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Hi Carter
My husband Chris and I are renovating our old 60's ranch style house and it is needing alot of upgrades. Especially in the form of energy and earth friendly, and cost saving products. We have already replaced windows and heatpump several years ago. Now its time for the inside work to begin, we thought! We currently are in a tear out state in our one and only bathroom, have had some mold and water damage in there, while starting the demo: Tearing out the sheetrock, We had a nice hard rain come and found out we had a leak coming through the walls down the vent pipe. Found we had big problems, Now due to poor fan ventilation and the leak in the wall, we know why it's continually molding up and not cleanable. Husband Chris climbed up in the attic and found the leak, had to wait for the rain to stop, dry up to fix the leaks (3) we found and planned to fix them the next day. So we continued on with the the tear out, while raining, we ripped out the sink vanity and part of the damaged flooring beneath the sink. Guess what we see! Water, water, everywhere! We have a big water leak under the house! So husband chris has to crawl under the house through the mudpit & soaked crawl space to figure out what's going on. And again thanks to this frustrating rainstorm, we found that we had another problem: water storm drainage (runoff) from the property up hill from us, filling up our crawl space that same evening. We figure runoff is better than pipe leaking! My husband literaly crawled through the cold and muddy, musky, & stinky crawlspace problem solving. He is so hard working and smart! Thank goodness for him. So my husband and I stopped demo in the bathroom, he stood in the cold rain, watching it drain in under the house, through the vent well and made a plan and then the next day. We started digging a drain ditch outside in the cool & muddy yard, I actually had a nice time helping him, It was fun! We then took the ditch dirt and started sloping the yard at a downward angle away from the house toward the ditch and built up and replaced the vent well. Don't know for sure if that fixed the problem. Hasn't rained hard enough since the ditch was dug. The waterhose flow looked like it was draining away from the house. He said we won't know for sure until it comes another big rain. We also bought a dehumidifier for the crawlspace. Seems to be drying up under the house somewhat. All this time we figured that the mold problem was coming from the bathroom having poor ventilation. But thanks to the rainstorm, a blessing in disguise, we now, hopefully are correcting the problems.
My questions for you, Carter, are related to these longwinded problems, we are having. As you know we currently are redoing the bathroom and now the crawlspace too and are trying to completely remodel the bathroom to rid ourselves of the mold! We are considering replacing the sheet rock with the new green board, Is this a wise decision? Is it actually holding up to the mold/paper issues! Do we paint it with mildew/mold resistant paint? We also found out, we are in need of replacing all the insulation and ground cover in under the house in the floor joist of the crawlspace. Which insulation do you suggest would be the most cost efficient and earth friendly fix and the best use in a damp and tight spaced crawlspace? And which is the best way to hang the insulation under there? Also what ground cover would you suggest to be the best to cover our lovely but muddy ditch work between our house and the neighbors house? Please keep in mind these materials need to be kid friendly? We would appreciate your suggestings! Because we know nobody can do it like Carter Can! Thanks Sincerely The Miracle's: Chris and Carrie

Posted by Carrie Miracle – January 7, 2008 4:26 PM

By the way Carter, Carrie M. forgot to tell you where she is from: I'm from Somerset, KY....

Posted by Carrie Miracle – January 8, 2008 9:10 AM

Hi Carter, I live in the Caribbean and I'm remodeling a beat up bad example of a Spanish Revival house that I inherited into a Neutra inspired green style home. The structural issues have been HUGE - cement construction not wood -, but, I want to go completely green. My main problem, there are not a lot of green technologies available down here. We are trying to recycle most of the materials, particularly the kitchen cabinets, although outdated, structurally are in good shape and are of solid 3/4" mahogany. I'm torn between stripping the Formica laminate to see if the surface looks good to be exposed (I'm a bit afraid of the damage the glue might have made)or try another green friendly option, I would appreciate your insight for the finishes, I want them to have a clean and sleek look. Then there is the countertops... I simply love materials in their natural state, be it exposed cement,stone or wood, and I'm particularly in love with an endemic wood we have over here called Guayacán, it's simply beautiful! very strong but I would hate to damage it with use, is there any finish that might protect the surface without damaging it with use?
Thanks, Lizzie from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Posted by Lizzie – January 8, 2008 1:15 PM

I had electrical work done when I added a screen room and I would like to make the switch from one to two switches. One to control the outside light and one to control the room. Is this possible to do. I also want to run electric to the front yard and I have an exisiting light fixture on the outside wall, again, only one switch controlling it. Can you suggest a way to do the electric with dual switches>
Thanks,Mary from Pinellas Park, FL

Posted by Mary M – January 9, 2008 12:46 PM

Hi. We just purchased a home here in Colorado Springs Co. It was built in 1978. We purchased it knowing that it has some structure problems. It is built on a hill it is on 2.25 acres. The back is a tall bluff of rocks then there is the house it continues downhill down to the road.. One corner of the house has sunk and we need to get it repaired We found out that getting engineers is very expensive. There are cracks thru out the house. The basement slab has heaved and the so that it has caused damage to the two levels.. We are not sure what to do.. We can tear out the concrete slab and repour we know that the ground soil is moving so we stand a chance that it will happen again. We know that piers will need to be put in to raise the corner that has slipped but do not think that will solve the problem with the concrete slab floor) in the basement. We are going to be meeting with an engineer in two days. If you have suggestions that will help we would greatly appreciate it. The whole interior of the house need remodeling and will be writing to you to get ideas and suggestions. Especially with the kitchen and bathrooms. Would like to hear from you soon Thanks.

Posted by Aggie Roybal – January 9, 2008 12:51 PM

When I had my home built 2 yrs. ago, I had my kitchen cabinets pickled. Now I don't like them and I want to have them painted white. Is this possible? And how much work will be involved in getting the wood prepared for the white paint?
Thank You ,
Annette Davis

Posted by Annette Davis – January 9, 2008 1:02 PM

Carter,
I am wanting to build an island for my kitchen using ready made cabinets. Any suggestions. I would like it as wide and deep as a sink cabinet with a finished back and sides. I had planned to put a granite or tiled top. I plan on paintin it white to match my oringial cabinets.
Thanks
Donna

Posted by Donna Gibbs – January 9, 2008 1:12 PM

How do you organize a chest type deepfreeze??

Posted by carol – January 9, 2008 1:16 PM

Carter,
I am wanting to install those small battery round halogen lights under my cabinets. Are they very dependable and longlasting. I love your show and look forward to hearing form you.
Floyd

Posted by Floyd Gibbs – January 9, 2008 1:16 PM

Hi Carter! We live in Mission Viejo, CA. and I'm not into Spanish style. I want to redo our fireplace. It has a half circle red brick surround with a square red brick opening that has a curved top. I want an old fashion mantel and surround. The fireplace is wood burning with a gas starter. Should we convert to gas logs? Someone suggested broken glass on the bottom with the gas starter. That doesn't sound very safe. Do you think we can do this or should I resign myself to living with this ugly fireplace?
We don't use the fireplace very much right now because I am asthmatic.
Thank you!
Roberta Fleishman from the "OC"

Posted by Roberta Fleishman – January 9, 2008 1:21 PM

My garages are a disaster. How is the best way to organize my garages? We have lived in our home for 4 years and we have not gotten our garages cleaned up. We still have boxes that have not been unpacked, loose tools laying around, etc., and no storage units of any kind. Help!

