Test Shower Pan Before Pulling Up Tile Floor

Q. My shower seems to have a leak: The drywall around the outside of it is always moist. I was told the problem is very likely the shower pan, but is there a way to find that out without ripping up the tile to see if that’s the reason?

D.D.

Laguna Hills

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A. What you’ll need to test it is a dollar plug, which you can find at most plumbing supply stores, says Ron Albright of Albright Plumbing & Heating in Los Alamitos.

Remove the grill on the drain and use the plug, which is rubber and has a wing nut. As you tighten it up, it expands to seal off the drain. Fill the area with water from a hose, then mark the level of the water. If the level drops after a period of time, the pan is probably leaking.

If there’s no leak, check the area where the shower head comes out of the wall and ensure that the stems aren’t leaking.

Leaks from a waterline are more evident--you’ll see a difference in your water bill. The problem could also be something simple, such as water getting behind handle covers, in which case you’ll need to do some re-caulking.

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Q. I’ve got an old brass rail that’s part of a bar, and I’ve not had any luck trying to clean it. Brass cleaners haven’t worked well. Any other ideas?

B.P.

San Juan Capistrano

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A. When you can’t get the look of brass to improve when using a cleaner, it’s often because a sealing surface has been put on the metal, says polisher Hank Riggs of Santa Ana.

Use paint thinner to remove the sealer, then try the brass cleaner again. Once it’s been cleaned, apply a clear-coat polyurethane sealer to help protect the metal from tarnish.

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Q. My house has a flat roof. When we have a lot of rain, water collects and doesn’t drain properly. I noticed that the drains on the roof are positioned too high for the water to drain. How can this be fixed?

M.G.

Costa Mesa

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A. Flat roofs tend not to drain efficiently, which is probably one of the reasons you don’t find newer homes built with them, says Pete Gorman of Rancho Lumber in Westminster.

When your home was built, the roof probably had a slight slant that channeled water off. But over time, as the house settled, the elevation lessened and the roof may have sagged at some points.

If you have an attic space just below the roof, you may be able to install a floor drain on the roof that travels into the attic and carries water to the side of the house.

If you don’t, the best solution may be to remove the roof and underlying plywood, then install shims underneath the plywood that would add a grade to channel the water off again.

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Q. We have 12-inch Mexican pavers in our kitchen, and we had an idea to inlay decorative 4-inch tiles periodically around the floor to give it some color. Can this be done without damaging the pavers?

K.J.

Newport Beach

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A. It’s probably not a good idea to try this, since you’ll likely damage the tiles, says Gloria Richey of Tile Importers in Anaheim.

It will be hard to cut out a space for the new tiles without causing some chipping and cracking. If you can find pavers that match yours in color, you could cut out some of your current tiles and replace them with new pavers that have spaces already cut out for the decorative tiles.

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Q. We have an accordian-style shower door whose magnets no longer hold the door closed. Can this be remedied?

R.B.

Laguna Hills

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A. You may want to clean the magnets with vinegar, says Dee Watt of College Glass & Mirror in Anaheim.

Scale could have accumulated on the magnets and the strike plate that may be keeping them from connecting. You may also want to rub them with steel wool to create a fresh surface where they can meet. If that doesn’t work, take them to a shower door dealer to see if they can find you new ones.

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Q. My kitchen cabinets have a cutting board that slides in and out above some drawers. I painted the cabinets yellow a few years ago, and on the portion of the board that sticks out, the paint keeps chipping off. Is there a way to make it stick?

L.I.

Placentia

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A. There’s probably some oil or grease underneath the surface, says painter Chet Kelly of Fountain Valley.

You’ll need to strip off all of the paint and clean that portion of the board with paint thinner. After it dries, use an oil-based primer on the portion that sticks out and then apply your finish coat.