Peeling Shower Stall Isn’t Washed Up
Question: The floor in our fiberglass shower stall is starting to peel. Is there anything we can do to repair it?
B.D.
Yorba Linda
Answer: “If the peeling is occurring at the gel-coat or sealant level, you may be able to fix it,” says Phil Rice of Familian Kitchen and Bath Center in Anaheim. “The gel coat is very thin, and you’ll have to be very careful.
“Rub the area with acetone, which will melt and blend the gel coat, but be sure to use rubber gloves and keep the area well ventilated. If you rub too hard, you risk permanently damaging the surface.
“If the peeling is deeper, it’s usually because water has gotten inside the surface and is causing it to separate, and you’ll have to call a professional.
“Working with fiberglass isn’t easy because of the chemicals needed, which is why most people choose to bring in a repairman.”
Q: We’ve had paint and three different applications of wallpaper peel off the walls in one of our bathrooms. There is a window in the bathroom, and there is no moisture coming from the walls. A sealer has been used on them, but that hasn’t made much of a difference. Any suggestions?
C.E.
Yorba Linda
A: “You might try sanding the wall down,” says Jim Craig of Decratrend Paint and Decorating in Cypress. “After it’s clean, you can apply a sizer, which is an undercoat that’s thinned with water and painted on. It provides a better tack to the wall that provides a better surface for wallpaper to stick to. You should also use vinyl wallpaper, which works better in moist bathrooms.”
Q: Birds sitting on my TV antenna are leaving their droppings all around the roof. Ribbons attached to the antenna don’t work, and I can’t use foil to scare them off because it would hamper reception. Do you have any ideas?
M.A.
Seal Beach
A: “You might try getting one or two of those plaster owls available in some nurseries,” says landscaper Robert Kiel of Santa Ana. “They’ll have to be well secured if they’re going to sit on the roof.
“You also might try attaching some rubber snakes to the antenna. However, after a while, the birds get smart and don’t feel threatened by owls and snakes that don’t move. You may just have to live with it.”
Q: I’ve bought an older home that has stick-on butterflies covering the bottom of the tub. Are there any easy ways to get them cleaned off?
N.S.
Orange
A: “If a regular solvent doesn’t work, there is a mild acid that could do it,” says Dennis Rysdam of Faucets ‘n’ Fixtures in Orange. “It’s called KRC-7 and is fine for porcelain surfaces. You put some water in the tub and pour some of this in and let it soak. After a while, you should be able to scrape the stickers off. You can then try using a solvent to get rid of any remaining glue.”
Q: What’s the best way to clean and maintain tiles of many different surfaces, from marble to ceramic?
A.C.
Anaheim
A: “There’s an all-purpose cleaner available at most tile stores that works very well,” says John Rivera of Del Piso Brick and Tile in Anaheim. “It’s a good idea to check the cleaners you use to see if they’re compatible for use with different kinds of surfaces. The best have a simple detergent solution that won’t hurt anything.”