Masking made easy

When you decide to paint walls, trim, doors or rooms in your home, you're going to need to do some masking. Of course, we all think of masking tape for this. But you do have some other options. Some are easier to install, less time-consuming and may work better in certain circumstances. Here are some tricks and tips to consider before starting this part of the prep work.

• Masking tape is something you certainly can use. Just make sure you get a low-tack kind made just for painting. This will give you clean edges with less bleeding and will come off when you are ready for it to.

• Some masking tapes come with a sticky edge and other material on the other edge, such as paper or plastic. This allows you to mask on the sticky side and let the paper or plastic hang over the rest of the area to protect it more. This is great for wide molding, windows and flooring.

• Liquid masking materials, like petroleum jelly or lip balm, are great for masking areas that tape won't stick to well. You even can try using a bar of soap. This is perfect for large, divided windows. You can mask off odd-shaped areas with things like aluminum foil or plastic wrap. This material also can be used to line paint trays.

• If you can't mask off the area, you might be able to hold a shield over the area. A scrap of cardboard or plastic can be used and then discarded afterward.

• Masking off carpeted floors can be easy to do with a plastic carpet shield. This sticks to the carpet until you peel it off.

• Cover lamps, sconces, fans and other larger items with plastic bags. Just use tape or a rubber band to hold them in place while you paint.

• Some things, like switch plates and wall trim, can be unscrewed or pried up and off the surface enough to paint around them without having to mask at all.

Masking might be a pain, but it usually is less of a nuisance than cleaning up after you drip or smear paint in the wrong place!

A cleaner way to repair drywall

Drywall is pretty tough, but if you plan to do any repairs, that's going to mean a lot of sanding, followed by a lot of clean up. One way to keep the dust inside the room you are renovating is to install a plastic sheet over the door. You can tape or staple the plastic sheeting over the doorway. If you don't have any plastic sheeting, try a shower curtain. As long as this curtain is closed, the dust will settle inside the room. If you have air conditioning vents in the room, close those off too. You'll still have to vacuum, but mostly in just one room.

A neater way to do grout

Grouting a small area, such as what you would have with a tile replacement, doesn't have to be a messy project. One way to keep things neat and tidy, and to get the grout right where you want it, is to put it into a squeeze bottle for easier dispensing. The top should be about as wide as you want your grout joint to be. Just put some ready-to-use grout into the container and slowly squeeze it right into the joints you need to fill. Smooth it off for a nice finish, and you're done. Less mess and perfect results!

Super hints

• If your legs get tired when you are standing up at your workbench for long periods of time, invest in a pressure mat or two. These floor mats are cushioned and will help relieve the pain and stress on your legs and back, allowing you to work longer and be more comfortable doing it!

• If you want to give your bathroom an upgrade without breaking the bank, add some granite. What? You can buy remnants of granite for not much money, and even have them cut to fit your bathroom vanity and sink. This looks great, and can give your bathroom a great look for less money than you might think. Check it out for yourself.

Q. We have a standard built-in fireplace in our family room. We are going to change the look of the room, and plan to brighten it up. Is there a way to paint the fireplace white or beige? It's black right now and just sticks out too much in the room. Can we match it to the walls?

A. You need to use a high-temperature paint that is made just for fireplaces. Talk to a paint dealer and see if he has something that you like. He also might be able to match your wall color, in some cases.

Q. Please help me save my toilet. It's old and pink, and I love it. The reason why I've been told to get rid of it is because it is so old that it uses a lot more water than the newer type. It's not exactly a water-saving model. Is there a way to salvage it?

A. Yes, you can save it - by turning it into a water-saving model. Check your hardware store or home center, and you will find a couple of kits to choose from. This will be a complete replacement of the existing parts, and it should be fairly easy to install. Most are doable for the average do-it-yourselfer. Pink sounds very cool!

Q. My garage door is just plain metal. I wanted to see if I could make it look like stained wood. Do you have any advice on how I might accomplish this?

