike: That's it. 

Todd: And that's why in some new homes people actually glue the tile right to the green board in the shower. Well, that's not going to stay on for very long because again, it's the paper that the tile or stone is bonded to, and in this situation to be the same thing. 

You'd want to start with some type of backer board. Next, you can attach lightweight material. So, it sounds like that will put her on the right track. Do you agree with me, Mike?

Mike: Yes, I do.

We're Talking to Mike Dawson Owner of Rustic Brick.

I want to emphasize if you do a project like this and even if it's tile or stone anything that you put on green board or sheetrock, you're gluing to a piece of paper. That's it and once moisture gets behind that, it’s over. So that product or any product is susceptible, and it will more likely happen in a bathroom than in a living room.

But think of this too..

"You have heat from a fireplace, and those stones are going to contract and expand when you build a nice big fire on a cold day."

As a result, the walls are going to heat up. When the walls  expand and contract, that stone is only as strong as the paper that it's on and paper is not very strong.

You Want To Do It Right the First Time

So again, I want to emphasize if you do a project like this, you don't want to have to do it twice.

I hope that answers your question Sara.

I really appreciate it. AskTheContractors.com. And if you have a question, just send it to me.

• I would like to see what you're up to.
• What kind of projects you're doing around the house?
• And again, if I can’t answer the question, even though I've been a contractor for well over 30 years. Ii will get the answer.

If you're a contractor you want to be on that list of qualified contractors. Send me your information. I'll get you on there and people can go directly to you, and hopefully get the project done and done right the first time.

Most Recent Questions, Answered:

Well, you know what? I am not exactly sure of the answer to that question. That's why I rely on my website AskTheContractors.com for reliable subcontractors and contractors.

...like Mark Cherry of Cherry Home Improvement. That's all Mark does in life.

Mark puts Windows in, and he does a great job.

So Mark, what does someone do when it comes to a manufactured home?

What is the difference between a regular home and a manufactured home?

It is installed differently?

What's going on with this?

Mark: There're different types of manufactured homes but one of the things that we've found when we've put in retrofit Windows is, you're better off selecting a retrofit style of window. Retrofits are custom size to fit the existing windows in the home, as it is now.

One of the things you must be concerned about with a manufactured home is the wall thickness.

Also, another thing to look for is the framing techniques that they've used to get those windows secured to the framing of the existing house. So, getting something off the shelf at a big box store, it’s not likely to fit.

Custom-sized windows would be the better way to go with a mobile home.

Todd: Explain what retrofit windows are, and what's the time frame because those would be custom-made.

Mark: Correct. And depending on the manufacturer, most of them in the summer times will have anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks lead time to get the product to you. It depends on what you're looking for.

In a retrofit application, you leave the existing perimeter frame of the window in. So, what you do is take out the vent and the fixed side of the window, so that that perimeter frame alone is remaining. Then a new window is custom-made to fit inside that opening.

That completes and covers that frame as its installed.

Todd: And that makes it so you're not taking off siding because a manufactured home usually has metal siding. You're not ripping into that siding. The inside of the home will not be destroyed, because you're putting it into the same hole that the old windows coming out of.

Mark: So in terms of your exterior, you're not removing any type of wood trim wrap, or again cutting into any of the existing metal sidings. The flange of the newer retrofit windows will completely cover that old frame, or it can be inset into the existing window frame. Each house is a little different.

The chances of finding a window at a big box store that will fit perfectly into that space are next to zero.

Mark: Actually, some of the big box stores, you can order special order windows, but as far as walking into a store and purchasing a window that day that would work for your situation. It's very unlikely.

Todd: But also as a contractor, and you and I are both contractors, I would highly suggest with something this technical... you should have someone do the install that really knows what they're doing. Hire someone who has done it for quite a long time, like Mark Cherry from Cherry Home Improvement.

The Weather Sealing is the Priority

Mark: Find someone who has a lot of experience installing weather sealing. Winterizing the window can cause you the biggest problems down the road.

Todd: And you come with a warranty. I mean when you install your own retrofit windows, something can go wrong. The homeowners will have you to rely on, and that's an insurance policy when it comes to Windows.

Mark: We like to think so.

Todd: Yeah, absolutely.

Are you doing a home improvement project? Go to AskTheContractors.com. You can trust and rely on the people that have made me successful in the construction business.

Hey, I've been talking to Cherry Home Improvement's Mark Cherry. He does custom windows. Go to my website. Mark is right there. AskTheContractors.com.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, When in Doubt Hire It Out.

Janet, you did not say what part of the country you're from, but if you're not in the greater Sacramento area reach out to a window company to custom fit those windows and make sure it's done correctly. Alright? If you're in the Sacramento area, give Mark a call at Cherry Home Improvement.

If you have a question for me, send it to me.

I want to be your source for information about your home and your home improvement projects. Request an estimate or just communicate with me. I will answer your questions and again, if I don't know the answer, I'm going to ask someone who has the answers so we can figure out this together.

You've been listening to AskTheContractors.com. I've been your Host Todd Bird. Thank you so much for listening and I'll catch you on the next one.

Past Questions, Answered Here:

That's a great question. And if you go to the website, you can actually see a picture posted of this faucet that has broken off.

Welcome to AskTheContractors.com. Your source for local Home Improvement Pros.

This is where we cut through it all and nail things down. How's everyone doing out there today?

I'm your host Todd Bird.

So, Here's What I Think the Problem Is.

In older homes, I do not know how old your home is, but in old other homes, from the 30s and 20s, a lot of times these homes were fitted with boilers. Boilers were going out of style and heaters and air conditioners were starting to be used. What contractors did was they took the boilers apart, and a lot of times contractors bought those parts to plumb homes. So, you might have an odd fitting.

The second thing this might be Mark is... Wait, you know what? I have Rido, my plumbing subcontractor who can answer this question.

"Rido, what am I looking at here? Is that a galvanized pipe?"

Rido: "Yes"

Okay, so we can get a faucet to fit in that, and that's going to take care of the hole? So you're not going to see the pipe coming out of the wall. Then you'll probably have a decorative piece that will go on top before the faucet gets put back in.

There are a lot of unknowns here so...

My Best Advice is to Go To A Specialty Plumbing Store.

There are plumbing stores that sell nothing but plumbing parts. You can send them a picture and they might be able to find the part for you. Just have it delivered. In fact, no matter where you're at in the world try Red Supply Wholesale Plumbing. You can get them online. They have stuff from who knows how long back? The guy’s been in business forever, and he seems to know where everything is and what part goes where.

Red Plumbing in California. Send them a picture and I think they're going to put you in the right direction.

I hope that helps, Mark. Thanks for the question and thank you to Rito for being on the job. He helped answer that question.

Do you have a question for the contractors? Go to AskTheContractors.com.

That's what we're here for. Send me a question and I'm going to help you out. And if I don't know the answer, I'm going to go to my wonderful directory of contractors, and I'm going to find the answer for you. We're going to work on your question together. We're a team.

I also want to know what's going on around your house. I want to talk about those projects that you have going on today.

Today, I'm coming to you right from my job site. If you hear some noise in the background, it's because my guys and gals are working their tails off.

We actually took on a landscape project, and you know during this pandemic - coronavirus - a lot of people are landscaping. Quite frankly, as a contractor, not too many people want me inside their house. So, to take on landscaping jobs right now… it just makes sense.

We're Working Outside to Keep Safe Distance From Each Other.

• I want you to see the beautiful patio cover that I built.
• The sod that has been laid.
• The flower boxes.
• We've got a fire pit.
• The plants.
• The concrete.
• We have rocks that were delivered today.

It might inspire you to do some landscaping around your house because everything is going on back here.

I've been your host Todd bird.

Thank you so much for listening again. Send me those questions AskTheContractors.com.

More Questions, Answered

LED Lighting projects are very popular because they add so much to your home.

So, to help me answer that question, I have Jason Medich. You can go to my website. Jason is in our Directory of Contractors. He's a great electrician. Otherwise, he would not be one of our Trusted Pros. We only have qualified, quality contractors on our website.

Jason, welcome to the show.

That is a mouthful, Jason. Help me out. Get me through this.

Jason: So some inspectors aren't accustomed to seeing this. This project would meet code as long as the wire is terminated, and the termination box becomes the housing once the LED lights are installed. Remember, the line must be stapled near the location where it's going. And then, you would have a layout where you know where the lights are supposed to go. That's where your drywaller cuts the holes.

Todd: Now, we also have to be careful of where our rafters are up there, correct? We don't want to put a junction box up where there's a (two-by-four), because you’d have to cut the (2x4), or (2x6), or even a (2x8). So, it's best to get up in the attic and locate, or use a stud-finder to find out where those rafters are, correct?

Jason: Correct. Or, if you're framing your project before the drywall goes up you can measure it out. “I want to go 4-foot off this wall, and 8-foot off that wall.”

Todd: And make it all symmetric. Exactly. That’s a good thing..

LED lights are being installed in many projects.

Here are some benefits:

• LEDs are very economical.
• They are a very clean light source.
• They come in a variety of colors, depending on what the room is set up for.
• These lights are very interchangeable.

For example, if you change your space you can make the lights brighter or darker. Or if you've changed your paint color, a blue light might look better than the yellow light would.

LEDs are very flexible.

Todd: And I'm assuming LED Lights use less energy to run.

Jason: Oh, yeah.

Todd: And what's the lifespan of an LED?

Jason:  These lights can last about about 20 years.

Todd: 20 years?

Jason: 20 years in a three hour-per-day capacity. They have anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000-hour life span.

Todd: Wow, that is unbelievable. And, are they easy for the homeowner to install?

Jason: Yes. Most fixtures now, you can interchange with an LED…

Todd: …Without having to tear out drywall out, or any of that.

Jason: There are some canned lights, especially where you have the four-pin florescent.

I come across people all the time that say. “Hey, you know, they’re telling me I need to tear out the drywall.” I say, “you know, LED Lights can be retrofitted”.

Most of the time, it's best to have an electrician do it, but it is possible to bypass the ballast and rewire the fixture for LED without having to tear the drywall down.

Todd: When you put these lights in you have to have some knowledge, correct? I mean, you just can't wake up one day and say hey, I'm going to go to my local box store and I'm going to put these in. Your advice, and my advice always is…

When in Doubt, Hire it Out

Jason: Exactly. If you don't feel comfortable with it, electricity can cause fires. Electricity can severely injure you if you don't know what you're doing. So, yes, get someone who does.

Todd: Absolutely. We've been talking to Jason Medich. Medich Electric. He is the man who answered this question.

If you want to get a hold of Jason, give them a call at 530-492-4777, or go to my website AskTheContractors.com. He's right there front and center to answer your questions or to give you an estimate on a job.  

Like we said, do not try to do it yourself. Especially when it comes to electrical.

"I tell people that you like barbecuing but you don't want to be the barbecue."

Now, I'm going to tell you a little story about canned lighting...

Do you have a question for our Contractors?

Send me your question. I will answer it right here on the air And if I don't know the answer, I'm going to go to my website and rely on one of my Trusted Pros.

Come on; it doesn't hurt to ask. Get that Home Improvement project done, especially as a lot of us are staying at home. Get those projects done around the house. It's a good time to call an electrician, a plumber, a roofer, any of these. A painter! Painters are busy right now. So, it’s a good time to go to AskTheContractors.com and get those projects done.

More Questions, Answered Here

This is a really, really good question. And a very important question. Josh actually sent me a picture and showed me exactly what was going on.

I want you to see the picture that's been posted on the website. You might have the same problem.

Well, I looked at the picture and yes, you should be concerned. That's not just a crack, you got part of your board missing. So, you want to make sure that you have a contractor come out and look at that to make sure that you're structurally safe. Okay?

"Tongue and Groove is pretty difficult to repair because you have the tongue and groove from which the board's interlock with each other."

However, it can be repaired but when it's repaired, the tongue is actually going to have to be cut so you can fit the board up there.

You won't see the repaired ceiling. It'll look like the original wood has been put back up.

Click here for a step-by-step set of instructions to repair a Tongue and Groove panel.

Josh, you may still want to have a professional do the repair because of it's location on the ceiling.

But here's the thing. That's more than just a crack. That absolutely could be dry rot. I need to look a little closer at what you sent me. I can't quite see all of it. But make sure you don't have dry rot in your roofing materials, or that it's penetrating into your sheathing. So, absolutely have that checked out by a contractor.

I want to know more about how this turns out because that's more than just a crack, Josh. Thank you for sending your question.

Do you have a question for the Contractors? I can answer your questions.

I'm not so big on myself that if I don't know the answer, I'm not going to make something up. We're going to find out together. We're going to go to my website, AskTheContractors.com and we're going to go to a professional in that trade and we're going to figure out your question together.

Ask me your Home Renovation and Home Remodeling question from the link on the homepage.

It's a real easy thing to do and trust me. If you have a question, there's probably a hundred people out there that have the same question, and you're going to benefit a lot of people by asking me that question.

And guess what? It doesn't cost you a cent.

