Q-Most books and articles I read about painting and varnishing emphasize the importance of using a good brush, but few tell how to pick one. Other than choosing them by price, can you give me some pointers on how to select a good- quality paint brush?
A-A good brush should be made with a high-quality bristle-either natural Chinese hog bristle or polyester (synthetic) bristles, or it could be a blend of the two. A high percentage of these bristles should be ”flagged,” or split, at the tips. The brush should feel fully stocked with bristles, but it should not have an exceptionally thick block in the center that makes it look thicker than it actually is.
All brushes have a block in the center, but it should be no thicker than necessary to create a narrow ”pocket” for holding paint. In addition, all the bristles should not be cut to the same length, but instead should vary in length to provide even coverage when spreading the paint.
Leaky faucets
Q-I have separate hot and cold faucets on one of my bathroom sinks and they drip constantly. I have changed the washers three times, using different brands each time, but they still drip. Otherwise the faucets seem to be in good condition. Does this mean the faucets have to be replaced?
A-Even though you have change brands, you still may be using the wrong type of washer for those faucets. But the most likely problem is that the metal seats inside the faucets are marred. The washer presses against these seats when the water is shut off.
On some faucets the seats can be removed and replaced, using a special tool that looks something like a large Allen wrench or hex wrench to get out the old seats and install the new ones. If the seats are not replaceable, they usually can be ground smooth with a seat-grinding tool that is available in most plumbing supply outlets.
Moisture woes
Q-Our 50-year-old house is so damp that even the rugs on the second floor feel damp. A professional waterproofing contractor said it would cost $9,500 to waterproof the house. He recommended ”bleeding the walls” by knocking holes in each section of block, running a French drain across the floor, digging around the outside and waterproofing the foundation, then regrading the soil so it slopes away from the house. He also wants to apply a waterproof paint. We think the price is excessive and don`t know what to do. What do you think?
A-It sounds like all the work will be done in the basement and if that is the principal source of the dampness, this would be wise. However, interior humidity also can be lowered by installing exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms, by venting the clothes dryer outside and by lowering the setting on the furnace humidifier (if you have one).
Waterproofing the basement alone does not always require that many measures. If you excavate and waterproof on the outside, then you usually don`t have to install French drains on the inside as well. I suggest getting opinions from other contractors.
Hot water excess
Q-Several months ago we developed an unusual problem: Hot water accumulates in the toilet tank when it has not been flushed for some time. We have hired plumbers and boiler repairmen, but the problem persists. Our house is about 40 years old, with an oil burner and supplementary solar water heater. Can you suggest what could be causing this problem?
A-I can think of two possible causes. First, the hot and cold water lines may be touching each other, with the hot-water pipe transmitting heat to the cold-water pipe. Or, and even more likely, the solar hot-water supply may be
”backing up” somewhere into the cold-water system. A defective valve in the solar supply could allow hot water to pass into the cold-water pipes.
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Have a question about home repair problems? Write to Bernard Gladstone in care of Your Place, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Sorry, letters cannot be answered personally.
