Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Herb asks, “Is it a good idea to install a TV over a fireplace?”

Mounting a flat screen TV over the fireplace has become quite popular, but there are a number of potential problems to consider first. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Tim asks, “ Our home is 10 years old and the asphalt roof shingles are starting to stain badly on the north exposure. Is there something that we can use to clean off the staining and treat the shingles to prevent further staining?”

Your stains are probably caused by the airborne spores of a blue-green algae known as Gloeocapsa Magma, which is often mistaken for mold or mildew. While doing little harm to your shingles, the black streaks caused by the algae are unsightly. Read on to find out how to remove them. Read in full.

Mary asks, “ We live in an older home that is raised off the ground with a crawlspace. In the past few years, the hardwood flooring in several rooms has started to warp and cup. What could be the problem?”

It sounds like you may have excessive moisture and humidity in the crawlspace under your home. Read on to find out how to correct the problem. Read in full.

Bill asks, “My ceiling fan vibrates and wobbles when turned on high speed. How can I fix it?”

There are several possible problems that could cause your paddle fan to wobble. Read on to find out how to go about repairing it. Read in full.

Gary asks, “The outer pane of glass on my French doors is broken, but the inner one is fine. Do I have to buy both panes, or can I just fix the one that is broken?”

When one pane of insulated glass breaks, you have to replace the entire piece, since the space between the panes is filled with an inert gas then sealed to keep moisture from forming between the panes. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Rod asks, “I recently added an additional layer of faced fiberglass insulation to my attic. Since then I noted you stipulated unfaced insulation for the attic if you already have a layer of insulation. What should I do?”

Since you already had insulation in your attic, the new insulation you added should have been unfaced to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between the layers. But don’t panic, the solution to your problem isn’t that difficult. Read on to find out how. Read in full.

Jessica asks, “We have double pane windows and are thinking about installing storm windows in front of them. Would that be a cost efficient way to save on our energy bills?”

While you could add storm windows to your existing double pane windows, the energy savings would not be nearly as great as installing them over single pane windows. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Stacy asks, “I want to remove my existing flooring, but the cabinets are built on top of it. How can I cut the flooring flush with the edge of the cabinet kickboard to keep from having to take out my cabinets?”

A specialty toe-kick saw is available that can cut up to 3/4″ deep flush with a cabinet under the toe space, or you might be able to adapt a grinder to do the job. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Joseph asks, “Our house has a musty smell, and we recently found mold growing inside some of the closets and cabinets. How can we get rid of it?”

Since mold requires warm, moist conditions to grow, start by eliminating any unwanted sources of water, such as leaks in the roof, dripping pipes, or gaps around tubs or showers. Reduce the relative humidity levels inside your home, and treat any existing mold with a product made for that purpose. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Gail asks, “I would like to put in a tankless hot water heater, but I’m concerned that the water will not get hot enough. Is that a problem?”

When sized properly, tankless water heaters can get the water plenty hot enough. Read on to find out more. Read in full.