Home Sense
With Mike McClintock
Thursday, May 1, 2003; Noon ET
Have questions about how to keep your home fit and trim?
Home Sense columnist Mike McClintock is online every other Thursday at Noon ET to answer your questions about home building, remodeling, repairs and the wide range of home-consumer issues. If it has something to do with the place where you live -- from home security to the latest on appliances, energy-saving and a lot more -- just ask. Mike has the answers.
McClintock's column appears in the Post Home section every Thursday.
He is the author of 10 books, including "Alternative Housebuilding."
The transcript follows.
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over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Mike McClintock: hi again: first, another periodic apology for all the typos, but if I stopped to clean up the copy weÕd lose a lot of questions in the hour; thus the exchange of accuracy for speed.
And remember a few weeks back the posting about most visited house museums? If youÕre enclined to go, and donÕt love long lines and being treated like cattle, now could be the time, although many places have recently raised prices, which wonÕt exactly spur attendance (now $11 at Mount Vernon, $13 at Monticello and $37 for a day pass to Williamsburg): from a recent Post story:
Old Places, New Marketing (Sunday, April 27, 2003; Page A01)
Last year, Mount Vernon registered its lowest attendance since 1947, Monticello the lowest attendance since 1980 and Colonial Williamsburg the lowest since 1969.
A recent Travel Industry Association of America survey showed that among leisure travelers who changed their plans, 43 percent went somewhere closer to home. Vacationers are more interested in travel by auto or RV, staying within the United States and visiting small-town and rural areas, the survey found.
So enough of that and hereÕs the posting this week, followed up as usual with answers and some extra info end of hour.
HOMESENSEÑ ID THE CONTRACTORSÑ QUESTIONS
From an older but well known movie (and previous book) recently again on cable about cityfolk Cary Grant and Myrna Loy building a house in the country, can you match these scrambled names and professions?
Architect- John Retch
G.C.- Mr. Simms
Engineer- Mr. PeDelford
Well driller- Mr. Zucca
Excavator- Mr. Tesander
Painter- Joe Appollonio
--and getting to your questions
McLean, Va.:
Mr. McClintock,
I'm building a platform queen sized bed. What type of wood would you recommend to give the bed a "pottery barn" look. Price is a factor, but I'm willing to spend some dough. Also, where should I go for the wood? Thanks!
Mike McClintock: CanÕt pick you a lumber yard, but suggest that you stick with 3/4in veneer plywood, the choice of veneer allowing you to do almost anything from paint-grade birch to something exotic (and very pricey). Main thing is that the material has enough strength and stability for the pieceÑand comes in sheet sizes that you can cut to make single-piece side panels. Lumber in stock sizes (up to 1x12) often isnÕt wide enough to get you the elevation you need for the mattress platform.
Alexandria, Va.:
Mike,
I own an old (80 years) brick row house in Alexandria. In places, the mortar has weathered away or cracked and needs to be replaced. It seems like I remember reading (maybe in your column?) a few years ago that you can't use regular mortar mix on mortar that old, but that a special mix is necessary. Do you know of any truth to that? If so, where do I get the proper mix?
Thanks!
Mike McClintock: you can use any modern mortar (it's likely to be stronger than older mortar that is softer) but extra strength doesn't hurt; the trick is matching the color and texture, which is trial and error (on test patches until you get it right) you can add powdered colorant to get the hue right if needed, and for texture try stiking the joints (compressing and smoothing) at different times, waiting a bit loinger to get more surface texture
Arlington, Va.:
Hi! Just bought in Fairfax Cty, and I want to put up a 6-8' wooden fence in the back. No HOA to worry about, but how should I deal with neighbors, town/county, utilities to make sure I am following the rules? Thanks.
Mike McClintock: Uh, probably, don't you think? Mainly it's nice to give the neighbor a heads up, maybe do a deal about double facing, spltitting costs, etc.
Columbia, Md.:
I've got to paint an outside board fence and would appreciate any advice -- assume a brush will work better than a roller and that I need to put down a coat of primer first. Any tips on recommended paint or how to apply it? Thanks (there's a first time for everything I guess).
