Q-We are modernizing several rooms in our old house and want to change the locksets on several wood doors that now have old-style mortise locks. However, when we take out the old mortise lock we are left with several large holes that won`t be covered by the new lock, including a large recess in the edge of the door. Is there any way to patch these or fill them?
A-Patching these holes so you can then install a new tubular lockset is a tricky job, even for a professional carpenter. Your best bet is to buy one of the special adapter kits made by some lock manufacturers for just this purpose. These come with a large metal plate that covers the old holes on the face of the door, and this plate has a hole in the center to accept the new lock. There is a smaller, narrow adapter plate for the edge of the door that will accept the new latch bolt yet cover the mortise that was left when the old lock was removed.
Q-My vacation house is used a few times a year-not enough to leave the heat on between visits. To protect against freeze damage I winterize the toilets and sink traps by pouring antifreeze in them each time I leave. I am concerned about the effects this antifreeze has on the septic tank and on the environment. Would auto windshield washer fluid be a better alternative, or are there other products you can recommend?
A-Unless you really go wild with the amounts used, I don`t think enough antifreeze is used to cause serious harm to the disposal system. Auto windshield fluid is milder and more dilute but probably similar. There are also nontoxic antifreezes available that are used in the water systems of boats and recreational vehicles. These certainly would be less harmful to the environment and possibly less cumulative in the septic tank.
Q-We have a long, dark hallway that has wood paneling on the walls up to a height of about 48 inches. Above the paneling is a vinyl wall covering with a rather dark design on it. Can I paint this vinyl, and if so, what should be used?
A-Most vinyl wall coverings can be painted with a good latex flat or semigloss. Make sure the surface is absolutely clean before any paint is applied. Scrub with a good detergent, then rinse with clean water. To play it safe, test the paint on a small square first, then wait a week to see how the paint dries and adheres. If the paint doesn`t adhere firmly, apply a first coat of a sealer such as Enamelac, B-I-N or Kilz, then paint over this after it dries.
Q-The rear of our house faces south and the roof shingles on that area show much greater wear than the front, which has a northerly exposure. The house is about 38 years old and we are about to have the roof completely reshingled. The roof has already had a new layer of shingles placed on top of the original ones, but the shingles on the south side have curled and warped and are quite brittle. Should the worn shingles on the south side be removed before new ones are applied, and can a third layer of shingles be placed on top of the two that are already there?
A- The warped and brittle shingles should definitely be removed before new roof shingles are applied. As far as the rest of the roof is concerned, it is never a good idea to apply a third layer of shingles on top of two previous layers. I advise removing the shingles on the entire roof before installing new shingles.
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Have a question about home repair problems? Write to Bernard Gladstone in care of Know-how, The Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Sorry, letters cannot be answered personally.