Q. My wife has syncope (a non permanent loss of consciousness triggered by a fall in blood tension). As a result, I’m considering of subbing out the ceramic tile in the rest room for a softer flooring. What are your views on employing 3/8-inch foam rubber tiles? Grab bars won’t help she faints as well rapidly. Any other ideas would be appreciated.
D.K.
A. I can fully grasp the need to have to cushion the flooring, but you shouldn’t clear away the ceramic tile. You will need it to keep drinking water from the tub/shower from finding to the subfloor. In its place, I would take into consideration rubber mats that can be taken out, cleaned, and dried out. There are fairly a couple goods on the current market for property use, together with interlocking rubber floor pads that would give fantastic traction/cushioning and are also uncomplicated to get rid of and clear.
Q. In one particular of your columns, you recommend by no means employing metal to reline a flue in a wood-burning fireplace (“Ask the Remodeler: How to amount off a garage to change it into an business,’’ Aug. 8). I have an unlined chimney that is about 90 several years aged and leaks into the firebox of our wood-burning fireplace. 1 mason put in a chain-operated flap, which did not assistance. An additional mason “waterproofed’’ the chimney, but it however leaks. I know I ought to have the chimney lined, and many masons have advisable a metal just one. I have also experienced proposals to repoint the chimney (I can see exactly where the mortar has unsuccessful), but I want to stop the leaks, which no one will warranty. What is the trouble with a steel liner in a wood-burning hearth? Corrosion? What is the relining system exactly where cement is used? What do you advise?
J.B., Jamaica Basic
A. Though we would hardly ever have set up a steel liner for a wooden-burning fireplace, there are some educational institutions of thought within just the field that say it is Ok if you use stainless steel and put in it correctly. Nevertheless, they are highly-priced and do absolutely nothing to fortify a chimney like a cast-in-put cement technique will. The leak could be coming in from the chimney crown or top, failed mortar all around the sides, or at the flashing wherever it connects to the roof or facet of the house.
My recommendations: Have a mason examine and, if needed, maintenance and seal the crown. Upcoming, have the mason grind out and repoint as essential, working with a lime-dependent mortar if the bricks are previous water-struck types. Next, if the mason is not up to it, have a roofer reflash the chimney where by it connects to the household employing an ice and h2o protect, new phase flashing, and new lead flashing. The chimney flashing is where we see a good deal of leaks. Having treatment of all those 3 issues should really prevent any leaking. Once again, our recommendation is a solid-in-area liner to genuinely reinforce the chimney, but you can think about a sprayed one or a appropriately mounted stainless-metal liner.
Mark Philben is the job improvement manager at Charlie Allen Renovations in Cambridge. Ship your inquiries to [email protected]. Questions are subject to editing. Subscribe to our totally free genuine estate publication at internet pages.email.bostonglobe.com/AddressSignUp. Follow us on Fb, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter @globehomes.