Posted by Barbara Coker – January 9, 2008 1:23 PM

Hi,
Watch the show and HTV and love it. Great ideas. I'm asking two questions.
1. Am on a fixed income and fixing my house by myself. I have a beautiful fireplace but for some reason they put concrete shelves, mantle, and base. It really detracts from the beautiful brick. How can I fix this problem without breaking the bank?
2. The entry way (side door/mud room) has cracking lineolium and I would like to replace it in the spring with bamboo flooring. Anything specific to look for when purchasing this product? I'm talking about the snap in place style that I often see on your floor.
Thanks and appreciate the imput.
Judy

Posted by Judy – January 9, 2008 1:32 PM

Carter,
I own a contemporary style home with slanted roofs in combination with some flat roofs in the center. I want to remove the popcorn texture on the ceilings and paint them and I would like to install crown molding.
My question is, when the roofs are pitched from low to high, do you put the crown molding all the way around or only on the high and low ends? What works for this style home?

Posted by Jan – January 9, 2008 1:38 PM

Carter:

I live in an older home that me and my husband purched about 9 years ago. We began to fix up the place alittle at a time but during the fix up my husband passed away. It has been 6 years since his passing and now I am ready to start the renevation again. This time alone. I would like to start in the kitchen. It has avacado green appliances, old lameniate counter tops and cracked lanolium flooring. It also lack a dishwasher. I would like to find a way to put in a Dishwasher.

If you have any suggestions on how I can accomplish this upgrade on a very tight budget it would be appreciated.

THANKS FROM TEXAS!!!!!

VIRGINIA

Posted by VIRGINIA – January 9, 2008 3:14 PM

My husband and I are renovating our Den/Basement into a master bedroom. We have plenty of space (24' x 22') but we also have a MOLDY problem. The past owners used it only as a storage/kids playroom. After the (Ugly) paneling was removed from one corner, the 1" x 4"s are not treated lumber so they too are water soaked, moldy and the way they were NAILED to the concrete blocks, there are holes and cracks!!! Help please with any ideas!!! We were going to use the paintable water sealant on the blocks.....but what now?????

Posted by Vickie – January 9, 2008 3:45 PM

I would like to take the wall out between our
bedroom(closet) and add it to the next room
bedroom. This is to make it a Master bedroom.
We also would like to down the road add a Master
bathroom into this area. I know we need a permit
to do this, but I guess I need to know if there
is a header between this 2 walls. We probably can
do this ourselves (except the bathroom). But, we
both have health problems. My question is, this
house was built in 1965, do we have to contend with asbestos being anywhere in the house?
We have very little money and thought we could
do this in our spare time. Thank you.

Posted by Peggy Dey – January 9, 2008 3:57 PM

Carter: I am trying to find the instructions for the great firepit you did in the backyard of the busy woman coach working on her PhD. Her team women helped with the re-do of her backyard. I got the info on the decks etc., but REALLY need the firepit info. Thanks from Oregon
Hello Susan. I couldn't find a fire pit project from Carter, but I did find this one from Don't Sweat It host Steve Watson. Ed.

Posted by Susan – January 9, 2008 3:58 PM

Carter,
I, also have two concerns with my older home that was built in the 1920's and at one time was used as a hospital.
1. In my main floor bathroom I would like to totally gut it and put it all new. When I had some plumbing done a few years ago there was a cement floor under the ceramic tile. What kind of problem will this be to put a floor down such as a heated floor. It's a very small room.
2.My 3rd floor is an attic which my fireplace chimney goes through in the middle. This past fall when I went up to put in the storm windows I noticed a dustiness on the bricks of the chimney. Is this a concern? If so, what needs to be done.
Thanks, Debbie
Michigan

Posted by Debbie – January 9, 2008 4:50 PM

I want to get rid of wallpaper that is up to 12 feet high in my kitchen. Any suggestions??

Posted by Angie – January 9, 2008 6:01 PM

I am a Navy wife and my husband is sitting off the cost of Iraq for the next 6 months. We moved from a 3000 sf home to a 1000 sf 60 year old home. I want to re-model or re-build. I am having a really hard time finding an affordable green builder or green ideas so I can be my own contractor. I really want to generate some of our own electric and use re-cycled materials. My zip code is 23503. Can you help ? It is a little overwhelming.
Navy Wife in Norfolk VA

Posted by Karen Fenz – January 9, 2008 7:48 PM

Hello Carter,
I bought a home that was built in the 40's, my first. I had rose colored glasses on. I really didn't look deep at this place. Since my investment 2yrs ago I have done updates. It's actually looking cool. My biggest problem is the landscaping. The water run off is going in under my crawlspace. My yard stays soggy for days and days. I know I have to concoct a drainage system. Most people say a french drain. I will need a ditch also in my back yard up against my home. I want to seal up the vents around my house so no more water can seep in. After that the crawl space needs to dry out. How do you do that? Also what is the best insulation for under the home. The fiber glass is falling down even though they put chicken wire to hold it. Oh My Its BAD. I'm a single mother with two children on a very fixed income.I would love to have more effient items. I have original hard wood floors and dont want them to be damaged by moisture from under the home. Anything green here in arkansas I can buy for under the home?
Thank you so much for all you do. Your ideas are great
Brenda Lee

Posted by Brenda Lee – January 9, 2008 8:02 PM

Hello! Our family is finally refinishing our basement and would like to use "earth friendly" materials. Our main concern would be keeping the basement dry and mold free (so far, not a problem). Any suggestions?

Posted by Sharon – January 9, 2008 8:07 PM

Hello Carter,
I have a space saving idea for kitchens that no woman should live without. I've tried different ways to get in touch with you and HGTV to show you my product. I don't have a patent, but I truley believe you'll love to put this in your designs when remodling a kitchen.
Please let me show you. Thanks Brenda Lee
P.S. I wasn't trying to be sneeky. I just could'nt find another way to get in touch with you.
Thanks again, really you'll love it.!

