Welcome to Norma’s Advice Column!
Do you have any questions or comments for Norma? Dear Diva, click here.
“Sharing is caring—it’s also a great way to spread the how-to bug. So thank you friends and fans for all of your great emails and questions! Please keep ‘em coming—I not only love to hear from you, but your questions may very well end up helping fellow fixin’ chix (or dudes ;-)). Have fun fixing!” --NV
Q&A Archived Topics: ELECTRICAL | PLUMBING | INTERIOR | TOOLS | GO GREEN | EXTERIOR
Questions and Answers:
Q:
Dear Norma:
2 things.. WE LOVE THE SHOW and during one of the commercials there is one for blue jean insulation.. What is it called & Where can this product be purchased ? My husband is really interested in purchasing some to finish the attic. Thank You again for such a great show.
A:
Hi There!
Thanks for watching and writing!
I'm so glad you're enjoying the shows...and the commercials!
About that denim insulation--from what I recall the brand we used is called Ultra Touch. Here's there website:
http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/wall_insulation/ultratouch.htm
I would contact them to find out where you can find the product near you.
Hope that helps!
Good luck, have fun, be safe!
Cheers,
Norma
Q:
Hey Norma,
My name is Joan and my husband and I love watching your show. I have discovered a project that I need some advice on how to conquer. Yes, believe it or not I own all the power tools in the house (he is the cook and the kitchen is his place), but I am a little lost. In the house that I am renting I want to put in a small upgrade, a ceiling fan in my living room, but I have no idea where any of the wires run in my house. The fuse box is a bit of a mess as well trying to find out what is connected to what. Can you give me some advice on how to conquer this mess?
Thank You,
Joan
Kingman, Arizona
A:
Hi Joan,
Thanks for watching and writing! Always great to hear from a real Toolbelt Diva such as yourself!
About your question, replacing a ceiling fixture with a ceiling fan is relatively easy. But installing a ceiling fan where there is no electric running, that's a bear. From what you've described, it seems like there is no ceiling fixture or wall fixture to run wires from. You would need to find a junction box that's hidden in a ceiling somewhere, another circuit, or run a dedicated line from the service panel to where you'd want to install the fan. In all earnest, this goes beyond what I could answer in an email. Sounds like this maybe a project to call in a professional electrician, especially that you say your service panel is a mess--that's scary. Plus, you state that it's a "fuse" panel, which is even more complicated than adding a breaker, if that ends up being the case.
Here's a great idea, and one I often recommend with more challenging projects, bring in a professional for the tougher stuff, then you do the rest--in this case, running electric to where you want the fan and cleaning up your fuse box is for a pro. Then with the wires where you want them, you can install the box and ceiling fan! Please be sure to follow all electric safety precautions as well as proper ceiling fan mounting procedures.
Generally, a ceiling fan is located in the center of the room. To find the center snap diagonal chalk lines from one corner to the other--then where they cross is the center. Let me suggest you read a bit more about ceiling height and distance from walls. It's all in my book,
as well as step-by-step installation: Chix Can fix:100 Home Improvement Projects and True Tales From the Diva of Do-It-Yourself.
Hope that helps!
Best of luck, have fun, be safe!
Cheers,
Norma
Q:
Dear Norma,
Currently my husband and I have a gravel driveway, and I'd like to pour concrete to make it nice. (I'd also like to not scuff my work shoes on the rocks!) Well, near the end of our driveway we have a concrete pipe for water to drain under the driveway. I'm thinking that we need to keep that, but I'm not sure how to do the concrete form over it. I remember from one of your Toolbelt Diva episodes that concrete should be at least 4" thick; I'm sure there is less than 4" of dirt covering this concrete pipe. Will I just build up the form so it's 4" above the pipe? I'd appreciate any advice from you!
I love your show!!!
Thank you for your time.
Laura
A:
Hey Laura,
Thanks for contacting me!
About your driveway:
Yes, concrete should be 4" thick (you're paying attention--nice!). If the drainage pipe is there, it's there for a reason SO you have to either go over it or remove it, but ONLY if you divert the water another way (which is probably a big job). You suggest just building the form 4" above the pipe, BUT you have to remember that the entire driveway needs to be pitched down and away from your house so water runs off properly. You don't want water pooling in one area or running toward your garage. A rule of thumb is for 20' of driveway, it should be pitched 5". If you want your driveway to be more than a single slab (if it's wider than 10'), it should crown in the middle so water runs both to the sides and down to the street.
BE AWARE, you should definitely consult building codes in your area. Many areas have codes that specify the grade of the driveway, materials that can be used, how the driveway connects to the road, and other issues: make sure that you will be in compliance with them.
Also, be prepared that putting in a driveway is a major undertaking and requires a ton of strenuous work. I would recommend doing a project like this with a team that's ready to sweat and get dirty. It would really help if someone had some experience working with concrete. Concrete is very temperamental as far as mixing time vs. pouring time. Once it's mixed, you have to be ready to work quickly!
Hope that helps!
Good luck, have fun, and be safe!
Cheers,
Norma
Q:
DEAR DIVA,
I HAVE A PLUG IN THE BATHROOM THAT DOSEN'T WORK. I WENT TO HOME DEPOT AND ALL OF THE REPLACEMENT ONES SAY FOR USE WITH COPPER WIRING. I SPOKE TO A WORKER AND HE SAID THEY DON'T MAKE ANY FOR THE OLD ALUMINUM WIRES LIKE I HAVE. HE SAID I HAD TO BUY SOME OTHER STUFF AND MADE IT SOUND LIKE SOMETHING I COULD NOT DO. THAT I HAD TO HAVE AN ELECTRICIAN. HOW CAN I FIX THIS MY SELF? DORENE
A:
Hi Dorene,
Thanks for contacting me!
About your aluminum wiring, I'm afraid I don't have good news. While I am not an electrician, all information I've gathered about aluminum wiring indicates it is more likely to be a fire hazard than copper wiring due to overheating. Additionally, over time, this risk increases.
Two choices available are to rewire your house, which is a costly undertaking, OR another option is a method called "pigtailling" where copper wire is spliced to the old aluminum wire with special connectors made specifically for this use.
My advice is to leave this project for a qualified electrician--one that has experience with aluminum wiring. I'm confident that many homes in your neighborhood have this type of wiring, so local electricians should have plenty of experience with it. I would also go to a local electrical supply store and see what they say. They may suggest installing a CO/ALR (Copper/aluminum revised) receptacle that is compatible with aluminum. Again, this installation should be left for an experienced electrician--how aluminum wires are terminated is more complicated than basic copper connections that are do-it-yourselfer friendly.
Check out this website that offers plenty of information about aluminum wiring (knowledge is power!) : http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum/aluminum.htm
Hope that helps!
Best,
Norma
