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Search the Globe: Today Yesterday

A month's worth of Peter Hotton, Globe Handyman on Call Click here for an alphabetical list of topics covered by Peter Hotton's columns during the past several years.

Oil lining beats tar for wood gutters
(11/29/2001)
Q. I just replaced my wood gutters with brand new wood gutters. Some advisers suggested lining the inside of the gutter with tar. Others said to use oil instead. Who's right?

Don't squish those invading ladybugs
(11/22/2001)
Q. Ladybugs have invaded my daughter's room. I think they are coming in the windows. Can I seal the windows against them? Why are there so many?

Simple solution to leaky shower door
(11/15/2001)
Q. I had a double-wide shower stall installed in my new bathroom in 1996, with a glass door and fixed panel set in a frame that sits on a 4-inch-high curb designed to keep water from leaking into the bathroom. Well, for five years, the door has leaked at the bottom between door and frame. A small flange on the inside of the door bottom does no good to guide water into the stall itself. The door gasket appears intact. The installer ignores my calls, no one is willing to try to fix it, and a new door system would cost $600. Is there a less expensive way to stop the leak? It is severe, I need towels to keep the water out of the bathroom, and I am getting tired of handling so many wet towels.

Faucet may drip on AC condenser
(11/8/2001)
Q. I am having central air installed. The contractor placed the condenser outside on four wedges of concrete (about 6 inches by 6 inches by 10 inches) in front of and below my outside faucet. He says this is fine. It seems to me the condenser should be on a concrete pad or an equivalent, and that it should be moved so that every time the faucet is turned on, it does not soak the unit. It seems to me the contractor made a mistake and does not want to fix it. I'd like your opinion.