Evening star., 1940-04-13
First Aid
For the
AHinq House
BY ROGER B. WHITMAN.

Oy nOUEn ID. Will MAN.
@. have been trying to remove
wallpaper in ~my living room by
soaking 1t with water, but the water
seems to have no effect. What else
can I use that will loosen the pape,
and let me take it off?
A. Your wallpaper must have q
vanished or other waterproof fin
ish. To take it off, go over it with q
coarse sandpaper wrapped around q
block Of wood, so that this finish will
be cut. Water will then be able
to penetrate to the paste. Begin
soaking the wallpaper at one end
OF a wall, using a whitewash brush
or large sponge, and work to the
other end. Then return to where
you began and repeat. Continue
until the water has soaked and the
paste has been softened. If the
paper sticks, scrape with a broad
putty knife.
Paint After Whitewash.
@. A wooden wall in my cellar was
whitewashed. I washed off the
whitewash and then, after the wood
dried, put on two coats of inside
oil paint. The paint softened and
would not stay on. What was the
reason. and what can I do about it?
A. Although you took off the
whitewash on the surface, some of
the lime of which it was made soaked
into the wood and remained. This
lime affected the oils of the paint
and destroyed them. After taking
off the whitewash you should have
rinsed the walls with a solution of
zinc sulphate crystals in water, 2
pounds to the gallon. This would
have neutralized the lime, and the
paint would not have been harmed.
To apply this solution you must first
remove the paint that remains.
Counter Tops.
@. I have just made cabinets for
my kitchen, and am puzzled at
what to use for the top of the drain
boards around the sink and for the
counter tops. What do you advise?
A. The material that is in most
general use for work tables and
drain boards is battleship linoleum.
This Is cut to size, secured to the
under surface with waterproof ce-
ment, and the edges bound with
specially formed metal strips that
make the edges waterproof, and also
protect them against chafing. Ex-
perienced linoleum layers are IA
miliar with the work If you want to
do it yourself, you should be able to
get the strips at well-equipped
hardware store, where you can also
learn of the method of application.
Cement for securing the linoleum
can be roofing cement, Iquefied by
heating.
Moths in a Mattress.
@. I have a hair mattress with
moths In it. 1t was once de-mothed,
but the moths came back after
year. How can we get rid of them?
A. Put the mattress outdoors,
preferably on an overcast day to
reduce the fire hazard, and soak it
with naptha or clear gasoline. This
will destroy every stage of insect
life.
New Bungalow.
@. We are building a bungalow
and would like your opinion on hav-
Ing the ceilings painted and walls
papered as soon as completed; or
would you advise giving the house
chance to dry out and settle?
A. The plaster should be given
plenty OF time for drying, and there
IS always the possibility of a new
building settling. Plaster usually
dries in about two months time. but
IN a damp climate this may take
longer. When a building will stop
settling is unpredictable.
Shingles Over Old Roof.
@. What is the cheapest and best
shingle to use on a roof? Can it be
put right over old shingles? Do
they come in green?
A. Asphalt or wood shingles are
probably the least expensive. Either
type of shingle can be laid over the
old shingles; in fact, most reroofing
Jobs are done over old shingles
Green is popular color in all types
of roofing materials, and you should
have no difficulty in getting the
shade that you want.
Stopping Tree Roots.
@. Please suggest a lumber to be
used to sink in the ground to a
depth of, say IL inches for the pur-
pose of checking the roots of two
maple trees in the street which run
into my front lawn and prevent the
growth Of hedges and lawn grass.
A. Instead of wood, use a heavy
gauge sheet zinc. 1t will last a good
many years and makes very salts
factory stop for roots. If you prefer
to use wood, you will find the fol-
lowing quite suitable for the pur-
pose: Cypress, redwood or cedar.
Coat it with creosote.