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Ask the handyman

By John O’Rourke

Q. My slider screen door doesn’t run smoothly on the track. The doors are about 25 years old. Do I need to replace the entire door system to get them to glide smoothly?  – PR, Cotuit

A. There are a few likely causes for the screen door not gliding smoothly. First, check to see if the screen door is adjusted properly. Make sure that the rollers are sitting correctly on the track. The rollers on a screen-door panel can be adjusted up or down individually. Should the screen door still not run smoothly after making adjustments, then the rollers may be defective or the track on which they ride may be damaged. If the track is in good shape, then a fairly cost-effective solution would be to replace the screen door. You may be able to replace the rollers only, but I do not recommend this approach.

The replacement of a damaged track is a much more involved process. Should this be necessary, you may want to give serious consideration to investing in a new patio door system. Completely replacing your existing 25-year-old patio door will give you the opportunity to upgrade to a more energy-efficient unit, as well as to have a door that glides smoothly.

Q. I want to replace my carpet and linoleum with new flooring. What steps should I follow? Can you recommend a product for high traffic areas? I have three dogs.  – PH, Marstons Mills

A. There are a lot of choices available today in the way of flooring materials. My suggestion would be for you to first get yourself educated as to the various options available. Visit some of the local retailers who sell flooring products and become familiar with each type of product. Ask a lot of questions. Try to envision how each of these products would work in each of the rooms in your home. Factors such as the style of your home, interior design elements, your lifestyle and the function of each room will determine the best type of products to be used in each area.

In the process of researching your options, hopefully you will find individuals who gain your confidence. Make an appointment with one of these professionals to come to your home. He/she will be able to evaluate the existing conditions, take measurements and make recommendations as to the best products to use and the proper methods of installation. Most suppliers of flooring products have a good network of qualified professionals who can take care of installing each of the products they sell. You will also find many of these suppliers helpful in providing advice should you desire to install any of the flooring products yourself.

Q. I want to install a split rail fence in my yard. How do I make sure that the posts line up straight? – PR, Dennis

A. Once you have determined where the new fence is to be installed, you are going to place a stake in the ground at each end of the proposed straight run of fence and attach a string from one stake to the other. The stakes should be positioned the same distance away from the center of the proposed fence location (suggest 12 inches) so that the string will run parallel with the fence. As you dig each posthole, measure from the string in order to keep the center of each hole at the suggested 12-inch distance from the string. As you set each post in the hole, use the string as a guide to keep the base of each post in a straight line. Use a level to set each post in a true upright position. Adjust the position of the base of the post, if needed, to keep its center an equal distance from the string. This process should help to ensure a good-looking finished product.
A reminder: Before you begin this project, a couple of items should be addressed. Is your fence being placed along one of your property lines? If so, be sure to double check the exact location of the property line and place the fence on your property. Also, have you identified any possible utility lines which may be buried below the ground in the area you plan to dig? Call Dig Safe (1-888-DIG-SAFE), a free service, to request that your property be marked. Allow three business days for workers to mark any hidden utility lines before you begin digging.

Q. The new paint on a 2-by-3-foot section of my second floor bathroom wall and ceiling is peeling. I used a mildew-resistant paint for kitchens and baths from a well-known manufacturer. The plaster wall in question is an outside, north-facing wall, and the peeling area lies where the wall meets the ceiling just outside the shower door. No paint is peeling anywhere else in the room, including inside the shower. The house is 80 years old. The bathroom has no fan but does have a window for ventilation. I’m stumped. Any thoughts?
– JD, Yarmouthport

A. A common cause of peeling paint is moisture behind the painted surface. The moisture wants to escape, and therefore pushes the paint off of the surface to which it is applied. The newly painted surface may have had a high moisture content when the new paint was originally applied or moisture may be getting into the wall in this area. A second common cause of peeling paint is the painted surface may not have been cleaned and prepared properly before applying the finished coats of paint. Dusty, chalky, or greasy surfaces will not hold paint very well. Surfaces to be painted should first be cleaned, and then allowed to dry before applying fresh paint.
I suspect the steam escaping from the shower area and condensing on the cool north wall and ceiling surface is most likely the cause of your peeling paint. A break in a painted surface, such as the corner joint where the ceiling meets the wall, can allow enough moisture to get under the paint to cause it to peel. Unless you can keep a window open during and after using the shower, I would advise having an exhaust fan installed in the bathroom, especially if it is used often for taking showers. Moisture is the number one cause of damage to a house. An exhaust fan will remove most of that moisture quickly, so as to minimize any potential damage it can do. 

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.