Expert Advice for your Lawn & Garden TV Host of Today's Homeowner® and home expert for The Weather ChannelDesign and Decor, Interior, Today's Homeowner Published 12/19/2006 by Danny Lipford
In this episode we update a 15-year old living room with new surfaces to give it a modern, slightly formal touch.
A new fireplace gives the room a warm, comfortable feel while replacing the old white carpet with new wood floors adds a touch of formality. And after removing the light trays above, the space really opens up. Old wallpaper gives way to new brightly faux finished ceilings that accent the dining and foyer areas beautifully. New tile in the foyer really makes a difference and adds to the formal feel with the darker inset marble accents.
Deadlines…it’s something you really hate to hear when you’re a contractor. Thanks to Hollywood stereotypes, the contractor is always faulted for never being able to meet a deadline. Of course, the real culprit is notoriously material delays, change orders and Mother Nature. In this case, though, I didn’t envy Danny at all. His deadline was imposed by Mrs. Lipford! Sorry, Danny. No excuses, just get it done and on time! All kidding aside, though, tread lightly when expecting iron-clad deadlines on any remodeling project. If you must impose a deadline, then be sure to consider Murphy’s Law when setting the deadline date. It is very rare for any job to proceed without a glitch somewhere. Keep a realistic attitude and understand that your contractor will do everything he or she can to complete your job in a timely manner.
Seriously, do you really believe Danny stripped all that wallpaper off himself? Danny had more fun spraying the solution on the walls right over us as we removed the paper. At one point, we ran out of the wallpaper removal solution, so he filled the sprayer with hot water and vinegar and started spraying again without telling anyone. The smell is very unique…We have a lot a fun when we tape these segments, but this brings up a great tip. Hot water and vinegar really is a superb alternative to purchasing a removal solution. The vinegar will break down the enzymes of the adhesive. So, as long as you can tolerate the tangy smell, I would recommend using that instead of paying out money for a chemical solution. If the paper is really stubborn, only then would I consider going to the expense of using a wallpaper steamer. Honestly, if you let the vinegar solution saturate the area and not touch it for 10-15 minutes and continue to wet it down, the spray-on solution will do most of the work for you.
Most people are aware of this, but there are still some of you out there (you know who you are) who would install ceramic tile directly over a wood subfloor, such as the surface we had on the step-down into the living room. As you see in this episode, we covered the step with a cement backer board first. Never, and I will repeat it for emphasis, never install tile on a wood floor without first installing a backer board. A wood floor will expand and contract and crack the mortar joints as well as crack the tile. The backer board will act as the necessary barrier to prevent that from happening.
Vinyl tablecloths, like the ones usually used on picnic tables, make great drop cloths. These tablecloths are tougher than plastic sheeting and if you put the smooth side face down, they don’t slip around on the hard flooring the way canvas drop cloths do. If you have carpet, no problem, just put the smooth side face up. Even if you have to buy a vinyl table cloth they’re cheaper than drop cloths.
Upgrading bathrooms and kitchens is top of the list for most homeowners and one of the most common upgrades - replacing a faucet - just got easier. In the past, installing a faucet meant you had at least 14 pieces scattered across the floor. With the new speed connect system from American Standard there are fewer installation steps and only 4 parts so fumbling with or losing pieces isn’t an issue. Fewer parts means you can install a faucet in a fraction of the time. This one doesn’t even require tools or plumbers putty – an obvious bonus. The product comes pre-assembled for the most part so it’d be great for tight spaces that might otherwise be hard to maneuver in. Because the Speed Connect’s drain stopper is preset and pre-assembled, you don’t need to make adjustments during installation either.
The speed connect faucets are not only easy to install but because prices vary by the style and finish you’re bound to find something you like. We found several from $39 to $119.
Selecting stepping stones is like choosing a wall covering for your house, it’s very individual and there’s a lot to choose from. Whether you use brick or flagstone or pavers, you’ll want to match the surface to the architecture of your home. They’re an inexpensive way to create a path through your garden or yard – a lot less expensive then pouring concrete. Of course stepping stones need to be level so it’s a good idea to set them where you want them, outline them with a shovel and then cut out the space for the stone. Then add a little sand as needed to help level the stones.
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