Mike McClintock: I would scrape and sand roughly as needed to get rid of flaking-- and then stain. Paint lies on the surface and protects for a while, then cracks and peels, Stain bleeds into the wood fibers and protects better, longer-- and as it wears away it does so gradually without big strips flakiong or peeling. Try a semi-transparent stain on a test patch to see if you like it.
Arlington, Va.:
About how much does it cost to add a bathroom to a first floor level? Our washer and dryer are nearby where we want to build so I know there is plumbing for water. We have one bedroom on this level, then two upstairs with a bath for each. Would a bath for the downstairs bedroom add enough resale value to our home to make it worth the price and effort?
Mike McClintock: Sounds like a good candidate for a 1/2 bath or small lav, maybe stall shower but maybe just basin and toilet. Costs vary wildly depending on fixtures, tile works andf many other factors; compteteive bids wwill tell the only story that matters
Charleston, S.C.:
I'm getting estimates on repairing the front porch tongue-in-groove flooring of an 80 year old home. We also want to screen in the porch. What are some things I need to be aware of?
Mike McClintock: Sounds simple but not really. For the boards, if a few need to be replaced, carpenters generally cut old one in two, split it out, pull the old nails, then cut the lip off the replacement and face nail it. Screens there are a lot of options from removable systems to probably the most expensive custom panels.
Mike McClintock: -- and where you are guess i would want to be sure that anything like screen frames would be protected from rot, which raises the possibility of vinyl or even aluminum
Clifton, Va.:
How difficult is it to lay granite 12"x12" tiles? Want to replace the oak floors in my entrance foyer with the granite. The area is approximately 5'x6'. I know I need to put down concrete backer board. How to I handle the threshold? Thanks
Mike McClintock: Not more than laying regular eramic, main job being planning the layout so you center up and leave atr least roughly equal partial cuts on the sides and edges. Backerboard and thinset, then you have to pick the grout. Without moving the door and casing, you pretty much have to run up to it and then caulk. Better option (more work of course) is to remove the old flooring so that the new layer is almost where the old one was.
Fairfax, Va.:
I'm a wreck, and I hope you can help. A handy-man removed the deck on my 50-year old house. He was going to put on a porch and steps, but he pointed out rot from water damage. He said the beam between the foundation and house is rotting and would probably need to be replaced. I asked him to hold off putting on the porch until I could talk to a contractor. Supposing he's correct, how is the beam replaced? It sounds costly.
Mike McClintock: Now, now; everything can be fixed, but if he's talkinmg about the main sill that can require some work. So first off you need a responsible contractor, then a look at the sill (often parts can be cut out, or even scraped out and repaired with epoxy fillers-- as opposed to full replacement, jacking up the wall and all that scary stuff. Then you need a porch design, plans and permits and away you go.
Richmond, Va.:
I'm looking at purchasing a house that is plumbed with polybutylene pipes. The seller is offering a $4000 concession to replace the pipes. Should I run away from this as fast as possible?
Mike McClintock: Get an estimate and see how the offer compares. Main drawback in these deals is that the seller says he'll repair things-- but he's leaving and doesn't have the best incentive. So a concession is the best approach, leaving you to do the work the way you want it done.
Fairfax, Va.:
I like your advise to the new resident in Fairfax City to check with the neighbors. I hope the resident checks with the city for restrictions on fences. My new neighbor put in a code-compliant UGLY fence in the front yard. People who know what street I live on ask where I live in relation to "the fence."
Mike McClintock: take a left at the burning car wreck, then a right at THE FENCE
Washington, D.C.:
What is your opinion on how dangerous mold is when you have infants?
Mike McClintock: It's so difficult to quantify-- to find what the epa and others call the "action threshold" but less mold is always better. I would go to the epa sites and start reading. In general if i saw more than the odd few grey-green spots in mid summer, i would be concerned and start planning steps to clean first, and reduce indoor humidity second
Derwood, Md.:
Mike --
My bathroom has a walk-in shower with ceramic-tiled walls and a glass sliding door. The shower floor is a one-piece plastic thing. Unfortunately, this plastic bottom thing hasn't held up very well.
