Do It Yourself

Q Our wooden deck has splinters in several areas, especially on the steps and railings. What suggestions do you have for repairing the deck? -- J. Bowman

AOlder wood decks are usually made of pressure-treated wood containing a preservative called chromated copper arsenic. CCA was discontinued for residential use in 2003, and it is considered a health hazard if fragments of the wood are breathed or ingested.

Splintered wood can often be smoothed by sanding or planing, but the CCA makes this hazardous unless special precautions are taken, such as wearing a dust mask and protective clothing. For this reason, the best bet is to replace all splintered or deteriorated wood in the deck.

One option is newer pressure-treated wood, which contains copper compounds as preservatives and is arsenic-free. Special guidelines are still recommended when handling and working with this wood, however. For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca.

A better but more expensive approach is to replace the steps, railings and probably the decking or floor with a wood composite, made from ground-up wood and plastic. Composites, which are sold at most home centers and building-supply stores, contain no preservatives. They won't splinter, rot or crack.

We have well water, and all of our bathroom fixtures get blue-green stains. We installed a tank to remove iron from the water, but it didn't stop the stains. Cleaners remove the stains, but they keep coming back. What is the cause?

-- M. O'Neil.

The blue-green stains are caused by a reaction of your water with copper plumbing pipes. The stains are generally an indication that the water is acidic. The stains are especially common if there are dripping faucets.

As you say, the stains can usually be removed with bathroom cleaners. If the stains bother you enough, there are water conditioners that can adjust the acid level of your water, which should eliminate the problem.

Is there a way to remove the odor of tobacco smoke from a newly purchased house? -- Bobby

Lots of ventilation and thorough cleaning should remove much or all of the odor, assuming that the new occupants don't allow more smoking. Tobacco smoke will cling to almost any surface, including walls, ceilings and floors, so the best bet is to wash them all down with a solution of mild detergent, such as dishwashing detergent. If smoke odor still clings to walls and ceilings, apply a stain-killer primer such as B-I-N, Bulls Eye 1-2-3 or Kilz, and repaint. Carpets and drapes should be removed and replaced if possible. If removing carpets would be too expensive, have them professionally cleaned.

Keep the house well ventilated for as long as it takes to reduce the odor. That means opening windows and using fans to move fresh air through the house. If some odor remains after a reasonable time and thorough cleaning, installing a filter-type air cleaner will help.

Questions and comments should be sent to Gene Austin, 1730 Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, Pa. 19422. Send e-mail to doit861@aol.com. Questions cannot be answered personally.