HOW TO CLEAN CERAMIC TILE

I read your advice on how to clean terra cotta tiles and otherunglazed tile, by rubbing with steel wool and paint thinner. Willthis work on ceramic tiles that have lost their glaze?

RENA CHERNOFF, Brookline

A. In a word, yes, if indeed the glaze is completely worn off. Butfirst, wash the tile with detergent and water; if the tile comesclean, it is still glazed. If not, then treat it with steel wool andpaint thinner. Once it is clean, seal the tile with masonry sealer.

Q. My son has a ceramic plate that was given to him by hisgrandparents which says "Republic of Israel." It was hanging on thewall when it fell one day and the gold rim chipped. Can you tell mewhere I can get it fixed? I have asked and no one seems to have ananswer.

MIMI LEVY, Peabody

A. You just didn't ask the right person, but you have now. First,if you have the gold chips, you could glue them back on with Ducocement, a clear cement that makes a nearly invisible repair. Betteryet, take the plate to Trefler & Sons in Needham. The companyrestores items of porcelain and ceramics, paintings, glass andcrystal, jade and ivory, sculpture (metal, plastics, and wood), woodfurniture, metals, and art frames. Call 617-444-0659.

Q. I have a small tear in my blue poly tarp, and I'd like to knowif there are any repair kits to fix it. I would like to keep thattarp, but all I could find was patching tape.

PAUL SPOLIDORO, Duxbury

A. I think you answered your own question, and I suggest you goalong with the tape. Even duct tape will do, and in your case, tapeboth sides. I know of no kits for tarp repair, although there arevinyl repair kits available, or at least there used to be. The kitsare called Instant Vinyl, sold in wallpaper, marine, and auto supplystores. They are made by Advance Color Corp., PO Box 54870, LosAngeles, CA 90054, 213-723-5233.

Q. I plan to close off the second floor of my Garrison colonialhouse for the summer. Should I leave the aluminum storms down duringthe summer? I have air conditioning and I don't want it to get toohot up there.

TOM DRISCOLL, Norwood

A. Keep the storms down and also lower all shades and close thedraperies. Keep the A/C going because it is not generally recommendedto close off rooms or sections of an air-conditioned space. It's OKto close off rooms for a heating system, but not cooling. The storms,draperies, and shades will keep the space at a temperature so as notto overwork the cooling.

Q. I plan to paint my pressure-treated Adirondak chairs. HomeDepot suggested using latex paint. I didn't want to use paint. Whatis best to use? I would also like to stain my deck. Should it be thesame color as the house?

JOE BALDASARE, Mansfield

A. Paint is OK, but should be used with a primer. But paint willrequire regular maintenance, something the Handyman reqretted afterpainting his chairs. For you, I suggest you stain the chairs with onecoat of a semitransparent stain. One coat is needed, and can berepeated in three to five years. Semitransparent stains aredesigned for exterior walls, and not specifically for outdoorfurniture or decks. But it can be used for the two latter purposes aswell. And semitransparent stains will not rub off on clothing.

For the deck, use the same color as the house, or if you cannotfind a good match, consider a shade or two lighter to give anattractive contrast.

Q. I sometimes get a small whiff of sewer gas in the basement ofthe old house I just bought. There are no plumbing fixtures in thebasement, only a washing machine with the usual black pipe insertedin a standpipe with a p-trap before going into the main drain. Idon't know what could be causing that sewer gas smell. Do you?

J. A., North Andover

A. I don't know for sure, but here is what I think: If thatstandpipe which is going directy into the main sewer drain is notconnected to the soil pipe, then the washer when it empties issyphoning water out of the trap, leaving the standpipe open to thesewer, with gases coming back from the main drain and up thestandpipe. Check the trap in that standpipe; if it is empty, evensometimes, correction should be made to provide a vent for thestandpipe.

Handyman on Call Peter Hotton is available at 617-929-2930 from 1to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions on house repair. Hotton willchat online about house matters from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursdays. Toparticipate, point your Internet browser to www.boston.com and usethe keyword, chat.