I'd like to replace the floor but retain the tile walls since they're in nice shape. Could I take off the glass door, then slide the base out and slide in a replacement? Would that work? (I'm not sure how the drain would be disconnected then reconnected.) Any other ideas?
Mike McClintock: That would work about 2am or so when you're dreaming about home improvements. Afraid you would probably need to dislodge if not destroy at least some of the tile because all pans like that have an upper lip-- idead being that any water that gets behind the last/lower tiles gets onto the lip and then flows down to the drain. It's all doable, but a bit more work than just sliding out the old one.
Fence follow-up:
I think you may have missed a word: I didn't ask whether I should deal with neighbors, etc., I asked HOW I should deal with them. In other words, do you have any advice on which utility companies I need to call, and what zoning laws I should be worried about, or who I should call to figure these issues out? Maybe others have faced this? Thanks.
Mike McClintock: uh oh, now i'm doing typos reading. ASnyway, suggest the consult as before, and per the column in the paper today, check with the Miss Utility or One Call about the excavatioon. Also, there will be code restirctions, mainly about height you should check with the local bldg dept.
Clifton, Va.:
I have poly water pipes in my town hoouse with copper fittings at any bend. House in 11 years old and have not had any problems. Haven't seen a plumbing trucks in the neighborhood either in the almost 4 yrs I have been there.
Mike McClintock: Copper fittings at bends is unusual because you can't stick them and have to do adaptors.
Washington, D.C.:
I live in a home with an electric stove. How difficult would it be to convert to gas?
Mike McClintock: It's easy enough if there's gas in the house; not very easy if not as you have to run a line in from the stree main. Other option is LP, which works fine if you're far from the road.
Fairfax, Va.:
Help -- I've sprayed some "clear" wood sealer onto my aluminum siding -- whats the best way to get it off or do I have to repaint?
Mike McClintock: Look on the can for the solvent the mfg., recommends. If you can't find it, get hold of the mfg's MSDS (product data) which should include it-- or call or surf to gewt the mfg. Gewnerally, with a solvent, it's blottiong and lifting not to spread the problem around. Last resort being sanding (maybe steelwooling) and refinishing.
Wheaton, Md.:
How hard is it to sharpen a rotary mower
blade, at least enough so it won't chop
the grass and make it ragged-edged the
way it started to last season?
Mike McClintock: ItÕs certainly doable (moreso once you take off the blade-- check the ownerÕs manual and safety instructions), using either a small power grinder or a metal file. If you grind, keep the wheel moving so it wonÕt dig in. By hand, try to keep a regular overlap with your striokes, following the original cutting angle.
Two things to remember: before you remove the blade mark the orientation (sharp edge clockwise) so you donÕt reinstall it backwards; also, hang the sharpened blade on a nail to see if it balances. If you take too much material from one side it wonÕt balance and can cause problems at high speed. If it wonÕt balance (blades parallel with the ground) remove some metal from the heavy end of the blade instead of grinding more cutting edge.
Washington, D.C.:
I have a metal spiral staircase in my home. It has thirteen steps, each made of a cheap piece of wood covered in old carpet, which is then placed on top of each metal riser (which has no center). Anyway, I'd like to replace these with something non-carpet, like metal or wood or thick plastic or bullet proof glass. Do you have any recommendations as to companies that might install these types of steps? Thanks!
Mike McClintock: Problem finding precuts may be that only the stair mfg makes them to fit. Not so hard to do it in wood 13 times. Finding a bullet-proof glass might be touigh and raise a few eyebrows.
Fairfax, Va.:
Hi there. I'm in a bit of a panic over my master bath. There's a separate shower which was leaking, I thought, behind the grout. Had the tile taken out, cement backer board put in, retiled and now there is a crack in the grout where the stall meets the tile and water is running through the ceiling. Should I assume plumbing problems? Do they have to rip it all out to find the problem? Will homeowners insurance cover any of it? Thanks.
