Q:I started trying to remove the cracked, discolored tile groutin my shower, using a hand tool, and feel it will take at least 20years to get it all out. Is there a better way? - E. Bartlett
A:You can speed up the job by using a small, hand-held powerdevice called a rotary tool, but it must be equipped with a specialgrout-removal bit.
Rotary tools essentially contain a motor that spins a variety ofbits and accessories at high speed. Both corded and battery-poweredmodels are available. The tools are often sold in kits with a lot ofbits to drill, saw and grind, but the grout bit is seldom included.Manufacturers of the tools include Dremel, Craftsman (Sears andKmart) and Ryobi. Some tools are priced at less than $100, and thegrout bit at about $20 to $40 more. The cost is still a lot lessthan having the grout removed professionally.
You can check prices for the tools and bit at home centers or onthe Internet, using a search engine and the words Rotary Tools andGrout Removal Bits for Rotary Tools. Even if you use a power tool,you will still have to switch to your hand tool (a small grout sawworks best) to clean out hard-to-access areas.
Enough old grout should be removed to expose the unfinished edgesof the tiles. Don't forget to spread a plastic sheet over the floorof the shower (or bathtub, if a tub wall is being cleaned) to keepbits of grout from getting in the drain. An alternative that I wouldseriously consider is to just cover up the old tiles with afiberglass surround. These surrounds, also available for tubs, areattractive, durable and easy to keep clean, and the total price isquite reasonable, especially when a do-it-yourself installation ismade. Some surrounds have built-in shelves for soap and accessories.
Q:I own a property with vinyl siding that was never caulkedaround the windows. I was going to caulk them and was told never tocaulk vinyl siding. Can you shed some light on this? - B. Segel
A:Vinyl siding needs to be able to expand and contract withtemperature changes, and it should not be glued down with caulk toprevent this. Vinyl siding that is installed too tightly can developripples and/or sagging.
However, your vinyl siding should fit into metal or vinylchannels around windows and doors. These channels improve theappearance of the siding and allow it to move slightly. I know of noreason why you can't caulk the joint between the channels and windowand door frames, which is where air infiltration and heat loss wouldoccur anyway. Just don't caulk inside the channels where the ends ofthe siding fit.
Q:We live in an 80-year-old building with cast-iron radiators.The radiators have been painted many times; most recently withacrylic-latex paint. The paint was applied when the radiators werecold and after the surface was scraped and cleaned. Now the paint ispeeling again. What can we do to prevent this? - F. Heim
A:If you want to have a first-class, lasting paint job, you willhave to go to a considerable amount of trouble. Wait till theheating season is over and the boiler is turned off, then disconnectthe radiators and take them outside. All the old paint should beremoved. The best way to do this is to sandblast the radiators.
This takes special equipment and you should hire a professionalpainter to do it. Next, remove all dust from the metal with a vacuumor compressor air gun. The metal should then be primed with a rust-resistant primer. You can apply this with a brush, but it is verytedious work. A sprayer is much faster and neater, so buy or rent anairless sprayer or use aerosol primer. When the primer is dry, sprayon one or two coats of enamel. Acrylic enamel works fine if theradiators have been properly prepared. There is an option for thosewho want to save time and effort - radiator covers (also calledradiator enclosures). These generally have to be custom made to fityour specific radiators, and they are available made of metal orwood. You can find sources on the Internet by using a search engineand the words Custom Radiator Covers.
Questions and comments should be e-mailed to Gene Austin atgaus17@aol.com. Send regular mail for Gene Austin to 1730 Blue BellPike, Blue Bell, PA 19422.
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