HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-10-15, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15,1997. PAGE 13.
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Home Improvement
Faucet replacement popular in cool weather
Maybe it's the bathroom fixtures
that were installed in the 70s, or the
leaky kitchen faucet that annoys
you every time you walk into the
room. With winter right around the
corner, these little irritations
become more noticeable, especially
as Canadians prepare to spend
more time indoors.
Forty per cent of Canadian
households decide to purchase
faucets between the months of
October and December. More than
60 per cent of these customers will
choose faucets that they can install
on their own, and do-it-yourself
experts say organization is the first
step.
"Lack of planning can be
incredibly frustrating," says Mary
Ellen Riley, Retail Channel
manager with Peerless faucets, a
leading manufacturers in North
America. "Most people start a
minor renovation and realize that
they are missing key supplies. That
is why we offer a complete kit that
ensures that you have everything
you need for easy and up-to-date
faucet replacement."
When shopping for a faucet, look
for a kit that includes all required
parts, such as water supply tubes
and easy-to-follow instructions.
Some faucet manufacturers also
offer a comprehensive lifetime
warranty on the faucet and finish as
well as free installation advice via a
1 -800 helpline.
TOP 10 TIPS FOR THE do-it-yourself faucet saves time
FAUCET FIRST-TIMER and money, which is essential in
• Time's a ticking. Purchasing a Continued on page 14
Computerized home improvements here
Avoiding frozen or burst pipes
Frozen and burst pipes are not
only an inconvenience for the
homeowner, it is also a costly
problem for insurance companies
and one that can be avoided.
"Every winter, frozen pipes put
Canadians through the trauma and
inconvenience of having their
homes damaged and subsequently
repaired," said Dave Simpson,
public affairs manager for State
Farm in a release.
Last winter, frozen pipes
accounted for more than half the
What you
Continued from page 12
roofing boards beneath. The
average Canadian home requires
approximately 40 bundles or more,
according to Home Depot’s Eric
Schmidt.
• Start by laying a metal starter
strip and start laying shingles from
the lower roof edge, working up to
roof peak. Secure shingles with
roofing nails. Schmidt recom-
winter storm damage claims State
Farm paid in North America, which
cost $2.1 million in Canada alone.
State Farm has several
suggestions for homeowners to
help prevent frozen pipes:
* Leave the heat on at no lower
than 12° Celsius.
* Have someone check the
home regularly if no one is home.
* Open cabinet doors under
sinks on outside walls to let in
warm air.
* Insulate pipes most
susceptible to freezing including
outer walls, crawl spaces and in
the attic.
* Disconnect garden hoses and
shut off the indoor valve and drain
the water supply to outdoor
faucets.
* If pipes do freeze, don't thaw
with an open flame or torch.
* Make sure everyone knows
where the home's water shut off
valve is as shutting off the water if
a pipe bursts can minimize
damage.
Paint chips ... wood chips ...
These days, when do-it-
yourselfers talk about 'chips',
they're likely discussing the recent
explosion of computer-based home
improvement design technology.
While computer-assisted design
(known as CAD) has been used by
architects and engineers for a
number of years, it's only relatively
recent that this powerful
technology has been available to
the typical do-it-yourselfer.
Whether you're trying to match a
favourite paint colour, or
contemplating a new deck, fence,
kitchen, paint scheme or even a
detached shed or garage, home
improvement retailers offer a range
of in-store computerized design
services.
For a typical project, say a
backyard deck, you'll be asked to
outline your design preferences,
project dimensions and budget
details on a worksheet. A
specialized computer program
incorporates your information to
produce a custom set of plans and
cost information, often while you
wait.
If you have a home computer,
you're no doubt already familiar
with some of the specialized home
improvement software titles nov.
available, on topics from garden
design to plumbing and wiring.
need for the roof
mends renting a pneumatic nailer to
save time and effort. "Hip" and
"valley" rolled roofing can be
purchased to cover angles and
grooves that the shingles will not
effectively cover.
What you need:
• Tools: Ladder and safety
harness, measuring tape, hammer,
roofing shovel, nailer (rented)
• Materials: Shingles, metal
starter strips, 15 LB asphalt felt,
roof coating, Ice and Water shield
(optional), hip and valley rolled
roofing strips, roofing nails.
