Drip, drip, drip - not a quick, easy fix

June 1, 2006

My wife has impeccable timing. There I was, enjoying a near-perfect Saturday night. It was mid-winter, with about 5 inches of fresh white stuff blanketing the ground. I was burrowed into the recliner, with logs snap-crackle-popping in the fireplace and a hockey game on the tube.

Recent columns

• Heating water for all is a tankless task

  April 20, 2006

  When his water heater died, Rick Jackson figured he'd just replace it. As he mentioned the need for a new tank to his plumbing contractor, he sort of joked about buying one that never runs out of hot water. "That's when my contractor said, 'I've got just the thing for you,'" said Jackson, who has a three-family home in Long Beach.

• 5 projects to top your list

  April 13, 2006

  REMOVE LEAVES

• "Pigtails" cut aluminum wire's fire risk

  April 6, 2006

  What can you tell me about aluminum wiring? From what I've heard and read, aluminum wiring is unsafe and a fire hazard. So when I purchased my home and my inspector found some aluminum wiring (he said it should be replaced) I hired a licensed electrician. He made a repair he called "pigtailing." Because of the high cost, $3,300, I started thinking:

• Painting plastic laminate or melamine countertops

  April 6, 2006

  Is there a paint I can use successfully on Formica? I have a 60-inch Formica vanity in a bathroom that is more than 50 years old. I would like to paint over it and have a finish that is both water resistant and durable.

• Top 10 Things Homeowners Should Know

  March 9, 2006

  A few years ago, while working on a story about finding an old-fashioned handyman, one such fellow told me of a specific task he did for a couple each spring. Both husband and wife were so mechanically challenged that they'd hire him to change their light bulbs.

• Plumbing whistles? Valve may be calling

  March 2, 2006

  We hear a loud whistling sound when we turn on our kitchen faucet. The Delta model was installed about 15 years ago. No other faucet makes such a sound. How can I stop the whistling?

• Removing pesky mildew stains from stone

  March 2, 2006

  I sent you an e-mail about mildew stains on the marble vanity top in our bathroom. You suggested using a poultice of a citrus fruit, like a lemon, dipped in table salt. I tried rubbing the area with the poultice, but it didn't work. Someone else told me to use hydrogen peroxide to kill the stains. Any other suggestions?

• Blinking lights actually mean everything is fine

  March 2, 2006

  Last fall, I noticed that some of my house lights were flickering. I checked for loose bulbs, and everything was fine. I had an electrician come. Again, no problems. Finally, I called the Long Island Power Authority. A technician came to make new connections at the pole and the meter, even though he said everything looked OK. The flickering continues. Can you shed some light?

• How to clean up indoor air

  February 16, 2006

  Allyson was having a hard time. My younger daughter, who attends college in California and lives there with her grandmother, was visiting over Christmas. The indoor air was wreaking havoc with her allergies. Allyson's ears, nose and throat go bonkers when exposed to dust and pollen and smoke from cooking and cigarettes. They also bother my middle son, Matt.

• Concrete way to keep water out

  January 26, 2006

  We have a leak with a visible crack in a basement wall. A mason suggested replacing the concrete driveway on the outside of the wall and pitching the new driveway to provide proper drainage. He also suggested patching the basement crack, on the exterior, by digging near the foundation and then applying a sealant to the concrete wall. But a waterproofing company suggested a system that would call for digging a trench inside the basement and installing drainage pipe inside the trench, which would empty to a sump pump. We need a permanent solution but can't quite determine the correct approach. By the way, we have secured plastic sheeting on the exterior wall, and when it rains or snows this has kept the basement from leaking.

• Keeping bathroom grout clean

  January 26, 2006

  Last year we renovated a bathroom, installing white tile and grout on the walls and in the shower. The base is acrylic, with a frameless glass enclosure. I chose white tile because I wanted a fresh, clean look and thought it would be easy to keep clean with some bleach. After the installers finished, they told me not to use bleach because it can cause the grout to deteriorate. I've been using a product called ScrubFree because it is safe to use on the acrylic base and removes the soap scum from the glass. But I feel the grout could be brighter. The only problem area is in the shower where it gets wet. Is it safe to use a bleach product once in a while if I rinse it thoroughly? We spent a lot of money renovating the bathroom, and I want to keep it looking as great as the day it was finished. What would you suggest?

