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Ask the handyman

By John O’Rourke

Q. I’d like to remove a wall between my dining room and living room. How can I determine if it is a load-bearing wall?

A. The most definitive way to determine if the existing wall is supporting the structure above is to remove a portion of the ceiling covering so as to expose the structural framing on each side of the wall. If floor joists are running perpendicular to the wall, this is most likely a load-bearing wall. Should you find the framing to be running parallel with the wall on both sides, then the wall is most likely not load bearing. A qualified building/remodeling contractor or structural engineer would be able to provide you with an accurate determination of the wall’s load-bearing status.

Q. How do I change light switches and plugs in my house? Is it dangerous?

A. Working with electricity is dangerous if not done properly. It can cause injury or death and the possible loss of physical property. This type of work should only be done by someone who is knowledgeable and experienced at the specific task to be accomplished.
Before attempting to replace any electrical items, be sure to turn off the electrical power at the electric circuit panel. Any circuits that have been turned off should be secured to prevent someone from accidentally turning the electricity back on while it is being serviced.
With the electricity off, you may begin safely removing the original fixture and replacing it with a new electrical device. Be sure to keep all wires grouped together as you originally found them and make note of what they were attached to. Basic household wiring typically consists of a bare copper/green wire, black wire, white wire and sometimes a red wire. The bare copper/green is probably the most important in that it is the ground wire. This wire provides a path for the electricity to “escape” in case of a faulty electrical connection. The white wire is usually the neutral and the black wire is typically the hot or live wire, but this is not always the case. Sometimes there may be a red wire. As long as you reconnect the wiring to the new device as you originally found it connected to the old device, all should be fine. If you are unsure of what you are doing, it is best to err on the side of caution and consult a qualified electrician.

Q. My house is 30 years old. There are no soffit or ridge vents, and it’s insulated well. But it seems to be musty on the second floor. Are there any solutions?

A. Based on the details given, it appears that moisture is being trapped in the attic area or below the roof surface. The trapped moisture gets into the insulation and wooden surfaces of the house and causes mold to grow in this damp environment. To prevent continued and future problems the house needs to be ventilated properly. The ideal ventilation scenario is to have air vents installed along the bottom of the roofline to allow fresh air to enter this enclosed space. This is typically done by placing vents along the soffit or by installing a ventilated drip edge. A continuous vent along the peak of the roof is most effective in allowing the stale, moist air to escape. Vents located solely in the gable ends of a building do not typically allow for proper ventilation. In addition to ventilation at the bottom and top of the roofline, there needs to be continuous, unobstructed space provided just below the surface of the roof sheathing for the air to flow freely from the bottom to the top of the roof structure. This is particularly important in a Cape-style home or a cathedral ceiling.

To eliminate the existing musty smell within your home, which is most likely caused by mold growth in the enclosed attic space, you may need to replace the insulation below the roofline if it has become mold infested. Other surfaces, such as the wood framing, roof sheathing and the backside of the plasterboard or drywall, may have mold growing on it. These areas can usually be easily accessed in an open attic area. Should you have a Cape-style home or a cathedral ceiling, you will need to remove the ceiling coverings to gain access to the insulated areas and roof framing. Depending on how severe the mold situation is in your home, you may need to consult with a company that specializes in mold remediation.

John O’Rourke is the owner/operator of Case Handyman Services of Cape Cod. He has been maintaining, repairing and improving homes for more than 25 years. You can reach him at jorourke@casehandyman.com.