Posted by Brenda Lee – January 9, 2008 8:10 PM

Hi Carter - Within the next six months if the housing market here in Santa Fe picks up I hope to put my house up for sale and unload my mortgage. I am a 65 year old single woman, and a self-employed artist. It was built in 1977 and the walls of every room are textured. I want to change them to a plastered look but can't afford to hire someone to put sheetrock over the walls and redo everything. On HGTV (my absolute favorite program!) I saw a demo on venetian plaster PAINT, as opposed to the very thick stuff, so I checked the HGTV site and obtained a list for materials and instructions. I believe if I can do this easily, I can add a great deal of value to my home and make it more desirable for a buyer to look at. Thank you! Love your program..... Marie

Posted by Marie Cash – January 9, 2008 8:40 PM

We are in the process of painting and changing out the curtains in our living room. We have had sheers and the pleated draw style curtains for over 30 years. We are putting in wooden blinds and we would like some suggestions on using how to choose a valance...do we use colors close to the furniture, the walls or a contrast to make that area more of a focal point ? Thanks for your help.
We really enjoy your show. It is down to earth and has some great practical ideas.

Posted by Susan,Wamego Kansas – January 9, 2008 9:21 PM

HEY CARTER! I have all the confidence in the world in you so I want to ask you a strange question. I have asked at paint stores but can't get a definite answer. I have been remodeling my home for over a year & have a couple rooms left to paint. I have several types of BEHR paint (all interior) flat, satin, semi-gloss, and eggshell. They are all fairly similar in color. Can they be mixed to make one color to finish the last 2 bedrooms? If so, I probably have enough to make about 4 gallons. Any idea how I can find this out without screwing up all the paint I have?

Please help! I need to get finished.
Thanks!
Genia from Carl Junction,Missouri

Posted by Genia – January 9, 2008 9:45 PM

I have a bungalow built in 1939. How do I remove a chimney between the living room, closet and bedroom?

Posted by Shirley – January 9, 2008 11:30 PM

I saw one of your shows where you redid a kitchen counter top and made it like concrete it took 3 steps could you please tell me what products you used and how to do it I want to do that to my counters in my hair salon.
Chelsea Alabama

Posted by Ginger – January 9, 2008 11:35 PM

Hello Carter,

I would like to replace my current one-piece bathtub and surround with a shower that is all tile. Is this possible since my house is on a slab? What is the best base, a pre-made drain pan or tile? Is it possible to leave the drain where it is from the tub or should it be moved to the center? The bathroom is on the small side and the intention is to add a little "wow" to the small space. Any recommendations?

Posted by Vickie – January 10, 2008 6:16 AM

We're updating the basement rec room in our rancher (built in Howard County, MD in 1959), and we would like to put a full bathroom in. Does the building code dictate a minimum height for bathrooms? What are the chances the floor tile down there has asbestos in it and how can I tell? Many thanks!

Posted by Patti – January 10, 2008 9:43 AM

Hi Carter - Would you have any suggestions as to how I can make my 9' x 9' kitchen look bigger?
I put in a laminate floor which looks good, but now my cabinets don't match the wood floor. The kitchen is mostly yellow and has a yellow stove and sink. I'm at my wits end as to what to do. HELP!
Thanx much.
Anne

Posted by Anne DiDomenico – January 10, 2008 10:22 AM

I have a very large family room in the basement with NO windows. What color can I paint it to make the room lighter and feel warmer. It has 4 globe type lights in the ceiling and a light green with silver markings in the wallpaper. The room also has a brick fireplace. Please help - I would like to make the room more pleasant.

Posted by Kay Martin – January 10, 2008 10:53 AM

Hi, love your show. My husband is going to put Laminate over our old wood flooring ( that has some termite damage). Would wood filler be enough , before putting down the poly sheeting?
Thank you, Diane

Posted by Diane Leffew – January 10, 2008 11:53 AM

i, My husband bought our retirement home 3 yrs. ago, even though we are not retired yet. I have a big kitchen that I love. However the cabinets are painted dark green on the top with pewter pulls and are still stained wood at the bottom with gold pulls. The backsplash is green and brown 3x3 tile, which I really like and would like to keep. I am considering painting. Can I paint over the enamel paint at the top? Do I need to prime everything? What do I use on the two different surfaces?

Posted by mary chamblee – January 10, 2008 11:56 AM

Dear Carter,
I live in a mobile home that has sheetrock walls with a decorative covering, sort of like wallpaper. I want to paint and wonder if I can tape the seams and nailheads and then apply texture to the decorative stuff or if I need to prime the walls first?
Thanks from East Texas
Joan

Posted by Joan – January 10, 2008 12:33 PM

I have recently moved in to a home that was built in the 1970's. It is a rental for now but have the option to buy later. I was told that this was originally a two story house and the bottom half experienced ir-repairable damage. They removed the bottom half and used the top floor to remodel into a single story house. I has a front door and two separate french doors on the front of the house. They are old wooded doors that are now nearly rotten. I want to know if it is difficult to take out those french doors and replace with windows. (energy efficient of course.)I love the house but it needs alot of updates. The kitchen looks like it was an after thought that was put in a closet. I would like to see how I can rearrange the kitchen so that I can have more space without adding on structurally. Do you have any suggestions. You cannot have two people in the kitchen at the same time. If you open the fridge then it blocks off the whole kitchen. If you open it too far it hits the oven door. Drawers beside the stove have been notched out so they will open without hitting the stove. I cannot spend a fortune but would like to have new cabinets installed in a more usable layout. I cannot do anything until I actually purchase the house but I would like to have a plan in mind when I do. I have replaced the tile with a temporary inexpensive tile but the floors is terribly uneven. Is there a way to correct this?
I am recently on my own. After 25 years of marriage my husband walked out on me and now I am trying to manage on my own. I just want to have a kitchen that is actually functional that I can cook in.

Posted by PAM – January 10, 2008 12:45 PM

Hi Carter!
I would like to know if you have any plans that I could use to build drawers under my daughter's stairs. There is a lot of space under there going to waste. I have seen it done with pull out boxes..but I want it to look built in...like it belongs there.

Posted by Becky – January 10, 2008 12:45 PM

Carter:
I am an avid fan of HGTV. I recently purchased a house built in the early seventies. I have remodeled it except for the kitchen cabinets and the sunroom that used to be the garage. I have solid oak cabinets that are in really good shape but I want to change them. Can you give me some painting suggestions. I would like to do the bleached white look. I have my house up for sale so I do not want to invest a lot of money as I have already spent $30,000 on it. Thanks for your suggestions, Linda Simons, Cedar Bluff, Virginia

Posted by linda Simons – January 10, 2008 1:18 PM

Dear Carter, I love your show and hope you have some suggestions for my son. His wife recently left him with four children. He would like to move his girls, ages 6,2,1 into one room hoping they will bring comfort to each other. The room is an upstairs room with some slanted ceilings. Using green or recycled materials do you have any ideas for beds to accommodate their different ages and also work as they grow? Thanks for any suggestions.

Posted by Susan Roark – January 10, 2008 2:04 PM

In northern Wisconsin heating is a huge issue. If we could warm up our family room fireplace with glass it would save us $$$ big-time. The problem is nothing is available commercially to fit our open-front, open-sided 1970's wood burning fireplace. I feel our heat being sucked up and out the chimney. Help!

