Handyman on Call chat - Oct. 12, 2006

curly: how do you remove the film build up on glass shower door?
Peter_Hotton: Hi, Curly and all the ships at sea. Welcome to hotton's zoo. And wht is the zoo denizen today: Beats the heck out of the handyman, but let us mention the chipmunk, a lowly, harmless rodent that people seem to be hysterical about. OK, to Curly6, to get rid of the soap scum, make a mix of half a cup of ammonia in a qurt of warm water and wash the glass with this solution. Use lots of ventilation.

Andy: There is moss growing on the north side of our new brick steps. I don't mind the look, but I am wondering if the moss growth can cause the bricks to deteriorate. If you do recommend removal, what is the best way? Thanks for your help.
Peter_Hotton: Andy: does that moss have a thickness, like a llittle shrub? If so it is indeed, moss, and yu can leave it because it will not hurt the brick or mortar for many years. You can scrape it off with a wide putty knife. If it is simply a green stain, with no thickness, it is algae, and it too will not hurt the brick or mortar, but you can remove it with a solution of one part household bleach and three parts water. Scrub th stain with a bristle brush and repeat with the bleach/water solutilon. Wear skin and eye protection when working with bleach.

handy: i have unsightly black stains on my basement cement floor (smoothly finished) - I was told it was mold, but I cleaned the entire floor with a bleach/water combination and the stains remain - any suggestions?
Peter_Hotton: handy: when you say the stains remain, did they go away when you used the bleach solution and then come back, or never went away? If the stains never went away, they are dried water stains. If you do not use the basement for living space, ignore the stains.

gambit: we just installed radiant heat and are trying to decide which hard wood floors are ok to lay over the tubes. Any suggestions welcome!
Peter_Hotton: gambit: Any hardwood will do. Just be careful with the nailing or attaching in any way. In fact, any softwood will do, too.

violet: Hi, Peter -- How difficult is it to install an air vent in a bathroom? I have an older house (1896), and as far as I can tell, this bathroom has never had an airvent? Do I need to do this? And if so, should I call in the pros?
Peter_Hotton: violet: If the bathroom has a window, you do not have to install an exhaust fan exhausting to the outside (not an air vent as you call it). It ain't easy, requiring you to cut a hole in the ceiling and putting a duct between the ceiling joists to the outdoors, then installing a fan. If you want one (and such a fan is good to exhaust water vapor from the bathroom), cll an electrcian.

Everett: Hi Peter, I've been living in the back bay for 5 years in a top floor condo that has a small sky light that leaks. Haven't been able to find anyone who will do a small job such as this - replacing it or fixing it. Can you suggest someone?
Peter_Hotton: Everett: You might try calling a roofer; one good one I know of is Jack Clifford of South Boston. Or, call Angie's List, an organization that will find you various kinds of contractors.

Tipper: Hi Peter. We have a brick planter attached to our brick-and-stone front steps. The planter has a long crack through the center, and the half that is furthest from the steps looks like it's leaning. Seems to me that if I dig down deep enough and put a lever under that side, perhaps a car jack, I can lift that side of the planter and put extra bricks or something under it to keep it from falling back down. That's my idea, but some of my other ideas have not gone quite so well, so I'd like your opinion. Thanks!
Peter_Hotton: Tipper: It is worth a try to shore up the sagging side of the plantder, but with a lot of earth in it it might not move back in to position when you shore it up. So, beforeexcavating, takeout all the earth in the planter.

Mellowmarsh: What is the best way to clean 16 year old hardwood floors in the kitchen area?
Peter_Hotton: mellowmarsh: Try cleaning the floor with paint thinner. Use lots of ventialtion when working with paint thinner. If this does not work, the floor will need refinishing.

lancevsall: Peter thanks as always for your insights. I am insulating a three season porch with the hopes of making it available full year. My question has to do with the ceiling. When I took down the ceiling to get more height I discovered rafters going across. A contractor friend said that I could cut these and reattach up several feet to gain more height. My question is where should the insulation up there stop? Thanks
Peter_Hotton: lancevsall: what you call rafters going across are actually ceiling joists, and they can go higher up, connecting to the rafters (the raftes are the slanted beams holding up the roof). If you put a ceiling on those joists, the insulation would go above that ceilng.

horace: Peter, is it necessary to replace old drywall/wallboard (or covering) with some sort of fire retardant sheet rock if rooms to be used as bedrooms? I have 70 year old house upstairs rooms seem to have cardboard type paper covering the wallboard. I want to make sure it is safe for my kids to sleep in the bedrooms.
Peter_Hotton: If the old finish is really plasterboard or wallboard which is also plasterboard), there is no need to put up anything else. 5/8 inch plasterboard is fire redardant. But smoke alarms and co detectors are the best protection for the kids.

