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Drain-cleaner spots on Formica won't budge
Advertiser Staff
Q. Several months ago, we spilled drain cleaner on our Formica countertop. We now have several light spots in an 8-by-8-inch area on our countertop. The original color is Natural Almond, and the spots are much lighter. The countertop is about 8 years old.
Is there any way to get back to the original color to match the rest of the surface?
A. The surface is perfectly good but splotchy. Unfortunately, those light spots are there to stay.
Formica is far less costly than solid surface countertops. It is therefore relatively inexpensive to replace. If you can't live with the surface, cut a 10-by-14-inch section out and drop in a cutting board.
Q. I am having a house built and was wondering if it is worthwhile to have it wrapped with Tyvek or a similar product. I've seen it on new houses and have checked out DuPont's Web site. It seems impressive, but I'd like an independent opinion.
A. Go for it. Tyvek seals out drafts, will make the house more comfortable and will save you money.
Q. I purchased my new home seven years ago. To my dismay, the mortar on the brick seems to have had too much sand in the mortar mix because you can take the mortar off with your hand.
Also, on one side of my house there is a lot of green mold on the brick. It looks like where the brick and siding meet, it creates more of a shelf where water can sit. The brick is slanted more up than down so that the water cannot run off easily.
A. Mildew growing on brick is a fairly common problem. You can wash it off with a mixture of JoMax, household bleach and water. It is very economical. One gallon makes 20 gallons of cleaner. Just spray on, wait six or seven minutes and rinse off.
To reduce the crumbling, spray on a coat of Seal-Krete Original Waterproofing Formula when the brick is dry. Seal-Krete can be sprayed on with a garden sprayer. It goes on milky-white but is colorless as soon as it dries.
If you want to find a mason to regrout the brick, I suggest you go to a masonry supplier, describe your problem and ask for a couple of recommendations.
Glenn Haege writes for The Detroit News. Write to: Ask Glenn, Master Handyman Press, P.O. Box 1498, Royal Oak, MI 48068-1498 or askglenn@masterhandyman.com.