Posted by sue frazer – January 10, 2008 6:42 PM

Hi, Carter....My husband and I own a 1929 cottage. It is actually the very first house in our state that was wired for electricity while being built. Aside from replacing the windows, do you have any other ideas that might make a house from this era more energy efficient? Also, any suggestions for non-toxic methods of removing wallpaper would be appreciated. (The paper is really "stuck" to the old plaster walls and when we have tried to remove it in the past, chunks of the wall came off with the paper.)

Thanks,

Dana Lambert

Posted by Dana Lambert – January 10, 2008 8:56 PM

I have a bathroom that needs to be remodeled. and I know how to gut it but have no idea how to redo the room. I have a handicap sister that lives with me and need it handicap access-able. HELP!!! Please sincerly JoAnna Richards

Posted by JoAnna – January 11, 2008 12:16 AM

Hi Carter, this is Carrie Miracle again, I have another question about cracks in our ceiling. My husband patched it several years ago and it came back bigger and deeper. After my husband did our hardwood floors 2 years ago, he found the load bearing wall was set aprox. 2 to 3 ft over from the support pillars under the house, our house needs support in that area Chris thinks: So how do you go about supporting it from underneath? The crawlspace is aprox. 2 ft high or less in that area. We would really appreciate your opinion on this problem.

Posted by Carrie Miracle – January 11, 2008 12:18 AM

We are adding two rooms to our existing house. We now have a geothermal system that heats and cools for the existing house. We have spoken to the people who put in our wells, and they have suggested the possibility that if we insulate our present house and addition with the spray foam insulation (Air Tight Spray Foam) to get better insulation, we may not have to add another unit to our system, as we do have some extra capacity in the unit we now have installed. We have wondered if the use of this foam would have any drawbacks such as releasing any deleterious fumes, or causing mold and mildew due to creating a house that cannot "breathe." Would it seal too much. We like some of the claims that are made that it would bring down the hot temperatures in the attic during the summer, but we are concerned about the air flow that is actually needed in the house.

Posted by Maria Davidson, Norfolk, VA, USA – January 11, 2008 12:06 PM

Just purchased a home that has all stained concrete floors. They look great except for the places were there are chips in the concrete (it looks like the builders didn't know the floors were to be stained). We are thinking about reflooring the living room, kitchen, and breakfast area with CORK flooring. Is this a good choice? Please give me the pro's and con's.

Posted by Julie Morgan – January 11, 2008 2:54 PM

We baught a new home in pensacola,Fl.The entire house is eggshell white.The great room has volted celings,a plant ledge.Also different levels.I dont have the courage to try color.We are an older couple.This is our first new home.Sure could use your help.

Posted by carolyn Green – January 11, 2008 4:15 PM

Carter,
I love your show. My daughter in law and I watch it quite a bit. I live in a mobile home and have painted some walls but they were smoke damaged from our gas logs. I want to paint again but my husband seems to think we can't. What is best to do? Also my master bath has a shower and separate garden tub
that I would love to do away with. What can be done in this space?
Thank you for your help. Debra

Posted by Debra – January 11, 2008 9:06 PM

Wife and I are looking to remodel our master bath. We'd like to go more modern. Our home is three years old and we have a nice sized space but it lacks style. How do you get started with the design portion of this project? Do you suggest any particular web site? Thank you for your time

Posted by Rick Herzner – January 12, 2008 10:39 PM

My wife and I have purchased land in Panama for our retirement home. The site is nearly 3000ft above sea level which makes the ambient temperature not higher than 80 degrees (and most days around 74). The site receives 140 inches of rain during the rainy season (April-November). We have water and electricity to the property, but would like to take advantage of green technology to use the rainwater for toilets, showers, and gardening. We would like to use photovoltaic panels to power our refrigerator/freezers. We figure our greatest challenge will be dealing with humidity.

Unfortunately, we have had some problems finding architects in Panama that are 'green aware.' Further, we apparently face the problem of no governmental support to offset or encourage green efforts. Do your know of someone that specializes in design and building in warm HUMID environments?

Thanks

Lynn and Rick Foreman

Posted by Rick Foreman – January 13, 2008 12:59 PM

Does it tick you off even a little bit when some of the remodeling shows (inside and outside) tear something out even when its perfectly good only to throw it away. I love watching HGTV but sometimes I would love to have some of the stuff I've seen thrown away. Wouldn't that be a way to recycle? Not everyone has big bucks to renovate their places.
Also how about doing a show with a mobile home? Not everyone lives in a house.

Posted by Melissa Oakley – January 13, 2008 4:08 PM

Hi, Carter!!! I have to ask you about solar panel. I try to make 2 cabins in my country. That area is still virgin; it is next to the beach. For that reason I want to install solar panel, I don’t have non idea what I have to use for the installation or electricity wire system….
Because that will be summer house I have to install a spot automatics light, witch will be use the energy from same system during the winter. And when I figure-out who recycle most the water I promise tell you!! oky
Thanks for all your good tips with live green home. That is amazing idea .
Please try to take Saturday earlier or Thursday a little late, I work and I tray hard no lost any program>

Sincerely
SF

Posted by Sandra – January 14, 2008 12:26 AM

Carter, I have a new home with asphalt shingles. How can I add solar shingles to it and where can I find prices and contractors in my area. Katy TX

Posted by John Todd – January 14, 2008 10:15 AM

Hi,
My husband and I are starting an organic farm outside of Charleston, South Carolina. The property is located on the coast. We are contemplating also building several "green" homes on the property. I see HGTV is already committed to building a "green" home in Hilton Head. What can I do to get a little help with my design plans and building. Can you reccomend green house plans and builders. You are the experts!
Thanks, Jodi

Posted by Jodi – January 14, 2008 10:59 AM

I am trying to "go green" but need help with my shower water. I like a strong shower but also want to find a way to conserve water. Our house is old and so are the pipes and currently does not give a strong shower spray. Is there something that can be done to the pipes or an attachment to make it strong but conserves water. Looking forward to hearing an answer

Posted by karen – January 14, 2008 9:40 PM

Hi Carter,
Love your show! I want to build a solor powdered home. I live in the Atlanta, Georgia area. How can I go about finding out if the area I live in would be conducive to solor power, and if it is how could I find a builder that would be able to assist me? Keep up the good work!

Posted by Laurie Aguayo – January 15, 2008 8:58 AM

Hi Carter,

HELP ME PLEASE!!!!! I love the tasks that you take on and complete with such style. I bought a house that is 32 years old and am trying to take wallpaper off but am not having any luck. I think the wallpaper has been on there since the 70's. I've tried all the products on the market and a steamer. Any suggestions - other than knocking the walls down and putting up new sheetrock? That's the point that I feel I'm at. I would love to hire you to fix it for me but Tx is never one of the options to be on the show. I really need your opinion on the matter.

