Sand and Deliver an Oil-Based Primer
Question: Part of the wood exterior of our house is painted with an oil-based enamel. I’d like to repaint with a latex. How should I prepare the surface?
B.P.
Orange
Answer: “It’s probably best if you prepared the surface with an oil-based primer,” says Barbara Brobst of Hal’s Paint in Fullerton. “You’ll want to get the gloss off the finish with a light sandpaper. You might want to experiment with some of the paint you’ll be using on the surface after sanding. The sanding may have removed enough of the finish so you won’t need to primer, or you may just need to spot primer over sections where bare wood is exposed.”
Q: We’re looking to have a house built, and in examining the different heating systems, we were interested in radiant heat, in which the heat rises from a system built into the floor or ceiling. Which is better, radiant heat from electricity or hot water?
K.A.
San Juan Capistrano
A: “The advantage to electrical radiant heat is that the initial cost for the system will probably be lower than a water system,” says Michael Duffin of Service Master’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in Fullerton. “However, like any other type of electric heat, running it is going to be expensive. A water or hydronic system is going to cost more initially. However, if it’s a natural gas system, it’s going to be much more economical to operate, possibly even more than a natural-gas furnace.”
Q: My old asphalt driveway is in pretty good shape except for a large, 3-foot crack that formed because of some weeds that poked through it. What’s the best way to patch it?
T.N.
Westminster
A: “There is an asphalt patch product that comes in a 60-pound bag that can be used to fill holes,” says Bill Sink of Angelus Quarries in Santa Ana. “It’s best used as a temporary patch, though, until you can fill the hole with cement, which holds to the asphalt more securely. The patch is basically unheated asphalt. You set it out in the sun and let it heat up until it reaches a workable consistency, then you shovel it into the hole, lay a board over it and drive a car over it a few times to pack it in.
“The patch will blend in with the driveway, but because it hasn’t been applied hot, it’s not going to adhere well. You might be better off mixing up some cement with a black dye that will blend into the rest of the driveway and will be a more secure patch.”
