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Show Fix up tips Question: How can get paint to stick to the I areas on our concrete front porch? high-traffi- c Answer: Today's epoxy, polyurethane and acrylic paints wear much better than oil and aikyd paints on concrete. Before paint, applying a water-resistaclean and roughen the surface. Use a trisodium phosphate solution or strong detergent to scrub the floor. Sanding with coarse emery paper may be required to give the old surface a rough texture for good paint bonding. Test-pai- Davis County Clipper and Clipper Today Gobbler Giveaway 8 Thursday, November 4, 1 999 make a clunking noise or when they bend. Adjust pipe ers to relieve the noise. "tin-can- FIVE ?1Ri POINTS " hang- Pipes can also make noises when they expand from hot water, contract from cold water or vibrate or hammer from high water pressure. Foam pipe insulation can be used to cushion the pipe and muzzle expansion or pressure noises. The insulation will also help prevent condensation from forming on the pipes which can cause puddles on basement floors. Or, use insulation to sepa- s: We're Here To Stay! Coming in The Mall of the Millenium! 2000 rate pipes from each other to avoid noise from pipes rubbing each against nt other. a small area to make sure the new paint wiil adhere. Question: My existing Question: Our wood floor makes all kinds concrete patio FIVE0POINTS is cracked badly of annoying squeaks and I plan to replace it. when we walk across it Is How far apart should conthere some way the floor can be tightened up with shims to quiet it down? Answer: Many times, what we floor squeaks are only noises, and have nothing to do with floors. Plumbing pipes and heating ducts can pop and crackle, even "squeak" as we walk (.ail squc-akin- across the floor. The easiest wav to find any noise source is to have someone walk across the floor while you listen carefully below. Noises that seems to come from heating duct locations can be traced down and eliminated by loosening brackets that connect the heating ducts to the underside of floor joists(s) to proside a sort of trol joints be spaced? Answer: Control joints, that is spaces between one section of con- crete and the adjacent sections, relieve stresses in concrete that result from expansion and contraction with changing temperature. They should be spaced a maximum of 10 feet apart. You can make control joints in three wavs: 1. Cut them into partially set concrete with a hand groover masonry tool. 2. Cut them mto concrete after it has been hardened with a concrete saw. 3. Build forms h h with or strips at left for be can locations. Strips joint decoration. lx4-inc- 2x4-inc- ana Hie Uearffend &per Ca shock absorber between the two 10 off all slickers and pattern paper drawing for free gift basket units. Check pipe locations where pipe hangers support water or gas pipes hung beneath the floor joists, joists that flex when they're walked on can rub against pipes or ducts and create a noise, or ducts that are tied tightly to joists can To submit a question, write to Popular Mechanics, Reader Service Bureau, 224 W 57th St., New' York, NY 10019. The most interesting questions will be answered in a future column. Refreshments Pinner included with Friday workshops Make-n-takwith Page Toppers, Frame Ups, and mini books es (By 66 West 1600 South, Bountiful, 2-J- 66 www.neartlandpaper.com D '-- 'q |