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Looking for great advice on home repair, home improvements and many do-it-yourself projects? Then look to Tom Feiza, Milwaukee's "Mr. Fix-It." Tom has helped millions on a broad range of home-related topics. The right column contains a list of chapters from Tom's book "Just Fix It". If you find this information useful you will enjoy Tom's book. If you are looking for the How to Operate Your Home website, click here.
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April 29th, 2010 by admin
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QUESTION:
I have some dark leaf stains on my patio from last year that just won’t go away. Should I just let it be, or do you recommend something to remove them? Perhaps bleach?
ANSWER:
Eventually, the dark leaf stains will go away. Weather and ultraviolet sunlight will get to the stains, but it takes some time. Bleach can be effective with detergent.
If you want quicker action, try scrubbing with a strong solution of MEX. You will find MEX at the hardware store. It is a strong detergent specifically designed for concrete and masonry surfaces. Mix a strong solution in very hot water, then scrub with a stiff brush. Allow it to soak, then scrub repeating several times.
You could also use a cleaner that contains oxalic acid like Zud, wood bleach or a deck cleaner. This will remove the stains, but may also lighten the concrete surface color. You may need to clean the whole patio once you start with an oxalic acid cleaner.
April 27th, 2010 by admin
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We have slate on the floor under and around a portable fireplace. Last winter we had some flooding in that room, and it seems that the water caused white stains to appear on the slate. We tried Lime-Away to no avail. Do you have any answers how we can remove or cover the white stains?
ANSWER:
When white stains appear on stone or masonry surfaces it is usually efflorescence (salt and lime stains). The stain is from salt and lime in the masonry materials (grout, block, or concrete), and the stains come to the surface with water movement.
You could try a stronger cleaner. Scrub the area with a strong solution of MEX and hot water. MEX is a detergent that is also used for cleaning masonry. If the stain remains, test a small area with UGL ETCH. This is an acid cleaner for efflorescence. You need to test an area because it may also discolor the slate. Finally, you could go to a store that deals in tile and slate and find a proprietary cleaner for slate or stains.
April 15th, 2010 by admin
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In my master shower, I get a sewer smell. If I pour some bleach down the drain it disappears for a while, but comes back within one to two weeks. Is there a plumbing issue I should be concerned about? Is there some way to get rid of this?
Answer:
One way to have a sewer smell in the shower is to lose the water seal in the trap. The “trap” is actually a bend in the pipe that holds or traps water. When there is water in the trap, no sewer smell can move out of the piping into your home. If the shower is not used for a few weeks, water could evaporate from the trap and result in a smell as air and sewer gas moves up through the trap. In this case, you just need to add water to the trap every week or so.
If the shower is used routinely, you may have a drainage, waste and venting problem that is allowing water to be drawn from the trap and down the drain system. This can happen when there is heavy drain water flow creating a vacuum in the piping. For this to happen, you may have a blocked vent or a vent installation problem.
Finally, you may just have bunch of “yuck” in the trap; hair, debris and growth. Snake the trap and flush it with very hot water to give it a good cleaning.
April 14th, 2010 by admin
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Can you tell us the best way to redo a driveway? We have an asphalt driveway that is in poor shape. There are major cracks, and the surface is lifting and dropping. Water is collecting on the surface and around the drive.
Answer:
Any driveway replacement needs an evaluation of how water flows. You want water to flow around the drive in order to reduce wet, soft soil under the drive. Good drainage also limits frost heaving with our beautiful Wisconsin weather.
Next, decide if you want asphalt again or concrete. Asphalt is typically less expensive, and with southern exposure the snow and ice will melt faster. Concrete will be physically stronger and more durable, but also more expensive.
With either choice, you need to make sure the surface under the drive is prepared properly. You need several inches of compacted granular fill. With a replacement, this requires removing quite a bit of waste material. When comparing contractors, consider the materials they are using, the thickness, application methods, sealers, reinforcement, connection to the garage, removal of waste, and base preparation.
Finally, I suggest you look for a contractor who is a member of an organization like the Milwaukee Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Membership means that the contractor has taken the time be involved in the industry and they have met membership requirements. Most organizations like this also help resolve issues if they ever arise. Milwaukee NARI will provide a list of over 900 members in over 200 categories of work.
March 27th, 2010 by admin
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I have a new garbage disposal. When it runs, water comes up in the other sink. I have looked at your websites and read your book, but have not found the answer.
Answer:
Installation could be an issue here. Ideally, the disposal and the other sink basin will have a separate trap that is connected with a “Y” into the drain line in the wall.
In some cases, a disposal will be installed with a “T” to the tail piece of the adjacent sink (see illustration). With this installation, water can be pushed up into the adjacent sink. You can buy a special “T” for this connection to direct the water down, but it’s still a questionable installation.
