I plan to put in a laminated plastic floor (Formica Brand) over some old boards in an attempt to control scratching and wear and tear from all my puppies. It also will make the floor easier to clean. Would this work? B.J., Arlington, Mass.
Answer - A laminated plastic floor is new to me, although I did see a commercial about it recently, one of those teaser types that didn't say much.Although virtually anything, including ceramic tile, will scratch, the idea of such laminated plastic sounds good to be as resistant as anything, even more so. Go for it. It has a wood look and you can make yourself a guinea pig and see how well it works. It is sold by Newton Floorcraft Vinyl Flooring Tile & Carpet Co. in Watertown.
And, in fact, there is a ceramic tile on the market that looks like wood. George O'Brien of Beverly, a representative for Sant'Ana, a Brazilian tile manufacturer, sent us samples of ceramic tiles that look like real hardwood flooring. The tiles are 5 3/16 inches wide and 151/2 inches long, a funny shape for tile but adaptable to setting in a parquet fashion. O'Brien said they come in six colors, each with a wood tone, and there are several variations of texture in each color. The price is competetive, about $3.50 to $4 per square foot.
So, B.J. could opt for such a tile floor.
While even ceramic tile can scratch, it has a good chance of standing up well and long against those sharp puppy claws. Easy cleanup, too.
William Smethurst of Malden is the distributor.
Question - After I had six fir trees removed from near my house, I had big downdrafts into ny wood stove. It's amazing how much air came down the chimney. I have a chance to put in one of those wind direction chimney caps for $115. Would this eliminate the downdrafts? Joe Walsh, Braintree, Mass.
Answer - Yes, I believe it will, because the vane of the new cap will keep the opening away from the wind, something that a standard chimney cap might not do.
It is amazing what air and water can do; people, not necessarily you, are often skeptical of the many weird things they can do. But it's a fact of life, and we can be thankful that there are things out there to handle almost anything water and air can do.
Question - The electric baseboard heat in my condo is very old, and dirt has settled in the mesh. As a result, the walls are very dirty for quite a few inches above the baseboards. The old baseboards are about 3 inches thick. I keep washing the walls, and cleaning the mesh but soon the dirt returns. Is there a baffle I can install over the baseboard to divert the air from the wall? What should I ask for in the store? Shirley Perry, Lincoln, Mass.
Answer - I doubt if there are any standard baffles sold, so you have to have one made.
I suggest this: buy aluminum flashing at a building store, cut it to 5 inches wide and have it folded into an "L" shape, with one leg of the "L" 1 inch wide, the other 4 inches. Set this makeshift thing to the wall parallel to the baseboard, 2 to 3 inches above it. Nail or screw into the one-inch flange, and bend up the 4-inch flange, slightly. Have the edge of the 3-inch flange rolled (bent over) to prevent being cut by it. The flange will stay in position without sagging.
You have mentioned that the bottom of some windows go very close to the baseboard, preventing the proper positioning of the baffle. In that case, put it as close to the baseboard as necessary under the windows but still bent up a little.
Question - I am having my floors sanded and refinished. What clear finish is more durable and less darkening? Dorothy Mazzola, Canton, Mass.
Answer - "More durable and less darkening" is sort of an oxymoron, because anything more durable is likely to be more darkening. However, try a water-based polyurethane varnish; you need 5 to 7 coats of the stuff to make it durable. I'm not a big fan of wate-based polyurethane, but it definitely darkens the wood less than oil-based polyurethane.
Question - Dad made a beautiful mahogany table, and I was told to use boiled linseed oil on it. Is this a good finish for a table? And how do I apply it? M.T., Somerville, Mass.
Answer - Oil is a good finish for anything except maybe floors. It is a soft finish and may feel strange on a table top but if done right is durable, resistant to some stains and is easily touched up without refinishing. Mix the boiled linseed oil (it is already boiled, chemically, so you don't have to boil it) half-and-half with paint thinner, and apply this to the table, heavily. Let it sit there for 15 minutes, then wipe it all up - or at least all that is going to come up - with a dry cloth. Then rub with your hands; the more you rub the more of a gloss (not much) you will create. Dispose of those oily cloths carefully; they present a spontaneous combustion hazard.