On fixing sink stains, sink dents, and asphalt-driveway sink holes
Q. In my 2-year-old house, copper water pipes are required by code. Now, I am getting green stains on sinks and showers, and green rings at the water level in the toilets, caused by the copper. Iron-Out did nothing. What can I use?
RANDY DRISCOLL
East Grand Forks, Minn.
A. I was going to suggest Zud or Lime-Away, but since you said Iron-Out did not work, the others won't, either.
Bleach might work. Or, cut a lemon in half, sprinkle salt on the flat part and rub on the stain.
If all else fails, try this: Wet the stain with hydrogen peroxide, then sprinkle lots of cream of tartar or whiting on the wet stain. Leave for several minutes, then scrub and rinse. For the ring around the toilet, turn the water off and flush to remove water from the bowl, then treat the ring.
Q. I inherited a stainless-steel sink, but when I installed it in the counter, a heavy weight I used to hold it down during installation fell in the sink, creating four dents. They are not deep, less than 1/8 inch. Is there an easy way to tap them out? I thought of heating the steel with hot water and tapping out the dents with a ball peen hammer, with a heavy backer plate on the other side. Would that work?
AL FRONZ, Walpole
A. I doubt it, but it is the only thing you can do yourself that might work. You run the risk of making more little dents as you pound out the original.
The alternatives: Live with the dents, or take the sink to an auto body shop to see what those folks can do.
Q. I had my asphalt driveway repaved to correct a flooding problem, but not long after the work was done, a sink hole 10 inches across and 12 inches deep appeared in the asphalt. I filled it with asphalt and now there is a slight depression where the sink hole was. Can I fill that small depression? Also, sealing a driveway: What is it and why do it?
BETSY AMSEL, Georgetown
A. If you can live with the slight depression, do so. It might get worse because the asphalt filler you used was not compacted enough. If you want to fill it, cut out the hole to 3 or 4 inches deep, with vertical sides to the hole. Fill the hole with cold patch, an asphalt concrete sold as Sakrete in hardware stores. Overfill the hole so the patch material mounds up an inch or so. Put a piece of plywood on the mound and drive your car over it several times. Remember the old steam rollers that rolled on new ashalt before diesel power took over? Your car is the steam roller.
Driveway sealer is a tar emulsion, and seals the driveway and makes it look pretty. It is 95 percent cosmetic, so you don't have to do it. Trying to make asphalt look pretty is, in my opinion, a waste of time and money.
Q. I'd like to install Mexican tile as a border on my kitchen walls, but they have no spacer lugs. How can I keep them separated to create a grout space? How should I glue them on? I don't want to use grout.
JOHN THOMPSON, Cambridge
A. First things first: It is not OK to install tiles without grout. Some tiles are installed with caulking, but I don't think that works very well. Groutless tile would not look good, especially with Mexican tile, which is often somewhat uneven.
To space the tiles, insert one or two Popsicle sticks, or other thin wood, between each tile. Put up the tiles with thin-set mortar, an excellent adhesive. You can use this thin-set for the grout, as well. The thin-set mortar sets quite slowly, so you have to hold each tile in position for several minutes; otherwise the tile will sag. To make it easier, nail or secure a board at the bottom of the tile position so each tile will sit on the board, not needing to be held.
You can put the thin-set in the joints while you are installing the tile, or wait until the next day. For wall tile, a sandless grout is best.
Handyman on Call Peter Hotton is available 1-6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions on house repair. Call in your questions to 617-929-2930. Hotton also chats on line about house matters from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursdays. To participate, go to www.boston.com. Hotton's email is photton@globe.com.