I want to help you with your projects around the house. There's a lot to do out there.

• There's painting.
• Fixing the baseboard.
• That drippy faucet that seems to be bothering you.
• The toilet that doesn't work, right?
• The handle on the door.
• You've been wanting to replace a light fixture.
• Maybe add some storage up in the attic.

Thanks again. I really, really do appreciate it. AskTheContractors.com. I'm your host, Todd Bird.

More Questions, Answered:

So Rachel. This is a great question. A lot of people want to put insulation in the walls. But how do you figure it out? Well, it's really simple.

First of all, you have to figure out if it is a (2"x 6") wall or a (2"x4") wall.

So let's assume that it's a (2"x4") wall and we're going to use R13 insulation. It's real simple. You take your Width times your Height. In this case (26 feet times 8 feet) and get your square footage. Then when you go to buy your insulation, I recommend Owens Corning. It's usually the most common at your big box stores. When you go to The Big Box store, you're going to see on Owens Corning by the square footage, for instance an R13 roll.

A roll of R13 is going to give you 40 square feet. So, Rachel, what you're going to do, again, you're going to take your square footage [26ft. by 8ft.], which is 208 square feet. That means you're going to need just a little over five rolls of insulation. It's really easy to install. You unroll it and staple it in. The insulation will be secure, and then you go ahead and put your sheetrock on top of that. Wha-la you're on your way. You'll have a well-insulated room.

Bonus Tip: If you have interior walls in that room, I advise you to also insulate them with insulation also.

It gives you a sound barrier that makes the room feel more solid and just feels better when you're in the room.

Installing insulation is not very expensive

Insulation is easy to use, and easy to put up. Just make sure you have a mask on because there are fibers in the insulation. You want to keep yourself safe. Also use a long sleeve shirt and gloves because again, you're going to feel very itchy when you're done putting that up. You don't want to get a rash or injure yourself by breathing any of those particles in. Be very careful.

And remember to get a certificate from the insulation company to go along with your building permit. The building inspector will come out on your final and see that there's a certificate. It's very, very important to make sure you keep that certificate on hand. If you do not put insulation in then you have a lack of insulation. It's called Title 24 in California. You can get a lot of trouble for that if you don't do it. So get your installation. Make sure you put it in correctly.

Rachel also sent me a second question that I'd like to answer.

This is another great question.

"You always want to make sure you have a barrier down on concrete conversions. It's called a moisture barrier."

Most slabs, if they're 10 years, 12 years, 15 years, or  20 years old, they likely do not have a moisture barrier underneath them. So, what you want to do is to use a vapor barrier. It's very common.

In fact, you can get it at the big-box store and you roll it on and it gives you a moisture barrier.

Now, I don't know why you're putting plywood down. There's a lot of products you could put on that floor that will make it nice. You can even stain the concrete, and you wouldn't need the vapor barrier because it would be open to the air. But if you insist on putting plywood down because you want to put something on top of that plywood put your barrier down first, and then you should be good to go.

Another idea is, being that you're in Georgia, you can actually put a heated floor down.

A thermal floor is simply a screen mesh that goes down on your floor before you put the tile on. It’s low voltage and it keeps the floor very, very warm for your toes when you're walking on it. So that's something you might want to look into also.

Rachel, two great questions from Georgia. I really do appreciate it.

Do you have a question for Ask The Contractors?

I've been a contractor well over 30 years. I can answer your question and guess what? I'm not so big on myself that if I don't know the answer, I'm not going to make something up. We're going to find out together. We're going to go to my website AskTheContractors.com, and we're going to go to a professional in that trade and we're going to figure out your question together.

Ask me your home renovation and Home Remodeling question from the link on the homepage of AskTheContractors.com. We answer your questions right here on the show. So, don't be afraid to reach out to me. That's what I'm here for. I want to answer your question and it doesn't cost you a cent.

Okay, it may cost you a couple of pennies to make the phone call on your phone bill, but it's worth it. I'm a cheap date. Believe me. I know.

I can answer your question. So give me your question and as I said before, so many other people are interested in that question because they probably have the question themselves. They'd like to have it answered too.

Thanks again. I really do appreciate it.

Thanks for tuning in and I look forward to speaking with you again soon. AskTheContractors.com. I've am your host, Todd Bird. Thank you so much.

More Questions, Answered:

So here's his situation...

That's a great question, Matt. Let me ask you a question...

I'm going to assume that it's a raised foundation. If it's a slab, then you're going to have to remove that drain with a 30-pound jackhammer. And then move it to the direction that you want to move it. Now keep in mind if it's a slab, your slab is only four inches thick, but it's the footing that goes down 18 to 24 inches.

"We come to you at least once a week and give you some answers to the questions that you send AskTheContractors.com."

But if it's a slab and it's in your bathroom, it should not be that hard to break-through. You're going to be retiling or putting a shower pan in any way.

In fact, it's a good time to move the shower if you have a raised foundation. That's simple. You cut up area on your floor and you simply move the pipe to where you want it located.

There are converters that you can get coming off copper and going into PVC.

The converters are very easy to install. To start, your local plumbing shop will have that information, and if they don't have it, they will order it for you.

The only thing I worry about is when people are remodeling and they have galvanized piping in there, in their home. A lot of the time, they want to convert it to copper. If so, you would need a dielectric converter. That takes the electrolysis out of the equation, and it separates the two metals.

It's a converter that prevents electrolysis, that's all it is.

That's when you're going to have a problem.

When you mix two metals, it's going to have electrolysis which means you'll find tiny pinholes in your plumbing down the road. It's a very common thing in older homes when people remodel and they don't think about that.

Let Me Explain a Little More About the Converter

On one side, the converter will have plastic that you can get your original plastic into or come out of, whichever you're converting to. The other side would be copper. And like I mentioned before, electrolysis does not apply in this area because it's metal to plastic. You don't have to worry about electrolysis in this situation.

Converters are very easy to find. It's plastic on one side and converter for copper on the other.

•   If you're replacing water pipes a converter can come in one inch.
• Two inches if you're replacing larger water pipes.
• Four inches if you're doing sewage piping.

So, go to your local plumbing store:

"Usually there's a person who is a plumber, or who used to be a plumber behind the counter to help you out..."

Once you get that converter, you're going to have to solder the end with the copper. Do not use a compression joint. They break. They fail. They're not really good to use, at all.

Make sure to solder it.

You might have to have find someone who knows how to solder because you don't want to mess up on that.

And then the other side is simple. Use PVC glue that you would use for plastic piping. It seems to me like you're covering all your bases, Matt.

If you have a project you need help with, get me the question. Go to my website, AskTheContractors.com. There's helpful information that can help you in your next remodeling project.

Hey folks, I want to know about your project

Send me the question AskTheContractors.com. And I appreciate all my listeners. Thank you so much. I've been your host Todd Bird, and I will catch you next time !!

More Questions, Answered:

Getting an accurate measurement of a new or existing home is very important...

Welcome to AskTheContractors.com. I'm your host, Todd Bird. Thanks for joining me.

Well, I know in California, when we measure the square footage of homes here sometimes we just go to room-to-room and measure it (12ft by 15ft), or (10ft by 11ft), and then guess-timate our square footage. That is a quick way. But the proper way is to measure the exterior of your building.

After you measure, multiply by (length-X-width). Add any out-croppings you have to your totals, separately, and add together all the square footage.

Here is the most important part:: Remember to be more specific when making official measurements:

When you're appraising a home, the square footage is always taken from the exterior measurement.

Another thing to remember, if you have a commercial building and you're leasing it out for $1.25 a square foot, you would measure the exterior of your building also. It's the square footage that matters most. Then multiply the square footage by the price per sq. ft. That is how much you're charging your tenant.

The other reason to get the proper square footage of your building is if you're going to be ordering materials, like framing, siding, or roofing.

Most new building constructions are done and submitted for bidding off of the square footage of the project. In this case, you must have the proper square footage.

For instance, as a contractor, if I'm bidding to frame a house, my numbers need to be accurate. Say it's a 1000 square foot home. I'm going to frame it, so consider labor and material, and I'm going to charge $20 to $25 a square foot to complete the framing. So it just makes it fair and more accurate. This also applies to the homeowner, especially when you're getting multiple bids from multiple contractors.

So, again, Square Footage is Very, Very, Very Important.

And it's very simple to do. You could do it on your own. But always verify to make sure you have an accurate measurement.

When you do use accurate measurement, you'll know that you're not overcharging someone, or shooting yourself in the foot and not charging enough.

Anytime I can help anyone with questions like this, please send me a question to AskTheContractors.com.

I'm going to answer it for you right here on my show.

Do you have a question for me? I've been a contractor well over 30 years, I can now answer your questions. Just send me an email. And I will answer your question right here on the podcast.

Listen close, because it might be a similar question to something you want to do at your house. We are AskTheContractors.com. We're here for you. The advice is not going to cost you a thing. I want to know what's going on.

More Questions Answered:

Let me ask you a couple of questions first... You say you have the rim plate. You're talking about the top, flat-area of the top of the wall...

James: Yes, with the rim plate being positioned vertically and on the outer rim edge of the house.

Okay. And your ceiling joists sit on top of that.

Yes. And they're running perpendicular, as they should, into that sill plate and rim joist.

Okay, and you're saying that a four-foot section of your rim joist has to be cut out?

I assume so. It's rotten.

Todd: Yeah, if it's rotten, it needs to be cut out. Now, is there a way that you can support the joisting while you slide that out of there, and after you take a Sawzall to it?

I have access to some jacks.

Perfect, because that's called false-framing. That's because you set it up with a (2x6), or a (4x4) across with a jack on each end. Next, you stabilize it and come in there with a Sawzall and cut it.

You probably don’t have Simpson brackets holding those joists down. So you’ll toenail them with 16-penny nails.  A good blade on your Sawzall will make a nice, even cut across. And then, the new piece slides right out.

"It's not a real difficult job to do, as long as you support what you're cutting out."

And then once you cut your Dry Rot out, you can slide your new piece of wood right back in there.

Toenailing is going to be pretty difficult.

Can you get in there with screws? Because I don't think you're going to be able to swing a hammer in that limited area.

James: I think I'll certainly be able to get a screwdriver in there.

Yeah, if you can get screws in there that's going to secure it so that it's not going to go anywhere.

Is there a Gutter on the Fascia Board above the Rim Joist?

"You sound like you know what you're doing. Don't be afraid to take this on yourself." "Just be careful on the ladder. And make sure you keep all 10 of your fingers."

Do you have a question for AskTheContractors.com?

Is something strange going on around your home? Or, maybe you just don't know which direction to go…

Send me your questions for AskTheContractors.com. I'd like to answer it right here on the air. We'll help you get through your next project.

Just because I've been a contractor for well over 30 years, doesn't mean I know it all. I know a lot, but not all. I reach out to my Trusted Pros on AsklTheContractors.com.

I'm your host, Todd Bird and I'm here to answer questions for you.

More Questions, Answered

When you have a countertop installed, the underside is unfinished. The upside, the top side is buffed out and polished and it looks just so beautiful. But not on the underside, where the edge is.

This is my favorite time of the show. It's when you can ask me your questions.

What I use to seal stone Granite and Quartz, Whitney is called Aqua Mix Sealers. And you can get a 32-ounce container for about $56 at your local hardware store or Home Depot or Lowes.

You simply put it on a rag and you wipe it on. It's that easy and it just helps keep it sealed. Of course, you can get underneath to the exposed area where it's not polished and put this sealer on it.

Sealing it will keep it nice, especially in a bathroom where you have steam all around. In fact, bathrooms get very wet with a lot of wear and tear. People getting in and out of the shower and splashing their faces in the sink.

So, sealing the under-mount of your countertop would not be a bad idea.

Another question I get asked quite often is, "What is the difference between Granite and Quartz?"

Granite

Granite is a very hard stone and is 100% natural. It's mined from around the world and then cut down into manageable sizes. After that, the stone is then polished and brought out to your home after being cut to size. At last, ready to go.

Quartz

Quartz is slightly different because its not 100% natural. Instead, the engineered countertops are manufactured using 90% ground natural quartz with 5% polymer resins.

Do they both Granite and Quartz Stone hold up?

"Yes, they do. Both Granite and Quartz are very strong. I think it's a matter of preference what looks good to you."

Here are some Kitchen & Bath Design Tips:

• Have faith in yourself.
• Search out what makes you feel the best.
• Look at Open Homes in your neighborhood for ideas.
• Walkthrough Model Homes at new subdivisions for a complete look
• Check out the latest technology and updated, must-have products.

This is your Source for Local Home Improvement Pros. We cut through it all and nail things down.

Do you need to find a quality contractor? You can go to our website and get a quote from one of my local pros. These are the same pros that have made me successful in the contracting business. Finally, you too can go right to our website and use the services of the same people that I use. Askthecontractors.com. Join us, because it's a great way to start your project and get it done the right way.

Send us your Questions

Is something strange going on around your home? Or, maybe you just don't know which direction to go…

Send me your questions for AskTheContractors.com. I'd like to answer it right here on the air. We'll help you get through your next project.

