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What paint can I use to paint my kitchen worktop?
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Views differ as to whether it is possible to paint kitchen worktops, whatever they are made of. My personal opinion and that of many paint manufacturers is that it is not possible to paint a work surface in a kitchen. A painted worktop would not be durable enough for its normal use and isn't recommended as a food preparation surface.
As a good alternative you could tile your worktop or have it laminated.
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How do I build rustic looking shelves out of landscaping timbers?
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There is no reason why shelves cannot be made of any timber. However the quality of timber used for "landscaping" is usually not adequate for indoor use. It has a much higher moisture content and will warp and distort if used indoors. You can obtain a rustic effect by using thick boards and sanding them or using a spoke shave to make the front edge uneven.
If you're thinking of using split logs such as those used in landscaping you will have to firstly allow them to dry out for approx. 3 months in the environment where they are to be used and then strip off all the bark. You will then have the problem of shelf brackets. The only way I can see to do this is to cut through on the curved face a square parallel slot and put the bracket into this slot. I would not recommend suspending the shelves by putting the brackets on the flat top surface.
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How can I prepare my woodwork for painting, do I need to strip off all the old paint?
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If your paintwork is in good condition there is no need to strip off all the existing paint. For the best results, sand the surface of your woodwork before painting. This will help the new paint adhere for a more lasting and smoother finish. Around the doorframes, concentrate on areas where a build up of paint may stop the door from closing properly. Wash down all surfaces and allow to dry before painting.
If the paint is flaking and blistered it is best to remove it completely. Use a chemical paint stripper, special shave hooks and wire wool to do this. Wear suitable protective clothing, goggles and a mask.
You can use a hot air gun to soften the paint before scraping off, but be careful not to allow the paint or wood to burn.
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How do I paint cupboard doors that are made of melamine?
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There are three different solutions you could try:
1. Apply Melamine Primer by International as your base coat to ensure the paint adheres. For the best results you should then use the International Melamine Satin Finish as your topcoat, which comes in 9 different colours. Alternatively, you can use good quality gloss or satinwood paint.
2. Use ESP (Easy Surface Prep) or a wipe-on primer. This is a primer that makes any paint, including emulsions, adhere to previously un-paintable surfaces such as glass, ceramics and melamine. Kitchen doors need to be durable, so if you decide to use an emulsion paint, you will need to use a varnish on top.
3. Ronseal Paint and Grain or the new Cuprinol Grain Effects can also be used on melamine if you want a wood grain or dragging effect. A couple of coats of clear varnish as your topcoat will create the perfect finish.
The following tips will help you create a professional finish to your cupboard doors:
- Always make sure your doors are clean and grease free
- Remove doorknobs and take the doors off their hinges, if possible, to make painting easier
- Use a small gloss roller to apply the paint and sand lightly between coats for a good finish
- Remember, never paint kitchen worktops.
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How do I repair a hole in my plasterboard?
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Small holes and dents can be filled with interior filler, but if the hole is too large the filler will fall into the gap behind the plasterboard.
To fill medium sized holes you will need to patch the hole with an off cut of plasterboard.
- Trim the ragged edges of the hole with a sharp craft knife, to create a square even hole.
- Cut a piece of plasterboard big enough to fill the hole and overlap it by 25mm. Make sure that it will go through the hole you have cut. The idea is that this piece will be stuck to the back of the plasterboard.
- Make a hole in your patch piece and thread some string through it knotting one end round a nail to use as an anchor.
- Apply some adhesive to the front of your off cut. Put the off cut through the hole and using the string pull it up against the inside of the hole. Hold the string tight. You can then fill the area using interior filler.
- Once the filler has dried cut off the string, and apply a skim coat of filler flush with the wall.
For larger holes, you need to cut back to a vertical studding, add in some horizontal timber battens (called noggings), you can then cut a piece of plasterboard to fit the hole exactly, and nail into the studding and battens. You can then fill and sand flush with the wall.
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How can I remove a textured coating (artex or similar) from my walls and ceiling?
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This is a lot of very hard work, especially on ceilings. You can use a steam wallpaper stripper to soften the textured coating and scrape it off, which is a very messy and sticky job. Wash the area well after stripping, with hot water and detergent. You may need to repeat the process and do a second scraping. If the surface has been painted, you will need to score through the paint to allow the steam to penetrate.
