Kitchen Set Makes Lasting Impression

Question We have a one-piece vinyl kitchen floor that’s a few years old. We’ve moved the table and chairs to another part of the kitchen, and the table and chair legs have left deep depressions in their previous locations. Is there a way to bring these depressions back up to the level of the rest of the floor?

N.I., Irvine

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Answer If the floor is not very old, the depressed spots should rise up naturally, depending on the type of vinyl that was used, says Sal Barron of Barron’s Floor Coverings in Placentia.

If it’s a cushioned vinyl, you’ll see the spots rise more quickly than if it’s an inlaid vinyl. The older the floor, the longer it will take.

Depending on how much use the table and chairs received in that area, the spots may never completely spring back up, because a lot of force was put on the floor by the chair legs. Make sure that each chair and table leg has a protective pad to prevent it from scratching the floor.

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Q A number of years ago we bought an expensive brass and chrome bathroom fixture for our sink. Large brass rings are at the base of each handle, and over time these rings have become badly tarnished, making the whole fixture look bad. Can these be replated?

P.P., Huntington Beach

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A Replating is going to depend on the type of metal used in the rings, says Rich Haagsma of Faucets ‘n Fixtures in Orange.

If it has brass plating on top of some type of pot metal or plastic, replating or polishing won’t make it last. If it’s made from sheet brass, about 1/32-inch thick, it may be too thin to redo.

Expensive brass fixtures are generally made from casting, so that the brass layer is one-eighth to three-sixteenth inches thick, and these can be repolished or plated. You may want to take the rings to a metal polisher or plater to see if they would be worth redoing. Some high-end fixtures have long warranties, and it may be worth seeing if the manufacturer will replace them.

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Q I’m going to be painting a couple of rooms, and in shopping for painting supplies I’m a little perplexed. There are expensive wood-handled brushes and cheaper plastic-handled ones. I assume that the more expensive brushes are made to last longer and are for professionals. Should I opt for the cheap ones since I paint only about every other year, or will the expensive brushes give me a better job?

F.A., Westminster

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A When you shop for paintbrushes, forget about the handle, says Bob Corum of Orange Paint Store.

Look at the ends of the bristles. On good brushes, the ends are feathered, and using these you’ll find that you won’t leave brush marks. Cheaper brushes tend to be stiffer and less feathered and you will see brush marks after the paint dries.

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.