Following are tips on how to perform do-it-yourself work at your community.
Q.We bought granite counter top last year. It was sealed by the installer as well as us. Tiny particles keep rising to the surface, giving the counter a gritty, dirty appearance. What is wrong and how do we
fix it?
A. My guess is that the granite might not have been properly polished and might also be of poor quality. Since the counter is new, you should contact the installer and the granite supplier for remedies. You might also have the counter examined by another, experienced granite dealer in your area. I don’t think you should try DIY approaches on material that is so new and expensive.
Q.On bright days, I can see light around part of the perimeter of the entrance door in my building. I know this means there are gaps and that I am losing heated and air-conditioned air. How can I seal those gaps so that the door still operates as it should? I need something simple.
A. Several types of weather-stripping are available for doors, some easy to install. One of the easiest is called V-Seal and is sold in the weather-stripping departments of many home centers and hardware stores. It comes in a roll, like tape, and is made of flexible plastic.
It is suitable for smaller gaps; I wouldn’t use it on anything larger than about three-sixteenth inch. If you have larger gaps, check home centers for other weather-stripping options. A roll of V-Seal costs about $4 and has 17-feet of stripping, enough to do both sides and the top of a typical entrance door.
V-Seal is generally installed on the door stop—the molding along the door jamb that the door contacts when it is closed. The open side of the V should point toward the door opening. If you install the seal like that but still see gaps when you close the door, put another strip on the jamb so it contacts the edge of the door when the door closes. The open end of the V should point toward the outside. To install it, measure the surface where the seal will be and cut off that much from the roll. Clean the surface first and let it dry. The seal is about an inch wide and creased down the middle. Fold on the crease so the removable paper backing is on the outside and the seal takes its V shape. Pull off the backing a little at a time to expose the adhesive and press the seal to the surface. When the door is closed, the V flexes enough to open and fill the gap.
V-Seal can also be used to weather-strip loose windows, and is especially useful for double-hung windows that have small gaps at the bottom and top when closed. If your door has a gap at the bottom, use a “sweep” to seal it. A sweep has a flexible fin that should bear against the threshold when the door is closed; it is attached with screws or is self-adhesive.
Q.Water entered our basement during heavy rains and the drywall panels covering the walls became soaked about 12 inches up from the floor. I am afraid mold will develop. Do I have to remove all the drywall? If so, how do you suggest I do it?
A.You shouldn’t have to remove all the drywall. I would trim the bottoms of the panels to a couple of inches above the water line. Use a straightedge and a sharp utility knife or hand-held power tool to cut off the bottoms in a straight line. Cutting all the panels to the same height will make the repair job easier.
There is probably insulation behind the drywall, and you should check that for water damage, too. If the insulation is wet at the bottom, it should be removed. Let the cavities dry out thoroughly. Replace the insulation first, using tape, staples or whatever fasteners are needed to keep it in place.
Then replace the drywall, using so-called paperless drywall of the same thickness as the material already on the wall. This type of drywall is more resistant to moisture and mold than regular drywall. Tape and spackle the joints and repaint. I would also consider taking steps to prevent future basement flooding. Check your rain-gutter system first to make sure it is in good condition and capable of carrying rain away from the foundation. You might also consider using a sump pump to pump water out of the basement before it can accumulate.
Questions and comments should be e-mailed to Gene Austin at gaus17@aol.com.