Henri de Marne
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Allow latex paint to cure fully to avoid sticky situationsNov 01, 2013 12:04 am - Q. I have a pine board that is mounted inside in my family room. About two months ago, in warm, dry weather, I painted this new board after lightly sanding it, with two ...
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Basement access through stone foundation basement may be trickyOct 27, 2013 12:31 am - Q. Our tiny cottage has a stone foundation with a trapdoor in the living room for access to the basement. We are getting a trifle arthritic to climb the ladder monthly t...
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Do a little extra digging to find the right contractorOct 20, 2013 12:14 am - Q. Two of my neighbors are having work done by different contractors. I see a little progress for a day or two, then nothing for a few days to a week. Is this the way co...
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Varying humidity levels will affect laminate flooringOct 13, 2013 12:37 am - Q. I am sure you can tell me what is causing my problem. We had a laminate floor installed in our dining area one year ago. When it is dry outside, it is quiet. But when...
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Pour new concrete instead of pouring money into patio fixesSep 29, 2013 12:56 am - Q. I enjoy your column every Sunday. My patio is the problem. The previous owner put latex paint on it for a quick sale. Over the winter, the paint started to lift and b...
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Painted concrete patio can be salvagedSep 15, 2013 12:22 am - Q. I have just recently started to read your column and am impressed with the broad knowledge about home repair. I have a problem with my patio and hope you will advise ...
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Use friends and family to find reliable contractorsSep 08, 2013 12:23 am - Q. We are currently having a water problem with our porch roof. It’s about 15-by-30 feet with stone parapets on two sides and a gutter on the side opposite the house. We...
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Don’t mess with asbestosAug 25, 2013 12:53 am - Q. My daughter and her husband are in the process of purchasing a home built in 1950. Their inspector found vermiculite for insulation in the attic and guessed that it p...
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Electrical questions should be answered by an expertAug 18, 2013 12:38 am - Q. We are planning to replace our vinyl bathroom flooring with tile. We have an electric line to the bathroom initially installed for an electric radiator, but it has no...
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Staining concrete is often a better option than painting itAug 11, 2013 12:45 am - Q. We have an in-ground pool surrounded by concrete totaling 1,050 square feet. My problem is that over the years, where the winter cover did not protect the concrete (m...