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When a toilet is about to overflow, quick thinking is a must! But what if you don't have a cutoff? You might be surprised how many older homes aren't equipped with a water-supply cutoff. One way to get the water to shut off is to open the tank and raise the float valve up. This shuts the inlet valve and the water to the tank. You can hold it up by placing a yardstick, dowel rod or some other object over the top of the toilet tank and tying the float valve to it so it stays up. Keep this in mind if you are ever caught in a situation like this!

Dear Carrells: I keep a box of disposable gloves in my shop. I buy them at the discount store, and they are very inexpensive.

They are great for greasy mower work, gardening chores, cleaning out the gutters and lots of other messy work. When you are finished using them, you can just throw them away. I've even used one to seal a small paint can when I couldn't find the lid. I just slipped the end of the glove over the open can, and it fit tight enough to seal it until I found the lid. A very handy addition to my workshop.

-- R.V.

A SUPER HINT -- When making outdoor wiring connections, try to use exterior, waterproof connectors. If you don't have them handy, put a blob of silicone sealant into the wire nut before winding it around the wires. It will help protect them from moisture damage.

Dear Al: The kids' playhouse was a huge success this winter. We had it put up just before Christmas, and they love it.

Even on snowy days, they are outside playing on it. I found that the nylon climbing rope had started to fray at the ends, and I couldn't get the knot untied to tie it closer to the end to stop the fraying. I got my torch out and just heated the ends enough to weld the plastic together. Now the fraying has stopped. It took only about 10 seconds to do, too.

-- P.L.

Q: We have a plain concrete porch, and I would like to cover it with pavers. Should I put sand down over the surface first? Do I use it on top, also?

-- H.G.

A: If the surface is smooth and sound, you can just set the pavers right on top. Make sure you install some sort of border to keep the bricks tight. A little sand swept over the surface and into the cracks would be a good idea and should look great. Good luck.

Dear Kelly: Our old wrought-iron table was falling apart, at least the top. We bought a sheet of plain plywood and then did a mosaic of old tiles to put on the top. The new table looks so great that we have put it in the entryway of the house to show it off. It was an easy and really fun project.

-- K.G.

SHOPTALK -- TimberTech, the deck experts, are coming out with a super lighting system designed to go with their decks and fencing systems, and some of yours as well.

DeckLites is a multicomponent, low-voltage system that looks great, is easy to install and inexpensive to operate. Several options are available for all types of decking material and fencing systems, and they are available in different colours and finishes. The low-voltage connections are easy to make and easily customized to your landscape and yard.

To learn more about the line of products and where to purchase it, visit the company online at www.timbertech.com, or call 800-307-7780.

* Got a question or a handy tip? Visit www.thesuperhandyman.com. Those of general interest will be used in future columns.