We have been in our new house now for 10 months. The contractor said we would have some construction dust for a few months. 10 months later, we get, every day a light dusting on the granite counter tops, stove top etc.. Even when the furnace has not run for over a week. The contractor had the ducts cleaned and still we get it. Its a fine white powder, so I assume its drywall dust. I have sent a sample away to be tested. Someone said this is possible if they did not seal the drywall before they painted. Is this possible? That it wouold bleed through the paint. And how can we fix it? I have been having sinus problem for about 5 months now. The doctor does not belive it allergies. What are long term effects of this type of exposure? ANy help would be greatly appreciated.

Reolving what's under the lino and particle board shouldn't be hard: 1) Look very closely where the sink drain penetrates the floor, you may see what you need to know; or 2) pick a place in a bottom cab (I'd choose one with a bottom drawer, but any one will do.) Take a portable saber saw and cut out a square big enough to allow you to the take a lino knife and then a chisel to expose what's underneath. If you're careful you may be able to cut the cab floor hole on a inward slant giving you a piece you can just drop back in place and tape up. But even if you find that there's some form of wood floor underneath, you won't know what condition it's in. It could have been irrremediably stained and grungy, hence the decision to cover the whole thing with lino. (One of my floors turned out to have kerosene spilled on it, from an old kerosene cookstove. I'm covering up that with subfloor and lino). Or maybe the wood was fine but when they put down the particle board subfloor they stuck it down with black goopy (and maybe asbestos-y) glue (or leveling compound), or the sub floor was nailed down with dozens of now-rusted, ten penny nails. In any of these cases, the aesthetics of a wood floor may be not what you're hoping for. If you decide to go ahead and expose the floor, you can just cut the lino and particle board at the base of the cabs and install shoe molding to cover the exposed edge after refinishing the floor. Your countertops will be 1/2" higher, afterwards. hth L.

Les, you have some great points. I really appreciate your time thinking this through. We have poured over this layout for the past three years, and short of doing a complete remodel, this seems to be the best layout for us. My first plan was to leave the refrigerator as is and put the dishwasher in the nook. But, the kitchen is sorely lacking in counter space which is much more important to us than a dishwasher. To get more counter space, we need to move the refrigerator. So our options were to put the dishwasher next to the stove or not have one at all. We thought about putting it next to the sink, but the cabinet is not deep enough. I can't recess it into the exterior wall without reframing it. To do that, I would have to tear up the counter for access. The open dishwasher won't be very far from the sink. We'll just have to dry the floor each time we use it. This solution won't work for everyone, but we're ok with it. I'm also planning to get an ADA height dishwasher. That way, I'll have space for a pullout cutting board above it. More counter space by the stove. I will move the stove a few inches from the wall. I want to leave it in the corner because the ceiling has a built-in vent above it - also original to the house. It is a passive vent, but it works pretty well. We have a pantry in the breakfast room next to the kitchen. It's right by the current refrigerator corner, so it is convenient enough. That is an ironing board with Big Boy behind the refrigerator. We will use the top portion to house oils and spices. The bottom will be hidden by the new cabinets or cart. The kitchen is small, but we have built-ins and a pantry cabinet in the breakfast room. The end result is we have a good amount of storage space. I even have a large empty drawer in the breakfast room! Lisa

handymac, I also need to have the subfloor changed down the hallway roughly 3 x 18 and eventually (hopefully soon) the flooring in the new kitchen. Your suggestions make sense but they still sound so time consuming. Of course in the midst of this, the garbage disposal died as well as the "whole house fan," I tend to be obsessive about things like that so I will spend hours researching the best product, not leaving much time to "cut grids". I'll just have to bring in my carpenter he-man! You sound like a very considerate soul. Dealing with the subs I have used, I have learned, there are only two kinds. The first are the guys who start being rude from the get go (like the one who said to me as he walked in the door... "HEY LADY, do you know how much work this involves?) I did and I ignored his quote. I know there are guys out there who are happy for the work, so to hell with him. And then there are "the others." They call when they said they would, they show up on time (or call to let me know they are late), and they aren't trying to squeeze every dime out of me. The guy I hired instead of "Hey Lady" did a great job. He ran into some issues he didn't expect, which involved him going to the lumber yard and more labor. When the project was done I wanted him to add in the extra project and he said that wasn't necessary. I gave him a big tip, and now he is the man I will call for this job. You definitely fall into the "others" category. How kind you are, when many are just looking for the almighty buck. I am trying to refrain from comments about your "big hammer". Hey, if pool boys can have fun, why not subs???