• Testing GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets for safety

  January 26, 2006

  Make sure GFCIs are faultless

• Wow House

  January 19, 2006

  What can a 10,023-square-foot Caribbean-style Florida mansion possibly have in common with a more modest new home that's perhaps one-fifth the size and one-tenth the price?

• Looking at color in a bigger way

  January 5, 2006

  Picking that "just-right" interior paint color used to be difficult. You'd bring back these tiny color swatches - called paint chips - from the hardware or paint store, hold them up to a huge wall, then try to envision an accurate depth of blue or a specific paleness of yellow as they might spread across a larger area.

• Nonprofit turning houses into homes

  December 29, 2005

  Michelle Wacker was 28, single and looking to buy her first home.

• Put a positive spin on dryer woes

  December 22, 2005

  Your Nov. 10 column on air filters prompts this question. Recently, I received a LIPA bill that was extremely high. I started to pay attention to my electric usage. I noticed that my electric clothes dryer is taking quite long to dry clothes, much longer than it seems to have in the past. The dryer is 10 years old. However, I wash and dry about 12 loads of laundry a week. I am not sure if a dirty exhaust vent could be causing the problem or if it is simply time for a new dryer. Any insight?

• Put a positive spin on dryer woes

  December 22, 2005

  Your Nov. 10 column on air filters prompts this question. Recently, I received a LIPA bill that was extremely high. I started to pay attention to my electric usage. I noticed that my electric clothes dryer is taking quite long to dry clothes, much longer than it seems to have in the past. The dryer is 10 years old. However, I wash and dry about 12 loads of laundry a week. I am not sure if a dirty exhaust vent could be causing the problem or if it is simply time for a new dryer. Any insight?

• Should you use nifty gadgets to clean your chimney?

  December 22, 2005

  I recently used one of those cylindrical cleaning sticks designed to clean soot and creosote from my oil-burning furnace and chimney. Is there any danger in using such a product? Is it a health risk? Can it harm the boiler or masonry in the fireplace?

• Let it blow

  December 15, 2005

  When it's icy cold outside and white flakes are falling, the best investment I've ever made in power equipment is rarin' to go. Its summer blanket discarded, my 16-year-old Toro single-stage snow thrower, a Model CCR 2000, drinks a fresh gas-and-oil cocktail and, with a couple of gentle pumps from its priming bulb and a few pulls of its starting cord, roars into full-power mode.

• For an electrifying Christmas

  December 8, 2005

  When it comes to holiday lighting, who's better than Kathy Presciano?

• Rake's progress is actually a vacuum

  November 24, 2005

  Usually, I am armed for my fall yard cleanup with only a leaf rake, a wheelbarrow and those paper bags issued by towns and villages.

• Warming up to winter

  November 17, 2005

  In case you've been vacationing on Mars, here's a news flash: It's going to cost more to heat your home this winter.

• Filtering out dust improves home air quality

  November 10, 2005

  Every month, especially during the heating season, I spend a few dollars on new air filters for my forced-air furnaces. We have two heating zones, so one filter for each zone.

• A knock on wood heat: It's not for the whole house

  November 3, 2005

  I grew up in the Midwest, where my home was heated by a wood-burning stove. This wasn't in the 1930s; it was the 1970s. Now, as an adult living on Long Island and with the rising cost of heating fuel, I would love to buy a wood stove to heat my two-story home. Is this a bad idea? Could I temporarily disconnect my baseboard heating and have it reconnected in the future? The better stoves cost about $7,000. Would this be a sound investment? -- Amber R., Farmingville

• Heat tape for ice damming on the roof?