Nitromors make a Textured Paint Remover that can be used to help soften the paint.
There are also lots of products now available to use to smooth out unwanted textured surfaces, especially if the pattern is not too pronounced:
- Artex Skimcoat, which does not need any plastering skills.
- Covertex is a paint that can be used to restore a textured surface to smooth.
Alternatively, you could apply a skim coat of finishing plaster. It is a job requiring some skill and you can only achieve a smooth finish with some practise. It may be better to get a professional to apply the skim coat of finishing plaster.
Never try to sand off a painted textured surface, as this creates a lot of very unpleasant dust, which could be dangerous.
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The caulk around my exterior windows is cracked. How do I remove it and what product do you recommend to replace it? Do caulking agents come in different colours?
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If the caulking is cracked it is probably over cured and will not be easily removed using solvents. You will have to scrape it out, which is not too difficult if it is cracked.
It should preferably be replaced by a caulk, which remains mastic, but if you want it to a specific colour you may have to go for one of the acrylic based sealants.
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I have removed old wallpaper from my walls but it has pulled chunks of the plaster and paint off with it. Do I need to re-plaster my walls, or is there another way to make the surface smooth again?
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You can have your walls re-skimmed with plaster; this is best done by a professional, as it is a difficult job to do yourself if you have no experience.
However, if the walls are not too bad it may be possible for you to repair the walls yourself
- Remove all loose and flaking material.
- Use interior filler in powder form to fill the larger holes. Build up the filler in layers, allowing to dry each time. Do not try and fill the hole in one go as the filler will shrink and fall out. If you have lots of large areas to fill, using plaster is more economical.
- Use the interior filler to skim over uneven patches. This type of filler is the easiest to apply in very thin layers using a filling knife. You will need to sand when dry so as to blend in the repaired areas into the wall surface.
- You may need to fill and sand some areas several times to achieve a smooth even surface. Spending some time doing this will greatly improve the wall.
- For cracks around door and window frames use ready mixed flexible filler, and smooth off while wet as these fillers can be difficult to sand
If necessary, you may need to hang a 1000 grade lining paper to give you the best surface to paint on if your walls are still slightly uneven.
You can buy thicker flexible paints that will cover minor flaws and cracks. Look at the B and Q Multi-Texture or Polycell Evencell for a smooth finish, as these work very well and are easy to apply. It is only available in white, but can be painted over.
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I moved into a new flat a year ago and the plaster on the walls has now started to crack. How can I repair them?
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Firstly as it's a new flat, you might be covered by the NHBC (National House Builders Council), which gives a 10 year guarantee on certain building work. Check with the builder as they will often come back and repair the defect for you as a gesture of goodwill.
However, if you want to make repairs to the cracks as they are happening now, try using a flexible filler, as any further movement will not cause the flexible filler to crack.
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What is the difference between plaster and polystyrene coving and how easy is it to fit coving around a room?
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Coving is relatively simple to fit into a room. The polystyrene type has been designed with DIY in mind because it is light and easy to handle. However, the plaster coving does give a perceptively better finish but is heavy and requires more skill in handling. The major difficulty is having to mitre the corners of the coving.
In both cases you will need to cut the coving to fit the lengths of the walls, mitre the ends and apply adhesive to the bottom and top edges.
Always cut the coving for the whole wall before you start to check your mitres. With the adhesive on the back of the coving push it into place on the wall and hold for approximately one minute. Paint when you have completed the whole room.
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I have been painting an interior wall and have noticed some peeling and flaking. Why is this happening?
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There are many reasons why paint can flake off, and often it is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why. Here are some common causes:
- The surface may not be entirely free from dust, dirt and grease.
- Remaining wallpaper paste on the walls may become reactivated by the paint and cause flaking.
- Damp, however slight, can cause paint to bubble up.
- The bare plaster walls were not sealed properly before painting.
- The paint you have used is incompatible with the old painted surface.
- Residue detergents or sugar soap can react with paint.
Applying a second coat of paint before the first has dried properly can also have adverse reactions.
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I would like to paint my outside walls but they are covered in cement and the surface seems to be very sandy. I have tried painting them before but the paint peels off after a year. How can I make the paint stick?
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To prevent the next coat of paint from peeling, you will need to start by brushing down the walls to remove any loose sandy material. Then apply a stabilising solution.
