Will Home Interest Rates Rise with the Fed Increase last week

With the Fed raising interest rates a 1/4 point last week, I suspect the housing market is now one step closer to a major correction.

Home mortgage rates have stayed reasonably low considering 12 consecutive Fed increases, however there is only so much this market can take. From conversations with a number of real estate agents in the northeast, it appears that the housing market has already become soft in the past few months. This latest increase, with 2 more fed increases expected, will more than likely start a tumble on home prices.

How To Install Furring Strips to Concrete Walls

If you are planning to finish a basement you will most likely need to install furring strips to the concrete walls so that the walls can be sheetrocked.

Attaching furring strips to concrete walls can be easily done using 2”x2”s or 2”x3” kiln dried wood studs, liquid nail glue, and some fluted concrete nails.

Due to moisture in the basement, I prefer to use a 2”x4” pressure treated stud laid flat along the bottom of the wall. Lay the stud on its flat side up against the wall. The furring strips will sit on top of the pressure treated stud, such that there is effectively a moisture barrier between the basement floor and the kiln dried studs.

The kiln dried studs should be placed on 16 inch centers along the wall, again resting on the pressure treated 2”x4”. The kiln dried studs should run the entire height of the concrete wall.
To secure the bottom plate and studs to the wall, I first run a bead of Liquid Nails (designed to adhere to concrete and wood), along the entire length of the bottom plate/stud. If you are using 2”x3”s for the furring strips, the glue should be applied to the wider side, such that when the stud is installed, you effectively have the flat side of the stud attached to the wall.

Start with the application of glue on the pressure treated bottom plate.

Next, using a drill and a masonry bit, drill pilot holes into the bottom plate. The holes should be placed every 16 inches along the length of the plate and should penetrate the concrete walls approximately 1.5”. Then using 3” fluted nails and a 3-5 lb sledge hammer, pound the nails into the holes. Note: I prefer to drill and pound a nail, one hole at a time to eliminate alignment problems.

Once the bottom plate has been installed, repeat the process on the vertical kiln dried studs. Install one stud at a time, again on 16 inch centers. Make sure they stand straight and level.
To help hold the vertical stud in place while you are drilling holes and pounding in concrete nails, I like to toe nail the bottom of the stud into the bottom pressure treated plate first.

Once the glue has set up, the furring strips will be strongly fastened to the wall and ready for drywall.

Note, however, you may want to apply pink board insulation in between the studs to provide some level of insulation between the concrete walls and the finished sheetrocked wall. Simply cut the insulation to the proper width, apply some Liquid Nails to the back side of the insulation board, and then press the insulation in-between the studs.

How to Restore Baseboard Heating Element Covers

If you have a hot water baseboard heating system, and your home is at least a few years old, your baseboard heating element covers are probably beginning to show some wear. Baseboard heating element covers typically show the most wear in the bathroom. Because of high moisture levels, and proximity to toilets and showers, baseboard heating element covers located in the bathroom, can begin to rust within just a few months of installation. With a little effort, however, you can easily restore baseboard heating element covers to look as good as new.

First remove the front baseboard heating element covers. There are usually up to two sections that can come off, while the back piece remains on the wall.

After removing the two front sections of each rusted baseboard heating element, sand the entire surfaces of each using steel wool. Be sure to remove all of the rusted areas down to the bear metal.

After sanding, wipe down and dry each element section.

Next, using a small sponge brush, apply a coat of Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel paint.

Let the baseboard heating elements fully dry and then apply one additional coat.

Next tape around the baseboard heating element that is still attached to the wall using masking tape designed for painting. Again lightly sand and apply two coats of Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel pain on this section of heating element cover.

Once dry, re-assemble the baseboard heating element cover and your heating element covers will look as good as new.

HomeAdditionPlus November 2005 Newsletter

Well Halloween has passed and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. With the yard and garden work done for the season, this is the time of the year when I begin to plan my inside home improvement projects for the winter months.

Painting is always on top of the list. If there isn't a room that really needs it, then there is always the room that my wife and I just want to change the appearance of with a new color.

When deciding to update the paint color, it may also be a good time to think about changing the baseboard trim, or adding chair rail, wanes coating and crown molding to the room. These little features can turn an ordinary room into a beautiful and elegant one.

Winter is also a good time to clean the carpets or even replace them with wood floors. With today's pre-finished wood flooring products a homeowner can easily tackle a wood flooring project and avoid having to deal with the sanding, dusting and staining tasks.

If you are really motivated, finishing a basement is a great project to work on during the winter months. I finished the basement in our home a couple of years back and we have enjoyed our new space immensely. See my article on: "Finishing Your Basement Can Be Very Rewarding".
So regardless of the fact that winter is just around the corner, start planning your home improvement projects today and take advantage of the cold December and January days this winter.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving,
Mark J. Donovan
Editor and Publisher of HomeAdditionPlus.com