Painters, Don’t Get Called on the Carpet
Question: We’re painting all the rooms of our house, and there’s one aspect of it that bugs me. I’ve put tape down in one of the rooms along the carpet where it meets the molding. After painting the molding, I pulled up the tape and found that some of the carpet edge touched the paint. How do the pros paint along the molding?
K.S.
Rancho Santa Margarita
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Answer: Tape is a good way to get and keep the carpet knap down, it just has to be pushed down far enough, said Gene Blauser of ICI Dulux Paints in Anaheim. Use thick tape, 2- to 3-inches wide, and push it down into place so that it covers all of the carpeting. You can also use a straight edge to provide additional protection, and make sure you’re not applying too much paint so that it drips down onto the carpet. The type of carpeting can also be affected. High piles or shag are more susceptible to touching wet paint than are Berber or low-pile carpeting.
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Q: I’d like to install a circuit of low-voltage lighting in front of our house, but I’ve been hearing different answers to my question. How deep in the ground should I lay the electrical lines?
N.N.
Fountain Valley
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A: Check with your city building department, since each local building code can vary, said Kathy McNally of McNally Electrical Supply in Los Alamitos. Direct Burial Cable, which is low-voltage, can be buried at a higher level than a standard-voltage wire, which is generally 18 inches. You’ll want it deep enough so that erosion won’t bring it to the surface for a lawn mower to cut. Plan to go down at least a foot, but check with your building code for a definite answer.
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Q: We’re about the only people in town that have their original asphalt driveway. It’s in pretty good shape after 40 years, but there are a number of holes and cracks in a few areas. Are there repair kits that will help match the color of my asphalt?
D.C.
Buena Park
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A: Several types of asphalt repair kits are available at most hardware and building supply stores, said Bill Sink of Angelus Building Supply in Santa Ana. They’re easy to use: Clean out the hole or crack, pour in the patch, cover it with a sturdy board, then drive your car over it to flatten it. Color matching’s probably not going to be possible since your driveway has faded from exposure to the elements. Some firms provide asphalt resurfacing, which you might want to consider. Expect to pay about $100 and up to have your cracks repaired and the driveway given a new black surface.
If you have a question about your home or garden, 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.