The final step is to use an exterior masonry paint such as Sandtex or Dulux weathershield.
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Can I paint over wallpaper?
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Some wallpapers such as lining paper and white textured papers made by Super Fresco and Anaglypta are especially designed to be painted with emulsion paint.
Generally, wallpapers can be painted but does not always give good results. Some Vinyl papers are difficult to paint as emulsion paint will not adhere, but you may be able to paint this kind of paper with an eggshell paint.
Test an area of about a metre square and allow to dry. If it bubbles badly, or the paper comes off the wall, then it is best to strip the wall completely. However, some small bubbles do go down when paint is completely dry. Check your test area once dry to see if the paint rubs off easily because it shouldn't!
When painting wallpaper, use good quality paint and don't water the paint down as the less water that comes into contact with the paper the better.
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Is it possible to remove bubbles from behind wallpaper after it has dried?
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Bubbles generally disappear of their own accord as the paper dries out. It can sometimes take a few days for wallpaper to dry out completely.
If they don't go away, small bubbles can be cut with a sharp craft knife, wallpaper paste carefully applied under the paper with a small paintbrush and smoothed down.
Badly bubbling wallpaper has to be stripped completely and discarded.
The two main causes of wallpaper bubbles is if, having applied the paste, you didn't allow the paper to soak long enough, or it was hung over old paper which expanded due to the moisture of the paste.
Make sure you use the correct paste as recommended by the wallpaper manufacturer, for example some wallcoverings can only be hung successfully using a ready mixed wallpaper adhesive.
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What's the best way to remove old tiles from my wall?
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The most successful way of removing wall tiles is to use a hammer and bolster chisel. Start at the edge of the tiled section, prising and knocking off the old tiles. You must wear goggles and gloves to protect yourself from chips of flying tile. Once the tiles have been removed you will need to chisel off the remaining tile adhesive from the wall. This is likely to damage the wall, so you will need to spend some time filling and repairing the surface before decorating.
If you wish to re-tile over the area, only large holes need filling, as smaller dents will be filled with the new tile adhesive.
You can tile over the top of old tiles. You need to check that they are level and firmly attached. Any badly cracked or loose tiles should be replaced. Stagger the joins of the new tiles over the old ones.
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What is the best way to drill through bathroom wall tiles?
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You will require an electric drill, set to the normal drilling (not to the hammer attachment), together with a ceramic tile drill or a high quality masonry bit.
Start drilling with a light pressure until the surface of the tile is scored. The speed and the pressure can then be increased and you will soon find that you have a clean hole through the tile.
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I have damp walls and want to decorate, but the paint keeps bubbling.
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You can use a damp seal or anti-damp paint before decorating. This will block out the dampness left in the walls, and it will help stop water stains reappearing through your paint. It also helps against mould growth. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
However, these paints are not a cure for the damp, and the damp will eventually seep through if it is not treated at the source. Once you have eliminated the source of the damp, allow the area to dry out as much as possible.
To treat the existing mould, use a fungicide first. Ordinary cleaning products or bleach will not kill off the mould spores.
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How do I treat my skirting boards for dry rot?
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You have a serious problem because dry rot is an extreme form of decay and urgent treatment is essential to prevent it spreading to the whole building. Dry rot thrives in damp and badly ventilated areas, which can spread far wider than the timber where it starts. In very damp conditions it can send out its spoors into plaster and even cement rendering. It is characterised by white growths resembling cotton wool known as 'mycelium'.
The first step to getting rid of dry rot is to make sure that all the infected timber is cut away to a depth of at least 400mm (16in) beyond the last sign of rot. Chemical treatment should then be applied to all of the remaining timber and to all brickwork and plasterwork within 1.5 metres of the infected area. Ensure that good ventilation is provided to all areas which have been infected, even to the extent of putting in air bricks in external walls. The work required is so extensive that it may be better to call an expert in to treat it.
If you only have a very small patch of dry rot Cuprinol 5 star timber treatment is a very good product for preventing dry rot from spreading. If you can cut out the affected timber, Cuprinol also make a hardener which reduces the spread of dry rot and you can probably fill in any small diseased area with Ronseal Wood Filler.
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Is it possible to remove paint from exterior brickwork?
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Use a chemical paint stripper or brick cleaner to remove the paint. This can be a hard job because of the heavy texture.
