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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1985-03-20, Page 39Page 4 T -A Horne Improvement, March 20, 1985 Beautify your outdoor wood and have long, lazy, carefree days all summer You can prepare now for a rarelree summer by sprucing up your outdoor wood decks, porches, railings and fences this spring wmh d fresh coat 01 stain or dear wtxxl preser atrsc, ads INC the home improvement experts at Olympic Stain. a leading maker of paint and stain products fur the home By follow tug a tew easy steps. the homeowner can prepare no% lir the long. lacy days 01 outdoor living that make sum- mer the special time that it is The ravages of winter Keep in mind, say Olympic experts, that your outdoor wood is more vulnerable to the ravages of winter than your home, since decks, fences and porches generally are unprotected from the direct effects of rain. wind and sun. They are more apt to deteriorate more quickly than the siding of your house. A fresh coat of preservative stain or clear wood preservative at least once every two years will protect and preserve the beauty and durability of your outside areas. say the Olympic experts. And the more beautitul your patios and decks are, the more enjoyment you and your family v. ill get 1min them all summer and fall. An easy weekend project In moss► cases. an enure outdoor patio area can he given new life in lust a single weekend. particularly if the followirig tine -saving steps are taken. Frit, plan carefully what is required to do the job right. Order a generous amount 01 Inc preservative stain or clear wood pre- servative you select well in advance. Measure the area, plan out your steps. and remember to nerve your patio furni- ture, flower boxes and that barbecue be- fore you begin. Then, sweep the area thoroughly with a hard bristle broom, looking for signs of deterioration which may require scrub- bing with a wire brush. Once swept and brushed, the wood should be washed with warm water and a household cleanser to lift out unseen patches of dirt and grime. Hose the area and let it dry thoroughly. AN ITNINTERRl1PTED SIMMER of outdoor enjoyment is assured for homeown- ers who beautify and protect their outdoor decks, patios and fences this spring, say the hone improvement experts at Olympic Stain, a leader in home care products. Protection and beauty For the max 111111111 in protection and beauty. it is important that you select pre- servative stain or clear wood preservative formulated for deep penetration of your wood surfaces Linseed oil is a preferred ingredient for both deep penetration and wood strength- ening properties, say the Olympic experts Select a dear wtxid preservative for all unstained surfaces to strengthen the wood fibers while enhancing the natural look of the wood lira add color, apply a coat of wood pre- servative, water repellent stain, such as Olympic Weather Screen septi -transparent stain in the shade of your choice. This adds color while allowing the natural texture and beauty of the wood grain to show through. These preservative stains are designed to repel water and prevent decay and mil- dew from attacking your deck. They pro- vide the extra protection needed to maintain the beauty of your home's out- side living areas. Find the color for you An added tip — experiment with differ- ent colors of stains to find which one best complements your home and property. Seek the advice of your Olympic dealer and try various stain colors on small sam- ples of wood scraps or those hidden, un- rseen areas of your porch or patio to see the impact of the larger project. Porches. decks. fences, walkways. rail- ings. stairs. outdoor wooden furniture and planters all need the extra protection of a preservative stain to maintain their beauty. Reprotecting your outdoor wood every couple of years will keep it looking fresh and beautiful for years of outdoor living enjoyment. To learn more about how to beautify and protect your outdoor wood surfaces. con- tact your nearby Olympic dealer. or write to Olympic Stain for your copy of a free booklet. Booklet available Write to Olympic Wood Beauty. 1932 First Ave. — 800, Seattle. WA 98101. for your free booklet on protecting and beauti- fying your outdoor wood surfaces. ttillilr � .. ALUMINUM REPLACEMENT WINDOWS — New aluminum replacement windows will look good and stay that way for a long time to rouse. Aluminum minims `ale nuintenance and retains its original new look. Aluminum replacement windows save energy and beautify homes Lening energy escape from your home is like throwing money out the window. Poorly designed or deteriorated win- dows can cost you up to a third of your air conditioning and heating expense. By in- stalling aluminum replacement windows, you can cut your energy bills while im- proving the appearance of your home. Heat always travels from a warmer, area to a colder one. It leaks in during the sum- mer and seeps away in winter. The loss of energy occurs in two ways: Conduction (traveling through solid objects such as a pane of glass) and infiltration (leaking through the cracks). Conduction can be held in check by in- stalling double -glazed replacement win- dows, which have two panes of glass between you and the outside. A snug fit The extra glass and the air space trapped between the panes provide added insulation against heat conduction. And an aluminum window with a thermal break in its frame reduces conduction through the frame. infiltration can be minimized by mak- ing certain windows fit snugly. To detect Hiring an insulation contractor... Eight answers to the most frequently -asked -questions Although some 10 years have passed since the oil embargo shocked the