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Heat, humidity causing a not-so-sticky situation

3 min read

Q. The wall base strip in my kitchen comes away from the wall in hot, humid weather. Is there an adhesive that works well in hot, humid weather?

SHELI WORTIS, by e-mail

A. Go to a store that sells rubber or vinyl base strips and ask what adhesive to use. If there is no adhesive for self-sticking strips, you might have to buy a new strip. If you can’t find an adhesive for the loose strip, buy an adhesive caulk (PhenoSeal or PolySeamSeal) and slather several beads on the wall or the back of the loose strip. It will take repeated pressings to hold, and when it does, it is permanent. Another idea: Get rid of all that plastic stuff and nail on a wood baseboard and paint it to match the woodwork.

Q. The concrete walls of my garage are deteriorating. Some portions are failing as the embedded gravel is exposed. I plan to apply an anti-spalling agent. What do you say?

GUEST, in Hotton’s chat room

A. The deterioration is caused by faulty concrete or water vapor coming through, condensing into water, and eroding the walls. Try painting the walls with Drylock, a cement-based paint that will help stop or reduce seepage. Another idea: Apply a bonding agent to the walls before applying a skimcoat of mortar to fill the voids.

Q. I was planning to use grass clippings as a mulch on my garden, but I was told clippings contain chemicals from treatments that would not be good for plants. My adviser suggested hay, a weed-control fiber, or heavy black plastic. What do you think? VEGGIES, Norwood

A. I think the weed control fiber will work, but the black plastic is less expensive, and holes can be cut in it to accommodate the plants. Hay might also be easy, but messy.

Recently, the handyman answered Slade’s question about how to make a new invisible screen visible enough to keep people from walking through it, by sewing or gluing signs and other indicators on the screen fabric. He never thought of the ideas several readers sent:

K.D. Yorke of Holbrook suggested installing two magnetized figures, about 2 by 3 inches, each applied to either side of the screen. “I found these after someone had walked into/through my screen. I cannot recall where.”

D. of Brookline said he uses magnetic appliques that stick on inside and outside the screen at eye level – shaped like hummingbirds, flowers, etc. He didn’t have the company name, but bought them at Oyster Fest in Wellfleet.

The handyman appreciates everyone’s ideas.

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