June 19, 2008 -- Peter Hotton handyman on call chat
PS__Guest_: I have a pipe that comes into my basement from my pump. It comes through the foundation below grade. When it rains, water seeps in (sometimes substantially) from the space between the foundation and the pipe. What do you suggest I seal that space with it? Everyone has told me something different. Thanks!
Peter_Hotton: PS: Hi, girls and boys, welcome to Hotton's zoo. I can't think of any denizen, so let's get right to it. I don't know what others have said, but this is what to do: If the qap beween pipe and concrete is more than half an inch wide, fill it with hydraulic cement, which expands as it sets and makes a tight fit. If the joint is already tight, caulk it with an adhesive caulk such as Pheno-Seal, both inside and out.
uhgar__Guest_: Hi Peter, I have engineered wood in my kitchen and i have been talking to contractors to help me refinish it. They ask me what kind of engineered wood is that - what do I say? How can I find that out?
Peter_Hotton: uhgar: I too would like to know what engineered wood is; particleboard covered with a veneer or what. You have to find out what it is, otghr than engineered wood.
cleodogpal__Guest_: Peter is it best to use one or two top coats when painting cedar shingles on the exterior of a house?
Peter_Hotton: cleodogpal: The standard paint job is one coat primer and two coats finish paint. If the old paint is in good shape, then two thin coats will work well, all things considered. Even one coot on a sound paint will be good.
bob__Guest_: Peter, can I turn off my steam boiler with tankless hotwater(with oil) for a week when I go away (flip red emergency power) then flip it back on when I return and not have issues with boiler/tankless hot water
Peter_Hotton: bob: If you are away for a week, I would not bother with turning it off. I don't think it will hurt to turn it off, anyway.
Andy__Guest_: re gaps between floor boards (today's column): what kind of wood strips are youreferring to fill gaps, and are there special ones to be gotten, and if so where?
Peter_Hotton: Andy: If the gaps are 3/8 inch you can buy parting bead, which is 3/4 inch deep and 3/8 wide. Otherwise you will have to cut your own out of a stock pine board. Stain the strips a bit darker than the floor color. A darker filler will show up less than a lighter one.
Miasam__Guest_: Peter - for new red cedar shakes, what is the best exposure to use ?
Peter_Hotton: Miasam: 5 to 6 inches to the weather is good, although I am not sure there is a standard.
beverly158__Guest_: I have to replace a gutter on my house. My yard is heavily treed. Do the Gutter Cap, Gutter Helmet, or Gutter King really work to keep the gutter from being clogged? Are they worth the expense which is twice the cost of the gutters themselves.
Peter_Hotton: Beverly 158: The manufacturers say they do. In the case of Gutter Helmet, they g8ive a warranty that if any debris gets into the gutter, they will clean 8it out for free for 20 years. A pretty gutsy warranty.
igor__Guest_: I am thingking of installing a laminate floating floor over cement in the basement. Is laminate floor for the basement floor a good idea or should I go with a carpet. Please explain. I am afraid that moisture is going to ruing the laminate floor. The basement does not have water leaks though.
Peter_Hotton: igor: Find a laminate flooring dealer who will recommend using it in the cellar. If you use the basement for living spc4e, then instead consider ceramic tiles. The job is done once and for all.
Handy_Nan__Guest_: Peter-I've been starting to tackle stripping my badly peeling/blistering cedar clapboards on my 1929 Colonial using a sander/HEPA vacuum. There are a few plastic circular vents put into holes cut into the siding, that have been painted over by previous owners. I've been told when one paints old cedar it will ALWAYS peel because it cannot breathe...will adding more new vents help? Will using a solid color stain instead of paint preclude peeling? I'd rather stain every 4 years than have to strip again and paint every 6 years...What do you sug gest?
Peter_Hotton: handy_Nan: Painted cedar will not peel because it cannot breathe, but because moisture from inside the house penetrates the wall, insulation and condenses on the sheathing behind the shingles, pushing the paint right off. A solid color stain will not prevent peeling. If you get all paint off, y8iu can apply one coat of a semitransparent stain; it will last 5 to 7 years and will not peel.
Saratogian__Guest_: Sat in last week for two hours hoping to get some insight regarding bleeding sap on 14 food deck boards that was built three years ago and then treated with Sherwin Williams Deckscapes. Have two 14 footers that are bleeding and iI am trying to find out if there is anyway to stop the bleeding ? Thank you
Peter_Hotton: Saratogian: Nothing will stop the sap bleeding through. If the sap is hard, scrape it off with a chisel. If the sap is sticky, clean it off with denatured alcohol or rubbing alcohol.
