Fix Driveway With Thin Coat of Concrete
Q We had a concrete driveway poured at the beginning of the year. It’s dark and mottled and is cracking in many places. The contractor says that acid treatments are the only answer to the color problem and that I’ll have to live with the cracks unless they get to the width of a nickel on its end. Is acid the only way to treat this?
N.B.
Costa Mesa
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A There’s not much uniformity to concrete, and its shade and texture can vary based on its quality, how it was mixed and how it was laid, says Steve Sink of Angelus Quarries in Santa Ana.
Concrete does get hairline cracks, and it’s not uncommon to see this happen in new concrete. Its stability is often affected by the ground underneath it, such as whether the soil is expansive.
In Costa Mesa, as in much of Orange County, housing has been built on farmland, and that old soil may not have been properly compacted in the first place.
As opposed to an acid treatment, you could have a skim coat of concrete applied. You could talk to the contractor and ask for a particular shade. It is possible this could be applied over the existing driveway.
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Q We’re redoing a bathroom in our house, and the caulk around the old sink and medicine chest is tearing off chunks of paint and wallpaper as I remove it. Is there a way to do this without making a big mess?
P.I.
Brea
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A Your best bet would be to cut along the edges with a sharp razor and chisel it out, says painting consultant Charlie Kaczorowski of Tustin.
If it’s a good quality caulk it, should come out relatively easily. Cheaper brands tend to become brittle over time and can stick to paint and wallpaper.
When you replace the caulk, get the better mixtures that have some silicone. These are easier to work with, provide a better seal over a longer period and are worth the few extra dollars.
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Q I have an old linoleum tile floor, and I want to put a one-piece vinyl floor on top of it. Can this be done without tearing up the old floor?
R.Y.
Garden Grove
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A You may have to use a special kind of adhesive or mastic, but it’s possible to lay your new floor over your old one, says Leslie Cooper of Bob’s Shades & Linoleum in Orange.
Pulling up an old linoleum tile floor is something you’d probably want to avoid because it may contain asbestos.
Make sure the surface is clean. If any of the tiles have buckled, cement them or remove them and fill in the gap with a material like Fix-All. If there are any low spots in the floor, address them by filling them in until the floor is even all the way around.
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.
