Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romero’s radio show with questions about everything from preventing fires in their chimneys to getting rid of tree roots invading their sewer system. His goal is to provide answers that suit the specific lifestyle wherever someone lives in Arizona.
QUESTION: I know this is the time of year to plant roses, but how long can I wait to do it?
ANSWER: It’s not something you have to do on the 15th of January. You can plant them through mid-February. You can wait until after the Super Bowl if you’re having a big party. Remember when you plant them that planting depth is important. You should not plant too deeply and use lots of soil enrichment material.
Q: We are building a house in Tucson and we’re using knotty alder for the front door and one other door. On both doors, we get a lot of sun. Is there a product that we should put on them or should we install something to protect them from the sun?
A: It would be good if you can install shades or sun screens to protect the doors. Knotty alder is going to be a regular maintenance issue. You have to stay ahead of it. If it’s finished with a stain, you want to use varnish with a UV barrier as well. As the varnish begins to crack and moisture gets into the door, the finish could be sunburned off so you want to treat the door at least once a year.
Q: I have cracks in the tile on my living room floor in my almost brand-new house that is only a year old. The cracks all line up from one tile to the next. There are small cracks in the foundation, too, and the builder is coming out to look at that. What’s the proper approach to take to getting it fixed? There is a 10-year warranty on the foundation.
A: You need to write down all your issues and record that information with dates on it. Take photos of what’s going on. That’s because you may have to go to the state’s Registrar of Contractors about your case at some future time. Include data on whether the tiles are heaving or the grout is cracking. You should get the builder’s response in writing. If the builder comes out to make any repairs, keep records of what happened and date-stamp photos on that work. That’s because the minute that the builder fixes it, your warranty is extended for two more years. Keep us posted on what happens in future.
Q: I’m working on replacing all the floors in my house so I’m pulling up the tile and carpeting. I’ve never taken tile off plywood before so I’m wondering, will it be hard to do or will it be easy? Will I have to repair the plywood subfloor?
A: It’s going to be very dusty and it could be tough because you’ll be removing the plywood itself in some areas. Sometimes you actually have to put down another sheet of tile underlayment afterward and then put the tile on top of that. You’re going to hate doing the job, but you’ll love it once you’re finally done with the job.
Q: I have 10 acres of land with lots of mature trees. One really big mesquite has a lot of huge limbs lying on the ground, so I think I should prune them a little bit. Can I do it right now in the middle of winter?
A: Some pruning in the winter is appropriate if you’re only thinning lightly. Heavy pruning for sprawling desert trees should be done in the spring or early fall. You usually don’t want to do heavy pruning in winter or summer – our extreme weather months.
