Posted on: Friday, February 25, 2005

HOME HANDYMAN
Looking for energy-saving lighting

By Glenn Haege

Q. We are helping remodel our church. The current lighting is fluorescent with a shade that shines up the walls. The overhead lighting is a pendant type. We want to go to a more energy-efficient building and need to know the most energy-efficient forms of lighting. Is fluorescent lighting the best?

A. Look for recommendations at www.wattbusters.com. Wattbusters' parent company is in the business of showing industries how to upgrade and improve lighting.

They said they opened a consumer retail division to help the general public save on lighting.

Q. I reglazed my tub, and it peeled. I got over half of it off, but this is too much work. Do you know of a product that could help me take this stuff off? The old tub looked better, and I would like to have it back.

A. It sounds like you have a real mess on your hands. If it were my bathtub, I would have it relined.

Since you sound like a do-it-yourself kind of gal, I called the folks at Super Jet Co., the makers of Bath Brite, to ask if their product could clean the paint off to let you restore the tub.

They told me that you have to use an automotive paint stripper. Then if the surface is in good condition, you could deep-clean and restore the surface to like new.

They tell me that several homeowners have done this successfully.

Most automotive paint strippers are dangerous. I suggest Napier RemoveALL 510. This is a "green" product that is very strong, yet totally benign. To find a dealer near you, consult www.biowash.com.

Q. We have 12-by-12-inch ceramic floor tile on the kitchen floor. We would like to install wood laminate flooring. Can the laminate flooring go on top of the ceramic flooring or does the ceramic floor need to be removed?

A. You could put the laminate over the ceramic floor tile, but you might have a height problem with your dishwasher.

Have a design or decorating question? Write Catherine Murrell at the Courier-Journal, 525 W. Broadway, P.O. Box 740031, Louisville, KY 40201-7431. Individual replies are not possible.