Glossy Finish Can Be Subdued Without Stripping the Wood
Question: I have a coffee table and a dining room table that have a very high-gloss finish. What can I do to the wood to give them a less shiny, more hand-waxed finish?
J.K.U.
Mission Viejo
Answer: “This can be done without stripping, but unless you’re experienced working with wood, you may not want to tackle the job yourself,” says Bob Espeland of Espeland Antique and Furniture Repair in Orange.
“First, you clean the table of any leftover waxes or polishes. A flattening should then be added to a satin finish before it’s sprayed onto the tabletop.
“You could also try taking fine steel wool and some paint thinner and try to rub out some of the finish, but you have to be careful. You might want to try it on an inconspicuous area first to see how it looks.”
Q: We recently landscaped our front yard and used old railroad ties to create planters. We love the look. However, our son climbs on them and gets oil from the ties on his clothes. Is there any way to get the oil out of the ties?
J.R.
Laguna Niguel
A: “Railroad ties are soaked in oil to preserve them,” says Steve Sink of Angelus Quarries in Santa Ana. “That’s why they last so long.
“There’s really nothing you can use to pull the oil out because it’s pretty much soaked through. Over time and weathering, you’ll probably notice less of a problem with it. Until then you could attach some kind of plastic sheeting to them to protect clothing, or just monitor your son and keep him away from the ties.”
Q: I’d like to install a 5/16-inch wood-plank floor over my original wood floor, which is far beyond refinishing. I’d also like to extend the floor into the kitchen, which has vinyl tile over linoleum over plywood. The top of the tile is level with the old wooden floor. Is there any kind of special preparation I need to do to make sure the planks attach to both surfaces?
J.M.
Garden Grove
A: “There’s not a problem in installing a wood-plank floor over an existing floor, but you have to remember to lay it out in the opposite direction,” says Cal Chamberlain of Chamberlain Floors in Fountain Valley.
“This is because the planks tend to expand and contract sideways, and laying the new floor out in the same direction may cause it to separate over time. You may want to put 1/4-inch plywood over the entire surface before laying your new floor.”
Q: I’m convinced that the reason my bathtub sink has been clogging recently is because the cheap soaps my husband buys have melted down the drain and have created a buildup.
Can this happen and what gets rid of it?
W.W.
Huntington Beach
A: “Your problem’s probably not caused by soap alone,” says plumber Ed Grane of Anaheim. “Hot water tends to dissolve soap. Most bathtub-stopping problems are caused by hair that collects and plugs the drain.
“If you don’t get any results from using a plunger, you may have to try a manual or electric snake to get in there and push it through.”
Q: Growing up years ago, my father used to tell me that you should never paint while it’s raining. Is that true? What kind of problems will I have if I paint on a rainy day?
E.C.
Lake Forest
A: “That isn’t true, unless, of course, you’re painting your exterior,” says house painter Roger Sanchez of Santa Ana.
“Humidity affects drying time, and if it’s raining, the room you just painted will take longer to dry because the humidity is so high.
“However, don’t think you have to postpone your job. Just be aware that the walls will be wet longer than normal.”
