Linseed oil will last through the winter

Q. I am reglazing the windows in my ranch house. I applied linseed oil to all wood surfaces to prevent the dry wood from pulling oil out of the glazing compound. It's getting a little late to reglaze windows. If I wait till spring to put in the glass and reglaze, will I need to apply the oil again?

CURIOUS

A. The oil is pretty tenacious, so I think it will remain volatile until next spring. So there is no need to re-oil. One thought: While you hibernate and have nothing else to do, why not take one sash out at a time and reglaze it in the cellar or workroom?

Q. I am concerned about a greasy "splat" on my basement floor. It looks like spilled grease or petroleum, dark brown/black with a consistency of thinned molasses and innumerable tiny "splat" spots all around. This is an unfinished basement in a 20-year-old house. Directly above this area is my kitchen and the approximate location of my gas range. I am concerned about this potential hazard. What could it be? What might I do? Whom should I call? I can see the same black/brown greasy material soaking through the insulation in the ceiling above it. A copper pipe runs directly over the spot.

NANCY, by e-mail

A. Your problem with the splat on the floor is a real poser. Since the insulation is soaked with this black, greasy stuff, and there is a copper pipe running directly over the spot, I think that pipe, if it is quite small, is an oil line which may be leaking. Take down that oily insulation to expose the pipe to see if it is oily or broken. You mentioned you have a gas stove, which may indicate that you also heat by gas. But I am not sure. If that insulation has a paper backing, condensation of water vapor might have leached out some of the asphalt in the paper. The condensation may have been caused by water vapor condensing on the cool copper pipe. Does the splat smell of anything, such as fuel oil? Also, an oil leak soaked the insulation but did not fall on the floor until it developed into a glob big enough to drop and "splat" when it landed. If it is an oil line break, it can be a disaster when the heat comes on.

As for whom to call, call your oil dealer, if you use oil. Or a house inspector, or the town's building inspector.

Other than that, it beats the heck out of the Handyman. Does anyone have any idea of what is going on?

Q. In one corner of my bedroom the joint between walls is crumbling. What is the best compound to patch it, then paint? I want to fix it once and for all.

AMY, in Hotton's chat room

A. Joint compound is the best material to use in that crumbling plaster corner. I assume it is an inside corner, and it is not a matter of slapping on more compound. You must chip or dig out all the old compound, down to the plasterboard. Then apply compound on each side of the joint, smoothing it out with a wide putty knife. Then cut a paper tape (sold where the compound is sold), to the length of the joint, fold it into an L shape, and press it into the corner with the putty knife. Then apply thin coats of compound to cover the tape, smooth it out, let dry, add a second layer, let dry, and sand smooth. Then paint.

Globe Handyman on Call Peter Hotton also appears in the Sunday Homes section. Hotton's e-mail is photton@Globe.com