Q: I am redoing my wood floor balcony by sloping it, using a little dry pack mortar and then waterproofing the surface using Henry BlueSkin (peel-and-stick butyl membrane roof flashing). Can I apply thinset directly to the BlueSkin? I would like to use this as a waterproof barrier and cement the backer board on top of it. Then set the tile on the backerboard. The photo … [Read more...] about How to Tile Over a Wood Deck
Interiors
Should I Acclimate Hardwood Flooring & Leave Expansion Gap?
Q: I hired a 20+ year veteran flooring pro to install red oak hardwood floors. After the install, I was told by a friend about expansion gaps needed around the perimeter to prevent buckling, etc. as humidity changes and the house settles, in New England. When I asked, the contractor said this was unnecessary because he had stored the wood for several weeks where it could … [Read more...] about Should I Acclimate Hardwood Flooring & Leave Expansion Gap?
Can Tile Mastic Be Used In Showers?
Q: My contractor wants to use mastic, rather than thinset mortar, on our new shower stall – on both the shower base and the walls. He says that the mastic he uses is approved for wet areas. From what we’ve read and heard, thinset is the way to go. Also, we are considering a one-piece acrylic shower base vs. a tiled base. What do you recommend? – J.G. A: Never use tile mastic … [Read more...] about Can Tile Mastic Be Used In Showers?
Preventing Mold On Bedroom Walls & Ceilings
Q: I have a damp spot in the corner of the bedroom. It is and outside wall corner. It is a bungalow so no bathroom over it. The damp spot seems to dry at times but there are tiny mold spots on it. Could it be that there is not enough circulation in the room? The window in the room becomes full of condensation when blind is down in winter so thought that may be part of … [Read more...] about Preventing Mold On Bedroom Walls & Ceilings
Cure For Squeaky Floors
Q: Hi. We recently moved into an older home with hardwood floors that are very squeaky in some spots. Some areas are hardwood and some are carpeted over hardwood . Any tips or products you can recommend minimize the squeaks without tearing out the ceiling below. In some places we can access from below. - MH A: Floor squeaks in hardwood floors are generally caused by spaces … [Read more...] about Cure For Squeaky Floors
Prefinished Hardwood Flooring vs. Unfinished?
Q: Is prefinished hardwood flooring as good as traditional hardwood? We are remodeling and wish to install hardwood strip flooring. We are considering unfinished hardwood flooring, prefinished solid hardwood, and laminated hardwood that is about 3/8-inch thick. We are leaning toward unfinished but have read that some of the prefinished products have better finishes. What’s … [Read more...] about Prefinished Hardwood Flooring vs. Unfinished?
Magnesium-Oxide Wallboard & Sheathing
Q: Magnesium-oxide board (ExtremeGreen board) seems to be a ideal building material, but Wikipedia and other sources say it has a problem of attracting condensation due to its salt content. Can you offer any advice? -- Keith B. A: Magnesium-oxide building products – sheathing, wallboard, siding, and other products such as SIPs – are very new in the U.S. so there is little … [Read more...] about Magnesium-Oxide Wallboard & Sheathing
Radon Risks and Best Way To Mitigate
Don asks: Our house measures just over the EPA limit for radon. Is this something we should be concerned about or are the risks overblown? How effective are radon mitigation systems and what do they cost? -- Doug M. Steve Bliss, of BuildingAdvisor.com, responds: While radon stories rarely appear in the news anymore, the health risk from exposure to high levels is real and … [Read more...] about Radon Risks and Best Way To Mitigate