INSIDE & OUT : Don’t Shut Door on Window Jam
Q: We have an old house with a bathroom window that’s painted shut. The previous owners coated the window and frame with various coats of paint, and, although we’ve tried everything from razor blades and screwdrivers to a crowbar, we can’t get it open. Is there some kind of acid we can use to dissolve the paint?
S.A.
Orange
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A: You may want to look around hardware stores for an item called a “Window Zipper,” says Charlie Kaczorowski of Tustin Paint Mart. This is like a thin saw blade that’s attached to a wooden handle. You wedge that into a gap where the window has been painted or caulked and saw up and down. You can use a solvent to remove paint along the window guides, then lubricate them with a bar of soap. Soap won’t drip down the frame like an oil would.
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Q: The wallpaper in our den is almost 10 years old, but the colors remain bright. I’m concerned about dirt and scuff marks on it, but I’m afraid that washing it will remove the paper. Is there a trick to cleaning old paper?
T.F.
Tustin
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A: Assuming your paper has no vinyl content, I’d just use a sponge and some warm water, says paperhanger Ellen Brade of Anaheim. Don’t let the paper get too soaked; just rub the damp sponge with a little mild soap into the stain and carefully rinse. If the paper has a vinyl surface, you can use a mild detergent mixed with water to remove stains. Ten years is a long life for wallpaper. If you make a mistake and tear it while cleaning, it may be a good time to replace it.
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Q: We received a unique, handmade mailbox, and we’d like to put it next to the sidewalk that leads to our front door. It needs to be attached to a post. Should the post be set into concrete in the ground, or can we just put the post a couple of feet down?
D.D.
Westminster
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A: Set it into concrete, says contractor Larry Monarez of Fullerton. Even if you use a post that’s pressure-treated for termites, you’ll find that, after a few years, the wood that’s underground will deteriorate. If the area has poor drainage, you might also find that, during the rainy season, the ground is too soft to support the post. Setting it into concrete will preserve it and keep it upright.
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Q: The exterior paint on our house looks fine, but when I touch the wood siding, my hands get a chalky residue. I’ve tried spraying it off, but that doesn’t seem to work. Any ideas on removing it?
H.C.
San Clemente
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A: When paint starts getting chalky, that’s when it’s time to repaint, says Jim Craig of Decratrend Paints in Anaheim. Clean the area off with a detergent, rinse it completely and let it dry. Use a penetrating oil or latex sealer over the surface, otherwise the new paint won’t adhere very well. Or you can have the paint dealer mix in an additive that will help lock the paint onto the wood.
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Q: We used to have some plants hanging from the ceiling in two of our bedrooms, and, after we removed them, we were left with holes in the acoustic ceiling. I know I can patch the holes, but how do I create the texture?
N.C.
Garden Grove
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A: After patching the holes with a spackling compound, you can use a spray texture, available at paint and hardware stores, to create the acoustic look, says painter Paul Milton of Huntington Beach. It comes in a spray can, and it’s easy to apply. After it dries, put a sealing primer over the area before painting it.
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If you have a question about your home or garden, A Helping Hand will help you find the answer. Send questions to: John Morell, Home Design, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
