Repairing a Crack with Alex Flex
- , by Trudy Chuoke Trudy Chuoke
Eventually, even the best-built houses develop cracks around stress points. I have one in my house on the wall that goes from the bedroom to the master bathroom. I have a lot of vaulted ceilings in my house, and all those angles that make me appear to have more space are stress point problems. And when you repair the cracks and they look good, you think you're done. But then a couple of months later you look up, and the crack has returned. It’s so frustrating. So let me share the products that I have started using that hold up even when your house moves.
Most people think that repairing a drywall crack requires using drywall mud and paper tape. And for little hairline cracks, it would be so convenient to use caulk. Caulk, however convenient and flexible, will skim over and leave a raised line, and you can’t sand to make it smooth. But I have found a spackling that is flexible and that has changed how I take care of the cracks in my home. Dap Alex Flex is easy to use, and it’s paintable and sandable. And those two attributes make using Alex Flex as simple as using caulk. Here is what I do.
Using the pointed end of a utility knife, open the crack a little to let the spackling get into it. Then use either a metal or a plastic putty knife to force Alex Flex into the crack. Then go back and smooth the crack with the flat side of the putty knife. Watch a couple of YouTube videos to get the hang of it. Let the spackling dry. The next day, reapply Alex Flex with the putty knife and let it dry. In an hour, you should be able to sand. Sand the repair smooth with 220-grit sandpaper. Use a tack cloth to remove the dust. Then touch up the repair with paint, blending it out into the wall.
Now that your hairline crack has been repaired, you can relax and think about the next DIY project.
Do your headlights look hazy? Is it hard to see at night? Repair your headlights in 20 seconds with
Now to the email….
Question: I own some rental properties, and the tub in one of the homes looks horrible. They must never have cleaned the bathroom. What could I use to clean the tub? It looks so bad that I'm thinking about replacing it or having it refinished. Both options are expensive, so I am hoping you have a suggestion.
Answer: Since this is a porcelain tub, you can use Delete Germ. Wearing gloves, apply Delete Germ to 1/3 of the tub. Use a Scotch Brite green scrubby sponge and start scrubbing the tub. It will feel rough at first, but after a little scrubbing, Delete Germ will remove the hard water and soap scum, and the tub will get smooth. Rinse thoroughly and completely with clear water. Then rinse again. Move to the next area of the tub and repeat the process. Remember to rinse. If soap scum and hard water are the reasons the tub looks bad, Delete Germ will restore the tub. Delete Germ is a disinfectant. Use it in the toilet. Call me if you have any questions.
Question: Our outdoor electrical outlet has a little door on it to make it weatherproof. The problem is that the door makes it difficult to plug into the outlet. Can I just break off the door so it’s easier to use?
Answer: Instead of doing that, use some 8-inch extension cords. Plug those into the outlet and then plug your device into the extension. The extensions are usually labeled as indoor, but I haven’t had any problem using them outdoors as long as it’s a covered area and doesn’t get wet from rain or sprinklers.
Question: I have noticed the smallest ants around my kitchen sink. I have a pest control service, but I see ants before he returns. I have also noticed ants in my yard. I think that’s where the ants in the house are coming from. What should I do?
Answer: Spray Clobber around the sink and below the sink in the cabinet. Then use Rescue Ant Bait and place it in the window above the sink. For the yard, use Amdro Ant Killer. It comes in a 1 lb container. Sprinkle in the early morning or late at night in a one foot band around the mound. The ants will take the to the queen and then the mound will die.