July 17, 2008 -- Peter Hotton
erinrita__Guest_: If the frame is broken and bent, how likely is it that my local hardware store will be able to repair them?
Peter_Hotton: erinrita: Hi, every.hone, hotton here with his zoo denizens, 'cept he can't think of one for the moment. so let's go to work. To Erinrita (two people, I am guessing) hardware stores are set up to replace hardware, so I am not convinced they can do much about a missing or distorted frame. All you can do is ask.
maura__Guest_: Thank you for answering my question twice. I didn't have the info.correct the first time. I really appreciate your taking the time to help me. The 2x4 goes all around the top of the deck, but I only need to replace a small 8" piece that is rotten . I hate to have to replace all 12' or more!
Peter_Hotton: maura: One more time. I am assuming the 2 x 4 is a railing, which is attached somehow to posts. You only have to replace the section that is rotting by cutting it out from one post to the other. Apply common sense to the problem and you can solve it.
dan__Guest_: Hello! Last year I put central air conditioning in my home. we have single pipe steam heat and at the time of the installation I had them put in hydroair coils in the air handlers ( 2) In case I wanted to change heating systems. With the spike in oil prices Im thinking of putting in a new boiler and doing the hydroair. How much more efficient would this be? What is your opinion of hydroair systems comfort wise vs our oldfashioed steam system with the big cast iron radiators that we now have?Thanks so much
Peter_Hotton: dan: By hydroair I must assume you mean air heated by a boiler and then distributed via the ductwork. That is more efficient than a steam system, which is the most inefficient heating you can get. Or, simply ut in a hot air furnace so that the air gets heated directly before being distributed. In both cases this will work in conjunction with the A/C.
chubba__Guest_: Hi Peter. Where the pipe comes through the wall into our pump in our basement (below grade), water seeps in around the pipe when it rains. What can I seal bwtween the pipe and the concrete with? Everyone I ask gives me a different answer.
Peter_Hotton: hubba hubba, chubba: I think I answered this question weeks ago, but maybe yours is new. So, here goes.If there is little or no space between the foundation (concrete) and the pipe, you can caulk it with an adhesive caulk on the inside, then go outside and dig down to expose it on the outside, and caulk it with adhesive caulk. If there is a larger gap, you can fill it with hydraulic cement or a mortar mix, sold in hardware stores. Top 'n' Bond is good for this purpose.
essex__Guest_: I have a mahogany dining table. Can you recommend a treatment for gettting the dirt off prior to polishing it. I tried a mild detergent and I have streaks everywhere.
Peter_Hotton: essex: Treat the top with paint thinner. If you have streaks, give it one treatment with a good polish such as Pledge. Do this no more than twice a year.
Churchill__Guest_: Peter, am having an attached 2-car garage built that will have an embedded mudroom towards the back. I'm going to tile this 6x12 room; do I need a plywood subfloor or can the tile sit right on the cement floor? Thanks!
Peter_Hotton: Churchill: You are one of my heroes, despite being an unabashed chauvinist, imperialist and hater of Gandhi. anyway, for goodness sake, if the tile is ceramic (it should be, put the tile directly on the concrete with thin-set mortar. If you are using resilient (plastic) tile, ake sure the condcret3e is steel-troweled to be very very smooth, then put the tile down with an adhesive. Ceramic is much, much better.
dan__Guest_: another question I have bluestone paved walkways about 6-7 feet of them are turning green with mold - what is your recommended treatment
Peter_Hotton: dan:L The green is not mold but algae. Treat it with a solution of one part household bleach and three parts water. Scrub with a scrub brush and repeat with the bleach solution. Then rinse off.
sunny__Guest_: replacement for melamine panel of garage overhead door?
Peter_Hotton: sunny: If the melamine is laminated, you can take it off and substitute a piece of Formica. Otherwise I dunno.
ihaterain__Guest_: All those recent downpours have flooded my basement twice. Otherwise it is dry. What should I do? Or what is the right type of contractor to hire to come out and look at it? Thx
Peter_Hotton: ihaterain: Call a basement waterproofing company, in the yellow pages, amzaingly enough, under basement waterproofing.
