DIY Network

Floors and Siding From "Talk2DIY Home Improvement" episode TTD-418F

Hosts Brad Staggs and Lynda Lyday get right into the questions --

Fixing Uneven Floor

Problem: What can cause an uneven floor?

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Solution:

• It could be that a joist that has come loose is not connected properly. You'll have to go underneath the house and reconnect it. Sometimes a house jack is needed.

• If it's not as severe, a floor leveler would help to even out the floor.

• In any case, have a contractor take a look to avoid any long-term problems.

Installing Moldings

Problem: When should moldings be installed when putting down flooring?

Solution:

• Normally, when installing carpet, the molding goes down first. However, is you are installing vinyl or hardwood flooring. The molding goes down last.

• For carpeting, allow a space below the molding that equals about half the thickness of the carpet so that the carpet can tuck into it. Use a wedge to support the molding as you install it.

• When using a tack strip for securing carpeting, install as follows: install the tack strip along the molding, move the carpet pad up to the edge of the tack strip, then install the carpeting over the tack strip, tucking the edge underneath the molding.

Molding Gaps

Problem: How can gaps in molding be repaired?

Solution:

• Use quarter-round or base shoe molding. It's flexible and can bend to help cover up the gaps.

• First, drill a pilot hole in the quarter-round and then nail it. Use a nail set to sink the nail.

• Fill the holes in with nail putty.

Figure A

Nail Coming Through Linoleum

Problem: A floor nail is coming up through my linoleum floor, and I would like to know how to fix it and prevent it from happening.

Solution:

• If it keeps coming up, remove the nail and install a screw.

• If it's only coming up once, cut the linoleum to expose the nail and hammer it down in place.

• Clean the linoleum and use a seam filler to seal the linoleum back up (figure A).

Figure B

Heated Tile Installation

Problem: How do you install heated tiles?

Solution:

• Remove all adhesive and foam left over from the carpeting.

• Make sure the floor is level; add a leveler if needed.

• Install a backerboard to add more stability and strengths to the subfloor (figure B).

• There are a couple of variations of heated tile. Some require a professional to install them.

• For electrical heated netting that can be installed by DIYers, adhere the netting in with thinset and wire to the thermostat. Cover with tile.

Figure C

Moldy Siding

Problem: How do you clean mold off of siding?

Solution

• Bleach mixed with water is a good cleaning solution. There are also more environmentally safe cleaning solutions.

• Spray on the cleaner with a garden sprayer or pressure washer (figure C). Just be careful that the power of the pressure washer isn't powerful enough to dent the siding.

Painting Vinyl Siding

Problem: Do you have any tips on painting vinyl siding?

Solution:

• If you paint your siding, you'll have to continue painting it. The vinyl expands with the weather, which could cause the paint to easily crack.

• Clean the siding really well.

• Apply a primer that's intended for use on vinyl siding.

• Cover the primer with a high quality latex paint.

• Don't paint siding any darker than what you already have because it would absorb more heat and could expand even more and possibly damage the siding.

Matching Existing Siding

Problem: How can you match existing siding?

• Some contractors will use hardiboard as siding because it's very neutral and looks good next to vinyl siding.

• You could also get different siding that will go well with what you have. Use the same new color on the shutters and that will marry it all together. There's no reason to replace all of the siding, just install complimentary siding.

Painting Galvanized Siding

Problem: How do you paint galvanized siding?

Solution:

• Get down to the surface with mineral spirits.

• Use a primer that will adhere to galvanized metal, then cover with a high quality latex paint.

Start Siding

Problem: How do you start putting up siding?

Solution:

• First install the "J" Channel onto the foam insulation on the bottom and top of the exterior wall using outdoor screws.

• Next, start installing the siding from the bottom up. Screw the piece into place and then snap in the next piece.

• For windows, flashing can go around to help keep the water channel off the molding and not go behind it.

Figure D

Fabric-Covered Switch Plates

Problem: How do you cover switch plates with fabric?

Solution:

• You could use contact adhesive in a spray can to attach fabric to the switch plate. Spray it on the fabric and the switch plate.

  
  

• You could also buy fabric with contact adhesive already on it (figure D).

  
  

• Specialty switches are available without the large outlet cutouts, allowing for more fabric coverage.

Extra Home Improvement Tips:

• To measure a room for how much carpet is needed, divide the room into squares. Multiply the width by the length of each square and add them together. Divide the total area by nine to get the square yards needed.

  
  

• In flooring terms, "sistering" means to run a new beam parallel with an existing beam, leaving the old beam in place.

  
  

• If you made chalk lines on the surface of your floor for laying tile, you're bound to smudge and erase them as you walk back and forth, spray them with some hairspray to set them and they won't smear.

  
  

• To brighten dingy vinyl siding, all it may need is a good cleaning. Cover any light fixtures with plastic bags and electrical outlets with plastic sheeting. A yearly cleaning with a power washer helps to preserve siding and its finish.

  
  

• Use caulk to seal gaps between the siding and eves, and the siding and the foundation. Make sure to seal up any leaks so warm air doesn't escape. These steps should reduce the utility bill.

  
  

• Never store firewood up against a home, especially if it has wood siding or shingles. Termites and bugs love woodpiles and will infest the home if the pile is too near the house. It should be at least thirty feet away from the home.

RESOURCES :

Hitachi Drill
Website: www.hitachipowertools.com

Big Book of Home How-To
Better Homes & Gardens
0696217287
(October, 2003)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Meredith Publishing

Karcher Pressure Washer
2170 Satellite Blvd., Suite 350
Duluth, GA 30097
Toll-free: 800-537-4129
Website: www.karcher.com

Oxiclean Detergent
Toll-free: 800-781-7529
Website: www.oxiclean.com

IdeaStix for Switch Plates
2531 W. 237th St., #109
Torrance, CA 90505
Phone: 310-530-9965
E-mail: info@IdeaStix.com