The rehabber.

Trim Hinge Edge To Cure Swollen Door

December 19, 1997|By Bernard Gladstone, New York Times Special Features.

Q--The door to my bedroom closet sticks and is hard to open because dampness has apparently caused the wood to swell. I've been told that instead of sanding along the edge where the lock is, it is best to trim off excess on the hinge side. Is this true, and if so, what's the best way to do this?

A--It is best to trim off the hinge edge rather than the lock edge because the lock hardware would hinder sanding and would be extremely difficult to reset.

To do this job, first take the door off its hinges and lay it down with the hinge edge up. To support the door in this position while sanding, push the end of the door into a corner where two walls meet. Next, remove the hinges.

Sand or plane the door edge as much as necessary to ensure a proper fit, then replace the hinges and rehang the door. If the hinges no longer sit flush with the edge, you may have to deepen the hinge mortises slightly with a sharp chisel.

Q--My blacktop driveway has a number of small cracks that I would like to fill before coating the entire driveway with a fresh coat of sealer. What should I use to fill these cracks?

A--Your best bet is to use a ready-mix asphalt patching material that is sold for this purpose, or one of the caulking cartridges that are made for use on blacktop driveways.

Clean out the cracks to remove dirt and debris, then trowel the patching material in firmly, leaving the surface slightly mounded. Tamp down until level by using a block of wood and a hammer, or by driving one wheel of the car over it several times (cover the patch with some sheet plastic to keep it off the tire). Wait for this to harden before applying the sealer.

Q--We installed aluminum siding about 11 years ago and it is now showing stains from wind-blown dirt and soil. What is the safest and most effective way to get this dirt off?

A--Any strong powdered household detergent can be used to clean aluminum siding. Mix according to directions on the package, then wet down the whole wall before you start. Begin your scrubbing at the bottom of each wall and work your way up, making certain you keep the surface below wet all the time to keep dirty water from running down and staining a dry area.

