DIY to the Rescue

I have been upgrading the kitchen of a 30 yr old ranch house only to find it was built on a shifting foundation. My floor tile work is now in shambles. Is there anything i can do to lay a tile floor

Hi Will,

There certainly is.
There are a number of different ways. Here is one method that I have used many times.

1. First remove the tiles, (unfortunately) then lay down a plastic or tar paper membrane. Staple it to the floor if wood or just lay it down if concrete. Lay down sheets of expandable mesh, lap joints then mix up mason mix and pour over the area (minimum 1" thick) then screed it level and let it set. Lay tiles using flexible cement based tile adhesive. Fenito.
The advantage of this is that the tiles stay intact allowing the existing floor to move. This happens as the tiles and cement screed are independent from the existing floor.

If you are in the kitchen. Remember to tile under the dishwasher and fridge. Check the height allowance for both as you will be raising the floor.

Cheers.

Ah yes. Kitchen upgrades are a lot of fun. Finally you get to install modern cabinets, more counter space, tile floors, wine coolers and new appliances.

Did you plan to upgrade your electrical wiring and lighting. What good is all of this when you can't see very well at night?

Recessed lighting works very well for general illumination in the walkways. Undercabinet lights are great for task lighting. Above cabinet lights provide a great ambiance and don't forget the puck lights inside the cabinets with glass doors.
This is also a great time to upgrade your receptacles and add more. The 2005 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires 2 - 20 ampere small appliance circuits. However, I recommend more. We usually put the dishwasher and disposal on a dedicated 20 ampere circuit as well as the microwave and refrigerator.

If your stove only has a 3-prong receptacle, I recommend upgrading your wiring and receptacle to the new and required 4-prong receptacle.
All of the above wiring can be done by a "do it yourselfer" if your local building codes permit it.

If your need DIY electrical wiring help, please visit http://electricalblog.gilchrist-electric.com . Here you will receive answers to your electrical questions from a Montana licensed unlimited electrical contractor and master electrician with over 20 years experience.

Hi Will,
I currently live in a 57 year old fixer upper and have been doing so for the past six years such as I replaced all of the windows (29) all four doors, roof, added a patio (50 square yards) unfortunately I took a spill about a year ago and destroyed my entire left leg I have been out of work ever sense my kitchen needs major repairs along with both bathrooms, laundry room, floors, electrical, etc. what can I do VERY CHEAP to improve my home?

I would like diy to the rescue come and rescue my basement room. It is half finished and I need help to finish the rest.
I live in Georia area..I was hopeing you are doing some shows in this area.
Thank you
Judy Gilbert

Hi Amy and Karl,
You and your wonderful crew came to our house last June for a rescue. You helped us install a
sliding glass door on the inside of our home, to
separate the basement into a living room/home office. I just wanted to let you know how much we are enjoying the space. My husband Marc is able to work out of his new "home office", while the kids and I are enjoying the wonderful living area. Thank you so much for all of your hard work. It was a wonderful experience. What a fantastic and funny crew you have. Keep up the good work.
Best Wishes,
The Elkins

I want to do some basic remodeling. I wanted to start with changing my handles and hinges on the cabinets. I found some handles I like that are black iron. But have double dismountable hinges and can't find black. Can I use a different type of hinge? Or could I paint them? They are currently burnished brass. The cabinets are fine, I just would like new hardware to update the look of my kitchen.
Thank you,
Lynn Hall

I need to replace some older alumnium double pane windows in my living room. One of the panes has a broken seal and there is condensation between the sheets of glass. The windows are 5' high and 4' wide and are side by side with about 4" between them. I would like to construct a bay window 8' wide to replace them and fit into the existing opening. I would like to use a 4' fixed center window and 3' single hung on the sides, and come out about 18". I would also like to construct storage under a window seat. I cannot find any framing directions for a bay window. Where do I start? We have already replaced 2 other windows and are comfortable with exact replacements, but this is real different. I hear horror stories about bay windows that leak and don't want that to happen.

what is the easiest (with the least mess possible) way to remove a popcorn ceiling? covering with drywall not an option...