BostonLou: hey mr zoo - I want to replace my Garage Door Opener ... it's chain driven.... DIY Project or do I call the Pros?? Thanks
Peter_Hotton: BostonLou: It is certainly a do-it-yourself job, but considering the need to take down the old and put up the new, I wold leave it to a pro.

swad13: I would like to reseal the driveway, but I have moss growing on parts of it. Can you please tell me how I can remove the moss from the driveway?
Peter_Hotton: swad13: I dunno where your question came from but i might as well answer it. If the moss has a thickness, scrape it off with a wide putty knife. Sealing the dirveway is about 95 percent cosmetic and to me is a waste of time and money.

BostonLou: You suggest Angie's List - I haven't found a reason to pay the fee they charge. Do you think they're reputable?
Peter_Hotton: Bostonlou: Every outfit is in the business to make a profit. But angie's lsit is reliable, I believe, as reiable as honest investigation can make it. I hzve referred a lot of people to it without a squawk.

Blondie: Hi Peter, How long after foundation is poured (for a garage and enclosed porch) does the builder have to wait before framing? Is there any risk in framing once weathergets colder? Onr related question: Is $15K a reasonable ballpark figure for a foundation (22X24 garage and 10x12 porch)?
Peter_Hotton: Blondie: 2 days after pouring is long enoujgh to start framing. Even the next day is OK, but an exta day is better. No risk in framing in cold weather, except to the workmen, mainly in comfort. $15K is reasomable for those two foundations.

joe_r: Hi Peter, I need to replace basement windows. Never done this before. The windows are very old, and need to go. do I simply take out the old windows, frame in (what type of wood?)the opening to match the size of the replacements, then nail them in? I'm sure I am forgetting something!
Peter_Hotton: joe_r: We always forget things. But here's the rule oin forgeting things. It is ok if you forget where you put your car keys, but it is not ok if yu forget what the keys are for. Anyway, if the windows are wood frame, jkust pry them out and check to see how they are secured. Then make sure the replacements fit thed open and can benailed in place. You may have to use bolts driven through the sides of the new window and into the concrete.

Mellowmarsh: If the paint thinner works on my 16 year old hardwood floors to get it clean, what do I use for regular maintenance after that?
Peter_Hotton: Mellowmarsh: More paint thinner, or regular cleanin with a wet Swiffer. Go easy with water.smilei want to paint my basement floor that has vinyl tiles, what do it use
Peter_Hotton: smile: Don't bother. live with the tiles until you are able to put new tiles over them.

Skip: Hi Peter, Awhile ago someone posted that they were going to use a rototiller to dig out their basement dirt floor. did theydo it and did it worK? I too have a dirt floor and a rototiller...
Peter_Hotton: skip: I for one never heard the note, but I would not do it with a rototiller. Hand digging is the only way, in my opinion.

january: hello! A worker on our roof noticed bat droppings near our dormer, and thinks there might be bats inside. Is it worth it for us to have them lured out, and have the entry sealed? My only concern with keeping it open is if one dies in there or something...there is no inside access to the attic of this dormer so it would be a big deal to get in there. Thanks!
Peter_Hotton: january: If there is no connection from this dormer to any part of the attic or house, then let the bats have their happy one. Any time you have animals anywhere, there is a risk of death, but that should be acceptable with the right attitude.

b-port: My son and his friend spraypainted "welcome" on the brick landing outside our front door. Nice greeting but have no idea if I can get rid of it! Any suggestions?
Peter_Hotton: b-port: You might be able to find anti-grafitti strippder. Or use chemical paint remover and a lot of hard work; elbow grease, that is, sold for $10 a pound at most stores.
Peter_Hotton: Gotta go, boys and girls. A nice session today, and anyone who missed can email me at photton@globe.com Enjoy the weekend and be nice to someone.