Interiors

Question: For today’s column we have two questions about peeling paint, in different situations. They will be answered together. Dear Mr. Marantz: Thank you for providing an opportunity for finding information for the homeowner. I painted my steel door, some years ago, over the factory … [Read more...] about Peeling Paint

Question: We have wood panel walls in our basement rec-room. I want to paint them but want a smooth surface. I did not want to remove them if possible. A renovation TV show I saw used "mudding" or "skinning" to resurface the panels in a basement project. They did not explain what product they … [Read more...] about Painting Wood Paneling

Question: Our home has wood framed windows on the inside and aluminum framing on the outside. The humidity build-up on the windows in the winter melts and drips onto the stained/varnished wood surface inside and bleaches or stains it. Yes, constant vigil with drying cloths does help but we would … [Read more...] about Painting Windows

Question: Is it possible to paint an Arborite countertop in a bathroom? Answer: With the numerous types of paints and finishes available currently, it is possible to paint almost anything. The question you should be asking is not whether painting your bathroom countertop is possible, but is … [Read more...] about Painting Countertop

Question: I live in a side by side. We can hear a lot of noise from our neighbours.  We hear them walking around all the time. The worst problem is at night when we can hear them snoring through our bedroom wall. There is insulation in the walls already.  Do you have any ideas for … [Read more...] about Noise in Side By Side

Question: We plan to resurface our kitchen area with no glue, snap and lock pre-finished flooring. We have been advised to install milled 8mm. due to the high traffic the kitchen attracts. Currently the area is covered with thin, low-end kitchen carpet with no underlay. Normally, we are … [Read more...] about Laminate Flooring

Question: We purchased a new townhouse condominium this past summer. We had hardwood floors installed in the great room and kitchen area.  I noticed this past week that the floor separated itself and came undone along an 8-foot board.  It is not a very large separation but you … [Read more...] about Hardwood Floor Separations

Question: Dear Mr Marantz, We read your articles fairly regularly and enjoy them very much for their concise and competent style and contents. That's why we believe you might be the man to ask for advice on our problem. We have a 14-year-old house on the Red River in Winnipeg with huge, … [Read more...] about Fogged Window Seals

Question: I hope you will be able to give me some advice.  I have a basement bathroom in which we had glued down flooring some years ago.  I have noticed that the flooring is lifting in areas.  It seems that there is something under the places that have lifted.  When you press … [Read more...] about Flooring in Basement Bathroom

Question: Ari: I read your question/answer article in Winnipeg Free Press Sunday Homes and find this very helpful. I have a problem of my own and am hoping you can provide your input to correct the problem.I have a cathedral ceiling for my Kitchen/Great Room and at the peak of the cathedral … [Read more...] about Cracks in Vaulted Ceiling