The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Deck stain, subfloors and toilet tanks
MULTIPLE COATS OF DECK STAIN?
Question: Can I apply more than one coat of stain to my deck? The label says one coat only, but my deck looks blotchy and uneven. I’m hoping that a second coat will make it look better.
Answer: I’m sorry to hear about your trouble. Deck finish issues are the single biggest problem I hear about from Canadian homeowners. It’s possible that a second coat will make your deck look better, but there’s a risk of peeling. Generally speaking, when a deck product specifies one coat, more coats can promote peeling of the whole thing. It’s not for sure, but a distinct possibility. As the layer of finish gets thicker, it begins to trap more and more moisture in the wood. When this trapped moisture gets significant, it can cause delamination of the finish layer. That said, if this was my deck
I would try a second coat in a small area and see how it looks. Do light sanding prior to application to improve adhesion of the new coat to the existing one. Live with your test patch for a couple of weeks (or months if you can) and see how things endure. If the results don’t look great, or if some kind of deterioration kicks in, then you haven’t lost much. I see from the photos you sent that your deck is flat, simple and has no railings. It would be easy to sand back to bare wood with a rented floor sander, then start again with another finishing product.
INSULATED TOILET TANKS
Q: Why can’t I find any new toilets with insulated water tanks? I’ve asked a few sales staff and they all recommend insulated as opposed to bare, as does our plumber. No one can explain the lack of selection I see in stores.
A: The lack of insulated tanks you’re seeing could just be a quirk of the stores you’ve been visiting or the times we’re in. Insulated toilet tanks are still a great idea and widely available in stores as far as I’ve seen. The purpose of insulation is to prevent or reduce the amount of condensation that develops on the outside of the tank when it’s filled with cold water during humid weather. Here at our house we chose TOTO Drake toilets about 20 years ago and they’ve worked well ever since. They also have insulated tanks. Have you discovered the TOTO brand? They’re made in Japan and they’re the largest toilet manufacturer in the world. Choosing a low-flow toilet wisely involves more than just going to a store and making a choice. If you want a good model that flushes reliably, you need test results. A Canadian company has revolutionized toilet design world-wide by publishing performance results from hundreds of different toilets. You can learn all about choosing a low-flow toilet at baileylineroad.com/24763.
WATERPROOFING A BATHROOM SUBFLOOR
Q: What’s the best way to waterproof the DRICORE subfloor we’re installing in our basement bathroom? We’re planning to put down vinyl plank flooring, but since this is a bathroom I want to do something extra for water protection.
A: That sounds like a good plan. If this were my situation, I’d put down a layer of a fabric called KERDI on top of the subfloor panels. This is a waterproof cloth that you can anchor to the panels using thinset tile mortar. This holds the KERDI cloth down, then you can put your vinyl plank on top. This combination will make for a very durable floor. Normally KERDI is part of ceramic tile installations, but it will work well in your application, too.