Diana Strzalka

Q. I notice an odor coming out of our first-floor bathroom. What could be causing this odor? Martin Gilbert, Somonauk, Ill. A. Every plumbing fixture in a home is designed...

Q. My tile bathroom floor is cracked. I think the floor needs to be reinforced. How do I do this? Mary Thrantell, Oak Park A. First, determine the cause of...

Q. I am in the early stages of remodeling my kitchen. One major decision is replacing my range. I've fallen in love with the Viking range's appearance and professionalism. We...

Q. I had new aluminum gutters installed on my house in late August. The system appealed to me because I didn't want to clear leaves from the gutters. But I...

Q. In our basement, we have a metal or iron pole that is leaking rust. The rust already has stained the tile floor. We painted it several times, but nothing...

Q. The grout in my bathroom and kitchen is cracking in areas. How do we fix this? Nancy Corbidge, Rolling Meadows A. The grout can be scraped out and replaced...

Q. My 30-year-old home features copper plumbing. The horizontal drain pipes for the bathroom sink and tub have corroded and are leaking. I thought copper does not corrode. To fix...

Q. How do we remove the scratches on our ceramic tile floor? The scratches were caused by the movement of kitchen chairs. A sealer had been applied to the floor...

Q. I have marble pillars in front of my home that I'd like to maintain properly. What kind of sealants do I use on these? A. Lassen, Highland Park A....

Q. Our neighbor claims that the roots from one of the trees on our property caused cracks and leaks in his basement. Are we responsible for the cost of removing...