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Get the lowdown on grout maintenance, the value of insulating under vinyl siding, how to take care of stainless steel fixtures, and ways to keep water out of a basement with a stone foundation.
Q. We had ceramic tiles installed on our kitchen counter. The grout between the tiles looks OK but is covered with dust. I keep washing it but the dust remains. The installer says the grout just needs to be washed several times. Any ideas?
I’d wash it a few more times and if the dusting continues after that I would ask the installer to correct the problem. If a grout sealer wasn’t used (it sounds like it wasn’t), then the application of a sealer might reduce or stop the dusting as well as protect the grout from future staining from food, water, oil, or dirt; and will make it easier to clean.
Q. I want to put new siding on my 34-year-old house. The outside walls are poorly insulated. Several installers of vinyl siding said they don’t use insulating panels under the siding. Most just use a house wrap. What do you suggest?
The insulation sheets used under vinyl siding are more to provide a smooth surface than to provide any meaningful insulation. In some cases, insulation led to moisture problems in the walls because the insulation formed a barrier that wouldn’t let water vapor pass through. Tyvek and other “housewraps” generally work well to provide an air barrier, while allowing moisture from the inside of the house to pass through.
Insulated vinyl siding is also available that can add up to an R-4 value. The insulation is supposedly “breathable” and will not cause a moisture-barrier problem. If you still want wall insulation, there are several products, including fiberglass and cellulose that can be pumped in. Contact an insulation company for more information and the pros and cons of the different products.
Q. We bought some stainless steel appliances a couple of years ago and are having trouble keeping them clean. I’ve tried a stainless steel cleaner as well as soap and water, and still have streaks. Can you help?
I’ve heard from several people that they get good results cleaning stainless steel using microfiber cloths, sold at many stores that sell cleaning supplies. The cloths can be reused many times. Some stainless-steel appliances are “clear coated” with a coating that is supposed to help make them easier to clean. In general, stainless steel cleaners that can be used on uncoated steel should not be used on these coated surfaces.
If you have an owner’s manual for your appliances, you should see what cleaning methods the manufacturer recommends. If you don’t have a manual, contact the manufacturer and try and get one, and also ask for advice on handling your specific cleaning problem. If you cannot get any help from the manufacturer and simple washing and drying or microfiber cloths don’t help, there are several other ways to try and remove the streaks. Try a half-teaspoon of dishwashing detergent in a pint of warm water, applied with a sponge, then wiped dry; or , rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or club soda, applied with a soft cloth.
First try any cleaner in an inconspicuous place to make sure it doesn’t cause additional stains.
Q. Our older house has stone basement walls. We get a lot of water in the basement, more than our sump pump can handle. We can’t afford expensive basement treatments. Will waterproofing paint help?
Waterproofing paint probably won’t help in your case. Those products work well to help stop minor seepage through materials such as concrete or concrete block, but your water is probably entering through cracks between the stones and at the wall-floor joint. A coating would not do any good in these areas.
The first step in any water proofing project is to check all exterior features that might contribute to seepage. You should check your roof gutters and downspouts to make sure they are not damaged or clogged and carry the collected rainwater well away from the foundation. The soil grading around the foundation should also divert any rainwater away and swales or drainage provisions should keep any water from draining toward the house.
If there are obvious cracks or gaps in the mortar or wall, you may be able to plug them with fast-setting hydraulic cement.
If you want to go beyond that, it may be costly. But you may not have a choice if you want a dry basement. Drain piping can be added around the perimeter, either inside or outside. Obtain some estimates from qualified water proofing companies, but make sure they address issues related to keeping water out, rather than just trying to control it when it seeps in. If the mortar work is bad throughout, the wall may need a major tuckpointing job or a coating of gunite, a mortar-like material used to line swimming pools. If your pump can’t keep up, a larger or second pump may help. Also consider a battery back-up in event of a power failure.
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