<![CDATA[Ask the Contractor]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:37:11 -0700 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:37:11 -0700 info@quinstreet.com Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Is this home worth it?]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com/ask/is-this-home-worth-it/ I am looking at buying a cheap house that needs some major upgrades, including raising the ceiling. I would like to make it a cathedral ceiling. The roof looks like it is sagging and would need to be redone anyway. Is it worth buying a house under 100,000 if it needs these big remodels? Any ideas of what I could expect to pay? Thanks.

-Amy

]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2015 09:00:00 -0700 <![CDATA[Is it possible my I-joist is damaged?]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com/ask/is-it-possible-my-i-joist-is-damaged/ My home had I-joists supporting the plywood floor. I had the plywood replaced, and when the contractors were pulling it up, I noticed they were ripping off a top layer of the joists. I asked them to stop and called the foreman over to evaluate. He says it did not damage the integrity of the I-beam, but I don't know if I can trust his word on that. What do you think?

-Carlos

]]> Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:26:00 -0700 <![CDATA[Can I safely move a support post?]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com/ask/can-i-safely-move-a-support-post/ I bought a house with an unfinished basement and there's a support post right in the middle of the I-beam. To properly frame out the room, is it possible to move it three feet off center and not have it cause any issues structurally? It's a two-story home.

-Denis

]]> Fri, 10 Jul 2015 12:00:00 -0700 <![CDATA[Whose job is it to measure for a kitchen remodel?]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com/ask/whose-job-is-it-to-measure-for-kitchen-remodel/ The design plan of my new kitchen cabinets said the end of the cabinets would terminate with inches of wall space showing. When the cabinets were installed there was a whole foot of wall space. When I questioned my contractor, he said it's not his job to measure - it's my job. Is this true?

-SO

]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:32:00 -0700 <![CDATA[How can I remove a column from my basement?]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com/ask/how-can-i-remove-a-column-from-my-basement/ I have a structural beam in my basement that has a 15 foot span with a lally column at seven feet. The beam is three 2x8s pocketed into the foundation on both sides. There are no walls or beams above this beam. How can I remove it?

-Anthony

]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2015 09:51:00 -0800 <![CDATA[What are the best boards to use for building a deck?]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com/ask/what-are-the-best-boards-for-building-a-deck/ I want to build a 16" x 16" deck. What size boards should I use?

-Mike

]]> Wed, 07 Jan 2015 11:33:00 -0800 <![CDATA[What's the best way to move a washer and dryer?]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com/ask/whats-the-best-way-to-move-a-washer-and-dryer/ If I wanted to relocate my washer and dryer to a newly constructed out building to save a little room in my house, how would I handle the drainage? Also, if I created a rain garden next to the out building, can I drain it into the rain garden?

]]> Mon, 22 Dec 2014 11:58:00 -0800 <![CDATA[How do I reattach wires going from the thermostat to the fireplace?]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com/ask/how-to-reattach-wires-from-thermostat-to-fireplace/ I have a continental gas fireplace, and the wires from the thermostat to the fireplace have come disconnected at the fireplace. There are four wires: yellow, red, green, and black. There are three vertical terminal posts labeled from top to bottom TP TH, TP, and TH. Can you tell me which wires go where? Thanks.

-Gary

]]> Mon, 22 Dec 2014 10:35:00 -0800 <![CDATA[How can I restore peeling cabinets?]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com/ask/how-can-i-restore-peeling-cabinets/ My kitchen cabinets are oak/particle board. The two lower cabinets by the sink are peeling and the finish has peeled away. Is there a way to fix this? I am afraid if I go to the effort to refinish them, they won't match the cabinets on the top.

-AM

]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2014 11:55:00 -0800 <![CDATA[How do I get rid of black mold?]]> http://www.reliableremodeler.com/ask/how-do-i-get-rid-of-black-mold/ My home doesn't have a foundation - it has a concrete floor. The outside of my home has siding. I am starting to get a lot of black mold inside my home on almost all my walls from the bottom of the wall up to about two feet high. What materials do I need to eliminate this problem?

-Alek

]]> Mon, 15 Sep 2014 11:51:00 -0700