Clinton News-Record, 1985-10-09, Page 49If you have decided it is time to ftproQ£
Your home, yOu may find yourself, fa ., #
with a di fiicult choice- Should you do it
yourself or hire a contraltos .though
there are benefits and drawbacks with.
either, the following may help You decide
whether you are ready to tactile a retrofit-
ting project. on your own.
By doing the work yourself', you can
reduce the costsconsiderably and get a lot
of personal satisfaction from the project.
Even if you are not an expert, there are
many excellent how -to -do -it books and
magazine articles that give straightfor-
•y
•
ward, simple. instructions on • almost all
typesOPWcitlifninelMprovementyfork,
' 'au a� will. baro complete, eontrot over
.t . e . ukthoowork because you choose
the inater- to be used and have, an oppor-
tunity to make sure that the small deta s
like caulking and weatherstripping are done
• carefully
If you are removing wallboard or working
in the basement or attic, you may be able to
check hidden systems like plumbing and
wiring and ensure that they are in good con-
dition, or repair them if they are not.
When you are planning be generous with •
your time estimates, as jobs are often more
r,.
edmplieated and time con tuning khan they
might appear, It:: you are ahead,, working
full time, remember that it will:take. longer
to complete the• projects than it would if a
contractor • were hired. As result, year
family will be displaced and inconvenienced
for a longer period, •
Remember to cheek with the local
building inspector and make sure you take
out the required permits, follow local
building codes and have tete work inspected
by the appropriate authorities,
Figure out what materials you.wiil need,
and compare the prices with contractors'
estimates. If your prices are higher it may
e s
nit i worthwhile to do it yourself. Find out
what tools you will need,, and how much it
Will costtn buy or rent them, Make sure the
inaterials are available, and that it will be
convenient and not too costly to transport
thein to your borne.
If it is "a really large job needing a variety
of•skills yot be abe to hire the required
trades people, although, sheduling and
supervising the work is tune consuming.
• But whether you decide to do it yourself or
hire someone to do the work for you, the
long -terms savings from insulating and seal-
ing will, help to cover the cost .of all your
renavations.
Safety andefficiency of wood stare are closely linked
The safety and efficiency of a wood-
burning appliance are closely linked. In-
complete combustion resulting from an in-
adequate air supply produces unburned
gases that accumulate as creosote in the
chimney. Creosote is highly flammable and
creates the risk of chimney fires, which can
damage the chimney structure and cause
dangerous overheating of adjacent wood in
the walls and roof. The creosote problem is
primarily caused by overloading wood -fired
appliances or operating them on a low com-
bustion air setting, or both, to get a long,
slow firing. Smoke and creosote represent
wasted energy.
A hot fire should be maintained for about
30 minutes immediately after loading the
appliance. A hot fire burns completely, pro-
duces less smoke and, therefore, less
creosote. Generally, air controls on a wood -
fired appliance should be fully open until the
fresh fuel is well charred. A stack ther-
mometer on the flue pipe between the ap-
(
SAVE ENERGY
THE NATURAL WAY -- WITH TREES!
Although new windows and Insulation help
considerably • in conserving energy, trees can do it
naturally - and they last for generations.
BEFORE
AFTER
Protect it from the
elements with trees! '
SHADE TREES next to house.
to protect from direct rays
of sun, and to act as natural
air conditIoning.
WINDBREAK (EVERGREEN)
C,' / TREES to slow the wind and
trap snow,.and also to
camouflage unsightly areas.
FALL'S THE BEST TIME FOR PLANTING TREES!
Plant now and save tree-mendous time
in the spring for other chores.
WE SPECIALIZE IN MOVING AND SUPPLYING TREES
• A clean, tidy, no mess, no work planting process.
• Add privacy, colour, beauty, shade and year round enjoyment.
• Environment for birds and wildlife.
• Protection from cold winter winds.
CALL NOW FOR AN APPOINTMENT
• ,TREE ..mendous
*JOHN GIEMON
R.R. No.
2 SEAFORTH 482-3229
r>>>).. ), Landscape Desi nx)..�
pliance and chimney will indicate how the
fire is burning. It helps the wood stove
operator ' in the same way that a
speedometer guides the operator of a car.
During relatively mild weather when
heating requirements are low, the use of
small, well seasoned fuel loads will promote
efficient combustion. A small, efficiently
burning fire produces as much heat as a
larger fire with an inadequate air supply. If
you often have to let your fire smoulder in
cold weather the stove may be too big for the
heating requirements of your home.
Dry, well seasoned firewood is importa .
Wet fuel wastes much of the heat potential.
Wood seasoned under cover for 6 to 12 mon-
ths can contain -less than half the moisture
content of newly cut fuel.
If you are considering buying a wood -fired
stove or furnace for the first time, installing
the proper size will make for safe and effi-
cient operation. A small appliance, used
properly, is the best way to get the benefits
of wood heat.
seal au
er
protect your home
...Be ready when the snow blows!
BALL-MACAULAII-in cl;n,on
is your headquarters for...
[I
II
Il
II
II
WEATHER STRIPPING
CAULKING.
ROOFING MATERIALS
EXPANDED FOAM
DOW S.M.
FIBREGLASS INSULATION
STORM DOORS and WINDOWS
Call today for more information!
Wellington St., Clinton
482-3405