Q: I purchased a 27-inch, four-burner Wolf commercial range, with an oven, about 30 years ago. I was told when I purchased the range (commercial) that there should be at least six inches between the range and cabinets on both sides; the rear was tiled already. I had my kitchen remodeled in November 2006. Is there a way to protect my cabinets by installing any fireproofing products so that the range can set within the one or two inches against the cabinets, or should I tile the rear wall and the two sides next to the cabinets? --Fran K.  more...

Paint preparation is one of the ugly sides of home-improvement projects. All that sanding and scraping and cleaning -- no one really likes to do it, but it's essential to a good paint job. So, like it or not, it's a step that you don't want to skip or do poorly, since the quality of your finished product pretty much depends on it.

There are three basic things to remember for properly preparing any surface that you want to paint -- get it clean, smooth and dry.

CLEAN IT UP  more...

Q: Everyone complains about builders before or after the building process. My concern is that builders don't deliver what is promised, or they trick me in the paperwork I'm supposed to sign. How can I protect myself from fraud? Are there laws protecting me against these giants? --Ron Z., via e-mail  more...

Q: I live in an 11-year-old "Good Sense" manufactured home, and I have a worsening case of asthma, which I suspect is allergy-related. The old siding was deteriorating, and we had the rotting panels removed and replaced with vinyl, which was installed over OSB sheeting and a foil-backed foam. There is no evidence of mold in the house, except for the usual in the bathroom that I try to keep under control.  more...

Q: We have a house that was built in 1995, in a neighborhood of other houses all built around the same time. Our house has a gray composition shingle roof that has developed large dark stains in many areas. Other homes in the neighborhood with gray or charcoal roofs also have it, but the ones with light-colored roofs don't. Is it algae? If so, would zinc strips help? --Shirley L., via e-mail

A: It's very likely that the staining is indeed some form of algae growth, and I contacted the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association to confirm that this is their opinion as well.  more...

Q: My natural gas, 40-gallon water heater discharges about a quart or quart and a half of water from the relief tube every day. This seems to happen when the water heater turns itself on to heat the water, and has been going on since we had our bathrooms remodeled.  more...

Q: Our home is two years old, and we have recently noticed round holes in the wallboard, usually in the ceiling near a wall. Upon inspection we noticed that the wallboard nails are working out. Is it sufficient to simply pound them back in and recover the surface, or are more elaborate measures called for? --Malcolm M., via e-mail  more...

The one consistent thing about remodeling your home is that it's disruptive. There's dust, disorganization and even periods without electricity. But perhaps the most disruptive element of all is being without water.

Prior to the start of any remodeling project, especially a large one, you need to stop and consider what your plumbing needs will be during the course of the project, and then devise a plan on how to meet those needs.  more...

Q: The metal rods that operate the covers on my foundation vents no longer work, and I want to replace them. Can you recommend a replacement, or a way to make my own? Also, do you feel that closing the foundation vents is even necessary? --Steve B.

A: First of all, I do recommend that the crawl space be sealed off during the coldest part of the winter season in order to prevent frozen pipes.  more...

From removing old peeling paint to putting a glass-smooth finish on a new cabinet, sanding is a part of life for any do-it-yourselfer. It can be a tedious and dusty proposition at times, but luckily over the years many manufacturers have introduced power sanders to make the task easier and less messy.

Here's a look at the four main types of power sanders, along with some shopping tips for finding the one that works best for your specific applications.  more...

Q: I have two questions about remodeling my old house. First, I need to remove some floor tiles from an oak hardwood floor prior to refinishing it. There are no asbestos issues, but the tiles are pretty well stuck down with a black, gooey material. Any suggestions? Second, I have plaster walls in a small room and would like to apply a light texture to cover some minor cracks. What should I use? Thanks! --Dan W., via e-mail  more...

Well, it's time once again to be thinking about what to get for the avid do-it-yourselfer on your holiday shopping list, so here are some great tool suggestions -- listed in order of price -- that are well worth considering. (Prices are MSRP, and the tools are commonly available through home centers, hardware stores, lumber yards and other retailers, as well as online).

And this year a big thanks to all of the manufacturers who are getting rid of those irritating and dangerous blister packs in favor of more user-friendly packaging!  more...

Q: I have enjoyed your column for some time, and I now have a question about the composition shingle roof on a house we just purchased. The roof is only 5 years old and is in good shape, but we want to paint the house. Unfortunately, the existing roof color will contrast poorly with the paint colors we've chosen. Is there any kind of paint or other surface coloring that we can use to darken the shingles? --Pat W.

A: As you're probably aware, a composition shingle gets its coloration from the thousands of tiny mineral granules used in its construction.  more...

Call it what you will -- utility room, laundry room, mud room -- the names say it all. It's a place for the washer and dryer to live, a place for wet and dirty clothes to hang out, a landing point for muddy boots and chore jackets, you name it.  more...

Q: I am remodeling my living room and would like to install a wide cove molding at the ceiling, but I need help in mitering the corners. Do I cut them at a 45-degree angle? Do I cope them? Any information would be greatly appreciated. --Steve H.

A: Crown molding is one of the most attractive and interesting molding features you can add to a room. It is also, however, one of the more difficult finish carpentry tasks to undertake.

Crown molding sits at an angle to the wall, as opposed to a base molding that sits flat against it.  more...