TrustedSaskatoon.com Talk to the Experts – Trusted Contractor Show -
Q: Serena Dallas: I have a bathroom that has been two years under renovation. Previous bath tub/dry wall removed - new bathtub with surround in place (note NOT installed....lol) I have had several "plumber" people in and ALL say something different about how to move the piping to make it all fit properly including the shower portion. How can you REALLY tell the difference about what you need so that your bathroom is functioning verses who is telling me things I "need" but really are "wish" list items to be done later? We have no previous experience and since verbal estimates have been off by a couple of thousand it's difficult.
A: Most replacement tubs will have the drain in the same location on the tub so the plumbing of the drain should not be a problem. The water supply lines would be dependent on the fixture that you choose to turn the water on and off. Some fixtures are a one piece which has both hot and cold water supply coming from the one piece fixture to the sprout and also up to the shower head. I would suggest this as the best way to go so as to eliminate an extra protrusion through the wall the water supply fixtures are mounted. Once the water supply lines are in place the wall can be enclosed but the lines should be fully tested prior to sheeting this to see if there are any leaks. Usually on the other side of the water valve there is an inspection panel that can be easily removed to gain access in the event there has to be repairs for leaks without ripping out drywall. Regardless of what you may thin is is probably best to get a qualified firm to look up your plumbing as you do not want leaks inside your wall creating a possible breading spot for mold. The tub surround may be installed after the sheeting is in place and care should be taken to make sure the holes that are cut line up with the water supply fixture, the sprout and the shower head supply pipe. Once that is achieved the adhesive is applied and the surround should be caulked where it meets the tub surround.
Q: Holly Stasiuk: My deck is in need of a face lift. It has peeling and faded walnut brown stain. What would you suggest?
A:Your deck is obviously a week deck which requires a protective coating to keep the moisture from intruding into the core. If the peeling and fading is severe it may require a sanding to remove any loose stain and this should be done with a sufficient grit of sand paper which will remove the prior stain but not bite heavily into the wood. This usually will be by trial and error until you find the grit that will work best. After this is achieved you can apply the stain of your choice and enjoy until the next time your deck requires a face lift.
Q: Nik Mac: Is it possible to spot repair cigarette burns in vinyl decking? (It was a really good party)
A:There are two main types of vinyl decking and they are the polyester back and the vinyl back decking products. The polyester back has a fuzzy appearance and the vinyl back a slick or shinny appearance. The vinyl back lends itself well for repairs as it can be melted over the eisting tear or burn and will be hardly visible. The fuzzy back has to have the polyester burned off so it may melt to the vinyl top and does not weld as well as the slick/vinyl back. Either way a repair may be done without removing any of the existing deck membrane and this will leave membrane impervious to moisture penetration.
Q: Rachelle Nieman: What is your labour warranty on decks? Material warranty?
A:The decking membrane we sell has a warranty of 15 years if done by a certified VKOTE technician which we are. The material is warranted to perform as a water proof membrane without flaws for that period. The labour warranty will be for a period of the same with some expectations which are abuse and movement of the wood substrate that would cause the adhesion to break loose. As in all warranties we cannot be responsible for abuse of the product and suggest that when clearing snow from the surface that care is taken not to gouge the surface when doing so.
Q: M Liz Beisel: Was is the best product to put on a deck to last through our very long winters!!
A:This is boils down to life style. Wood decks are good for enduring the rigors of nature as are composite and vinyl decks. The vinyl and composite decks lend themselves to maintenance free life style where the wood decks require a topical treatment to protect the wood from moisture penetration for rotting the wood overtime. The vinyl membrane decking material will allow the homeowner to maintain a dry space under the deck for dry storage and alleviate the need to purchase a back yard shed/building for storage. The vinyl decks also take water away from the foundation and deposit it away from the house which is another advantage. Each one of these materials comes at a different price point so depending on what your lifestyle and budget are one of these will work for you. A wood deck requires maintenance after the installation.
Q: Jules: I need to redo the exterior of my house. Since it's and old character home what is the best option for getting added insulation, long term durable siding (what's better: stucco, vinyl, brick, others?) and adds the best value to my home?
