Remodel tips from intelligent people for home renovation and repair - hiring, working, managing - for women, children and pets

Decks maintenance may be reduce if high traffic areas are not stained or painted, but untreated and power washed each spring with a mild detergent.

Deck boards used for the surface should be laid "barkside down" with the semi circles of wood grain on the ends of the board curving upward at the edges. This helps the wood resist warping and cupping.

Fasten deck boards to joists with galvanized or stainless steel wood screws, not nails, to limit movement caused by temperature and humidity changes.

Pressure-treated lumber alone won't stop weather damage; clean and waterproof deck annually.

To keep boards from splitting when you nail near the edge, flatten the tip of a nail with a hammer, or run the nail through your hair to pick up a little oil.

Some materials, particularly hardwoods, need pilot holes for nails to keep wood from splitting. Make these holes slightly smaller than the nail diameter.

Make sure new drywall is properly sanded by the drywaller. Otherwise, you will pay extra to the painter to do the necessary sanding. A contract clause may be necessary.

Before putting a screw in drywall or plaster, wet it first. The water will set the plaster and help the screw hold better.

To run stereo wires to the basement, make a small slit in the carpeting. Insert a short piece of copper tubing in the slit and your drill bit into the tube to protect snagging the pile of the carpeting while you drill.

Before using new wood in your home, bring the boards into the house and leave them for three weeks to dry and adjust to your home's climate.

Kitchen remodeling costs:

Cabinets 43%.

Labor 21%.

Countertops, 12%.

Appliances 8%.

Fixtures, 5%.

Flooring 4%.

Lighting 3%.

Other 4%.

Cut cabinet costs by selecting one large cabinet for two smaller cabinets and choosing less expensive doors for the cabinets.

A kitchen island on wheels is a large cabinet with a countertop that may be used as an eating or storage area while still being able to roll it out of the way when not needed.

On some under-the-sink cupboards, the stile between the doors of the cabinet is not needed because it is not a structural support. Cut out the stile and attach it to the back of one of the doors. Allow the stile to extend beyond the edge of the door so that when both doors are closed, the stile seals the gap. You can put bigger things under there and get easier access farther back into the cabinet.

If you need more space to hang washcloths and hand towels, mounting long drawer pulls on the false front of your vanity cabinet lets you hang them there conveniently.

Cut tiling time with a tub surround kit. It includes 4 each of four-tiled groups in grout panels that are attached to the walls along with special trim pieces that hide the seams.

Install a chair rail to make a small bath seem larger. The horizontal line of the rail draws the eye around the perimeter of the room giving the illusion of greater space. The effect can be amplified by painting the wall under the chair rail the same color as the floor and painting the wall above with a lighter color.

Small bathrooms with windows will look larger if you install a full wall mirror opposite or adjacent to the window wall. The effect of the mirror is to double the light, the view, and the size.

Jalousie windows have glass slats that crank open like shudders. One way to find who manufactures them is to go to a Public Library for the Thomas Register that lists the manufactures of everything you can think of. You could find them to see where their products are sold. This type of window is also used in some mobile homes.

When installing molding, try to paint or stain it before installing, then all you have to do is countersink the nails, fill the holes, and touched them up quickly with paint.

Instead of wood wainscoting, install a chair rail and washable pre-pasted wallpaper along the bottom third of a wall. Wallpaper costs less than wood, is easier to apply, needs no new baseboard, and offers an unlimited number of patterns to choose from. If the walls don't need protection from chairs, use the wallpaper border in place of the chair rail.

You can tile over an old tiled surface if it is sound and flat. Rub down the glazed surface with silicon carbide paper to prepare it to receive the new tile adhesive. Some home repair stores carry kits for covering old tile.