Boston.com / Your Life

jotess 01:57PM	I had a question regarding the product called Bondo for some moisture that has rotted the outside of a sill on a big window in the front of my house. The painter wants to use it and I would like the wood replaced with wood. What is your opinion?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:05PM	Hello, boys and girls, and alal the ships at sea, and also jotess: time to go to work. and for jotgess, the Bondo is OK to use, more or less, but a Minwax wood rot rfiller would bebetter. Bondo is good, but my firiend alan hill, a restoration architect, says bondo tends to shrink, whiule the wood rot filler will not. when push comes to shove, it may be better t o put new wood in, but if the decdayed area is lismted, then the wood rot filler is ok.
mr. magoo 02:06PM	kitchen casement crank out window, on 2+ yr old house, easily cranks out left window but right window binds... once it is open all is well. Does this window have any 'alignment' shims or similar. Any reason why this might be happening
jotess 02:06PM	BONDO for repairing an outside sill, is it ok? Thank you
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:07PM	mr. magoo: the window is binding because it iprob;ably has swollen from moisture intake; that is, if it is wood. you could plain off the sticking sides, then prime and aint t keep moisture out if the window is vinyl, it is simply too tight, and the installer should deal with it.
CYCLONE 02:08PM	Hi Everyone - Mr Hotton - still having a problem with the cellar. We don't get water, however, we get this powdery dust where the water main comes in. You suggested ventilating the cellar. I have done this daily with no luck. My husband tried some cement sealing paint but the dust broke through that. I think you said it is sort of like lime dust. Any other suggestions you can give us? I can't stand that darn dust. Thanks in advance and HAPPY 4th to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:10PM	cyclone: the powdery dust is eflorescence, which is leaching of lime out of the concrete by water. there is little yu ocan do about it. brush it off or wash it off with detergent and water. it will come back. oening windows for ventialtion will help, it already has but yu don't know it. but it will prevent the efflorescence. to reduce mositure even more, you can installa dehumidifier, but this must work in still air.
al 02:11PM	My forced hot water oil furnace needs to be replaced. I have the option to go gas or get a new oil furnace. I don't have gas going into my house so it'd require the gas people to come in an do some pipe work to bring the line into my house. Since the gas company is running a special on their piping installation then both furnaces would cost me about the same price including installation. Can you recommend which is better? and safer? thanks!
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:13PM	Al: the gas company has been running specials for years in their attempt to sell you gas. this is OK, but you must be aware that gas is more expensive than oil, therm for therm. therefore, stick with oil. one is not better than thje other, and some people will say that gas is not as safe as oil, bujt i think this is a minor concern. if i were to do it, and i have, stick with oil.
wet_basement 02:13PM	My basement has started to get damp on heavy rains...it is not bad..but the bottom cement corner wall is all wet and same as the floor nearby. Since i don't have any windows in that part of my basement (which also happens to be my garage) it doesn't dry as quickly so in the morning I've been opening the garage door and with fan I've been able to dry up the damp cement floor....How can i prevent the water from flittering through the cement wall....thanks!
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:17PM	wet basement: i sounds as if the waer is comeing in at the joint between foundaiton and floor, from water that is under the slab and is under pressure. the cure there is to install a french drain, a drain pipe unde =r the floor around the innder perimeter of the wall., leading to a sump (hole in the floor) and a pump t pump it away it also could be ordinary condensaiton, which woujld be cured by moroe ventialtion. put some vents in the foundaiton or get some air circulating ion the basement. do this firrst, and yuou might luck out
Amy 02:18PM	Hi! I need to repaint the white siding on my Cape cottage i just bought. The wood is in good condition, but the paint is peeling off in large chunks. It should be easy to strip off, but what the best way to repaint it?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:22PM	Amy: The best thing to do is remove every trafde of paint and then apply a semitransparent stain; only one coat is needed and it will last for 7 years. it will not peel. if you cannot get all the paint off, sand off as much as practicable and then apply two thin coats of A SOLID color latex stain. it can peel, but will resist peling more than paint will. incidentally, you cannot get white in a semitransparent stain; the lightest semitransparent stain is a light gray.
kc 02:22PM	Peter, how can I get latex paint off of wallpaper?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:24PM	kc: you cannot get latex paint off wallpoaper. i assume you mean the paper was painted with latex paint. if you want to put up wallpaper you can put it over the old paper or take everyhting off and start from scratch.
MiceAintNice 02:24PM	Hello Peter, What's the best method for trapping mice? Any particular strategies for trap location? My wife says the mice go or I go!