Stipple a chemical paint stripper or brick cleaner onto the paint and use a scraper to remove the surface paint. For ingrained paint use a stiff wire brush to help you shift it. You may need to reapply the stripper. Follow the instructions carefully and try a test patch first before leaving the product on for too long. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Rinse the bricks wells after stripping the paint. Using a high-pressure jet washer will help shift any remaining paint.
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How can I prepare my woodwork for painting, do I need to strip off all the old paint?
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If your paintwork is in good condition there is no need to strip off all the existing paint. For the best results, sand the surface of your woodwork before painting. This will help the new paint adhere for a more lasting and smoother finish. Around the doorframes, concentrate on areas where a build up of paint may stop the door from closing properly. Wash down all surfaces and allow to dry before painting.
If the paint is flaking and blistered it is best to remove it completely. Use a chemical paint stripper, special shave hooks and wire wool to do this. Wear suitable protective clothing, goggles and a mask.
You can use a hot air gun to soften the paint before scraping off, but be careful not to allow the paint or wood to burn.
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What can I use to strip vinyl silk paint off plasterboard?
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Stripping any paint off plaster or plasterboard is not really recommended as you are more likely to damage the plaster, and it should not normally be necessary. Sanding and washing the walls thoroughly should be sufficient before painting. Any repairs can be made using interior filler in powder form to skim over the uneven patches. This type of filler is the easiest to apply in very thin layers using a filling knife. You will need to sand when dry so as to blend in the repaired areas into the wall surface. You may need to fill and sand some areas several times to achieve a smooth even surface. Spending some time doing this will greatly improve the wall.
Generally, a chemical paint stripper or hot air gun can not be used on plaster and plasterboard walls as it will just sink in or burn and cause more damage.
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What is the best way of attaching a shelf to a wall without showing the fixings?
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A handy method of doing this is to fix the shelf by doweling it to the wall. For this you will need some 1inch doweling, a 1inch wood drill bit and a 1 inch masonry drill bit. Then follow these steps:
<typolist type="1">
Find and mark the centre line of the shelf
Along the centre line mark out the position of the dowels (start about 4 inches in from either end, and space about 9 inches apart)
Using a spirit level, mark the centre line on the wall where you would like it positioned, then mark the dowel positions
Using the wood drill bit, drill the dowel holes into the wood approximately two thirds of the depth of the shelf, then fit dowels using wood glue, leaving approximately 3 inches sticking out to fix into the wall
Drill dowel holes into the wall approximately 3.5 inches deep and check the alignment with the shelf
Finally, fit the shelf using panel adhesive (not nails), or an epoxy resin fixing, to glue the dowels in place
</typolist>
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What can I use to paint over wall tiles?
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International makes a 'Tile Primer' that is used as your basecoat and will make the topcoat paint adhere. For the best result use the International 'Tile Gloss' as your topcoat, which is available in many colours. Alternatively, you can use a good quality solvent-based gloss paint over the 'Tile Primer' if you want a different colour.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully to achieve the best finish. Make sure your tiles are extremely clean and dry before painting. Use a synthetic brush to apply the primer, and for the topcoat use a natural bristle brush or a small gloss roller for a smooth finish. Do not get the primer wet or steamy before applying the topcoat.
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What can I use to seal my new plaster?
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Firstly, you will need to allow the plaster to dry out thoroughly before decorating. You can usually see a change in colour as plaster dries. Once the plaster has dried, a white powdery deposit called efflorescence will form on the surface. Wipe this off with some sacking and repeat until the efflorescence ceases to appear.
Painting
If you are painting the surface only use paint suitable for new plaster, as vinyl emulsions will not allow moisture to escape. Dulux Trade Supermatt is specially designed for this purpose and comes in white and Natural Hints. Several thin coats of paint can give a better finish than one thick coat.
You can also buy special Plaster Sealer which can be used before painting on bare plaster, plasterboard and powdery surfaces.
Wallpapering
If you decide to wallpaper, you will need to 'size' your walls. The size will do two things: prevent the bare walls from absorbing the paste on the back of your wallpaper; and make it easier to slide the wallpaper into position on the walls. You can buy size or you can apply the same paste, as you would use to hang your wallpaper. In both cases, spread evenly with a paste brush over the whole surface.
