Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
MIKE HOLMES: Respirator an essential tool
I remember the days when if you had work boots and a hammer, you were good to work on a job site. Back then, a lot of contractors would demolish a house without thinking about the potential risks, such as asbestos, mould and lead paint.
You hear the stories. Young kids, just starting to work in construction, doing demolitions on homes that have asbestos without any protective gear. Even some of my guys can tell you stories when they worked on other crews. They joke about it now that they know the risks: "There goes 10 years off my life." But it's a serious problem. Working in hazardous conditions takes a toll on your health.
This goes for homeowners and DIYers, too. You need to protect yourself when doing jobs around the house. Anyone with respiratory problems knows how important it is to protect your lungs. But even today some people are reluctant to use respirators.
Sometimes it's a comfort issue -- working with a respirator is awkward. It's hot and it can make working more difficult. Other times, it has to do with time and costs -- having the right respirators and being properly trained to use them takes time and money.
If you're in a rush to get a job done, you might not think it's worth the extra time. But then ask yourself: How important is breathing to you?
Any time there are contaminants in the air, you need to use a respirator. Contaminants can be anything from vapours, mists, gases and fumes to actual debris such as dust, sawdust -- even metal particles.
Having the right protection depends on three things: choosing the right respirator, knowing how to use it properly and knowing how to take care of it.
However, choosing the right respirator isn't easy. Will you be using it when there's more than one contaminant in the air? Is the contaminant a gas, vapour, fume or debris? What conditions are you working in? What are the temperatures? Are you working in an enclosed area? How long will you be wearing the respirator? This all matters.
There are mainly two types of respirators: air-purifying respirators (APRs) and supplied-air respirators (SARs).
APRs are the most common. They're used for general jobs such as sanding, spray-painting and basic demo. Some work with filters or cartridges, such as half-masks and full-masks. Others don't, such as dust masks. APRs that use a filter trap particles as you breathe in. Those that use a cartridge, such as gas masks, absorb gases and vapours.
Then there are SARs. These respirators feed clean air to the user from a compressed air tank. SARs are used for serious jobs such as remediation or installing spray-foam insulation. The average homeowner shouldn't need an SAR. If a job requires one, call a pro.
Dust masks cover your nose and mouth. They provide minimum protection. This makes them disposable. You throw them out after every use or when they're full. How do you know they're full? They look dirty and you'll notice it gets harder to breathe.
Half masks require filters and cartridges you attach to the respirator. These masks are good for heavier jobs when debris or particles are in the air, such as sanding or spray-painting. Replace filters before they clog and cartridges before they're full. A clogged filter makes it harder to breathe. A full cartridge will start to leak. In both cases, you're breathing in contaminants. Not good.
How often you replace filters and cartridges depends on how quickly they're getting full. If you're a heavy breather, you'll clog them faster.
Full masks provide the same breathing protection as half masks, but they also have a visor for eye protection. Whether a full mask is better than a half mask depends on the job.
Some people might think a full mask is better, but we have to remember that full-mask respirators are uncomfortable. You might want to take it off more often than a half mask, which defeats the purpose. If that's the case, wearing a half mask with safety eyewear might be a better choice.
In the end, it depends on what a safety professional recommends, what the MSDS (material safety data sheet) of the materials you use dictates and your working environment. Why is environment important? Because some contaminants, such as oil, are known to break down certain filters.
No matter what respirator you have, the manufacturer's instructions are the be-all and end-all for using it the right way and how to take care of it.
They tell you what filters and cartridges to use, how to put the respirator on (don) and take it off (doff) properly, and how to do a seal check. It's different for every respirator.
Every time you use a respirator, you need to do a seal check. If the mask isn't sealed, it's useless.
A beard, long sideburns and even stubble break the seal. My guys shave if we're using respirators on a job. Luckily, I don't have to worry about the girls on the crew.
If you don't wear a respirator when you should, you'll be seeing interesting stuff for a week every time you blow your nose. But more importantly, you're risking your lungs. No job is worth that.
For more information on how to choose, use and care for respirators, contact the Canadian Standards Association. You can also contact governmental occupational health and safety officials in your area.
Catch Mike in his new series, Best of Holmes on Homes, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on HGTV. For more information, visit hgtv.ca . For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: In a fog over ice cubes? The answer is clear
QUESTION: I am having a dinner party next week and would like to serve cocktails. Can you tell me how to make perfectly clear ice cubes instead of white or foggy cubes? Charissa, Portage la Prairie
ANSWER: The trick is to boil distilled water twice! In other words, pour distilled water into a pot and boil. Let cool and repeat. Freeze cubes in trays. Or if your party has a theme, freeze water in silicone moulds or a new rubber glove. Secure the opening of the glove with a rubber band and freeze. Remove the rubber band and glove and drop the giant ice hand into a bowl of punch. Feel free to get creative and add food colouring!