  November 3, 2005

  Last winter, you wrote about using heat tape on the roof to prevent ice damming. Do you know where I can purchase heat tape? Also, is there a company that installs heat tape? -- Renee Breitner, Nassau County

• You can't stand the junk - now what?

  October 27, 2005

  Who doesn't have junk? It lurks in attics, basements or garages, big headaches for so many homeowners.

• Removing old Sanitas paste

  October 20, 2005

  We are remodeling and redecorating our home after more than 30 years. The remodeling is almost complete, and my job is the redecorating. We had Sanitas wallcovering put up way back when, and we find it does come down with a little effort; however, it leaves behind the residue of the original paste. What is the best way to remove this paste?

• Clogged soil stack could be cause of burping toilet

  October 20, 2005

  My home is three years old. I hope you can shed some light on a mysterious plumbing problem with the toilets in my upstairs bathrooms.

• Grading the grains

  October 13, 2005

  Not all wood flooring is created -- or graded -- equal.

• Floored by wood

  October 13, 2005

  When it comes to floors, nothing's as good as wood.

• Time for a furnace tune-up

  October 6, 2005

  Every year, before the cold weather hits, experts urge homeowners to have their heating equipment inspected and serviced.

• Closing the pool won't drain your wallet

  September 29, 2005

  A few years ago, someone in our family - the guilty party has yet to come forward - misplaced the telephone number of the pool guy.

• Quieting water hammer

  September 15, 2005

  My water pipes make a tremendous amount of noise when I turn on my dishwasher. I am afraid they will break loose. If I turn on the hot water at the sink, the noise stops. Any suggestions? -- J. Sele, Rocky Point

• Can stains on acoustical tile be covered?

  September 15, 2005

  I have Celotex-type plank tiles on my ceiling. The tiles have been stained by water from a leak in the second-floor bathroom. Any tips on how to remove the stain other than replacing the tiles? -- Mel, Levittown

• A tub leak could cause a ceiling to go to pieces

  September 15, 2005

  My contractor put in a white suspension ceiling several years ago, and although it looks beautiful, pieces of the previous ceiling keep falling. The falling debris collects near the light fixtures, and when the lights are on, the pieces are illuminated. It looks awful. Other than removing the suspension tiles and spackling the former ceiling, is there anything that can be done? -- Mary McDonald, Hempstead

• Remedies for squeaky steps

  September 15, 2005

  My stairs squeak. Is there anything I can do to fix this problem? -- Lorraine D.

• When finishing a basement, do it the right way

  August 25, 2005

  Finishing a basement is no big deal. For years, American homeowners have been expanding their living space by turning basements into recreation rooms, kitchens and even bedrooms.

• New suspension ceilings are a cut above

  August 18, 2005

  The last time I put up a suspension ceiling, Ronald Reagan was president. The ceiling was the final touch to my finished basement in Wichita. We were three kids into our marriage and desperately needed the room.

• Put together your own hurricane survival kit

  August 11, 2005

  By the time they reach us, hurricanes that ravage our Southern neighbors along the Atlantic Coast have mostly played out. Usually, the worst that happens here in the Northeast is a slight change in weather, some rain - at times heavy - and cooler temperatures.

• Dive into pool maintenance, and do it by the book

  August 4, 2005

  It probably has been 25 years since my sister rented a house with an in-ground swimming pool. For some reason, I was selected to be the person responsible for maintenance, aka the pool boy.

• Air-conditioning condensation can be a stain pain

  July 28, 2005

  My home has central air-conditioning. Because of a condensation problem with the air-conditioning unit, I am getting rust stains on the cement on one side of the house. What can I do to remove the rust stains?

• Chasing away mourning doves

  July 28, 2005

  Mourning doves have taken shelter behind my front-door shrubs. I have tried chasing them away with irritants, such as pepper, bleach and insect sprays. Is there anything I can do? R.M., Hicksville

• Dealing with asbestos in old vinyl tile

  July 28, 2005

  In your July 7 column you responded to a question about removing vinyl floor tiles. I am surprised you did not bring up the potential safety and health issues from vinyl asbestos tile (VAT). New York City and New York State asbestos regulations do not apply to homeowners who do their own abatement, but at least one of the removal methods you suggested can put asbestos fibers into the air. Homeowners should be aware of the risks of inhaling this fibrous carcinogen.

