DO IT YOURSELF: ; Why aren't long screws holding door hinge in place?

Q:When I tried to replace the top hinge in a heavy door betweenour attached garage and the living area, the screws were so loose onthe jamb side that they fell out. I tried screws more than 2 incheslong, but they wouldn't take hold either. Now what?

A:You can determine how long the screws have to be by poking apiece of stiff wire into the screw holes until you hit solid wood.The solid wood will be the framing of the house, usually 2-by-4s.Then measure the length of the wire that was needed and add 3/4-inch to get the length of screws you need to sink into the houseframing, which will give the door good support.

Many doors used for new construction are pre-hung in a woodframe, usually 3/4-inch thick, with hinges already in place, and itis common for door installers to shim a door frame to make it plumb.The shims leave a gap between the door frame and the house framing.This gap is concealed with trim around the door. However, it israther unusual for the gap to be so wide that screws more than 2inches long won't reach the house framing.

If you need screws that seem too long to be practical, an optionis to plug the oversized holes in the door frame so that shorterscrews will hold the hinge. There are several ways to plug theholes, but the best is to cut pieces of dowel to fit the holes. Coatthe dowel pieces with wood glue and tap them into the holes. Givethe glue plenty of time to dry and cut any protruding dowels flushwith the frame surface. Drill pilot holes slightly smaller than thescrews you will use to attach the hinge. The dowels might split whenyou drive in the hinge screws, but that is not a problem as long asthe screws are tight.

Q:My concrete driveway is crumbling for about 18 inches at theentrance. I'd like to fix it but not have to have the whole drivewaydone. I plan to sell the house soon. Any suggestions?

A:The crumbling concrete can be removed and fresh concrete pouredat the entrance only, but you might want to give the entrance aspecial treatment that will enhance its appearance and possibly makethe home more attractive to potential buyers. This could be done bycutting off the damaged entrance for a few feet and installingconcrete pavers or Belgian blocks. Do not try to use any material,such as ordinary bricks, that is not designed for paving andsupporting heavy loads, or it will soon crumble like the concrete.

Q:I have well water that is very hard and leaves awful depositsin my fiberglass tub and shower. I have tried different cleaners,even abrasive pads, and it doesn't help. Any ideas?

A:The first thing you should do is have your well water tested tolearn exactly what minerals are causing the deposits. Calciumcompounds and iron are common culprits, but these can usually beremoved with cleaners like Zud and Lime-A-Way.

You should never use abrasive cleaners on fiberglass surfaces.You can find a water-testing laboratory under Water Analysis in youryellow pages. Be wary of water-softener companies that offer freetesting, because you are likely to get a hard sell for a watersoftener. However, a softener, which filters some harmful mineralsfrom water, might be what you need.

Having the water tested can also be wise from a healthstandpoint, since there might be toxic material in the water such aslead, mercury and harmful bacteria. If you can't find a suitable labin your area, you can get a water test from companies listed on theInternet. Search with the words Well Water Testing Kits.