Peter Hotton

Q. My shower door does not fit correctly in the frame. How can I fix it?

Q. We have a large picture window in the dining room with a great view of woods and ponds. It faces south and gets a lot of sun. Is there a surface coating that will cut out the glare and heat and protect our rug and furniture but be invisible from the inside? We don’t want to cover up the view with shades or curtains.

Q. My toilet sometimes sounds as if it is flushing, but isn’t, and makes a real bang when everything seems done. Anything wrong? The plumber couldn’t figure it out.

Q. I put a hot pot on my laminated plastic table top, and now there is a black burnt spot where the pot stood. Can I clean or sand it off? I called the furniture store where I bought the table, and the man laughed and said put a tablecloth on the table or throw it out.

Q. We lost a healthy 100-foot pine tree during the last storm. We were lucky that the trunk missed the house, but the branches managed to puncture several holes in the roof.

Q. I bought a house with two attic vents on the roof that are filled with hornets’ nests. They are empty but they block the vents. The vent base is on the roof and is screened, and the nest is between that screen and the vent above. I can’t move either. I’d have to cut the screen in order to take out the nest. What now? I might be able to get on the roof and open the vents, but I’m not 25 years old and stupid any more.

Q. My asphalt driveway is in good shape, but has developed a small crack 16 to 18 inches long. Should I leave it alone or try to fill it?

Q: My Oriental dresser is factory-finished in black lacquer with a medium gloss shine. Recently, someone sprayed (aerosol) wax on it and apparently did not wipe it off quickly. It has spots where the finish was damaged by the alcohol base (I think) in the spray wax. I have used Murphy’s Oil Soap in a damp cloth to rub the dull areas, which improved it a bit, but the dull spots still are evident. Can you suggest any other alternatives? I don’t want to do something that would exacerbate the problem.

Advice for property owners as they tackle home repairs and other projects.

Q. A few months ago I had a pinhole leak from a bathroom sink, which leaked through the living room ceiling and left water puddled on the floor. The floor is factory-finished wood planks. In one section of the floor the planks curl up on the edges.Anything I can do to get them flat again?