Gene Austin

Dear Gene: I own a condominium that has a musty mold or mildew odor and also gets sticky residue on some surfaces. What can I do about this? — N.M. These symptoms, which are especially common in basements, are almost always caused by moisture resulting from poor ventilation and excessive humidity. Air conditioners, which also […]

Dear Gene: Our house has beat-up hardwood floors covered by wall-to-wall carpet. The floors squeak badly. Is there any way to fix this problem from the basement, without removing the carpeting? — M.S. Squeaking floors can be very tricky to repair, but if you can work from underneath the floor, you have an advantage. The […]

Dear Gene: Is it possible to paint vinyl siding? Will the paint eventually wash off? — A.L. Vinyl siding can be successfully painted if some basic rules are followed. An important point to remember is that vinyl siding should not be painted a darker color than the original color. This is because dark colors cause […]

Dear Gene: How can we make lasting repairs to cracks in our plaster walls? Also, should plaster be primed before it is painted, and what primer should be used? — K.L. I can’t guarantee that the patches will be permanent, because cracks are often caused by settling or movement in the building. Cracks can reopen […]