Evening star., 1941-04-19
First Aid
For the
AHingHouse
Py ROGER b. WHITMAN.

BY ROGER B. WHITMAN.
One of my readers has two-flat
building with hot-water heat and
with a pot stove for running hot
water. He is considering putting in
one boiler for the two flats but is
puzzled as to the course for running
hot water. The choices are an in
direct heater attached to the boiler
or coil of pipe immersed in the
boiler water, which would make
supply tank unnecessary He asks
for an opinion with a hot-water
house-heating boiler. Either one of
these would give an ample water
supply, but would have the difficulty
that during the summer a system of
valves would be needed to keep the
radiators shut off. This is a prac-
tical method, but rather complicated
and likely to give trouble. 1 believe
that 1t would be better to continue
with the pot stove. These can now
be had with built-in stokers or with
a magazine arrangement, so that
the care of the fire is reduced to a
minimum.
Mixing Paint.
@. ! want to make a half gallon
of paint. What should be the pro-
portions of the white lead and other
materials?
A. You will save money in buy
ing the paint ready-miXed. You
could not buy the ingredients in
the exact quantities needed and
would have leftovers, which would
be wasted Also, good-quality, ready
mixed paints are better than any,
thing you could mix by hand.
Leaking Cistern.
@. Our square concrete Cistern
Is in one corner of the base
ment with two sides formed by the
basement walls. One of these has
developed a crack. We have tried
thick roofing paint but it won't
stick. Two coats of thick cement
have also failed. What can we do?
A. 1t is quite possible that the
foundation walls are still settling
and that the crack will grow. If
this is not the case, cut into the
crack with cold chisel to make it
deeper and wider, so that a patch
can be forced in the very bottom.
Soak the edges with water and then
pack the crack with a thick mixture
of one part portland cement and
three parts clean, sharp building
sand. Keep this damp for several
days so that the cement will have
time to cure and to attain full
density.
Stains on Woodwork.
@. We have painted our bathroom
wall and woodwork numerous times.
but there are certain spots that show
up after a few months. I believe
that the woodwork was originally
stained with something that bleeds
through. How can I fix it?
A. Scrape off the paint to the
wood and put on two coats of good
quality aluminium paint. After thor |
ough drying finish with the wall
paint.
Repapering.
Q. Plaster walls in good condition |
have one thickness of wallpaper.
Should this be removed before re-
papering? How?
A. For good job the old paper
should come off. Do this by soaking
with water. Beginning at one end
of a wall soak with water and work
to the other end of the wall. Then
return and repeat and continue until
the paste is so softened that the
paper can be torn and scraped off
After drying use sandpaper wrapped
around block of wood to take off
remaining grains and bits of paper.
WallcIoth for Bathrooms.
Q. Is wallcloth good finish for
bathroom walls?
A. 1t is very satisfactory. because,
being finished with oil paints, it is
waterproof. 1t is hung like wall
paper, but with full-strength paste,
which can be had at a paint store.
If the budget permits the wall
around the bathtub should be tiled.
Mahogany Doors.
Q. Interior doors are painted
cream. Could these be finished in
mahogany with stain and varnish?
A. Stain will not take over a
paint. To do the job properly the
paint should first be removed. Fin
ish can then be with mahogany
stain and varnish or with varnish-
stain.
Cleaning Woodwork.
@. How can painted woodwork be
cleaned before repainting? 1t is not
very badly soiled.
A. Use thick suds of any good
soap, followed by rinsing. If this
does not work scatter powdered
whiting on the wash cloth.
Cleaning Floors.
@. Hardwood floors, four years old, |
have never been refinished and are
dark between doorways and for a
foot around the walls. At present
I cannot sand them. How can they
be cleaned?
A. At a paint store you can get