Q. I would like to use affordable green flooring, but Marmoleum is way more expensive than Vinyl and I think it is a flooring you should have professionally installed. Tile and adhesive will cost over 1300 for my 300 square kitchen area, not including installation. Also, I have read many reviews of unhappy customers who complain about the maintenance of the floor and general disgust for the lack of sheen. I do not want to even think about investing into this floor if it will be hard to clean. I do not plan on staying at this house for more than 5 years, and would not want to have troubles selling bc of the kitchen floors. Also I want to try recycled PET carpet for the upstairs bedrooms, its seems affordable. (I do need carpeting, im not putting in hardwood floors) Any experience with Beaulieu carpet or any other recycled PET carpet?? I do have to pay for school, bills, and eventually next year i need to replace the siding and windows. (more issues with vinyl versus costly alternatives) Thanks!

A. I agree with you about the Marmoleum, there have been consumer issues with it particularly with maintenance and dullness over time. However, I have used PET carpet for client applications, rental units and in my own home. I find the performance to be superior, it has stain resistance and is easy to clean, it retains its brightness and the one I used in my own home and rentals has an excellent warranty.

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Q. FRAMERS/CARPENTERS Do you think this is a good price to build a garage? The garage is 32'x28' one story, 2x6 walls framed 16" on center, T-111 siding and roof trusses running 35' across the building.( all roof trim and soffits included) It will have 2 -10' garage doors (doors and installation are a seperate price) 1 entry door and no windows. Also to be built is a breezeway, which consists of 2- 5"x16"x14' engineered beams that have to be cut into the existing house walls, that carry roof trusses and tie the existing house roof and the new garage roof together, creating 2 valleyes on the new garage roof, no walls below.( NOTE: the garage sits at 15 degree offset from the house) Also the roof will be covered with metal roofing. There is a slab already poured. I live in New Hampshire The price is for LABOR ONLY With the breezway, the total square footage is 1088' The project will take 3-4 weeks Is 15K a good price for labor to put this building up. Too high? Too low?

A. This just seems high to me. The slab is already in. You do not mention electrical or any inside finishing (drywall). Essentially it just sounds like you are framing and finishing the exterior. For just labor with no material costs included this sounds $5-7K too high. And what you describe is only about a weeks actual work tops. I don't live in New Hampshire, but I do live in the West where construction is booming.

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Q. Ok so, my family owns window companies in Illinois. Window replacement, siding, roofs, doors, etc. Basically they have relationships with factories that they buy their products from and have 2 teams of installers who actuallly install the products. I live in southern california and wanted to open a division of the family business here. I have been doing a little research and I am finding that most window company owners have contractors license. Is this required? Is there a way around it if my installers are licensed? Anyone with knowledge in this area would be appreciated thanks! Just to clarify my question: Does the retail portion of sales need a contractors license? OBVIOUSLY the actual installers doing the work would be licensed.

A. Yes. You need to be licensed if the TOTAL JOB (cost of the window, plus the installation) is more than $500. If you sub the work out to installers who are licensed, that just makes you the prime contractor on the job because you are the one with the direct contractual relationship with the homeowner. You must be a licensed contractor for this (if over $500). As a licensed contractor, you can either have your own employees do the installation, or you can sub it out to another licensed contractor. But you must be licensed yourself in order to have a direct contractual relationship with the homeowner.

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Q. 30 years home building/improvement experience. 50 years old. State (IL) licensed roofer (limited)). Experience includes framing,roofing,siding,window/door,interior trim,cabinet/countertop installation. Have supervised as many as seven workers at a time. Want full time work with, established company with solid background. Not afraid of hands on work/working hard...prefer it. Do not need to be a boss. Have no problems taking orders or doing what I am told. Have been working,almost exclusively,for my brother-in-law as a sub-contractor,building homes,the last seven years.no longer my brother-in-law.This part of northwestern Illinois was primarily an industrial manufacturing area, most jobs are gone now. We have seen a steady down turn in new home starts. Brother-in-law was stationed at Ft. Polk LA.. Father-in-law winters in central FL.Have been to both areas several times. Wife is considering accepting early retirement offer. We are looking at our options. Serious responses only.Thank you

A. Contact catrina relief services.

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Q. How much would siding cost me installed for my 1,100 sq ft home? I have the old original asbestos wavy siding on it from the 50's. I am wanting new siding on the house and any ideas on cost including installation i would apriciate it.

A. Get multiple estimates. I live in NJ and here it is about $5 per sq ft. So you are looking at about $5500. However soffit and fascia board are sold separately.Winter can be a good time for this work. Contractors want to keep there crews employed over the winter,may give you a good deal.

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Q. I am going to install siding on my house soon.I would like some feedback .I really don't know which siding to choose with so many out there.I'm looking for maintenance free.I live in N.W. Ohio.

A. Buy from a local source, and keep some extra materials (an extra carton or two should do) for repairs or replacement. The best warranty is as good as the manufacturer (don't count on the installation contractor) and not worth a much larger expense. Your warranty is to buy at a fair price, and buy some extra material for reserve. Shop two or three local sources before you make your decision. Ask the retailer for some reputable installers. Remember that in-home sales is synonymous with high price. (The salespeople don't work for free, they pay their own expenses, and they get a lot of rejection, so they make it up at your house, even with their huge buy-now discount.)

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Q. What causes vinyl siding to not stay locked? Could it be a damaged piece somewhere, a crooked wall? Also how can i solve this problem.

A. You must be in a climate that has large temperature fluctuations over the course of the year. It is very likely that the installation took place during a cold or hot time of the year and the installer either pulled the siding too much with nails during hot season or did not pull enough during installation in cold season. Siding works all year, it expands and shrinks based on the temperature it is exposed to. Someone will need to remove a row or two of your siding where it unsnaps and compensate for it. Not a difficult process but unless you know how to unsnap siding in the middle of the wall and which way to move the pressure I would not do it yourself. Good Luck

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Q. I wanted to know if anyone knew of any products or home remedies to clean vinyl siding. I have mold growing on it, however, I have outside animals that could potentially lick up something they aren't supposed to. Are there any pet safe ways to clean my vinyl siding?

A. The cleaner that you will probably want to use is a 50/50 blend of bleach and water. Cover the plants from the dripping which is minimum. Do my house and my pets have never bothered it. Spray on to soak with a hand pump sprayer, set for 2 or 3 mins scrub with soft brush and washed off with a pressure washer. But before you do that go to the VSI webpage and download or request an installation and/or maintenance manual.

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