May 8, 2008 -- Peter Hotton handyman on call chat
mary__Guest_: hot water works great through out the house, but shower never gets really hot whats the problem
Peter_Hotton: To Mary: Hi Mary and all, welcome to Hotton's zoo, and I rarin' to go, having returned from one of my alma maters, Lake Superior State University, in my home town of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. I even got a medal as a member of the pioneering class which helped found the college in 1946. Anyway, to mary, It sounds as if the one handle valves for the showers are defective. Have them replaced.
Cambridge__Guest_: I have a flat roof house and lose a lot of heat through it. What is the best recommendation for insulating? I might have old knob and tube wiring and can't blow insultation into the ceiling crawl space. Thanks
Peter_Hotton: cambridge: You have to remove the knob and tube wiring with another type before insulating the ceiling; that is, putting insulation between the joists. You may have to break into the crawl space. If not that, take off the ceiling material and insulate from below and put in a new ceiling. Or, after taking off the c3eiling, have isonyne foam insulation blown in the crawl space. that way you will not need ventilation.
MrKnowItALL__Guest_: I am looking into replacing my Oil Boiler with Gas. Is it possible to keep the oil boiler as a backup ? Just click on the switch for oil or gas ?
Peter_Hotton: MrKnowItAll: Using a combo system is possible, but is usually not done in residents, more in commercial buildings. It is done to switch fuels according to their cost. You old need two burners, which is not practical.
Tim__Guest_: Hi Peter, We are considering "cedar impressions" to reside our carpenter's victorian circa 1895 - and at the same time blowing in insulation because it seems our old house has very little. We are in the process of putting in new windows. the good kind, we think. Any thoughts on cedar impressions - do they really look like wood any thoughts on blown in insulation?
Peter_Hotton: Tim: Cedar Impressions are the best of a poor lot;l by that I mean i TH8INK VINYL IS ODIOUS, ESPECIALLY ON A VICTORIAN HOUSE. But is does look like painted shingles. Blown in insulation is the way to go. Use cellulose and you will save a bundle.
Brooks24__Guest_: I have an animal urinate on my rug and need to replace just that section of the rung 5 x 5 foot square should I try this myself or hire a pro?
Peter_Hotton: Brooks24: Hire a a pro. But even he may not be able to match the color. I am not even sure they do this sort of thing.
bk1273__Guest_: Our upcoming house has mono-flow heating and only covers the first floor. The second floor is electric and the converted garage is a gas heater. Any idea how much it would cost to implement 1 heating system throughout?
Peter_Hotton: bk1273: Keep the gas heater for the converted garage. Converting to one syStem can cost $5,000 OR MORE BECAUS3E THE UPSTAIRS HAS TO HAVE RADIATORS INSTALLED. By radiators i mean baseboard radiators.
Peterjedi__Guest_: Hi Peter, I have some paint on some wood that I like to remove. Do you have any good recommendations on materials?
Peter_Hotton: peterjedi: Sanding or using chemical paint remover.
Jenny_J__Guest_: Hi Peter - We bought a house last August and the previous owners did a lot of work, but took some shortcuts when they did it themselves. The bathroom floors have ft. square ceramic tile, but they are butt against each other - how much of a problem is it not to have grout? We are thinking of replacing but don't know how fast it should be done ro what damange could result. Thanks
Peter_Hotton: Jenny-J: If there is any space at all tween tiles, put in sandless grout. If you cannot put anythung in, live with the tiles until you are ready to take them up and put in new ones with the proper grout line (1/16th inch is not too little). Or, you can put new tiles over the old, using thin-set mortar. Do not line up the seams. Then fill the joints with grout.
davec__Guest_: Hi Peter, I sent this earlier and not sure you recieved, I would like to take off the vinyl siding on my 1725 home. The wood siding seems in good shape. should I take off all the wood siding and wrap the house and put back the 1/4" insulation then the wood siding or just fill in all the holes on the wood siding and prime and paint
Peter_Hotton: davec: It would be good idea to take off the wooed siding carefully and put on the 3/8 inch insulation, which will help prevent peeling of any paint. Or, instead of that old wood siding, install white cedar shingles; you never have to paint, stain or treat them in any way, and they will weather nicely. They would be appropriate for the 1725 house.
Judy__Guest_: Hello Mr. Hotton, I have a dirt cellar in my home, that has a deep hole (about 5 - 6 feet.) I would like to fill it in, but am not sure whether I should be putting in just dirt, rocks or a combination. I'd appreciate your suggestion.
Peter_Hotton: Judy: Use sand, which is probably the cheapest fill material to use. If it settles, just add more.
phc__Guest_: Hi Peter, I have oil heat and I am thinking of getting a pellet insert stove to put in my fireplace on the first floor of a colonial. Do you think it is work the investment? How do you think it will heat the second floor and basement?
Peter_Hotton: phc: A pellet stove, exhausting to the outdoors through a pvc pipe, is a good way to go, because you can turn it on and off. It will heat the first floor but will do little for the basement or second floor. But the second floor does not need much heat cept maybe the bathrooms.
annie__Guest_: I see you don't like the Murphy's. What do you recommend for hardwood floors, especially in the kitchen where they do need cleaning regularly? Thx.