ooo ... and what can be done if the grout in the bathroom keeps cracking ...?

i appreciate any suggestions

Hi Bean,
Spray sections with water and scrape it. It’s the best way. Small sections at a time. Tape the joints and plaster set where necessary.
It’s important to note that older popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos. If you are unsure, have a sample tested or cover it with 1/4" drywall.
Re: cracking grout. Walls or floors?
It’s obvious that there is movement. The ideal way is to start from scratch and relay the tiles on cement backer board. If this is not an option. You can use a flexible grout or even a bathroom grade colored caulk. Or remove a small section, refasten the backer board material and relay the tiles.

Good luck and just try to seal each room off prior to the removal. A wet/dry vacumn is great for this type of clean up.

Thanks for all the great tips! I love watching your show as I learn a lot.
I have a question-- when you opened that kitchen and created a bar area, how high was the counter? I am thinking of doing the same so as to make the kitchen more friendly to interaction but I am not sure how much I should take away. I was also thinking of using kitchen cabinets as support for the bar counter (in the kitchen side) to create additional storage.
Thanks...
P.S. I would love it if you could come over to my place and help me with a bathroom renovation that has me stumped! I need to remove and replace a wall (where faucet/shower fixtures are) but don't know how to go about doing this. I checked with local contractors and the cost of doing this is a bit beyond my pocketbook at the moment! HELP!
Celia

Hi ya,

Thanks for watching!
The counter top was the same height as the existing counter tops. You can leave it at that or add an additional taller counter/server (half width) that will give your other counters a little privacy. This prevents having your guests look at your food preperations etc.
Bathroom renovations can be fun. So why don't you try to do as much as you can and engage a good electrician and plumber. Coordinate it yourself.
What State do you live in?
If you get really stuck send me your # and we can have a chat.

Good luck!

I am trying to remove the wallpaper in the kitchen and found there is a second layer which has been painted over. The steamer isnt going to work on removing paint! HELP!! How do i do this? The house was built in the 1970's.

Hi,
In episode DTTR-310, the patio roof you used peel and stick roofing. I have been unable to find it. Can you please tell me who makes it and where it is available.

I'm trying to find instructions on building a set of "floating shelves." I thought I originally saw the project on DIY to the Rescue, but I watch a lot of home repair and decoration shows, so I could be wrong. Can you direct me to instructions for these? I live in an apartment that has very little in the way of storage in the kitchen and I'm looking for a way to display some heirloom glassware. I thought the floating shelves would be the perfect way to showcase it. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas that I continue to get from your shows.

I am wanting to add cabinets to my kitchen but the problem I am having is the wall is far from square and straight. This house was built in 1952 as a 2 room shack so to speak and the kitchen is one of the original rooms. How do i fix the kitchen wall so it is straight so i can put cabinets in there. the wall that is causing us the problem is an outside wall, so do i need to do anything any different by it being an outside wall. thanks in advance for any help that you can give me. My husband and I have been doing all kinds of remodeling and now the house has went from and 2 room to a 6 bedroom 2 bath and this kitchen has turned into a big problem and we just don't know what to do to fix it. With 6 kids, plus my disabled parents and us i really need a kitchen space that i can work in and not feel aggervated everytime i'm in there trying to cook. brenda

I would like to add a backsplash in the kitchen behind the stove. Is it really necessary to add a cement back board or can I just install the tile directly on the wall?
Thank you
Ludovic

How do I apply to "DIY To The Rescue"? My husband and I need help. He tore up our basement! I don't think it will ever be finished...and the mold is growing!!!

Hi Maryann,

I hear this all the time!
Visit our web site and click on "Be on DIY" Then just follow the steps. If you have any trouble with this just drop me another line.
Good luck & bleach is one of the best solutions for keeping mold under control. (Until you get the job done)

Hi

I am currently trying to remodel my kitchen from a 100 year old home. On the south side, the walls are covered in plaster right to the brick. I have decided to put drywall over it so I can move on to the rest of the remodel... Problem is I can't get the drywall screws to mount into the wall. It just rejects them, is there anything I can do to salvage this? HELP!!!

thanks

Hi Patrick,

Best thing is to mount timber strips to the bricks first with masonry anchors. Then simply nail or screw the drywall home. This is also a great opportunity to run wires or pipes before installing the drywall.
I hope this helps you out.