• Wrap up cankerworm and defoliation problems

  July 21, 2005

  For most of May and the first half of June, they dropped in like unannounced houseguests, ruining virtually every outdoor activity. Many of my neighbors were forced into the middle of the street for their evening walks because these invaders had overtaken the low-hanging branches of trees that line the sidewalks.

• Dispose of old tools with the Woodworkers Club

  July 7, 2005

  Both of my parents have passed away, and I am getting ready to sell their house, which has been in the family for 80 years. My father and his father were tool-and-die makers, so I have to dispose of a lot of tools and some large machinery. Many of the hand tools are not a problem; they will be divided among the children. But there are some specialized tools that we don't have a clue about, and there are also some larger tools, like a lathe and a drill press. Could you tell me who might be interested in these old machines? -- Carol S., Carle Place

• How best to cover a concrete driveway

  July 7, 2005

  My concrete driveway is about 20 years old and is showing signs of age. It has the usual stains and rust spots and some minor scaling. I am thinking of having a layer of blacktop put over the concrete. Do you have any thoughts? -- Jack S., Wantagh

• Painting over wood (or faux wood) paneling

  July 7, 2005

  We have wooden paneling in our den, which is more than 25 years old and is in dire need of a face-lift. The paneling has black vertical grain lines and black molding. We thought a fresh coat of paint might solve the problem. Could you offer suggestions on wall preparation, types of paint that are best to use or a Web site that we could explore to find this information? -- Richard P., Westbury

• Removing vinyl tile from wood floors

  July 7, 2005

  My house, which was built around 1918, has wood floors covered with stick-on vinyl tile in three upstairs bedrooms. In one other bedroom, where the floor did not have these tiles, we refinished the wood floor, and it came out beautifully. We also refinished the wood floors downstairs, where there were no stick-on tiles, and the results there also were great. The problem is the bedrooms with the floor tiles; I just can't remove the tiles without splintering the wood. Any suggestions? I really want to end up with wood floors, but we have major budget concerns. We've already invested a lot of money in the house. Help. -- Joan K., Seaford

• HOME WORK Two jobs proudly done with that old cowboy try

  June 30, 2005

  Larry was a Vietnam veteran and a welder for an oil-refining company in Wichita, Kan. In the mid-1980s, he was my neighbor and perhaps the first person to offer this new homeowner wise advice on do-it-yourself repairs.

• HOME WORK True? Grits kill ants

  June 23, 2005

  Got ants? Get grits.

• A solution for removing white stains on bricks

  June 9, 2005

  The aluminum trim around my windows has stained the brick facing on my house. Over the years, water has washed over the aluminum, and the result has been this white, oxidizing stain on the brick. I've tried power washing, detergents and paint remover, but nothing seems to work. Any ideas? -- Herb F., Bethpage

• It's best to remove layers of flooring before installing laminates

  June 9, 2005

  My kitchen floor has two layers of flooring, the original subfloor and a second subfloor. I'd like to install a laminate floor after I renovate my kitchen. But do I have to remove these other layers before installing my new laminate flooring? Would placing the laminate over the existing vinyl flooring be too heavy? -- Margaret K., Rocky Point

• Where PVC pipe dreams can come true

  June 2, 2005

  Charles Sanders' parents were children of the Great Depression, and they passed on at least one life lesson to their son.

• Easy riders

  May 26, 2005

  Nestle into the plush, cushioned seat. Turn the key and rev the powerful engine. Smoothly shift the automatic transmission into drive, and away you go, zipping across ... the lawn.

• It's spring cleaning time!

  May 19, 2005

  It's spring, so everyone seems to be cleaning. Where do you start? Yard? Basement? Garage? Utility room?