A: Many older homes have been renovated with an application of styrogoam being applied to the outside wall sheeting. The foam is sealed at the joints and around any doors and windows. A siding material is then applied to the foam and is fastened through the foam into the studs for a permanent installation. Siding comes in vinyl, metal and cement board finishes. The most durable of these is the cement board siding which is commonly referred to as Hardi board and Certain Teed. Acryilic stucco also utilizes a layer of foam which the stucco is adhered to. The wall sheeting has a membrane applied ot the surface prior to the foam and stucco which helps to seal the building envelope from water intrusion. I buess the budget would be a deciding factor in what product a homeowner would utilize for their exterior , noting that the siding would be the rleast expensive with regular stucco and acryilic above that. Stone and brick would be the most expensive route to go but there are many options offered with the culture products that will be a little more cost effective for the home owner.
Q: Bella Kennedy: How do you repair old cinder block leaking and crumbling basement walls? Thanks
A: This will depend on the severity of the problem. There may have to be a removal and replacement which will require a very expensive fix. If the damage is slight there are products in the market place that can be applied to the face of the inside to help leaking from coming in. In most cases the problem may have to be dealt with from the outside where the foundation will have to be excavated down to the footing and a sealing compound applied to the wall and a weeping tiles installed at the base of the footing to remove the moisture from the soil and away from the foundations. If the wall is in a state of total disrepair the lifting of the house may be required and a temporary support put beneath the house while the old cinder block is removed and new installed. Either way the problem was caused because moisture was accumulating alongside the foundation and had no place to drain to. This would be mostly alleviated after the weeping tile and possibl a sump pit were installed to collect the water from around the foundation. So the quick fix is just temporary until the problem becomes that of replacement.
Q: Colleen Glover: Does sinking a hot tub into a patio deck make it a permanent feature to increase the value of a home?
A: One has to be careful as to not sink the hot tub too far onto the deck. The thought is to have the lip of the hot tub are enough off the deck surface as to make exiting the tub easier. If the kip were level one would have to roll out of the hot tub making it difficult to get out. There needs to be enough height as to be able to swing your legs over the tub edge so as to be able to allow yourself enough height to be able to get to a standing position without having to roll onto you side and then to your knees and then up onto your feet. This may be easily enough maneuvered by a child but I find it is not a comfortable way for an adult to exit the hot tub. The other thing to remember is access to the pumps and guts of the hot tub. If the tub is sunken into the deck it may be hard to access pumps if repairs are needed. So I guess the answer to this question is on of preference as to what you feel comfortable with and it should make no difference as to sinking the tub into the deck to improve the value of the home.
Q: Shannon Hildebrandt: What do you suggest for a sky light prone to icing over on the inside. Then of course, the ice melts the first warm day, causing wall and roof damage from the water.
A: The skylight appears to have a seal that is compromised. The skylight is a window and like most windows has a dead air space between two layers of acrylic or glass. If the seal has allowed warm moist air to penetrate into the space between the two layers of glass then this becomes the result. The fix is to replace the skylight because it cannot be repaired where it is installed.
Q: Diane Fontaine: Does it matter what size of deck? Looking to have a small one made to cover old slippery stairs/ &planter. Cost issues as well.
A: Like everything I always say there are three things to consider when purchasing anything, budget, function and aesthetics. If you have an enormous budget then all things may be had. However most of us have restrictions on cost so we compromise on one to achieve the other two. You deck has to be looked at as an extension of our indoor living space The detail of what is happening on the inside should manifest itself to the outside. The size of the deck should accommodate whatever you lifestyles is about on a regular basis. If you love to entertain with your friends, and enjoy being outside then by all means build your deck to accommodate the function of what your lifestyle is about. The deck should reflect the lifestyle. Finishes need to be considered when choosing a deck size. Some people enjoy staining wood and some people want a maintenance free deck. We try to draw out these needs from folks when we are proposing a deck build so that we try to give them what they require for their lifestyle as opposed to what they want. My thinking is why buy a sports car if you really need a truck.