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All posts by onthehouse

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  Question I have a problem in my house where the drywall separates from the ceiling and opens up a gap of 1/4″ in the winter. In early spring the gap closes completely and stays that way until...

  • Posted February 23, 2014
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  5 Tips to Avoid Cracks From Minor Settlement

  Question I bought a ten-year-old home in May of this year. It had just been freshly painted. It’s August and two cracks have developed on top of the kitchen door, one on one corner of a window...

  • Posted February 23, 2014
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  Bubbling Paint

  Question My shower room has paint falling off the sheetrock from steam. If I have the shower pan and stall walls replaced, is there anything I can use to cover the other sheetrock surfaces so I don’t...

  • Posted February 23, 2014
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  Preparing to Decorate

  Question Is it necessary to finish drywall before applying anything decorative to it? Also, what causes mirrors to turn dark around the edges after a while? Shirley Answer Two super questions. First, the drywall. The decorative finish...

  • Posted February 23, 2014
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  Spackling A Crack?

  Question I heard that spackle wasn’t good to use to patch a crack. Millie Answer Good question. Spackle is a great patch material for small holes and very small cracks. However, when it comes to larger crack...

  • Posted February 23, 2014
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  Waterproofing Home Made Rocks

  Question My daughter made some great plaster “rocks” that we used last year in a small recirculating waterfall. My husband gave them three coats of Thompson’s Water Seal, and we sat the bottom ones on gravel to...

  • Posted February 23, 2014
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  Sun Room Woes

  Question We added a sunroom to our house a few years back. When building it we also installed an air conditioner/heater unit. The problem is if we run the unit year round to compensate for the heat/cooling,...

  • Posted February 23, 2014
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  Beat the Heat with Attic Vents

  In the summer, air conditioners and fans run and spin around the clock to keep homes cool and comfortable. But often they work harder than they should, and use more energy than necessary. This is because attics...

  • Posted February 22, 2014
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  Coffered Ceilings

  Ever wonder what makes an elegant room, elegant? One thing you may not have noticed is the ceiling. Often, stately mansions boast a coffered ceiling — that tasteful waffle-looking woodwork overhead that is named after the coffers...

  • Posted February 22, 2014
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  Garage Floor Dam

  Tired of nasty winter weather making a mess of your garage floor? It’s time to say, “mess no more!” Here’s how to make a garage floor dam that says: “mess stopper, that’s what I am!” From deep...

  • Posted February 22, 2014
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