Evening star., 1940-08-24
First Aid
For the
AHing House
By ROGER B. WHITMAN.

q. A four-foot section of paper,
loosened by leak in a bathroom
overhead, is hanging down from
the ceiling. I have tried to put it
back with tacks. but the paper is so
brittle that it tears and the tacks
will not hold in the plaster. How
can I fix it?
A. You can stick the paper with
library paste mixed with enough
water to make thin liquid. Apply
1t to the back of the paper with
soft brush. Support the paper with
your hand so that it will not tear.
Put coat of paste on the bare
plaster. BY that time the paper
will have softened and lost its brit
tleness, SO that you should be able
to smooth it into position without
tearing it. Before the paste hardens
go over the paper. with a clothes
brush. Work from the center
to force out any bubbles of air tnat
may have been caught inside.
Auto Left Outdoors.
@. am about to purchase a new
car and I shall have to keep it out
doors in all kinds of weather. 1t
will not be in daily use and it will
have to stand idle a great deal of
the time, especially during the win
ter months. Would you recommend
the well-known polishing treatment
and the purchase of a waterproof
canvas cover for it? Where can I
get such a cover?
A. The finish on the car should
be given a protective polish treat
ment as soon as possible. This treat
ment should be repeated period
ically. A waterproof canvas cover
will help to protect the car from
the elements. You will find names
of dealers in canvas covers of all
types in your classified telephone
directory.
Leaking Walls.
@. The cement block foundation
of our new home has been water
proofed except for the two top rows
Rain comes through these and vets
the basement. How can water
proof them?
A. One method would be to paint
them with tar or liquid asphalt. A
dealer in mason's materials should
be able to supply you with stucco
mixture containing waterproofer
that should also do the trick. These
treatments, of course, should be ap-
piled to the outside.
Shellac on Floors.
O. The floors in our new home
have two coats of Shellac and I
should like to put on another coat.
Should floors first be washed with
soap and water?
A. Clean your floors by wiping
them with denatured alcohol. Soap
and water should not be used on
shellac For the new coat get the
best and purest shellac that you
can find and thin it with denatured
alcohol in the proportion of TX
pints to the quart of shellac. Two
coats of this will last much longer
than one coat Of shellac as it comes
in the can.
Asbestos Siding.
Q. I expect to build soon and I
am considering asbestos shingles as
siding in order to save painting,
which I understand is not neces-
sary for protection if these shingles
are used. Could they be painted in
the future?
A. Asbestos shingles are actually
portland cement with asbestos fiber
added for strength. They are per-
manent and waterproof. When
soiled they can be cleaned with
hose and a scrubbing brush. Should
painting become desirable cement
paint would make a good finish.
Finish for TerrazzO.
@. The floor In my club cellar Is
terrazzo. I am told not to wax it,
but to wipe it with a mixture of
equal parts of turpentine and lin
seed oil. Will this give the best
luster?
A. AS a general rule, a terrazzo