Attempt to Refinish Fiberglas Shower Will Simply Stall the Inevitable

Question: I’ve heard there are two ways of refinishing a Fiberglas shower stall, re-glazing with porcelain or sanding and buffing the Fiberglas surface. Which will have the best outcome and long-term results?

C.L., La Habra

Answer: “If you’re looking for long-term results, you’re probably better off not doing either one,” says Tony DeSpain of Craig’s Plumbing Store in Garden Grove. “You often see glazing or refinishing of Fiberglas in homes that people want to fix up quickly and sell.

“Fiberglas that’s been treated like that doesn’t hold up well, and you’d probably only get two to three years out of the redone surface. If you’re going to be living there for a while, you should probably just have the Fiberglas replaced.”

Q: Our 10-year-old dishwasher has run fine until a few months ago, when we started hearing a grinding noise from the bottom of the machine as it runs. Could it be something simple, or should we start shopping for a new one?

N.C., Yorba Linda

A: “Whether or not this is a serious problem is going to depend on who makes your dishwasher,” says Tom Houlihan of Orange County Appliance Parts in Garden Grove. “In some models, that sound would indicate a failing motor, while in others, there could be a bad bearing in the wash arm.

“Although, since your machine is that old, I’d suspect the motor. Unfortunately, many of the motors are made so that there’s a seal that separates the water from the motor, and once that seal goes, the motor is ruined. Just to be sure, call someone out to get an estimate.”

Q: We were away from home during a lightning storm recently and our VCR was on taping a show off the TV. When we got back, however, the VCR was off and wouldn’t turn on. It was an old one so we just got a new VCR, but I was wondering if the lightning could have caused the damage.

D.D., Fullerton

A: “Sure. It’s not uncommon for lightning to cause a power surge that can damage electronic components,” says Ed Steenbergen of Martenet Hardware in Anaheim. “It’s probably a good idea to use surge-suppressing power strips for things like stereos, VCRs, TVs and, of course, computers.

“These strips will turn off when there’s a fast power surge going through the circuit to prevent damage to your equipment. Also, your damaged VCR might have a fuse built-in that is there for that purpose. Fixing it may be as simple as replacing the fuse.”

Q: I’m planning on building a covered patio in our back yard this summer, and I’m wondering about the grades of lumber available. I’d prefer to get knot-free wood, but it may be a little too expensive for me. Are the lower grades just as sturdy?

G.F., Fountain Valley

A: “The higher the grade, the fewer knots wood will have, less sap content and longer drying time,” says Eric Prochnow of World of Moulding in Santa Ana. “The best wood to get is FAS or better, which is knot-free and can be expensive.

“No. 2 common is generally used in studs, walls, and is good for patios. You should probably go through stacks of No. 2 common and pick out the best you can find. You’ll probably come across some excellent pieces that could be called FAS, since lumber is rated by the lift rather than each piece separately.”

Q: A padded wall covering would look great in my living room. However, experience tells me that the better something looks the harder it is to put together. Is that the case?

B.L., San Clemente

A: “Padded wall coverings aren’t any more difficult than other types of wallpapers, in fact, they might be a little easier,” says Jim Livingston of Paint & Paper House in Placentia.

“They tend to have a lot more flex and are easier to maneuver. Carefully follow the directions that come with the wall covering when putting it up, and take your time. Probably the biggest mistake people make when papering is they overlap the seams on each roll. Keep it even to match the pattern and use a seam roller to press the edges down.”