I am a resident of Reading, PA and I plan to install a pavers patio around our pool between my husband and me. Can we get any help from DIY not living in California?

Thanks.

Our shotgun mansion, as they are loving referred to in Houston, required a few reconfigurations to house 3 kids in college and one in high school. One project led to another, then another and now I'm on the last and cannot get it finished.
The first, an addition on the 3rd floor, led to adding wood floors on the second floor to replace the thrashed carpet. I chose BR-111 Brazilian cherry which is beautiful. It took me 4 times to complete the flat run, but the stairs are impossible. The stairnose pieces are too thin to hold the weight of my 6'4" son and they keep popping off. I purchased pre-cut stair treads w/routered nose' from Lowes and have 15 of the 17 cut to size, just waiting for the risers. As a 50 yr old woman with a Type A personality, I'm not ready to give up and start over with a contractor, but I would be open to a helping hand. Working from home has given me the time to tackle these project, but I will not have that luxury starting next week. Yes, I'm willing to be humiliated on TV in order to get help finishing this project and showing others, it is not as simple as the brochures lead you to believe. Please let me know if you have any ideas! Best regards, Karen Schmidt

I want to cut a door from my laundry room into my storage room on the other side. Then move the washer and dryer and freezer into that room freeing up space in the laundry area for countertop and cabinets. Any suggestions? I know it can be done, but I have not ever tackled this kind of rennovation, do not believe a load bearing wall is in this space. thank you

I am in the middle of a rennovation from a two family unit to a single family unit. And one of the plaster walls had some water damage, so we thoguht we'd pull it down and replace it with some dry wall, however once we began removing the plaster we found that it was laying directly against the brick wall. its crumbly brick but I'd like to leave it exposed - maybe, what would you recommend for sealing it? and would you recommend leaving that exteriour wall exposed? i'm all for it - the hubby is a little weary of it.
Thanks alot, I am a new convert, I just got DIY t.v and I love your work!

Hi Raquita,

I would first find out why the wall was wet and rectify that! If you like the look of the exposed wall you can coat it with a masonry sealant that’s similar to polyurethane. (Thompson water seal is an example of a product) This will highlight the color of the brick and keep it more intact. A more expensive or more time taking exercise option is to re-point the brickwork which means racking out the old mortar and replacing it.
It's also a good idea to replace any bricks that are loose.

I hope this helps you out

Good luck and thanks for watching our show!

Hi,

Our main bathroom is dated and needs to be renovated. There is a linen closet on the outside wall and we want to borrow space and create a small closet on the inside of the bathroom. Any tips?

Thanks,
Maria

OMG, you have to read this guy's blog and help him before he kills himself! I was laughing so hard I was crying...

www.astoriafixer.blogspot.com

We have white melamine cabinets with oak trim in our kitchen and would like to update. Is painting likely to work, and if so, how should we prepare the surface and what primer and paint types are best? If anyone has tried this, I'd like to know how it looks when finished.

Thanks

I know you will never help a person like me but I will ask, PLEASE HELP ????. Rebbecca Ransom

Why is that?
How can I help?

The contractors building my new house cut the sheetrock from behind my kitchen cabinets and said that it was normal to do that. Can you tell me if that is indeed true? Some people tell me it is not normal while others say it is. My thinking is they did not come out all the way with the side wall so it made the cabinets stick out too much so they took out the sheetrock to make it look like a built in look. What do you think?

Thanks,

Christine

Hello, My concern is my husband and I bought a doublewide trailer back in 1998 and i am wanting the insde to be more like a house we are in the process of painting the kitchen but everytime we put drywall on the wall it cracks. What can we do to help with the cracking? This is so stressing me out. I have company coming in this weekend from Cincinnati and Thanksgiving is right around the corner and my kitchen is in a mess the stove and fridge is sitting in the middle of the floor i am ready to give up on all hope of ever having the kitchen i hope for.

