Dear Maintenance Men:
Dear Maintenance Men:
I have a Formica countertop that has been damaged in a
small, but visible area. The rest of the counter is in great shape and I’m
reluctant to replace it for just one area of damage. Do you have any suggestions on repairs?
Frank,
Dear Frank:
Depending on the location of the countertop damage, use a wood, tempered glass or nylon cutting board of slightly larger size than the damaged area. Draw a template on the countertop using the cutting board as a guide. Carefully cut the damage area out. Use a very fine saw to make the opening, this will keep the edges clean. The hole should not be more than one-eighth inch larger than the cutting board. This will leave a hole in your countertop the size of the cutting board. The hole may need to be reinforced and spacers added to make up for the thickness of the new board. The cutting board should either be flush to the existing surface or no more than one-eighth inch above the surface. Use good quality adhesive silicone caulk to install and seal the cutting board to the countertop.
If you don’t feel confident in your cutting skills, there
is an alternative. The
tempered glass cutting board is very thin and could be applied directly over the
damaged area of the countertop. First
remove any “feet” or other spacers under the cutting board. If the board is clear, you may want to paint the underside to
help hide the countertop damage. Clean
any grease or wax from the damaged area of the countertop and apply water proof
construction glue and press the glass cutting board into place.
After the glue has dried, use good quality silicone caulk to seal and
dress the edges.
Dear Maintenance Men:
I have started a kitchen-remodeling project in my
apartment building and need some ideas for under kitchen cabinet lighting.
I don’t want to use fluorescent fixtures, as they are very bulky and
the light is harsh.
Jackie
Dear Jackie:
We have started using “Rope Light” for accent lighting
in some units. Rope light is very flexible and has a life expectancy of 25,000
hours. It can be installed behind
the lip under the upper cabinets or if you have space above the cabinet, just
lay it on the top. Rope light
produces a nice subdued light, not too bright.
Other areas where rope light can be installed are closets, inside
cabinets, in the garden, (it is very tough material), under the roof eave to
accent the building etc. The
problem with rope lights is that you can go crazy with it, there are so many
applications. Rope light can be
found at most hardware stores and it comes in rolls as long as 150 feet or in
small sections of 10, 12, 24 and 48 foot.
The price is around a dollar a foot.
Dear Maintenance Men:
I’m forced to re-pipe my four-plex and the plumbers
are telling me that they will need to make a series of holes in my walls at
certain locations. I have seen the
kind of holes plumbers put in the walls and I’m concerned that they will make
more work than necessary. What do
you advise?
Don
Dear Don:
It is a matter of choosing your plumber well and asking
questions before the job starts. Most of the plumbers we deal with take great
care in not creating more damage than necessary. That being said, it is a good idea to provide your
plumber with the most information you can.
For example: Try to determine the location of your existing pipe runs and
where you might like the new pipes to go.
Locate access panels, existing problem areas, structural concerns and
building peculiarities.
You may also want to communicate to the plumbers and their
techs that you would like clean square, stud to stud cuts made in your walls.
This will minimize the need for extensive drywall replacement.
A re-pipe of a unit or building can sometimes worry even the seasoned
owner. If you communicate your
concerns and are clear regarding the type of holes you will tolerate, it may
relieve some of your worries.
Bio: