Wood's the choice for doors, storms

Q. I have to buy a new front door with a storm. I love wood, but I don't think I can afford it. Should I get fiberglass, wood, or steel? And what kind of storm is best?

NOT WARM ENOUGH

A. Don't give up on wood. You might find it is affordable, especially if you need only the door itself, not door, frame, and all. Fiberglass is very good, and very stable, but price might be a problem. Fiberglass can be painted or stained. Forget steel. Steel doors are the cheapest and look it. Go to a lumber dealer and ask to see the Brosco catalog, which shows hundreds of wood doors in all shapes, sizes, and styles: Mahogany, oak, pine, and fir. They can be trimmed to fit and can be primed and painted, or stained.

As for storm doors, go for wood again. They're in the Brosco catalog. They too can be stained or painted. And wood storms can be trimmed on sides, tops, and bottoms. All doors can be weatherstripped, and door closers can be installed on wood storms. Take your pick and order.

Q. I was able to remove most of a Super Glue spill from my Formica counter but it left a shiny spot. Is there a solvent for Super Glue that will remove that shiny spot?

UNWANTED SHINY SPOT

A. I don't know if it will remove the shiny spot, but Duro Super Glue Remover (Woodhill), in hardware stores, is worth a try.

Q. When I replaced two toilets, the new bases were smaller than the old ones, and left a rather dirty area around the toilet that shows on my whitish vinyl floor. How can I clean it?

DARNED SPOT!

A. Try scrubbing with a Brillo or SOS pad, or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Or, dip steel wool in paint thinner and rub. It will probably clean up but if it leaves a yellow stain, that stain is probably impossible to remove.

Q. I had a nest of mice under the fiberglass insulation in my basement ceiling. I pulled the insulation down to keep the mice from nesting, but now I have no insulation. What should I do?

PAT FOURAKER, Brookline

A. You could leave the joists empty, but insulation on the basement ceiling is still important to save heating fuel. So, buy a rigid insulation such as Styrofoam or Thermax, cut it so it fits snugly but not tightly between joists, and push it up until it touches the ceiling, leaving no room for mice to nest in. You will need three or four layers to reach the R value that the fiberglass provided. If there are wires or pipes in the way, cut the insulation to fit around them. The next layer will probably clear any obstructions. When everything is in place, drive small nails into the joists to hold up the insulation.

Q. I have the same problem one of your callers had with roof water splashing on foundation plants and soiling the siding. I too do not have gutters. What is the best thing to use to stop the splashing? A concrete apron is not going to work for me.

CAROL LASER, Proctor, Vt.

A. Buy AstroTurf or any grass look-alike that has deep pile. The dripping rain will hit this deep pile and it will go phlumph, and stay put.

Globe Handyman on Call Peter Hotton also appears in the Sunday Homes Section. He's available 1-6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions on house repair. Call 617-929-2930. Hotton (phottonglobe.com) also chats on line about house matters 2-3 p.m. Thursdays: Go to www.boston.com