Once again it's time to dig into the question bag. Some of the questions we get don't lend themselves to a full column. Others present a different twist to subjects we've dealt with previously. Either way, here are three questions and answers that we think provide some valuable information.  more...

Q: Thank you for your article on exterior trim. Where in San Francisco can I buy the decorative plantons you describe?

A: Plantons? Sounds like some kind of tropical fruit. There is no such thing as plantons, but we have referred to "plant-ons" when describing built-up interior and exterior wood trim molding.  more...

Q: We live in a 50-year-old home that we purchased last year. Before moving in we removed the carpet and refinished the hardwood floors that had been covered for many years. We also put in fiberglass insulation wherever we had access to open walls and installed it in the attic when the roof was replaced.  more...

Q: We are remodeling a 35-year-old home that has a nice brick fireplace. The previous owner used it to burn paper and other low-temperature items that produced a lot of smoke, resulting in a very heavy and unattractive buildup of carbon and soot. Worse, the owner used off-white, wall-color-matching, latex paint on the outside part (yes, right on the bricks) of the fireplace.  more...

Q: Are gutters on homes necessary? Our last home, built in the 1950s, didn't have gutters and seemed to be fine during the 10-plus years we lived in it. Now we live in a tract home, built in the '70s, and the gutters are in very bad shape.

We're tempted to remove them rather than replace them but don't know if the need for gutters depends upon the style of the home. Both homes are boxes, essentially. We certainly don't want to do anything that would damage the house. What do you think?  more...

Q: I have pine paneling in my bedroom, on the walls as well as the ceiling. The paneling is dry and looks worn out. I was thinking of giving it some kind of "whitewash." In other words, put a very light coat of white paint on it that still allows the pine to be seen. I am not a handy person but was wondering if this is something I could do myself.  more...

Q: There's a landlocked lot next-door from which water drains onto my property and ends up under my house. Only one side of the house gets this moisture and I have a sump pump at that side. It's pretty efficient -- the most water I've seen is about 6 inches in the sump's well. During the summer, everything's dry again.  more...

Q: After the 2005 disaster in New Orleans we decided we should go ahead with the seismic retrofit of our home in El Cerrito, Calif. Can you recommend any research that I should do before doing the project? I am confused as to what methods are recommended for homes in my area and whether what's recommended to me by experts who do this work is right for my home.

A: The Gulf Coast has hurricanes; the Midwest has tornados; and the San Francisco Bay Area has the ever-present threat of an earthquake.  more...

Q: In an article on restoring a Victorian, you mentioned exterior painting using three coats: a coat of primer, a second coat of one-half primer and one-half coat of finish paint, and a final coat of finish paint. Is this your suggestion for all exterior painting?

A: Yes, especially on older wood homes. We also recommend the three-coat approach when painting trouble spots -- such as windowsills -- that are subject to the ravages of sun, wind and rain.  more...

Q: We're doing a master-bedroom addition. To get the space for the bedroom, we need to remove a 30-foot brick wall. Is it feasible to save the brick? How labor intensive is removing the mortar (the house was built in 1953) to be able to reuse the brick? If you think it's feasible to recycle the brick, could you weigh in on the best technique and tools? My teenage sons are eager to begin.

A: Be still our hearts. Did we hear right? Teenagers who want to work! And manual labor at that. Your boys are to be congratulated.  more...

Q: I have been contemplating redoing my ancient deck and decided to solicit your comments and advice.

I laid this deck down about 40 years ago over a concrete slab at my home in Sunnyvale, Calif. The deck is approximately 30 feet long by 10 feet deep, consisting of extremely straight and relatively knot-free redwood 2-by-4s. I laid "sleepers" about three feet apart to keep the deck off the concrete and provide air space and support.  more...

Q: I have redwood paneling in my living room. It has never been finished, stained or coated, at least not in the last 40 years! It has some water stains, discoloration and minor scratches. This paneling is original to the house (1947) and is beautiful. Can I wash it? And then sand it? Or just sand? Should there be a finish on it? Thanks for your help.  more...

Q: We had a new roof installed on our house in the Sierras. The roof is a 12-in-12 pitch (45 degree) and is approximately 17 squares (1,700 square feet).

We contracted for a 30-year Elk brand composition roof with 30-pound felt underlayment. The instructions require a ridge vent system, without which the manufacturer's warranty would be void. We told the roofer this.

There is full wood sheeting on the roof. The instructions require a 3/4-inch opening on either side of the ridge beam to allow air flow.  more...

Q: About a year and a half ago we bought and moved into a 13-year-old frame house. After moving in we discovered that a 3-by-3-foot area near the center of the bedroom floor squeaks when we walk on it. The room is fully carpeted. The crawl space below is 16 to 20 inches high. The floor is insulated with batting held in place with plastic netting. How can we stop the squeaking?  more...

Q: We had hardwood floors installed in our home in March after purchasing it a month earlier. Now the floors constantly crack and pop when you walk on them, to the point that it is very annoying and distracting.

The contractor just pointed to the natural settling process of the property and changes in the weather. To make matters worse, he has departed the business and purchased a restaurant, and is claiming no responsibility.  more...