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:26PM	micain't nice. you can use any number of trraps, lodcating them in the basement or in corners and behind fridges and other appliances. snap traps are human, sticky traps are not, asome say. better yet, use D-con in strategic places, and keep the d-=con from pets, kids and other human beings.
tatiana 02:27PM	My mother has a problem with squirrels who have gotten into one of her eaves and are living in the attic/walls. What is the best way to get rid of them?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:28PM	tatiana: you mom's best bet is to hire an exterminator or a nuisance animal person to take the animals out and then seal the oenings were they are coming in. they are not cute.
bdemon 02:29PM	Hi Peter. what do you recommend to fill a gap, approx. 3/4" between a hardwood floor and a steel door threshhold. The depth is the same as the hardwoor flooring. Seems a bit much for caulking?? Thanks.
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:29PM	bdemon: Cut a strip of oak 3/4 inch wide and slip in int the spot and nail it. finish it t match the hardwood.
becky 02:31PM	We have a beautiful cast iron clawfoot tub which we would like to install during out basement renovation. It has about 50 TINY rust spots on the bottom of the inside, otherwise it looks great. Rather than refinish the entire inside (at $3-400), any ideas on how to remove the rust? THANKS!
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:34PM	becky: you can remove the rust spos by cutting a lemon in half, pouring salt on hone half ZAnd rubbing the spots with this half lemon. they will come back when the tube is filled. a poermanent cure, with luck, is to paint the inside with epoxy, which is what the regalzers will do. the finish must be sanded heavily and sanitized for the epoxy to work. you are better off having it reglazed.
steve 02:34PM	Hi Pete, I need to stain my deck soon. I use a water proofing product. Is it necessary to stain the underside of the deck as well, or is the top surface just ok? Thanks
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:35PM	Steve: Seal the top; that should be enough.
Faye 02:35PM	When hanging a dining room light fixture, what would be the recommended distance between the table and the bottom of the fixture?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:37PM	Faye: Generally, leave 30 to 36 inches between bottm of chandelier and table. the bulbs should be at eye level while you are standing.
handy?-not!! 02:37PM	Any recommendations about sealing a driveway that is approx 1-yr old? Any product better than the next?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:37PM	Faye: Generally, leave 30 to 36 inches between bottm of chandelier and table. the bulbs should be at eye level while you are standing.
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:38PM	handy? etc. no need to seal a driveway. it is 95 percent cosmetic and in my opinon is a waste of money and effort. jennite is probably the bewet of the sealers.
CT 02:38PM	What can I do about painted cement front steps? Once you paint it it looks bad without constant paint -- anyway to remove the paint?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:40PM	CY: You have to remove all the painot with chemical paint remover ( amiserable job), then use a concrete stain. it will not peell muralo makes a concrete stain in many colors. if yu can get all the paint off, don't boither with the stain if the concrete looks ok.
becky 02:40PM	We would like to install some ceiling fans. We do have lights where the fans would go. Is this REALLY a do it yourself job, or do I need to hire a professional?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:41PM	Becky: The only thing needed for a ceiling fan is a special box made only for ceiling fans. after that, it is a relatively easy job. if yuo have to ask, i suggest you get an alectrician.
CYCLONE 02:42PM	One last question. We have a very old house 90+, with a 3 season porch. when it rains the very old solid wood door swells causes the bottom of the door to stick. when it's dry and door won't stay shut. the hubby has shaved down the bottom of the door and it helps - but when it rains again it seems the door swells up even bigger. i don't want to get rid of the door b/c it has so much character. any advise.
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:42PM	Becky: The only thing needed for a ceiling fan is a special box made only for ceiling fans. after that, it is a relatively easy job. if yuo have to ask, i suggest you get an alectrician.
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:44PM	cyclone: Cut more off the door, and in very dry weather, reoaint the bottom edge to try to keep moisture out. you simply did not remvoe enough of the bottom. painting will help keep moisture out, which is what is swelling the door. oyou might want to do this in dryer weather, as in the fall.
Ginny 02:44PM	What can I put on the bottom of my kitchen oak chairs - they are scraping on the ceramic floor. We have tried plastic and felt, nothing works. Thanks!
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:46PM	Ginny: You xai you tried plastic on the bottomzx of your chairs; i do not know wht yu mean by plastic, but I have used the nylon buttons on my chairs, and they work vry well on the ceramic. by scrapaing on the ceramic tiles, i presume yu mean they are scratching the tile. the only8 recourse there is to put down a carpet.
