The Citizen, 1998-10-21, Page 24WE CAN HELP
You can get those fall jobs done
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room. Because warm air rises, your
windows should be constructed of
,,the most energy-efficient materials
available, Zuege says.
Also, to bring the most light into
your rooms during winter, it is
advisable to install windows at the
home's southern exposure, he says.
If your home has overhangs, be
sure to position windows lower to
capture the winter sun, which is
lower on the horizon.
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PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1998.
THERE S
ALWAYS •
ROOM
FOR .1 111 1 --1
!HOME IMPROVEMENT
Fall Home Im rovements 1998
THERE'y
ALWAYS
ROOM FOR •111131 --Tr.
THOME IMPROVEMENT]
Bright home defends against SAD
With cooler weather upon us,
now is the time for long-range
home improvement planning.
This year, consider
improvements that will benefit your
family year-round, especially when
the darkness of winter inevitably
returns. Adding more windows,
skylights or a solarium will
brighten up your home when you
need it the most.
When winter sets in, many
people begin to experience mood
changes similar to symptoms of
depression. For some, weight gain,
lack of energy, tendency to
oversleep and irritability all begin
to manifest shortly after setting the
clocks back to standard time.
This condition, Seasonal
Affective Disorder, can be treated
with light therapy, which
researchers say can help brighten
moods and give back vitality
during the long months of winter.
Of the millions of adults and
children across North America who
develop SAD each year, the
majority exhibit relatively mild
symptoms that can be treated by
simply adding a little more light to'
their environments, according to
national health experts.
For mild sufferers, installing a
window or skylight to open up a
dark room can be an excellent way
to combat SAD. Skylights can
flood a room with up to five times
more light than a traditional wall
window, while specialty windows
can capture the optimum light for
the room's design.
Researchers also have found it is
not the kind of light that is
effective, but the intensity of the
light.
The recommended treatment for
mild symptoms of SAD consists of
daily interaction of light with the
eyes at levels ranging from 2,500
lux (a measure of brightness) to
10,000 lux. The maximum
recommended amount of exposure
is 10,000 lux, which is about the
same brightness as a cloudy
midday in the Yukon, according to
a SAD suppon group.
In other words, just being near a
window during daylight while
reading or working can improve the
way some people feel in winter.
And, because the entire retina
responds it isn't necessary to stare
at the light — simply face it so light
falls on the retina, the support
group says.
Light helps regulate brain
chemistry by controlling the levels
of serotonin and melatonin. The
brain produces inadequate
production of these chemicals
which can lead to depression.
Don't Sacrlflce Light for Warmth
The introduction of more
windows into your home doesn't
necessarily mean you'll feel better
emotionally but shiver all winter.
"You can brighten up your home
and beautify it, while staying warm
and energy efficient," said Kevin
Zuege, director of technical
services for TruSeal Technologies
Inc., manufacturer of an insulating
glass window sealant.
Look for windows constructed
with a low U-Value, which
measures heat transfer, Zuege
advises. A U-Value of .40 is
excellent, while .80 or higher
means poor thermal performance.
One of the most important
components of any window is its
(NC)-Do your floors squeak? If
so, can you do anything about it?
Jon Eakes, the host of Just Ask
Jon Eakes, the home improvement
show on HGTV Canada, says that
the squeaking is usually due to the
floor's sub-structure rubbing
together, and that there is no sure
cure. But, there could be a few
preventative measures.
If the floor is over an unfinished
basement, one should listen to try
and find the squeaky points and
then hammer wedges between the
joists and the sub-flooring, says
Eakes. Another probable solution is
to hammer #10 one-inch Round-
edge spacer, which all dual and
triple-pane windows have to reduce
heat loss around the window's
edges.
"It is important to note that the
edge spacer material can mean the
difference between a cold window
edge and one that is well-
insulated," he says.
Some window manufacturers use
aluminum spacers filled with
desiccant, a moisture-absorbing
material that helps prevent
condensation between the panels.
However, because metal
conducts heat, aluminum spacers
lower the insulating ability of the
window. As a result, warm-edge
spacers are gaining popularity,
prompting many manufacturers to
abandon aluminum spacers.
Moreover, warm-edge spacers
reduce the frost band along the
window that condensation creates
with cold-edge windows.
"Warm-edge spacers allow the
full, clear vision the window is
intended to provide while keeping
the room warmer," Zuege says.
This is especially important for
those who require maximum light
input in winter.
Energy efficiency is also a
consideration when installing
windows or skylights high in the
head screws through the sub-
flooring into the boards, and
tighten.
Squeaks can also be caused by
bracings between the joists rubbing
together where they cross each
other. Jon suggests running a
handsaw between the bracings,
where they touch, to create a
clearance.
For other helpful tips watch Just
Ask Jon Eakes HGTV Canada.
- News Canada
Stopping squeaky floors