Lime From Stucco Walls Can Eat Away at Uncovered Metal Door Frame
Question: The thresholds on our two sliding glass door frames have developed spots and holes. What’s caused the metal to deteriorate, and how can it be repaired?
S.G., Brea
Answer: “It sounds as though it’s being eaten away by the lime coming from the stucco,” says Dee Watt of College Glass and Mirror in Anaheim. “It’s not uncommon for this to occur.
“You really can’t just repair the holes because they will just reappear. The best way to fix it is to remove the doors and replace the frame or the tracts that have been damaged, and put a plastic or stainless steel cover between the frame and stucco so it won’t happen again.”
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Q: We bought a house last year with hardwood floors that I believe are made of small sections of oak. With the dry conditions lately, cracks have developed between the sections. How should they be dealt with, and how should the floor be maintained?
E.S., Yorba Linda
A: “Hardwood often goes through a seasonal wood shrinkage, which affects its connection with other pieces of flooring,” says Chris Marthens of Anaheim Centsible Tile. ‘When the temperature goes down, it tends to shrink, while in summer it swells back up again. Wood will also dry out if you run your furnace often and keep the house too warm, just as it will be affected by running your air conditioner too cold in summer.
“Some people use a wood filler to fix deep cracks, but that can create an eyesore. Ideally, you’ll want a professional to examine the floor to show you the best way to fix your cracks. He or she can also tell you whether or not your floor has a polyurethane coating and doesn’t need regular waxing.”
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Q: The exterior of our home is rough-sawn redwood finished in an oil-based semi-transparent Olympic-brand stain. Such a finish isn’t available now due to air pollution regulations. It’s time to refinish. What do I use now?
J.D., Orange
A: “This type of stain is still available, although it’s not premixed,” says Wayne Hudson of Vista Paint in Buena Park. “Olympic and other manufacturers have reduced the number stains available in regular stock, but an authorized dealer can take a a neutral base and mix in the colors for a semi-transparent stain of your choice.”
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Q: We have a 5-year-old Arkla propane barbecue and have recently moved into a house with a natural gas outlet on the patio. Can I convert it to gas without much trouble?
D.G., Lake Forest
A: “In most barbecues, you’ll probably be able to do it inexpensively,” says Tom Larson of Leisure Living Patio and Fireplace in La Habra.
“The main thing is you have to change the diameter of the orifice in the valve. It has to be a little larger for natural gas since gas isn’t as pressurized as propane. You can bring in the on-off valve to a barbecue shop, and they can see if it can be switched over. On some barbecues, you have to change not only the valve orifice but the assembly and manifold as well, so you have to determine whether it’s worth the expense.”
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Q: In the hardware store recently I saw a “sanding sponge,” s sponge with grit glued into the surface, which supposedly works great when sanding small or intricate spaces because it could conform to the shape you’re sanding. Is it better than traditional sandpaper?
F.R., Anaheim Hills
A: “It can make a difference when you’re working on table or chair legs,” says cabinetmaker Ed Martin of Santa Ana. “Just make sure you’re not using too coarse a grit. Many novices use medium grade paper . . . when they really should be using fine or extra fine. . . . Press the sponge into the area you’re working on, and remember to sand with the grain.”