Posted by Betty Graves – January 16, 2008 1:17 PM

Hey Carter, I don't really have a question, I just wanted to tell you what 99% of the women want to tell you, but couldn't because of husbands or their significant others. Well,I could, so I am.
Here goes...... You are absolutey Gorgeous...Handsome...Sexy...Bedroom eyes,
Talented. Should I go on ?
Glad you didn't become a Rock Star, We wouldn't have been able to watch you every day.
Good Luck and God Bless.
Keep up the good work Sweetie.

Posted by Rita – January 16, 2008 1:38 PM

Hello Carter,
Love your new show............
Need some advice on updating my kitchen
counter tops. I would love to have a
grantie slab, but the cost stops me.
So, I was thinking granite tiles instead.
I have heard of this new product (Benissimo).
I believe it is faux granite.....how will
this stand up? How about the look?
Whether I use the faux granite tiles or
real ones....can I go right on top of my
existing Formica counters instead of removing
them? What would be the pros and cons of
this? I have never done anything like this
before. What difficulty level do you think
this would be for a first timer?

Thanks

Posted by SanDee – January 16, 2008 3:59 PM

Hi Carter, I live in Santa Rosa CA. I was thinking of putting molding in the livingroom but my ceiling goes from 25ft down to 8ft. I want to put the molding in a square pattern starting at the 8ft level. Will this work or would it throw the room off balance? And what molding would be the green alternative?
Thank you
Kathy

Posted by Kathy Nelson – January 16, 2008 4:37 PM

I have figured out how to get the ugly "cottage cheese" stuff off the ceilings in my house, now how do I refinish the ceilings. Is there a stamp that I can use for a nice, finished design? I don't want to try and free-style with a trowel and joint compound.

Posted by Trish – January 16, 2008 5:46 PM

Hi Carter,
We are in need of a new shower enclosure, but my husband is not very handy - I do a lot of the small work around the house and then he calls in the handyman (if he decides to show up). Anyway, is there a way to fix up the enclosure (17 yo, door leaks at bottom, door handle broken, etc.) or is there a type of enclosure that is made from green friendly material but looks nice? Also, is this something I (we) can do ourselves? Thanks from Dayton, OH.

Posted by Heather – January 16, 2008 5:58 PM

I have the same question as Vicky Jan.10th.
I want that WOW in my small bathroom by removing the old tub and making a really nice shower area.

I have a sight door from a closet to check the drain area. There is a hole about 10" dia. where the drain is, the tub is cast iron covered w/cermic. I may have to cut it up to get it out of the small room. I have a 4"x4" "hospital looking" tile suround.
Can I seal the slab and start a tile job on that and how do I adress the edges of the walls.
Everyone I talk to has an opinion but...."Carter Knows Best"
Thanks buddy,
Mark in Broussard, La.

Posted by Mark – January 16, 2008 6:39 PM

Hi Carter, Come home....and then come NORTH to the UP! We have a room that is in desperate need of attention. It is considered a "sun roon" but is year round usable. We use it as our TV room with great views of the St. Mary's River and Canadian islands. It has 3 usable entrances and a corner fireplace(gas). One entrance is to our wood pile for our main heating source, one is to the deck where the grill is and the other is into the house, a dining/kitch entrance. It is a great room with a bay window also.....it has everything....and that is the problem. No lay-out works for this room to have comfy furniture in it and it is crying for HELP! As am I!!! Please help a desperate Yooper, who used to be a troll!!! Thanks for your consideration! Jill

Posted by Jill Dawson – January 16, 2008 7:09 PM

Carter will you marry my daughter?

Posted by Mona Jones – January 16, 2008 7:18 PM

Hi Carter, love your show. I have two questions,my first question i have hardwood floors that squeak very loud. My home was built 1954 and has a full basement which i can see the floor joists,I want to repair if at all possible, the floor is 2 inch wide strips. The squeak is so loud in some areas if you are watching TV and someone walks in the room you can't hear the TV. The 2nd question I watch HGTV and when they remodel the destroy so much from cabinets,countertops, appliances etc. how could I get some before it is destroyed.

Please help me as I have very little funds to do my repairs. My home is almost 1600 square feet and I don't have any idea the cost of replacing my floors. also i am going green so repair would not only be cost effective but enviromentally good. I live in Indianapolis Indiana.
Thanks Jeani Jones

Posted by Anonymous – January 16, 2008 7:33 PM

In today's blended families, many have to take care of multi generational families. Ever thought about doing home remodeling for people like us?

Posted by Katherine Launer – January 16, 2008 7:37 PM

Does HGTV have a program dealing with incorporating universal design into a 60's ranch house? or any house? I would like to see a program dealing with the needs of senior citizens. I think it is a market that needs to be targeted and informed. And if I have been asleep in the recliner and you have such a program, my apologies. Thanks for your response.

Posted by Faye Jones – January 16, 2008 8:24 PM

I would like to use solar power for new home but don't know how to best begin this project. I would like to use solar power for my garden and landscape lights and see where else I could use solar power to conserve the electricity used and lower my electric bills. do you have any suggestions?

Thanks

Posted by severo – January 16, 2008 9:43 PM

Hi Carter,

PLEASE, PLEASE HELP!!!!

How do fix a remodeling nightmare? We (my husband and I) had a contractor to come and remodel our kitchen. The sink is still leaking. The co-base around the wall is cheat and coming apart from the wall. Some of the electric sockets are not working and the lights. The cabinets are uneven. Last but not least our radiator is no longer working. How do we fix these things. We no longer have money to hire another professional contractor. We do even have the money to finish remodeling. Not to mention getting our appliances.

WHAT CAN OF ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE US. I just sit and cry!

PLEASE, PLEASE, HELP!!!!

Beyond Frustration,

Patricia Palmer of Chicago, Illinois

Posted by Patricia Palmer – January 16, 2008 9:55 PM

hello carter,
we have an 70 year old home and the floors are making alot of noise in some places in the hall way and in the bath the rest of the house does not make noise we tried to put some supports down stairs to stop it but it didnt work the wood foors are very nice looking nothing we can see is broken or split in the floors from the basement.please give us some sollution to this please.love your new show you are the best looking carpenter on tv.and you seem to be so sweet too.

Posted by wanda horn – January 16, 2008 11:31 PM

Hello Carter! I have need of your input! I live in an apartment built in 1930. It has lovely built-ins and moldings. Some of the built-ins have the origional glass and hardware! My delimna? Over all those years of being rented there is layers upon layers of paint, some of which are surely leaded. Most of the doors on all cabinets will not close! I don't want to refinish all of the woodwork, I don't want to ruin the cabinetry, but I want my doors to close! I could use your help, sir! Thank you!

Posted by Patty Clark – January 16, 2008 11:44 PM

Hello Carter,
Love your new show................
I need advice about installing granite
kitchen counter-tops. Would love to use
a granite slab, but can't afford it......
I instead plan to use a new product (Benissimo).
I believe it is faux granite tile. Have you
heard of this product? If I can not find this,
I will go with real granite tiles (grout, etc.).
Can both of these products go on top of my
existing Formica counter top? What about the
edges? I have never done this kind of work
myself before, but I am willing to attempt it.
Any info would be helpful.

