We're under contract to buy a house. Two weeks before closing, a contractor performing agreed-upon presale repairs caught the house on fire. We've got a lot of questions about what happens next. [more inside]
posted by treblemaker on Apr 4, 2012 - 19 answers

As owner, how involved do I need to be for a full residential restoration construction project? [more inside]
posted by zagyzebra on Mar 12, 2012 - 8 answers

Uh oh, I think we used old shellac. Now what? [more inside]
posted by musofire on Oct 9, 2011 - 3 answers

I was given an antique framed piece of intricately cut brown paper, which I am told was used as a stencil, perhaps on fabric. The paper has dark and light stains on it. The dark stains look to be moisture damage, and the light stains appear to be powdery. Is there anything I can do myself to restore it? [more inside]
posted by emilyd22222 on Dec 24, 2010 - 7 answers

Flat Roof Filter - We're trying to get our garage roof replaced and are having problems locating a supplier for the clay tile end caps that run around the edge of the roof. [more inside]
posted by octothorpe on Sep 1, 2009 - 9 answers

How do I restore a grave headstone. My son's headstone has faded over the past 20 years. The engraving (once highlighted with black) has faded, the writing is now hard to read. I could use a small brush and, with my shaky hands try and fill in the letters, but there has to be an easier (and more effective) way... ideas?
posted by HuronBob on Aug 21, 2009 - 13 answers

Please help me restore the shape of my Coach bag. [more inside]
posted by happy scrappy on Jan 10, 2009 - 4 answers