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Tips for replacing air ducts in slab foundation home

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, February 3, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-722383p1.html" target=blank>Floor register image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

Q: We have recently discovered that the air ducts in our slab are breaking down; and it was recommended that we consider rerouting the air ducts to the attic. What are the advantages/disadvantages of having air ducts in the floor versus overhead?

Also we have heard that there are now several companies that can coat the inside of your air ducts in the floor with a paint-like substance that seals off any breaches in the system, therefore leaving the system in the floor versus rerouting. Have you heard of this procedure, and, if so, is it something you would recommend?  more...

Vapor barrier tips for walls, floors

By Paul Bianchina, Wednesday, February 1, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-201352p1.html">Vapor barrier image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

Moisture is something we all need to have in order to survive, and it's surrounding us all the time. Unfortunately, it's also the enemy of a lot of our building materials, and if it gets into the wrong places in our homes and is allowed to remain, it can do a lot of damage.

To keep moisture from getting where it doesn't belong, builders use what are known as vapor barriers. The more you understand about what vapor barriers are and how they work in conjunction with the insulation in your home -- especially when you're doing remodeling and repair work -- the more you can do to help prevent moisture problems, like dry rot and mold, from occurring.  more...

Tips for constructing a ledger board deck

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, January 20, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-646147p1.html" target=blank>Ledger board deck image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

Q: My son is planning to add a deck to his 1928 row home soon. He will be doing most of the work along with my other son, who built his own deck a few years ago. The question is how to attach the ledger board to the vintage double-brick construction.

A contractor friend told him to use "blue" screws to attach the board to the building and then drill all the way through into the basement and use lag bolts to attach. Is there a better way or does this sound like the best method? --Linda Q.  more...

Signs your double-pane windows need fixing

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, January 13, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-355414p1.html" target=blank>Double-pane windows</a> via Shutterstock.com.

It's winter, and the temperatures are dropping outside. One day you're warming up your home and suddenly you notice something that you hadn't seen during the summer. That perfectly clear window in the living room or the kitchen or somewhere else in the house suddenly looks foggy. You wipe it down from the inside -- and from the outside -- but the fog won't go away. The next day, it warms up again outside, and to your surprise, the fog disappears again. So what's going on?

That intermittent fogging during cold temperatures is an indication that you have what's known as a "blown seal" in your insulated glass window. Here's what happens:  more...

No shortage of bathtub choices

By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, January 5, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-70890p1.html" target=blank>Modern bathtub image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

If you're thinking of remodeling your bathroom anytime soon, you might not realize just how many bathtub options you have. In addition to an amazing palette of color choices, you also have options in materials, sizes, design, jets, controls and installation methods. Let's take a look at a few of those basic options to get you started on the right path.

Some bubbly with that tub?

A basic choice you'll be making right away is whether you want a jetted or nonjetted tub. Jetted tubs utilize a pump to circulate water though pipes that surround the tub, pushing the water into the tub through adjustable jets. Air is also introduced into the water through various means, creating bubbles.  more...

Better heating vent placement: floor or ceiling?

By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, December 29, 2011.
Image via <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-740767p1.html">oleg_begizov </a>/<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com">Shutterstock</a>

Q: My 36-year-old home has a gas furnace and floor vents. Unfortunately, several of these vents are rusting underground. My furnace guy tells me that here in Oklahoma floor vents are no longer allowed in new homes; they all use ceiling vents. He suggests that instead of repairing the current vents, when I replace the furnace I should have ceiling vents put in. (The furnace is about 19 years old.) He also says that if I were to sell my home I would need to put in ceiling vents or repair the floor vents.

Ceiling vents seem counterintuitive. Why would I want the heat to come in overhead when heat rises? What do you recommend? --Pat H.  more...

Lower your utility bills: Get an energy audit

By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, December 22, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-58353p1.html">Energy image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

When you hear the word "audit," you probably immediately go into panic mode. But not every audit has to conjure up scary images of boxes full of paperwork and scowling accountants. When it comes to a warmer house and saving money on your utility bill, an energy audit can be one of the best things you've ever done for yourself.

Simply put, an energy audit is an in-depth inspection and analysis of your home's structural envelope to determine where you might be wasting energy, and then to provide solutions both large and small.  more...

13 great gifts for do-it-yourselfers

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, December 16, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-627505p1.html" target=blank>Do-it-yourselfers image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

Do you have some avid do-it-yourselfers on your holiday gift list this year? If so, here's my annual roundup of suggestions for some interesting, quality tools worth considering. They're listed in order of the manufacturer's suggested retail price.

Black & Decker All-In-One Laser Level (Model BDL100AV, $29.97): This is a clever and useful little level that really works. It has two parts: a heavy-duty suction cup; and a small level with a bubble, a light and a laser beam.  more...