I want to replace the floor of my kitchen with marble tile. Currently there is ceramic tile which extends underneath all the cabinets and appliances. Do I have to remove the cabinets and rip up the entire floor, or is there some way to leave the cabinets in place and only replace the visible areas and under the appliances with the new marble tile? If you do recommend removing the cabinets and all the flooring, do you recommend again tile under all the cabinets or replacing the cabinets first and then tiling around them?
Thanks!!

My husband and I live in a 2 bedroom apartment. Our Kitchen is 5'3" x 7'11 our manager said we could renovate whatever we want. The kitchen being so small we have no idea where to start. Please help. I won't even go in the kitchen. Sincerely Lela

mmmmmm OK

I would try to be smart with this one.
Try to look at it from a clean slate as the existing can sometimes govern your thoughts.
Draw out a plan to scale and try to use your existing appliances if budget is in play.
You don't want to invest too much $$ as it's not your own pad. This all depends on how long to intend to stay there? Either way why don't you consider a free standing kitchen that does not need to be directly fixed to the walls? They are individual units with adjustable legs. I like this idea because you can take these units with you when it comes time to move on. Or you can simply leave them in place.
Check out a few online. Ikea have similar types.
If you decide for a fixed kitchen use overhead cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling for maximum storage. Consider a smaller dishwasher for more cabinet space. Integrate the refrigerator so it doesn’t dominate the kitchen. Consider toe kick sliding drawers (If you can build yourself)
If this is your choice I would try to negotiate something with your manager as you are increasing the value of his/hers apartment!
I have a ton of ideas for you on this one. I hope these can be a starter for you.

Good luck

I have a sliding glass door in my bedroom which we never use and we could use the additional wall space. We can't permanently remove the door and cover the opening because the condo assoc will not allow it but can we close the door opening on the inside so we can have more wall space but it still looks the same from the outside? Please advise on how to do this with drywall. Thank you

I am renivating my grandfathers house who has recently passed away. My parents try to help but are no spring chickens so it is resting mostly on my shoulders. They have ideas and I get to try to make it work. We are working on the kitchen and a small bathroom downstairs that is in bad shape. The small bathroom had to be fixed (leaking plumbing). The kitchen because of highest return of investment. Here's my problem. We have torn out some cabinets and half walls that were popular...oooo...30 years ago, to modernize and open the area up. Half of the kitchen is plaster and the other half is sheetrock. When I go back with sheetrock next to the plaster, what is the best option to join the two?

Oh yeah, if you are passing through OKC, look me up....I could really use some pointers.

I wanted to replace an old blue bathroom toilet that has an odd oval base .When it was lifted the shape and the depth off the hole would be to complicated to fill the hole and of course the floor has 2 layers of linoleum and luan.
The house was built in 1977 and has a blue
toilet and sink that really need to go.
Help Me !

I have old kitchen cabinets in my basement that were left there by the previous oweners when new cabinets were put in the kitchen. We also have this gorgeous bar top that right now is sitting on top of one of these cabinets. I was thinking that these old cabinets would be great to making this a really attactive dry bar in my basement. Any ideas of how to finish them and make them a compliment to my bar top?

Our pipe in the kitchen, hallway and bathroom was replace. They had to remove the tiles and dug a trench hole 20 square foot and replace the pipe damage. Our insurance Co., State Farm denied the entire claim and we are left with having to fix the tile floor in the kitchen and bathroom. The tiles could not be match. Our home is build in the 1963. We could not afford to hire a contructor to remove and replace all the tiles in the kitchen, hallway area and bathroom. We got 3 estimate and it would cost us close to 10,000.00 to have the work done. We had just spent $9,000. on the pipe repairs. We need to remove all the tiles and replace it ourselves. Please help us. Thank you.

Hi Jane,

Don't you just love insurance companies!
Have you really persisted with the insuance company as they seem to deny every claim these days. If not keep doing it until they are sick of your calls. Then I would seek legal advice if you feel your policy covers this damage.

OK
I can help you out here. Please let me know if it was a concrete slab or timber floor??

KC