nation into taking drastic measures to conserve energy, today's wise homeowner is still in- vestigating ways to make the family home even more energy-efficient. Energy costs continue to rise on a yearly basis, and experts at the CertainTeed Home Institute suggest that additional in- sulation is still one of the homeowner's best weapons for fighting rising monthly energy bills. While most attics and garages can be in- sulated by a do-it-yourselfer in one after- noon, maximum energy savings are obtained by insulating an entire house. To properly insulate inaccessible areas such as side walls. a professional home insula- � tion contractor4houldhe_consutted. The CertainTeed Home nstitute as found that many homeowners are con- cerned about how to select an insulation contractor. In response to this, the Home Institute has compiled a list of questions most commonly asked by homeowners and provided the following answers: What exactly is an insulation contrac- tor? An insulation contractor is a profes- sional who is specially trained to properly install insulation, to determine where to add insulation, and to advise how much in- sulation is required to give the best return on an investment in energy conservation. How do I locate an insulation contrac- tor' Looking in the telephone hook under "Insulation Contractors" or "Insulation Materials" is a good place to begin. Con- tacting a local contractor's association or asking your friends or neighbors who've had their homes insulated is also a good step. Once I've identified local insulation contractors, homy do 1 know who's respon- sible.? Any qualified insulation contractor will provide: Credentials, references. written estimates and high quality products. How do I check an insulation contrac- tor's credentials? Start by contacting the Better Business Bureau. They'll tell of any complaints against a particular contractor. Local con- tractor associations.can also be of assist- ance in this area. They can tell you if the .1 i .1 Most important, ask the contractor for references. If he's well established in the community, he should have a list of satis- fied customers that he would feel confi- dent to have you,contact. Talk with some of the people on the list to get their opin- ions of the contractor's work and profes- sionalism. Should I obtain firm estimates before hiring an insulation contractor? Yes, by all means do. Take firm esti- mates in writing of the work that is to be done from several insulation contractors before selecting one. Also. get the types of the materials to be used by brand name and product description in writing as well/ The easiest way to avoid disappoint- ment and misunderstanding is to have everything spelled out clearly before the job begins. How do 1 compare which estimates are the best' To properly compare them. make sure that the estimates you ask for are for com parable jobs. using the same materials, quality of workmanship and R -value. Thickness alone is not the best measure- ment of insulation value, R -value is. The R -value is the measure of an insulating ma- terial's resistance to heat flow. The higher the R -value, the greater the insulating power. How do i know which materials an insu- lation contractor suggests are the best ones for my home? Fiber glass is the most popular kind of home insulation and is available in rolls, batts and blown -in forms. it's an ex - 1 cause it contains millions of tiny air pockets that resist the flow of heat. One product that more and more con- tractors are recommending is Insul-Safe° II. the fiber glass blown -in insulation from CertainTeed. Quality tested and manufac- tured to demanding standards, instil -Safe 11 offers superior thermal performance. In addition. it is non-combustible, will not absorb moisture, and will not rot or de- cay. Plus, it is not treated with chemicals that can cause noxious odors or corrosive effects on pipes and wiring. It was the first insulation of its kind to be certified by the National Associatkin of Horne Building Research Foundation un- der its labeling program. Once I 'yr selected a contractor, should I hair a specific contract drawn up for the lob' Yes. by all means. Like the estimate. it should include materials to be used and a completion date. infiltration, simply holo a fluffy feather, a strip of tissue or a lighted candle at the edge of the window frame on a windy day. If infiltration is severe, such tests are un- necessary: yeu can feel the draft. Any properly installed replacement window will reduce infiltration. But a thermalized aluminum window will do the job longer. Shape and strength Aluminum will retain its shape and strength throughout the year, but wood may shrink or warp and vinyl can warp away from the weather stripping. Also, aluminum's finish often lasts as long as the house. - Replacing windows may seem like a major overhaul, but the process can be done with little disruption at a reasonable cost. An installer usually can remove the old sash and weights and have the replace- ment finished in less than one hour per window. Family involvement Involving every member of the family in some part of the spring cleaning and home improvement projects will make these jobs seem less overwhelming Even young children can help to pack away their winter clothes and return warm weather clothes to drawers and shelves. Be sure to consider all the ways that the interior of your home can be brightened. Does the bathroom need a new look? Or does the living room carpet need to be re- placed? ReoI-MIX CONCRETE CALL US FOR All Types of Concrete • Wolk- -Mix Concrete and Formwork • Precast products dealer • Mangers • Slats • Steps • Curbs McCANN Redi•Mix Inc. Dashwood 237-3647 Exeter 235-0338