Show FIRST AID to the AILING HOUSE A by ROGER B WHITMAN roeer droger B whitman service damp cupboard QUESTION in the sacristy sac risty of our Q sj church the altar guild has a cupboard for linens and hangings hannings hang ings this cupboard has shallow drawers with doors in front we find dampness and mold in the two lower drawers what can we do to make the drawers dry answer that dampness comes up through the floor and through the two walls backing the cupboard one method would be to move the cupboard away from the walls by at least two inches and to raise it on blocks so that there will be a circulation of air behind and under it in addition the under part of the cupboard the back and the one side toward the wall should be covered with waterproof felt tacked on it will not do to lay the felt on the floor or attach it to the wall for dampness that comes through should evaporate if it remains in the floor and wall there might be trouble door through cement block wall question in changing the entrance to a basement apartment we would have to go through a wall of cement blocks how can the blocks be cut would this be an enormous expense answer As cement blocks are hollow cutting is not a difficult or expensive process it can be done with a cold chisel and hammer but the quickest and easiest way is with an electric chisel A mason contractor will have this tool and would do the job at no great cost your very first move should be to set a heavy timber in the wall to form the upper edge of the opening that will be cut to take the weight of the wall above it when the wall below has been removed moisture proof wall finish question walls of our bathroom and kitchen are painted would there be any advantage in using wall cloth answer wall cloth is actually a light form of canvas finished with oil paints and in its best form is waterproof and washable it can be had in wallpaper patterns and in appearance cannot be distinguished from wallpaper when properly hung the walls are resistant to moisture and can be washed grease that is always present in kitchen air will not penetrate and can be washed off the additional advantage over paint is that there is no chipping new roof over old question I 1 am told that new shingles can be laid over an old shingle roof that the old root roof makes good insulation what is your opinion of this answer laying a new shingle root roof over an old roof is an excellent plan the double thick roof gives good insulation and the root roof is stiffened also you are saved the cost of tearing off the old shingles and clearing up the mess dry rot in the old root roof will die out and become harmless full instructions for doing the job can be obtained from the red cedar shingle bureau chicago limed teakettle question how can encrusted lime be removed from the inside of a copper teakettle answer fill the kettle with a mixture ot of cider vinegar and water in the proportion of one cupful to the quart bring to a boil and let stand all night another method is to mash several raw potatoes to put into the kettle tor for overnight and then to add a little water and bring to a boil size before painting an excellent way to size plaster walls before applying paint is to mix in one pint of linseed oil to the gallon galion of paint that you are going to 0 use and put that on as the first firs 1 coat brush it in well and allow time for thorough tho drying |