• Resurfacing concrete

  May 12, 2005

  We have an in-ground pool that is surrounded by a concrete walkway and patio. While the concrete is in good condition, two small areas have settled a couple of inches, and we no longer like the look of the plain concrete. The expense of ripping up the existing patio and walk prohibit us from changing the appearance. Is there a product that will cover the concrete and make it more attractive? We don't want to paint the concrete. -- Robin B., Centerport

• Baseboard covers -- To paint or not to paint?

  May 12, 2005

  I have to paint the covers for my baseboard heating. In the past I have tried latex paint that matches the wall paint. It lasts a few months, then begins to crack, blister and chip. Is there a paint or primer I can use first and then cover with latex paint that matches the wall? -- J.L.C., South Jamesport

• Pegboard is a good alternative to pricey panels

  May 12, 2005

  Our home was built about seven years ago, and the drywall tape in the garage has started to peel away from the joints. It looks terrible. I wonder if we can use some of the garage panels you wrote about several months ago to cover these unsightly spots. The panels look so nice. Are they difficult to install, and would they cover the mess? -- Mary M., Hammonton, N.J.

• Inch by inch, step by step, I vented my bathroom

  April 28, 2005

  Before I overhaul the bathroom in my daughter Melissa's bedroom, there's the pressing matter of an exhaust fan.

• How to keep the wheels rolling and engine purring

  April 14, 2005

  I dropped off my combination yard blower and leaf vacuum at the repair shop this week. Should be ready just in time for the weekend. I've put the finishing touch on storing the snowblower - c'mon, no more white stuff - for the season. And I'm in the process of preparing the lawnmower, weed whacker and edger for the summer ahead.

• Fooled by faux

  March 31, 2005

  When passersby look at the new roof on the recent addition Mark and Carolyn Lamarr put on their center hall Colonial, it doesn't seem any different from the others in their Garden City community of slate-roofed homes that are more than three quarters of a century old.

• Restoring shine to ceramic floors

  March 24, 2005

  I have ceramic tile in my kitchen, and it has grown dull and hazy looking. I have been using soapy cleaners, and I can't seem to restore the shine to the floor. Should I buy those tile cleaners I see in home centers? -- Betsy R., Mineola

• Proper use of "floating" -- or laminate -- flooring

  March 24, 2005

  We need a new kitchen floor. The vinyl floor we have is old and cracking. Can we use one of the new "floating floors" and just go right over the old vinyl? Are these floating floors any good for kitchens? -- Nancy C., Bayport

• Ways to make an old home more energy-wise

  March 24, 2005

  Could you tell me the pros and cons of blown-in insulation? My mother had it done about 30 years ago, and she claimed it had settled. Other people who have had it done have told me of mixed results. We just installed all new windows in our Colonial-style home, yet our fuel bill was $600 last month. We are seniors, do not qualify for programs sponsored by the New York State Office of the Aging and do not want to foot the bill for insulation with new siding, because we don't think we will be in our home more than 10 more years. -- Virginia S., Queens

• A little warranty goes a long way

  March 17, 2005

  Purchasing extended warranties and annual service contracts always flusters me. Chances are I'll skip the offer from an appliance super store for coverage on the new washer and dryer, but I like the idea of a service contract to protect the furnace.

• Making your beds good for the garden

  March 10, 2005

  Grass and weeds invade, mulch and wood chips escape and rich soil erodes. Your planting beds always appear a mess.

• When ice forms at the roof's edge

  March 3, 2005

  The Jan. 23 snowstorm prompted dozens of e-mails and letters from readers about "ice damming" on rooftops. From all their questions, I'm not sure if readers understand that there can be several reasons for this problem, including inadequate ventilation and insulation in the attic and poorly designed gutters.

• Taking a cold (or hot!) shower

  March 3, 2005

  We have been having a problem with the water temperature in our shower. Once we have it at a comfortable temperature, it either gets boiling hot or freezing cold. We've made sure that no one is using the water at the same time, but it doesn't matter. We don't have a water heater, and we just installed a larger expansion tank, hoping that that would solve the problem.

