Aug 6, 2015
Is a contractor responsible for returning things to their rightful state even if its out of the scope of their contract?
Sep 1, 2015

I think it is necessary to sit down and calmly talk about this issue.  Most people in the service business do the right thing.  But it is a two way street and normally it is best to find the middle path.

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling

Berkeley Ca

bob web asked:

Jul 29, 2015
Is there a company that provides a weather proof moving module that the homeowner can fill up with the clean clutter removed from his house and auction if off?
Aug 2, 2015

Not that I know of.

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling

Apr 25, 2015
I have a 50 gal. gas Bradford water heater in my house that is almost 12 years old. I want to replace in the near future. What are my non-tankless options?
Jul 10, 2015

Boy, I would go with the tankless.  I just put on in my home after checking out all the otions.  I don't think anything beats a tankless.   Other than than what Sam said about going solar

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling Berkeley Ca

John Ford asked:

Feb 17, 2014
Need to do a drywall repair project and spray popcorn on the ceiling of our home
Feb 5, 2015

Do you really want to do this.  If you have not done this before,, I would think about subing it out

Philip

Berkeley Ca

Jan 13, 2015
I'm starting to see bigger cracks down my driveway's expansion joints. Do any of the seam sealers work better than the others?
Feb 5, 2015

I am sure that some work better than others.  But I think it may be a drainage issue.  I would check to see if you have good drainage off the driveay.  and, I would recommend that you do the resealing often.

Philip

Berkeley Ca

John Ramey asked:

Feb 18, 2014
What factors should you consider before removing a medium-sized oak tree? Our fear is that one day it will be too big its location relative to our home.
Nov 13, 2014

1. Do not think about doing it yourself.

2. Check with a treee removal professional

3. Check with the city in which you live and inquire if there are any restrictions on the size of tree that can be removed.

4. Get two or three prices

5. Check the location of the utities and clearly mark them.

6. Day of work, if they are on your property they have to put cardboard under the their truck to catch oil leaks

7. Double check on what is "leave the work area clean" get this part very clear.

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling

Berkeley Ca

Oct 7, 2014
What is the best flooring for a cold, damp basement? There is existing carpet over a concrete slab.
Oct 20, 2014

I would work backwards and figure out what you can do abou the moistue.  Do downspouts dump water right on the foundation or do they do what they are suppose to do which is move water downhill and at leadt 36" away.

Look into a sump pump at 48" deep

I think it is a good idea to deal with the cause of the moisure intrusion before figure how to cover it up

Philip Anderson

Berkeley Ca

Feb 17, 2014
I just installed vented gas logs in my home. I have been running them for several hours now and they still have a natural gas smell. Is this normal?
Oct 17, 2014

I had recently answered another question about chimney.  Please do not use if the smell continues and contact The National Associations of Chimney Sweeps to get a certified professioinal out to your home to inspect it before you use it again. 

http://www.ncsg.org/ 

Philip Anderson

Berkeley CA

Oct 10, 2014
The fireplace in our home has hairline cracks running through it. I have not used it in three years now. When our home was built we did not have gas logs
Oct 17, 2014

For a great number of years, I was a mason and chimney sweep before rolling out to full bathroom and ktichen remodeling.  It still is my first love.  Please have a certified, licenced chimney sweep out to look at the chimney.  /http://www.ncsg.org/ can put you in contact with a certified chimney professional in your area. Please do not use it until it is checked. 

Philip Anderson

Berkeley Ca

John Ford asked:

Feb 17, 2014
Best way to detect a leak in a residential irrigation sprinkler system?
Aug 21, 2014

John

I would do what Paul said but I would take an additonal step of capping the sprinkler heads where they are easy to get to with a half dozen of 1/2" PVC caps.  Then you are increasing the pressure on the leak and you will find it much faster and expend less water. 

Philip

HDR Remodeling Berkeley Ca

Bob Loeb asked:

May 10, 2014
Considering using Corastone for a shower. Anyone have knowledge or experience with this material? Thanks
Aug 18, 2014

I have not heard of it and therefore not used it.  I got a couple or favorable ratings on Yelp, could not find anything about it in Houzz or Pinterest. 

Sorry

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling Berkeley, CA

John Ford asked:

Jun 10, 2014
Can anyone share insights on how to block off a chimney opening? We have wasp coming through the chimney opening of our den into the house.
Aug 4, 2014

John,

When you see the wasps around, look at the exterior of the chimney and possibly from a ladder.

What you may see is that they are not coming down into the chimney through the top or chimney termination but in through small cracks in the brick where the mortor has come loose.  I would spray the area for the wasps, wait a resonable amount of time and seal the crack and then purchase and install a http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Chimney/Top-Sealing-Chimney-Dampers/Chimalator-Top-Sealing-Chimney-Damper  lock top type chimney cap. 

Thanks

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling.

Jun 30, 2014
Which trade would I call to replace bathroom and laundry room exhaust fans?
Aug 4, 2014

While I value Abe's professionalism and experience, I would take a slightly different approach.  If you are not changing anything in either room then a qualified handyperson can pull the old fan, enlarge the opening and install a new fan.  If you are remodeling the room or you are going to go from a single switch operation to a multiple switch type fan, I would then go with a remodeling contract or an electrician. 

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling.

Sean Cook asked:

Feb 17, 2014
What makes a good remodeling customer?
Jul 7, 2014

What makes a good remodeling client?  

Usually has worked on a home project with a reputable contractor before.  One who has resonable expectations as far as price (investment) and time line. One who can make a design decision and stay with it instead of going back over the color of the walls 'one more time'. One who respects exception designers and carpenter. 

I think that does it.  That is my wish list

Philip Anderson

Berkeley Ca

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