Ask The Crusader!

Michael King...THE HOME IMPROVEMENT CRUSADER!

Aluminum Storm Door Needs Revamping

Question
My aluminum storm door has developed a gap at the top and is getting harder to close. When I open the door, it moves when I lift it. Should I get a new one, or can the old one be fixed?

Also, how can I clean 30-year-old aluminum storm windows, where the frames are pitted and pretty sad looking and some of the latches are broken?

Answer
The door is racked from old age, turning from a rectangle into a parallelogram. First, make sure hinges are tight. Check the corners of the door to see if the corners of the door to see if there are any bolts or screws that can be tightened to restore the symmetry. The corners may be crimped or riveted, canceling any thoughts of tightening.

Also, put a turnbuckle on the door This steel rod goes from the top corner of the latch side of the door slantwise to the bottom corner on the hinge side. It is connected in the middle with the turnbuckle. You can turn this device to shorten the rod and straighten out the door.

As for the windows, they are probably not anodized, so you can clean them by dipping steel wool into paint thinner and rubbing. As for the latches, buy new, high quality ones such as Harvey’s True Channels.

Question
The concrete rail-like structures on my steps are cracked and developing shallow chips from wear and tear. Is there something I can do to fill the cracks and smooth over the chips? The man at the store offered a sand mix, but I am not sure about that.

Answer
That sand mix is basically concrete (Portland cement and sand), but it is not good for use in thin layers. You could use a Mortar Mix, which will stick better, but the best choice is Top ‘n’ Bond, which I have found to stick very well in thin layers. If the cracks are hairlines, there is little you can do about them. If they are larger, you can try pressing Top ‘n’ Bond into them. Caulking will also work, but it will give a definite patched look. If you have to patch the surface, and it looks pretty raggedy, you could coat it with Drylock, a cement-based paint, for a more finished look.

Question
My daughter has sliding doors on her closet, the kind that roll on wheels on a top rail. One door is sticking. How can I fix it?

Answer
First, check to make sure the wheels are not loose and then check to see if any part of the door is scraping the floor or side of the companion door. If everything seems okay, then spray the wheels with WD-40. If the door still cannot be moved it is off its track or blocked by something.

Question
I am remodeling my 1950’s house. I want to replace the shower valve and the head. When we removed the cover of the old valve, we were dismayed to find all the internal parts cemented, and the plumber cannot work in such a small area. He wants to cut away more to gain more working space.

The valve is accessible only from the front and the tiles are in mint condition, so I am unwilling to touch them. Potentially could cut the tile around the old valve and cover it with a bigger escutcheon plate, I have not found one. I am trying not to do patch work with different tile, since that would really accentuate that area. What should I do?

Answer
How about keeping the old valve if it is working? Short of that, you could have a large escutcheon plate made of stainless steel, plastic “chrome,” or ceramic.

Or, bite the bullet and make the opening bigger, then put up a new backer board and put in a square of contrasting tile.

I know that it is not what you want, but the three ideas may be worth considering. With the large escutcheon, you will have plenty of room to work in if the valve fails.

Question
When I had new gutters installed, I noticed there does not seem to be an incline to them. I can see small puddles of water here and there in the gutter, not more than 1/8-inch deep. Should there be a slant?

Answer
There should be a slight slant, and your gutters probably do have a slant. I don’t think there is rule in the code books about gutter inclines, but it is generally agreed that a slope of 1/16 of an inch per foot is adequate. In fact, a level gutter will drain.

The small puddles in your gutters may be due to a slight sag. But as long as the water evaporates between rain storms, there is nothing you can do or be concerned about.

Return to the "Crusader Q&A Topics" page!