Evening star., 1941-11-15
First Aid
For the
Aiing House
BY ROGER b. WHITMAN.


look forward to many inquiries on
the formation of creosote in CHM
news. This is always the result of
using wood as fuel. The gums and
dried sap in the wood are vaporized
by the heat and start up the CHM
ney with the smoke. Should the
upper part of the chimney be cool
the vapors will be condensed, and
the black liquid that forms will coat
the inside of the fue. If there is no
f1re-clay flue lining the liquid will
soak into the bricks, and may come
through on the other side.
Bricks that are soaked with creo-
eote cannot be cleaned: the only
way to get rid Of it is to rebuild the
upper part of the chimney, in doing
which fire. clay f1ue lining should
be provided. There will be no
trouble with creosote when the
chimney is heated for its entire
length. However, this means run
ming hot fire at all times, which
may not be possible. One sure way
to prevent the formation of creosote
is to use coal as fuel instead of
wood, although the occasional use of
a wood-burning fireplace will not
make trouble.
Leaking Joints.
Question: The first story of our
detached house is concrete blocks
and the second story is Stucco.
Wood panels run across the joints as
decoration. Driving rains soak
through the walls We suspect the
wooden panels. Would you advise
removing them? Or protecting
them with flashings?
Answer-R Removing the panels
would so change the appearance of
your house that you might not like
the results. Such panels are fire.
quentlv the cause of leakage, often
because water collects on the fiat
upper surface and SoakS through the
Joint. Your best move will be to put
copper flashings behind each of the
strips. Tin flashings will rust out
within few years.
Musty Odor.
Question: Our brick house on a
lake is used on week ends only. On
opening it after an absence there is
a strong mustv odor. There is no
basement. A 4-foot space under the
house is damp at times. Would
insulation help?
Answer-No; what YOU need is
waterproofng This should begin
with concrete floor under the
house. for it is the dampness of that
space under the floor that is making
the trouble Also, the space should
be thoroughly ventilated. Continued
dampness may be rotting the wood
work, better make an inspection.
Scratched Maple Furniture.
Question: Maple furniture looks
tacky. and is scratched. How can
I make it look better without chang
ing the color?
Answer-Go all over it with fine
sandpaper to make it as smooth as
possible, then put on two coats OF
top quality white shellac. thinned
half-and-half with denatured al
eohol.
Sooty Chimney.
Question: How can I avoid hav-
ing large amounts of SCOT blown
into room from fireplace on
windy days? Is there any way to
clean the vent and chimney?
Aaer,or ~, rn,,r
chimney may be because the Chin
nev is too low: its top should be at
least two feet above the highest
point of the roof and higher still
II there are tall trees or buildings
nearby. Another reason might be
the improper design of the fireplace
and the omission of Windshield
behind the throat. Also. the fire.
place opening may be too high for
its width If it is not several inches
lower than its width, raise the fire.
place floor by putting down one or
two layers of firebrick. A chimney
can be cleaned by lowering tire
chain on a rope from the top.
swinging it from side to side as it
descends. Before doing this, the
fireplace opening should be closed
with heavy piece of canvas or
otherwise.
Stained Marble Tables.
Question: Three marble and onyx
top tables have ring marks from wet
glasses. How can these eyesores be
removed?
Answer-ThoSe marks are actual
" the dulling of the polished mar
BILE. They can be taken out by re-
polishing. For this use putty pow
der. which you can get at monu-
ment yard. applying it with piece
Of wet felt, such as you might cut
from an old hat.
Swedish Finish.
Question: How can I match an
unfinished pine bookcase to Swed-
ish modern furniture?
Answer-The wood should first be
bleached with wood bleaching liquid,
to be had at large paint stores.
Directions should be carefully fol-
lowed. After this preparation, rub
down with fine sandpaper to get
as smooth a surface as possible, and
then put on one or two coats of
clear lacquer.
Damp Basement Walls.
Question: There are large damp
spots on my basement walls, and
about so neighbors have the same
trouble with new houses. What
kind of paint can I get that will
cover the spots and keep them
covered?
Answer-There is every probable
lty that the spots are not from leak
age. but are due to the drying out
Of the concrete. This may take
number of months and very pos
sibly the walls will not be thorough
ly dry until you have had your heat
on until well into the winter. You
should then finish the walls with
q cement paint If this is used while
the walls are still damp, it will also
show the spots. But after the walls
have dried, the spotting should end.
II you cannot get cement paint from