Henri De Marne
Burlington Free Press
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Past articles by Henri:
Shelburne garage foundation cracking
Homeowners wonders about three ways to fix problem → Read More
1927 bungalow home has flaws
Cat stains on the door and squeaky floors. → Read More
A sticky situation develops on home's wood floors
Q. I recently installed a new kiln-dried, tongue-and-groove Douglas fir floor on our outdoor porch. The wood had been sealed on all six sides with two coats of a breathable stain/sealer prior to installation. The porch gets the morning sun, and sap started to push through on many boards. How can I get rid of it without ruining the finish? → Read More
How to spruce up flooded basement
There is mold damage and spots on the wall. → Read More
Many choices to make to finish a basement
Q.. We want to remodel outr unfinished basement. Can you recommend books or websites that could guide us in the selection of materials for the walls, floor and ceiling to turn this storage area into more livable space such as a large playroom, party room or type of Ratskeller? → Read More
Richmond roof has ice-damming issue
Q: Some time ago, I wrote you about our ice-damming problem in Richmond. Heat loss was the culprit, and our ultimate remedy was to remove the existing roof (the shingles were in need of replacement anyway), remove the 12-inch fiberglass bats and baffles, and extend the eaves to allow for better venting to be installed. We then replaced the whole kit & caboodle with 7 inches of closed-cell spray… → Read More
Essex reader has cracks in asphalt
There are caveats, such as the width and depth of the cracks and the outside temperature → Read More
Freshly sealed driveway should be blocked off from traffic
Q. On Sept. 1, I had my new driveway sealed after two years of letting it dry out. Within two hours, the letter carrier walked across the wet driveway, then put eight tar footprints on my cement porch and proceeded to make another 20 feet of prints down the other side of the driveway. → Read More
Find water’s entry point to basement
Homeowner not sure how to proceed to keep the basement dry. → Read More
VT reader has dog urine stains on floor
Q: I enjoy reading your column in the Burlington Free Press. I have a question regarding dog urine damage to hardwood floors. I recently removed some carpeting and discovered that my terrier has been urinating in two spots for what appears to be a while. The urine soaked through the carpets and there are black stains on the floorboards. I assume this is some sort of mildew. What can I do to… → Read More
Reader wants to keep family room dry
Heavy rains in June overwhelmed the house’s gutters. → Read More
Tips for replacing a cedar shake roof
Be selective in the choice of a standing seam roofing contractor. → Read More
S. Burlington reader asks about shingles
Roof deteriorated considerably mostly on the southern exposure side. → Read More
VT garage has ammonia smell in wall
Sounds like outgassing of chemicals from spray-foam insulation. → Read More
Homebuyer faces foundation issues
Q: My wife and I are looking at a house (to possibly buy) that seems to perhaps have had some issues with the block foundation in the basement in the past. It seems that at one time they must have had pressure from outside of the wall, so they had a contractor install several vertical “carbon armor” strips along the wall three years ago. The strips start toward the top (maybe a foot from the… → Read More
Battling a wet basement from the inside
Leaky foundations are the bane of one's existence for a large number of homeowners. Whenever possible, the best way to cure the problem is from the outside. But you can also do battle from the inside. → Read More
Snakes outside the house can be helpful
They are very useful predators of mice and other rodents. → Read More
Vermont reader has problem with spiders
Miss Muffet's Revenge will do the trick. → Read More
When vendor offers free replacement parts, take advantage
Q. When we built our house 11 years ago, we had installed a 26-gauge standing seam metal roof. Since then, the seams adjacent to the valleys have been bent by ice, and I have found small areas of rust in the valleys. → Read More
Essex Jct. table from India is cracked
Problem can be fixed by a furniture restorer. → Read More