Q–I am building a home office in my previously unfinished basement and after framing out the walls with 2-by-4 wood studs, I plan to finish the walls with gypsum board drywall panels. However, I am not sure how to neatly cut these panels to size when needed. Should I use some type of fine-tooth saw as one friend recommended, or a utility knife as another suggested?
A–Use a metal straightedge and a sharp utility knife, rather than a saw, to cut these panels. Working from the face side, start by laying the straightedge along the line of cut. Using the straightedge as a guide, cut through the paper facing and score the gypsum core with the knife. Do not cut all the way through the plaster core.
Next, bend the wallboard along this scored mark and snap the plaster core backward. While holding the sheet folded, finish the job by cutting through the paper on the back side.
Q–The flush mechanism in my new toilet tank makes quite a noise–like a hissing sound–just before it shuts off. What could be causing this?
A–Some brands of ballcock (the intake valve mechanism inside the tank) are much quieter than others.
However, in some cases a louder than normal noise can be the result if the water pressure is too high coming into the tank.
You can easily test for this by partially closing the shut-off valve on the intake line under your tank (to reduce the amount of water coming in).
If this doesn’t help, then your only choice may be to simply replace the ballcock entirely.
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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.