More Questions, Answered:

To help answer that question, I've brought on Nicole Anderson from the Anderson Group at Coldwell Banker.

Nicole, you've heard the question that Monique has asked. What is your experience with putting in power and getting the permits for a vacant lot project? What does Monique have to look forward to in doing this process?

Every property is going to be unique so, the biggest issue is where the main lines underground are coming from. And if there is even sewer accessibility at all. Otherwise, they might have to go septic.

I like the fact that you mentioned septic

A lot of times a sewer system is non-existent in some of these areas. So you actually have to go into a septic system, which is a whole can of worms in itself because of drainage, the runoff, and where the location is. There's a lot to that.

Does the building department give you any assistance before you purchase a vacant lot?

So, there are two ways you need to look at it. The listing agent who's selling a lot will have access to what's called the natural hazard disclosure and that will allow you to see if there are any major pipelines going through the property itself. That could be a good thing, and then it could be a bad thing too, depending on what type of pipe was installed.

"The most important thing is to call the city and talk to them about what is actually permitted. They are very knowledgeable. They'll pull up the property and if the planner can't answer your questions, they'll go to the tax assessor."

They can really break it down for you regarding how far away different utility main lines are for the vacant lot.

Setbacks, and so on. Now, in Monique's question here, I'm not quite sure if she's hired a contractor at this point, but it probably makes sense to already have someone lined up. They will assist you in answering these questions, as we say, go out and kick dirt on the lot to figure out where the boundaries and setbacks are, and so on.

Absolutely, absolutely. Because when you're working with a contractor, you'll have a strong relationship with your contractor. They're very busy, they have a lot to think about. For example, they have to run crews, they have overhead, but they're gonna give you so much more knowledge.

Start building that relationship before you purchase the property. It will make the whole process smoother.

I absolutely agree. Being a contractor for almost 40 years, I know that most of the people in my business bend over backward to help our clients.

Reasons to work with a Contractor

1. They're a great group of people, as realtors are.
2. Contractors are there to help you and answer your questions.
3. They live and breathe the business.
4. The more information the client has, the better your project's going to go.

We want your purchase of a vacant lot to be a smooth experience.

Utilities are something you don't see or appreciate until the toilet backs up, or the power goes out.

"You want that house. You're not looking at the two-by-fours. You only see that finished product."

So, there is a lot of preliminary work that people need to expect and plan for if you're going to buy a vacant lot. In this case, Monique is up for some challenges but I think if she listens to our advice, she's going to get through this.

Thank you very much, Nicole, for being on with us.

Call Nicole if you have questions in the Bay Area about building a home, buying a home, or better yet even selling a home.

Is something strange going on around your home? Or, maybe you just don't know which direction to go…

Send me your questions for AskTheContractors.com. I'd like to answer it right here on the air. We'll help you get through your next project.

Recent Questions, Answered

One thought Leslie has is adding a 2' x 6' beam to join the two or three rafters off the roofline, and then anchoring the top of her wall to the top rafters.

Let's look at this to make sure it's viable

This is a great question because I'm going to tell you, one of the first things I look at when I evaluate a home for a client. I look at the roofline. I look to see if the house is plumb and true. Are there any walls bowing out? Or, are they sagging?

"One of the most common sags I see in a home is over the garage. Garage roofs are not built to support anything bearing."

If you notice, your garage is probably a 22-ft wide, two-car garage. You have just 2ft. X 6ft. rafters going across, and then what do people do? They throw some plywood there, and then the ice chest and the sleeping bags. There goes all the camping gear. Everything you can imagine is stored up in those rafters. Before you know it, too much weight is on those rafters and it causes a sag in the roof. This is very dangerous.

I’ve seen accidents where roof rafters have split and fallen-in onto your nice, new car, the bicycles, or whatever else you have in the garage. God forbid, you get hurt while you're out there working in the garage. So, you never want to overload the rafters in your garage.

Support for your added weight is very important

Now, Leslie has 2" x 6" rafters running across and she's thinking that only two or three of them are the 2" x 6", and let’s assume this is a 2-car garage. You will want to put a minimum of 2” x 10” beams across those rafters; joining them next to the 2" x 6". Full-length; wall to wall. That way you have something very substantial to hang off the 2” x 10”s. That's going to carry substantial weight.

As far as the angle at 45°; angling to the wall, that’s a load-bearing wall. If it’s an exterior wall then it’s a very strong wall with a footing and hopefully, in this case, is a shear wall. Most outside walls are shear walls, which means it has plywood over the top of the 2” x 6”, and then on top of the plywood, of course, you have your siding.

Here is the best way to anchor rafters for solid support

So, if you want to span that is eight feet, put a 2” x 10” horizontal, bolted into the 2” x 4” rafters. That's going to give you some added strength, and then come with a 45° angle down.

Now, I'm assuming you want that 45-degree angle to do Sit-ups, Pull-Ups, and be more of an exercise bench in your garage area.

I hope this helps answer your Question

I’d like you to send me some pictures. If you have a question, then pictures always help. I can visualize and give you more information than just guessing at what it looks like.

I want you to be safe, Leslie. I don't want you to hurt yourself.

Let me tell you this story…

I have a good friend, his name is John. John thought it was a really good idea to hang some Gravity boots on a door opening and hang upside down because it made his shoulders feel good.

It stretched out his back and John was getting some relief. Well, guess what? John was a real dumb, dumb because he had it attached to the trim around the door, not the header above the door. You can guess what happened. He put those big boots on and hung himself upside-down and it broke! The fall almost broke his neck. He was in the hospital for some very bad injuries, so I don't want that to happen to you.

"I want you to stay healthy and happy and have that work-out bench for a long time so you can stay fit."

Ask me your home renovation and home remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com We answer your questions right here on the show You can find qualified contractors for this project / and others in the Directory at AskTheContractors.com.  Request a bid from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros.

Recent Questions, Answered:

We want you to have good memories and say this renovation was exciting and fun. We learned a lot.

I get sad when I hear people saying, "I'll never renovate again because we didn't expect this or that..." No !!

AskTheContractors.com is your source for local Home Improvement Pros. This is where we cut through it all and nail things down. I'm your host, Todd Bird.

What's new in the world? New roofing for a client. Next week we start a bathroom remodel. New kitchens. We have new addition projects coming up.

It's going to be a very good year.

We're in November but I think the year is going to end with a bang, and then start off with a bang.

As always, I love bringing you the latest homeowners' news.

By the way, our news articles are unbelievable.

California homes become more affordable in the third quarter. (3:25) The housing market is affordable despite the fact that the taxes here in California are killing people. The last I looked, they still want more money out of our pockets... It's a shame.

Move over Dallas, L.A. Homebuyers are Moving In. (5:30) New data from Zillow shows that more than 30% of the people looking for new homes in Texas are current dwellers of L.A., New York, and Chicago. And more are coming.

Home Renovation Spending Forecast to Fall Despite Strong Market. (6:30) Keep in mind that we're going into an election year which I think does affect the housing market, and the economy is based around remodels. I have more on this in the show...

All of us, at one point, have been a first-time buyer. I was a first time buyer years ago. You've been a first-time buyer, and if you're not a first-time buyer at one point when you desire to have a house, guess what, you're going to become a first-time buyer. So, What’s on the First-Time Home Buyers Wish List? You may be surprised. (10:30)

I love news reports like this… (15:00) Family Finds 1940’s Newspaper During Home Renovation. I'm not trying to be a Topper, but I do want to tell you a story of what I found in the walls of an old home.

It’s exciting to find cool stuff between the walls of a home.

Did You know...

Stockton housing market is one of the hottest in the country in November? (21:00) That wasn't so a couple of years ago, but it's making a comeback.

Evan Reciti, Executive Vice President for Reality Hop joins us.

I'm one of those who have not bought into the High-Tech Home yet.

It scares me and I'm a contractor. I can see that Connected Kitchens are slow-in-coming.

So I'll share Homeowners True Feelings about High-Tech Kitchens ( 30:00)

But I do have an idea for a High-Tech Appliance. Click to listen and I’ll tell you about it.

Lastly, This is my Favorite Part of the Show

I love it when you sending me your Home Renovation questions.

This question from Robin.

A preliminary set of plans can be used to get some bids off from, count two-by-fours, count square footage, and start a budget. We'll answer Robin's question to help her get an idea of how much materials and labor it will take to get this project done.  

I'll also give Robin some homework to help her save some money on her building plans. Every penny counts!

If you're a homeowner starting a home improvement project or need an estimate, we know great people on the website. Including...

Masonry Design Brick and Stone

Gutterdome Gutter Guards

EcoGuard Pest Management

Rustic Brick and Fireplace

Medich Electric

Prestige Flooring

CBS Bonds and Insurance

DR Design & Remodel

Myesha Perry, if you are looking to buy or sell your home...

And me, Todd Co Builders

Plus, so many more on the website.

We help homeowners get your next project done, and done right.

Check us out on our Facebook Page/ AsktheContractors.com

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First, in the news

We received a Question from a Bay Area listener

Keeping your Holiday House in-shape

• Do it now: Make sure your appliances are repaired and cleaned ahead of time.
• Update Your Look: Consider giving the rooms a face-lift. A fresh coat of paint or change the hardware on cabinets.
• Know your limits.
• Have a backup plan.

Send us your comment

• First, Which Neighborhoods in America - and Northern California - offer children the best chance to rise out of poverty.
• Secondly, Where the Fall Bug Invasion will be worst. We have the updated the Bug-o-meter forecast.
• Finally, Are your neighbors annoying? Laugh with us, laughing at a New Poll of the Most Annoying Neighbors in America. And what they do to annoy us; Rock on!

1. 1. Raised Panel Cabinets
   2. Granite Countertops
   3. TVs in the Kitchen

Okay. This is a good question because this starts with preparation.

[Click and follow along with the Full Transcript]

You need something to use to set your budget

First, you want to hire a good architect. Have the architect to give you what we call, "a preliminary set of plans". Then you want the architect to break his job up into two phases.

"A preliminary set of plans is used to start your bids from. It will help you count 2x4s, count square footage, and determine how much material and labor are needed to get the project done."

You do not need a full set of plans for that, ok. Eventually, you will need it, and you will spend some money on that, but right we want to pull a budget together.

The first set of plans is going to give you the linear footage of cabinets, the square footage of sheetrock, and the square footage of floor coverings. Also, the roofline, the roofing material, the siding material, and the types of windows.

Once you've made your decisions, now you can go into a full set of plans for the building department.

But first, here's a tip to save you a ton of money 

Do not rely on an architect or a contractor to do the preliminary work unless you are intimidated and you're not sure. I have more faith in you than some people have in themselves. This is what I'd like you to do with that preliminary set of plans...

Go to the building department, take a number and wait patiently

Mr. Inspector will come out and talk to you. These are very intelligent people who will give you the information you need. Like setbacks, for example. How much square footage can you have on your lot? You know, there's a limit. You can only put so much square footage on that lot, depending on how big that lot is. Also, can you have a granny unit? Can you have a swimming pool?

All these things are important and a preliminary set of plans will have those measurements on that plan  

And Mr inspector can give you even more information, like are there CC&Rs in your area? Can you have a two-story? The building department is going to be a huge asset to you on that.

Then you can take that information firsthand, get it written down, and give it to your architect. If you don't do it your architect will, and if your time is valuable this tip will save you some money. Otherwise, they will charge you if they have to go and search for this information for your building plans.

Robin, I hope I answered your question. Start with a preliminary set of plans with an architect and you, yourself go to the Building department and get the information you need.

If you are thinking about building a new project, I would like to know about what's going on. No matter what it is, I want to walk you through it.

No, I don't want to move in with you and I don't need an extra bedroom, but I do want to be a part of your renovation. Okay?

"It makes me feel good that I'm able to help others with renovations that could be challenging." 

Home renovations can be very trying… trying on a family; trying on your pet dog, for example. It's a big change when you do a renovation, so doing it the right way and having a good memory is important. When it's done, I want you to say, “Hey Wow. This was a good project. It was fun and we learned a lot”.

Ask me your home renovation and home remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com We answer your questions right here on the show You can find qualified contractors for this project / and others in the Directory at AskTheContractors.com.  Request a bid from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros.

More Recent Past Questions

And then of course, right after that turkey dinner we bring out the lights. Up goes the trees and before you know it, Christmas will be here. 2019 will be in the history books, so that's kind of sad. But for 2019, I think it’s been a really good year for home improvement. At least a lot of remodeling is going on out there.  People are busy. I know it's very difficult to find good contractors right now. We can help you out though. Go to AskTheContractors.com and I think you're going to find an easy path to using one of our local Home Improvement Pros. Like DR Design & Remodel. Medich Electric. Prestige Floors. CBS Bonds and Insurance.

How about Todd Bird and Toddco Builders? So, if you're thinking about doing a project, check out how much information you can find on our website. We're not just contractors but you learn from things in the news you'll hear on the show.

