Inside & Out : The Hang-Ups of Color-Coded Phone Wiring

Q: I know that usually phone wiring is composed of wires that are black, yellow, green and red. We moved into a house recently that had a blank cover over a phone cable inside the wall, and I attempted to hook it up to make an extension in the room. However, the wires in the cable were green and white, green, blue and white, and red and white. Which of these will work?

F.J.

Lake Forest

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A: You may have run into a cable with the “new” standard colors, says Steve Wallis of Marvac Dow Electronics Supply in Costa Mesa. Traditionally, red and green wires connect your first line and yellow and black connect a second line. For the newer cables, you’ll just have to try the wires in pairs until you find the two that work for your phone. The newer wiring allows for more and clearer connections in the home.

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Q: I use a quick-bonding adhesives such as Super Glue to fix broken fingernails, and there have been times when I got drops of the glue onto my cultured-marble bathroom counters. Nothing I’ve tried can get it off. Any ideas?

W.Y.

Fullerton

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A: There is a remover for the Super Glue brand that is available at many hardware stores, says Gary Lillge of Crown Hardware in Corona del Mar. Check with your local store to see if there are removers for other brands.

The Super Glue remover has an acetone base, so be careful when using it on cultured marble; it could mar the surface. It would be best to test it first in an inconspicuous area of the top.

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Q: We have a back-yard built-in pool that will be needing work soon and will have to be drained. While the work is being done, I’d like to tile the steps to the shallow end. Is there a special tile for pools?

M.N.

Fountain Valley

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A: Many people have the edges of the steps tiled so they’re easy to see above water.

You always have to use good-quality porcelain tile that’s recommended for use in pools because it has to stand up to the acid in the water, says Gloria Richey of Tile Importers in Anaheim. Special mastic and grout also have to be used. Pool steps are often curved, so you may need to use small tiles, 2 to 3 inches square, on the steps.

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Q: Over the winter, we had a roof leak that was subsequently fixed. I’m a little concerned about the insulation in the attic space near the leak. Even though I’m sure it’s dry now, is it OK for insulation to get wet?

N.B.

Orange

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A: It depends on your insulation, says Pete Gorman of Rancho Lumber in Westminster. If you have the type of insulation that rolls out over the top of the ceiling, it will probably dry out fine. If you have blown-in insulation, getting it wet may be a problem.

Moisture could compress the fibers and reduce their ability to trap the insulating air. You may want to apply some of the rolled insulation on top of the areas where the leak occurred to shore up the blown insulation.

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Q: We bought an older house that has lots of dents in the molding along the floor. Is it better to fill the dents or replace the molding?

L.L.

Brea

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A: Molding isn’t hard to replace, says contractor Dave Willis of Santa Ana. It just has to be pried off the wall, and the new pieces have to be cut to fit.

Some people aren’t comfortable working with wood or don’t have the tools, so they just patch molding, which usually works well. There are several wood patches on the market. Select one that can be easily sanded and painted when dry, and don’t forget to use a primer on the patched areas before applying the finish coat.

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Helping Note: Last week it was recommended to use paint thinner to remove grease from stained kitchen cabinets. E.F. of Santa Ana reminds us that one should be extremely careful when using a volatile substance such as paint thinner around a stove or other gas appliances, especially if the appliance has a pilot light.