Rain, Rain Go Away, Let Me Paint Today
Q I need to paint the exterior of our house before out-of-town guests arrive, but with all the recent rain, I’m afraid of painting on top of wet wood or stucco. How long should I wait before painting after a rain?
G.Y.
Westminster
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A Your main worry is painting on wet wood, not so much wet stucco, says Rich Zelle of Fullerton Paint & Flooring.
If there’s moisture on the stucco, usually it will breathe through new flat paint. If the woodwork is in poor condition, wait until you have at least one sunny day after a rain, preferably two days, before painting.
You need some sun and low humidity on those days. Stick with a water-based enamel on the wood, because if some moisture is still on it, there’s a good chance it will breathe through it, as opposed to an oil-based coating that will trap the moisture.
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Q I’d like to string speaker wire under the house to put speakers in our bedroom. How long can the wire be before sound quality is lost?
L.L.
Placentia
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A You should be able to get 200 feet before you hear a difference in sound, says Gene Hankins of Action Electronics in Santa Ana.
For long distances, try using what’s called Monster Cable. This is an expensive speaker wire that’s thicker and creates less impedance for the sound. Use it for any long-distance installation or for any application where you’re concerned about losing sound quality.
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Q We have a 6-year-old propane barbecue with a push-button starter. Lately we’ve had to push the starter many times before the propane lights, and sometimes we’ve given up and lighted it with a match. Can this be fixed?
P.C.
Fountain Valley
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A This is relatively simple to fix on virtually all barbecues, says Peter Eichelberg of Yorba Linda Patio & Hearth.
It’s called a Replacement Self-Grounding Plunger, and you should be able to find it at your local barbecue store. First remove the old one, which is usually attached by a nut to the back of the frame.
Take this off and disconnect it before taking it with you to make sure you get the right kind. It’s replaced just as easily as it’s removed and should ease your lighting problems.
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.
