Letters to the Editor

Mihran Kalaydjian | Priced Out of the Dream

Santa Clarita has long stood as a symbol of stability, a place where working families could afford a home, raise their children, and build a future just outside the pressures

Dan Walters

Dan Walters | Tax Policy Case Study on Lasagna

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration oversees the collection of sales taxes by more than a half-million retail sellers, ranging from giants such as Amazon and Walmart to

Picking the right summer camp for your child is picking a partner in your child’s upbringing, so choose a camp that aligns with your goals, values, and priorities. The right camp can provide an incredible experience for your children.

Finding the Right Summer Camp 

By Georgia Del Favero  There are more than 20,000 summer camps in the United States, each one of them with its own unique benefits, challenges and quirks. From day to sleep-away, specialty to broad-based,

David Hegg, "Ethically Speaking"

David Hegg | Elections and Ethical Alignment

By David Hegg With primary elections approaching, our casual conversations with friends have taken a more serious turn. Who is running for what office? What do they stand for? Who

Letters to the Editor

Jack Crawford | Blast-Off from Past

It is encouraging that Artemus II has captivated the imagination of the world. For those of us on the leading edge of the Baby Boom it is reminiscent of the

Letters to the Editor

Larry Moore | Who Are These People?

In response to President Donald Trump sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to help beleaguered Transportation Security Administration agents at airports, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries both said

Letters to the Editor

Alan Ferdman | Who’s the Blip Here?

While Gary Horton believes he spent a career building things and while his crew might have woken up early, Gary seems to have slept through it all. To start with

Paul Butler commentary

Paul Butler | Service Is a Choice 

The first time we came to America was in the summer of 2001. We spent two weeks at Disney World in Florida. Our daughter, Brodie, was about 5, and our son,

Robert Lamoureux

Robert Lamoureux | Tips for a DIY hardwood flooring refresh 

Question: Good morning, Robert. I’ve read your articles for years but have never written in before. Time for me to, hopefully, get some help. In my home there are hardwood floors that are really old and beat up, fitting for the age of the structure.   Not much has been done to this home prior to our purchase a year ago and it shows, but this is our current issue: The laundry area is heavily damaged by water over the years. It is currently dry so it is not a water issue at this time, but we do need to tend to this floor. Is it possible to replace flooring to only one room? How would we do this and what is the best flooring to install in the place of this? Something more waterproof?   — Lynette L.  Answer: Lynette, this should be a relatively easy project, if you are interested in a DIY. Yes, flooring can be replaced in one room only, and you can, if you wish, go low-cost as a temp flooring until you are ready to do the rest of the area. Cutting the existing floor will likely be the most technical portion, as you will need to make a straight cut.   Be sure that the cut is made just under the center of the closed door. This position is so that the flooring in the opposing room is not visible. Remove the baseboards if they are present and begin lifting the flooring. After the demo, be sure to clean the area thoroughly, vacuuming the remaining debris/dust.   There are many low-cost materials out there, including self-stick tiles and planks. Take your pick and complete the install, noting that you will need a transition strip to go over the two different flooring materials. The big box stores should be able to help with this purchase, guiding you. Best of luck.  Robert Lamoureux has more than 40 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at [email protected].