No Leaks? Let Wood Shakes Be

Q. Our wood shake roof doesn’t leak, but it is showing signs of age with fading and weathering. I’ve heard of a treatment that restores its appearance. What’s involved in this process?

T.C.

Villa Park

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A There are companies that will apply a sealer to the shakes, but “I usually don’t recommend it,” says Jim Gorman of Rancho Lumber in Westminster. The problem is that while the roof might look nice afterward, the sealer makes the shakes less porous on one side.

“The shakes have to be able to breathe, so what happens is after a few years you’ll find the shakes begin to curl up,” Gorman says. “Not only that, I wouldn’t recommend having someone walk on an old shake roof since they could cause some damage to the shingles. The best advice is if it’s not leaking, leave it alone.”

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Q. We have a large picture window in our living room, and the glass has some scratches along the edges. Due to the expense, we don’t want to replace the glass, but is there some way that the scratches can be buffed out?

A.P.

Santa Ana

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A. There is a product that glass installers use that buffs out scratches, says Katy Jackson of Maley’s Glass & Mirror in Orange. However, it has two drawbacks. First, it will only remove scratches that are so light they can’t be felt with your finger. The other disadvantage is that it’s not something a homeowner can go to the store and buy.

It’s a very flammable chemical, and only professionals are allowed to use it. If your scratches are large, you may just have to live with them.

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Q. I’m planning on installing a vinyl floor in my utility room. I was wondering about the plastic molding that’s often used with these floors. Is that nailed or glued into place?

D.D.

Fountain Valley

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A. You can nail it, but for looks, “I’d use an adhesive,” says floor installer Mark Gray of Anaheim. Just get some simple plastic adhesive and prepare the surface of the wall by sanding any enamel paint from the area and then make sure it’s clean and dry. Apply the adhesive with a brush, then push sections of the molding in place.

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Q We have a stall shower that is lined with dark marble tile. Over time, the marble has developed white mineral deposits. Is there anything that can get these out without hurting the marble?

I.A.

Palm Springs

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A. It’s going to depend on the type of marble you have, says Rich Haagsma of Faucets ‘n Fixtures in Orange. If you have faux marble tile, there are products designed to remove lime and water deposits that will work for you, and you should be able to find them at any tile or bath supply supply store.

If you have real marble, and the deposits are extensive, it may be best to bring in a professional marble cleaner. Marble and other types of natural stone can be porous, and when you use a caustic product on them, you can leave a permanent scar on the surface.

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Q I have four cats, and I’ve made one of my bedrooms a “playroom” for them--I keep their toys and supplies in there. There are times when I keep them in there with the door closed, but it gets stuffy in the room, even with the window open. Can I replace the regular door with a screen door to improve the room’s ventilation?

N.M.

Irvine

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A. As long as you don’t have a problem with the aesthetics of an indoor screen door, it can be done, says door hanger Steve Alvarez of Anaheim. If you want to forgo the automatic closer, you could even put one in on the outside of the jamb that so that you won’t have to remove the solid door. You have to be careful about size, of course. Take careful measurements of your door jamb, and be aware that you’ll probably need more clearance at the bottom because of carpeting.