Thanks

Posted by SANDEE – January 17, 2008 7:01 AM

I'm ready to redo my basement to entertain there, but three years ago we had a flood the floor is all messed up too many things are down there, the walls have paneling that my husband refuse to paint or remove. I want a floor that is soft for exercising bright, and a color that is inviting. I want a wet bar and wine cabinet, eventually a televison will be added.
Right now I wish there was a door to close when guest enter through the side door.
Thank you
Janet

Posted by Janet – January 17, 2008 8:32 AM

Hi Carter!
I've been itching to re-do our bathroom. The house does sit on a slab. It is small with a one-piece tub/shower and a soffet. I want to get rid of it all (including the vanity, sink and floor...the toilet can stay. I don't shy away from challenges and I've watch HGTV and have a good idea of what I want to put in this space. I'm just not sure on the best process. Meaning, in what order is best. I want to tile the tub area and bring it to the other walls in the room. I also want to use tile on the floor (I understand porceline is more durable than ceramic...is that true?). What should I do first?

Posted by Susan – January 17, 2008 9:52 AM

We have horrible ceiling tiles throughout our 1955 home. I would like to replace them with something that wouldn't be too expensive but something that would last a long time.

Posted by Sherri Osborne – January 17, 2008 10:15 AM

I have a few questions that I hope you can help me with. I live in Colorado Springs,Co, We purchased an older home.So far we have replaced all the carpet with Hardwood floor and Marble. My problem is the fireplace is in the dining room.Living room is the main entrance, can I put my dining room what is now the living room and living room where the dining room is, the room is very dark I did install french door but the back porch blocks the sun . I hope you can help me with this problem.
Thank you
Darlene

Posted by Darlene Russell – January 17, 2008 10:21 AM

Hi! Carter

I want to open my kitchen wall facing the west. One side hold a clothset, the other is where the stove and fridge is located. The cabinets are above both the fridge and stove.

I've been told one must know if the wall being remove is the bareing wall. How will I know if it's a bareing wall?

This is just a start, in several project to remodeling, your help would be appreicated.

Thanking you in advance.

Betty Tucker
El Centro, Calif.

Posted by Betty Tucker – January 17, 2008 10:58 AM

Carter:
Love your show. You make it so easy to do repairs or like my husband and I are in the middle of renovating the back of our house. My question to you is, we are making the back bedroom the new masterbedroom. We are also going to update the bathroom (not connected) to the new masterbedroom. We have a jet tub to put in, a walk in shower and of course the commode, what I am trying to find out, should we hire a plumber to move or modify the plumbing that is already in there? We are going to take the wall down that is between the bedroom and bath. I would love to know if we are going the rightway. Thank you. Sandie

Posted by sandie – January 17, 2008 11:02 AM

Hi Carter,
I've watched you show on DIY plus when you were on another show.
I would like to know if you have any tricks on getting rid of cracks in the walls. I live in a mobile home and I'm trying to make the whole home with inside and outside corners which I have been sucessful at but some places like over the doors,couple of windows no matter what I do they keep coming back. I've used the mesh taping and joint compound and after that I used a products called Cracks be Gone with joint compound and they still come back.
Have any ideas as to what I can do to get rid of them for good???
Thanking you in advance for your help with this matter.
Yvonne

Posted by Yvonne – January 17, 2008 11:22 AM

Carter,
You're fabulous, our home built in 1970 - we have lived in it for 23 years - minor repair & updates have been done but now is time for some major update - rather than explain I would gladly send photos as each room needs alot. Especially main bathroom. We plan to remodel this spring but so many confusing issues and right & wrong, do's & don't - we want the best bang for our buck! So many new products to choose from - so many decisions! Should we add-on or tear down walls?

Posted by GT – January 17, 2008 11:44 AM

Good Morning Carter,

I became engaged over the holidays to a gentleman (now retired RN). He owns an older modular home, the kitchen is just UGLY. The wall panels with the huge daisy's cannot be painted or papered over UGH!! I think wainscoting would work just fine.
I'm won't be working so $$$ is a real issue. Any other suggestions?

Posted by gayel – January 17, 2008 12:24 PM

Carter, we are in our 60's and purchased the home of our dreams 10 years ago.. The one we wanted to have when our four were all at home.. Then there were 8 or 10 or more. There are parts of our Master bathroom we absoulutely love and others we can't live with... How can we incorporate the great with the nasty... love our huge tub, double sinks and bay windows... hate the dinky shower barely room enough for one..and toilet room... no storage or pizaz... HELP.... I want to redo before we are too old to live with the mess while changing it....We want a SPA, but want to keep parts we love... Thanks Judith

Posted by Judith – January 17, 2008 12:41 PM

Carter, hello ,my name is melissa. I'm from Va. and I just wanted to ask if you could give me some advice on on color. we're building a bathroom, my floor tile is cherry blossom, but im having a hard time trying to pick out the color for the walls and trim can you help? Thank you.

Posted by Melissa – January 17, 2008 12:47 PM

hi,carter,
we have a problem concerning our roof. we lived in our house for 16 years since 1992. The house was brand new and in good neighborhood. Recently,
we noticed that water was leaking on top of our 3rd garage. We checked the bedrm upstairs and noticed that something was wet in the middle of the bedroom. It's been raining hard all week that
this problem might get worse. we have Cedar shingles on our roof and the Homeowners association might suggest to use other materials
than cedar shingles. Please help us if we should
change the roof of the whole house? or just that part of the garage/bedroom section? We are in very tight budget and need your advice on this matter..

Posted by mg – January 17, 2008 1:57 PM

Hi there, I am sorry but I don't have regular TV and can't watch your show yet. We are planning on getting a Satilite as soon as the remodleing is done. We have been given a 14x70 mobile home (completely gutted) and was wondering How do we attach it to our excisting home? We have a 1860something farm house set on 2 achers almost. Each owner added a room but never fixed.(until us) Our Bedroom used to be the chicked coop years ago, and the kitchen was the backporch. So you can guess I need room. Waiting on your reply.

Posted by Heidi Hill – January 17, 2008 2:54 PM

I'M REDOING MY BATHROOM WITH GLASS BLOCKS OVER MY BATHTUB TO BRING IN LIGHT . WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS . (I WONT TO PUT THE BLOCKS IN BETEEN THE STUDS . IS THIS GOOD . THANK YOU .

Posted by Eunice – January 17, 2008 3:38 PM

Hi Carter - love your show! I am always watching as I have absolutely no green thumb..nor do I have alot of time due to my 13 month old Triplets!

I live in Michigan on a Hill that is all rock and sand. It is field grass, as we have land - I cannot get grass to grow well, I have spent thousands on it and all I ever get is farmer grass? That is the first questions, second question is planting shrubs/trees that grow in hot unshaded sandy rocky soil? Any suggestions would be nice!