Pam__Guest_: this morning's paper prompted a follow on question to the brick patio issue. i have a brick sidewalk, laid in sand and stone dust. Chipmunks burrow trenches beneath the sidewalk until the bricks collapse. i rebuilt with stones and mothballs, replace the bricks and re "grout" with stone dust, but the chipmunks come back, or just move a foot or two up the side walk. suggestions to keep them away for good?
Peter_Hotton: Pqam: Keep after them and repairing the damage. They will not quit until they are dead, aqnd i DON'T Recommend killing th3em.They are good rodents, and fun to watch. I have them an have no problem with my brick patio and sidewalks.
danArbelli__Guest_: What is the right way to mount a window air conditioner? Can I let it rest on the storm window frame ?
Peter_Hotton: Dan: If the unit sits level on the storm frame and sill, and does not crush it, it is OK.
pf__Guest_: Hi, I would like to turn the second floor of a gambrel-roofed 2-car garage into an art stu dio, and I have a question about ventilation/insulati on. There is currently insulation flush with the steep part of the roof, and I hope to make a cathedral ceiling n top. I don;t think I can do a ridge vent, since the flow will be blocked by the joint between the 2 roof pitches. Can I just go flush with insulation top to bottom?
Peter_Hotton: pf: Put the insulation in and leave an inch of space between insulation and roof boards. And put in a ridge vent anyway. It will provide some inherent ventilation.
tommy__Guest_: brass sashes! i'm trying to locate some in the boston area but no luck I'm afraid.any suggestions?
Peter_Hotton: tommy: There ain't no such thing as brass sashes. I you mean sash chain, it is around, and if you want it, make sure it is solid brass. If no solid brass, steel will do.
Bob__Guest_: What is the best way to clean and then seal concrete?
Peter_Hotton: Bob: Power wash it, then seal it with a masonry sealer. It really does not need sealing.
beverly158__Guest_: I need to replace a length of gutter. My yard is heavily treed, both oaks and pines. Do the gutter helmets or caps work?
Peter_Hotton: Beverly 158: Yes, they do. You can try them, anyway.
miller__Guest_: Thanks to you, I know that the black streaks on my roof are mold. We need to replace the roof and since there is 1 layer, can put the shingles on top. I was wondering if there is something we should do to address the mold issue, before putting the new layer of shingles on top. Thanks for your help.
Peter_Hotton: Miller: I think the mold should be treated with bleach and wate4r to kill it before the second layer is installed.
concrete_answers__Guest_: The rear entryway of my house is poured concrete. I have several dogs and over the years they had accidents on the concrete. I always washed it with soap and water and they sprayed the area with a special urine removal products. I would like to clean the area, then seal and paint concrete so that it is will be water proof. What is the best way to do this?
Peter_Hotton: concrete answers: The concrete is already waterproof, and does not need sealing. Power wash it to clean it, then apply a single coat of a semitransparent stain.
Lisa__Guest_: We have carpenter bee's and a wood pecker drilling holes into our fascia board. A pest company said that I should wrap the fascia board in metal flashing in order to stop the destruction. This sounds questionable and ugly to me. Any other suggestions?
Peter_Hotton: Hi, Lisa: If you clad the wood in aluminum the woodpecking will be twice as loud. It will stop the carpenter bees, though. Sometimes replacing the wood where the bees are4 drilling and keeping it painted will deter the bees. For the peckers, I just learned this from someone who kept the peckers away by hanging suet feeders nearby. The birds went for the suet and stopping hammering.
Lisa__Guest_: Hi Peter, We have to replace our back stairs and landing. It is a small area, currently wood, and it is peeling and splintering. With two small children, and a husband who isn't handy, we would like to replace it and not have much maintainence. I am not crazy about the Trex product since it gets so hot and we do like to sit on the steps. Would white cedar, left as is, be a good alternative? Thank you.
Peter_Hotton: Lisa, again: You can use red cedar, not white cedar, for the steps; for the frame, use pressure-treated wood. It is safe.
Lisa__Guest_: Thanks Peter. I did read your column with the suet suggestion. We have already replaced the fascia board once in the past four years. I was hoping for a permanent solution.
Peter_Hotton: Lisa: One more time: Try this for a new fascia: Azak, a solid vinyl board which should resist the tlc of the carpenter bees.
nicole1500__Guest_: Help! I have evidence of carpenter ants gathering in the space above an antique (1930?) bow window. Wood shavings both inside and outside the window. Should I use bait? Or Raid style poisons? I have kids and pets but want to halt the damage! Thanks
Peter_Hotton: nicole: Call an exterminator, who should find a nest and destroy it. Do not use insecticides in the house. That area may have damp, soft wood in it, and it should be replaced.
Peter_Hotton: OK, kiddos, handy types and schleppers, time to go. It has be4en a good session, with more to come next week. Meanwhiol,e my email is photton@globe.com