When Razors Fail, Try Solvents to Pry Paint
Q. The condo we recently bought was badly painted, and some of the windows have been smudged with tough, oil-based paint drops and fingerprints. I’ve tried using a razor to get these off, but that hasn’t worked well. Any other ideas?
K.K.
Anaheim Hills
A. There are many solvent cleaners you can get at paint stores to remove mistakes and drops, says painter Andy Reza of Santa Ana. Make sure you mask lower portions of the windowpanes to protect them from the solvent. And always keep the windows open when using solvents because the fumes are very strong.
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Q. I’m considering using painting pads when I paint my den this summer, but I’ve been told by a neighbor that I won’t get as good a job as I would with rollers and brushes. Is that true?
K.I.
Anaheim
A. Most professionals use rollers and brushes, says Rich Zelle of Hal’s Paint & Decorating in Fullerton. Some complain that pads apply paint too thickly. They do require some practice to get an even finish. They’re very easy to use, and many homeowners say they’re able to get an excellent job with a quality pad.
Zelle suggests starting with a set of pads in an assortment of sizes and a small brush to use for cutting in around corners.
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Q. We have a medium-sized tree--the trunk is about 24 inches in circumference--that we need to remove from the backyard because the roots are getting too close to the patio. I would think that after the tree is cut down, it would die. Do I have to pull the stump out?
D.N.
La Palma
A. It will die eventually, but you may want to have the stump ground down, says tree trimmer Hector Rosa of Westminster. Leaving the stump out may attract termites, and most people choose to have a stump removed or ground up to help the yard look uniform and make it easier to maneuver a lawn mower.
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Q. On my front door, the pins in the three hinges are always inching upward very slowly. I have to tap them down with a hammer every couple of months. Is there a way to keep them in place, or is this a sign that the door is not hung correctly?
P.I.
Buena Park
A. You may want to give them a shot of lubricant, says contractor Greg Cole of Santa Ana. It’s not uncommon to see this happen in older homes that have doors with hinge pins that don’t attach to the hinge.
The swinging of the door pulls the pins up. If you put some light oil in there, it should keep the pin in place. Also, check to make sure the hinges are securely fastened into the jamb and door so that the door is in alignment.
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Q. A few years ago we got a pine armoire that has doors that open and recess into the body of the piece. The doors open and close without a problem. However, in a couple of areas the doors are scratched because they hit a rubber roller that I suppose is designed to prevent scratching. What could be causing this, and how can it be prevented?
G.E.
Los Alamitos
A. You’ll first want to contact the company you bought it from to see if they have any ideas to correct it, says Mark Bausman of Bausman & Father Furniture Refinishing in Huntington Beach. If that doesn’t work, have a repairman take a look at the piece.
Pocket doors, as they’re known, should roll freely into place without scratching. The fact that they’re scratching means that the doors are out of alignment. They’ll have to be fixed, or the damage will continue.
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.