Best Wishes - Mary Ann

Posted by Mary Ann – January 17, 2008 3:47 PM

Hi Carter; I need some help with some green ideas on how to design my mastersuite in the upper level of my Capecod home. I am trying to do the work myself with the assistance of some power tools and design software. I watch your show and find you amazing!!! Help...

Posted by Donna – January 17, 2008 8:26 PM

I have a 36Wx18Dx34H 1940-50 wood liquor cabinet that I would like to convert into a sink vanity for my basement. I have a 18x14 1/2 inch (includes mounting rim) oval undermount sink to use. I will tile the top of the cabinet, but I'm lost with how to finish the inside sink cut-out edge, 1 inch, which will be above the sink to prevent water damage. Poly-U and then cut small pieces of tile?
Thanks,
Hilda
Brooklyn, NY

Posted by Hilda – January 17, 2008 9:20 PM

Carter:
I want to make my home spanish style I know that colors are bright but how can I find furniture and items to with the house. Is colonial - but I'm from the island and wanted that spanish look from Spain
HELP HELP

please

Posted by rosa – January 17, 2008 9:48 PM

I liked the rolling cube seats you made for a Fireman and his Family...could they be made larger, like a rolling bench? and where would I find the plans for this project? Thank you.
Sincerely,

Sherri

Posted by Sherri Nixon – January 18, 2008 2:15 AM

Good Morning Carter!
Let me start by saying: "I LOVE YOUR SHOW!!!!" :)
I've been painting the interior of our home, one room at a time for the past 2 months (I work full time). It's turning out quite well if I may say so myself!! My question is this:
I have plant shelves in the kitchen and I would love to put some 'spot' lighting up there, to be able to hang and show off some beautiful framed hand painted art work we got awhile back in Paris. Could you please show me/tell me how to put some 'spot' lighting up there that would have a light shine on each piece seperately? These framed pieces will hang about 1 1/2 feet to 2 feet apart from each other and about 3 feet above the plant shelf itself. Oh, yes, the plant shelf, is actually the top of the cabinets, with an edge on top, so that the spot lighting will be concealed from view. My husband and I have looked around but are overwhelmed at what we see and we would really like to display these once the kitchen is painted. That should be in about 10 days or so. I want to thank you in advance and look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Wishing you much continued success,
Cheri from Rockledge, Florida

Posted by Cheri – January 18, 2008 9:24 AM

Hello Carter, we were wondering if we could send you a sample and information on our Green E Board product. website is www.greeneboard.com. Please let us know. thank you for your time.

Posted by Tara -Southern Cross – January 18, 2008 12:21 PM

Hi!Carter,What can i do for a small closet? I only have one in my house,its to small for all of my things.I have very small house,one bedroom.Don't have alot of money to spend.Please help.My closet is 3'by 2'.5".Thank you,Melinda

Posted by melinda – January 18, 2008 12:32 PM

Hi Carter,

Our house is seventy some years old and I believe we have a major problem. We have mold almost in every inch of our basement. When we first moved here over eighteen years ago it did not seem to be so bad. We have tried a dehumidefier but that does nothing. Are we putting ourselves at risk for getting sick? Some of the mold is black and some of it looks like popcorn coming out of the walls. Will this be a major expense to fix? Please could you give us some direction or should we head for the hills!

Jan Sharon Pa.

Posted by Jan – January 18, 2008 1:02 PM

We've been working on several rooms in our home and have noticed that there are a couple of light switches that don't turn on "anything" that we can see. How do we go about tracking down what this light switches are supposed to be doing?
The house is only 7 years old and we're in beautiful, North Carolina.

Posted by Keith and Alan – January 18, 2008 4:55 PM

Hi Carter- My parents know your parents! My mom suggested I write you.
I live in Decatur, IL in a great older West End home. Our master bath is that pepto-bismal pink color. I've redone every room in the house with warm colors and this pink has got to go! I'm wondering if there's a bonding primer and enamel that I can just paint over the pink tile instead of gutting it. I'm wanting to do a faux finish with a tinted enamel.
I'm a little concerned about the fumes as there is no window in that room and it's right outside of our bedroom. Being a part of the "Shaklee" family I've strived for years to keep the chemicals out of my home - am I asking for trouble trying to do this remodel this way?
Thanks for getting back to me!
You're fun to watch!
Staci

Posted by Staci – January 19, 2008 4:06 AM

Hello Carter,
We are looking to buy a ranch style house built in 1959 with little or no updates since. It will need to be totally updated. Where do we start? We are thinking demo then windows, doors, then kitchen and baths. From there fireplace, walls, ceiling and floors.
Help!!
S Lane
Wichita Ks.

Posted by S Lane – January 19, 2008 12:32 PM

Dear Carter. I have been trying to get in touch with a member of the HGTV family. I need help re -doing the Hair Salon that I recently bought. and could really do with some help. how can I get your help with my project. I do not think I have ever seen a Hair salon getting help on any of the HGTV shows. The Salon is in Tampa Fl
terle no 727 871 5957. I am at a loss as to what needs doing to transform the place. please help

Posted by lynda Ayre – January 19, 2008 1:21 PM

I already have in my bath an antique tub and along with a free standing basin so everything is looking on the old side. I wanted to put waincoating on the bottom half of the bath. It is already wallpapered and looks great. My question is since the baseboard is oak finish along with the six paneled doors would you recommend putting in the white or use the oak finish in the bath. I also wanted to put a wide trim at the ceiling.

Posted by Sharon Buehrer – January 19, 2008 3:09 PM

can you help me build my house in new orleans,

Posted by gwenith – January 19, 2008 6:30 PM

There seem to be a lot of people writing to this blog, who should probably call a tradesperson and leave the work up to them, but they want to learn. OK, I have a 1924 Craftsman where they dug out the basement piecemeal, and poured sections of concrete slab that are not connected to the previous slabs. Because they were protective of the questionable foundation for the original house, they left an area of roughly 3-feet of ground-level dirt inside of original footers, which I would like to remove. However, it would appear that the structure will need to be supported on house-moving supports while all the dirt and thin layer of concrete is removed. Would the HGTV organization be interested in using my place for a TV program on the procedures for making this house stable? It is situated on CO96 just east of downtown Pueblo, and relatively close to the studios of Public Television KCSJ.
This is a project that many people attempt, and can result in injury and possible colapse of the house, if not performed properly. Being 79 and no longer physically able to attempt this remodel, I would offer my property as a demonstration home.