Mike McClintock: If you know it's leaking at that seam, scrape out the old stuff, let it dry and install a flexible, exterior-0grade caulk to see if you can stop it without doing major remodeling and repair work. Don't think home most insurance covers this, like a spill on the carpet and all. And what about the contractor who did the work making good?
Washington, D.C.:
Hi Mike. The window in my bathroom steams up significantly in the winter, and the water all runs down and collects on the sill. I have noticed that some of the wood is rotting around the caulk (and some of the caulk looks moldy). Is that something that can just be recaulked? Or is it something more serious?
Mike McClintock: Assuming that you can't reduce tghe humidity (you can but it might be a tad breezy in there for the winter) i would scrape down to bare wood, let everything dry, scrape away any wood rot, fill with epoxy as needed, then go with several coats of pigmented white shellac.
Washington, D.C.:
We want to tackle our deck: pressure washing and staining/sealing after having gotten a quote for more than $700 from a contractor. The deck is about 400 square feet with complicated two story stairs. Should we go with a pro, or can you recommend the best, most cost effective way we can do this ourselves?
Mike McClintock: Price doesn't seem bad for both pressure washing and refinishing. DIY is always cheaper, of course-- just take you a few days in the sun.
Watch out for high-end pressure washer setting "scrubbing" out soft wood and leaving an odd looking raised-grain effect.
Virginia:
New to the Waldorf, Md. area and new homeowner. Need to have part of driveway repaved and new driveway created/extended. Salt, sand, etc. from the tons of snow this winter ate away/caused cracks in some parts of the driveway. Need to find a contractor that works on driveways -- 10 feet wide in one spot, 16 feet wide in other, about 20 feet long. Have tried the yellow pages, better business bureau and neighbors. Nothing helpful. Most say they only work on commerial sites. Where else can I look? What else can I do? Thanks!
Mike McClintock: Aside from the several contract-referral websites, also try local material suppliers where these guys buy their stuff.
Falls Church, Va.:
The baseboard trim in the bedroom that is to become our nursery has some damage from where heavy duty phone lines used to be attached to it. How difficult is it to remove this trim, and install new? My husband is terribly unhandy so this would be done by a 5-month pregant woman and a handy friend with tools, including the proper mitre saw. Am I better off trying to repair the old? To repair the damage, it appears I would need to sand the paint down, and reprime and paint. Room is about 11x15.
Mike McClintock: Repairing what's there sounds like a winner hands down. Probably you'll need to do some light sanding, hole filling (water putty works pretty easily-- in two stages for deeper holes) maybe even some epoxy rebuild if sections are cracked off, then more sanding and basic painting.
Assuming on older house (pre mid 1960s or so) you would be checking for lead paint with a test-swab kit.
Washington, D.C.:
I'm considering putting in hardwoods in my kitchen, which currently has vinyl flooring. I heard that the hardwoods can be put in directly on top of the vinyl without removing the vinyl. What are your thoughts?
Mike McClintock: Floating floors (like pergo and others) will work over older styles you want to cover, and even some minor damage. But if the base is wavy or spongy, you generally need to rip it up and starighten out or otherwise beef up the subfloor.
Sterling, Va.:
When I turn on any water faucet, the main supply pipe in the basement rattles and whistles for about 5 seconds, then stops while the water continues to run. Any idea on what's going on?
Mike McClintock: Sounds like air in the line, not uncommon, often let in through faulty/older washers at fixtures that aren't making a complete seal. You can do the washers and check all the seals, or, as most people do, install an anti-hammer device, basically a shock absorber that at least dampens the effect of the air.
Rockville, Md.:
When I stand in my tub, the side of the tub on the opposite end from the faucet drops a tiny bit, and the caulking cracks. It takes about a month for new calking to crack, so it's not moving a whole lot, but just enough, apparently. What can I do so I can stop my monthly or so caulking job? I'm a little tired of it.
Thanks!
Mike McClintock: Can't think of a reasonable way to beef up the floor under the unit (it's obviously not strong enough) without taking out the shower, or the pan if there is one. Most likely scenario is that long-term leaks have rotted thew subfloor or worse at that end, and noew your weight compresses the unit. Short of a pretty big fix you might extend the work by better cleaning out the crack and installing a flexible caulk like silicon.
