Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 14, Number 21, DeMotte, Jasper County, 7 April 1944 — FIRST-AID to the AILING HOUSE [ARTICLE]

FIRST-AID to the AILING HOUSE

By ROGER B. WHITMAN

Roger B. Whitman—WNU Features. FLAGSTONE TERRACE Question: I have a spot in my yard about 6 by 12 feet that I want to fix up as an outdoor sitting room with a flagstone floor. What should I put in first and how many inches should I dig out? I have the flagstones and want to know if I should put cinders in first, and then lay the flagstones on top with cement between. Answer: Excavate to a depth of about 10 inches. Cinders (not ashes) are then placed in the excavation, rolled and tamped well to within 5 inches of the level that you have decided on. Over this place a 3inch bed of concrete (1 part portland cement, 2 of sand and 3 of stone, the stones no larger than 1 inch). Use no more water than necessary to make a workable mixture. Follow at once with the setting mixture (3 parts sand and 1 part cement). As soon as the setting bed is leveled, sprinkle with dry portland cement and lay the stone in the prearranged pattern. The stone must be thoroughly wet when you set it. Point all joints with a mortar mix of 2 parts sand and 1 part cement. The surface must be kept damp for several days. • • • Water Cistern Question: We have a cistern in the basement which does not hold water above the faucet level. During a recent storm the cistern was full to the top at night, but the water had disappeared to the faucet level by morning. We have had three different people re-cement the walls and floor of the cistern. During my absence my husband put a thin coat of cement on the outside, and it looks terrible—but I guess he meant well. Can you offer some suggestion? Answer: It is possible that your difficulty lies with the faucet; the constant water level at this point seems to indicate it. If the faucet is not used, remove it and plug up the hole; however, if it is necessary, remove the old faucet and replace it with a drain valve. Piano Keys Question: The smooth, glossy finish on the ivory keys of my piano has become very rough. What can be done to restore the original finish? Answer: The ivory has been worn down, and restoration of the keys to their original finish cannot be done at home. A piano repairman could replace the ivory covering. You can, however, improve the appearance of the keys with a coat of white enamel. Rough the surfaces by rubbing with fine sandpaper, then clean them by wiping with turpentine. For a first coat use an enamel undercoat or flat paint, and finish with a good quality white enamel. • • • Shingles or Siding Question: Which would be the more practical to use on the exterior of our house, shingles or siding? Do the shingles make a tight finish, or will they become loose in time? Answer: Both types of exterior wall covering are practical, and if properly applied wood shingles or siding should give you long service, when protected against the elements by paint or a wood preservative. The choice of one or the other is up to yourself. Inspect several houses covered with siding and shingles, and see which you like best. • • • Unwashed Oriental Rug Question: Is there anything I can do to take the odor out of an unwashed Oriental rug? It has the odor of a camel or, possibly, a barn. Answer: Put the rug in the care of an expert on Oriental rugs. Look in your classified telephone directory, or ask a salesman in the rug section of a large department store to recommend an expert. There are preparations called rug shampoos on the market, but I would not recommend your trying to do the job yourself, in this cast. .