Articles filed under Home Improvement

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Attic space over garage is not counted as bedroom Jun 15, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. We listed our home as having four bedrooms. After it was inspected, we were informed we could list only three bedrooms because the room over the garage did not have a door. If we were to add a door, could we again list the home as having four bedrooms?
Kid-friendly yard makes parents want to play, too Jun 15, 2013 12:00 AM
More and more, the concept of “play” becomes the focal point of stylish spaces, for both kids and adults. From interactive art installments to the in-home slide or dorm-room ball pit, people are finding ways to get creative and whimsical with play — without creating a plastic technicolor eyesore
Home inspector overlooked furnace problem Jun 14, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. Before we bought our home, we hired an ASHI certified home inspector. When we moved in, the heating guy removed the cover panel and found large rust holes on the inside. All our home inspector did was shine a flashlight into a small opening, without removing the cover panel. Was our home inspector negligent?
Soap dispenser can ‘clean up’ the look of your kitchen Jun 9, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. I would like to add a soap dispenser to my stainless-steel kitchen sink, but my husband says that we don’t have a hole in the sink rim for him to install one. Is it possible to drill the proper hole needed for a soap dispenser in our existing sink?
When a home sits closed with no heating or cooling Jun 9, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. I recently purchased an older home that sat all winter without the water or electricity. Now that I’m trying to get things working again, I’m having trouble with the older windows not opening, some sink faucets that have hot water but not cold, and doors that close on their own.
What’s fabulous about prefab housing Jun 9, 2013 12:00 AM
Author Sheri Koones is on a mission to educate American homeowners about home building. Koones’ last four books have zeroed in on prefabricated, factory-built housing. For more than 100 years, this type of housing has been promoted by designers and entrepreneurs who have touted its efficiency, speed and affordability, but with limited success.
Innovative ceramic tiles hit the marketplace Jun 8, 2013 12:00 AM
What could be new about something that has been around for more than 4,000 years? When it comes to tile, a lot. During Coverings 2013, the largest tile-and-stone trade expo in the country, the buzz was about baking technology, science and great design into modern ceramic tile.
Seller annoyed over buyer’s repair list Jun 7, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. The people who are buying our house hired a home inspector and then hit us with a long list of repair demands. Nothing major, I guess, just petty things. Is this normal for buyers to make so many demands after a home inspection?
Kitchen-faucet choices away from the mainstream Jun 2, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. I have seen the pull-out-style spray faucets and the single- and two-handle kitchen faucets, but I want something a little different from the standard choices. Any other suggestions?
Big design tricks add style to a small outdoor space Jun 1, 2013 12:00 AM
Design magazines and home decorating catalogs tend to feature sprawling backyards with big wooden decks and room for everything from decorative fountains to artificial ponds. But few of us have that much outdoor space. Still, with a few strategic choices, you can create something truly special out of even the smallest yard or porch, says Los Angeles-based designer Brian Patrick Flynn.
Buyer regrets not having home inspection May 31, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. We bought our house about two years ago, but we did not have a home inspection. Since then, we've found problems that were not disclosed by the sellers or their agent. The worst of these is an addition that was built without a permit. The roof on the addition has major leaks, and the shingles were installed without felt underlayment. Do we have recourse against the sellers or their agent for nondisclosure?
Smartphone and tablet controls home May 27, 2013 12:00 AM
Armeane M. Choksi acknowledges he's a bit of a "gadget freak" in explaining his need for an uber-connected house. Whether he's sitting in his second-floor home office or vacationing out of the country, Choksi can control just about every major component of his mansion in Northwest Washington by touching the screen of his smartphone or tablet.
Tub-surround project may surround you with options May 26, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. I want to change the look of my bathroom by putting in a new "tub surround." I want to avoid ripping out the ceramic tile if possible. Are there special panels that I can glue or attach to my present tile wall?
Permits, inspections are there for a reason: safety May 26, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. I have planned all winter for a bathroom addition to my home. Once I started work, a state inspector showed up and told me I had to have a permit. I own the home and I didn't ask for any inspections from the state. Can they come on my property and stop my work?
Renovation on the reboundMay 25, 2013 12:00 AM
Janet O'Grady recently had the front walkway and porch steps replaced on the rambler she's owned for 30 years in Arlington, Va. She also had her kitchen painted. Now she's planning to upgrade her countertops to granite.
Front-burner issues from a food writer’s renovation May 18, 2013 12:00 AM
A few months ago I took the plunge and had my kitchen redone. For years I'd put it off because it was so expensive. Also, as a cookbook author and food writer, I spend nearly all of my waking hours in and around the kitchen. Being without one for six to eight weeks seemed unimaginable.
Testing a home for radon May 18, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. We are looking for a newer home, and I have a question about radon. We were told we had the right to have the home tested, but I don't know if it's worth the cost. The radon test was not included in the costs from the home inspectors we talked to.
Plumber disagrees with home inspector May 17, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. I am a real estate broker and am trying to resolve a difference of opinion between a plumber and home inspector. The inspector routinely cites water heaters that are installed without a drain pan, especially when the water heater is on a raised platform in a garage. The plumber says there is no code requirement for a pan. Who is right?
Electronic toilet features may bowl you over May 12, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. I'm remodeling my bathroom and plan on installing a new toilet. My question: Do they make a toilet with bidet features?
Make room for the walk-in pantry May 11, 2013 12:00 AM
If you're wondering where the best kitchen storage went, blame the breakfast nook. Of course, pantries predate Ikea kitchen options. They date back centuries, according to the Encyclopedia of Food and Culture, which puts culinary history in anthropological context.