Manassas, Va.:
I know you need more information but give it a shot anyway.
What would be a reasonable price range for and in-ground sprinkler system installed? Six zones, 18 to 24 sprinkler heads, about 100 ft of drip line.
Mike McClintock: Have tyo answer almost all pricing questions the same way, i'm afraid, which is that there are so many factors that change prices that the only way to be at all realistic, much less helpful, is to get several bids. Even the time of year can alter a bid by 20 percent or more just because the contractor is busy or not busy.
Arlington, Va.:
Ok, electrical question for you - Every time I vaccuum, I blow the circuit. Our house is 50 year's old, and I am guessing that we need more juice (complete neophyte idiot here). When folks talk about "re-wireing" a house, what does that entail? Thanks!
Mike McClintock: It means thousand of dollars, and may not be necessary, say, if there are some outlets where your vacuum doesn't pop the fuse or trip the breaker. If that's so, chances are the blowing circuits are already a=carrying as much as they can. Suggest you do a complete wiring diamgram, working with a partner, going through each light and appliance to find out which circuit it's on. Then, even if talk to an electrcian, both will know where you stand and what needs to be done to fix the problem.
Likes to Play:
What, no takers yet on the match-up
quiz? Here's a shot:
Well driller -- Zucca
Excavator -- Pedelford
Painter -- Tesander
Windows -- Appollonio
G.C. -- Retch
Architect -- Simms
Mike McClintock: Seen the movie? you have the GC and architect
Burke, Va.:
We'd like to add stairs to our second-story deck. However, we're having a hard time figuring out how to avoid trees, heat pump, hot tub on the ground level. Hubby wants to do a metal spiral staircase; I say Ick. How would you go about planning the layout of a wood staircase?
Mike McClintock: Ick, but such a small footprint so that you don't give up space on either level. Probably less money than a nice wood staircase. BUT, there are staircase companies that make them in almost any style or material to suit the situation. (Many builders don't build their own and have a sub company do it, bring them in completeed, and install them in place.
Washington, D.C.:
My hot water heater had a plastic dip tube that is crumbling and sending little plastic particles all over the house. I've cleaned out the faucets & washing machine hose screen but can't figure how to check the dishwasher. Should I be concerned? Do dishwashers have screens like washing machines that might trap and bottle up the water line?
Mike McClintock: Depends on the unit, but you'll need a service call, as there are no screens at the water hookups the way there are with clothes washers. And on them you may need to take aprt the solenoiuds (automatic valves) because even little particles can stop them from opening and closing at the right times.
Mike McClintock:
HOMESENSEÑ ID THE CONTRACTORSÑ QUESTIONS
From an older but well known movie (and previous book) recently again on cable about cityfolk Cary Grant and Myrna Loy building a house in the country, can you match these scrambled names and professions?
Architect- John Retch
G.C.- Mr. Simms
Engineer- Mr. PeDelford
Well driller- Mr. Zucca
Excavator- Mr. Tesander
Painter- Joe Appollonio
HOMESENSEÑ ID THE CONTRACTORSÑ ANSWERS
Characters are originally from the 1946 book (Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House", by Eric Hodgins, Simon+Schuster) but remembered more from the 1948 movie of the same name (cary grant, myrna loy, melvyn douglas), in which cityfolk build a house in the country. The Blandings deal with architects, engineers and a slew of contractors along the nerve-wracking (and funny) but finally rewarding process. The correct matchups are:
Architect- Mr. Simms
G.C.- John Retch
Engineer- Joe Appollonio
Well driller- Mr. Tesander
Excavator- Mr. Zucca
Painter- Mr. PeDelford
Just one nice scene: After Myrna Loy goes through long and detailed descriptions of colors for various rooms (red somewhere between a winesap and a whatever, picking out the dots in wallpaper to match, yellow like the besrt fresh butter, etc. incredibly detailed, Mr. PeDelford the contractor says to his painter: ÑGet that charlie, red, blue, white, green and yellow.
See you next time, mike
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