Q-We bought some expensive wallpaper that is not pre-trimmed; there is a selvage that must be either overlapped or trimmed off as each strip is hung. Overlapping looks awful (we tried a couple of strips on one wall); the dealer says that most people trim off this edge so the strips butt together smoothly with the pattern matching. No matter how hard I try, even with a pair of long tailor’s scissors, I can’t get a really straight cut when trying to trim off the waste edge. Short of buying new wallpaper that is pre-trimmed, is there some method you can prescribe?
A-Don’t use scissors to trim off the selvage; use a long straightedge (over 4 feet long) and a single-edge razor blade or a razor knife (these use single-edge razor blades).
After cutting the strip to length, apply paste to the back in the usual manner, then fold the strip with the pattern on the outside. Fold from one end in toward the center, then from the opposite end toward the center so that all the pasted side is on the inside of the folds.
Now place the straightedge on top of the folded strip and line it up exactly with the trim lines on the paper. Then, while pressing down on the straightedge firmly with one hand, use the razor, held in the other hand, to trim off the waste edge with a single long cut.
Toilet trouble
Q-We have a toilet that does not always flush out thoroughly. My plumber says the only solution is to buy a new one, but I would like to fix this one if possible because of color matching problems with every replacement unit I’ve seen. Any suggestions?
A-I assume the plumber has checked to make certain that the flush tank operates properly-that is, that it fills to the proper level (low water level in the tank can cause inadequate flushing) and that the tank ball at the bottom opens and closes when it should.
The next possibility is a partial blockage inside the toilet bowl itself (such as a solid object that has become lodged inside the bowl’s trap or one of its internal passages). A third possibility is a clogged or partially blocked waste line, and a fourth is a clogged or blocked vent line leading from that waste line.
Peeling paint
Q-One of our bedrooms has several layers of paint peeling off the plaster walls. After I scrape off all the loose paint, what should I do when I’m ready to repaint?
A-If the paint is peeling all the way down to the plaster, then there is either a moisture problem in that wall, or a problem with the original primer letting go. Your best solution in this case would be to strip off all the paint, using a semipaste paint remover, and then apply a primer-sealer followed by one or two coats of flat paint.
However, when you say that “several layers of paint” are coming off, it sounds as though the paint is peeling only down to one specific layer or color. If so, there is obviously a bonding problem with the paint at that point. You should try to scrape off all the paint down to that layer or color, if possible, then scrub with a strong detergent and sand lightly. Apply a coat of primer sealer before applying the finish coats of flat paint.
Tub drain odor
Q-My house is built on a concrete slab and is about 10 years old.
About six months after we moved in we noticed an obnoxious odor coming from our hall bathroom, which was only being used occasionally at that time.
The odor is stale and smells a bit like sewage, and we think it is coming from the bathtub-the odor disappears after running water down the tub drain, then returns after a day or two. I have paid a plumber to find the problem, but to no avail. Can you suggest a solution?
A-If the odor disappears when you run water down the drain, then it is likely you are right: The odor is coming from that drain or from one of the other plumbing fixtures connected to that same drain. It is possible that the trap under the tub (in the drain/waste line) is defective and losing its water (thus allowing sewer gases to enter) or that there is no trap under that tub.
It’s also possible that the vent line connected to that waste line is either clogged, improperly installed or missing entirely. A good plumber should be able to check all this out for you.
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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.
