Guard Against Shocks
QUESTION: My TV and VCR are plugged into an outlet that my kids can reach. Although it has a childproof cover, would I gain additional protection from a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet? Are there disadvantages, other than cost, of having that in the panel box instead of in an outlet?
ANSWER: A ground fault circuit interrupter outlet receptacle certainly provides additional protection against a shock hazard. To do this, the circuit in a circuit interrupter monitors the current in the “hot” and “neutral” lines.
Under normal conditions, these two currents are always equal. If the circuit detects a difference between them as little as 5 milliamperes, it interrupts the power in as little as 1/40th of a second. However, childproof covers on an outlet are effective, and it shouldn’t be necessary to install an outlet.
A ground fault circuit interrupter receptacle has one advantage over an interrupter installed in a circuit breaker: The circuit breaker monitors the branch circuit. With it, there is a greater chance of nuisance tripping caused by a buildup of leaking currents because of deteriorated insulation, multiple splices and moisture.
Most Ceiling Styles Need Skylight Shaft
Q: I will be installing a skylight in my living room, and I’m a little confused about whether I need a light shaft and how to go about constructing one. Can you shed some light on this?
A: When you are dealing with a ceiling other than a cathedral, you will have a space between the skylight unit and the ceiling below. The size and shape of this light well or shaft depends on factors--the construction of the roof and ceiling, the desired amount of light to enter the room and the appearance of the entire area.
If you want a light shaft, frame out the area between the roof rafters and the ceiling joists with lumber. Keep in mind that this shaft can be designed to extend straight down into the room or be aligned perpendicular to the roof opening so it comes into the room at an angle. Box in the shaft with plywood, drywall or paneling.
Questions? Write to Popular Mechanics, Reader Service Bureau, 224 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.
Repair or Remove Sinking Porch Slab
Q: My brick house is about 20 years old. It has a concrete porch about 5 feet square with steps going down to the backyard. The steps and the porch have settled and pulled away from the house, leaving about an 8-inch gap at the top. The foundation goes deep underground. Even if I could find a house jack big enough, I couldn’t fill in under the porch foundation. There’s no opening under the porch slab and steps to build a form. What can I do to solve this problem besides move?
A: If you are certain the porch is not still settling (if the gap is not getting wider year by year), you can fill in the gap between the steps and the house foundation wall starting at the bottom where the gap is narrowest. Wedge a 2-by-8 board vertically against each end of the steps to hold the repair concrete in place until it sets. Carefully fill the space between the house and the porch with concrete and compact it by poking it with a hoe handle to make certain it has completely filled the gap.
Finish the job by smoothing the top flush to the top step. Where the edge of the patching meets the wall, finish the joint with an edging tool. This leaves space for final sealing with a good grade of silicone caulk.
If the joint continues to enlarge, the only permanent cure is to remove the porch entirely and rebuild it on proper fill.