Estimated cost of project (for an
average roof):
$500 - 40 bundles of shingle
$200 - 15 LB felt
$500 disposal of old shingle
$300 miscellaneous i.e. nailer
rental, nails, sealants, etc.
$1,500-total.
VINYL-PLUS SERIES
Only Repla makes it more convenient.
• Full 90° opening of the sash allows easy cleaning from the inside.
No more reaching and climbing.
• No painting or staining . ever. A gentle wipe makes it look brand
new, year after year.
• Decorative grilles (option) are sealed between the glass.
No interference in cleaning; no painting.
• Brackets and/or snap-in trims permit easy installation and finishing,
inside and out.
Dental repair for your bathtub?
What do tooth decay and an old
bathtub have in common?
You get cavities when acid
produced by bacteria eats through
your tooth enamel. Enamel
bathtubs can lose their finish when
a similar process occurs under a
soap dish or the bath mat. The
enamel loses its shine, becomes
rough to the touch, and eventually
gray steel begins to show through.
Porcelain tubs may have their
own problem—they have been
associated with high lead levels in
young children. A recent study of
750 bathtubs conducted by Unique
Refinishers of Atlanta, GA found
that 62 per cent of those tested
were leaching lead. Lead poisoning
can cause kidney, nervous system
and brain damage. Children under
five are at greatest risk.
Two reasons why you might
think of a new tub—but the cost,
installed, can easily make you
change the subject. Pipes and
fixtures need to be dealt with;
bathroom tiles will likely need
repair; the old tub needs to
disappear someplace.
Refinishing the old tub is an
alternative. Professional bathtub
refinishing services, are helping
people address both these issues
and save money. Putting a new-
finish on an old tub can be done for
less than $300. An old enamel tub
will look like new. Any lead in a
porcelain tub will be sealed off.
And the money left over, compared
with the installed cost of a new tub,
can buy several weeks' groceries—
or a new TV and VCR.
The old finish is prepared for
good adhesion, small nicks are
filled, then three layers of epoxy
coating are applied. A non-slip
treatment can be incorporated.
Custom colours can be mixed to
match a bathroom decor. Bathroom
sinks and tiles can be treated as
well.
Refinishing takes four hours.
There is the sound of a fan and -
for three; five-minute periods - a
noisy spray gun. The epoxy needs
three days to fully cure. When the
masking tape is removed reinstall
fixtures.
WE CAN HELP
You can get those fall jobs done
if you call NOW,
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519-523-4766
Repla ... for quality that endures
• Beautiful, stable wood frames resist warping, rot and termites.
• Sturdy, aluminum sash has baked enamel finish that won't chip, peel or fade
• Two bulb-type TPR* seals around the sash and liner, stop the wind
and keep moisture out.
• There's a third, new primary center seal in an elastomeric waterproof skin.
• Durable TPR* gaskets are used for sash glazing on the weather side
• Vinyl or wood glazing stops, complete with gaskets, lock the glass into the
sash, and provide a full-perimeter thermal break.
• Top quality slide-by, pivoting hardware for easy window cleaning from the
inside.
• Side mounted sash locks secure the sash tightly against the seals.
• "Double-Seal" insulating glass unit comes with a 10-year warranty against seal
failure.
• Colour-matched, thermally-broken spacers for improved thermal efficiency
• Inside liners, either vinyl or wood, accommodate interior-mounted screen
Our Founder's Commitment
1. THAT Repla products will perform beyond the stated warranties and quoted
standards, to the full satisfaction of our valued customers.
2. THAT our first obligation is to determine the Customer's expectation, then
exceed it with Repla products with the highest value at the least cost.
3. THAT only the finest superior components will be used in manufacture,
without compromise of quality for sake of cost.
4. THAT our customer's warranty protection will be the best
available, without pro-rating and with the least limitations
or restrictions. In summary form:
Product: A full five yean (5), all components,
and including service calls to effect
a change or repair.
Glass:
Installation:
A further five years (5), (ten in total), against
failure of the sealed unit.
A full five years (5), including caulking, flashing,
cladding and other installation materials.
(See both Product and Installation Warrantiei tor full detail*)
5. THAT warranties will be generously interpreted and serviced, so that the
Customer's need is dealt with fully and swiftly.
Your Complete
GLASS SERVICE
FOSHER
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