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We’re helping homeowners Haley and Jimmy Rodgers put the finishing touches on some long awaited remodeling projects that have been in the works since they bought their house three years ago.

They’ve done a lot of work on the home over that time, including knocking down walls which left voids in the existing tile floor that need to be filled. Since it was hard to find tile to match, it was decided to install engineered wood flooring over the existing tile floor.

Tile floor before and wood floor after remodeling.
Tile floor before renovation and wood floor after remodeling.

Installing Engineered Wood Floor

Before the flooring could be installed, the bare concrete was primed with LevelQuik latex primer and any voids in the floor were filled with LevelQuik self-leveling floor compound. To make the grout joints even with the floor, they were filled with SpeedFinish fast drying concrete filler. All three products are made by Custom Building Products.

The American Scraped 5” Hitching Post engineered wood flooring from Armstrong (item# EAS506) was installed diagonally to give a different look from the wood flooring in the rest of the house.

After the door jambs had been cut to fit the flooring using an oscillating tool and a scrap of the flooring, the floor was glued down using Armstrong ProConnect adhesive.

Watch How to Level a Subfloor and Installing Engineered Hardwood Flooring to find out more.

Ceiling before and after adding decorative metal tiles.
Plain ceiling before remodeling and decorative metal tiles after update.

Installing Decorative Metal Tile Ceiling

To dress up the bland drywall ceiling in the dining room, decorative metal tile were installed over it.

In order to nail the metal panels in place, the drywall ceiling was first covered with 3/8″ plywood nailed to the ceiling joists to give a solid backing.

Next, the Armstrong Metallaire Bead (item# 5424504NWH) metal ceiling panels arranged on the floor to determine the right layout. The panels were then nailed to the ceiling, starting with a panel centered over the electrical box for the hanging chandelier.

To repair damaged textured drywall ceilings, use spray texture in a can available from Homax.

Install Kitchen Faucet

Danze kitchen sink faucet.
Danze kitchen sink faucet.

To finish off the project, we installed a new stainless steel Opulence™ single handle pull-down kitchen faucet from Danze (item# D454557SS).

Read How to Install a Kitchen Faucet and watch Replacing a Kitchen Faucet to find out more.

Another great kitchen upgrade is installing a quality range hood, such as those made by Broan.

For island cooktops there are a number of freestanding range hoods, in both stainless steel and wood, that can make a great focal point for the room.

Other Tips from This Episode

Applying strips of hook and loop fasteners to the bottom of rocking chair runners.

Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Rocking Chair Floor Protection

The motion of rocking back and forth in a rocking chair can scratch and wear the finish off hardwood floors. To prevent this from happening, apply strips of the loop side of peel-and-stick, hook and loop fasteners to the bottom of the rocking chair runners. (Watch Video)

Installing laminate floor with FloorMuffler flooring underlayment.

Best New Products with Jodi Marks:
FloorMuffler Flooring Underlayment

To prevent laminate flooring from having a hollow sound when walked on, install a layer of FloorMuffler flooring underlayment under it. FloorMuffler creates a vapor barrier and is mold and mildew resistant, making it perfect for basement floors. FloorMuffler is available at The Home Depot. (Watch Video)

Attaching 2x4 to joists to support ceiling fan.

Ask Danny Lipford:
Paddle Ceiling Fan Support

When replacing an existing ceiling light fixture with a paddle ceiling fan, make sure the electrical box is attached properly to support the extra weight. If it’s not, attach a 2×4 to the ceiling joists above the box, then run a bolt or screw through the box and into the wood to support it. (Watch Video)

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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