A. Sounds neat! Apply a primer after thoroughly cleaning the old surface. You'll want to practice on a scrap of wood first. Try using a special gadget called a graining tool, and see if you can apply some wood pattern to the surface. You'll have to get a little creative with the paint in order to achieve the many different shades that wood usually has. With a little practice, you should be able to do it. Once you get the door the way you like it, apply a good sealer to make sure it stays looking good. Good luck!

Reader tips

• I am getting married this winter. I'm not making a whole lot of decisions about what and where and how we do this, but I have made one special request. My fiance wanted us to register for wedding gifts at some of the usual places. I agreed, but also asked that we register at our hardware store. We signed up through its website, and hopefully we'll receive some basic tools that we will need for our new house. If your store doesn't have a registry, you can at least ask for some gift cards.

• My daughter wanted her room painted purple. I didn't really think it was a great idea, but figured I could paint over it when she got tired of it or left for college. I learned a neat trick: You can tint the primer before using it so that you get better coverage, even with a dark-purple paint. It really worked, and the purple is very dark and intense. What a great idea, and a helpful hint!

• We wanted to have a wood floor in our vacation home, but since it's rented part of the time, didn't want to have to worry about the upkeep of the wood. So after shopping around, we actually found ceramic tiles that look exactly like wood. They look amazing and are much more practical than wood would have been in this rental unit. We installed them, and have gotten a lot of very positive feedback from our neighbors and renters.

• I renovated my closet and added some built-in storage. I love it! I had been using over-the-door shoe organizers that I moved out to the garage. The new cubicles for my shoes are like a slice of heaven. But I knew I could find a good use for these old shoe holders in the shop. And sure enough, I did. I hung them right on the garage wall, and have filled the pockets with all sorts of shop things, including tools, paint and a lot of other items that I like to use for household repairs.

• Years ago, I bought a garden cart. It's seen better days. This summer, the wheels started to deteriorate, and I thought about throwing it away. But I shopped at my hardware store and found some really great heavy-duty wheels that I could use to replace the old plastic ones. These are wonderful and look like they will last for a long time. As an added bonus, these don't scratch the deck like the old ones used to. I guess I should have done this a long time ago.

• My wife loves wallpaper. I hate it. I don't like putting it up and really don't like taking it down, but I love my wife. So we compromised and decided to wallpaper just one accent wall in the dining room and guest bathroom. I figured I could live with one wall just to make her happy. We chose a good wallpaper and just covered one wall in each room. It looks nice, and isn't overpowering like I think most wallpaper is.

Shoptalk

• If you are trying to be "green" - and who isn't, these days? - you might be considering starting a compost pile. This is so easy to do, and once you know the basics, you can have a steady supply of FREE plant food and mulch for your yard year round. It doesn't cost much and is a great way to get rid of vegetable waste from your home, as well as many other items destined for the garbage can. Learn how to build and manage your own compost pile with our instructions. And don't forget - you can always get this and a lot of other super information at www.thesuperhandyman.com, so come on by and check us out!

• Since the tankless water heaters have hit the market, many have wanted to make the switch. But if you've had a standard gas heater for many years, a lot of you have found that upgrading your gas lines and exhaust vents for the tankless heaters is way too costly to make it worthwhile. But the Noritz EZTR40 was designed to fit where a standard gas water heater used to be. It uses the same 1/2-inch gas line, and with very few adaptations, also can use the same supply lines and exhaust vents as your old water heater. That means you can have that tankless water heater you've been wanting. To find out more about this unit, visit www.noritz.com and search for the EZTR40.

• The Little Red Cap is one of the coolest products I've come across in a while. It falls under the "Why didn't I think of that?" category. These reusable caps are flexible, sort of like a rolled-up balloon, and will roll onto a lot of different containers in order to seal them up, preserving what is inside the bottle. In the workshop, they are perfect for caulking tubes and several types of glue bottles. You also can use them on felt markers, electrical connections, pneumatic tool inlets, screwdriver tips and plier teeth, grease-gun tips and lots of other things. Check them out at your favorite hardware store or home center. You can find out more at www.littleredcap.com.

• Write to Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit online at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2015, Cowles Syndicate Inc.