Homebrewa 02:46PM	Hi Peter, Thanks for the forum. My 7-yr. old colonial has exterior trim that is peeling/flaking badly, even tho' the house was painted 2 years ago. I've been told by an inspector it's related to my basement kneewall (walk-out basement) insulation -- unfaced batt w/ heavy plastic nailed over it -- insulation and wood are black with mold. does that sound plausible to you? The exterior peeling doesn't go above the first floor level. Thanks!!
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:49PM	homebrewa: The insualtion and wood in the basement is black with mold befcuase thee is moisture present. get rid of the insulation and treat the wood with one art bleach and three parts water. wear skin and eye roteciton when workiong with bleach. the absement must be venmtialted. open all windows for corss-ventialtion, and put an exhaust fan in one of the windows. on very humid days, as in july anda gust, close all windows and p0ut in a dehumdiifier. alkl this is not causing the paint to peel on the trim. it is moisutre from inside the house that is pushing he paint off. one solution is to sand off all paint, or as much as will come off with vigorous sanding, and apply two thin coats of a solid color latex stain.
hondo 02:50PM	Peter - I am interested in putting an addition on my home. The addition would be a family room with a master suite above. We currently have a 3 bedroom septic and would we would like to not have to get a new 4 bedroom one. question 1 - if we convert one of the bedrooms to an office, is that suffice for a building inspector? Question 2 - While I know it varies, what can I expect to pay per square foot for an addtion?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:52PM	I think you can get the office idea past the inspector, but i am not convince yu have to. a three-bedroom septic tank should handle four. an addition would probably cost $100 per square foot.
oldfarmhouse 02:53PM	Hello Peter ... I have several old dressers which are a dark wood (maple ???). The problem is that when I store something in them for a period of time, they get "stinky". I've looked the pieces over well and find no mold, mild, etc. but clothes stored come out smelling like an "old trunk". Any suggestions short of leaving my clothes in piles outside the dressers as I currently do !!! Thanks !!!!
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:56PM	old farmhouse: the small in those dressers is sort of a hcemical smell, and is typiecal of old wood cabinets. try this:P tret all inside and unpainted surfaces with a solution of one part bleach and three parts water. wear skin and eye protection when working with bleach. if that does not work, spray all inside surfaces with febreze, a deodaorant. if that doesn't work, paint all unpainted surfces with two coats of a water based polyurethane varnish.
Jimmy Buffett 02:56PM	I spilled stain on my TREX deck - short of sanding the TREX can I get the stain off?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 02:57PM	jimmy buffet: sand it off.
new@this 02:58PM	we have very dark cabinets in the kitchen. def not wood, a bit shiny, more of a particle board type material (like those cheap entertainment stands). can we paint them? any suggestions?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 03:00PM	new@this:: so am i, new at this stuff. but we will stick to it. it sounds as if your cabinets are convered with formica (laminated plastic). yu can paint them, but yu have to sand them heavily to reduce gloss and roughen the finihs. then apply a latex enamel undercoater and finsh with two coats of a high gloss or semigloss or eggshell finish latex wall paint. it is iffy, but with luck it can work.
scoleman 03:00PM	Peter, I just put up beadboard in my dining room but unforunately there are some small gaps, < 1/8 inch. Can I fill these with caulk or anything else? Thanks.
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 03:02PM	Scoleman: if youi painti the beadboard, then put in cauliing and smooth it off. any other color, including a natural or stained finish, will be difficult to match to a caulking. i don't think there should be a gap.
pep1332 03:03PM	I have a screened in porch on the back of my house with a mahogoney floor. The mahogoney has faded and discolored in areas where the rain come in. Is there anything I can do to remove the water stains and seal it from happening again?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 03:05PM	pep1332: if the mahogany dloor is not finished in any way., apply a semitransparent house stain of the color of your choice.. It will be water resistant and will look good for several years, arter which you apply another single coat.
EddieLasVegas 03:08PM	Hi Peter....how'd you enjoy your Boston Harbor cruise last Sunday?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 03:09PM	EddieLasVegas? How'd you kn0w!!! That is scary.
fred 03:10PM	can you stain over paint?
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 03:11PM	Fred: One more answer, and the qwuesitons are getting screwy. But not yours. you can apply a solid color latex stain over paint, but not a semitransparent stain.
Peter Hotton (Moderator) 03:13PM	To all you lovers and sons and daughers and ships a sea. gotta go now. i don't thnk i will try ptown this weekend. got lots to do at home. see yu next week, and as usual you can reach me at photton@Globe.com