Evening star., 1941-11-01
First Aid
For the
AHingHouse
BY ROGER B. WHITMAN.

BY ROGER B. WHITMAN.
Complaints of cold and damp
houses are likely to be due to the
application of inside plaster directly
to outside mansonry walls, brick,
tile, concrete blocks and stone. Prop
erly, plaster should be on lath to
provide an insulating air space.
Without it the plaster becomes al
most as cold as the masonry itself
and the house air in contact with It
becomes chilled.
: Further, moisture in the house air
condenses against it. often to such
an extent that the wallpaper comes
on. This defect in construction can
be noticed by placing the hand on
the inner surface of an outside wall
to compare its temperature with
that of a wall between two rooms.
The appearance of wet spots on a
plaster wall covering an inside CHM
ney is from a similar condition; the
chimney brickWork Is cold, and in
chilling the plaster that is applied
directly to it, will result in conden-
sation from damp house air.
Such situations can be remedied
only by protecting the inside plaster
against the low temperature Of
masonry. One method would be to
replace the inside plaster with plas-
ter on lath on furring strips; an
other, to sheathe the inner surface
of the outside walls with insulating
board. With this protection house
-
in cold weather.
Sewer Trap.
q. Is there any kind OF drain or
trap for the basement that would
prevent sewer water from back
ing up?
A. Yes: there is check-valve that
can be put in the sewer pipe just
outside the wall that will permit
the house drainage to flow out, but
that will close with the first sign
of backing up. You can get one
from plumber.
@. expect to lay a new concrete
floor in my basement and would like
to make it damp-proof. What Is
the procedure?
A. COFeI JIl6 pIcScAt "AbAA
waterproof felt, stuck down with
LIQUID asphalt, and pour the new
concrete on top. The felt should be
carried up the walls for some dis
tance- possibly as high as the out
side ground level. The concrete
should 60 up to the same height.
Cleaning Paint Work.
@. What is the best way to clean
house paint, darkened by SCOT
and dust?
A. There are various inexpensive
cleaning materials that can be had
at paint stores. One OF these Is
light yellow powder, to be mixed
with water to the consistency OF
cream. This Is painted on the wall
and removed after few minutes by
sponging with clear water. In wash
ing a wall, begin at the bottom and
work up; If you begin at the top
and work down. the dirty water
running over the dry parts will make
streaks that cannot be taken out.
@. With two tenants in fats above
me, noises come through the floors
very plainly. Odu dHyIl VIC
done about 1t?
A. The remedy is to put in false
ceilings, or else to Apply insulating
board or other absorber to the floors.
Even those will not give complete
silence, for much of the sound Is
carried by the framework of the
building. If you are tenant in the
building, it is hardly practical for
you to attempt anything, for 1t
would mean reconstruction.
Mailbox Polish.
@. Three mailboxes in my vestl-
bule originally had dull gold finish.
but are now discolored. Brass pol
ishes do not help. What can I do
about them?
A. One remedy would be to take
of the fronts of the mailDoxes and
to send them out to plating shop to
be cleaned and replated. Before
doing this, ask the postman whether
the boxes are under Government
control, and II so, where permission
can be obtained.
@. How can dust be filtered from
LII passing IIilO o. VciehooOA &AAoo
Q Photographic darkroom?
A. Put in q screen Of cheesecloth
dampened with any household oil.
The screen should be made remov-
able so that it can be renewed when
necessary.
Wet Streak on Wall.
q. There is q wet streak on the
wall Of the entrance of a small
apartment that starts about the
middle Of May; 1t dries out In clear,
warm weather, but appears IN any
humid period. 1t does not show
when the furnace is going. A
plumber blamed the roof, but the
roofer claims that 1t Is from the
plumbing. Neither Of them can
locate the leak. What can you
suggest?
A. From your description the wet
spot is evidently from condensation.
The spot where 1t appears Is at a
lower temperature than the house
air. This may be because some part
OF the masonry wall projects through
and is In direct contact with the
plaster, or because openings IN the
wall subject that portion to a cur
rent Of cool air. To check on this,
compare the temperature OF that
portion Of the wall with that Of an
other portion that remains dry. The
remedy depends so much on con-
struction that it can be told only
after an inspection.
N0te-Mr. Whitman Is sorry he
can no longer answer personal
letters. He does, however, offer
readers leaflets on = variety Of
subjects. Today's leafiet gives
directions for refinishing painted
furniture. Be sure to send = g.
cent stamped, self addressed en-
velope with your leaflet request to
Mr.. Whitman, p. o. Box $50,
Times Square Station. New York.
Y. Leaflets cannot be mailed