Inspired by my brother, who probably like the rest of you are increasingly
inspired by my projects, I’ve decided to start an “Ask the DIY’er” page.
So, go ahead, ask anything…
(sorry, but due to the demands of the house and my wife I cannot
guarantee
I'll respond. Hell, I don't even know when the next update is!!!)
DIY'er,
We hung a decorative planter on vinyl siding. This produced a nail hole that we now want to fix. Any suggestions? Any deeper trouble from piercing the siding? Thanks a lot...
Gloria
Gloria,
There's not a lot of information in your email, so I'll assume that 1. The planter is no longer there and 2. You hung it with nails. (Pretty clever, eh?)
The first solution you may try would be to build a lattice frame and grow some vines to cover the hole/holes. Pretty, and practical! If this isn't an option, it becomes more difficult to fix. If you try to replace the piece with a new one, you won't match the existing faded paint. What you may try is removing a piece from the back of your house and replacing the damaged one. Take it to a paint store to match the color as close as possible, sand near the hole, then patch with an automotive filler and paint. As far as other damage from piercing the siding, unless it was a BFN (Big Nail), you should be fine.
Steve,
My upstairs floor is made out of plywood, and it squeeks when I walk on it. How do I stop this?
Phil
Phil,
(Actually, I accidentally erased this email, and I can't remember the name. Sorry)
I've noticed I get the same squeek when walking upstairs at my house. While wearing socks does decrease the AMOUNT of noise, it doesn't fix the problem. One sure-fire way of fixing this is to mix 1-part lemon juice and 3-parts water with 1-part WD-40 and then mop. Not only do you get a beautiful shine, but the squeeking will stop! If that doesn't do the trick, and you can't get at the underside of the floor, I suggest new plywood, better screws, and lots of wood glue.
Hey, Do-it-Yourselfer,
Our house has white vinyl siding. Some areas are covered with pinhead-size black dots that I’ve been told are mold spores. I’ve tried all sorts of household cleaning products to remove them, but with no luck. What should I do?
Helen
Helen
If you stand back far enough, perhaps these black dots will disappear? If this doesn’t work, make sure they are dots, and not small holes in your siding. Take a marker, begin at the lowest point of the house, and connect these “dots”. Send me a photo.
Then clean off the dots with bleach. Mold hates bleach.
Oh, Steve...
What are the potential problems of moving a brick house from its original foundation to a new location?
Lynne
Lynne,
My first inclination is to say that the owners may get very upset at this.
Then, of course there’s MAJOR cracking. Make sure you hire professionals who have done this before.
What are "hardened" nails, and where can I get them?
Hal
Hal,
Simply put, hardened nails are combat veterans. Most, if not all, are VERY jumpy, so using them for anything but masonry anchors is strictly forbidden.
Steven,
Is there any way to prevent nail holes from showing through a paint job? I've used oil-based putty, which is labor intensive, and yet the nail holes still show through.
Jeff
Jeff,
Use screws. I guarantee no nail holes will show through IF you use screws. You may try the body putty used on automobiles and that might do a better concealing job than the oil-based putty.
Steve,
I need a new driveway. How should I go about this?
Matt
Matt,
The first thing you should do is measure the distance to the CLOSEST DRIVEWAY nearest to yours. If it’s within walking distance, I suggest you park in the neighbor’s driveway. Within a short time, your neighbor will be confused and will no doubt park in YOUR driveway. This is usually followed up by your neighbor repairing “his” drive. After you notice phase I is complete, resume parking in your own driveway. Answer any questions with “Get a lawyer”.
Estimated cost = a few pennies (gas) to thousands of dollars (Lawyer)
Estimated time = Usually expect initial results in about 10 minutes.
Steve,
No. A NEW driveway. I don’t have one yet.
Matt
Matt,
Follow-up questions are not allowed. You’re on your own.
Steve,
I lost some shingles from the roof in the last wind storm. How do I replace them without damaging the ones nearest the hole?
Dave
Dave,
Chances are the shingles were stolen. Look around your neighborhood for signs of shingles on roofs. When you find the ones you’re missing, AND YOU WILL, simply wait until night fall and retrieve them. You must wait for night because experience tells me the police cannot identify them as easily as the rightful owner can. When you get them, slightly pry up the ones closest, insert the others, and re-set.
Dear Steve,
Last night a kid hit a ball threw my bedroom window. How do I replace just the glass?
Diane
Diane,
What were you wearing when the window broke? Contact me directly and I’ll go over this situation IN LENGTH with you.
Steve,
Our home is almost 2 years old. About 6 months after we moved in, I noticed several (6 or 7) thin vertical cracks in the basement walls. They were cracking straight down (through the block, not the mortar). We have yet to experience any water coming in. Is this something we should be concerned with? Is it common to have cracks like this?
Dan
Dan,
I went through a similar situation not to long ago. Fortunately for me my hot water tank blew, and I completely forgot about the walls until I read your letter. My suggestion is this; take a hammer and chisel and tear away the block where there is cracking. If you get a surge of water, or experience any moisture when you reach the soil, there’s the potential for water damage in your basement. Contact a local builder to repair the wall to his specs, or place a bookshelf over the hole.
Hello Steve,
I am remodeling my home. It requires a major overhaul in order to accommodate my family. I am adding several rooms on the ground floor as well as adding a second level. I will be replacing the wall heating furnace and window unit air conditioners with central air and heating. I know that my first step requires an architect. But I am lost from that point on. Can you recommend a reference book or guide that I can use to help me? Also what would you recommend to be the most efficient heating and cooling system.
Tony
Tony,
Have you thought about selling? Hell, the cost of an architect is about as much as a modular anyway. Good Lord. Tear it down and start over, fella.
Dear Steve,
Not long after we moved into our home, some wise guy threw eggs at our asphalt shingle roof. I went up there and scrubbed with every cleanser I could think of, but all I got was a bad manicure. What should I do about this unsightly mess?
Karen
Karen,
That was YOUR house?
Hey DIY'er
I was preparing to paint my house when I discovered five damaged windowsills. It appears that squirrels have been snacking on them and part of the window frame. How should I go about making repairs?
Joseph
Joseph,
I'm not aware that there is a way to repair the damage from the frame on the squirrels teeth. Perhaps contacting a vet would help. Very noble of you, by the way.
Steve
What is the safest way to demolish a free-standing garage?
Keith
Keith,
Usually a quick swipe with a good sized SUV will do the trick. One of the benefits of this is the insurance company will pick up the bill, and you'll be free to kick back with a forty while you watch the clean-up crew. Sweet.
*You should ALWAYS contact local building officials and experts before you try doing anything you see here. This site is not responsible for the viewer failing to follow local codes, or lacking common sense. Advice on this page should NOT be construed as “expert advice”. In other words, “If you saw it here, don’t do it there.”
