HOME IMPPROVEMENT : Proper Caulking Vital for Patio Doors
Question: We had a new sliding glass door installed. When it rains, the water seeps through. Several calls to the contractor resulted only in his caulking with a clear plastic compound inside--a procedure which doesn’t solve the problem. Can you offer any suggestions to stop the leaking?
Answer: I checked with my window expert, Allen L. Lowith, 10905 Peach Grove Ave., North Hollywood, and he said the probable cause of the leakage is improper caulking from the inside of the doors, especially around the corners.
A lot of slipshod installers--and there are plenty out there, according to Lowith--rush the job, putting a little caulking on the outside, but neglecting the inner area, close to the inside wall.
The bottom line: You’ll probably have to hire someone to remove the door and caulk the frame according to the instructions that usually accompany the doors.
IN THE MAIL: Dan Schiffman of Pasadena Plumbing & Hardware Co., 409 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, responds to the May 15 plea for information on Standard plumbing parts. He has a lot of old-time plumbing parts in his store and suggests that you bring the broken faucet or whatever in so he can see if the replacement part will work. Schiffman has a huge book from American Standard listing hundreds of plumbing parts--many of which he can furnish from his stock.
One of the items he stocks is a spring-mounted faucet washer that fits in the hole at the end of the stem where a screw is used to fasten the conventional washer. I visited Schiffman’s store to pick up a couple of them for a pair of chronically leaky bathtub faucets. The big advantage of these spring-mounted or swivel washers is that they don’t wear out as quickly from rotation against the brass seat. I also replaced the seats. No more runs (to the store) and best of all, no drips (water)! The store is everything Schiffman said it was in his letter.
Frank J. Vild, 12149 Fremont St., Yucaipa, Calif. 92399, also wrote to say he might be able to help.