Evening star., 1941-09-13
First Aid
For the
AHinq House
BY ROGER b. WHITMAN.

A job of painting will not last If
the first coat does not bond itself
to the surface by penetrating into
the pores and hardening there. In
working on bare wood, this can be
assured by thinning the first coat,
so 1t will penetrate rather than lie
only on the surface. Paint makers
always issue instructions for the
thinning of paint according to the
surface. This usually is noted on
the label of the can and explained In
detail in the instruction sheets.
These instructions should be read
and carefully followed. Paint will
not hold over a glossy surface, as
for instance, over shellac. varnish
and gloss paint or enamel. The gloss
should always be dulled. This can
be done with sandpaper or steel wool,
or by washing with a solution of
washing soda or other alkaline wa
ter, Just strong enough to cut into
the gloss without damaging the
paint film. The first coat of paint
is the foundation for the succeeding
coats, and if it does not make good
bond with the surface, the results
will be peeling and chipping.
1t goes without saying that sur
face to be painted must be dry and
clean. for obviously paint cannot
penetrate pores already filled with
water or grease. Temperature is also
important, for when chilled to so
degrees or lower paint thickens and
cannot be absorbed easily. The best
temperatures for painting are be-
tween so and 80 degrees.
Settling Cracks Walls.
@. Our frame house, brown and
colonial yellow, is on tile founda-
ton. Why should the walls crack?
We repair the plaster and redecorate
but the walls crack again in the
same places. What color should the
foundation be painted? Should the
blocks be outlined with color to
initiate mortar?
A. Continued cracking of the plas-
ter in the same places undoubtedly
is due to settlement of the founda-
ton. The footing may not be broad
and strong enough for the density
of the earth that supports it; the
house may be built on fllled-in land
which is not yet fully settled. You
will do we'll to have the foundation
examined by competent mason or
builder. Finish the foundation blocks
Sith cement paint in natural color
Outlining of the blocks will not be
necessary.
@. Last winter slush and snow
backed up against our cutters and
leaked down the inside walls. The
roof and cutters have been checked
over and are in perfect condition.
What can you suggest?
A. The trouble is probably in the
position of the gutter, which I as
sumo to be hung on the caves. 1t
should be so placed that its outside
edge is no higher than the slope of
the roof, so that snow can slide
over it. If this edge of the gutter
is too high, it will act as a dam,
and water will back up on the roof
Gives Effect of Breadth.
Q. My living-room is II by Is feet,
and has high ceiling. In papering
1t, I should like to make it look
larger and lower. What do you
think Of using striped paper and
putting 1t on with the stripes hori-
zontal instead of up and down?
Would this make the room look
lower and larger?
A. feel sure you would not like
the effect. 1t would be better to
carry the ceiling paper down the
wall for at least foot, and then to
put on the border. Instead of striped
paper, use landscape paper, with
plenty of perspective, which will
carry the eye beyond the line OF
the wall, and apparently into the
distance. The pattern should not be
strong or dark.
@. Is there any way to clean silk
lampshades? Cellophane coverings
are not successful.
A. To do that job, fill your bath
tub with tepid water in which three
or four handfuls of mild soap flakes
are dissolved. Immerse the shades.
and draw them slowly through the
water several times. Then shake
off the water, pat with bath towels,
and hang up to dry. Ornaments
that are stuck on will come of,
but after drying they can be re-
placed with clear mucilage or glue.
@. Please repeat what you said
some time ago on clearing tree
roots out of sewer pipes.
A. The surest method is with an
electric pipe cleaner. All localities
now have operators owning a ma
chine Of this kind which cuts the
roots so that they are carried
through to the end. Tree roots in
a sewer can be killed by dissolving
a half-pound or more of copper
sulphate-blue vitriol-in a plumb
ing fixture and letting 1t drain into
the pipe.
To Clean ClOgged Drain.
Q. The drain pipe outside my
house has very little pitch, and
makes right turn. 1t frequently
clogs with grease at the angle. The
only way to clear it out is through
a cleanout plug. Can you make any
suggestions?
A. One way to get around that
trouble is to install grease trap
under the kitchen sink, which would
separate out the grease before it
could reach the drain pipe. The
trap would require occasional clean
ing, but this would be much
simpler matter than your present
arrangement. A good plumber