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Handyman on call: Cracks in ceramic floor tiles
Q. We discovered hairline cracks in the ceramic floor tiles in my 3-year-old house. The longest crack runs from the living room (eight tiles) in a straight line to the adjacent breakfast room (three) tiles. The grout is also cracked. If we replace the damaged tiles, will the new ones crack, too? (The house is built on a slab.)
Handyman on call: Outside caulk is not worth it
Q. We were told to caulk around doors and windows for energy efficiency. I found that there is no caulking outdoors, and I think it would look bad on my natural shingled Cape. Is it possible that I don’t need it?
Pointers on repointing a roof
Q. When re-roofing, what should be done first: repointing the chimney where it comes through the roof, or putting on the new shingles?
Handyman on call: some a/c advice, minus the tech-speak
Q. We own a three-family house and occupy the first-floor apartment, which has its own forced hot air furnace; a separate furnace serves tenants on the second and third floors. Last fall our plumber replaced our 28-year-old gas furnace with an American Standard Freedom 95 gas furnace. He asked if we wanted him to install a coil that would allow ...