• Hail to the hammer

  February 24, 2005

  My father was 34 when he died unexpectedly in 1959. I was just 3 years old. Except for some snapshot memories, he didn't leave much behind.

• Farewell, finally, to the deep freeze

  February 3, 2005

  Thoughts pulsated in my head as my fingers snaked around the handle. I couldn't wait to squeeze the trigger. Just one little squeeze, and that leggy blonde could start drying her tears. Just one little squeeze and there would be physical damage and, perhaps, emotional scarring. But I could live with it. I wanted to see the blonde smile again. I raised my right hand.

• New roof in winter takes a specialist

  January 27, 2005

  My daughter, who lives in Syracuse, needs a new roof on her house. Can shingles be successfully installed during the winter months? Or should she wait till spring? -- Marie TenBrink, Carle Place

• How lowering the thermostat lowers your heating bill

  January 27, 2005

  It is common knowledge that energy use can be reduced by turning down the thermostat at night. However, I am not sure how this saving is accomplished. I understand that more energy is used to heat a house to 70 degrees than to 65. However, if the thermostat is set to 70 degrees, and the temperature drops to 69, the furnace clicks on and raises the temperature back to 70. There is a measure of energy used to raise the temperature one degree, from 69 to 70. But isn't the same energy used if the thermostat is set at 65 and the furnace clicks on when the temperature drops to 64? So here's my question: If the energy needed to keep a constant temperature is simply the amount required to raise the temperature 1 degree, why is it more economical to keep it at 65 instead of 70? Or even 75? The only difference, it seems, is the initial energy used to raise the temperature. Mike C., Stony Brook

• Temperatures rise, utility bills drop

  January 20, 2005

  An insolent winter morning with 25-degree temperatures and icy breezes is doing its best to rattle Alex and Stephanie Villani's 2-year-old house in Mattituck. But inside, the couple sits snuggly warm in the sunny kitchen, sipping coffee.

• Illuminating thoughts about lighting

  January 6, 2005

  A few weeks ago, Mary Beth Gotti and her neighbors experienced a power failure.

• The effluence of affluence: septic stress in Suffolk

  December 30, 2004

  About 10 days before Thanksgiving I made one of those phone calls so important for a homeowner. It was to my septic tank guy. No, my system had not backed up. I was thinking ahead.

• Putting a damper on fireplace drafts

  December 23, 2004

  I read your column on the big freeze ("The big freeze, or farewell, my chilly," Nov. 4) with great interest. I, too, have a fireplace with a terrible draft. I think my problem is that I do not have a damper. I wonder if I can have a damper installed. Right now, all the warm air in our house goes right up the chimney. Where do I turn? -- Michael Gaffey, Malverne

• Stopping that darned roof ice from damming

  December 23, 2004

  For the past two winters, we've had ice damming. Water from melting snow and ice on our rooftop has leaked into the house. I am looking to install the wires that can be placed across the roof line and will prevent this ice and snow buildup. Is there anywhere on Long Island to buy these wires? How difficult are they to install? -- Billie Catrini, Centereach

• 'Draft dodger' cuts to the chase

  December 16, 2004

  I reached into the drawer for the tools of my trade -- drywall saw, utility knife, pry bar and hammer. She shuddered. This was going to be dirty and ugly. I looked into her ocean-blue eyes. "Are you sure about this? "I want my fireplace, she said, her voice desperate. "At all costs.

• 10 winterizing tasks even unhandymen can do

  December 9, 2004

  Before the really cold weather hits, homeowners would be wise to perform a few easy tasks that can keep icy air from infiltrating a warm, cozy interior. This maintenance, which should be done annually, includes caulking exterior gaps, pressing foam weather stripping around doors and applying window insulation. Supplies are inexpensive, and no special skills are required.