We’re talking about Millennials news on home buyers today

They rank the Top 10 Community features and what they desire in a neighborhood. Then to flip that. We also have the Top 10 Features not wanted by Millennials. It’s always interesting to follow them and get their feedback.

As always, we start with some news…

(3:15) U.S.  Foreclosure Rates reach 20-year low thanks to the housing boom.

California Housing Bill introduced to speed up the home building in the Golden State. (4:50) New housing legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom aims at boosting home building by slashing the development approval time and banning local governments from imposing building restrictions.

When you do build your new home think about building a home that's going to survive mother nature. (7:00)

"Those of you who live in the Sacramento Valley, with three rivers, we are put in a position to have a 1% chance of experiencing a 100-year flood each year. That’s pretty high."

In fact, if you ever see the construction of new buildings in downtown Sacramento you can see the original city underneath the sidewalks. The sunken city is 12 - 15 feet below the street level to prevent epic flooding.

Millennials are not good at home projects, (10:00) according to a Harris Poll survey. Despite the popularity of home improvement shows.  

World’s tallest residential skyscraper reaches its height. This is really impressive. (12:00) The Central Park Tower as it's known is currently under construction in New York City 1550 ft high, making it more than a quarter of a mile tall.

Here is a home I don't think I could buy. The former home of John Wayne Gacy is for sale. (13:00) This guy was a serial killer in the 70s. The old property where bodies were found could be yours. The bodies have been taken off so you don't have to worry about that.

"I posted all these news stories on my website AskTheContractors.com, or you can send me your question. If you have a question, then hundreds of people out there probably have the same question. I would love to answer it here."

I make fun of them. They’re kind of quirky. So, let's give you more Millennials News.

(18:00) It's interesting to watch the young trendsetters of society migrate through life. So we're watching millennial homebuyers rank the Top 10 things they like in a new suburb. Then we go through the list of Top 10 amenities Millenials don’t want in a new suburb.

We're here for you. You have no idea how much information that we have on AskTheContractors.com, and how much information I can give you to make sure your next project goes well.

Thanks for the support from Real Estate Agent Myesha Perry,  Reeves Construction, Superior Shower Door & More the company, Rustic Brick & Fireplace, and so many more.  

Like us on Facebook/AskTheContractors

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Become a sponsor of Ask The Contractors. Connect with me for inclusion in the Contractor’s Directory, and then I'll have another Soldier to add to our Army of people to help you remodel your home.

We are askthecontractors.com.  We’re getting that job done and done right the first time.

Finally, I'm Todd Bird, the host. Thanks so much, everyone.

Leave us your thoughts...

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

More, most recent Blog Posts

Guess what? I'm hanging out at Home Depot today and they have a lot of quality paint types to choose from, so let's figure this out for Mimi. In fact, Home Depot my favorite place in the world even if I’m not stocking up for a project. I come over here and I get great ideas.

[Click and Follow along with the full transcript]

So, this is a really good question and I've posted a picture on AskTheContractors.com. You can actually see the door and it's pretty beat up. The molding protrudes out from the door. I can see where people have taken hangers over the years and hung them up on the lip of the molding. And then below, it looks like people's shoes or maybe grandkids with the big wheel has been hitting the door, so that's pretty common.

Before I tell you the type of paint you should use, you've already said that you're going to fill the holes with wood putty and sand them. Wood putty will adhere to the door best that way. Make sure you sand it again after using the putty. Then, take the door off the hinges and make yourself a spray booth outside. The booth should be in an area that's open. Wear a mask so you don't breathe any of the paint fumes.

For strong paint applications, use quality paint like Kelly-Moore Dura poxy. It comes in multiple colors. It's durable and washable. Remove the hinges, remove the doorknob, and spray. Spraying will give you a much better finish, and it's going to look so much nicer.

This is also a good time to paint the frame. The frame is part of the door too.

The doors will look amazingly nice, and then you're going to have a really nice project that you're going to be very, very proud.

So again, you want to use dura-poxy paint from Kelly Moore. Go online and find out where Kelly Moore paints are sold near you!

If you have projects like this in the United States or beyond, send me your question. I'm going to give you the right answer, and if I don't have the answer, guess what, I'm going to go to my website AskTheContractors.com and find one of my Trusted Pros to come and answer the question together. Like Reeves Construction and DR Design & Remodeling.

More Questions, Answered Here

To help answer this question we're bringing on ATC contractor, Paul Reeves with Reeves Construction.

[Click to Follow along with the full Transcript]

Paul, you’ve heard the question, was Gold Bond Purple XP the right choice?

This is a hot question. It's a little misleading because back in the day we called it Green Board. Now it’s called Purple Board. Homeowners think contractors can just put up their tile, but they do not realize what's behind that tile. In fact, grout does not resist moisture. It actually absorbs it.

What's behind your Tile is very important

I run into this all the time when we do demolition. We tear into homes all the time because we do a lot of dry rot. Just the other day we pulled the siding off the outside of a building and they had put a soap and shampoo niche in the wall, but they clued the tile to the inside of the exterior siding. We tore the siding off the outside and we are looking into a two foot opening inside their bathroom. “Hi, how are you today?”

Jon has a good question because the homeowner doesn't always know

You see the finished tile work and it looks great to homeowners. They pay the contractor or tile setter, and away they go. The clients don't realize what's going to happen 3, 4, and 5 years from now.

We always up use Tile backer in our projects. That is a cement board that's specifically made to go behind tile. It's just a forgone conclusion. I make sure there is clearance for my tile guy to put up his cement board when I install the moisture board.

I know there are people putting tile right up on top of purple boards. I'm not a fan of that.

And here's a saying I've used for years. I think you might agree with this...

Your tile is only as strong as what it’s adhered too.

...and if it's only attached to a piece of sheet-rock, or in this case water resistant drywall, it's only as strong as the paper that’s glued onto. That’s it.

Here’s what happened to me. We put up Purple board because we were installing a cultured marble shower, which is a solid-hard surface. Then there was a last minute change to tile. The client didn't understand the cost and expense of having to tear back into that wall and put the cement board back up.

Would you like to be a one of our vetted contractors? Send us your qualifications to AskTheContractors.com. We will check you out and make sure you're the real deal because people on my website are the real deal. They're there to help you.

That gets into another question that sometimes you and I have to deal with… when people are requesting change orders.

"Change orders cost money, and that's why  you pick out your product you want to stay with it."

Whatever goes behind that product, in this case your cement board and your water resistant drywall, you want to make sure that product is going to be the right product for your finished product. So homeowners have to understand that. There's a reason to what goes on, and in which order. I want Jon to understand that. Just having sheet-rock behind your tile does not always mean its a good job.

"It might look good for a couple of years, but then all the sudden the contractor is gone and it's five years down the road. The warranty is up and all of a sudden I'm redoing a bathroom."

We’ve both received the calls and a picture texted to us of someone's tile laying on the bottom of the bathtub. What happened? Gold Bond Purple XP tile board is moisture resistant. It’s not moisture-proof.

Exactly, and Jon asks if a water-resistant drywall is an acceptable practice? Should he be concerned? Yeah, I have a concern. It's not an acceptable practice. "No" and "no".

You want to make sure it's done right, and when you want it done right you go to AskTheContractors.com

You’ll find qualified pros like Paul Reeves of Reeves Construction on AskTheContracdtors.com. These are our vetted contractors who can answer your questions.  They will give you the direction you need to make your home remodeling project a success.

Do you have a question regarding your home renovation? Send your question to AskTheContractors.com.  We will answer your question right here on this show.

Past Questions, Answered

We continue to see the cost of housing rise to record numbers. A lot of that has to do with land values, especially here in California. You can buy a home across the Golden State and the price will vary, but [two-by-fours] are still the same cost; sheet-rock is still the same cost no matter where you go. The price of the land makes a difference. I’ll expand on that.

I'm your host Todd Bird.

Later in the show, we’re joined by Agent, Myesha Perry.

In fact, we are going out to one of her listings to talk about the real estate world. (30:00) We will talk about affordability, and what's on the market right now.

I have a question from a listener this week.

I love it when you send me questions about your home remodeling project. (10:15) John in Del Paso Heights begins by saying… “I am spot repairing a brick facade with some obvious missing mortar”. So we will answer the question with Dave Jones with Masonry Design in Sacramento.   

Do you have any problems with your bricks? You may want a new fireplace. How about a new patio? Go out to Rustic Brick and Fireplace on Power Inn Road for Sacramento’s best selection of brick, tile and stone. It’s a great place to visit. In fact, I like going out there on weekends and just browsing around their showroom. It's a wonderful place.

Halfway through the show, we will head out to McClellan Business Park to visit the California State Home Show. And then, Myths Associated with Owning a New Home. That will be in our final segment.

Lets dive into What’s News.  

Housing prices in California hit its largest number for the third straight month. (1:45) The medium Golden State just reached $611,00+ in June.

So across the country, the price of land occupied by single-family housing picked up in the past five years. (2:45)

Thinking about flipping a house? Well, House Flipping is making a comeback nationwide. (4:00) Not just here in California.

The A-Frame home is Hot again. (6:00) Enthusiasm for the existing A-frames inventory is a newfound love. What's the saying, if you hold onto something long enough it'll become new again.

If you'd like to build your own A-frame home, shed, or chicken coop, we have a place for instructions on our Facebook Page: Ask The Contractors.

A Purple House in New England is sparking some debate (7:45) about the color the owner picked and the bushes she removed.

Guess what we're going to do now?

McClellan Business Park for the beautiful, California Home Show (16:45) where we meet some homeowners and vendors who love home improvement as much as I do.  

• We talked to homeowner, Pam about redoing the backyard.
• Then Rose with Northern California Grills, shows us Outdoor Kitchens.
• I'm doing a 360 and see Theresa and Walt who are thinking about renovating their bathroom and doing some painting.
• Before we meet Mike and J.J. with EcoGuard Pest Management. 'If something is bugging you, you'll be bugged no longer.'

Lastly, We talk about Housing and Myths of Owning a Home

"Just because people tell you something, doesn't mean it’s true."

(37:45) We want to dispel some of those misconceptions about buying your next home. That's because owning a home can be complicated, terrifying, and littered with a lot of misunderstandings. Sometimes it's hard to separate fact from fiction. We have some answers when they're thinking about your housing.

"As always, if you have concerns about that new home that you want to buy, bring the question to us. I'll help you answer that question."

I want to thank our guests Myesha Perry and Dave Jones with Masonry Design in Sacramento. Both are great people to talk to.

These are just some of my Trusted Pros that you can find in our Directory of Contractors. Great companies like Hydroblox Drainage Solutions, Prestige Flooring, CBS Bonds and Insurance, DR Design and Remodel. Reeves Construction to help with your next home improvement project. All you have to do is go to askthecontractors.com, American Therapy Walk-in Tubs. Superior Shower Doors and More, and Bird Bath & Kitchens and so much more. Todd Co Builders.

Do you have a question for the contractors? Ask me your Home Renovation and Home Remodeling question from the link on our home page at askthecontractors.com on there for you. All you have to do is send me a question because it's that easy.

Follow us on Facebook @Ask The Contractors. Subscribe to our podcast for a show On-Demand. iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, iHeartRadio app, Stitcher, and everywhere you get your Podcasts.

Do you want to be included in our Directory? That's easy. We’re your source for local Home Improvement Pros. I'm going to check you out. I'm going to make sure you have a license and you have all the good stuff you need to be a good contractor. It good business. That's why you can trust Ask The Contractors.

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

Recent Blog Post Articles:

We are your source for Local Home Improvement Pros.

I’m your host Todd Bird.

If you're looking for a project around your home go to our website askthecontractors.com.  Request an estimate for your next Home Improvement project from our Directory of Contractors.

I've been a contractor for well over 30 years.

These are contractors in the Sacramento area that I trust. If you have a question about your upcoming home improvement project, send an email. We would love to hear from you. That's what we're here for.

This week we’ll give you Tips for Successful Remodel. But first, one final trip to The Alex Project. This is a remodel we’ve worked on for 5 weeks. Now, we're finished.

We also have a Question from a listener about maximizing the space in her kitchen.

We have some wonderful news that’s trending right now.

I talk a lot about Millennials (1:30). They're spending more on Home Improvement than probably anyone else. We have the details.

We’ve seen this coming… Green Trends are popular in high-end Home Designs (3:00). Let me give you some advice on this, okay? When using recycled products like reclaimed wood, some of that wood has lead paint on it. You don't want to make the environment inside your house worse by bringing those fibers into your home. There are better options.  

Home prices continue to moderate in May (4:45). CoreLogic Case-Shiller US National Home price index numbers are out. Las Vegas led the way year-over-year with price increases. Where was California? Stay tuned...

In other local home news…

• Pending Home Sales rise for the second month. (5:00) 
• America's hottest ZIP codes of 2019 according to realtor.com. (5:30) Yay! Folsom is on the list!

