Clogged Sewer – Who to Call?


I don’t have much experience in this but I believe the main sewer line is clogged in my grandmother’s house. The pipes in the basement have overflowed into a small lake down there which I spent the weekend sucking up with a shop-vac… no fun! I would appreciate a recommendation as funds are tight and I hear Roto-Rooter is pretty expensive and not always reliable.

Categories: Plumbing
By streaker | 05/02/2010 4:19 PM | Comment

Building a Lift or Ramp


My mother is 94 and unhappy in the assisted living facility so I plan to bring her back to her house and take care of her. However, I have a big problem in that there are several steps to walk up to the entrance of the property. I need either a ramp or lift. A ramp is tough because there is not enough room unless I do a winding one and of course pave the entire lawn as well and tear down the gates around the house… ugh! As for a lift we have a shared drive way and that is another difficulty. Any suggestions? Also, will my mother have to pay for all this from her small savings? Will Medicare or the city help? She is legally blind and so as a handicapped person maybe there is some agency that can assist financially.

Categories: Conversion
By streaker | 01/30/2010 11:16 PM | Comment

Dangerous Tree in Front


I have a tree along the sidewalk directly in front of my house. I love this tree and remember it since youth. However the tree shows signs of having been invaded by beetles (there are small holes all over one side of it) also the root has pushed up the sidewalk about four inches over the rest of the sidewalk. So I am concerned about two things. First that someone my hurt themselves on the sidewalk and also that I might be exposed to legal action since it is in front of my house and second that the sick tree might infect other trees nearby if it is indeed sick. Does anyone know if the home owner is responsible for an accident that might result from that branch pushing up the sidewalk. Also if I tell the city about the problem will I have to pay to correct the sidewalk or chop down the tree. I would hate to kill the tree because of the root pushing up the sidewalk. If the city kills the tree will they at least replace it with a new one just as grand in the same location?

Categories: Sidewalks
By streaker | 01/29/2010 10:39 PM | Comment

Old Wine Stain in Carpet


I have a hand made carpet from India that I love. I bought it when I was a young man for several thousand dollars in the early 1980s. I expect it is worth twice what I paid now. However being foolish and fond of wine back then I spilled a bottle of wine into the central lighter field of the carpet – about one square foot in diameter. I had the carpet professionally cleaned a couple of years ago and it was rolled up ever since. Now I just unrolled it and I see the stain is still there. It looks like rust now. I presume there is nothing to do to restore it being that the stain is so very old?

Categories: Floors
By streaker | 01/28/2010 10:42 AM | Comment

Best Store for Carpet Remnants?


ABC carpets is a a little expensive and their selection in N.Y. is limited. Can anyone suggest a good shop in N.Y. or Brooklyn that has decent prices and a good selection?

Categories: Floors
By streaker | 01/27/2010 10:12 AM | Comment

Fave Light Peach Color?


I want to paint a bedroom a pale peach or apricot color. Any suggestions?

By streaker | 01/21/2010 8:32 PM | Comment

Off White Walls – Bright Doors?


I am confused about how to paint my doors and trim. I am using Benjamin Moore’s White Blush paint through the house and it is a nice creamy look with a very, very slight pink in it. I suppose the classic thing to do is to paint the doors (There are many closet doors!) a bright semi-gloss white to accent them but there is another theory that this will make the off white walls look “dirty” and that it is better to paint the doors with moulding and window moulding as well the same color as the walls but semi-gloss. Would love to get some opinions from people who resolved a similar problem to their satisfaction

Categories: Painting
By streaker | 01/20/2010 9:43 AM | Comment

Which is better – Regal or Aura?


Benjamin Moore Regal used to be their best paint but lot’s of people are telling me to go with the Aura because it is one coat. I find this hard to believe. Is Aura really a one coat paint and so much better then Regal?

Categories: Painting
By streaker | 01/20/2010 1:10 AM | Comment

White with a Hint of Rose


I am trying to find a Benjamin Moore white with a touch of rose in it. Just a touch! Any suggestions? Applesauce is a touch of orange, Pink Peony is too pink, Apricot ice is too yellow – It seems really hard. I thought to ask them to make the Pink Peony %50 whiter but the store I want to use say that is not a good idea and usually does not work out.

Categories: Painting
By streaker | 01/16/2010 8:37 AM | Comment

As Good as Ben Moore?


Benjamin Moore is very expensive as I have to paint a whole big house and will likely need twenty gallons. I have heard good things about Glidden and bad things about Behr. Can anyone recommend a great paint that is slightly less expensive then Benjamin Moore?

Categories: Painting
By streaker | 01/10/2010 12:16 AM | Comment