Forget Open-Door Policy; Let Clear Caulk Slip Through the Cracks
Q. My front door has developed a crack in one of the panels. It’s not very wide, but you can see daylight through it. Can this be filled without refinishing the varnished surface?
J.U., Mission Viejo
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A. If the varnished surface is only on the inside, you may want to caulk any outside cracks that can be simply sanded and painted over, says Tom Toia of Imperial Paint in Anaheim.
Otherwise, try using a clear silicone caulk to carefully fill in the gaps.
You’ll also need to address the question of why this is happening. Is moisture getting into the door from the ground or the jamb, causing the separation? Ultimately, you may need to replace the door the ensure its security and weatherproofing.
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Q. The red bricks on the outside of my chimney next to the house are deteriorating from the bottom up. It’s been suggested that I should have a second layer of bricks applied to cover it up. Any suggestions?
L.C., Fullerton
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A. Find out what’s causing the deterioration, says Ken Newland of Tustin Block. If the chimney is made of adobe brick, it’s possible that you’d see some deterioration over time, or from contact with water. You may also be seeing deterioration of the grout rather than the brick. To fix the problem, after the cause has been determined, you can apply a brick veneer over the current brick, or even a stucco covering to match the rest of the house.
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Q. We live near the ocean, and the exterior portion of our aluminum sliding door tracks are corroding. Can these be replaced?
J.R.C., San Clemente
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A. Remove the two doors, then match up the old track with a new one to make sure it matches, says Katy Jackson of Golden Glass in Anaheim Hills.
When you get the right one, you’ll need a PVC lining set underneath the track to protect it from being affected by chemical reactions with the stucco. Also when replacing the track, you’ll have to replace the rollers in the door. These will help the door roll smoothly on the new track.
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Q. The cultured marble tops in my bathrooms have dulled over the years. Is there a way to restore the luster?
G.M., Orange
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A. These are difficult to restore because the top finish coat is very thin, says Gary Lillge of Crown Hardware in Newport Beach. You may want to try Goddard’s and Old Tyme, which are natural and synthetic marble finishes available at most hardware outlets. It would probably be best to try them first in a small, inconspicuous place on the top. These types of tops are easy to scratch, which is why you want to be careful about not using abrasives or caustic chemicals on them.
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Q. We have some cobalt blue Mexican glassware that we use every day. While they’re sturdy, a couple of glasses have developed jagged edges in places along the rims. Can these be buffed away?
P.K., Irvine
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A. It depends on the glass and the damage, says glass collector Kris Stein of Yorba Linda. In this type of glass, air bubbles may have formed while it was being made; when they break, they cause irregularities along the rim. Try an emory cloth to see if the sharp edges can be smoothed. If that doesn’t work, you may need to take it to a glass shop, where it can be filed on a wheel.
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Handy note: In response to a recent question regarding how to better control the temperature in a two-story house, K.M. of Fountain Valley says that vent covers may not be the best answer. “If the vents near the thermostats are covered, then the furnace will probably run too long. Another idea might be to install a second thermostat and motorized dampers in the ducts where the heated air branches to the upper and lower floors.”
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.
