Q: My master bath shower has a βsnailβ entry with glass blocks comprising two sides of the entry. A few of the glass blocks on the bottom row have gotten mold or mildew in them. Since the glass blocks are sealed, how do I get at the mold in order to clean it out? How did it get in there to begin with?
A: If the mildew is indeed inside the block itself and not in the surrounding mortar, the block has likely lost its seal and would need to be removed and replaced as there is no way to gain entry to the interior of the block to disinfect and reseal it.
If the mildew is in the surrounding mortar joints, the mortar will need to be scraped out, the area thoroughly disinfected then re-mortared. After the mortar cures, it will require a couple coats of a good silicone sealer to protect it.
Weβve seen a lot of glass block shower enclosures with moldy mortar around the blocks, but canβt say weβve ever seen a block with the mold on the inside of the block itself. Theyβre typically pretty tightly sealed at the factory. So take a good look at the area because what you may be seeing is the mold in the mortar as seen through the edge of the block, not inside the block itself.
These repairs are not the normal DIY kind of project and should be done by a licensed tile installation company that uses glass block in the normal course of their shower tile work, or a good masonry contractor familiar with this situation as an alternative. Glass blocks are very durable, but if not dealt with carefully, they can break and cause flying glass particles, so this kind of repair is not something we recommend homeowners undertake.
Q: I want to put an addition on my garage in order to put in a workroom plus extra storage space. There is an existing concrete slab next to the house where I could do the addition. What are some of the big issues involved?
A: You need to check with the city to make sure that you donβt violate any setbacks for your property. You may need to pour new concrete over the old in order to bring the slab up to the height of the current garage. This can be a very complicated process, however, so you want a licensed contractor to do this part of the project.
Youβre also going to have to cut into the slab to put in the bearing footings to hold up the addition. You also have to address any drainage problems due to the extra water draining off the new roofing.
Q: Is it possible to grow a fig tree in Tucson?
A: Tucson has colder winters than many other parts of the Arizona desert, but generally figs donβt mind colder winters, so you should be OK. But be sure to visit a local nursery in your area of town to find out what variety will grow best for you.
Q: I have a major grub problem in my yard. My flowers always die and when I pull them out of the ground, I always find lots of grubs among the roots. I had been using beneficial nematodes but they havenβt helped. How can I get rid of the grubs without using poison?
A: You can try mixing diatomaceous earth into the soil of your garden. Diatomaceous earth contains the tiny remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae.
If that doesnβt work, try solarizing your flower bed. In that process you remove the plants from the bed, till the soil, and then water heavily to two feet down. Then spread clear plastic over the soil. Weight down the plastic to keep it in place. Leave the plastic over the area all summer, and by fall, the grubs should be gone.
