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Wallpaper Removal

General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library, Painting, Remodeling

One part Downy to 3 parts warm water for hard to work wall coverings. For regular covers, one part Downy to 4 parts water.

Should I Remove the Vanity for a New Ceramic Tile Floor?

Flooring, General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library, Remodeling

We at Mosby Building Arts typically remove the sink, vanity and toilet to install ceramic tile on a bathroom floor. A potential water leak or water spill under the vanity will therefore not affect the wood of the vanity cabinet and the appearance is more crisp and...

Squeaky Hardwood Floors

Flooring, General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library

Squeaky hardwood floors in the winter are often made worse from very dry air amongst other things. Check the relative moisture in your home with a digital meter to assure the indoor humidity is between 30% – 50% relative humidity. Indoor air dryer than 30%...

Window Replacements

Home Improvement Library, Remodeling, Windows

Your choices for installation are to leave the aluminum frame in the wall and downsize the new windows for fit within that existing frame. Then brake metal (pre-finished aluminum) cover the perimeter to finish. The second choice involves either cutting the flange of...

Home Remodeling Q & A: Removing Paint Stains from Brick Wall

Brick & Masonry, Cleaning, Home Improvement Library, Painting

Solutions include scraping heavy deposits of paint off the brick, wire brushing the rest of the solid paint off the brick, and burning the residue off the brick with a torch, heat gun or Bernzomatic flame. Solvents are not good for this purpose because they turn the...

Q & A: How do I Remove Caulk?

Cleaning, General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library

The caulk likely failed because the surface of the shower wall was not cleaned thoroughly with a solvent, like alcohol. The old caulk may peel off like a rope, or it may be cut off with a razor blade. Caulk remover will not be effective. Any solvent that attacks the...

Radon Testing

Home Improvement Library, Venting & Circulation

Not to worry, this is pretty regular stuff. I suggest you contact a home inspector that is a member of American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). Their national website will lead you to many reputable members in St. Louis. They typically offer radon testing as part...

Plywood vs. Composite Sub-Floor Material

Flooring, Home Improvement Library

Plywood vs. Composite Sub-Floor Material I still like fir plywood, but I like 5-ply fir plywood. Less expensive 3-ply plywood in any species of wood is less sturdy than 5-ply. Composites are far more available, less costly, and will move less in “normal”...

Steel Column Removal in Basement

Basements, Home Improvement Library, Remodeling

Yes, with many conditions. This is a very big structural question and you will need an engineer or architect to design this system. The wood or steel column can be removed AND you must strengthen the structural beam, break the concrete basement floor and install a...

Siding Flip to Reverse Side of Wood

Home Improvement Library, Siding

Great idea with flipping the siding, but it has serious drawbacks. Our experience at Mosby Building Arts is that approximately 40% of the siding will split when removed because of the many nails and the dryness of the old wood. The old siding splits very easily also...

Plumbing Bath Tub Acrylic Liners

Home Improvement Library, Plumbing

Tub and shower liners are an economical surface solution to rebuilding a tub or shower but cover up underlying surfaces by design. We believe in getting things right the first time and not covering up problems like mold, moisture and rot that potentially ruins...

Home Remodeling Q & A: Are Metal Roofs Worth It?

Home Improvement Library, Roofing

Metal roofing is an upgrade to the standard asphalt material and a premium priced item. The cost is about double that of asphalt roofing and has about twice the life of asphalt. A metal roof is a large initial investment with long lasting value. When your roof is a...

Lowering a Basement Floor

Basements, Flooring, Home Improvement Library

Lowering a Basement Floor Adding a foot of additional depth to a basement by lowering the floor is possible. The risk of success is the existing depth of the sewer pipes beneath the basement floor. If the sewer pipes under the basement concrete floor are buried deep...