By the time you read this it will be right before the 4th of July.  And even though I say it a lot, I love this time of year when we wave our flags and remember those who have served and those who are serving right now.  My heart goes out to the families who have loved ones serving and those who have given their life, so that we might be free.  God Bless America, and God bless you are your family this 4th of July!

I want to share something that my Uncle Bob Chuoke of Galveston Texas told me once: I’m not the judge of the right or wrong in this life.  I’ve lost the road myself and I might lose it again; but when I see a man or woman who looks as if they have gone astray I’d like to put my hand in theirs and help them along the way!

Now to the email…..

Question:  What do you recommend for cleaning and treating of granite countertops?
Answer:  Stonetech makes a Revitalizer Cleaner and Protector that comes in a spray or a wipe.  You can use the wipes everyday when you clean up the granite, and it not only will clean but protect. 

Question:  My elderly parents bought a house with tile in the kitchen.  It’s very slippery and I am afraid they will fall.  I thought I read a while back in your column about a product that will fix this problem.  Is there such a product I can purchase?
Answer:  The product is called Grip On.  It works on tile, and on porcelain tubs.  It keeps you from slipping and falling in the tub.  And after applying the Grip On, your tub will be easier to clean.  Test a small area of your floor first, to make sure it will work on the tile. 

Question:  We are visiting our daughter in Burleson, Texas and she has a small puncture in the side of a fiberglass bathtub.  It is small and I feel sure it can be filled or patched.  What do you recommend?
Answer:  Use the Plumbers Goop and it will stick and comes in clear. 

Question:  What is your opinion about Radiant Barrier for roof heat escape or saving electricity?  Also I had to remove all my padding and carpet from my home and I wish to experiment with painting the floors.  What color should I use? 
Answer:  I would never put radiant roof barrier in my house.  Once it gets dust on it, it doesn’t work.  Now as far as painting the floor, I wouldn’t do it.  I would stain a concrete floor.  If you paint the floor, it wears off and looks terrible.  But stain goes down into the pores of the concrete and you don’t walk it off.  Use a concrete stain called “Mason’s Select”.

Question:  You recommended Big Heat last winter.  We bought one and then a second one and loved them.  Now that summer is here, is there anything comparable to cool a room and help with the electric bills.  Big Heat made a real difference.
Answer:  The right ceiling fan can make a huge difference in your home.  A Regency Ceiling fan has a 16 degree pitch on the blade and really makes you feel cool.   You can save money by getting a ceiling fan and raising the temperature of the air conditioner.

Question:  I am in desperate need of advice for an ongoing and embarrassing problem in our home.  For the last few years we have been experiencing the smell of sewage in our home, it permeates throughout the whole house.  There is no rhyme or reason to when it will occur.  We had one a/c person tell us sometimes you will have an odor if your drain pan is dry, not the issue.  We also had a plumber tell us that it could be coming from the tub drain.  We plug the drain when not in use but it still occurs.  This problem could happen 1-2 times a week and then there is nothing for months.  We very rarely can have people over because we don’t know when it will start up again.  
Answer:  It’s the vent pipes on the roof that are stopped up.  That in combination with a strong wind will divert a lot of the sewer gas into the house.  All you will need to do is get someone to get on the roof and take your garden hose and run water down each roof vent. 

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.happyhandyman.com.