Handy Mac, aka Don MacAlister, is our expert on household DIY issues

RODNEY from Rodney Beck Construction has sent me these tips on ceiling insulation: Compare the “R” values for products of a similar thickness. This is its resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better it is at insulating and improving energy

ELIZABETH wants to re-grout:

My engineer husband has nicknamed me “scope creep” as no sooner has he completed a domestic project than I come along and suggest some “minor” changes here and there.

My query relates to the colour of our tile grouting: I originally selected light grey, but now that the bathroom is completed, I would rather have beige. What is the best, cheapest, easiest and most durable solution?

AI tend to see some similarity here to the relationship between myself and Mrs Mac.

Re-grouting needs to be done properly. I have written about this before. Warning – this is a labour-intensive process which could lead to loss of leisure or drinking time, not to mention hours of cleaning.

The overseas market seems to have a tool for everything, including re-grouting, but I would simply use an old screwdriver. A power grinder will take less time than doing the job by hand – I would suggest a small cordless power tool, like a Dremel.

Obviously, the first thing to do is to remove the existing grout. We are not talking about scraping bits out – we are talking about getting all the grout out. The wall needs to

resemble a newly tiled surface where there is nothing between the tiles.

You need a deep, clean surface for the new grout to bond to. A quick scratch and a bit of new grout is going to look worse than what you have at the moment.

Always start in the middle of the joint and work towards the tile edges, being careful not to chip the edges of the tile.

Once all the grout is out, wipe down the walls to remove any dust or dirt on the tiles – you don’t want dirty old grout mixed in with the new.

A word of warning before starting your re-grouting: If you are not dealing with a glazed tile, ensure that you seal the tile first. Porous tiles will absorb the new grout and leave a terrible result.

Please keep your questions or comments coming to don@macalister.co.za or SMS only to 082 446 3859.