Yesterday I was asked a question regarding washing hardwood floors. I got an email almost right after that post went live and then someone asked me about installing hardwood floors into a bathroom and what can be done to prevent mold, and swelling of the wood. I have a simple answer to that question. DON’T install hardwood into your bathroom. That truly is the silliest thing I have ever seen people do. Your asking for an insurance claim or to lose all the money you invested in the project in the first place. A bathroom is the worst place ever to put wood on the floors. That is the room where the most water hits the floor from getting out of the tub, or from your toilet tank sweating. My tip for this is simply don’t do it. Your asking... [Read more]

Deb emailed me a few days ago asking my if there was anything special needed to wash hardwood floors. Collin My husband and I just installed new hardwood floors in our home, and they are the type that are pre finished. We forgot to ask the installer if there was anything we needed to know for washing the floors so we thought maybe you can answer this question for us.  I sure will Deb, even though there is a lot of different products out there for cleaning and maintaining hard wood floors and like always some say they are better then the rest. What I have always found to be good and safe on the hardwood floors is just to use warm water and a damp mop. Make sure how ever that the mop is not to wet and dripping or anything. If to much water is... [Read more]

Jeff emailed a very good question this morning and he is what he asked. Collin I noticed here on your site you are getting some new windows for your home. I am wandering though what is the big difference if any, between double or triple pain windows.  The biggest difference between them is that there clearly is an extra pane of glass and if you live in a cold environment in the winter that can really help you save some money on your heating bill and that extra pane can help keep your cool air in your house when it is hot out as well. There is not much difference in cost so for the extra money it is well worth it. I think it only added a few hundred dollars to my bill for my project. I thought that was not bad at all. Hope this helps you make... [Read more]

I got an email from Susan who asked me what type of paint I like to use when I am painting in my home and she asked: Hi Collin My Husband and I are repainting our home in the next few weeks and we were wandering what type of paint is better, Latex or Oil Based? Hi Susan, thanks for the great question! Myself I like to use Latex paint, they are environmentally friendly and it is way easier to clean up  after as you just need to use water. Have you ever tried to get oil based paint out of your hair? That is not fun! You can also get more colors in latex paint then oil as well. So enjoy the new look your going to get. I hope this helps you and your husband out in the future and good luck with the painting project. [Read more]

Ok I got a very interesting email from a reader (who wants there name not published which is fine with me) asking me if I am paid for reviewing products. I emailed them back asking what their concerns were and this is there reply. Hi Collin I was wandering if you are paid for the reviews you complete on your site/blog simply because if you are paid for them aren’t we getting a false review?  I will tell everyone here the same thing I told this lady who brought up a good point, but one that does not apply to Toolbelt Tips simply because I give my honest opinion of everything that I review. If you have seen the video’s I made on Thompson’s Water Seal you will see that I actually use the product from start to finish and give... [Read more]