Then, Marsha, Cindy, Peter, and Greg say HGTV overpaid for The Brady Bunch home. (6:45) You may remember HGTV had purchased the home used for the exterior shots of The Brady Bunch TV show for 3.5 million. We have an update from the original cast.

And, a fun news item. Have you ever been struck by lightning? That’s not fun but exploding toilets are. (8:00) Hear how it happened and the story of a Greenhaven home that was struck by lightning.

Our Question of the Week comes from Ann in Colfax.

She has a small home with a tiny kitchen. Are her remodel plans big enough to include an Island? We give Ann a couple of options. (10:00)

Do you have a question that we can help you with? Send me your Home Renovation and Home Remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com

We answer your questions right here on the show

Let's go on a little road trip.

"This project’s going to blow your mind."

You've been with us from the start and now to the Finish. (14:00) You are going to be amazed by the new bathroom and new kitchen. They are ready for the final inspection.

Are you ready to tackle your own Home Improvement Project? My next segment is all about being prepared for your next remodel.

We want to thank you for being our guest today. It's awesome.

I love what we did over there and thanks to our sponsors. American Therapy Walk-in Tubs. Superior Shower Door & More. Bird Bath and Kitchens. CBS Bonds and Insurance, Rustic Brick & Fireplace, Toddco Builders, and many more. We’re there for you.

Like us on Facebook, @AskTheContractors. Subscribe to our Podcast for this show on demand. We use iTunes, Google Play, The iHeartRadio app., Spotify, Stitcher, and everywhere you get Podcasts.

Do you want to become a sponsor? Go to AskTheContractors.com. I would love to have you on board with us. We’re your source for local Home Improvement Pros.

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

Recent Blog Posts

Do you have a project going on at your home? This is where we cut through it all and nail things down. That's because we're your Source for Local Home Improvement Pros.

I've been a contractor well over 30 years. So if you need a contractor, you can request an estimate from some of our Trusted Pros on our website, AskTheContractors.com. In fact, these businesses are super, and they're actually on my job site.

Today we update you on The Alex job. We're following this job from start to finish.

Now, last time we talked we had rough electrical going in. We had rough plumbing being finished up; hardwood floors and the sheetrock has been completed. Meanwhile we're ready to paint.  

This type of granite; it's just gorgeous.

So today we are setting our Granite. This Granite almost looks like a river is running through. Also recessed sinks - under mount for some of you.

Yeah, but before we work on this project, we're going to be doing some news that affects the housing market.

Then I answer a question from a listener about her balcony addition options.

What’s News…

Homeownership Rates remains Stable in 2018. (2:30) The first American homeownership program index found that affects an individual’s opportunity to own a home. Moreover, the five states nationwide with the greatest year-over-year increase in the potential homeownership are:

• Delaware
• Washington DC
• Tennessee
• Wisconsin
• and New Jersey

Surprisingly, the state with the greatest year-over-year decrease in potential homeownership demand: Idaho

The Cost of Home Building Materials declined in June. (3:45) Here's another thing that can affect home building materials and that’s what happens over in Iran. That’s going to affect oil prices.  

Pack your bags because this is where Millennials are moving in 2019. (4:30) Sacramento’s not on the list of the top-25.

Also, I always like these kinds of stories. What Americans want in their dream neighborhood. (6:45) So, this is a list of what must be included in a dream neighborhood starting with a grocery store.

Therefore, these are all reports to help you take care of your home and build some equity in your home. That's going to make it a lot easier for the next step.

Use our Facebook page @askthecontractors.com and let us know how you feel about your dream home. What are your dream amenities for the home?

Above all, we're here to make sure you get the latest news on Home Trends. To prove it… A tiny house you can take for a spin. (10:33)

We’re going to go to The Alex Project. This is a project we've been following for quite a while. (14:15) From start to finish. We had rough plumbing being finished up. We had hardwood floors going in, but now we’re midway through. Sheetrock has been completed, and we're ready for paint in the kitchen and bathroom. Also, beautiful cabinets we being installed. Our hood is going in, so we have great ventilation when the range arrives.

“I’ve got to tell you that this project is rocking and rolling”

Meanwhile, we are setting our Granite which is being fabricated in the front yard.  

Then we're going to be talking about balconies.

It’s our question of the week. (21:00)

Do you have a question for me? Send it to AskTheContractors.com. Firstly, Connect with us on Facebook. Secondly, go to our website. These are the people that have helped us become successful in the contracting business.

In fact, if you’re starting a home project, or even thinking about a home improvement project, request an estimate from some of our Trusted Pros on our Directory of Contractors. We have Geremia Pools & Landscaping. Hydroblox Drainage Solutions. Prestige Flooring. CBS bonds and Insurance. Valley Solar. ToddCo Builders, and so much more. We're here to help you with our Trusted Contractors in the Sacramento area.

We have a great time. This is unlike any other show you'll ever want to listen to. We are here where the real deal.

Do you have a question for Ask The Contractors? Then send it to AskTheContractors.com and we will explore that question together

I'm going to tell, you check us out on AskTheContractors.com. In other words, we're here for you.

Thank you to Dr. Design & Remodel

Superior Shower Door & More

Bird Bath and Kitchens

Rustic Brick and Fireplace, and so many more.

Like us on Facebook. @Ask The Contractors

Remember, Subscribe to a podcast for a show on demand. iTunes, Google Play, The iHeartRadio app., Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you get your podcasts.

Become a Sponsor: you can join our website. Connect with me and you’ll be another soldier in our Army of Contractors who're there to help homeowners remodel their home. We are AskTheContractors.com.

Always remember, We are your source for local Home Improvement Pros getting that job done and done right the first time.

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

Recent Podcasts

To give you a little background. Pam's having her home framed. This is rough framing. Her contractor is using two-by-fours, headers, all that fun stuff.

[Click to Follow along with the full Transcript]

This is a very good question

Now, keep in mind that two-by-fours in between your walls is not finish work. It’s rough framing. It looks to me like the framing's coming over a top plate. Top-plates have two plates, your bottom plate and then the other one that staggers 4 feet on one side or the other. The two overlap and interlock. That top plate it's very important. Looking closer, this two-by-four looks like it was not toenailed. I could tell you that it was nailed down through the top plates and that it was installed properly.

The 2 by 4 board looks pretty rough, but I’ve seen worse. The most important thing here is that you want the two-by-four to be straight. You can’t have any bows in it because if that's the case that's going to cause some problems down the road. As far as the picture you sent us, I don't think there’s a whole lot to worry about unless the entire building is like that. Maybe your contractor got a bad load of lumber, or maybe they just bought buy cheap framing material.

There are Grade A and Grade B wood boards only

Anything beyond that is not used for framing and houses but talk to your contractor.

In fact, if you both deem that it should come out here's the concern. When it comes to two-by-fours, this is what you want to look for you...

Look for any bowing

Once the two-by-fours are installed, they're going to be running your rough electric. That means drilling holes through the two-by-four, and possibly going to be putting plumbing into it. If you make the decision at that point to take any of those two-by-fours out, I don't think it's going to happen, or it's going to be very expensive. That’s because now you have to take the wire out, and you have to re-drill. That doesn't mean just cutting the wire and put it back through. You have to go back to the source and run it all the way. You're not using junction boxes.

The same with your plumbing. Once that plumbing’s in the wall, you're stuck.

And again, the reason I want you to look for any bowing, we call it pregnancies in your two-by-four, because that's going to reflect in your sheetrock. When your sheetrock is hung, and believe me you will see it after the walls are painted.

You'll see a wall that looks like it's 9 months pregnant

So, you really want to get this taken care of it if, in fact, you have concerns. Now it's hard for me to tell from this picture that you sent, but you will have a framing inspection. I'm assuming you have a permit, so that might be a concern you bring up to a building department official. He’s going to be very honest with you since they're there to be a third set of eyes on that prize.

Try to address it as soon as possible. Okay?

“Your house is not going to fall down, I can tell you that”.

You should be able to sleep at night because the roof is not going to be caving in. However, Pam, it was a very, very good question.

Do you have a question for AskTheContractors.com?

I would love to answer your question.

Go to my website askthecontractors.com. Send me your question, and folks even though I've been a contractor for well over thirty years if I don't know the answer I'm going to go to our Directory of Contractors. I'm going to talk to one of our professionals on that website. I've been in the trades well over 30 years so send me that question and a picture about your home. I want to hear from you. I'll either have you on the air or talk about it on the show. Okay? So thank you, Pam.

Past Questions; Answered:

We’re your source for local Home Improvement Pros in Northern California.

I see more and more people are starting to renovate their homes. They know they need to update that flooring. It’s probably way behind the times. Or the bathroom was built in the fifties and sixties. In fact, the Alex job that we will take you on today, her bathroom was almost 70 years old. Her kitchen was renovated 20-30 years ago but still, that's 25-30 years old.

I can't tell you how happy you will feel after freshening up your home. And by the way, that doesn't mean you have to completely re-do the kitchen. You can update your appliances only. Consider simply upgrading the hardware or painting the cabinets. That's very common. You will get a fresh, new look.

This doesn't mean you just slap something together.

"When you do your project, start with a permit and a set of plans. Pick the right contractor, they will have the subs, and you'll be on your way."

This is where we cut through it all and nail things down. I'm your host Todd Bird.

We always start with the News…

There are some very interesting things going on out there for homeowners.

American suburbs add a new generation of residents. (2:15) That’s because the biggest cities in the U.S. are experiencing slower growth with young people being priced out.  

During the first five months of the year, construction spending amounted to almost $5 billion. Well, this month, construction spending dipped slightly, nationwide. (4:15) We cite three reasons.

I've been wanting to get to this report. Bend neighbors say 'no' to sidewalks. (5:45) Residents in Bend, Oregon say they don't want sidewalks in their neighborhood and they're fighting to keep them out.

I find this fascinating. (8:15) A rare floating home in San Francisco is for sale and listed at $1.8 million. The best part, it’s located in a tiny body of water called "McCovey Cove". Yep, right next to Giants stadium.

If you are looking to finance a conventional or non-conventional home, or you need to refinance, call Troy Bird. Guild Mortgage. 916-977-1234. We call Troy for all of our home loans.

This news report gives me the heebie-jeebies. I'm looking underneath my bed tonight before I hit the sack. Not that I'm afraid of monsters; I fear snakes. Especially a 16-foot python found nesting under a home in Florida with 50 eggs! (10:15)

Go to the @AskTheContractors FACEBOOK Page and you'll see the pictures, and so much more on this story.  

The Alex Project: Flooring Install

We want to give you the best information possible. So we are giving you an update on The Alex Project. (14:15) We just got all of our rough electric in the new kitchen. We have all the rough plumbing inside the bathroom done. The new tub has been set. Next, we're waiting for cabinets which should be coming in about a week and a half. Come along for a tour inside.

Meanwhile, we have an inspection on this project coming up, so we’ll tell you more about this new kitchen and bathroom renovation.

We have a Question This Week from Josh in Land Park.

Josh has a question because his door is misbehaving. (26:45) "I have an interior door that separates the kitchen from the laundry room. We would like to keep the door open, but it keeps swinging closed. How do I keep my interior door from closing by itself?"

Do you have anything else going on around your house? Of course, you do.

So, let’s talk about ROI.

It’s important to get a good return on your home improvement Investments. Don't just slap some paint on the wall and think the house is worth more. That's not going to do it.

Every year Remodeling Magazine releases its Cost versus Value report in an in-depth look at the return on investment on the most common remodeling projects across the country. (30:15) We tell you the best projects on your home to do that you can get the best return on your investment?

Before you plan your next Home Improvement...

These are the projects that will bring you the best return on your money.

• Backyard Patio
• Bath Addition
• Kitchen Update with Appliances
• Entry Door Replacement
• Bathroom Remodel
• Deck Addition
• Room Additions

Do you have a project you are considering? You can request an estimate from one of our Trusted Pros. I've vetted these Pros and work with them personally. Great contractors like Reeves Construction, Select Environmental, CBS Bonds and Insurance Services, DR Design & Remodel, Superior Shower Doors, Rustic Brick & Fireplace, Bird Bath & Kitchens, Real Estate Agent, Myesha Perry and so many more. You can also find me. Toddco Builders for your next kitchen, bath or room addition. We’re in the Directory of Contractors at askthecontractors.com.

Do you have a question for us? Send it from the homepage. I'm going to answer those right here on the show.

Like us on Facebook. @Ask The Contractors.

Subscribe to our podcast to follow the show On Demand. iTunes, Google Play, the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Stitcher, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

We are your source for local Home Improvement Pros.  

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

Recent Blog Posts:

We are advocates for your next Home Improvement project

It's your home. You're proud of it. Homes are kind of like a kid. You know how to maintain it. You’ve got to take care of it, and you certainly must love it. Your home has memories in it. You've raised your family and done so many good things in that home over the years. Take really good, good care of it because it's worth a lot more money now than it was when you originally bought it.

In the News...

Housing Affordability has improved in the second quarter. (2:00) The report determined affordability for average wage earners by calculating the amount of income needed to make a monthly payment.

