Hardwood Floor, Paint the Kitchen
Running Toilet and Deck Sealing
Your Home Repair Questions
Answered by Beth Hodge

Q. My friend has a hardwood floor which she says "floats". Just what does this mean? Do you recommend it?

A. A "floating" floor never actually gets glued together nor is it attached to the underlayment or existing floor. The pieces of flooring are made to interlock and when installed, a small space around the perimeter of your room is left for shifting and expansion.

These floors usually come with great warranties and if correctly installed give you an elegant look at a reasonable price and also prove to be quite durable over time. Many styles and colors are available.

Q. I want to paint my kitchen - it's been a long time. I'm putting a darker color over the light, so I'm hoping I don't need to do anything to it first. Being a kitchen I'd like to be able to wash it more often than other rooms. What should I look for in a paint?

A. For kitchens i suggest a latex semi gloss. Many people use latex semi gloss or high gloss in more than just the kitchen now as it is durable and washes well.

If your kitchen has not been painted in quite a while I suggest washing the walls first with a mild detergent, if a fair amount of dirt, smoke or grease is present there is still an easy way out.

In most paint departments you can find a powder called "TSP". Mix with water (follow package instruction) wipe walls using a sponge and rubber gloves. This solution takes years of dirt out of your way easily and gives you a better surface for a lasting coat of paint.

Q. I've about had it with my toilet. With nobody around it seems to "flush itself". Not completely really, but it makes the noise and then stops, just as if somebody flushed it. Any clues?

A. Ah! The mystery half-flush!! This is usually as simple as a rubber "flapper" in the bottom of your toilet tank.

The flapper raises and lowers, prompted by the flush handle, in order for your toilet to flush. Over time the flapper loses its shape or corodes causing your tank to slowly lose water to the bowl.

When enough water is lost the toilet refills itself giving you the annoyance of the "half-flush." The part is relatively inexpensive and easy to install, found in the plumbing aisle at your local hardware or home improvement store.

Q. When should I be thinking about sealing my deck? I put it in last year, but was told to wait and let it get seasoned before sealing it. Is a year enough? Should I wait for a certain outdoor temperature before I do it?

A. Yes, a year is long enough for a deck to season. Anytime you will have dry and warm weather is great. Check the weather to be sure you have enough time to allow your sealer to dry once you've applied it. The best temperature is at least 60 degrees (also check your sealer packaging for recommended temperatures)