By Johnnie Chuoke
The Happy Handyman

There is a product I have found that I believe you might need to know about. It’s called SL1.

SL1 is 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 a half of an inch left at the top. Then use the SL1 to fill in the rest.

This stuff is 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 limestone colors. For hairline cracks, 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:

Q: 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.

A: This is one of those things that I wish I had thought of. The product is called “Freeze Off” and it is made by CRC. It freezes the bolt so the rust will crack, and you then can remove the nut. It works fast, and it will even keep your ice tea cold (be careful, I cracked a glass).

Q: Can you paint old formica? I can’t afford new laminate right now, so can I paint it?

A: 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, and use two coats. Then, brush on a paint also made by Coronado called Rust Scat. It should last a long time.

Q: Johnnie, back in March, I asked you how 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, and I even left the sprinkler system on, thinking that would help. It still makes a terrible noise. What am I to do?

A: 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.

Q: 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?

A: 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 four years. Plus that tar is black and looks terrible.

Q: 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 the store where we purchased it. The appearance is dull even after we cleaned it. Grout is stuck in the small crevices on top of the tile and now it hardened and is difficult to remove. What can we use to seal and add shine without having to spend a lot replacing it?

A: 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. Wear protective clothes and ventilate the area well. Then, use a product called McCloskey Patio and Stone Sealer. It will seal and give a luster to the slate. I used it on some Saltillo tile and was amazed how great the tile looked afterwards. We had just had a flood at Lake McQueeney, and the whole floor was covered in about 6 inches of muddy water. I think that, if it can make that tile look good, your tile will look great!

Johnnie Chuoke, “The Happy Handyman,” is the owner of San Antonio’s Ace Acme Hardware, and has been dispensing homeowner advice for more than 25 years. Contact him through his Web site, www.acmelumber.com.