… Pending home sales were up in May. (3:30) This is a nationwide survey which is good news. The housing markets* still moving UP across the country.

*Sacramento came in 12th on the list of the nation’s hottest markets. Sac was number 18 on the list in 2018 with a 10% listing price increase. So, if you bought your home a year ago, it's worth 10% more. That is good news for local homeowners.

This is really interesting… Homeowners 62 and older are seeing their housing wealth grow by $104 Billion in the past year. (5:00) That’s because Senior housing values are at an all-time high.

"Grandpa and Grandma are becoming rich just by sitting in their homes and taking care of their home."

We talk a lot on this show; living longer in your home and being comfortable. If you want to live longer in your home you might want to go to my website and check out Adaptive Living Renovations for ideas that can help you stay comfortable in your home for a long, long time.

Here’s one I like. (6:45) Home Depot founder will give away his billions. The co-founder of Home Depot says he's planning to give away nearly his entire fortune. Bernie Marcus has already donated about 2 billion dollars to more than 300 organizations worldwide. Well, bless his heart. We’ll tell you more.

Lastly, I can relate to this story. Early-era wine discovered during renovation on a New Jersey home, some of it dating back to 1796. (8:15) During a recent renovation of a colonial-era home, employees discovered a forgotten cellar door.

I have a related story…

I grew up in the Curtis Park area. We bought a home that was built in 1919 through an estate sale. What's interesting is, my father was in the basement one day building some shelves for my mom. (10:00)

"He yanked on this cord, on the wall, underneath the stairwell, and by-golly, the wall collapsed with stairs going down underneath the basement."

It's very uncommon, but when it does happen it’s exciting.  

Next, we take you to the first phase of Alex's Kitchen and Bath Renovation. We will be tearing out cabinets, tiles, and beating down walls while describing the plans for a new kitchen and bath. (13:45)

Follow us on FACEBOOK / Ask The Contractors for contractor updates, podcast release dates, and show extras.

With the long days of summer, now is a good time to get outdoors and tackle some home projects.

You can look for damage and make any needed repairs, as well as prep your home and garden for the rest of the year. At (23:00) we offer you a simple home maintenance checklist. These are things you can do over the summer, and before the winter hits us.

Quick Summer Maintenance list

• These are really simple. Like, inspect your driveway and sidewalks. Make sure you're getting good drainage.
• Keep an eye out for termites.
• Wash your windows.
• Clean the gutters and downspouts.
• Clean your fireplace.
• Check Sprinklers and irrigation systems, and much more.

Before we end...

We answer a Question from a Listener...

James is adding a large porch to the front of his home. (30:45) The home also features a large chimney at the front of the home. He’s trying to take the ridgeline of the home out onto the patio. James wants to know, “How do I join the ridge beam into an existing structure where there's a brick chimney stack?"  

If you have a question for me send it to askthecontractors.com. I want to answer your question. If I can't answer it, I'm going to go to my website and find one of my Trusted Pros to help me.

Folks, as always, this is where we cut through it all and nail things down.

Do you want to find some great contractors that can help you with your next project? These are businesses and contractors to get you through some of those things that you want to keep your house in really good shape. These are the people to help you do it. Go to AsktheContractors.com.

Request a bid from one of my Trusted Pros.

You can go to my FACEBOOK Page and find some great information that you can use in renovating your home. And by the way, if you have a question for me, send it to askthecontractors.com. I post all my questions there.

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I love questions of the week I'm going to help James answer a question he sent me from Georgia.

[Click to follow along with the Transcript]

The home also features a large chimney at the front of the home. So, to describe it, it's on two pillars in the front of the home and James is trying to take the home's ridgeline out, over the patio.

How do I join the ridge beam into an existing structure where there's a brick chimney stack?

Looking up the picture that you sent me, it's a little trickier than I thought. First, I have a question for you, James. Did you get an engineer involved? The beam doesn't look like it has a lot of support on the chimney end. The ridgeline is usually resting where the piers are; from the center beam. So, it looks like it aesthetically will go into the chimney section.

And by the way, even though there's not a whole lot of weight, you'll want to add some type of Simpson Bracket, maybe an inverted bracket, where the screws are inside and you don't have this big metal flange hanging out. Drill that into the bricks. You'd have to drill holes with a mortar bit, and then countersink some type of bolts in there. Make sure to use bolts that are meant for masonry. Inverted Simpson brackets, though they're not carrying a lot of weight, are for aesthetics.

That will give you some stability because your main load is way out on the piers.

Chimney foundations are massive

I would encourage you, in this case, the diagram looks right, it doesn't look like there's a whole lot of weight bearing on that beam going into the chimney. You’ll want to verify that with an engineer. You don't want to have a structural problem down the road.

Besides that, it looks beautiful. You're doing a great job. It's funny when the footing is poured for the chimney foundation it doesn't have to be perfectly square or even, the footing is whatever is left over in the cement truck. That's where they do their clean out. Everything goes into that big lump of concrete.

Then the chimney is actually built on top of that. So chances are you have a massive foundation. It'll hold the weight of the ridgeline. But again, you should have a Simpson bracket there to connect the two.

"When in doubt, hire it out."

Get an engineer to make sure you're doing it right.

If you have a question for me, send it to askthecontractors.com. I want to answer your question. If I can't answer it, I'm going to go to my website. I'm going to find one of Trusted Pros and I'm going to have him on with me to talk about your remedy.

Ask me your home renovation and home remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com We answer your questions right here on the show You can find qualified contractors for this project / and others in the Directory at AskTheContractors.com.  Request a bid from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros.

Recent Questions of the Week

So, joining us now is Blake Roath, Owner / Operator of Select Environmental to help answer this question.

[Click to Follow Along with the Transcript]

What would make somebody suspect that they have mold spores in their home?

If they're looking at black markings on their window sills because they’re not feeling good. Mold is allergenic, or most of them are. They are a known toxin, like Stachybotrys. But, I mean obviously, if you eliminate yourself from the situation, then you can take care of the problem. The truth is, there's mold everywhere. There's mold outside and there's mold inside.

For example, you open the door; mold comes in mold goes out. So, basically, the way you determine whether you have unsafe levels is you take a sample inside, and you take one outside. If the sample inside is equal of the same species of fungi as it is outside, then that's as clean as you can get it in the house, and to breath.

So, it seems like your own intuition would be what alerts you, right?

Yeah, I mean mold is penicillin, so if you're allergic to penicillin, then that can affect you. You will notice. It may or may not affect you, though. I've been in situations where I was affected by spores while the guy standing next to me said, he was “fine”, and vice versa.  Where I once had a guy say that he was not feeling well, and I felt perfectly fine.

What solution should this homeowner do if they suspect they have dangerous mold spores floating around their home?

I would call an Environmental Consultant so we can test the air. They'll come out and run some samples. The consultant will then take the samples in and have them read, write up a report, and give an analysis.

How long is the turnaround, and do you recommend they get out of the house in the meantime?

The turnaround time can be within a day, but it depends upon the consultant. Most of the time it's a couple of days. I only recommend getting out of the house if you're feeling bad. Otherwise, if they're not feeling bad, then there's no reason to get out of the house.

What are some of the symptoms of mold spores in your home?

It’s very similar to colds, and mostly respiratory irritation. It's like having an allergy.

Could it be a problem if the mold spores stay in your home for a while?

Even more, you've got to have water to have mold. So, without water, there's no way. I get this question a lot on jobs were doing.

What the experts are saying...

After we're done clearing any mold, the homeowner always asks, “What's my guarantee?”

I just tell them to keep it dry and I guarantee you won't have mold again.

Finally, mold needs a food source. It needs moisture. Therefore, without moisture, fungus won't grow.  

Select Environmental does not do the testing, they are strictly an abatement company. So, we recommend you contact some of Blake’s trusted Contractors, like Jim at NorCal. Mike at NAL. Also, Adams Labs.

Do you have a Question?

Is something strange going on around your home? Or, maybe you just don't know which direction to go…

Send me your questions for AskTheContractors.com. I'd like to answer it right here on the air. We'll help you get through your next project.

Past Questions, Answered:

Outdoor Trends for Summer 2019

This Summer, Metal accents, Woven threads, and Corduroy-type upholstery are being mixed together in new ways for your outdoor area. Chandeliers, soft rugs, and cozy floor cushions are popular outside.

Simple retro furniture will make your patio pop

Kerri Kelly suggests you keep it simple…  line up the lounge chairs and comfortable seats around accent tables to impress this summer.  

Outdoor kitchens and fire pits continue to be popular in California. Besides adding a nice feel.

"Home listings mentioning outdoor kitchens and outdoor fireplaces sold for significantly more than expected."

Bright colors of citrus, oranges, pinks and reds that define your fabrics are trending in 2019. Or, choose from outdoor-safe velvets and leathers for a cozy feel.

Don’t forget to brighten up your space with solar-powered LED accents that light the way.

In the yard, use eco-friendly landscaping and lighting that’s easy to install and look great at any budget.

Another seller’s bonus: Home listings mentioning outdoor lighting selling for 19% more than expected.

Which Trends are OUT in 2019?

Matching patterns are passé

Mix and match is the way to go when you’re setting is curated from the best accessories. Make your outdoor space your own by showing your individualism and style.

"Do you own a patio set? Don’ toss it out! Add mix and match multi-patterned cozy-outdoor throw pillows. And you can fix it by incorporating a rustic coffee table and a vintage side table."

Rustic Farmhouse is out to Pasture 

Old-aged recycled wood furnishings and industrial chairs are out in 2019. Swap it out for teak and aluminum. Transform your existing barn wood table and give it a coat of bright paint of complementary colors. 

Recent ATC Blog Posts:

But the rules of your relationship may not apply when remodeling your home.

Turning your house upside-down during a remodel is stressful enough, but doing so while bickering over every last detail with your partner is almost impossible. That’s why a 2018 study found that 12 percent of couples considered separation or divorce during their remodel.

But just because you’re remodeling your home doesn’t mean your relationship as you know it is over.

"I often sit down with people, and before we do the remodel I explain that it's going to be stressful. "

Here are some suggestions I'm can to give when you're considering a remodel with your significant other:

• Stick to the Plan
• Budget Enough Money to Cover the Whole Project
• If it's a Big Project, Move Out and Make it an Adventure
• Plan Your Meals in Advance
• Be Aware of the Toll on your Pets and Kids

Stick with the Plan

Do not alter your plans because it causes so much stress. It trickles down to all the subcontractors, it causes a lot of disruption in the schedule, and it's going to cost you more money. Resist saying, “I want this wall moved over 6 inches.” I encourage you to make sure your plans are well-done so you and your partner know exactly how you're moving forward.

Make Sure You Have Enough Money

In fact, have a little reserved. If you're doing a $150,000 renovation you should have 10% to 20% put aside. Hope you’ll never have to use it because the stress is not worth it. When you're out of money it's stressful, especially when you're down to the last 10% of your project.

"The last 10% is 90% of the work".

It's where you're going to spend a lot of your money on light fixtures, granite countertops, and faucets. All of these finish projects cost a lot of money.

Move Out and Make It an Adventure

If it’s a big remodel, find an apartment and move out of the home. You can rent a little three-bedroom, one-bath home. You can live there for a year while you renovate the home. It’s cramped but it’s cozy, and it can be an adventure. This way you'll be comfortable, and your family will be comfortable.

Plan Your Meals

When you're doing a kitchen remodel and you don't have a sink or appliances for 6 weeks that can become very expensive. And, this is another area where it can cause stress because you're spending money you didn't realize you were going to have to spend.

Keep an Eye on your Pets and Kids

Your children can be affected by remodels. You'll want to make sure they are safe and that they understand what's going on.

If it looks like you’re heading toward a divorce, get what I called the perfect house for married couples and that is a Duplex. Ha Ha. Get a duplex instead of a divorce. You don't want to end your relationship with your partner over a remodel.  

More ATC Feature Posts:

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

Joining me now to answer this question is Sterling.

[Click to Follow along with the Transcript]

Sterling, what are you trying to accomplish with this carport?

Sterling: I want to change the carport into two bedrooms and I'm trying to build it up so that I can keep the water out. I don’t know if I have to pour more concrete and raise the slab to the level of the house, or do I just pour more footing, put a seal wall, and build off of that?

Todd: Looking at this and knowing that you want to add on to your home with this, which absolutely can be done. Your home looks very well-built. It’s also holding up a roof, so obviously you have footings around and underneath the piers. You'll verify that with whoever you hire as an architect or engineer. Here's what I would do, and this might be a little labor-intensive for you but its the right way to do it.

"I will bet you a million dollars this Carport does not have a vapor barrier underneath it."

That slab for the carport was poured right on top of the gravel and that's it. Here's the problem if you don't have a vapor barrier. Once you enclose the space and you have a couple of bedrooms in there that moisture can still seep up into that concrete. So, you can accomplish two things by removing the concrete.

