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Do-it-yourselfer Q&A

By Gene Austin
McClatchy Newspapers
(MCT)

Q. My daughter moved into a Colonial-style house about 18 months ago and has since discovered peeling paint on several ceilings and exterior walls. The roof and gutters were checked but there are no signs of moisture problems. What could be causing the paint to peel? -- L. O'Brien

A. Moisture from leaks or seepage is a common cause of paint peeling, but high relative humidity caused by poor ventilation can also cause peeling. The house should have vent fans in bathrooms, kitchen and laundry to pump out excess airborne moisture.

Poor preparation of the surface is another common cause of interior paint peeling. If the walls and ceilings were dusty when the paint was applied (possibly from drywall sanding), or just plains dirty, paint will not adhere properly. Glossy surfaces also do not hold paint well; they must be dulled by sanding, use of a glossy-surface primer, or by using a deglossing liquid.

You don't say how old this house is, but if it was built before 1978, the paint should be tested for lead before anything is done. Consult the Web site of the Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov/lead/) for guidelines on dealing with lead paint.

If it is a newer house and there is no lead-paint hazard, the loose paint can be scraped off and the areas sanded smooth with very fine sandpaper (150-grit or finer). Carefully remove all sanding dust. You will need to repaint entire walls and ceilings - not just the peeled areas. Clean the surfaces to be painted with a detergent-water solution and rinse by sponging. For best results, apply a primer such as Bulls-Eye 1-2-3 to all surfaces to be painted. Finally, apply a high-quality, acrylic-latex finish paint.

Q. I want to install new pre-finished wall panels over some old paneling that is no longer attractive. Where can these panels be purchased? I haven't been able to find anything. -- J. Wollaston

A. Pre-finished wall panels, also called decorative wall panels, can be bought at almost any home center, such as Lowes or Home Depot, as well as at many lumber yards. Georgia-Pacific (www.gp.com) is a leading manufacturer of these panels, many of which are only [-inch thick. Unfortunately, wall panels are not as popular as they once were, and some dealers do not stock a wide variety of patterns. You can find more options by searching the Web with the words Decorative Wall Panels.

If you install panels over existing panels, make sure the old ones are firmly attached to the wall. Nail down any loose joints or bulges. Also stagger the new panels so the joints fall in the middle of the old panels.

Panel installation also causes electrical outlets and switches to become slightly recessed so that covers do not fit properly. The boxes containing outlets and switches can be moved outward slightly or special covers are available to fit recessed boxes.

Q. We used a tile cleaner on our marble floor in an attempt to remove some scratches. The scratches are still there, plus some stains that appear to be a hard soap scum. Can you help? -- Maxwell

A. Marble is a sensitive material, easily damaged by strong cleaners that are not intended for it. Try scrubbing the stains lightly with a mild solution of dishwashing detergent and water. Hydrogen peroxide or ammonia (one-half cup ammonia to a gallon of water) are sometimes also used to clean marble. Do not use vinegar, an acid that can damage the marble. If these solutions don't work, obtain a special marble cleaner. Special cleaners are sold at home centers and supermarkets and can be bought on line at such sites as www.stonecare.com. Very shallow scratches can sometimes be removed by buffing with very fine (0000-grade) steel wool. Removing deeper scratches or stubborn stains should be done by an experienced marble worker.

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QUICK TIP

Homeowners who are planning projects that involve digging deep holes - planting trees, erecting fences and the like should check for presence of underground utility lines before digging. A new Web site, www.call811.com, guides homeowners through the process of having utility lines mapped so they won't be damaged.

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(Questions and comments should be e-mailed to Gene Austin at doit861(AT)aol.com. Send regular mail for Gene Austin to 1730 Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422.)

(c) 2007, Gene Austin
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.