Squelch Those Squeaks That Make Us Squawk

Question: We have oak floors that were installed about 10 years ago that have become squeaky in certain areas. What causes this and how can it be fixed?

R.K.

Laguna Hills

Answer: “There are lots of different floors, so pinpointing your problem may take some detective work,” says Scott Eckels of Belmont Carpets and Tile in Anaheim. “Most modern hardwood floors are pre-finished and laminated and are designed to be glued down to a subfloor. In some cases, the floor may separate from the glue, creating room for the planks to move and squeak. On Bruce hardwood floors, there’s an epoxy injection system for filling the void and re-bonding the wood to the floor.

“For nail-down floors, you may have to check floor joists in the raised foundation to see if squeaking is coming from there. Nails can come loose over time, which can cause the noise.”

Q: We’re considering whitewashing our brick fireplace, but we want to know what’s involved in doing this kind of project.

F.O.

Mission Viejo

A: “Start by cleaning and washing the brick and allowing it to dry out,” says Harold Brobst of Hal’s Paint and Decorating in Fullerton. “You should probably use a water-based latex and thin it with water so that it’s not so opaque. Then, with a sponge or rag, you’ll apply the paint on the bricks like a stain. Rub it across them and wipe off any excess paint. You should practice on some bricks in the garage with your paint/water mixture to see how they come out and add water if necessary.”

Q: Where would I find the gold-veined mirror tiles that can be applied to a wall? They seem to be out of stock at every store I’ve tried.

C.T.

Seal Beach

A: “They were pretty common 20 years ago, but you’re going to have a hard time finding them now,” says Katy Jackson of Maley’s Glass and Mirror in Anaheim. “The large warehouse home improvement stores sometimes carry the plain glass mirror tile, but you’ll have to call around to see if they’re for sale. You may be better off installing plain mirrors on the wall or rethinking your room design.”

Q: We recently had ceramic tile installed and, where the tile meets the carpeting, the aluminum strips were removed. The tile man said that when our new carpeting was installed, new strips would be put in. The carpet people didn’t replace these strips; is there a problem if we don’t have them?

D.P.

Anaheim

A: “You don’t really see those strips put down very often,” says Becky Gonzales of Anaheim Centsible Tile. “In most projects, the carpeting is rolled under so that it butts up against the tile. This creates a clean look that is more attractive than a strip. The strip is not there to hold the carpeting or the tile down, so I wouldn’t worry if they didn’t replace the ones on your project.”

Q: I’ve seen some new drain cleaners on the market recently that claim to force through deposits in my plumbing to fix a slow running drain. Are they worth a try?

S.S.

Santa Ana

A: “I always say everything’s worth trying once,” says plumber Jamie Lorenzo of Garden Grove. “But chances are you’re going to be disappointed. Over time, deposits tend to solidify, and it takes more than a drain cleaner to get them out. You’re probably going to have to remove the drain elbow and clean it out or replace it.”

Got a question about your home or garden? Write to: John Morell, Handyman, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626.