Cracking a Stucco Problem ; Use Caulk to Seal Moderate Gaps

Q. How can I repair cracks in my home's stucco siding?

If the cracks are no more than about -inch wide, you can seal them with a high-quality acrylic-latex caulk. If you make the repairs in winter, check the caulk container for minimum temperature requirements.

Before sealing the cracks, clean them with the tip of a screwdriver and an old paintbrush or toothbrush. Ordinary caulk, applied with a caulking gun, will give a smooth repair. You can add some stucco-like texture by squeezing some of the caulk into a paper cup or can and mixing a little clean sand into it. Don't overdo the sand, or the mixture won't adhere well. Press the caulk into the crack with a putty knife and clean up excess with a wet rag. The caulk will probably be white, so you will need to use paint to make the patches less visible. Buy a latex paint that blends reasonably well with your stucco and apply it to the patch with a small brush after the patch has dried thoroughly.

A special stucco-repair caulk is also available from Quikrete. This comes in a toothpaste-type tube and can be used to patch cracks up to -inch wide. This caulk contains some sand to add texture and can also be painted with a latex paint. For more information, visit www.quikrete.com/ProductLines/stuccocrackrepairtube.asp.

Large or deep stucco cracks, especially vertical cracks around windows or doors, can indicate problems with the foundation. If in doubt, have the building checked by an experienced home inspector or foundation contractor.

Q. I have a central air conditioner with the usual outside unit. I have kept a protective cover on this unit in winter in the past, but a home inspector recently told us not to cover it. What is your opinion?

Some air conditioner manufacturers recommend against using covers. A spokesman for Carrier, for example, said a winter cover is not needed because "outside units are built to withstand the elements."

Some years ago, I was told by another manufacturer's representative that it is OK to use a cover as long as there is some space around the bottom to ventilate the unit and prevent moisture condensation.

The best procedure, then, is to contact the manufacturer of your unit and follow the advice.

I think a cover is important for window air conditioners that are left in place during the off-season. A cover on the outside portion of the air conditioner, and thorough weather stripping inside, can help reduce drafts and heat loss.

Q. Our older house has some walls covered with vinyl and foil wallpaper that is difficult to remove. We are able to peel off only small pieces at a time. Is there a better way?

A chemical wallpaper remover such as DIF should help get the wallpaper off, but you need to perforate the surface of non- permeable coverings so the remover can reach the adhesive. DIF contains enzymes that soften the paste, releasing the paper so it can be scraped and peeled off.

A special tool called a Paper Tiger is available to perforate wall coverings. If used properly, it should not harm the surface underneath the covering. The tool is rubbed over the surface and makes tiny tears in the wall covering.

When the covering is off, scrub the walls with a solution of wallpaper remover to remove paste residue.

If you plan to apply new wall covering, use a wallpaper primer such as Shieldz. For more information on the products mentioned here, visit zinsser.com.

*

QUICK TIP: A reader said he cleaned soot from fireplace bricks by rubbing the bricks with white bread.

"It worked very well," he said. I have also heard of bread being used to clean old, non-washable wallpaper. Apparently the bread works much like a blackboard eraser, absorbing the dirt. If you try this, spread plastic sheets to catch crumbs and change bread frequently.

***

Write to Gene Austin at doit861@aol.com or 1730 Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422.

(c) 2007 Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.