Gas furnace cheaper to operate; sealing stem wall; planting for privacy

Q: I’m looking for a fast-growing shrub that would grow to about 8- to 10-feet tall. I want something that would create total privacy for my yard because of a subdivision going in nearby. I live near Tucson, but my house is at about 3,500 feet in elevation. I can’t use oleanders, or some other poisonous plant, because I have a horse. What would you suggest?

A: One possibility would be the Arizona rosewood or Vauquelinia californica. It has a beautiful durable leaf and gets small white flowers in the spring. It generally does better in Tucson than in the Phoenix area because Tucson has higher elevations and a cooler climate. On the other hand, it might be a little slow-growing in the beginning. If you want other alternatives, check with a nursery in your area. The rosewood is native to Southern Arizona and Baja California.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.

Q: I have a traditional patio with a roof on it that has been on my house for about 35 years. Now two of the three supporting beams are getting rotten, and in one corner of the patio some of the concrete has cracked and broken off. Can I clean up that concrete and put a form in and then fill it with new concrete? My eventual plan is to replace the rotten beams as well. I have a screw jack to use for that job.

A: After you’ve cleaned up the old concrete, you can build a form and fill it with fresh concrete. You might want to put some rebar in it to connect the new area to the older concrete. Make sure the concrete has thoroughly dried before proceeding with the rest of the job. If you’re planning to remove the beams yourself, you need to support the roof, of course, when you take the old beams out and replace them. And if you have a screw jack to do it and know how to use it to lift moderately heavy weights, then that should work.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.

Q: I just bought a house built in 1985 that needs painting. There’s also going to be termite treatment done on the house. Should I seal the stem wall below ground before the paint job?

A: Yes, that’s a great idea. Try to dig down at least a foot. Then buy a cement-based waterproof coating designed for exterior below-grade concrete or masonry. It’s going to come in a powdery form that you will mix with water. Coat the exposed stem wall to prevent intrusion of water into the foundation and to keep the paint from blistering. It can also be used as a base coat above-grade on concrete or masonry.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.

Q: I have a gas furnace as the heating system in my house, but I’m thinking of converting to a heat pump. Should I do that?

A: If you’re thinking about saving something on the cost of your utilities, it’s much cheaper to heat a house using a gas furnace than a heat pump that runs on electricity.

In addition, if you already have a gas furnace, you’re going to find out that it’s very hard to adjust to a heat pump during cold winter mornings in Tucson. You just won’t feel warm enough even though the air coming out of the heat pump is fairly warm. By comparison the air coming out of a gas furnace is dramatically warmer.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.