Jack__Guest_: Hi Peter. I've been in my home for about 14 years now. It's over 150 years old and has an unfinished basement. The last few years, we've noticed a large section of the floor and walls are getting wet. We've used a humidifier to take care of the problem but I was wondering if it could be a more serious problem. Is there anything I should check?
Peter_Hotton: Jack: The basement is closed up (I have one like it)and water vapor builds up (it comes up through the concrete floor) and condenses on cool surfaces, hence the wet spots. You mentioned a humidifier to fix it. No way. You mean a dehumidifier, but before you spend money on a dehumidifier, and how much it costs and to run, vent the basement: Open windows for cross-ventilation and eventually it will dry out. you can close the windows in cold weather because cold air holds less moisture. My basement is pretty well ventilated and is dry, dry dry and it is nearly 250 years old.
MCF__Guest_: I am looking to put my house up for sale in the near future and i am looking to increase curb appeal. Aside from investing in a full exterior paint job, I am wondering if i could spot sand, prime and paint the various areas in need of repair. Would this be an adeqate fix on a very tight budget or do you suppose it would simply be a waste of time and effort?
Peter_Hotton: MCF: a paint job is not a bad idea, particularly if the siding is in very bad shape. But chances re the buyers will want to change the color anyway. Spot sanding and painting areas in need of repair sounds like an unnecessary coverup and a waste of time.
rard78__Guest_: My 6 year old central AC is freezing-up this year for the 1st time. Technician found a leak and oil, he "fixed" the leak, added freon and re-charged but the problem continues. They are now blaming the problem on insufficient return air flow. Could that really be the problem when it worked fine for years w/ the same amount of return flow?
Peter_Hotton: rard78: I don't know the cause, but since you are not getting very far with the technician you have, find another.
Moss_Man__Guest_: peter i have moss on my garage roof due to shade caused by the main dwellingand trees. how can i get rid of the moss. the trees i can cut, what about the house shade?
Peter_Hotton: mossman: Scrape off the moss with a wide putty knife. Be happy with the trees and shade.
G_2__Guest_: is it easy to repair a waste pipe (cast Iron) I need to cut it, and replace with PVC
Peter_Hotton: G2: Have a plumber do it. He is there for that purpose and can do a better job than you can.
zzzzzzzzzzzzz__Guest_: Sorry - got an error message before when I asked this. Any idea where I would find reviews of wood stoves and inserts?
Peter_Hotton: zzzz: To answer both your questions, I don't know. But visit an energy store and you should be able to get some straight answers if he is not a huckster. Try Energy Unlimited in Wayland.
harrythegreek__Guest_: Hi Peter, I need 3 new windows for my living room. I dont know where to start. I am fairly handy but wondering if i should leave the installation up to the professionals or can I do it myself? My home is 100 years old and the windows are original. i am a frequent Home Depot customer. Any suggestions?
Peter_Hotton: harry: Read my column in today's styles section.
Sally__Guest_: hi Peter - thanks for the reply - the treads are actually NOT pressure-treated - and I eventually wanted them painted . Can you recommend a particular type or style of primer that we should use (e.g., oil, latex...)? And type of paint that we should use (it will get a lot of wear)? Thanks!
Peter_Hotton: Sally: No matter what the treads are made of, do not paint them. Use one coat of a semitransparent stain. It will not peel and will last maybe 5 years.
stef__Guest_: Hi Peter, I need to install a handrailing on my back porch stairs. how high should it be?
Peter_Hotton: stef: Make the railing comfortable to place your hand. That meanz 32 to 36 inches.
First_Time_Homeowner__Guest_: Hello Peter, I recently purchased my first home, and I've noticed that I can hear what sounds like water dripping inside the wall when I turn the bathroom faucet on. There are no signs of water damage. What is the least invasive way to check for a pipe leak?
Peter_Hotton: First Time: Good question! Sounds as if there is a hole in the pipe that drips only when the water is flowing. The only way to check is to break into the wall. Or make a small hole and insert one of those lights that can turn corners and see if you can spot it. And if it drips when the water is on., it will take a long time to get worse or ruin the insulation or anything else.
