Smooth things over with this how-to

Concrete patios are great. They give you a nice, even surface for seating and grilling, and even shuffleboard if you want. But sometimes the surface can chip or "spall" off. In other instances, you will find that it is sloped in the wrong direction and may hold water or channel water to the wrong place. But you can apply what's called a topper or a thin layer of new concrete over the top to smooth and level it out. Here are the basics so you can see how easily it can be done.

The existing concrete surface needs to be cleaned thoroughly. All loose material needs to be removed. A broom will get most of it, but a vacuum can be used to make sure you get all of the dust off the surface.

The topping compound that you buy should have a bonding agent built into it. This allows the new concrete to "stick" to the old concrete. If you are using a topper that doesn't have a bonding agent in it, you can buy and apply this separately. Just read and follow the package directions.

If the surface doesn't have a border around it to contain the new material and you need to build a "dam," use a board and wooden stakes to build it so that it is securely pressed up against the side of the existing patio. Do your best to smooth and finish this edge before it dries.

The topper can be purchased pre-mixed or for you to mix. It's a thin consistency, so it is easy to spread and somewhat self-leveling. A float is a good tool to use for spreading it. Get it as smooth as possible.

We always recommend applying a sealer to concrete. It doesn't show, but will seal the surface against moisture and prevent damage. You can do this every couple of years to keep it protected for a long time.

String cuts PVC pipe in a pinch: Cutting through PVC pipe is easily done with a pipe cutter or a hacksaw. But if you don't have the room to use one of these devices, there's a really clever way of doing it with a string. This method has been used for many years, and is still used today in cases like this, with great results. Just get the string under the pipe so that you have one end on either side of the area to be cut. Then saw the string back and forth, applying pressure to the pipe as you "saw." It actually cuts through the pipe pretty quickly and smoothly. Rarely do you end up having to remove burrs, as you would with some other cutting tools. Keep this in mind if you ever find yourself in a situation where you don't have room to use the proper cutting tool.

Simple mud scraper keeps you mud-free: A mud scraper might not be the first thing you add to your porch or deck, but if you work in the yard much, you'll be glad you have one. It's a great way to knock the mud off your shoes before you track it into the house and get in trouble. A very simple one can be made from a small scrap of metal angle iron. Attach it right to the side of your deck or a step so that one side is protruding and handy to wipe your feet on before you go into the house.

Super hints

•To prevent a roll of tape from sticking to itself, pull out a small amount and then fold it back on itself to form a small tab. Now you will have a tab you can pull to get the roll started quickly and easily.

•Attach a small rag to the end of your paintbrush. That way, it will always be handy for wiping up any drips or smears you might have while you are working.

•I had to cut a few sheets of sandpaper to fit into my hand sander. I cut several sheets and, with each sheet, the scissors got sharper. It turns out that you can sharpen scissors like this. Just cutting several sheets was all it took to make my scissors like new again.

Q. For the past two summers, I had been finding puddles of water on the basement floor. I thought we had a water leak in our supply line. I had a plumber check it, but there was no leak. I finally figured out that the "leak" was condensation. So now, how do I fix that?

A. Add insulation to the supply-line pipes. Simple wraparound foam pipe insulation is very easy to install and inexpensive to buy. This will prevent the condensation from forming because it will keep the warm, moist air in the basement from condensing on the cold water pipe.

Q. The paint on our floor molding in the bathroom is peeling off. Can you please tell me what I did wrong, and help me fix it?

A. Make sure you have adequate ventilation in the room. The trim should have been cleaned and primed before the paint was applied. It's hard to tell why it failed. Just sand it smooth, and make sure any loose or flaking paint is removed. Apply a primer to the area and use high-quality paint made for bathroom trim, and you should be OK.

Q. I have a fluorescent fixture in my kitchen. Would it be easy to change it out to a different kind of light?

A. First, cut the power to the lamp at the circuit-breaker panel. Then remove the fixture mounting. Don't disconnect the wiring yet. Most of the time, the wiring comes from a standard electrical box set in the ceiling. If the ceiling looks OK under the fixture and the box looks good, you should be able to switch it out. Hire an electrician if you need to.

Q. I have a pop-up sprinkler head that always stays up after watering. I can push it down, but unless I do, it just stays up all the time. Is it bad, or is this OK?

A. If it's in the way or might get ruined by a lawn mower or something, you might want to replace it. It's usually only a sign that it might need to be cleaned. There also is a spring inside the sprinkler head that might be damaged. Take a closer look at it, and clean the screen inside it and check the spring. It will be easy to replace if you need to.

Reader tips

•I was jealous of my wife when I saw how easy it was for her to clean the oven - just pushing a button was all she had to do. This last time she wanted to clean it, I asked her if I could set the barbecue grill racks inside while it was cleaning. It worked! Both grills came out looking new, and with no scrubbing!

•My wife is a pack rat, and loves to shop at flea markets and rummage sales. She comes home with all sorts of crazy ideas. She had an old wooden window frame that she wanted to turn into a trellis. I removed the rest of the glass panes and then hung it from hooks about 6 inches from the side of the house. The roses she planted under it have grown up and are starting to wind around the old window. I have to admit, it really looks neat. I guess she does have some good ideas.

•I have a great way to keep plants watered when you go away on vacation. Every summer, we leave for a week or two. We put all of the plants in the large bathtub with a couple of inches of water in the tub. The plants wick it up from the tub over the period we are gone. You have to remove the trays under the plants so they can do so, but it's usually enough to help them survive while I'm gone.

•I've given up golf. My wife and I have more activities these days, and I just wasn't getting on the course anymore. I found a buyer for my clubs but still had the bag, so I turned it into a garden-tool holder. Since the bag stands on its own, I can carry it to the garden and set it up. The tools are easy to get to, and store nicely in the bag in the garage. The extra pockets come in handy, too, for gloves, seed packets and smaller tools and hardware. I even have an old golf towel hanging on it to use.

•We have decided to plant a vegetable garden this year. We started planning it a month ago and decided to use the kids' old sandbox as a planter. We drilled a couple of holes into the bottom for more drainage, and just filled it up with good potting soil instead of the sand. The garden is really growing well, and we are looking forward to a great crop of tomatoes and beans. It's nice that it was simple to do and all in one container. We had to move it once to get it out of the shade. That was easy, too.

Shoptalk

•Grab bars are becoming more popular each year, as baby boomers age. Moen has a SecureMount Grab Bar that is easy to install on just about any surface and that is very secure. You don't have to search for a wall stud with the special anchoring system. Regular holes are drilled into the surface, not large eyesores like some mountings require. Even the look is sleek and decorative, and the price is affordable, too. Look for the SecureMount Grab Bars at hardware stores and home centers. To visit the company online, go to www.homecare.moen.com.

•Gator Drywall Sanders make sanding so much easier. They use the hook-and-loop system to hold the papers in place on the sanding pad, so there is no hardware or other gadgets to slow you down when changing papers. The heavy-duty paper lasts a long time because of the backing and the superior, high-performance coating. Both the hand sander and the pole sander are large to cut down on sanding time, and the pole sander features a universal joint for excellent articulation and better user control. Look for it at your hardware store or home center and many paint stores. To learn more about Gator Products, visit the company online at www.gatorfinishing.com or call (800) 255-4748.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit the Carrells' Web site at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2009, Cowles Syndicate Inc.