Handyman On Call chat with Peter Hotton

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sammywhite: The previous owner of my house left two satellite dishes on the roof. I want to take them down but need a plan for sealing up the holes left in the roof by their removal. How would you handle this one? Thanks.

Peter_Hotton: SAMMYWHITE AND ALL: Happy holidays and all that from hotton and his motley zoo. Today's critter is the reindeer. Good transport as well as tasty (oops!). OK, for Sammywhite, If the holes are less than 3 or 4 inches in diameter, you can buy some asphalt shingles of the same color as the ones on the roof and slip them in place where they must go. It is a good idea to take out the entire shingle where the hole is, and replace it with a full sized shingle. This is definitely possible and you will understand what is needed. Once each shingle is in place, you can nail under the lower edge with galvanized shingle nails.

MaryZ: Hello - can you please help us with this question: what would cause a running water noise in a home every 20 minutes all day, that last for 3-5 seconds, then the noise turns off?

Peter_Hotton: MaryZ: It that intermittent flow of water might be the boiler system refilling itself. Or, sometimes e toilet will leak a little due to a faulty fit of the ball or flapper covering the outlet in the toilet tank. The boiler system refilling itself is a normal thing, but the leaking toilet is not. If it is the toilet leaking, you can try adjusting the flapper so it fits properly into the outlet. It can be fixed, and if you cannot, a plumber can.

MaryZ: Hello - I submitted the question on the water running sound every 20 mins lasting 3-5 seconds then turning off.... Should I stay logged on past 2pm in case Mr. Hotton can answer the question?

Peter_Hotton: Already answered. And I think you can stay beyond 2 p.m.; I certainly do on occasion.

Really___Now: Peter: Happy Holidays. We have a fiberglass bathroom shower which has become faded and discolored. I was going to ntry to go to a marine supply store to get some fiberglass cleaner. Do you have a better suggestion. Also therer is mold and mildew under the showers glss door frame which is impossible to get at. How can we clean that?

Peter_Hotton: Really Now: Any high quality detergent will clean fiberglass. So will the so-called super cleaners work. But first try smearing white shaMPOO ALL OVER THE surface, leave it for an hour, then scrub and rinse. Or, use Clean Shower. Several daily applications will be necessary, but it can work. Also, try the new Mr. Clean eraser, a semi-dry sponge.

Aja1: Hi Peter, our house has the original "dogs" that shutters hung on ...however, the shutters are gone and now there are vinyl one screwed to the siding. Where would one get real shutters, either old or replicas, I think they look so nice. Thanks!

Peter_Hotton: AJA1: Try the Brosco Catalog. Go to an independent lumber store and ask to see the Brosco catlog. The store can order shutters for you.

JT: Hi Peter! What's your thoughts on asbestos? Leave it alone, or get rid of it? We have it in vinyl floor tile and pipe insulation, both in good condition.

Peter_Hotton: JT: The vinyl asbestos floor tile can be left alone; it also can be covered with anything you like. The pipe insulation I assume is covering seam pipes. If intact it is safe, but it also can encapsulated by professionals.

jeff: Peter, is it just you and me today? I don't have any questions. But have a Merry Christmas

Peter_Hotton: Jeff: Thank you for the good wishes. Actually there are quite a few questions and answers already up. I dunno why you cannot see them. Check with Boston.com.

mdr: Peter, I do not have a question and was just here lurking to see what others were asking. Since no one is asking questions, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and thank-you for all of your great help.

Peter_Hotton: mdr: And to you, a heartfelt thanks.

JT: I think my question may have gotten lost. How do you feel about asbestos - leave it alone or get rid of it? Our basement has vinyl floor tile and pipe insulation with asbestos. Both are in good condition.

Peter_Hotton: JT: Your question, with the answer, is already posted. Other people seem to have the same trouble, so call Boston.com to see what the hell they are doing again.

Joe: Main Support Beam. I am looking to buy a new house. Two of the houses I have looked at have the same condition. The main beam across the basement lally columns does not rest on the little shelf made out of the concrete foundation. Is that normal.