QUESTION: I have all three of your books and enjoy giving them out as gifts. I do, however, have a question that I could not find the answer to in your books. My son bought a $40 baseball hat; I nearly fell over when I saw the price tag. The worst part is that the hat is white. What is the best way to clean it? I have heard that it's OK to put it in the dishwasher or washing machine. Any suggestions? Shirley, Winnipeg
ANSWER: I would be very careful about fabric care on this one. Forget about risking the dishwasher; while dishwasher detergent works well sometimes it often leaves small irreversible spots on the fabric where bleach from the dishwasher touched the hat. Too risky. The washing machine may also work but can damage the rim of the hat leaving it flimsy or misshaped. Too risky. Instead soak the hat in a bowl of enough hot water to cover the hat, half-teaspoon dish soap and half cup of borax. Leave for two or three hours. Scrub if necessary, rinse and repeat if needed. Dry the hat on an inverted plastic or glass bowl.
QUESTION: I do hope you have an alternative to mouse traps or poison. We just don't have the stomach to kill or, perhaps worse, find maimed but alive mice in a trap. It's too cruel. This week two were found alive, one with a crushed jaw, one with an injured leg. We must find a way to repel them from entering the building. Thank you, Jana, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Mice love peanut butter even more than cheese. Locate a five-gallon (18 L) bucket with a lid. Cover the bucket and cut a four-inch (10 cm) hole in the lid. Make a ramp so that the mice can climb up and fall in. Spread peanut butter around the hole. Leave the bucket empty and, after they fall in, take them at least six miles (10 km) from your home before releasing them. If you have mice in your home, flatten an empty toilet paper roll; put peanut butter on one end, tape roll to counter extending beyond the edge. Put bucket on the floor underneath the counter, so the mouse will fall in.
To deter mice spread many fabric softener sheets around where the mice like to congregate or shaving cream on a cotton ball or oil of peppermint or Irish Spring soap slivers. These are all mouse deterrents.
QUESTION: I followed a recipe for making cinnamon buns but the results were disappointing. The buns did not rise as I had hoped any idea why? Graham, Clear Lake
ANSWER: First of all, did you turn on your oven light when the buns were rising in the oven? This step is important because it warms up the small space. The temperature of homes will vary, which is anything but friendly to yeast. By using your oven light, you are creating a warm, draft-free environment that is stable.
A second possibility of why the buns did not rise is that the yeast was either old or bad. Yeast is a living organism and its life is fairly limited. So, if you're using active dry yeast, one of the first steps is making sure the little imprinted expiration date is in order.
If you want to make sure your yeast is active before you dive into a weekend of bread making, begin by activating the yeast, simply dissolve the yeast in warm (not too hot and not too cold) water, add a pinch of sugar, cover and let it sit in a warm spot for about 10 minutes. It should be bubbly; in fact, a really active batch will have a sort of "foam" on the top of the water, almost as if you poured cold beer into a glass.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming! Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my brand new website: reena.ca
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Use clear paint to seal metal curtain rods
QUESTION: My mom and dad have one of the new curved shower-curtain rods. They love it for the extra space it gives them in the shower but it has a metal finish and black keeps rubbing off of it on the towels and their hands. Mom has tried wiping it with a product called Gel Gloss that is meant for cleaning tub surrounds. She has also tried vinegar, but the black continues to rubs off. I thought maybe car polish would work. Do you have any other ideas?Bonnie
ANSWER: Your best bet is to purchase a product such as Corro Stop. This is a clear paint designed specifically to cover and seal metal materials.
QUESTION: I used a medication with all kinds of health warnings on it but I didn't get sick. Why? Eleanor
ANSWER: Whether you get sick (experience a toxic effect) from any chemical substance is dependent on the amount (the dose) of chemical you are exposed to. Dose is the amount of a chemical that your body absorbs and processes. The effect can vary depending on the age, weight, and overall health of the person. For example, children are often more affected by chemicals than adults because they are younger and they usually weigh less than adults.
Your best bet is to ask your doctor before taking any medication (vitamins included) and get his/her expert advice.
QUESTION: I have tried numerous times to make gravy and it always ends up lumpy. Can you please tell me how much flour I should use for the best consistency? Lucas
ANSWER: The art of gravy-making can be a challenge. Many people use too much flour, which decreases the flavour. Remember the gravy will continue to thicken after it has been removed from the heat. When cooking time on the meat is almost complete, pour off most of the drippings into a two-cup measuring cup and let the mixture cool. Next add enough chicken broth into the measuring cup to make 2 cups. Add a little less than one-quarter cup of cornstarch or white flour. Whisk in the measuring cup until no lumps remain. Using a double boiler, slowly heat and stir the gravy until thick. If you do not own a double boiler use a pot, stir constantly and set the heat at less than medium. If gravy is too thick, add a bit of water or broth to thin it.
QUESTION: I invited a group of people over for supper last Friday. Most people showed up on time but some people were late. The food was getting cold, and I was becoming more frustrated with every moment. I didn't know whether to serve or to wait. What is the proper etiquette for me as the hostess in this situation? Larry
ANSWER: In Canada, proper etiquette states to avoid being rude to other guests, a hostess should wait no longer than 20 minutes to serve dinner because of a delayed guest.
Fantastic tips of the week:
-- A great way to reuse eggshells is to put them in the bottom of plant pots as a substitute for rocks. Eggshells are much lighter than stones and carry plenty of nutrients for plants.
-- Position crushed eggshells on the ground surface around new plant stems such as peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage -- doing this deters slugs and cutworms.
-- Lastly, instead of throwing out eggshells, lay them in the soil near tomatoes. Calcium is great for tomatoes; the extra calcium helps prevent blossom end rot.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming! Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my brand new website: reena.ca
