Nov 22, 2014 2 min read

Q. When I wrote to you in June about the peeling paint on my garage floor, you said to grind it off and apply one coat of a semitransparent stain. I finally got it ground off, but a Benjamin Moore paint store employee said hot tires will lift that up and recommended two coats of one of its products, Insl-x Hot Trax. Would this work? I don’t want to grind it up again, so I am reluctant to do anything more.

A. Actually, you are better off leaving the concrete floor bare, as is. The hot tires won’t care, and who in the world wants to put a finish on a garage floor anyway? My bare garage floor (concrete) looks as good as ever, and when I sweep it, even better. If you insist on a finish, the semitransparent stain will resist abrasion from hot tires.

Q. Someone used an abrasive material on my stainless steel stove, leaving marks and a dull finish. How can I restore it?

A. The finish may need only polishing. Buy a stainless steel lotion or polish at any hardware store or showroom. If those don’t work, rub with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, which is probably less abrasive than the stuff that made the marks originally. If all else fails, call your dealer.

Q. I have two oil tanks in the basement that are rotting and need replacing. The company I contacted said he would replace one for $1,900 and the second for $500 less. Is that fair for that work? The second one looks OK to me.

A. If the tanks are the same age, replace both. That quote is more than fair, it is a good deal.

Q. I have a small stainless steel bar sink in my kitchen. There’s a stain directly under the faucet on the sink bottom. It was there when we first moved in. I tried using a nonabrasive product, glass cleaner, and turpentine to get it out, but it persists. Can you suggest a fix?

A. First, try the tried and true, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. If no-go, buy a stainless steel lotion at a hardware store or where stainless items are sold. Some metal polishes might work, too, including Maas.