Peter_Hotton: Joe: No, that is not normal; the beam might have shrunk when it dried out and pulled itself out of the beam pocket. You could splice a a short beam to fit into the socket. Or put a Lally column under the beam as close to the wall as possible. An inspector might spot this and require the owner to fix it. The owner should indeed fix it. The idiot spell checker does not even know that a Lally column is a legitimate word; look it up.

sammywhite: The previous owner of my house left two satellite dishes on the roof. I want to take them down but need a plan for sealing up the holes in the roof left behind by their removal. How would you handle this one? Thanks.

Peter_Hotton: sammywhite: yuur question and answer was the first on the list posted.

Joe: In a new house I am looking at to purchase, there is a crack across the width of the garage floor, and it slopes downward toward the garage door. Should the builder fix this or pour a new concrete garage floor.

Peter_Hotton: Joe: The builder did right. he does not have to redo anything. Cracks in concrete floors are natural, even in floors that are reinforced with rebars. And it is good that the floor slopes a little toward the door. This will allow any wer to flow down toward the door, and if it piles up against the door, open it.

Joe: While inspecting two different new construction homes, I noticed that they both have gas vents from the boiler & water heater on the outside of the house, directly under the kitchen windows. The CO and gas smell can go right into the window above the vent. Can the vents be extended upward past the windows.

Peter_Hotton: Joe: I don't think those vents (power vents, I assume) can be curved to come out over the windows. They should be moved, and in my opinion, they must be moved. People don't often think do they?

Joe: I am looking at a new construction house to buy.

Peter_Hotton: Joe: I would not buy any hosue trhat has a power vent under a window. It might not make a big difference, but it simply does not make sense when the window is 0pen.

Really___Now: Peter: One of toilets is causing a loud pipe clunk sound when refilled. What causes that and is it fixable?

Peter_Hotton: Really___Now: THE SHUTOFF IT SHUTTING OFF too hard. A plumber can fix it. If the toilet is brand new, the installer should fix it. It is not a natural occurrence since the other toilet is not doing it.

Joe: I am looking at a new construction house. The attic only has R-30 insulation. The government recommends R-49 in the attic in New England. Should the developer ad more insulation.

Peter_Hotton: Joe: You can add 6 inches or demand the builder do it. But I think the government's suggestions are only recommendations, not a rule or law. The added insulation will, indeed, make some bit of improvement.

ron: Butt ends of 5/16" prefinished floor boards (3-4 pairs, not together) have darkened due to water spill; wiil some kind of wood bleach remove or blackened areas or need I remove the stapled boards?

Peter_Hotton: ron; bleach will lighten the boards so they can be refinished. But you have to remove the finish in order for the bleach to penetrate the wood.

sammywhite: Thanks zookeep! If things are slow I'll go ahead and ask another....Our kitchen cabinets are painted white and are in serious need of some touching up. If I find some motivation after the holidays I may try to strip all the old paint off and start from scratch. Where would you start...chemicals, heat gun, sanding?

Peter_Hotton: sammywhite: Thanks for the moniker. If the cabinets are in reasonable shape, and there are not too many coats of paint on them, why botehr to strip? It should suffice to sand moderately to reduce gloss and roughen the finish, then apply an enamel undercoater and finish with whatever you want. If you do want to remove the paint use chemical for the cabinets in situ and take off doors and drawer front and use a hot air gun. Use the hot air gun outdoors or in a well ventilated basement workshop or a garage. The heat is very high but it will do a good job, and the work is very neat; you can scrape off the softened paint and by the time it falls to the floor, it has dried out and is very crisp, and easily cleaned up. Don't use the hot air gun on the cabinets; it is far too dangerous to use indoors.

Peter_Hotton: OK, denizens, time to go. We will see you the day after Christmas. The old keeper will be there. My email is still photton@globe.com And Merry Christmas, happy new year, Happy Hannukah and other good holidays to you all.