HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-02-25, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987.
Solid vinyl siding is virtually maintenance-free, making it the ideal
siding material for today’s busy homeowners. Detergent, water and a
sponge are all that’s needed to wipe off and clean the panels. One rinse
with a hose and you can cross exterior maintenance off your list of
household chores.
Vinyl siding saves work
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Skylights add distinctive
touch to kitchens
Homeowners are adding sky
lights to their recipes for an ideal
kitchen.
Skylights can provide a measure
of openness and a link to the
outdoors, according to remodeling
designers. They point out that the
kitchen is an active place through
out the day, so why not make it as
bright and cheery as possible?
New mothers, especially women
who have left the work force to start
families, sometimes feel trapped
at home. Much of their time is
spent in the kitchen.
Skylights extend one’s view up
and over neighboring houses that
might be blocking out the sky. And
in townhouses and multiunit con
dominiums , a skylight might be the
only way to open an inside room to
the outdoors.
Skylights have come a long way
from the primitive plastic bubble
nailed to the roof, he adds.
Low-profile glass skylights in fixed
and venting models blend easily
with the slope of the roof.
The best of today’s skylights are
leakproof and energy-efficient
through new concepts in product
design and materials.
For instance, some skylights
have frameworks made of an exotic
new thermoplastic that is said to be
more resistant to weather and
For homeowners tired of paint
ing their homes every few years,
vinyl siding represents a solid
investment in long-term good
looks, easy care and economical
remodeling.
Vinyl’s a tough, impact-resist
ant material that has color clear
through, so scratches won’t mar its
appearance. The long-term dura
bility of vinyl siding means it’s
economical, because mostvinyl
siding is designed to last many
years.
Unlike other siding materials
such as aluminum, vinyl is flexible
and will not dent or warp; nor will it
blister, peel or flake. It’s about as
close to maintenance-free as a
building product can be. About the
only required maintenance is an
occasional rinse with a garden hose
or with a mild detergent and water.
Esthetics is another plus of vinyl
siding. Vinyl offers a color to meet
virtually any exterior decorating
scheme. Contemporary siding col
ors are chemically formulated to
look in consistent color throughout
the life of the siding.
Suitable for most architectural
styles ranging from traditional to
contemporary, vinyl siding is
available in horizontal or vertical
styles, in various clapboard
widths, and in smooth or textured
surfaces. Matching vinyl accessor
ies such as gutters, downspouts,
soffits, fascia, corner posts and
other trim decrease maintenance
requirements and offer even grea
ter exterior design and versatility.
One way to save money on the
cost of installing vinyl siding is to
do it yourself. Any reasonably
skilled handyman ought to be able
to handle the job. Help is available
from your local building materials
retailer, or from the many how-to
pamphlets available at your deal
er’s store.
If you prefer to hire a contractor
to handle the siding job, ask
neighbours or friends who recently
had their homes resided for
recommendations, or consult the
“Yellow Pages’’ under “Siding
Contractors, ’ ’ ‘ * Siding Materials’ ’
or “Contractors-General.”
insect damage than wood
aluminum components.
This type of material lends itself
to features like built-in, integral
condensation gutters that prevent
drips in humid areas like kitchens.
One decision is whether to buy a
factory-assembled skylight that
comes ready to install or a cheaper
one that arrives as a box of parts.
Ready-made skylights make for
tighter construction and faster
installation, according to one
manufacturer, who points out that
the sooner you cover the opening in
your roof, the better off you’ll be.
A cure for loose countertops
Your countertop is probably
loose because someone periodi
cally places a hot pot on it. When
the temperature goes above 65°
(150°F), the contact cement soft
ens and starts to let go. If the
contact cement is not too old, it may
be reactivated by heating the area
with a gun-type hair dryer. You
need a temperature of about 93°
(200°F) on the surface of the
Formica to reactivate the cement.
Then roll the area with a hard
rubber roller and cover it with a
board clamped in place or weight
ed sufficiently to hold it in place
until it cools and the contact
cement resets.
If your contact cement is aging
and cannot be reactivated, you can
bore a tiny hole up into the
understuck area from the under
side of the plywood. Take special
care to bore deeply enough to
penetrate the plywood but not far
enough to come through the
Formica. Inject white wood glue
into the unstuck area. Then, push
the loose section of the countertop
up and down to spread out the glue.
As before, cover the area with a
board clamped or weighted to
flatten the Formica until the glue
dries completely.
Brussels
887-6277
Regardless of who does the appearance and value while reduc-
installation, a face-lift with vinyl ing the costs for its upkeep and
siding will enhance your home’s maintenance.
Carpets-Upholstery
Auto Interiors
Cleaned in your home or
place of business. We use the
exclusive Von Schrader dry
foam method. No heavy
soaking. Carpets
dry quickly.
FREE ESTIMATES - CALL EVENINGS
887-9095
Bestway
Cleaning Service
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