Home improvement questions and answers
This week’s batch of questions on home improvement.
My new vinyl replacement windows are drafty. Why would that be the case?
There could be a number of reasons for that. My first guess is that they were poorly installed. When windows are installed there are still a lot of gaps and seams that must be filled with caulk. Caulking needs to be done on the interior and exterior of the window. Also, part of the installation process involves adding insulation around the window. I have a picture of an installed window but with no finish work done yet. You can see all the gaps that need filled in.
My second guess is that the window was poorly manufactured. Hopefully, you bought a well made window and the installation job was poor. I would contact the seller and have them do the job right.
Will my house lose value if i convert my garage to a kitchen?
That depends on a number of factors.
1 - how big is the garage - one or two car?
2 - how big is your current kitchen - I assume that it is tiny.
3 - how big is your house?
4 - what’s the climate like in your area?
5 - do all your neighbors have garages?
6 - would you still have off-street parking?
7 - do you have a utility shed to store all your garage items?
Assuming you have a one car garage, a small kitchen, a small house, and would still have off street parking, then I would answer that you would gain value by expanding your kitchen and losing the garage. I assume that you would also gain a dining area as well.
Can you paint basement walls in the wintertime?
Sure, I did. I would recommend placing a few portable heaters down there and heating the place up to at least 60 degrees or perhaps 70. Your paint can will have instructions telling you the minimum temperature for application.
What is the cost for having basement ceiling insulated and finished?
You can estimate this yourself if you can determine the cost in materials. Figure out the square footage of the ceiling to be replaced. Determine how much drywall, insulation, paint, and other miscellaneous materials you will need and their cost. Take that figure and multiply by 4 and that should give you a good idea of the cost involved.