INSIDE & OUT : Putting Loose Tile Back in Place Is Sticky Job
Q. We have a ceramic tile countertop in our kitchen that looks fine, except that one of the “splash” tiles along the wall has come off. What kind of adhesive should I use to put it back on?
S.I.,Irvine
A. You’ll probably still have some mastic adhesive on the wall that was used to originally install the tile, says Gloria Richey of Tile Importers in Anaheim. This needs to be removed with a scraper. After it’s been scraped, you can use a little ceramic tile adhesive, which is available at most tile stores, and press it back in place. You’ll probably need to re-grout. When you do, mix in a strengthener to the new grout, which will help it adhere to the old grout.
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Q. We’re making one of the bedrooms in our house a baby’s room, which has made us worry about paints. Are all the paints available now safe to use around children?
C.C., Tustin
A. Years ago the government required manufacturers to remove lead from their paint, says Harold Brobst of Hal’s Paint & Decorating in Fullerton. Unless you’re going to be using some really old paint, there’s nothing to worry about. Mercury has also been banned from use, but it’s always a good idea when looking at some old paint cans to check to make sure they are lead- and mercury-free.
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Q. I have a stove with a white porcelain top. There is a large dent in one corner and I wanted to fix it myself rather than send it out to be re-porcelainized. Can’t I just patch the dent with a filler such as Bondo, as I would a dent in my car, and paint over it?
M.M., Los Alamitos
A. You might fill the dent, but painting over porcelain never looks good, says Tom Houlihan of Orange County Appliance Parts in Garden Grove. A porcelain covering isn’t paint, it’s glass, and to do it properly the new coating has to be baked on. You may improve the look of the top, but only marginally. And as the top is exposed to heat, you’ll probably find that the patch and paint will easily chip away. If the stove is relatively new, you may be able to order a new top, or see an appliance refinisher. You may be able to have the top professionally redone for less than $100.
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Q. I’ve seen these drain cleaners that claim to be environmentally safe. Do they work better than the “unsafe” variety that I usually use?
R.G., Laguna Niguel
A. The most effective and environmentally safest drain cleaner is available at any hardware store, says plumber Tom Edwards of Huntington Beach. It’s also the least expensive and there’s no need to buy refills. It’s a plunger. Unfortunately, not enough people use them. Although it’s much easier to pour something down a stopped-up sink, you’re better off using a plunger to pull out the clog.
Make sure you have some water pooled around the drain opening to create a seal, then stop any overflow holes with your fingers or rags. Push the plunger firmly down while keeping the seal tight. If you’re doing it right, you should clear your drain most of the time.
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Q. In a couple of rooms I’ve moved furniture around, and now I have imprints in the carpeting. How can these be pulled up?
G.N., Fullerton
A. Most carpeting will pop back to its normal height over time, says carpet installer Roger Franks of Cypress. You might want to try scraping a carpet rake over the areas to bring the nap back up. Many people who move furniture complain that the area that was hidden looks darker than the rest of the carpet. This is usually caused by the effect of sunlight on the carpeting and it goes away as the formerly hidden portion is exposed to light.
