Practical Solutions To Everyday DIY Challenges!
Using Tyvek or plastic to protect carpet floors Recently we were remodeling and used up all of our floor protector roll. Carpenter and friend George Gulser showed me a trick he learned while working at a boat yard in North Carolina. This tip can be useful when using plastic type sheeting on the floors and keeps it from being a trip hazard. He cut slits in the sheeting and then used blue painters tape to secure it to the carpet. … [Read more...]
Choosing a House color? Start with the roof . . . That’s become one of the most common requests for homeowners in today’s marketplace as people look to add more colorful features to their homes as part of remodeling and new construction projects. “A well-chosen color scheme for a home’s exterior can bring out architectural details, downplay flaws and enhance the overall look of the home,” says Kate Smith, president of … [Read more...]
Proper Painting Preparation: A poor paint job often shows up after the painter is gone and the check has cleared. Most paint jobs fail because an important step in the preparation phase was skipped or done poorly. A poor paint job often manifests itself in paint failure such as; flaking, chipping, paint peeling in sheets, bleeding spots or mildew. Following basic paint preparation steps is easy and will ensure a quality job that will … [Read more...]
Before installing your shingles or clapboards you may want to apply a finish to all surfaces. (including ends) It's easier than working off a ladder or staging and it can be done out of inclement weather, hot temperatures or at night - if indoors. Factory applied finishes are best and are also available in quality paints. A factory applied finish ensures the best performance of the finish. Properly finishing your siding [back-priming and … [Read more...]
Before installing wood decking like Ipe or Mahogany boards I always try to convince my customer to allow for the extra cost of back priming the deck boards to seal them from moisture. In most of these situations the deck boards are oiled or stained. In these cases I use a clear a preservative like Penifin or Australian Timber oil. Make sure to also seal the end grain . Photo source … [Read more...]
Always choose the color of the room you are planning to paint in that room.Looking at a paint wheel in a store under fluorescent light or outside in the sunlight will not be the same as looking at it in the room light that your going to paint.Use this Sears coupons to buy your paintIf you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed or receive updates via email↑ Grab this Headline AnimatorPOSTED BY CONCORD CARPENTER … [Read more...]
"Preparation When Painting Is Everything!!" . . . . . says my friend and fellow craftsman Mark O'Lalor of O'Lalor Painting Company.Rush the paint preparation and you'll end up regretting it!Oils from the human hand, ambient dust in the interior and exterior environment, oil rich cooking vapor, candle wax vapor and of course dust from construction all contribute to create a barrier between the applied paint and the surface in question.These … [Read more...]
How to Repair Old Plaster Walls "Preparation When Painting Is Everything!!" . . . . . says my friend and fellow craftsman Mark O'Lalor of O'Lalor Painting Company. Mark is today's guest blog writer. The photo below shows interior water damage as a result of a leak in the chimney flashing. Rob detailed the repair of the flashing and the installation of a roof cricket last month. After Rob repaired the roof leak he called me in to repair the … [Read more...]
Robert Robillard is the Editor of A Concord Carpenter, Host of the Concord Carpenter cable tv show and the Principal of Robert E. Robillard Finish Carpentry & Renovation, LLC, a carpentry and renovation business located in Concord, Massachusetts.
He writes on all aspects of home improvement and remodeling, specializing in problem solving for all aspects of home maintenance.
In his spare time he enjoys reviewing new tools and products and restoring old tools back and using them on projects: A Concord Carpenter.
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