Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-21
First Aid
For the
AHingHouse
By ROGER B. WHITMAN

q. NY house is gray Stucco on
cement block. prefer white finish,
and I am thinking of painting it
with a mixture of slack lime and
white portland cement. Would this
be satisfactory?
A. I should not advise it, for do
would last. Most of the cost of
painting a house is that which is
paid for labor, and there would be
no economy in going to all this
expense and effort with paint
that would not be fairly long last
ing. 1t would be better to wait until
you can afford to do job that will
be more permanent.
ROtted Floor Boards.
Q. In a large house that we have
recently rented, the cellar floor is
not cement, but it is made of big.
wide boards laid directly on the
ground. There is an almost unbear-
able, musty odor, which at times
permeates the whole lower floor,
and it is unpleasant and en-
barassing. Airing does little good.
Short of laying a cement floor, can
anything be done?
A. If you take up one of the floor
boards you will undoubtedly find
that the underside is rotted, and it
Is this that gives the odor. Rotting
can be expected in wood that is laid
on the ground. The sureSt way to
get rid of the odor is to rip up the
wood floor and replace it with con-
crete The owner should do this for
the protection of his property, if for
nothing else.
Water Under a Floor.
@. There is water around the
drainpipe where it comes through
my cellar floor Does this indicate
that there is water underneath the
entire floor? In warm weather the
floor is constantly wet, but 1t dries
up as soon as the weather turns
cool. I take it that this is from con-
densation. Would pools of water
under the floor cause it?
A. Water under the floor would
keep the concrete cool, and it is
very likely cause of this condensa-
ton. Break hole through the floor
near the wall through which the
drain is connected to the sewer in
order to learn the condition under
meath. If you find water, form the
hole into a pit in which you can
install an automatic electric stump
pump that will get rid of the water
before 1t collects enough to do dam
age. The outlet to the pump can be
connected to the same sewer pipe
as the floor drain.
Soundproof Floor.
@. The upper floor of our house,
which is now open, was designed
to be converted into two rooms and
a bath. What kind of floor can 7
lay that will be noiseproof?
A. Cover the present floor with
insulating board and lay new floor
on top. This new floor should not be
nailed through to the old floor, for
the nails would carry sound. Put
1t down with a form Of cement
known as 'mastic." Any good floor
layer knows the process.
Creased Rugs.
q. There are creases in several Of
my summer rugs. How can I take
them out?
A. Turn the rugs over, stretch
them tight, and tack them lightly
to hold them. Then give the backs
a coat Of shellac. Use the shel1ac as
1t comes in the can; If it Is thinned
1t might 60 through to the face.
Cement Walk.
@. A cement walk against one
side of our house is in perfect shape,
but 1t has separated from the wall.
In hard rains water runs toward the
house and leaks in. Can this be
remedied without making a new
walk?
A. Clean out the joint between the
walk and the house and pack 1t
with roofing cement. The job is
most easily done by melting the
cement and pouring it in.
Shower Bath Walls.
@. I want to install a shower in
my bathroom which has plaster
walls. What is the most inexpensive
way to make them waterproof?
A. One good move would be to
cover the walls around the shower
with table oilcloth, stuck on with
casein glue which is waterproof. The
edges Of the oilcloth can be finished
of with strips Of molding.
To Soften Water.
@. How can I soften water 50
that I can make good coffee?
A. You need water oftening
unit. You can now get small unit
to be attached to a single fixture,
such as the kitchen sink. For the
name of the maker of this unit in
quire of the Architects Samples Ex-
hibit, 10l Park avenue, New York.
"a n-commercial organization)
Piano Muffler.
A reader says that he deadens
the vibration of his piano by draping
a heavy carpet or blanket over the
top and back.
Chestnut Trim.
"a. aOW CdH IeStOic lily CueoIauI
trim to Its original finish? 1t has
q coat of shellac over the filler and
then q coat of varnish. The finish
Is 10 years old and 1t has lost its
luster; in some cases the finish is
worn OF.
A. At q hardware store you can
get powder to be mixed with
water that will act as varnish
remover. Wash your trim with this
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