Marble Top May Need Replacing
Q. We have a faux marble counter top in our bathroom that’s more than 20 years old and has picked up scratches and small blemishes. We’d like to refinish it but don’t know where to start. Can this be done?
P.D.
Huntington Beach
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A. There are many companies that advertise a service that will “re-coat” your counter top, says Scott Blanke of Central Plumbing & Heating Supply in La Habra. It may not be a bad option if you’re trying to make the bathroom look good enough to sell it. However, these types of re-coats don’t last very long.
Twenty years is a good lifetime for a cultured marble top. Most last only seven to 10, he says. If you’ll be living there for a while, you may want to see how much it would cost to replace it.
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Q. I had my asphalt driveway coated with a product that is made from coal tar. The label says mistakes can be cleaned up with water. However, I’ve tried that, paint thinner and gasoline, and there are still stains on my concrete walkway. Any other ideas?
F.P.
Corona del Mar
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A. Try a little bit of those heavy-duty cream hand cleaners on the stains, says contractor Dave Marcus of Santa Ana. These are found in hardware or auto parts stores and are designed to remove heavy grease from hands.
Put some on the stain, and let it sit a while before scrubbing. If that doesn’t work, and solvents haven’t been effective, use a weak solution of muriatic acid and water to burn the stain off. Be sure to use rubber gloves and protective eye wear when doing this.
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Q. I need to vent a dryer to the outside, but the nearest wall is 13 feet away. Is it all right to run a vent that distance? Also, I’ve heard there’s a canister one can get that connects to the back of the dryer and collects lint. Does that work?
W.S.
Seal Beach
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A. The rule of thumb when venting a dryer is that the hose can run 12 feet, so technically you may be a little short, but it should be OK, says Tom Houlihan of Orange County Appliance Parts in Garden Grove.
What you may want to do is use 4-inch aluminum pipe for the vent instead of the flexible hose. This gives a smooth metallic surface for the air to flow through and will keep lint from impeding air flow.
If you have a flexible hose vent, it’s a good idea to periodically remove it and clean it out, which will help the dryer work more efficiently.
A canister will prevent the lint from collecting but may increase the humidity and damage items stored near it.
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Q. I put a new medicine chest in my bathroom recently and had problems when I applied caulk around it. The caulk didn’t go on smoothly, and when it dried, it shrank. What’s the key to doing the job right?
D.D.
Buena Park
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A. Use a good caulk with a high silicone content, which prevents shrinkage, says Rich Zelle of Hal’s Paint & Decorating in Fullerton. Use a good caulking gun. As you run the bead of caulk down a gap, run your finger above it to smooth it out. Keep a wet sponge handy to wipe off any excess. A caulk finishing tool available at most paint stores will also help create a smooth run.
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Q. My kitchen has white ceramic tiles. The tiles on the back splash have tulip designs engraved into them but look plain. I’d like to paint the tulips to make them more colorful. How would that be done?
U.S.
Laguna Niguel
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A You can’t successfully paint a ceramic tile that’s been installed, says Gloria Richey of Tile Importers in Anaheim. When you see tiles that have been painted, the work has been done before installation and the paint baked on. The ceramic surface is too slick to allow a regular paint job to hold.
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.