Evening star., 1940-06-08
First Aid
For the
AIing House
By ROGER b. WHITMAN.

q. My roof is built up of layers
OF roofing paper covered with hot
asphalt. The asphalt shows cracks
all over. I have in mind covering
the roof with roofing cement applied
with a trowel. Would this crack as
the asphalt does?
A. The cracking indicates that
the asphalt coating dries too hard
and becomes so brittle that it cannot
follow changes in Temperature with
expansion and contraction. The
cracked and loosened asphalt should
be scraped off and replaced with
an asphalt compound better adapted
to the requirements Dealers in
roofing materials can supply you
with the proper compound.
Plaster Cast Finish.
Not long ago I was asked about
metallic finishes for plaster casts.
This was noted by correspondent
whose method is to apply two thin
coats of shellac. To get the color
he uses a little raw or burnt lumber,
or drop black" Japan, which can
be had in tubes or small cans. The
desired color is mixed with a little
copper, gold or bronze, and then
thinned with enough turpentine to
work freely. This is applied with
soft brush. After drying for an
hour or two he rubs with a very
soft cloth, which will bring out a
shiny effect. An old iron effect can
be had with drop black and a little
steel or aluminium bronze, rubbed
after drying, and glazed with raw
sienna to get rust effect, or with
a little green and white to get the
effect of verdigris.
Moisture Barrier.
O. Some time ago we bought rock
wool pads to place in our roof, but
have not used them because of ILL
ness. We have now learned that
the pads should be inclosed in water
proof paper. Is that correct? Our
roof is slate.
A. Something should be provided
between the attic air and the rock
wool to prevent moisture from pass
ing through. for it might make trou-
BILE in condenSing on the under side
of the roof. Instead Of inclosing
each pad you can stretch water
proof paper along the under edges
of the rafters after the pads are in
place. which will have the same
effect. The sheets should be we'll
overlapped.
Scratches.
O. A mahogany bedroom suite is
badly marred by white scratches.
We polish with paste wax, but
finger marks show up How can we
get a high polish and fix up the
scratches?
A. Your first move should be to
wipe the furniture with cloth
damp with turpentine to get rid of
the wax, for evidently you have
used too much. Scratches can be
concealed by running iodine into
them with finely pointed camels-
hair brush. You should experiment
with this. however. for. while iodine
usually conceals scratches on ma
hogany, the finish of your furniture
may be of a different color. At radio
stores have found scratch stick"
used by professionals in removing
scratches occurring during shipment
If YOU can get one of these you will
find it useful, for it seems to work
on all dark woods. In waxing fur
niture use only very thin coats. Let
1t dry for half-hour before rubbing
Cleaning Dirty Glass.
Q. A short time ago I bought an
old house which had been vacant for
some time. Some of the windows
are difficult to clean. the dirt having
been hardened by the elements. Soap
and water and patent window clean
ers do not help. What Go you rec
ommend?
A. Make a paste of scratches
securing powder and kerosene. Wipe
a thin coating of the paste on the
glass and allow the kerosene to
loosen the dirt for a half minute.
Continue rubbing with the paste
until the glass is clean. After the
thick dirt has been removed it may
be necessary to go over the glass
again with soap and water.
Hot-Water Storage Tank.
O. I have a vertical 30-gallon hot
water storage tank in the cellar con-
nected by coil to the steam boiler
and also to gas heater The tank
is to be replaced, and 1 wish to make
further connection to pot stove.
The bottom of the tank is about 8
inches above the floor. Would the
system operate more satisfactorily if
the new tank were placed in a hori-
zontal position?
A. A small tank will function
more efficiently if vertical. Tanks
must be 18 inches or more in diane
ter in order to operate satisfactorily
in horizontal position. If neces-
sary to raise the new tank use
higher stand.
Paperhanging.
O. Is it more difficult for amateurs
to hang wallpaper with butt joints
rather than with lap joints?
A. More careful workmanship is
required, but the job is certainly far
from being impossible The knack
Is quickly acquired. Do not use
paper with vertical lines or an up
and-down pattern. Corners of a
room are likely to be out of square