First of all, bring the slab up to the height you want after the concrete is gone, and after you re-form and repour. Also, you're going to accomplish having a vapor barrier underneath it. This way no mold or mildew is going to migrate into those two new bedrooms down the road. And trust me, it will happen. So many times here in California people try and turn their garages into bedrooms. Well, the garage does not have a moisture barrier underneath it. They put carpet down and, 'Wa'lah' within a year or two, you pull that carpet back and there's black mold. We do not want that.

Sterling: That sounds like a way to go, but is there a way to go about it without digging up the carport and putting a vapor barrier on top of it?

Todd: Concrete does not adhere to the concrete because you have a very smooth finish on this. Unless you wanted to use an adhesive and go with bricks on top to bring the slab up another couple inches.  You could add 2 1/2 – 3 inches.

How high are you looking to bring up the foundation?

Sterling:  I think it's a normal step down from the house to the carport. Is that a foot, or so?

Todd: 7 and  1/2 inches.

Sterling: Yeah.

Todd: You might get an engineer to Roto Hammer a series of holes, put the rebar in those holes, and then tie rebar horizontally on top of this slab. At the same time, put visqueen down around the rebar so it keeps moisture from coming up. But that's a lot of work. That's probably more work than just going in with a saw. There are companies that do this. They'll come out and they'll cut a square, 6 inches away from the pillars, all around this carport. And then once that's done, a jackhammer and a couple of hours with two very strong people could finish it.

There are companies who want used concrete

That's used for levee repairs, for example. Used concrete is not something that should be thrown into the dump. It’s crushed and reused a lot of times. Most of the time for retaining walls, levees, that sort of stuff. So you might get it hauled away pretty cheap.

I would at least look in that direction.

Stering: That does sound like a good plan.

That was very smart of Sterling. He accepted the fact that “Wow” I didn't think of that.

For people who want to convert their garages into rooms or a patio, we need to check some things out first.

• You need a footing. We need to make sure we have a solid footing to hold up those two-by-fours and the roof.
• You're going to need an architect or an engineer to help you get that permit.

The truth is, there are quite a few ways to skin a cat when it comes to construction.

Is something strange going on around your home? Or, maybe you just don't know which direction to go…

Send me your questions for AskTheContractors.com. I'd like to answer it right here on the air. We'll help you get through your next project.

Most Recent Listener Questions:

Rent an Apartment for 3 Months

If the project is a big project; for example changing some walls, I recommend you go to rent an apartment for 3 months. Make yourself comfortable. Take only what you need and make it an Adventure. It sucks to be in a construction zone during your renovation. There's a lot of dust and noise in your home. There’s also a lot of Contractor Cleavage flying around.

The Real Deal really is the Real Deal. Home Renovations are not like you see on TV

The Cost of your Food: Your kitchen Remodel will take 6- 8 weeks.

I'm talking a major kitchen remodel while moving walls, adding cabinets, flooring, and changing the electrical. You will update the electrical and the plumbing. These are all the bells and whistles. If you have a family of four, what does it cost you the dinner every night? I'm not talking to McDonald's. You will want to eat healthy food. So the cost of food for a family of 4… it's about $50-$60 without having a cocktail. Times that by 6 to 8 weeks; you're talking several thousands of dollars that you did not have in your budget.

Not everyone wants to set up a kitchen in their bathroom with a hot plate and a coffee maker. Maybe the coffee maker...

It is a very big inconvenience when you lose your kitchen.

Even a bathroom. You know when you have a family, say a family of four, and you have to have two bathrooms. In the morning, everyone's going to be using one bathroom. Its almost like you need to have the little blue tickets out there. Pull your ticket and wait your turn.

“Now serving number 71.”

Check your Relationship with your Significant Others

Make sure your kids know what is going on. And your dog; let's use a dog as an example. Your dog's going to see a lot of unfamiliar people in the house. And a lot of noise is going to take place. There will be skill saw; drills. Is your dog prepared for this? Dogs are very sensitive. Here’s my cat story…

The Cat Story: "I did a remodel a couple of years ago; They lost the cat."

We started the job and that cat was gone for 4 weeks . It did end up returning. We suspect that another neighbor was feeding it. But for weeks that cat was gone. The people actually gave up thinking, “we lost our cat”. So, you want to be careful.

Make Sure you are Comfortable with your Contractor

Here are some important questions to ask your contractor before you start your renovations...

• What happens if there's a delay?
• Who's going to pay for the extra time with the dumpster?
• What about the extra time for the Blue Box out front for the workers?
• What if there’re a delay/ Even rain delays?

Check your contract and make sure that you're solid with what it says. You want to feel comfortable with your agreement. The homeowner and the contractor have to be on the same page.

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

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This is a great question. It might be a little confusing but I'm going to help us figure this out.

To help answer this question I have Jarred Chappelle. He is a roofer who works for my company and he's a great guy.

[Click to Follow along with the Transcript]

So you've heard the question. You’ve put on a lot of roofs. You've done Flat roofs, Tile roofs, and you've done asphalt roofs. You-name-it; you've done it. What do you think of this, and what would be the best path for this person to go, if, in fact, they really want a flat roof?

“I’m going to give you my opinion on a Flat Roof. There are two types of Flat Roofs… One’s that leak, and ones that are going to leak”

Paul wants to put a flat roof on, and then a roof deck on top of it. How would you go about doing that?

Jarred: I would have to go with Hot Tar and Gravel. Before you put the hot tar and gravel on, you would have to put like – like on a Solar roof, you have the mounts to put the solar panels on…

Todd: The brackets that are 90° so they go upright.

Jarred: Imagine that 10 times bigger. You've got to spread it out throughout the roof, but it must be on rafters. Every single one of them.

Todd: So you have to hit a rafter. You just can't, as we call it, “in the field”, which means there's nothing underneath. Its just plywood. So you want to go to your roof rafters. That’s where you want to set your brackets, and then your hot tar which is hot, and then your gravel on top of that.

Jarred: Yes, and that way you have your mounts sticking out. With your mounts, then put your deck right on top of the mounts.

Todd: And the mounts can have holes in them, so you can drill through the side. However, that mount should be just high enough to run a screw through the [2 by 6]. Then, of course, you can jump to the next one.

Jarred: After that, you would bolt them down. Don’t screw them in.

Todd: That sounds like the proper way of doing it.

What are the pitfalls of a flat roof and a deck on top of it? Do you see anything that's negative about that?

Jared: First, the entrance to the deck from the house to the roof; you’ve got it really think this through. You can't just put a deck in the open window. The walkway is the most important part. That's where all the pressures going to be so make sure that's the most watertight.

More than anything else, the wood is always moving.  So, remember to make the walkway the most important part of the whole roof.

Todd: That's great advice. We're talking to Jarred Chappelle, roofer here in the Sacramento area. Now you're absolutely correct about that the walkway and getting to the deck. Because once you're on the deck you're probably going to sit on your tush, enjoy the view, and have an adult beverage in your hand. But it's getting to and from that deck. That's going to make a big difference. So, you really want to make sure that is done and done right.

And as always, go to the AsktheContractors.com for Northern California's best Home Improvement Pros.

Jarred, thank you for answering this question.

Ask me your home renovation and home remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com We answer your questions right here on the show You can find qualified contractors for this project / and others in the Directory at AskTheContractors.com.  Request a bid from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros.

More Past Questions Answered:

To help me answer this question, I have the homeowner Ted.

[Click to follow along with the Transcript]

I understand it's a tile patio that we're doing.

Todd: In the world of Contracting, you want to always be careful when people ask for money upfront. You want to ask, “Where's it going to go?  

Ted: That is correct.

Todd: Tell me about the tile project itself.

Ted: It’s the porch in front of the patio, which is about 125 square feet, and the entryway right from the front door which is about 25 square feet.

Todd: OK, not a big project. And what is the total amount of the project itself?

Ted: Almost $1,800.

Todd: So, my understanding is your contractor wants $700 upfront to buy the material. Here's what I would do, Ted. This is something I do for my subcontractors because they need money upfront to get going, usually to buy the materials.

I have them break the amount out of the contract that's for the materials. In this case, $700, and then I write a check directly to the supplier. That avoids having any type of liens on your property, and it's probably the smart thing to do in this case.  Find out who the tile supplier is and write the check directly to them. That gives you a safeguard to protect yourself.

Ted: That sounds like a reasonable thing to do. We can follow that.

"Break the amount for Supplies out of the contract that's for the materials. In this case, $700, and then I write a check directly to the supplier"

Todd:  Then, of course, as he is doing the work there might be a progress payment. Your contractor might get half the job done and need X amount of dollars. That's not uncommon. But you’ll know the job is progressively moving along. In this case, it sounds like he said, “at the end pay me the balance”, and he’ll be on his way.  This way you're going to be able to see the quality of work. Feel it. Touch it. Roll around on it. Enjoy your new floor, and then go ahead and give him a check upon your satisfaction.

Ted: I like that.

Let me ask you a couple questions now… 

Todd: First, what process did you go in selecting from several bids? Second, what was your process on selecting the Tile Setter for your patio?

Ted: We have been having a lot of work done on the house. We looked at this patio area, which looked bleak compared to the other parts of the house. We decided we needed to do something with that. My son, who is a civil engineer said, "you should have tile laid on top of it". So we thought, that was a really good idea. We could put some tile down and get some Adirondack chairs. It would be a very pleasant area because there's a big shade tree next to the patio. So we started looking around and we called one guy who wanted to put pavers in. The price was much more than we wanted to spend. That’s when we looked around to get a second bid.

Martine came out and he gave us 3 - 4 different tile samples, and some suggestions on how to lay them out. We then took a week to think about it before we called him back and finalized our plan.

Todd: What I like about what you just said, Ted is you did not rush into this. You really put some thought into it. I tell homeowners don’t rush into a project. Take your time and acclimate into what you're doing.

Now, my curiosity has gotten me here. You said you've been doing lots of projects on your home.

What are the other things are you doing around your home?

Ted: We’ve had it painted. We got some other things like cabinets redone. We're starting through a long list. The painting was the first one.

Todd: So, you painted. Your cabinets are going in. It sounds like you're into a big project there at the house.

Ted: We got the house paid off, so we're fixing it up.

Todd: You've been a joy to talk to. Thanks for being on AskTheContractors.com. I really appreciate it and good luck on your project.

Do you have a Question for the Contractors?

Is something strange going on around your home? Or, maybe you just don't know which direction to go…

Send me your questions for AskTheContractors.com. I'd like to answer it right here on the air. We'll help you get through your next project.

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We always watch the data from the single-family home listings to find out which features will help sell your home, and stand out above the crowd. These are the features that can raise your medium home price.  Not only that, these can limit the days on the market. You want to be ahead of the game, so these are the improvements that stand out.

The Kitchen

I agree. As a contractor, I’m very much in tune with the kitchen. If someone's coming out to buy your home the first thing they look at is the kitchen.

Perspective Home-buyers always ask, "Are we going to have a huge expense after we move in? "

Something we talk about are kitchen countertops. Countertops in your kitchen can make a huge difference. Paint the cabinets and put new countertops in, and then put a new faucet in the sink. Easy.

You’ll want to make sure that the kitchen is updated as much as you can afford. Here are some simple things you could do.

• New cabinet doors.
• New countertops.
• Possibly some new appliances would make the kitchen feel a little newer.
• How about a new paint job?

There are so many ways you can do what I call, "lipstick on the pig" to make your kitchen look a little nicer for potential buyers. 

When people walk in, they smell that fresh paint. They see some new appliances. That's the big one, and that's pretty expensive. But say you put $20,000 in your kitchen to fix it up. That will make it more pleasing. You know, a refreshed kitchen could bring you $30,000; maybe $35,000. You could make more money by putting a little bit of money out.

A Dog room

Now this one has become really popular over the last couple of years. That is a Dog Room. The dog room is usually off the back door, coming into what would be a laundry room. This is where a dog can come in, have its own little shower with a handheld showerhead that you can rinse the dog; clean the dog, and have everything right there. The Dog Room also holds the doggie dish.  Some contractors are putting it underneath the cabinet, in a drawer that you can pull out so that Fido has his or her food right there. Also, keep all the medication for your dog nearby.

Garage Storage

The other thing things that can make your house sell a lot quicker is the garage.  Do you have good storage in your garage? I know home-buyers are going to take a big sigh of relief because that's one of the biggest obstacles when moving into a home.

Where we going to put everything that we don't always use?

When you have efficient garage storage that is a huge, huge, huge, plus.  And another big storage item is the pull-down stairs to your attic. If you have attic space that you could put a couple of pieces of plywood up there, and it doesn't make your roof sag, stow your things in the rafters using a pull-down stair. Up the stairs, you can put the Christmas decorations or stuff for Halloween and Thanksgiving. These are decorations you’re only going to use it once a year for a very short time.

A Granny Unit

I'm going a little deeper here. Something I think would sell a home is a Granny Flat, but not everyone has $60,000 to $70,000 to put a second unit on their property. If you do have the money, I'm going to tell you, your home is going to sell for a lot more having that unit on your property. I guarantee. If you have a Granny Unit on your property you can rent it out to a college kid. You can rent it out to an elderly couple. Or use it as a retreat. There are so many ways you can make money off that unit.

