Leaving all that debris in the attic is poor practice, but it likely won't hurt anything if it is not blocking vents. As you describe the staining well below the ceiling, the possibility of condensation issues, something sprayed on the wall by a tenant, a leaking pipe or other issues is possible — especially given our recent dry weather.
If a leak cannot be found by the roof cleaner, consider hiring a home inspector to investigate further.
Q: We purchased a 1966 split-level home, and it has two fireplaces. The lower level of the house has a fireplace insert, and we will use it in cooler weather, but the upper-level fireplace is completely bare, with no screen or doors.
I would like to use a candle holder in it with pillar candles, but first I need to improve the appearance inside. It has black soot on the inner walls and some paint that came through the masking when the outer brick was painted. Do I dare paint the inside of the fireplace walls if I plan to use only candles there, or would it be a fire hazard? Any other ideas?
A: Paint would be OK for candles only. Problem is, someone down the road buying the house might have a different use in mind for the fireplace, such as a gas conversion. There are paints that can be used in fireplaces, but they are rare, expensive, difficult to patch, must be applied perfectly to last and, frankly, I don't trust them.
Try removing the soot and paint with a wire brush and soapy water, followed by Goof-Off or similar product, and muriatic acid for the really tough stuff. And if all that fails, grind it.
Q: We installed carpeting over concrete in a daylight basement home (near the Sound) that gets sporadic recreational use by our large family. In 20 years there has not been a visible mold or moisture problem, but most people notice a moderately strong musty odor, and some adults and children get nasal congestion when they stay there for a weekend. We are especially concerned about our grandchildren, who sleep on the floor in sleeping bags.
This weekend, we added a dehumidifier that will run steadily (we hope). In the winter we keep the temperature at about 55 degrees when the home is unoccupied — which is a lot of the time.
In hindsight, I guess we should have installed laminate floor covering. Any suggestions for remedying the problem would be warmly received.
PS: Thanks so much for your column, and congratulations on finally winning the battle with Miss Mousey.
A: You won't see the mold on top of the carpet until it is extreme, but it can be there all the same. If you can smell it, you likely have mold on the pad and on the back of the carpet. The carpet needs to be pulled up and inspected for mold, at the very least.
Seal the concrete with a commercial sealer/moisture-prevention material and lay the carpet back down (if it is in worthy condition and free of mold) with a new high-quality, moisture-resistant pad. Assure yourself that there are no external sources of moisture that could be adding to the risk of future leakage (downspouts draining toward the building, etc). Yes, laminate flooring is a good choice.
Regarding Miss Mousey: Thanks for the words of encouragement. No, I didn't know for sure it was a female, but if it was, I was sure hoping she hadn't recently given birth.
Darrell Hay answers readers' questions. Call 206-464-8514 to record your question |
