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- References are King – and a Must!
- How Painters Tape Can Save You $1000′s
- Vinyl Tub Surrounds – Expensive May Not Be Better!
- The Best Router – Period!
- Tint Your Plaster For Touch Ups on Primed Walls & Trim
- Do Not Use Pens, Felt Pens or Chalk Lines!
- Hard To Find Reproduction Antique Hardware
- WCB Coverage – It’s a Must…Sometimes Even as a Homeowner
- Cutting a Hole In The Ceiling? How To Keep Drywall Dust Contained!
- The Secret To Buying Name Brand Power Tools Dirt Cheap!
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"The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After The Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten"
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References are King – and a Must!
Never hire a contractor without proven references (verified by you)… and never hire anyone that gives you a bad vibe, you are entering into a temporary partnership in a sense, and it is best if you like the person you are going to work with – it will make a huge difference.
That said, this is sometimes easier said than done, how do you know what references are good and trustworthy.
As a renovation contractor I can tell you that satisfied customers, especially in the renovation business, are more than happy to provide reference and usually will allow you to view the contractors past work (not always, but most satisfied customers will). It is rare to find a good renovation contractor, and those that do good work usually continue to work for the same people over the years – so it makes sense that past customers will still be familiar with the contractor in question and willing to show you his work.
How Painters Tape Can Save You $1000′s
Many Years ago I had the opportunity to refit a 50′ yacht – complete from front to back (or properly stated bow to stern). However, before this project started, the owner was fixated on using painters masking tape and laying out every detail for the boat – not once, not twice, but several times in some cases, and not all in the same day… this went on for several days. We even used cardboard to mock up cabinets and equipment!
Even though I was being paid well to go along with this process and redo layouts more times than I care to remember, I could only think of one thing – man this guy is anal – how many times can you do this! Move this line 1/2″ that way, no, lets do that again and make it 3/4″. Let me say, in that week I had thought of dropping the job many times each day – all I could think of was “How anal will this guy be once I start the actual work?”
Do Not Use Pens, Felt Pens or Chalk Lines!
When you are doing your next drywall project, moulding installation, or any other project that will be visible in your home and painted… do not use any ink based marker (felt pens or ink pens) or chalk lines on any surface that will be visible on completion. These types of markers will bleed through latex primer and paint. Considering that 90% of paint used in homes today is latex, it is a safe bet you will be using latex paint as well.
Play it safe and only use pencils for marking out cut lines, holes and so on. Pencil marks will not bleed through latex paints
Roof Shingles All Over The Yard?
If you are having your existing roof replaced and tearing off the old shingles make sure you have a clause in your contract with the roofing company that specifies exactly how roof debris will be torn off and disposed of.
Under no circumstances should a roofer throw shingles directly onto your lawn or driveway without protection. As you can see in the image of nails below, roofing nails have a large head that allows them to stand up easily and this is dangerous. If a roofing contractor throws shingles directly onto your lawn, you will always worry about nails left in the grass – and there would 100′s, if not 1000′s!
The last thing you want after your new roof is completed, is to worry that you, your children, or others visiting you could step on roofing nails hidden in the grass!
Standard Wall Framing for Drywall
In a typical home standard wall heights are 96 3/4″ to 97″ depending on the moisture content of the framing material. In most construction wall framing you will have a single base plate and double top plate with 92 1/4″ pre-cut studs. As with all things in construction, there is a very good reason for these dimensions and the resulting total wall height. If you are using 1/2″ drywall you will have 1/2″ on the ceiling and 2 – 48″ wide horizontal sheets on the wall for a total of 96 1/2″. This leaves 1/4″ t0 1/2″ of space below the drywall board at the floor.
This spacing is critical and must be allowed for. On average, walls shrink in height about 1/4″ and if you do not allow for this space and fit your drywall boards tight from ceiling to floor, the pressure on the horizontal joint will likely cause unsightly problems, possibly causing plaster to crack, tape to separate and bulging, or all three problems. When properly installed, with the top board tight to the ceiling and the lower board tight to upper board the two sheets can move down with the wall framing as it shrinks – this will ensure the drywall joints remain free from pressure as the wall shrinks preventing any bulges and related problems at the joints.
See the image below for details on this required spacing:
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My Favorite Magazines!
When it comes to woodworking and home repairs, two magazines stand out from all the others, Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding. I have collected these for years and always enjoy going back to old issues and checking out various projects and tips. The quality is high and you'll find these magazines feel more like book quality.
Turning the pages of Fine Woodworking or Fine Homebuilding is like a kid in a candy store - so much cool stuff you just have to try. Over all I give these magazines a rating of 10/10 - some issues 9/10.
Don't buy these in the store, you can save over 30% using my links above (images) to grab a subscription. -
NEW! Holmes Magazine
If there is one guy who's opinion you can trust for construction and renovation advice it is Mike Holmes from Holmes on Homes. Now you can get his advice delivered right to your door with the launch of his new magazine!
If you've been wondering where you can subscribe to his new magazine? Look no further, you can get a subscription right now for only $18.95 Cdn and save up to 52% off the newsstand price (6 issues). I got mine and am looking forward to the first issue. Visit HolmesMagazine.com to get yours today!
