Q. I have a sleeper system over a moisture barriered concrete floor on a walk out basement to a lake.I had chosen a Brazilian Cherry 5 1/2 in. width boards,but I have been advised by my floor installer not to use this wood due to it being very unstable when moisture is or can be present.Can I get some feed back?

A. Your installer may well be referring to the wide plank. I like to shy away from 6" planks or wider ( your close to it) in any possible high humidity situation or area of the country that has a high humidity in the summer or even year round.. Although your brazilian cherry is a very dense and beautiful wood there is a chance of cupping in a basement or humid area. So I d consider a 3 or 4 " plank ( maybe even both ) and see what feed back you get from the installer since he / she has seen the job site. Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar. GL

Q. In my backyard, I have two sizable wild cherry trees which need felled. While I am having the tree company leave the wood behind, I am at a loss as to what should be done with the wood. Some of the wood I will save to use for smoking chips for BBQ. But, two tree worth of chips seems excessive. I suck at word working, but it would be nice to have something made from the wood, perhaps to be used as wood flooring. Or perhaps carve the wood into ornamental pieces ... would that be a waste? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

A. Leave it in long 8 foot logs if possible, then find someone to buy the wood from you. If you have enough wood, you might get someone to build something smallish for you, end tables or the such, in return for the rest of the wood.

Q. My husband and I found Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors for sale on craigslist...the sellers are selling it unfinished $2.50 per sq. ft. I asked the seller why they are able to sell it so cheap and they said they bought it at an auction... It is still in the pallets and they have 2,000 sq. ft. to sell..we only need about 900... I asked if they can assure us that the wood is in good, usable condition and they said yes... These people are contractors... What do you think????

A. Do not give up any money till you see and feel the product

Q. I can buy solid wood flooring at £14.99 per meter but I'm afraid it might buckle as the room temperature fluctuates. Would anyone recommend the engineered variety with wood on top of some kind of board? I don't want to have to do it all again in a few years and would appreciate any expert advice as salesmen tell you anything. Thanks but I can afford a little better than laminate just this once but I want to be sure it's done right and the best choice of material. Okay, solid wood gets the green light but but should I risk the £14.99 stuff or is it basically firewood at that price?

A. A properly installed, and cared for solid wood floor will last a lifetime. If it is dry, and acclimated when installed it will not buckle, and can be refinished MANY times. The engineered flooring may be "slightly" more stable, but not enough that would be noticeable. The advantage of the engineered flooring is that you can have an exotic wood at an affordable price. (solid woods such as cherry,pecan,walnut etc. are very expensive). Installation is quicker and less dirty. The disadvantage is you only have a veneer wear surface, that can be refinished maybe a maximum of three times. As for laminates, I personally, hate them. They are easily damaged and for the most part can not be repaired, only replaced, they are noisy. Of the three choices, I think the solid wood is the way to go, much more durable, more repairable, and really, cheaper in the long run. Except, of course, if you have trendy tastes and want a different style or species of wood every few years. EDIT: I don't quite know how the pound relates to the dollar, but for me, locally, I can get very nice #1 oak for $2/ sf, which equates to $18/ sq.yd. I do know a sq m is bigger than a sq yd, so that $18 would be more like $20 for the m area.

Q. Im looking to replace my single glazed windows to double glazed windows in my flat. My flat is second storey looking directly onto the street. Can someone please advise what would be the best way / cheapest ways for a joiner / window fitter to replace these windows? Will i need to erect scaffolding, hire a cherry picker or will the fitter have an alternative method for fitting these windows? Thanks in advance.

A. The chances are that you arn't the first person that a joiner or window fitter has had to replace windows on the 2nd floor for. I think it is possible to install them from either side - inside or out if you know what you are doing so a cherry picker might not be needed. I'd get a quote for the windows with fitting and see what they say - I would go for fitting from the inside though

Q. How do i remodel a kitchen and where should i start?

A. Start by determining how you use the kitchen..do you cook alot? Do you bake? Do you entertain? Do you have the family for holidays every year? Are professional-style appliances what you need? Do you need a particular type of storage? Do you have a lot of dishware/glassware? You need to determine your priorities. Then, start looking through magazines and randomly tear out pages that have some looks you like. Put them all in a folder and after a couple of weeks, go through it. You will see what trends you tend to go after. That way you can determine light wood or dark wood or painted cabinets, traditional or contemporary, etc. Keep in mind what room you kitchen adjoins in regard to flooring. You might want to maintain a flow as far as color. Tile is great for kitchen flooring, so is laminate as long as you don't flood it someday (it delaminates). Wood is great too, but it will scratch, even the hardest Brazilian Cherry will scratch. Get an idea of the countertops you like: granite, silestone or other solid surface, formica, tile. Think also about a backsplash. I think the floors, countertops and backsplashes can be tied together, or at least the counter and the backsplash. If you go to a professional kitchen designer, go equipped with a floorplan and with dimensions.

Q. I have severe asthma and my doctor has asked me to get either laminate or vinyl flooring (or hardwood or tile) to replace my carpet. My landlord agreed to let me do it with no charge for not leaving it the same way as I moved in. Now, I have had Empire, Flynn's and Totally Floored all give me estimates for laminate. I am also going to go to Home Depot and Hatloe's Carpet One (the Carpet One located in Everett) is coming tomorrow to make an estimate. Problems: I get 357 sq ft according to the landlord's dimensions Empire and Flynn's get 641 sq. ft. Totally Floored gets 549 sq. ft. 1 company charges 5% and another 8% more sq. ft. for waste when they cut along edges and transitions. 1 company separately hires out an installer, two companies have their own. Nobody seems to have the exact same flooring: Mohawk "Northern Maple" is one, a version of "Northern Maple" with padding and in a softer less yellow tone also by Mohawk and a Blonde Cherry Dream and a Spring Oak. I am on disability and am having volunteers from a local agency move my stuff out and others move back in. I am renting a truck to store my stuff while the job is being done. My landlord is taking out the carpet and tack strips so the only work is putting the floor down. I have approx. estimates of $2400, $3300, $4400 and $6600! How can I find out who is most honest? What information do I have to have to compare accurately? Have you personally done business with any of these companies? What else can you tell me? I have found that Medicaid may pay for the flooring so I might not even get to pick who does it. Thanks for the BBB info, none of those companies is a certified BBB company. Now I will check those that were. But this wasn't the kind of answer I am looking for. I really want someone with experience dealing with having flooring installed.

A. Check the your local Better Business Bureau for reviews and ratings of specific businesses in Everett. They have a search function for city/state and for business type.

Q. Have had cherry wood floors installed and am wondering the names of some cleaner. any help?

A. I use swiffer for wood floors