Landscaping

The other big one. Freshen up that front yard with flowers. Start by trimming back those bushes and make the curb appeal look good on your home. Landscaping makes your home so inviting. Many times, home-buyers will want to see the inside of that home if the outside is this beautiful. That's what people think.

Make your home more beautiful and efficient to sell it faster.

My Recommendation:

If you are looking to sell your home, or purchase another home, contact our Trusted Real Estate Pro, Agent Myesha Perry. 916-693-5224

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Joining us now is Paul Reeves of Reeves Construction. He is an expert on home renovations. 

[Click to follow along with the Transcript]

Let's take this one at a time.

First of all, Paul can they re-side one side of the house with vertical siding?

Paul: Absolutely, yes.

Todd: When it comes to the horizontal? How would they make that transition if, in fact, they have to make the transition at all?

Paul: Anytime you do something where we're replacing siding and we're meeting existing siding, you're going to work around the corner. We want to make sure we get everything flashed properly. Everything needs to be sealed.

Now we've done these projects on the past and you're basically going to take the type of molding on your horizontal siding, and with your vertical siding, it will either lay flat or butt on the edge. There's going to be a little bit of difference.

We're going to get new pieces of both and we're going to rip them on the table saw to make sure they have a nice fit. It will have a nice transition that way.

Todd: In fact, behind that, we're using a product such as Tyvek. You mentioned some other project products that can be put behind that siding as well. Corners and those transitional places take a beating.

Paul: Oh yeah.

Todd: The caulking sometimes becomes loose. Water can get in behind, so you really want to make sure you're properly flashed.

Could we re-side just one end of the house in a vertical channel with metal?

Paul: They do have metal transition strips for the edges so absolutely you can do metal.

Todd: "We are trying to avoid a full residing job since the siding is in great shape, but the gable end of our ranch house faces the street. The vertical siding would improve the look."

I don't see any big issue here whether they want horizontal or vertical.

Paul: This is actually standard procedure. We're assuming that gable end probably faces South or West. If so, it's taking a lot of weather.

"After we get that siding off we should plan on re-flashing the corners, the windows, and vents. ...and along the top, and the bottom edge.

We want to make sure has good weatherproofing."

Todd:  And of course, when it comes to siding Paul is going to make sure there is proper insulation behind that siding.

Remember, you might want to upgrade your windows if you're going through the expense of upgradings. Even if it's not all the windows. Even if it's just the side that you're putting the new siding on. Upgrade to those dual-pane windows. Then upgrade your insulation, and make sure that your house is better protected after going through this type of an expense.

Another tip on wood siding

Paul: The house takes such a weathering. We will buy a better grade of wood siding and we'll make sure the back, and all of the edges; even after the cuts are all sealed. Therefore, that will really extend the life of your home.

Todd: It's a good idea to primer both sides before you put siding up. Don't just slap it up then have the painters come and paint. You want to primer both sides. In short, you're going to get a much more durable product.

Give Paul Reeves a call 916-437-4293 and he can answer your questions.

Ask me your home renovation and home remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com We answer your questions right here on the show You can find qualified contractors for this project / and others in the Directory at AskTheContractors.com.  Request a bid from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros.

Most Recent Questions:

While most home-owners don’t spend much time in our bathrooms, design experts say home buyers value bathrooms that are functional and well designed. 

So, we wanted to identify some of this year’s early bathroom trends that people might look for in their search to upgrade their bathrooms.

What can make a statement, Todd?

Glass makes a small bathroom look larger, and a large bathroom look even larger!! So, glass is a really good thing.

Mirrors, a glass doors, for your enclosure Sometimes your shower; you have the half glass. I know a lot of people disagree with this, but I still love the Glass Block. I think it gives a really, really classy look.

Bold colors. You know, the bathroom is one of those places where you can actually get away with some really bold colors. It's not the focal point of your home. Something more moderate; like Swiss Coffee. That's something that's very subtle but when it comes to your bathroom, knock yourself out man.

"You can be bold and different and if you make a mistake, it's a very simple room to repaint."

What is new and different in 2018 / 2019?

Wall mounted commodes. These are absolutely gorgeous. They're up off the ground probably, about 4 in. They're easy to clean, and it has the water saving techniques. A button for number one, and a button for number two. So, it's a huge water saver.

If you're remodeling, they're tankless. The tank is actually inside the walls. You don't see it, so all's you see's the commode. It's a roomsaver and SpaceSaver. That's another thing

What are some luxury touches?

Steam rooms. You take the tub enclosure, you go glass all the way up, and you put a steam system. It's usually hidden somewhere, but they're very easy. It's nice after a workout. A steam room gets all those pores cleaned out. The hygiene from a steam room is absolutely awesome.

Jacuzzi tubs. Then you get out of that steam room and you rinse off. What are you going to do? Jump into that jacuzzi tub. That's another good way to relax and pamper yourself.

#BathroomParty

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

Most Recent Blog Posts

I love the questions that everyone sends me. I get so many of them and I have to decide which one to use. This week, I picked this from Julie in Sacramento.

[Click to follow along with the Transcript]

Let's take the first question

Todd Bird: What direction the plywood goes, if it goes cross-ways with the planks, that's actually good. It will give you more sheer value in a home that was built in 1927. An old house like yours does not have the sheer that a new house would have. That's probably a good thing. Plus it's giving you a nice, clean surface. So the direction of that plywood; I don't think it's going to make a difference.

Does it matter if we continue to use the floor joists, planks, then plywood?

I think you're okay to lay down plywood. You want to get down to as much of the original floor as possible. Which it appears you've done. Remember, you're going to have to cut all your doors. Your doors are going to be dragging on that new hardwood, so you're going to have to adjust your door heights. Other than that, you should be all set.

Julie, here's another thing you want to be cautious of with the plywood. Make sure, when those seams come together, that you use a product like fix-all or some type of wood filler. That wood is going to expand and contract. You want to make sure that the seams where the plywood comes together are properly caulked and filled, so the seams don't show through your flooring product.  

Engineered hardwood is pretty thick. You're not going to have that problem, but it's good to see all those seams coming together. It’s especially true if you're thinking of putting Linoleum down on top of your plywood. That's when those seams are going to be exposed.

Now is a good time to add Insulation

Finally, Julie, go to your sub-area. Make sure there's insulation underneath your sub-area. This is a subfloor because you're using wood planks. In between your joisting, underneath your subfloor, it's a good time to think about putting insulation in there.

"Insulation will keep your floor warmer and keep your home warmer.

Adding insulation will also protect those floors from expanding and contracting.

One last thing..

You might want to ask the installer, “Are you gluing this floor down? Is it a floating floor?” I've been finding that engineered hardwood is better when you glue it down.  

I hope that answers your question, Julie.

Ask me your home renovation and home remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com We answer your questions right here on the show You can find qualified contractors for this project / and others in the Directory at AskTheContractors.com.  Request a bid from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros.

"You're going through the eye of the needle. It's not fun."

Here’s what I’ve learned over the course of my 40 years to make your home renovation project less stressful.

Move Out

First, if it's a huge project, go get an apartment. Make it an adventure for you and your kids. Go rent a 2 or 3 bedroom condo or an apartment. You can get into a month-to-month lease.

You want to make your family comfortable. If your family is not comfortable, then it’s really miserable. Get away from the project so you're not there stressing out every day looking at what's happening.

Plan your Budget Well

Get a good set of plans. A good set of plans.  What can you do with those? You can get a good budget together. It's worth paying the money to get a good set of plans.

No Changes

You do not want to get into a remodel and make changes. When you change something, it ends up affecting six other contractors who are working on your home.

Have a Reasonable Time-line

If you think it's a 6-month project, add a month to your schedule. There's going to be rain delays. There's going to be a subcontractor delays; it happens. You want to get it as close as possible but be reasonable with your time frame for getting that project done.

Do you have a news tip for our Show Prep on AsktheContractors.com? Send us a comment on the home page.

I want to thank Jason for sending this in… It's a good question and I’ve seen the picture. These are inverted hinges. They’re hidden hinges.

[Click to follow along with the Transcript beyond]

First of all, this is a new home, so it should be under warranty.  Second, if your cabinet box-hinges and the screws are splitting the wood; there's something wrong there.

"That should not happen"

Here's the other thing; the builder can putty it, glue it, or do whatever they say they're going to do, but what happens when that warranty’s up?

Also, consider that your home contracts and expands. You have hot Summers; you have cold Winters. So be careful of these screw holes that‘ve split the wood. Down the road, you're going to lose that warranty.

Here's What I would Do

1. I'd get with the contractor. Insist that those frames get replaced. I can see by the picture that the doors are fine.
2. Document everything. I would put it in writing.
3. Then ask the question, “what happens 3 years or 5 years when I'm out of warranty”?

You know, the contractor only must warranty the cosmetic work for 1-year. It's 10 years for the structural.

After one year it's up... It's toast... It's over... You own it.

Right now, put your concerns in writing. Make sure it gets fixed, and fixed properly.

Lastly, don't be afraid to get a second opinion. Call a cabinet shop, a home inspector, or a General Contractor to come out and put something in writing.

It's a great question, Jason. You want to document everthing. That's the best thing you can do.

Do you have a question for AsktheContractors.com?

Ask me your home renovation and home remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com We answer your questions right here on the show You can find qualified contractors for this project / and others in the Directory at AskTheContractors.com.  Request a bid from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros.

To help me answer this question, we have Angela with us...

Or click to follow along with the transcript below.

I love this fireplace question.

Angela: I saw a picture of a fireplace like mine. It had the upper drywall removed, and more brick exposed. I thought that would look nice in my room, so over this weekend we opened up the wall. There was a header on top of the fireplace. It also has a couple (2 x 4)s or (2 x 8)s coming down.

Todd:  Looking at this picture, that's what you're seeing. It is a header. Also, those two-by-fours that are coming down are supporting your roof. This is an exterior wall, so that is a total bearing wall. Yes, absolutely.

Angela: I didn’t know how much I could get away with to expose the back of that brick.

Todd:  It's probably not a good idea to take those two short, little studs out -no. I would not take those out. Have you thought about putting a mantle above the brick and then starting brick above the mantle? Doing that would not disturb that header.

Angela: I wanted to put a real chunky Timber-like mantle but it's pretty high.

"A good general contractor could tell you within a few minutes what you can and cannot do."

"I strongly suggest you reach out to a professional."

What it would take to remove any Header:

• First, get a permit.  
• You need a structural engineer to look at the project and give their blessing.
• Be sure that any added weight to this fireplace is not over-bearing at it's Footer area.
• Reach out to a contractor or an engineer to look for possible structural issues.

Ask me your home renovation and home remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com We answer your questions right here on the show You can find qualified contractors for this project / and others in the Directory at AskTheContractors.com.  Request a bid from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros.

Joining me now is Earl Cruz from Prestige Flooring. He is one of my Trusted Home Improvement Pros.

Or click to follow along with the transcript below

Earl: “The main thing is probably your underlayment. That is what you want for an upper subfloor. The thickest you can get on an underlayment for engineered hardwood is probably a 4 mil thick pad. We carry a gold pad underlayment which is our premium pad. That will reduce a lot of the noise going to the bottom floor, if you're walking on a hardwood floor.”

Will it eliminate 100% of the noise?

Earl: “You might hear something, but the thicker you floor is, the more soundproofing you get as well. It just depends on which floor you get as well.”

Todd: “So would in between the floor with insulation help? I know the hardwood flooring on top of a thicker underlayment would be good. There is also a space between there that maybe some foam insulation could be put in. That should help.”

Earl: “When you’re floating a floor upstairs or nailing it down underneath a pad, you don't need any of that. The pad insulates itself. It's a really good premium pad because it is thick.

"There's another option you could use, and that's cork.“

Todd: “Oh, wow, that's great. They use it for wall sound.”

Earl: “Exactly because underlayment minimizes a lot of sound, and that's why a lot of people use it. You can use it for underlayment as well.”

Todd: “My studio here, these walls probably have cork in them. So that is a good suggestion. Cork underlayment with your hardwood floor or your carpet on top will do the trick.”

“Here's the other thing. Renee says that she lives in an apartment, so she'll probably flip for putting the floor down or get her landlord to help her out. Putting the installation in and doing all that is going to get kind of costly for a place but she's only renting. Above all, if she wants to put a floor down it sounds like the most economical way is a cork board with hardwood on top.

Earl: “Actually, the most economical way is a laminate.”

Todd: “But still on top of the cork board.”

Earl: “Yes, any kind of premium padding would definitely work for that. As a result, anything that's rated for apartments or HOAs STC 66 and above are best for soundproofing. “

Do you have a question for Ask The Contractors?

Ask me your home renovation and home remodeling question from the link on the home-page at AskTheContractors.com We answer your questions right here on the show You can find qualified contractors for this project / and others in the Directory at AskTheContractors.com.  Request a bid from our Trusted Home Improvement Pros.