Question: One of our rooms has a lot of paint peeling off the plaster walls. What should I do to these walls before repainting them?

Answer: If the paint is peeling all the way down to the plaster, it could be a moisture problem in the walls, or it could be the original primer under the first coat of paint is letting go.

If there is a moisture problem (usually evidenced by discoloration of the plaster) then this must be fixed first.

In either case your best solution would be to strip off all of the old paint with a semi-paste paint remover.

Then apply one coat of primer-sealer, followed by one or two coats of flat paint.

Question: I would like to add more insulation to my attic floor, which has fiberglass blankets placed down between the joists.

I do not intend to put down any kind of flooring, other than a small section that is already covered with plywood.

Can you tell me the best way to do this without taking up the old insulation?

Answer: First remove the plywood. See if the old insulation is thick enough to fill up the spaces between the joists flush with the tops of the joists.

If it is, all you have to do is buy more batts or blankets of insulation – without a vapor barrier – and lay these down at right angles across the tops of the joists.

If the old insulation is not flush with the tops of the joists, then you should first add enough additional insulation to fill the space, then lay the new insulation at right angles across the top.

Question: My fairly new house is built on a concrete slab. A short time after we moved in we noticed a sewage-like odor coming from our hall bathroom. The odor disappears after running water down the drain, then returns after a day or two.

Do you have any suggestion as to what can be causing this?

Answer: If the odor disappears when you run water down the drain, then chances are the odor is coming from that drain – or from another nearby sink or tub connected to that same drain.

This would mean that the trap (under the tub or fixture connected to that drain line) is losing its trapped water, thus allowing sewer gases to enter. It’s also possible that the vent line connected to that waste line is either clogged, improperly installed or missing entirely, sucking the water out of the trap and thus breaking the seal that keeps out sewer gases.

A good plumber should be able to check this out for you.

—

Questions about home-repair problems should be addressed to Bernard Gladstone, care of The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10168.

2003 Bernard Gladstone