Wow, I just checked out your website as well. I LOVE your wood carvings and the ceiling of that bedroom is really cool. Way to go, MayBaby!

 MayBaby wrote: I took a look at your site — you really know your craft!

(I've been a cabinet maker for 32 years and see this happen all the time)

Does anyone know much about what to expect when your house starts to settle? At what point does "settling" become "slab damage"?

I would not use laminate on stairs. Stairs see more wear than anything else, and it'll show. With solid wood, when it wears down you see, uh, more wood. Plus it's gonna be hard to make the edges of laminate look good. I would try to find matching (or contrasting) solid wood for the stair treads: I think you can get pre-finished treads made to match solid wood pre-finished flooring. I have not installed laminate flooring myself, but it doesn't SEEM too challenging. A good miter saw is gonna be crucial though: the trim cuts make or break any project. You'll also need basic stuff like a carpenter's square, a rubber mallet (always handy to have anyway), and maybe knee pads (insert off-color remark here.) Plus a tape measure (duh) and a chalk line. I would find a friend who has a miter saw, or invest in one. Used is okay, 'cause you're going to buy a new, fine-cut blade for it. A 10" saw is the most common size: smaller ones are too cheap (usually) and 12" is WAY more than you need. I know there's TONS of online instructional material on installing the stuff, that's where I'd start. The specific manufacturer probably has an installation video too. The trickiest part of any project is when the room is not square: you have to adjust for it at the outset, otherwise you're gonna end up with weird slivers at the end. Measure out each area before you start laying flooring, so you don't have any surprises. Keep us posted... c.

Just got a short, informative video regarding kitchen grease fires. Worth watching...

http://www.vidilife.com/video_play_1014898_KitchenOilFire.htm

Apparently, throwing sugar or flour on the fire is bad news also: the explosion is equivalent to something like two sticks of dynamite!

The reason the grease fire flames up when water's thrown on it? Water is heavier than oil, it sinks to the bottom, where it is instantly vaporized into superheated steam. Which causes it to explode through the grease like a bomb. As an added bonus, it splatters flaming oil all over the kitchen and you: bad bad bad.

I had never heard of the wet dishtowel trick though. Good to know.

c.