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How do I take up old vinyl flooring tiles and prepare the floor to lay new ones?
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Vinyl flooring tiles are very easy to remove and replace.
To remove the old tiles use a wide scraper, a 3-inch wallpaper scraper is ideal, and a hammer. If the tiles are difficult to remove a blast of heat from a hairdryer will help. Once you have the edge of a tile up it is relatively simple to strip off.
If there are any thick patches of glue remove them by using 'Toluene' - an adhesive remover, this product is also known as Evo-stik Adhesive Remover.
Once you have removed all the tiles check the surface level of the remaining adhesive. If, as is probable, this is protruding or there are holes on the floor, skim over the whole floor with self-levelling compound. This will take 48 hours to be ready for laying your new tiles.
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What type of varnish can I use on my wooden floor?
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There are many different varnish products available, but they basically fall into two groups - water-based varnish and polyurethane varnish.
Water-based products are quick drying, easy to use, low odour, environmentally friendly, non-yellowing, and you can wash your brush in water.
Polyurethane and solvent-based products take 16-24 hours to dry, have a strong smell, have high VOCs (volatile organic compounds), need white spirit to clean up with, and can yellow with age.
Generally, polyurethane products are slightly harder wearing than water-based. All varnishes can darken the surface to which they are applied.
Only use 'floor varnish' on your wooden floor.
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Should I fit my new shower and toilet on top of the tiled floor or should it be fitted prior to the floor?
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Certainly if you are fitting new sanitary ware it should be done after you have done all the tiling. It saves level problems and cutting tiles to fit. It also makes sealing much easier.
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There is an inch of carpeting from my exterior wall that looks dirty even though it is relatively new. How can I stop this from happening?
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Your problem is caused by dust coming under the skirting board and entering the carpet. This could be accompanied by moisture but you would have seen other signs of this moisture.
To overcome the problem you should lift the carpet at the edges and check that there is no gap below the skirting. If there is, fill it using a silicone sealant. It is important that the floor floats relative to the wall and only a silicone sealant is sufficiently resilient for this. You can then glue a small quadrant or Scotia bead to the skirting. Your carpet, if you are careful, should go back in position without cutting, although it may require some adjustment depending upon how it was originally laid.
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I plan to install a hardwood floor, please can you tell me if I need to leave any space between the wall and the first board?
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It very much depends on the type of wooden floor you wish to use and whether you want it to be a floating floor or not. If it's a rigid floor of at least 3/8 inch thickness, you should lay it at right angles to the existing floor and use concealed nailing to the joints to give a good final finish.
When laying a hardwood floor, you lead with the tongue. If you wish to use concealed nailing then you must nail into the groove of the piece, which you have just laid. This does require some skill but it is the means whereby you can lay hardwood flooring without seeing the nails. It does help if you drill a 2mm hole to lead the nails, which should be at 400mm centres.
If it is to be a floating floor, you will have to lay down a foam or fibre underlay and then lay your boards on top of this. The joints of the board must be glued together to keep the floor stable. This is the way that laminate floors are laid and you have to leave a gap of 10mm all round the walls.
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Several of the floor joists against the outside wall of my house have gone rotten. Can I repair these without replacing the entire lot?
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The simple way to repair joists like this is to cut out the rotten material and treat the cut ends with a wet and dry rot treatment such as Cuprinol 5 star.
Then plate both sides of the joists with new joists of a similar size. Bolt these through the old joists using timber connectors. As a guide, the length of plating should be at least 4 times the depth of the joists.
Finally, be sure to apply the timber treatment to all new timbers and to the seatings in the wall.
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The grouting around my wall tiles is looking grubby. Do I need to re-grout, and if so, how?
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Using a cream cleaner and an old toothbrush can clean up sealant and grouting quite well. Mould should be treated with a fungicide such as Cuprinol No More Mould or Polycell 3 in1 Mould Killer as ordinary cleaners will not kill off the mould spores.
If the grouting is only discoloured, there is no need to replace it. You can use a grout-whitening product to freshen it up, or alternatively use a coloured grout reviver to add a new look to the tiles.
If some of the grout is missing or in really bad condition, you will find it better to scrape out the old grout using a grout rake. Use an old toothbrush to brush out all the loose grouting, before replacing with new waterproof grouting.
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How do I seal and paint a concrete floor?