Posted by John Sorensen – January 20, 2008 1:03 AM

CARTER :
SURE LOVE THE SHOW 1ST WERE YOU NOT ON ANOTHER SHOW BEFORE HGTV ? 2ND IWANT TO LIGHTEN UP MY KITCHEN CAB'S , PAINT NEED LIST AND STEPS TO FINISH THEM . MAYBE WHITE OR AT LEAST EGG OR BIEGE ,THEY ARE WALNUT NOW . I KNOW THEY HAVE TO BE PRIMED . IF I DO THIS , CAN YOU GIVE ME A LIST OF PRODUCTS TO USE? I SURE DON'T WANT TO RISK PEELING OR CRACKING ,ALSO BEING EASY TO SCRACH .
AFTER ALL IT IS A KITCHEN HELP HELP !!!!
GENE BAKER FROM OHIO

Posted by gene baker – January 20, 2008 8:54 AM

My husband is "chemically sensitive", we just had a baby in September, and we just finished an addition on our home. We used everything from formaldehyde-free MDF sealed with Safecoat sealer and no-VOC paints to a metal roof and metal HVAC ducts. We had to make sure to avoid any materials with formaldehyde, plastics, voc's, mold spores, etc. We used titebond's line of green products for all the silicone, glues and caulking materials. It was a major pain trying to find and actually get all the safe products we needed- but, now we don't have to have giant HEPA filters in every room and my husband doesn't wake up dizzy and headache-y anymore. If you ever need to speak to someone with environmental/chemical sensitivities, please feel free to email us as we'd love to help anyone else who's dealing with similar problems. Also, there is a center in Dallas (the only one in the US for people with chemical sensitivities) called the Environmental Health Center. You probably know all about this stuff already... but when I saw that HGTV was building a green dream house, I thought I might as well see if we could help. Thanks for doing what you're doing! Amber

Posted by amber – January 20, 2008 10:48 AM

Carter can you put a bat house in the garden of the new green home ? Get bats- get rid of bugs!! Feel free to contact me - I run an international bat conservation organization and can hook you up with folks who sell certified bat houses - adds a certain pizzazz - having you own colony swoop out at night and eat thousands of mosquitos/hour!
Allyson, FL.

Posted by Allyson Walsh – January 20, 2008 6:52 PM

Hi Carter, love your show. We have an old house built into a hill. The underground area is like a wet basement. We have leaks from on top. On another show I saw that they sprayed blue stuff all over the cement blocks but I did not catch the name. We will have to redo the bathroom because the moisture from the cement blocks is ruining the plastic walls. What do you suggest as far as waterproof paint and then Plastic and then insulation? or? On another show they went too fast, but they dug up the dirt all around the cement blocks outside and used some black stuff, then metal mesh and then another coat of the black stuff that came in sheets but looked sticky? Something like this would probably fix our problem. We would have to go all around the 3 sides built into a hill. We do have 3 drains in places, but our house is below a hill and we have a steep driveway. The gravel on it is sloped to run the water in the different drains to keep the water from coming in the house which it has flooded a ceiling and the bathtub at one time. We had to poke a hole in the middle of the ceiling to let the water run through. The cement slab on top of all the underground area has cracks that have to be sealed from time to time. HELP!

Posted by paulie – January 21, 2008 1:03 AM

I'd like to shed a little light on an overlooked element of your green home. Lighting! LED lighting is the green choice not only reducing electrical consumption by 62% but lasting 10 times longer and with NO CFL's or mercury to worry about and all while producing a truer light source and when installed with imagination a more mood altering and changing source or light. I'd love to come be a part of this endeavour and not only share my knowledge but also my products. Look forward to seeing green or any other color of the rainbow lighting your Dream Home.

Posted by scott fryer – January 21, 2008 7:09 PM

Hi Carter,
I have a very troublesome problem that needs help. The opening just above our shower door had some form of metal reinforcemnt plate put there when the house was built. It was painted over when we moved in and of course we did not know it was there. We have been in the house 15 years and the plate is rusting and bleeding through the paint. It looks terrible. We do not want to do any type of major tear out as we like the shower the way it is. What can we do to cover this up or fix it. It would be very hard to remove rust from this area as it is always exposed to steam from the shower. Have you ever heard of these plates used to reinforce. Help.

Posted by paula mc – January 22, 2008 8:43 AM

Hi Carter I want to tile steps to the second floor and am wondering if I can use liquid nails or mastic directly on the wooden steps??????? Sandy, Camptonville, California

Posted by Sandy – January 22, 2008 10:44 PM

Want to cover a cement patio, what materials would
bond well. We do not want to paint it, as everyone is suggesting. It's discolored, has a small hairline crack, some area's are really worn.

Posted by Mary Hess – January 23, 2008 12:23 PM

Hi Carter: - Reference query from Aggie Roybal Concerning their house in Colorado Springs which is sinking. Be advised that there are many large abandoned coal mines under the north side of the city. One developer awoke and found his twu-lane driveway had been built over an abandoned shaft, and overnight driveway had sunk several feet, preventing then from taking the cars out of their garage. There could also be some callichi gumbo, but that is more common in the western suburbs of Denver. I can show you many places in Colorado Springs where the ground has settled affecting streets and structures (rather easy to spot). Using old survey maps of the horizontal tunnels and vertical shafts can be quite beneficial for determining existing situation and best solution.

Posted by John Sorensen – January 24, 2008 1:21 AM

Hi, Mr. Carter:
I have dark glossy paneling in the basement, and would like to paint them. Which brand of deglosser would be the best, and what type of primer would I use on this type of material? Thank you.
ana

Posted by a. delacruz – January 25, 2008 1:35 AM

We have an old fireplace which is covered with brick veneer in a wavy type of installation. We would like to cover this with sheetrock and install a firebox that has a blower at the bottom. Any suggestions as to what we can do to update this unit so that it is more eye appelling and also more energy efficent.....

Posted by Phil Winters – January 26, 2008 11:11 PM

Can cork flooring be used in a bathroom?

Posted by Julie Eichacker – January 28, 2008 10:37 AM

Carter,
I have pine on the walls around my jacuzzi that was treated with polyerthain,,i took down a picture to clean the walls & now is a light spot where the picture hung...what can i do to fix this???????

Posted by Audrey Squires – January 29, 2008 7:49 AM

RE: Safe gardening and home renovation/living for pets

I've been going through various tips on green gardening, and noticed something important about mulches that (apparently) no one has addressed---could you see to it that info on it appears on the site?

Some companies (especially chocolate manufacturers) have begun marketing cocoa hull mulch. I'm not sure of it's environmental advantages, but it has one huge disadvantage: it's bad for pets that eat it (maybe wildlife, too, I don't know). Here's a link to the article on the ASPCA website:

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_publicationscocoa

Further, there are many articles, lists, and resources on the Poison Control portion of their site---you might advise pet-owners and animal friendly people to check it out. (For instance, some pet poisonings occur during home renovation, when the animal can get into the products.) And, I would think many of these tips would apply to *child* safety as well. :)

Thanks,
Chris
Lilburn, GA

Posted by Chris – January 29, 2008 7:47 PM

I have an older house that we enlarged, HOWEVER, nothing works right in my kitchen. Space is not utilized properly, cabinets are cheaply sad, not enough counter space and I don't even have a dishwasher! Green me in on suggestions to recycle this and about wasted space and look!

Posted by Pamela Mullins – January 30, 2008 2:55 PM