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Home Remodeling Q & A: Removing Tile Without Damaging Drywall

Drywall, General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library

The brown paper you are seeing is probably the backing that held the sheets of tile together. This is common for the smaller tiles that are around an inch square. It aided in the speed of the installation. The mastic that holds the tile to the wall will be the next...

Q: Should Ceramic Tile Go Down Before or After the Cabinets?

Flooring, General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library

A: Personally I prefer to have the tile installed before the cabinets when possible. Reasons:1. This method is safer for the cabinets, less chance of damage or scratches on the cabinets from moving tile around.2. Makes for a clean transition from the tile to cabinets,...

Sewer Gas Smell & Peppermint Extract

Cleaning, General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library, Plumbing

Sewer gas smell indicates a potentially serious health and safety threat. The simplest and more common solution to stop the smell is to pour water into the drains of all your plumbing fixtures to replace any water that has evaporated from your drain traps. Plumbing...

White Dust Problem in Home

Cleaning, General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library

The white dust you describe may be from several sources and also may be a little bit from each. If there is any carpet in the house there will inevitably be dust from foot traffic which usually shows up as “white dust.” Opening the windows for spring and...

How To Store Caulk

General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library

Q: How do I properly store caulk? A: The proper way to store caulk – open or not yet opened – is in the upright position. Once opened, the caulk material is designed to cure with the presence of air, and an opened caulk tube lasts a short time depending...

Remove Adhesive like Liquid Nails

Cleaning, General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library

Liquid Nails and other construction adhesives are very hard to remove, so much so that cutting them off is the effective method. To remove two wood pieces or other construction materials, I suggest you use Windshield Cut-Out Wire (also called music wire), available at...

Wheelchair Ramps

General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library

Yes we design and build accessible ramps and install lifts to improve access to homes. These ramps and lifts are subject to the same zoning, setback and building permit requirements as a deck or porch. They can sometimes be difficult to comply with slope, length,...

Refinish or Replaster In-ground Gunite Pool?

General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library, Remodeling

The long term approach is that re-plastering will last many more years, and is commensurate with the cost. We’re skeptical of the paint lasting 8 years; it would be more like 3-4 years if the plaster has begun to deteriorate. Painting is treating the symptom,...

Which Bid Should I Take?

General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library

Whom do you trust the most? This is about choosing people and very much like a job interview. At Mosby Building Arts we review hundreds of firms for our team. We choose people who really know their business, enjoy the work, have a strong reputation and the ability to...

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%...

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...