Question: About 12 boards in the hardwood floor in my kitchen are cupping, and of course they are right in the middle.

They are not buckling, but are curving slightly, enough to see. What can I do about them?

Answer: It would be difficult to take out the tongued-and-grooved boards and replace them because they are tongued and grooved, and also if they are old, you may not be able to find the right size to replace them with.

So, sand the entire floor, including the cupped boards, in an attempt to sand down the high parts to be level with the low parts and refinish.

The boards cupped because they got wet and then dried out, so let's hope they are dry enough not to cup again.

Or, instead of sanding, try this: Put an area rug over the bad part, under table and chairs.

There should be a rug under table and chairs anyway, to prevent inevitable scratching.

Question: I am having my house vinyl sided. Some people have said not to do it in cold weather because vinyl shrinks in the cold. Is this so?

How careful should I be concerning the cold weather?

Answer: Vinyl, like all materials, will contract in cold weather and expand in warm weather.

But you have to consider how cold it has to be for the shrinkage to be a factor.

I don't think it is a problem, but to be safe I suggest that the work not be done below 40 degrees. Vinyl siders often work through the winter (the off season) to keep busy.

Question: I had new windows installed 10 years ago in an addition, and in the past year small panes are cracking in the 6 over 6 double-glazed windows; 4 out of 12 in one window.

The windows are made by Brosco, and a spokesman said that sometimes too much insulation is stuffed between the window frame and the rough opening, which makes the window too tight in the opening, causing cracks. What can I do?

Answer: It sounds weird, but it does happen. This is particularly so if the insulation is urethane foam, which expands a great deal when it is inserted.

The solution is to take off the casing (frame) on the inside, and take out some or all of the insulation, then put in fiberglass but not too tight - just snug. The fiberglass does not expand like the foam does.

And when you replace the cracked window, replace just the movable sash. Brosco will have them.

Handyman on Call Peter Hotton is available 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions on house repair. Call in your questions to 617-929-2930. Hotton also chats online about house matters from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursdays. To participate, go to Boston.com. Hotton's e-mail is photton@globe.com .

By The Boston Globe