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Contractor's mistake cuts years off roof life

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

Q: I recently had a roof put on an investment property, but even though the contract calls for 30-year shingles, the contractor put on 20-year instead. He admitted the mistake and offered to credit me $340 -- the difference in the cost of the materials.

My issue is not the cost of materials but the fact that I've lost 10 years on the life of my roof for a measly $340. more...

Longtime renter reveals free box resource

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, June 3, 2008.

We recently answered a senior citizen's question about how to go about painting her studio apartment in San Francisco. It seems the landlord would not paint the place and our reader was looking for an efficient alternative. We offered several suggestions, addressing the specific questions posed by the reader.

As occasionally happens, another reader took issue with our response, suggesting we "missed the boat." Often the critic points out another alternative that we didn't mention. If the suggestions are valuable, we pass the information along. more...

Homeowners needn't be afraid of stucco repair

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, May 27, 2008.

This week, the subject is stucco. One homeowner wants to know how to repair holes made during an insulation project; another wants to know how to hang a bike and a wisteria vine from her stucco wall. more...

Second-story addition daunting but doable

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, May 20, 2008.

Bill occasionally corresponds via e-mail with a person who bought and lives in one of the houses we remodeled. In a recent e-mail, he posed a couple of questions that we thought worth sharing:

Q: I have several questions to ask, as I am going to order a complete reroof this summer. Do you know if the existing foundation will support a full second story? If not, will it support a partial floor in the attic for storage? I realize that you may not have explored this option while you lived here and/or may not remember the answer if you did. more...

Seniors, leave apartment painting for the pros

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, May 13, 2008.

Q: What is the cheapest, quickest way to paint a full studio apartment? I am a senior with limited physical and financial resources.

My problem is common to many urbanites: In San Francisco, landlords are not obliged to repaint apartments, no matter how long the tenant has lived there. So they don't. Many of us have grown out of our places, but because of rent control and high rents elsewhere, moving is not a viable option.

Here are some of the things I need to know: more...

Cordless drill a great Father's Day gift

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, May 6, 2008.

A few weeks ago we wrote about how Kevin helped a customer at the Home Depot find the right bit to drill a hole in ceramic tile. As often happens, the answer raised another question from one of our readers, Dave, who wrote:

"Since you mentioned drill-buying in this week's column, do you think a Makita 12-volt cordless drill would handle most small to medium home projects? Is going up to 14.4 volts excessive for occasional use?" more...

Kitchen lighting tips from the pros

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, April 29, 2008.

Q: In an effort to update my kitchen, I had the two fluorescent lights removed and three recessed lights put in. I did not realize they would not give out much light. Can you advise me on what options I have now that I have three holes in the ceiling? Is there any other kind of bulb I can use?

A: One of the most important things to consider in updating a kitchen is lighting. It ranks right up there with appliance placement, cabinets and countertop material. But lighting is often overlooked. more...

New roof keeps out rain, but not cold

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, April 22, 2008.

Q: Even though we have done a good deal of work to increase energy efficiency in our 1960 split-level home, we are having a difficult time keeping the warm air inside the house during winter months. more...

Easy fixes for a saggy door

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, April 15, 2008.

Q: Our front door faces the southwest and has a short overhang such that it takes a beating from the afternoon sun. We replaced our 36-by-80-inch wood-panel front door with a new fiberglass one.

It has settled over the past 15 months. Also, it's sagging a bit. The old wood door sagged because of the many separate pieces that sagged. The new fiberglass door has a solid one-piece face, but the top corner is sagging just a bit so that it rubs against the jamb. more...

Install grab bars in shower with ease

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, April 8, 2008.

A few weeks ago, Kevin was cruising the aisles of the Home Depot near his home in Eagle, Idaho, trying to decide whether to spring for a new cordless drill or to replace the battery in his trusty but old 9.6-volt Makita.

He noticed a man in a quandary next to him in the tool aisle. The man was trying to figure out how to drill a hole in ceramic tile. Since there wasn't a salesperson to be found this Saturday, the man asked Kevin how to do it. Kevin asked him what he was trying to do. Install a grab bar in a shower was the response. more...

Zigzag wall crack brings bad news

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, April 1, 2008.

Q: I just read an article on repairing drywall at the joints, which I have a lot of. But in one room the wall is cracked in a diagonal -- sort of zigzag -- all the way down the wall. It really looks as if I need all new drywall. What do you suggest? more...

Save money installing hardwood floors

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, March 25, 2008.

Our friend Wes is an inveterate golfer. He's a whole lot more comfortable swinging a pitching wedge than a hammer. So, on a recent warm Saturday morning -- perfect weather for 18 holes -- it was strange to see him on his hands and knees in the spare bedroom of his Castro Valley, Calif., home, nailing down a hardwood floor. more...

Remodel rids closet of musty smell

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Wednesday, March 19, 2008.

Q: Our 1920s bungalow has a small front closet that is punched out from the wall of the house so that the box of the closet extends past the exterior walls. This leaves the three walls and floor in direct contact with the outside damp air. We use this as a coat closet, but because of the outside dampness and lack of insulation in the lath-and-plaster walls, clothes get musty. more...

Home's crawl space needs vapor barrier

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Wednesday, March 12, 2008.

Q: I would appreciate your opinion on whether I should hire a company to line the crawl space of my house. It's about 2,400 square feet, and I suspect the work would be pretty pricey. Is it worth it? more...

Prevent deck collapse with proper upkeep

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Wednesday, March 5, 2008.

Q: Our 35-year-old house has a 7-foot cantilevered deck on the top floor -- about 25 feet above ground level. The untreated fir joists feel solid but have large black areas on the sides -- especially on the outboard end (the area closest to the house is protected by an overhang). I intend to remove the decking to repair any rot on the tops of the joists; I was told by a pest control guy to pressure-wash the black areas on the sides. I guess that is a good idea. more...

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