QUESTION: When I built a sunporch, I exposed some of the attic to the outdoors. Now I have what I think are bees making a colony in the attic. I can see a small paper nest in the attic. How can I get rid of the insects so I can close up the attic?

ANSWER: Leaving the attic open to the outdoors was tempting more than fate, and you could have a lot more critters up there in addition to bees, which are not bees but paper wasps, indicated by the paper nests they have built.

There are two things you can do: Buy a hornet and wasp bomb, which fires a burst of insecticide up to 12 feet. In the cool of the evening, when the wasps are in their nest and have slowed down their activities, hit the nest with a 2-second burst of the killer bomb, then run like crazy back into the house. If you have to stand on a ladder or in any awkward position in order to fire at the nest, don't try it; it is too risky to beat a hasty retreat without falling or getting stung.

Which brings us to the second option: Do nothing; in the cold of autumn the wasps will die off. Make sure they are dead or gone; then remove the nest; then close up the attic.

QUESTION: My summer house has old-fashioned wood screens. The brackets are rusting away; they consist of a hook on the casing and a loop at the top of the screen frame. I have looked in many places without success. Where can I find them?ANSWER: I know they were made at least until 1975; I found them in a 1975 Stanley Hardware catalog. Even if they are still made, distribution may be a problem because they are not in heavy demand these days. You can call Stanley in New Britain, Conn., to see if they are made and where to buy them: 860-225-5111.Other catalogs are Whitechapel, of Jackson, Wyo., 307-739-9478; and American Home supply of Campbell, Calif., 408-246-1962.Handyman on Call Peter Hotton is available 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions. Call 617-929-2930. Hotton also chats online about house matters from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursdays. Go to www.boston.com. Hotton's e-mail is photton@globe. com