Features

Q. Alan asks: When installing indoor-outdoor carpet, should I trim, then glue to concrete or glue, then trim? 

A. Glue first, then trim. 

First, be sure that the concrete slab is clean and dry. Check for moisture problems by securely taping a 12-inch-square piece of plastic sheeting to the slab, using duct tape. If moisture appears between the plastic and the slab, it should be sealed with a high-quality concrete sealer. 

Use a stair tool (a large chisel-like tool) to seat and crease the edge of the carpet into the joint between the floor and the wall. Finish the job by trimming the carpet with a utility knife. 

Q. Alice asks: What effect does the magnetic coating have on computers, pacemakers, cell phones, etc.? With four coats, does it cause problems with a computer in the same room? I think this is a really neat idea if it  

doesn’t cause problems in these other areas. Thanks for coming up with it. My grandchildren will love the things that can be done. But it would have been nice to have it when my daughters were growing up, so the walls in their rooms wouldn’t look like a dried-out sponge from all the pushpin and staple holes. 

(Editor’s note: The questioner is referring to Magnetic Creations wall treatment — a product that is painted on walls as a primer and allows magnets to stick to walls.) 

A. Magnetic Creations has no effect on any high-tech piece of equipment (computer, pacemaker, etc.). The product is not magnetic, but merely is receptive to magnets. It is just like any piece of steel in your house — refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes dryer, etc. All of these items are inert when it comes to interference with other items.