Neighbor seeks relief from loud air conditioner

Q: How can I stop or reduce noise from my neighbor's outdoor air conditioner? It really is very noisy.

A: Your best bet is to have your neighbor build a high, solid wood fence as close to the compressor as possible. This will redirect the sound upward. You could also contact a sound engineer to check to see if it is excessive, and suggest other ways of reducing the sound.

It would also help if you build a solid wood fence as close to the property line as possible.

Q: I have begun renovating my 1770 Cape post-and-beam house. I took down the ceiling in one room, and discovered that the beams and joists are quite dark, and so are the floor boards of the room above that are between the joists. Is there a way to lighten them or clean them up a bit? I would like to expose those beams and joists.

A: My house is two years older than yours, and I noticed, too, that the beams were quite dark, although they are a nice brown color that wood gets when it ages. All wood darkens as it ages, so live with it. As for cleaning, simply use a brush and forget it. For those dark floor boards above (they show when you look up to the ceiling), cover them with Homasote board painted white. Homasote is not a colonial finishing, but gee-whiz, it works, and it is one liberty you can take because it is reversible; that is, it can be taken down for a more authentic treatment, without any damage. I did this in two rooms mainly for light reflection. And 35 years later, they still look pristine.

Peter Hotton has been The Boston Globe's "Handyman on Call" for 30 years. E-mail questions to photton@globe.com. Sorry, no personal replies.