Dear Carrells: We have wall-to-wall carpet in our game room, and there is a seam that has come apart near the pool table. I didn't want to have a carpet-repair company come in just yet, so I tried to fix it myself. I found a special tape at the home center that is heat-activated for sealing carpet seams. I put it on the floor under the carpet and then used my steam iron, over aluminum foil, to heat up the adhesive. It worked! You can't see the seam at all anymore. — H.T.

A SUPER HINT — SOS pads go to waste on small jobs, so cut them in half and save the part you are not using for the next big, greasy mess you have to clean up.

Dear Al: I had several nail aprons that I have collected over the years. I decided to start using one in my vegetable garden, so my wife sprayed it with water repellent. It's great. I never get wet when I'm working outside or watering the garden. Even when I put damp things in the pockets, the apron stays dry. It even seems to repel some dirt. — G.P.

Q: We are going to have to replace our roof because of a recent storm. I wanted to know your opinion on getting a light or dark roof to prevent heat buildup in the summer. Is there any real benefit to having a lighter-colored roof in the summertime? — J.A.

A: A lighter roofing color can reflect some heat, but it may not make much of a difference. The shingles themselves also can make a difference, depending on how they are made. Proper insulation in the attic, ventilation and radiant barriers can make more of a difference, so consider all of this when making your choice.

A Tip From the Super HandyMom — I keep an empty tissue box on my workbench to store plastic grocery bags in. I stuff them in as soon as I get them emptied from the store. When I need one, I can just reach in and pull one out. They are great for putting over your hands when you need to pick up something greasy or dirty.

SHOPTALK — If you are looking for a lubricant for your squeaky doors, hard-to-turn handles and slow-moving parts, check out Royal Purple's Maxfilm. It's a synthetic, multipurpose lubricant that every homeowner should have around. It creates a lubricating film that loosens and protects metal parts. Use it on your power tools, hinges, chains, rollers, gears, fishing tackle, lawn equipment and lots more. The solvent is even biodegradable. To find out more about this product, including where you can find it, visit the company online at www.royalpurple.com.