Do It Yourself: ; Strip or sandblast paint from concrete

Q:My concrete porch and steps were once painted but they now lookawful. The paint was stained by a metal railing that rusted and hasbeen replaced. I'd like to remove the paint to restore the originalconcrete finish or, if that's not possible, repaint properly. Canyou help? - M. Schik

A:The paint can be removed, of course. The simplest method is tohave the concrete sandblasted. This is best done by an experiencedpainting contractor, although sandblasting equipment can be rentedat some tool-rental agencies. One reason why a pro is the best betis that if the paint was applied before 1978 it might contain lead,a health hazard if particles or fumes get into the air and arebreathed. An experienced painter can test the paint and, if itcontains lead, recommend the safest method of removal.

You can also test the paint for lead yourself, using a lead-testkit, sold at home centers or online (search for Lead Paint TestKits). The old paint can also be removed with paint stripper.Stripping will be a lot of work if the surface is large, but you cando a small section at a time. Good strippers include Strypeeze andPeel Away. For information on Peel Away, which comes in a variety ofversions, search Peel Away Paint Stripper on the Internet.

Strypeeze can be bought at many home centers and hardware stores.There are other good strippers, of course. Some will work muchfaster than others, so read the directions and cautions carefullybefore buying.

A good system is to work on a reasonably cool day when theconcrete is shaded. Spread remover in a thick layer and lay a sheetof plastic over it to help prevent evaporation. After giving thestripper plenty of time to soften and loosen the old paint, removethe plastic and scrape and clean the concrete, following directionsfor the specific stripper.

If you decide to repaint, use a special porch-and-floor paint,not regular house paint. Watch the railing for signs of rust andtreat rusted areas immediately with rust converter, a chemical thatconverts the rust to an inert, paintable substance; you can buy rustconverter at many home centers and hardware stores.

Q:I have a couple of older toilets in my house and the tanksrefill very slowly. Is there anything I can do about this short ofreplacing the toilets? - K. Berezoski

A:First check the shutoff valves, located in the water refilllines under the toilet tanks, to make sure they are fully open. Turnthe valve handle counter-clockwise as far as it will go. This willensure you get a full supply of water to the tank. If the valve isalready fully open or this doesn't help, there is probably a problemwith the refill valve. The refill valve is inside the toilet tank,on the left side.

In older toilets, it is usually a ballcock valve, which isactivated and shut off by a metal or plastic float on the end of arod. Close the shutoff valve and flush the toilet, which will emptythe tank except for a little water in the bottom. Check the valvefor debris or defects that could be interfering with its operation.Unscrew the ball from the rod and make sure it does not contain anywater.

Refill valves wear out over time and defective valves are thecause of many toilet problems. You can buy parts for refill valvesat some hardware stores or home centers, but the best bet is toreplace the entire valve. Refill valves are not expensive and arerelatively easy to install; instructions are included. Be sure tobuy a replacement that is designed for your brand of toilet.

When you remove the old valve, clean out the bottom of the toilettank thoroughly and make sure there are no obstructions in the water-refill pipe under the toilet; if possible, use a narrow bottle brushto clean any sediment out of the pipe. I think these steps willsolve your problem. If they don't, it is possible the water pipeleading to the toilet is clogged with mineral deposits. If yoususpect this, call a plumber.

Pool noodles vs. bird nests

Reader Dot Flar literally used her noodle to keep birds fromnesting in the space between the back of a patio awning and herhouse. She filled the space with brightly colored swimming-poolnoodles - long foam-plastic objects used for games in swimmingpools. "Whether it is the color of the noodle that turns them awayor the fact that there is no more room for them to nest doesn'tmatter," she said. "Problem solved." Some noodles cost only a fewdollars each and are available at pool-supply dealers or bysearching the Internet with the words Swimming Pool Noodles.

Questions and comments should be emailed to Gene Austin atgaus17@aol.com. Send regular mail for Gene Austin to 1730 Blue BellPike, Blue Bell, Pa. 19422.