Inside & Out : Cabinet Doors: An Open-and-Shut Case

Q: I’d like to find tambour doors that I can use on a cabinet. Where would I find them?

T.L.

San Clemente

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A: They’re a specialized item, but they are available, says Chris Macial of the Old Way Furniture Refinishing & Repair in La Habra. Tambour doors are the kind you find on roll-top desks. They’re made of strips of wood, and they’re not rigid. You may have a problem fitting them in your cabinet, because the doors need to run on a channel or track inside. If space is tight in the cabinet, you’ll need to make room for the channel and doors to fit. Among sources for ready-made tambour that comes with the channel and just needs to be cut to fit is Cabinet Hardware Manufacturing in Santa Fe Springs.

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Q: I would like to put wallpaper over my wood paneling. Is there any special preparation I’ll need to do?

H.B.

Huntington Beach

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A: Many types of wall paneling have grooves to make it appear that planks of wood have been installed, and these create a problem if you want to paper the wall, says Charlie Kaczorowski of Tustin Paint Mart.

First, the paneling will have to be primed with an alkyd-based primer to create a tacky surface for the paper to adhere. Then, if the paneling is grooved, you’ll have to fill the grooves with a spackling compound, then sand the compound when it dries and apply primer to it. Once that dries, you can hang your paper.

Another option for changing the look of the room is to simply paint the paneling. This saves the trouble of filling the grooves and hanging the paper. If you paint, apply a primer first.

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Q: We have a small fountain in our patio in which water flows into a tiled basin above the ground. We’re finding that water is seeping out. Any ideas?

H.H.

Laguna Beach

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A: There are quick-setting patches, such as Ultra Set, that are effective at stopping leaks through tile and grout, says Ken Bendle of California Wholesale Tile in Anaheim. Drain the basin, then pour water little by little until you find where the leak is from underneath. Then drain it again and clean the tile, making sure it’s dry before applying the patch and letting it set before refilling.

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Q: We moved into a house that has several water stains on the kitchen cabinets. We heard that using toothpaste on a wet cloth could remove them, but that didn’t work. Do you have a solution?

P.M.

Mission Viejo

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A: It depends on how the cabinets are finished, says woodworker Dan Youngman of Fullerton. If they are the stained and finished cabinets found in most tract homes, and water has damaged the finish, you may have a problem. Using an abrasive such as toothpaste is usually not a good idea on woodwork, because that can scrape off your finish. If the stains are just on the lacquer or urethane, you could take the finish off with a chemical remover and reapply a new coat. If the stain is damaged, refinish the affected areas by sanding and re-staining.

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Q: What’s the best way to remove ring deposits on the inside of the toilet bowl and keep them from coming back?

H.A.

Santa Ana

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A: Ring deposits are generally formed from minerals in the water, and they’re particularly found in older fixtures, says plumber Roy Willits of Costa Mesa. Over time, with the use of harsh chemicals, the porcelain finish becomes scratched, and the minerals tend to attach themselves. You may want to try using a sponge and push the water back up into the bowl, then clean the bowl with vinegar to get rid of the deposits. Maintain a regular cleaning schedule so the rings never get too large.

* If you have a question about your home or garden, A Helping Hand will help you find the answer. Send questions to: John Morell, Home Design, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.