KT__Guest_: What's the best way to clean the vinyl siding? I have some green algae growth on two sides of the house.
Peter_Hotton: KT: Wash the siding with a strong solution of detergent and water. Do not power wash. for the algae, treat it with a solution of one part household bleach and three parts water, scrub it and repeat with the bleach solution, then rinse.
Basement__Guest_: Peter - I have a basement with commercial VAT tiles glued to the cement floor. The tiles are in great shape - no breakage, not loose, etc., but the're ugly. In lieu of an expensive professional removal, can I just put down new commerical tile on top? I have young kids, and so asbestsos from the VAT is my concern.
Peter_Hotton: Basement: Put ceramic tile down with a thin-set mortar. The asbestos is not a hazard if it is left alone or covered. Or, if you use resilient
Peter_Hotton: (plastic) tiles, put them down with an adhesive and do not let the edges line up.
Frugal_Freddy__Guest_: Hi Peter. Is it worth it to turn off my oil heated furnace (heating the hot water tank) when I go away for a long weekend? If it is not worth it for a long weekend, what about a week long vacation?
Peter_Hotton: Frugal: It is definitely not worth it for a weekend. I think you can turn the thermostat down as low as possible if the absence is a week.
BTH__Guest_: Hi, I use a Miele dishwasher & Meile wants me to buy "Miele Water-Softening Salt' or "Miele (Henkel) Somat Special Salt " to add to the built in water softener in ith dishwasher. It is crazy expensive and hard to find. The stuff looks like rough marbles. Have you ever heard of this stuff & do you think I could use a Morton or Diamond H2O softening product? Do you have any recomendations?
Peter_Hotton: BTH: No knowledge and no recommendations. Leave well enough alone.
Mac__Guest_: Hi Peter. I hired a mason to build a brick walkway and patio. He says he's going to place the bricks tight together so there will be no need to sweep stonedust inbetween them. He says this will prevent less weeds from growing up between them. Should I be concerned that the bricks won't stay in place?
Peter_Hotton: Mac: You can still sweep fine sand (not stone dust) in the joints. Weeds will come up no matter what unless you put down a plastic barrier under the bricks. If the weeds come, pull them up and sprinkle vinegar liberally on the cracks, which will keep the weeds away for he rest of the summer. I use a watering can.
neeru__Guest_: Hi Peter, A couple of weeks ago you had replied to my question about cleaning the natural cherrywood cabinets. You had mentioned using paint thinner if there is wax buildup. But our cabinets do not have wax builup. What would be the best cleaner without marring the original finish ? What can we apply to bring lustre back ?
Peter_Hotton: neeru: Use the paint thinner anyway. TO REStOrE THE SHINE, POLISH WITH A DRY CLOTH.
Joe_Mama__Guest_: What's the deal with that basement article that was on your most e-mailed list for so long. I mean, really, who cares about your basement?
Peter_Hotton: Joe Mama: Who knows. With these cockamamie systems, anything is possible. I still hate computers. They are convenient and workable, when they work.
dr__Guest_: Hi Peter. Have a smail (1 inch) void in grout line of tiled bathroom floor. I have some matching colored caulk. Would this be OK to use to fill this small hole? I do not have the colored grout (bought condo new). Thanks!
Peter_Hotton: dr: a 1-inch void is huge! Yes, you can use caulking, but it will be a jury rig at best.
Ted__Guest_: Peter, I have a family room that is difficult to cool with HVAC and heat in the winter. The AC contractor suspects that there is insufficient insulation in this room. The room is an mid-80s addition with cathedral ceilings. Do I have to remove the plaster and replace the insulation. Another fact, the roof is aluminum with a roof vent but no sofit.
Peter_Hotton: Ted: Consider reducing the cubic footage of the air in the room. Lower the ceiling by half. That say you will still have a cathedral ceiling feeling.
Peter_Hotton: OK, boys and girls, it is time. I enjoyed this one, but I am very hard to put down anyway. See yoiu next week. And my email is photton@globe.com