tack strips is a bit of a pain.

If you are DIY savvy you could easily do the tile part and then have a carpet installer come in to trim and secure the carpet edges.

both fans and the first one I replaced is needing replacing again. Depending on the size of the fan, the motors are not expensive and not difficult to replace (if you can reach them.) Just rember to turn off the switches and then follow the color coding on the wires.

it gets muddy. Longer term, you need to decide if grass will grow there or whether a hard surface of some sort is a better idea.

Yes it can! Use DTM (direct to metal) paint. It is good stuff 100% Acrylic. They also have spray cans available for painting metal. It also helps to wash the surface and even give it a light sanding.

http://protective.sherwin-williams.com/detai...

If the wood is not to far gone there is a product called "wood hardener"

http://www.minwax.com/products/maintenance_a...

That can be applied to beef it up some....In extreme cases missing or completely destroyed wood can bill filled with a "bondo" type wood filler. This can then be sanded and shaped to match the existing frame. When all is complete paint it up.

If this is inside...this might be due to heavy condensation...so you may need to look into ways to limit this in the future.

a bunch of measurements in your house, and base his estimate on a thorough heating and cooling load calculation. A good contractor also will give you a thorough estimate that includes enough information to compare systems. Obviously an HVAC system is more than just an AC unit or a furnace, but you can find reliable ratings and reviews of those components in Consumer Reports magazine. If you do not have an online subscription, check your local library. For example, there is a review of AC systems in the June 2010 issue.