Our house has plaster walls with many minor cracks. Is there a special paint that will camouflage these cracks? I can’t afford to replace the walls. Texture paint, a heavy-bodied paint that leaves a much thicker coating than regular paint does, will conceal some blemishes in walls or ceilings — but if the cracks widen […]
Special Issues
Posted inSpecial Issues
Choosing the best air cleaner
I need to get a room air cleaner for my son’s allergies. I see advertisements on television for expensive ones with no fans and others called “HEPA.” How can I tell which air cleaner is the best? A huge array of various room-air-cleaner designs and styles is available. Unlike the case with most home products, […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The power of corn
I use my fireplace for extra heat, but it is a hassle. I am considering getting a corn or wood-pellet stove instead. Are they energy- efficient and low-maintenance? What are my options? A wood-pellet or corn stove is an excellent choice for heating a portion or all of your home. I have tested many designs […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
More cricket-catching ideas
Untitled Document A recent item on dealing with an infestation of crickets in a basement brought so many ingenious tips from readers that the subject seems worth a follow-up. My favorite tip comes from Bruce. “I had an infestation in my previous home,” he says. “Just suffered with them until someone suggested taking a young […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
How to improve ventilation
Dear Gene: My townhouse sometimes has a stale odor. I can’t open the windows for ventilation because they have no screens. What do you suggest? I would certainly take steps to install screens in some of the windows. There are some options, however, if this is impractical for some reason. One option is to install […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Pile on the insulation
Dear Gene: Our house, built in the 1960s, has several inches of insulation in the attic. The upstairs rooms get warm in summer and cold in winter. Should we add new insulation to improve the comfort? “Several inches” of insulation in the attic of a house is not enough in any climate of the United […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Best woods for flooring
Dear Jim: I am getting rid of wall-to-wall carpeting because of the kids’ allergies. I want to replace it with hardwood floors. Will hardwood insulate as well as the carpet? Which woods are best? Hardwood, one of the most beautiful flooring materials, is a natural, renewable resource. Even though wood is a reasonable insulator, it […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Drive away crickets
Dear Gene: Our basement is infested with crickets, and for years they have resisted our efforts to control them with sprays. We are considering trying an ultrasonic device because we do not like to use strong chemicals in the house. Do ultrasonic devices really work? Are there better ways to deal with this problem? I […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
A do-it yourself sunroom
Dear Jim: My family needs additional living space. I want a sunroom, but I cannot afford to have one built. Are there any do-it-yourself kits available? Can I build one from scratch? What design is best? Adding a sunroom to a home is an excellent investment and will often increase the resale value of your […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Fire-starters
Dear Jim: I plan to use my fireplace often this winter to lower my heating bills, but I have never been very good at getting a fire started and keeping it going. Is there a proper method of building a fire? Ask a hundred old-timers about the best method to build a fire, and you […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Insulating basement walls
Dear Gene: I want to insulate a cinderblock basement wall. I want to avoid any moisture problems in the insulation and thought of using foam panels, but I’d like the highest possible R-value. Can you help? Among foam panels, polyisocyanurate foam has the highest insulating value, about R-7 per inch of thickness. A 2-inch-thick panel […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Keeping mold off the roof
Dear Gene: I have heard that zinc strips can keep mold from forming on asphalt-shingled roofs, but how are the strips installed and where can I get them? Zinc strips are available in 3-foot lengths and in roll form. The manufacturer’s specific instructions should be followed when the strips are installed. In general, however, a […]
