There is a product I have found that I believe we all might need to know about. It’s called SL1. It’s used to seal between the expansion areas of the driveway. You know that space in the concrete driveway that allows for movement in the concrete. Most of us have wood there and after a while it will rot out. And if you don’t do anything, water can get underneath the driveway and really cause some problems. SL1 comes in a caulking tube and is used over the expansion bead. Here is what to do. Get expansion bead (also called expansion joint) and fill in so that you only have about ?” left at the top. Then use the SL1 to fill in the rest. It’s self leveling so just go slow. Anyone can do this. Now when your concrete moves the SL1 will move with it. No water will get underneath the concrete, so you won’t ever have to do this job again. SL1 comes in gray and lime stone. Remember for hair line cracks just use Rockite. It has a concrete bonder in it so it will stick to the old concrete and not pop out. My job is to make sure you know how to do it yourself- and now that driveway won’t ever be a problem.

Now to the e-mail….

Question: Johnnie I don’t know if this is your kind of problem but I have a bolt that has the nut rusted to it and nothing seems to work – I mean nothing.
Answer: This is one of those things that I wish I had thought of that- But it’s called “Freeze Off” made by CRC. It freezes the bolt so the rust will crack and you can remove the nut. It works fast, and it will even keep your ice tea cold (be careful I cracked a glass) - see don’t you wish you had thought of that?

Question: Can you paint old formica? I can’t afford new laminate, right now- so can I paint it?
Answer: Yes you can. Coronado Paint makes a primer called Grip and Seal that is a latex, so there is little or no odor. And it dries in 20 minutes. Prime with that – 2 coats. Then paint with a paint also made by them called Rust Scat. It should last a long time.

Question: Johnnie back in March I asked you have to fix the loud banging in my water pipes. You suggested that I turn off the water and then turn it back on. Well I did that a couple of times- even leaving the sprinkler system on thinking that would help. It still makes a terrible noise. What am I to do?
Answer: What you did was correct. There is only one other thing. You might have a leak in one of the pipes. So turn everything off- even the toilets, and go check the meter- if it’s still running- you have a leak. Now it’s time to call the plumber.

Question: Johnnie a while back you talked about an item that you could spray on the roof where the pipes and the roof meet. What was that product?
Answer: The product is called “Through the Roof”. It’s a clear product that will last for 10 years versus the black tar that roofers like to use that only works for about 4 years. Plus it’s black and looks terrible.

Question: I have a question about what to do with the slate tile we just installed. I am disappointed with how it looks. It differs from the tile that was displayed at Home Depot where we purchased. The appearance is dull even after we cleaned it. Grout is stuck in the small crevices on top of the tile and how now hardened and is difficult to remove. I priced the Stone Tech product and they are very expensive. Out room is small and I can’t justify spending much money on those products. We haven’t sealed the tile yet. What products can we use to seal and add shine with out spending so much?
Answer: To get the grout off the tile, use a product called Muratic Acid. It’s very caustic but it’s the only thing that I know of that will remove hard cement. Where protective clothes and ventilate the area. Then use a product called McCloskey Patio and Stone Sealer. It’s will seal and give a luster to the slate. I used it on some satillo tile and was amazed about how great the tile looked afterwards. We had just had a flood at McQueeney Lake and the whole floor was covered in about 6 inches of muddy water. So I think if it can make that tile look good, your tile will look great!

Got a question for Johnnie? Tune in to Johnnie's radio show Saturday mornings on KTSA (5500 AM) from 9-11 or call 828-8907. Reach him on the web at www.AcmeLumber.com.