March 26th, 2010 by admin
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We have two “stains” on our roof from where we had our TV antenna. The antenna was removed about a year ago. Is there any way to remove these stains?
Answer:
A TV antenna can cause two types of “stains.” Both types of stains will not damage a typical asphalt shingle roof, and don’t need to be removed. They may be ugly, but it’s not a serious maintenance issue.
A rusty colored, black stain is from rusting metal on the antenna or the fasteners. This type of stain will lighten with time as the weather and sun bleaches out the color. You could try a rust removal chemical like Whink Rust and Iron Stain Remover, but I suggest waiting for the stain to disappear.
The other type of “stain” may be a lack of fungus growing below the metal of the antenna. The zinc coating on the metal becomes an oxide with rainwater, and as it runs down the roof, it stops algae growth. If the stain is a light color, the rest of the roof has algae. The algae can be removed with Jomax or a similar product.
I don’t suggest a homeowner should attempt to clean a roof – it’s just too dangerous. A dry roof is dangerous enough. Adding cleaning solutions, water, and chemicals can make a roof slippery and even more dangerous. Leave the cleaning to professionals.
March 25th, 2010 by admin
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We are installing a rec-room in our basement. Some of the books I have read recommend installing sub-floor panels over the concrete floor in order to provide extra warmth and help prevent moisture. Is it worth the extra expense? If so, is there a brand you would recommend?
Answer:
When installing carpet or floor covering on a concrete basement floor, always try to add some type of insulation. The concrete slab is in contact with the damp soil. This will make the floor covering cool and subject to condensation, resulting in a musty, mildew smell. A little insulation will make a huge difference.
I suggest ComfortBase from Homosote. It is a 1/2-inch-thick resilient fiber-board that cushions hard concrete and provides a thermal break. The single-ply concrete flooring system is perfect for finishing basements or improving concrete slab floors, while also increasing the floor surface temperature. ComfortBase is easy to apply over concrete floors with adhesive, or floating the panels on the surface.
You can only build a rec-room if the basement is totally dry. It’s a great product but a little hard to find at times. Many home improvement folks don’t know about the it, so you can educate them.
March 23rd, 2010 by admin
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We had a small fire due to our fireplace closing by itself. This in turn put a lot of smoke in the house. We need to have professional cleaners come and clean the carpet and furniture. Is there a product we can use on the walls and woodwork to remove the smoke smell?
Answer:
To remove the smoke smell, you need to remove the soot. This involves washing or cleaning any cloth materials. The hard surfaces should be cleaned with a dry sponge. A dry sponge is specifically used to remove soot from hard surfaces. You will find a dry sponge at big-box stores and professional cleaning suppliers. A dry sponge is like a big soft eraser that is wiped on the surface to absorb the soot.
After the hard surfaces are soot-free, wash the surface with a detergent and water if any smell remains. An ammonia-based cleaner will work well.
I have also found that a product called Fresh Wave works well at removing odors of all types. There are several versions of the product; a spray, a laundry additive, and a gel that is placed in the problem room. You will find this product at most hardware stores.
March 20th, 2010 by admin
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What is the general rule for stripping wood trim and wood doors? When is it best to use a heat gun or chemical stripper?
Answer:
Stripping? Just don’t do it. Seriously, it is a lot of work to strip and refinish wood. I think you need to evaluate the existing wood and doors for their value. Inexpensive pine molding should just be replaced, along with Luan veneer doors. Older, intricate moldings and doors should be saved. Oak and other hardwoods will be much easier to strip and refinish.
Whenever you strip paint from a surface you need to be aware of possible lead content in paint, so don’t strip lead paint without the proper precautions.
The process is messy and tough to do. Heat guns and scrapers work well in some cases, along with chemical strippers. Success depends on the type of paint, number of layers, physical access, shape, and contours. I would try both methods. There are also many types of paint strippers. For a large project, you should test several types and brands. Any doors or parts that can be removed should be stripped outside on saw horses. You need lots of ventilation to play it safe. Good luck!
March 16th, 2010 by admin
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We have lived in our home for 7 years and have had to replace four windows because the inside panes crack and spider (usually during winter). They are double-hung thermopanes with a full screen on the outside. It happens to different windows; three in the back bedrooms, and one above the kitchen sink. Is there any logical explanation for this? What can be done to prevent this from happening to other windows?
Answer:
Thermally insulated glass should not crack unless there is some type of manufacturing or installation defect. The only windows that I have seen crack did so because they were twisted or under pressure in the frame. A small amount of pressure applied to one point can cause a crack.
In this case, I would follow up with the manufacturer and their local representative. Major manufacturers stand behind their products and often offer a 10-year warranty on thermally insulated glass. There is no logical reason for glass to randomly break except the issues listed.