Peter_Hotton: Annie: A little detergent and water, the less water the better. And a wet Swiffer inbetween. If you are leery of water, use paint thinner.
abc__Guest_: Hello, I have noticed that the water from my hot water heated is not as hot as it used to be, doe this mean I need to replace my hot water heater?
Peter_Hotton: abc: If your heater is 10 or more years old, it may mean that you should replace it. Have a plumber check it out for any other cause.
hotton_fan2__Guest_: Hi Peter, I have a question about the new energy efficient (cfl) light bulbs. I purchased some and replaced an existing 3 way bulb in a table lamp. It burned out within 2 weeks time! This lamp has a 3-way switch and is on a timer. Is there a problem with using these new bulbs in older lamps? Or is is related to the 3-way switch? Thanks.
Peter_Hotton: Hotton_fan2: Now that is nice; you are my second fan? Anyway, I don't think the new bulbs should be used with a three way switch. Replace the lamp part with a one way switch.
mr_need__Guest_: hello Peter I am looking for some names to call for handy work in my condo. I live in waltham.
Peter_Hotton: mr_need: Look up handyman in the yellow pages. If no dice there, join a club called Angie's list and it will find you some handymen.
ac__Guest_: two questions.....ladybugs?? How you know you have a problem? And Home Automation, what is your opinion?
Peter_Hotton: ac: If you have hundreds or dozens or a lot of ladybugs indoors and out, you have a very minor problem. sweep them up and toss them outside. they are beneficial and eat a lot of aphids, scale and other soft-bodied critters. What in the world is HomeAutomation?
Homeowner__Guest_: Hello, Peter. When I purchased my house six years ago, the home inspector advised me that those delightful 1970s tiles on the basement floor contain asbestos. His recommendation at the time was to get a thick pad, and carpet right over them. He thought ripping them up, and trying to dispose of them would be problematic. My question is, a few have warped and/or popped off. Should I try to resecure some spare tiles, fill in the space with something else, or just carpet over altogether?
Peter_Hotton: homeowner: Resecure the loose tiles and the synthetic jute pad and indoor-outdoor carpeting will press down the warping tiles.
Phil__Guest_: The west interior cement wall of my detached garage is crumbling. The entire garage is built into a slope. The west and north walls are no more than 1/3 above ground. The north and east walls are okay. How can I keep the west wall from deteriorating?
Peter_Hotton: Phil: Water is deteriorating the wall. You may be able to apply a cement hardener to slow down this decay. If not, replace the wall.
Loulou__Guest_: My aunt owns a home on Cape Cod that is approximately 40 years old. The windows are original and no longer function properly. They are wood casements with metal tracks. We have tried WD 40 without any luck. Can they be repaired?
Peter_Hotton: Loulou: The crank-out arm may have to be replaced. If they are a brand like Andersen, remove the arm and take it to a window store or HD or Lowe's for replacement. They may or may not have them.
jeff__Guest_: this mornings column was all repeats. who puts this together?
Peter_Hotton: Jeff: It was not all repeats but sometimes when a column has leftovers they send them back to me and I include them in the next column. You can contact the styles section and tell them for crying out loud make the column longer. Give him more space! The handyman who has been dong this for 30 years this summer and has never missed a column, deserves better. treament.
lilibelle__Guest_: Hello Peter: My pressure treated wood deck that is treated with water sealer. While using a power washer some areas blated off the water seal and now appears the wood is bare and rough. Can I sand pressure treated wood? Or should I just re-apply water seal in hopes of masking the white areas? ?
Peter_Hotton: Lilibelle: Forget about the water seal. Let the rest of it wear off and y8u should be content with untreated p-t wood. Or, when the seal is completely gone, give one coat of a semitransparent stain.
marty_2__Guest_: First, Congrats to you.... Secondly do have any idea where i might find replacement hinges for Bruce cabinets? We have a couple broken and the cabinet biz is no longer...thanks
Peter_Hotton: marty_2: Thanks, friend. I don't know where you can get replacement hinges but you could try finding similar hinges and put them on, or take them all off and put in new fancy hinges; that will make the kitchen look brand new.
mlm__Guest_: hey peter I'm putting on a new roof and the installer is putting the ice and water under the drip edge is this correct?
Peter_Hotton: mim: It won't hurt. I think it should be the other way around but I still think it will not be a problem as he is doing.
sw204__Guest_: What is the story with carpenter bees (wasps?) I see some every year around the eaves in the Spring/early summer but then they seem to disappear...Should I get rid of them now?
Peter_Hotton: sw204: Carpenter bees are different from wasps. Carpenter bees drill holes in the wood trim tO lay their eggs and can be a nuisance. If there are no holes, and the wasps are just buzzing around doing nothing, forget about both. Trying to get rid of them is like shoveling sand against the tide.
Peter_Hotton: OK, boys and girls, time to go. It has been real, as they say. See you next week. My email is photton@globe.com Go Lakers!