I hope this article finds your family having a great Memorial Day!  I know that we all are so very busy with our lives but I think that it’s important to take one day and remember the members of our family that were injured, or lost their lives to protect our freedom.  In this day and age we are reminded daily that Freedom, is certainly not Free.  
 
Now to the e-mail…… 
 
Question: I have removed old vinyl wallpaper. Some of the wallpaper backing and glue has remained on the wall. How do I prep the wall for painting? Can I prime over the whole thing and then paint?  
 
Answer: Remember a smooth surface is important for a good finish. So you might use a little elbow grease and sand to smooth the surface. About 80 grit garnet paper should do the job. Also, if you can get Coronado Paint Grip and Seal primer, and give it 2 coats, and then paint with Coronado Tough walls, wow it will be a scrub able surface. 
 
Question:  I am so happy that you are back in our paper- I look forward to receiving the paper now each week.  Now my question, the 1” boards in between my sidewalk and driveway are rotting away and being replaced with dirt and weeds.  How do I go about replacing the wood strips and where do I get the wood from?
 
Answer:  The reason that wood was there is to allow the concrete to expand and contract, and to keep moisture from getting under the slab.  What I want you to do is remove the wood that is left, and replace it with Big Stretch caulking.  After you remove the wood, then fill the crack with play sand, but leave a 1/2 of an inch at the top.  Now fill with the Big Stretch caulking.  No moisture will get into the cracks and the Big Stretch will move with the concrete.  
 
Question:  I have chips in my white kitchen sink.  I don’t want to replace my sink, that is too much trouble.  So do I have to live with those chips?
 
Answer:  There is a product that is made just for this.  It’s called “Chip Fix” (www.homaxproducts.com) and you should be able to find it at your hardware store.  It’s easy to use just sand the edges of the chip, mix the two bottles together, paint it on, let it dry for 45 minutes and then apply a second coat.  Several light coats of the product are much better than just 1 thick one.  Wait a week before cleaning the sink, to let it cure.  
 
Question:  Every time we get a rain we get water coming in from around the chimney and we patch it and it lasts a little while and then it leaks again.  There must be something that will work, and not look bad on our roof.
 
Answer:  There is a product called “Through the Roof” (www.sashcosealants.com) that is clear and is guaranteed to last for 10 years.  You can brush it on, or it comes in a caulking tube that you can use around pipes and fireplaces.  
 
Question:  I have fire ants in my yard.  I put something on them to kill them, and then they just move and show up someplace else.  I am tired of them being in my yard- can I send them somewhere else?
 
Answer:  I don’t usually answer question about the yard, however there is this product that we carry now at our store, and it would work for you.  The name is “True Stop” fire ant killer.  What it does different that other fire ant killers is that it mimics natural death for the ants, so it doesn’t alarm the mound and  they don’t move on, they just naturally die out, including the queen.  There are many internet sites that you can look at – just put in True Stop Fire Ant Killer in your google bar- it’s by Stet Corp.    

Got a question for Johnnie? Tune in to Johnnie's radio show Saturday mornings on KKYX from 11-12 or call (21) 341-1573. Reach him on the web at www.AcmeLumber.com.