How to fix chipped bathroom sink; subway gives house the shakes
Q. My 35-year-old bathroom sink is chipped quite a bit. Would reglazing work? My friend's sink peeled in less than a year. Is there anything else I can do?
AL, Franklin, Va.
A. If reglazing fails, you have a big problem. But there are things you can do, a lot less costly, and while they only disguise the chips, they can work for years and can be redone. Whether the sink is porcelain (china), or porcelain enamel on cast iron, or fiberglass, appliance touch-up paint will work. It is oil-based and thick and comes in a small bottle with the brush in the cap. Apply one coat, let dry for several days before sanding with an emery cloth. If the chip is extra deep, apply two or more coats. Sand smooth. If the touch-up looks good, skip the sanding.
Q. My house shudders at night. The house was completely rebuilt 10 years ago after a fire, on the old puddingstone foundation. Anything wrong? The subway is two blocks away.
TOM, Jamaica Plain
A. Aha! That subway is the culprit, telegraphing its vibrations underground to your house and rattling the foundation. I have to think that the foundation can take it; even a heavier foundation would shake, rattle, and roar. You feel the shaking at night because all is quiet, while during the day the vibrations are dampened by ordinary family activities.
Q. I'm plannng to buy a new house. It has vinyl siding. Are there any concerns over the siding? That it will make the house too tight, that materials underneath will decay because of that tightness or because moisture is caught under it? Also, how do you find locally built modular houses? Are they worth the reduced cost of one as opposed to a stick-built house?
RICHARD HUSKINS, Medway
A. The only thing you should be concerned about is that vinyl siding is ugly. I also admit that it's a personal prejudice of mine. At least living in a vinyl house you don't have to look at it. Admittedly, some vinyl siding is good looking; I'm thinking of Cedar Impressions, which looks like painted cedar shingles. Like a lot of good things, it is expensive.
But the old bugaboos about vinyl siding that you mentioned are pretty well passe now. These things haven't occurred, or are treatable. Yes, you could get decay under the siding, but it is probably unlikely, especially if it is on a new house.
As for modular houses, if you have the property and the foundation, go for it. Construction is within local and state codes, and construction in the factory is under strict control, a good thing. The less expensive types are very simple, probably too simple for you, but everything improves when they get more elaborate and pricey.
Q. I'm getting a lot of tiny bugs in my house, mainly around windows. A man looked at them and thought they might be beetles. How can I get rid of them, and how can I keep them away?
CONCERNED
A. For starters, I don't think there's cause for concern. The man's probably right they're beetles, because there are more beetles in the world than any other critter. In fact, I think there are at least 350,000 species of beetles, with many more yet to be found. They're small enough to be lady bugs, or more correctly lady beetles. They're beneficial, so sweep them up and toss them outdoors. Some will be back, but just keep up the good work.
Q. My dehumidifier in the cellar collects about a gallon a day. It works well enough, but I'm getting a little tired of lugging the water up the cellar stairs every day. Then my grandson took pity on me and suggested I drill a small hole, just half an inch, in the floor and stick the drain pipe in that. Does that make sense?
BARRINGTON, R.I.
A. A brilliant idea. Your grandson deserves the bronze Handyman Medal, if there is such a thing. While it may be illegal to put a drain in a garage floor, I doubt if there's any taboos on holes in a cellar floor. After all, how may holes do we have in cellar floors in the form of sumps? Go for it.
Your grandson is like the boy in an old story of a big rig trapped under a bridge. As police and wise engineers gathered to figure what could be done to release the trapped rig, the boy said, "Please, sir, why don't you try . . ." "Go away, kid, and don't bother us wise men." The boy persisted, and finally the wise men said, "OK, what's your idea, kid?" And the boy replied, "Take air out of each tire until the rig is freed." And lo, they did just that, and the rig was freed.
The Globe Handyman on Call also appears in the Globe's Real Estate section on Sundays. Peter Hotton is available 1-6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions on house repair; call 617-929-2930. Hotton chats online about house matters 2-3 p.m. Thursdays. To participate, go to Boston.com. Hotton can be reached at photton@globe.com