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To paint a concrete floor it is best to use a floor paint specifically for the purpose. There are various makes available on the market that are suitable for concrete. All floor paints are tough and durable, but for a garage or workshop floor use Garage Floor Paint.
To prepare the floor for painting, make sure the surface is clean, grease free and dry. Any loose flaking material should be removed using a wire brush and vacuumed up. Use an exterior filler to repair any cracks in the surface. Newly laid concrete should be left to dry-out for at least one month before painting, and any salt deposits should be removed with a wire brush.
Before painting with solvent-based floor paint, bare and powdery surfaces should be sealed with a concrete sealer first.
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How do I cut bathroom floor tiles to fit around my bathroom suite?
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Make a cardboard template of the shape needed for the tile, or use a profile marking gauge which will enable you to record the exact shape of the obstacle, before transferring to the tile. This can be applied to all types of tiles.
To cut a ceramic tile to fit around awkward obstacles, use a tile saw that has a special tungsten carbide coated rod. Alternatively, use tile nibblers, but these are not so accurate.
Vinyl floor tiles can be cut using a sharp craft knife or strong scissors.
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How do I treat my skirting boards for dry rot?
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You have a serious problem because dry rot is an extreme form of decay and urgent treatment is essential to prevent it spreading to the whole building. Dry rot thrives in damp and badly ventilated areas, which can spread far wider than the timber where it starts. In very damp conditions it can send out its spoors into plaster and even cement rendering. It is characterised by white growths resembling cotton wool known as 'mycelium'.
The first step to getting rid of dry rot is to make sure that all the infected timber is cut away to a depth of at least 400mm (16in) beyond the last sign of rot. Chemical treatment should then be applied to all of the remaining timber and to all brickwork and plasterwork within 1.5 metres of the infected area. Ensure that good ventilation is provided to all areas which have been infected, even to the extent of putting in air bricks in external walls. The work required is so extensive that it may be better to call an expert in to treat it.
If you only have a very small patch of dry rot Cuprinol 5 star timber treatment is a very good product for preventing dry rot from spreading. If you can cut out the affected timber, Cuprinol also make a hardener which reduces the spread of dry rot and you can probably fill in any small diseased area with Ronseal Wood Filler.
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I would like to I lay a wooden floor on top of concrete, can you suggest the best type of flooring to use?
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Firstly, you must ensure that the concrete is absolutely level. If it's not, the best way of doing this is to apply a latex levelling compound.
The next step is to prevent moisture movement and, in this case, the best solution is to paint over it with two coats of a bituminous type paint such as liquid roofing felt.
Click n Fit laminate flooring is simple to lay but don't forget that this is a floating floor and as such must have an underlay to prevent transmission of sound when you walk on it. Laying it is a matter of relatively simple skill, except where you have to cut the boards to meet skirting and door openings.
At this point there are two methods of laying the floor:
1. Put down timber battens at 400mm intervals and nail the floorboards on top
2. Lay a 'floating floor'. You will need to lay a layer of foam or fibre felt. On top of this lay either tongue and groove hardwood boards or laminate boards.
These are both laid with the tongue of the tongue and groove boards leading. Apply some PVA cement along the joints of the boards and knock them in whilst the glue is still wet. You should prepare pieces ready to go where you have central heating pipes. The floor, however, should be cut about 10mm away from any skirting boards and cover this gap with a quadrant bead.
The use of solid wood is difficult as the wood must be at the right moisture content. The first alternative raises the floor by about 65mm. The B&Q packs of flooring, however, give full instructions on how to lay it which, if followed carefully, should cause no difficulty. The only tools you will require are a tenon saw, a hammer, a square and the small kit designed to help you pull the sections into position.
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How can I prepare my woodwork for painting, do I need to strip off all the old paint?
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If your paintwork is in good condition there is no need to strip off all the existing paint. For the best results, sand the surface of your woodwork before painting. This will help the new paint adhere for a more lasting and smoother finish. Around the doorframes, concentrate on areas where a build up of paint may stop the door from closing properly. Wash down all surfaces and allow to dry before painting.
If the paint is flaking and blistered it is best to remove it completely. Use a chemical paint stripper, special shave hooks and wire wool to do this. Wear suitable protective clothing, goggles and a mask.
You can use a hot air gun to soften the paint before scraping off, but be careful not to allow the paint or wood to burn.
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