INSIDE & OUT : Faulty Dryer Can Cause Damp Wall
Q. We recently painted our laundry room with a semi-gloss enamel. The walls we painted over had been done in a flat finish. Now, whenever we run our gas dryer, we find that the walls become damp. Is this a result of using a semi-gloss?
P.P.
Mission Viejo
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A. I’d suspect a problem with the dryer rather than the paint, says Jim Craig of Decratrend Paint in Anaheim. When the dryer was reinstalled, if you moved it out to paint behind it, you may not have hooked the vent up properly. If that’s the case, moist exhaust is swirling around the laundry room, getting the walls wet. If you’ve used a good quality paint, the moisture shouldn’t hurt the walls. However, you should make sure you have the venting problem checked, because all that moisture can create mildew over time.
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Q. We’ve been looking for ideas for a new kitchen floor, and we saw an advertisement for one made of cork. How can cork be durable enough to work as flooring?
R.C.
Fountain Valley
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A. The key is the vinyl coating that protects the cork, says Becky Gonzalez of Anaheim Centsible Tile. Cork flooring comes in square tiles, and it’s very durable. It comes in various shades that make it a good option for those considering a wood floor. Cork flooring, however, is expensive, so most people would rather have a professional install the squares. The warranty that comes with it usually requires a professional installation.
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Q. I’d like to put marble tiles on my fireplace hearth, and I’d like the marble to be “bull nosed” around the edges, but having that done is more expensive than the tile itself. Why is that, and are there other options?
C.E.W.
Fountain Valley
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A. Bull nosing, or rounding or shaping the marble, is a specialized skill among tile workers, and it requires special tools, says Gloria Richey of Tile Importers in Anaheim. The carbide cutting tips used in the process are expensive and don’t last very long, and it takes a long time for someone to learn the skill, so you have to pay for their services. Someone who isn’t as skilled in bull nosing can go through a lot of marble before getting the right shape. You may want to choose a tile that doesn’t have as sharp an edge as the one you’re looking at, or you may want to try looking at a synthetic tile that is more easily made with rounded edges.
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Q. I have cable TV in my downstairs den and upstairs master bedroom. I’d like to also put it in one of the other bedrooms upstairs; however, I don’t want to have to snake it along the hallway. Is it OK to just have a line running up the exterior of the house from the den up to the bedroom? Is a special type of cable needed for the exterior?
D.S.
Yorba Linda
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A. No special type of cable is generally needed, says Mike McCoy of Current Supply in Westminster. Most quality cables are rated for both indoor and outdoor use. It’s fine to run a cable along the exterior, although you’ll want to be sure you firmly tack it into place so it doesn’t pull out when it gets windy. Also, use rubber or plastic grommets or caulk to seal the holes in the wall; this will help keep drafts as well as insects from getting inside your house.
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Q. Our kitchen faucet is five years old and it’s in great shape, except that a few months ago the spray became blocked and I removed the aerator. I haven’t replaced it, and we really don’t miss it, but a friend said that running a faucet without an aerator can cause some damage. Is that true?
S.N.
Laguna Hills
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A. The purpose of the aerator, which is at the end of the faucet and which screws on and off, is to allow an even flow of water, says Ted Blanke of Central Plumbing & Heating in La Habra. Without an aerator, the water splatters out. You’re not necessarily doing any harm to the faucet, but another function of the aerator is to filter out any grit that may be in the pipes. Without that filter, you may be drinking or using some of that sediment. Aerators are inexpensive and easy to install, so you’re probably better off with one on.