Calculate 'paybacks' before buying furnace

By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, December 8, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-80483p1.html" target=blank>Dollar signs image</a> via Shutterstock.

Cold weather's upon us again, and you may be looking at changing or upgrading your old heating system to better deal with winter's chill. But what type of furnace should you get? There's actually quite a bit that will go into making that all important decision, and here are some things worth considering.

Understanding paybacks

Throughout the process of selecting a new heating system, and even when considering energy upgrades as discussed below, you'll be faced with the concept of "paybacks." It's an important thing to understand, especially if you're feeling pressured by a salesperson to choose a particular product.  more...

Must do's when adding attic insulation

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, December 2, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-5774p1.html" target=blank>Attic insulation image</a> via Shutterstock.

Q: I've had loose-fill fiberglass (insulation) in my attic since 1975. I have some new insulation with brown paper covering on one side so I need to know if that is called batts? If it is called insulation batts, then can I put them on top of loose-fill fiberglass? Which side would I put the batts: at bottom or at top?

In your article you wrote about "using unfaced batts only so that you don't create a double vapor barrier and trap moisture between the layers of batts." What does that mean? I want to understand about it clearly before I put them in the attic. --Becky F.  more...

10 tips for a better caulking job

By Paul Bianchina, Monday, November 28, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-124399p1.html" target=blank>LesPalenik</a>/<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com" target=blank>Shutterstock</a>

Caulking seems like a pretty easy thing to do, and all in all it is. But there are some tricks of the trade that can make a big difference between a smooth, hassle-free caulking job and one that's frustrating and perhaps a little sloppier than you'd like. So before your next caulking project, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Gather up a few simple tools

For any caulking job, you need only a handful of basic items, all of which are available at any home center, hardware store or paint store.  more...

9 ways to keep lid on energy bills

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, November 18, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-50306p1.html" target=blank>Ernest R. Prim</a>/<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com" target=blank>Shutterstock</a>

No one likes wasting money, especially in these tough economic times. So it certainly makes sense -- dollars and cents -- to make a small investment of time and supplies to close up those heat-wasting air leaks around your home. It'll pay back big dividends in reduced energy bills and a warmer, more comfortable house this winter. So let's look at some of the areas where those drafts may be lurking, and see how to take care of them.

1. Doors and windows: This should be an obvious one. If you can see gaps between your siding and your windows or exterior doors, close them up with a bead of clear or paintable acrylic latex caulk. Larger gaps can be filled with foam backer rod before applying the caulking.  more...

7 keys to designing a home vestibule

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, November 11, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-546712p1.html" target=blank>Dudakova Elena</a>/<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com" target=blank>Shutterstock</a>

When you're thinking about ways to keep the heat inside your house where it belongs, one interesting project that's often overlooked is the vestibule, also sometimes known as an airlock. In addition to helping you cut winter heating and summer cooling costs, vestibules can offer lots of interesting design and remodeling possibilities. They can add curb appeal, resale value, and some additional, very practical square footage as well.

The vestibule is really a simple concept. It's actually just an entry hall or room with a door at each end. A person entering the house from outside passes though the first door and into the vestibule, then through the second door, which leads into the house itself. This two-door system, often seen in commercial buildings such as retail stores and office buildings, is very effective at trapping heated or cooled air inside the room rather than allowing it to escape outside.  more...

Alternative window treatments block heat, UV rays

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, November 4, 2011.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rvaphotodude/2277816439/" target=blank>rvaphotodude</a>/<a href="http://www.flickr.com" target=blank>Flickr</a>

Q: We live in a 2-year-old condo with west-facing windows. The afternoon sun is very bright and hot at times. Someone told me that you can have a film professionally applied to the inside of the windows that will still allow all the light to come in, but will cut the ultraviolet rays and it will stay a little cooler in summer and keep it a little warmer in winter, as well as cutting down on sun fade for carpet, etc. Do you know anything about this and if it really helps? What should we look for in a product, and how do we find a reliable installer? --Eleanor S.

A: There is actually a wide range of window films that can be applied to your windows, including ones that will block UV rays and heat from entering, while actually helping to reduce heat loss back through the glass, so you also get some benefit in the winter. Depending on your needs, you can get films that are completely clear or ones that are tinted so that people on the outside can't look in.  more...

A pro's take on restaining deck

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, October 28, 2011.
Flickr/<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/danebrian/2521496417/">dane brian</a>

Q: I have a small (12-foot-by-10-foot) wooden deck in my backyard, which was stained in redwood finish about three years ago. Some areas of the deck has weathered and faded. I am planning to restain the deck in the next week or so. Any advice on the preparation and staining techniques? --O.C.

A: If it's been only three years, it sounds like the original material used to stain the deck might not been of the highest quality. I would suggest cleaning and prepping the deck using a product such as Wolman's DeckStrip, which will remove the old stain and prep the wood to receive new material.  more...

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