A few weeks back I told you about a product that fixes cracks in sheetrock on the inside of your home.  It’s called “Good Bye Cracks”.  But what if you had a crack on the outside of your brick or stone house in the mortar?  What do you fix that with?  Up until recently you fixed that with mortar mix.  That was the only answer.  And the mortar on the house was hard to match.  So when you did patch it- you could see it because the patch might be lighter or darker.  And it often pops out if you have any movement in the slab.   It was not a good solution, but it was the only solution.  But now we have a product called “Mor-Flexx”.  “Mor-Flexx” comes in a caulking tube and has a texture finish just like the old mortar.  It also comes in two colors that blend right in to your existing mortar.  Plus – and here is the important part- it is flexible- so if you slab moves, it doesn’t crack.  When applying the “Mor-Flexx” use a wet sponge to smooth it out.  It cleans up with soap and water.  If you get it on the brick or stone- just wipe it off with a wet rag.  If you don’t use the entire product, just twist on an electrical wire connector and then seal it in a bag.  Now you have an easy way to fix cracks on the outside of the house! 

Now to the email….

Question:  I love your column and appreciate your advice!  For years now I see birds picking at the bricks in the columns on our house.  There are a couple of spots where they have done noticeable damage as they return to the same brick.  We need to repair the bricks but is there any way to discourage these birds?  And what can I use to repair the brick?
Answer:  The best product to use on the brick is “Bye-Bye Birdie”.  It repels birds because it is sticky and the birds don’t’ like that.  You apply it with a caulking gun.  To repair the brick- use the “Mor-Flexx”.

Question:  My 15 year old double door fridge has developed probably 25 small rust looking spots on the freezer side mainly below the ice/water dispense panel.  I think the freezer color is almond.  The big box store has touch up paint in a color called biscuit, but it’s only in a small nail polish size.  What do I do to the rusty spots?
Answer:  First kill the rust with a product called “Rust Cure”.  Just spray on the spots, wait 15 minutes, wipe dry and then wait a week.  During the week the spots will cure and turn gun metal grey.  Then you are ready to use the touch up paint.  You won’t have to prime, because the “Rust Cure” is the primer.  I know that the touch up paint comes in small containers, but you will find that it will be plenty. 

Question:  I hope you can lead me in the right direction for eliminating a urine stain around our toilet.  The stain is in the grout and no matter what I’ve tried, the stain remains.  Do you have a product that will do the work?
Answer:  First clean the grout with “Zep Mold and Mildew Stain Remover”.  If your grout is white use “Grout Aide” to cover any leftover stain on the grout.  You might have to re coat it a couple of times to cover up the stain.  If you have any odor with this stain- use the “Bio Zapp” to neutralize the smell.

Question:  I purchased the product “Delete Germ”.  I have a septic system.  Can I use this in my toilets?  This information is not on the container. 
Answer:  The product “Delete Germ” will not harm your septic system.  It’s a wonderful cleaner.  It’s not only a cleaner but a disinfectant.  It’s very versatile because you can use it in the toilet to clean and remove lime buildup.  You can also use it in the shower on tile to remove soap buildup.  You can also use it to remove lime build up on glass shower doors.  Just wipe it on the glass, and then rinse completely immediately.  Since you mentioned that you have a septic system, the product to keep your system running smoothly is called “One Flush”.   One package of “One Flush” has as much anaerobic bacteria as 30 pounds of Roebic 37 or 109 pounds of Rid-X.        

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.