• Pros and cons of closing the heating system in a vacant house

  November 25, 2004

  We are trying to decide whether to close an oil hot-water-heating system for a house we recently purchased. The house will be vacant through the winter, and we are wondering about the pros and cons of turning off the system.

• Cell phone chargers draining your electric?

  November 25, 2004

  We have several cell-phone transformers we keep plugged into an outlet. When we recharge cell phones, electricity is being used. But what about when the cell phone has been removed? Is the transformer still using electricity? This might not be a big deal, but I do not want to pay for electricity if I am not using it.

• The big freeze or farewell, my chilly

  November 4, 2004

  I was leafing through old case files when she slinked into the office. She perched herself at the edge of my desk, crossing legs longer than a cool glass of water.

• The best way to patch a crumbling concrete floor

  October 28, 2004

  I have a 50-year-old concrete garage floor that basically is sound, but there are areas that are "spalling." In these areas, the concrete has crumbled to sand. Some years ago, I had painted the floor, and some areas under the paint are .spalling, too. Do you have any advice, short of tearing up the whole floor, that can correct this problem?

• Protecting Long Island windows, Florida style

  October 28, 2004

  I have a summer house on the water with windows that get boarded up for winter or if a hurricane is expected. Would those rolling shutters residents use in Florida protect from hurricane and wind damage? Are they used at all on Long Island?

• Eliminating stale air conditioning odors

  October 28, 2004

  Over the past several weeks, the smell of the air coming out of my air conditioner has been "stale." The unit is tilted to allow condensation to drain, so why the stale air?

• Better subfloors make dry basements no sweat

  October 7, 2004

  No matter where you live or what the climate, moisture should be the major concern when remodeling a basement.

• Replacing the surface of a worn deck

  October 1, 2004

  Q. I read your column regularly but have never read anything about replacing the surface of a worn deck. I have 14-year-old 5/4 cedar decking that is beginning to show serious signs of age. With very minor exceptions there is no rot or signs of rot. Mostly it is a case of knots falling out or the surface splintering. Rather than tear up the entire deck, I am considering resurfacing with another layer of 5/4 cedar or a composite decking material. Any thoughts? -- Al Almeida, Massapequa

• Locating Window Film

  October 1, 2004

  Q. I have been unable to locate a company that installs window films. Do you know of any in my area? -- Irene, Woodmere

• Vacuum seal solves the mildew problem

  September 30, 2004

  Q. We have a safe bolted down in a cedar closet in our basement. All of our important papers are now damp and mildewed. Can we remove the mildew from the papers? -- George, Valley Stream

• Replacing the surface of a worn deck

  September 30, 2004

  Q. I read your column regularly but have never read anything about replacing the surface of a worn deck. I have 14-year-old 5/4 cedar decking that is beginning to show serious signs of age. With very minor exceptions there is no rot or signs of rot. Mostly it is a case of knots falling out or the surface splintering. Rather than tear up the entire deck, I am considering resurfacing with another layer of 5/4 cedar or a composite decking material. Any thoughts? -- Al Almeida, Massapequa

• Household remedies make a handyman a hero

  September 16, 2004

  My mother-in-law scoffed at my suggestion. My wife raised her eyebrows. When they are together, I have no chance.

• An imaginative use for your garage: car storage

  September 9, 2004

  My garage is a mess. And I am going to do something about it. From old shoes to half-used cans of semi-dried paint, it's time for things to be either put in their place or be put in the trash.

• Eliminating mildew odor from dresser drawers

  September 2, 2004

  Q. How can I get rid of a mildew odor in the drawers of a dresser? The dresser is two years old and in my house in Delray Beach, Fla. I keep the relative humidity in the house at 50 percent. When the house is vacant, I leave the drawers empty and open to circulate air. I have tried a number of mildew-killing agents, including baking soda, but none have worked. -- Norma, Island Park

• Drying out a musty basement

  September 2, 2004

  Q. I want to dry out my basement so that I can use it to store items, including clothing. My husband looked into an air-exchange system by Humidex. The Humidex machine pulls moisture from the basement air and expel