Henri de Marne
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Go for the brush over spray when painting stone hearthJan 17, 2016 12:00 am - Q. The wood stove hearth we have in our lower level is flagstone. My wife wants to brighten things up down there by painting the flagstone white. I am wondering how best...
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A sticky situation develops on home's wood floorsJan 10, 2016 12:00 am - Q. I recently installed a new kiln-dried, tongue-and-groove Douglas fir floor on our outdoor porch. The wood had been sealed on all six sides with two coats of a breatha...
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Find source of water intrusion before re-finishing basementJan 03, 2016 12:00 am - Q. Our basement has flooded in the past with as much as 3 inches of water. The original finished basement (done by the previous owner) was ruined. After we cleaned up th...
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Great holiday gift ideas for your home's handypersonDec 27, 2015 10:00 pm - Dear readers: This is the time of year when I publish a list of my favorite holiday gifts as suggestions to those of you who are agonizing over what to get your favorite...
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Wildly varying bids for heating units is concerningDec 20, 2015 12:00 am - Q. Would you be willing to give your opinion on the two oil furnaces proposed for our home? Airco's is 120,000 BTU, 84.4-percent efficiency, not a variable motor (or two...
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Take an expert's advice on the best window glazes out thereDec 13, 2015 12:00 am - Q. Being a homeowner who still glazes his own windows, I seek your advice. I am not satisfied with the glazing compounds available nowadays in the local hardware stores....
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Many choices to make to finish a basementDec 06, 2015 12:00 am - Q. We live in Vermont and our house is built in a neighborhood that was once a gravel pit, so our basement is very dry. We have lived here for 27 years and store clothin...
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Replacing ceiling tiles with drywall may be worth effortNov 22, 2015 12:00 am - Q. After reading the Sunday comics, I have been reading your home repair consulting column for years. It has always been interesting and helpful. I hope you can help me...
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Find water's entry point to basement before attempting fixNov 01, 2015 1:00 am - Q. I inherited an old house that was built by my great-grandparents in the 1920s. Under the front porch is the old coal cellar. During a heavy rainstorm, water gets into...
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Moisture visible on home's roof points to vulnerable areasOct 25, 2015 1:00 am - Q. I have a Cape Cod house in New Hampshire. I have been here one year, and after this nasty winter I had ice dam issues in the front. I notice every morning there is a ...