Stuck With Crumbling Stucco? Solutions Are to Spot-Patch or Start Over
Question: Our home, built in 1972, has a problem with deteriorating stucco. The stucco has come off in places all around the house, and we’ve been told that the problem could be mildew or termites, but these have been ruled out.
Interestingly, some homes in our tract have the same problem while others are fine. What could be causing this?
L.C.R.
Newport Beach
Answer: “This isn’t an uncommon problem for a house built then,” says Pete Gorman of Rancho Lumber in Westminster. “During that time, there were some labor strikes by cement workers, and quality of many building products went down. There are only two solutions. One is to periodically spot-repair your stucco and repaint; the other is to completely re-stucco the house, which can be expensive but will solve the problem permanently.”
Q: I live on a hill with deep brush, and I have a back-yard pool. Especially in light of all the fires lately, I’m interested in finding a pump that I can use to draw pool water in an emergency. Are these available?
J.N.
Laguna Niguel
A: “There is a pump available just for that purpose that’s effective and easy to use,” says Chad Hilburn of Nohl Ranch Pool Supply in Orange.
“It looks like a small compressor and operates with (a) lawnmower-size gasoline engine. You drop one end of the hose to the bottom of the pool, then it has a 75-foot fire hose on the other end. It costs about $900 and can be easily stored in your garage or pool-supply shed.”
Q: I’m interested in getting rid of my cable TV system.
However, I live in a homeowner’s association that doesn’t allow exterior antennas, and our roof has cement tiles, which won’t help an attic antenna. Are there any alternatives for me?
H.H.
San Juan Capistrano
A: “Unfortunately, you’re not going to find much of a solution,” says George Schurman of MarVac Electronics in Costa Mesa. “You’re not going to get much VHF reception through a cement roof.
“Short of sneaking a small antenna on top of the roof, you can try using the antenna that your TV comes with, which may have hit-or-miss reception, or bite the bullet and continue paying the cable bill.”
Q: My new townhome came with a cheap vinyl floor covering in the kitchen that’s difficult to keep clean and is yellowing after just three years. Short of replacing it, what can I do?
L.M.L.
Huntington Beach
A: “You may not be cleaning it as recommended by the manufacturer,” says floor installer Gregg Martin of Santa Ana.
“It seems as though each manufacturer has their own cleaning instructions, and you can’t use the same products on each floor. If you use something too harsh, you can damage the finish and ruin your floor.
“I’d find out who made your floor to see if they make a cleaner to use and also if they have a product that can restore a worn-away finish.”
Q: We’re leasing a condo that’s down a steep driveway in a gully.
I’m told that flooding has been a problem, and during the heavy rains last year the water level reached two inches in the garage. I’m worried about my expensive washer and dryer.
I was told that I could put them on a wooden platform, but that may rot, and a cement platform is too expensive and too high for me. Any suggestions?
J.H.
Costa Mesa
A: “Offhand, I would think this is a problem you’ll have to work out with your landlord,” says contractor Al Briscone of Lake Forest. “If flooding in the garage is a constant problem because of the way the structure’s built, a platform for your appliances would be the easy solution.
“If the concrete platform is too high, you’ll just have to have another platform placed in front of the machines that gives you access. This one doesn’t have to be concrete; it can be made of wood.”
Got a question about your home or garden? Write to: John Morell, Handyman, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626.
