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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 1982)
Portland Obeerver, Juna 17,1962 Section II Page 5 Home Improvement rone How to pick remodelers Most o f us live in houses which were built at a time when nobody worried about the cost and supply o f oil, gas or electricity. Today, we are learning from our soaring heating bills that our homes are ill-protected against heat loss. However, by adding more insulation where there is none or too little and by installing weatherstripping and storm windows, we can cut heat loss, use less fuel and save money. IN S U L A T IO N —To control heat loss through walls, floors and ceilings. Insulation comes in various widths and thicknesses and may have a vapor barrier on one side. The purpose o f the vapor barrier is to prevent the passage o f water vapor from heated areas into the space between the walls where it could damage the insulation. The vapor barrier should always face the warmer side o f a wall, floor or ceiling. When you go to a lumber yard or home center to buy insulation, don't judge it by thickness alone. Look for the letter " R ” followed by a number printed on the insulation. " R ” stands for resistence to heat now. For walls you need R -l 1 (about 4 inches), for ceilings and floors you need R-19 (about 6 inches). I f you don’t see R numbers printed on the vapor barrier, don’t buy the insulation. Bear in mind that 8-inch insulation marked R-19 has no greater insulation value than six inches marked with the same R number. Insulating is really very simple. All you need is the proper insulation and a good staple gun. Load your gun with staples that have 3 /8 ” legs. These have ample penetration in the softwood studs and excellent holding power. In s u litio n with vapor barriers usually has flanges at the edges for easy stapling. Press the insulation in between the studs and staple the flange on one side to the front o f the adjacent stud; repeat with the flange on the other side. The entire cavity between studs should be filled with insulation from top to bottom without any gaps or breaks. The staples should be driven every six inches. Note: I f you use insulation with an aluminum foil vapor barrier, the flanges on both sides must be stapled to the SIDES o f the studs. I f you use insulation without a vapor barrier, place it between the studs in the usual way, then cover the entire wall with sheets o f clear polyethelene plastic as a vapor barrier. I f possible, fold the sheet so you are stapling through a double thickness. Staples should be inserted every 8 inches along (he front end o f each stud. It is very important to insulate attic floors, cellar ceilings and the walls o f unfinished rooms. In these cases, to have the vapor barrier facing the warmer adjacent areas, the carrier and its flanges will be out o f reach on the inside o f the cavity. Support this insulation with chicken wire stapled to the studs. W F A T HERSTRIPPINO—Controls heat loss through windows and doors. W indows and doors represent the biggest sources o f heat loss in your house if they arc not properly sealed. Weatherstripping is available in a wide variety o f forms, but usually, the least expensive is the felt type with burlap backing. Place the stripping with its edge firm ly against the frame o f the window sash and staple it about every fou r inches. Doors should be weatherstripped on the outside. Install the stripping on the door stops, the wood strips on the sides and top against which the door closes. Stapling is the same as for windows. S T O R M W IN D O W S —Additional protection. You can make excellent temporary storm windows by covering them with clear plastic. Use 6-mil polyethelene and staple it around the outside o f the window. Double the plastic at the edges and drive the staples against the outer edge of the trim where they won’t be noticed. These easy-to-do measures w ill make your home far more energy- efficient. You’ll save significant amounts not only on your winter heating bills, but on summer air conditioning bills too. Your investment in materials will soon be paid back again and again. A planning to remodel? MAKE SPACE FOR THE SUN! How to cut heat loss There is help available fo r con sumers who may wish to check on the reliability of a contractor through the O regon Rem odelers A ssocia tion (O R A ). According to Linda S choffm an, o f Stephen Schoffman Remodeling C o ., and F irst V ice President o f O R A , "A nyone who is considering having any remodeling project done on his home or business is encour aged to call O R A to check out any contractor he is considering. That is why the association is there.” The association, formed in 1952, has as its members most of the real professionals in the business in the P o rtla n d area. A branch has re cently been formed in Salem as well. In order to be considered for mem bership in the association, a con tractor or sub-contractor must be li censed and bonded, must show satisfactory credit history, must give custom er references, and has to have been in business at least tw o years. A pam phlet, " H o w to Play and W in the R em o d elin g O s m e " is available at no charge by writing to the association at 334 S .E . 82nd Ave., ^Portland, 97216. The pamph let, which was written by the organi zation, gives helpful hints on how to chootrand work with a remodeling contractor. engineered for co m fo rt... winter and summer designed for beauty and your lifestyle . . . and en^neered and constructed for energy savings A ccording to M s. S c h o ffm a n , "Consumers may call the O R A o f fice at 237-9119, M onday through Friday and ask for names o f remod eling contractors who are members if they are having difficulty deciding who to call. They will be given sev eral names. N a tu ra lly , there is no charge for this service.” The office is also available to ans wer questions consumers may have regarding rem odeling in general. Checking w ith the association will perhaps save money and prevent a bad experience with remodeling. Call us . . . we ll help you make space for the sun in your remodeling budget 620-5012 DESIGNS BY VISIT OUR SHOWROOM OF SOLAR CLASSIC DESIGNS. AT 15800 UPPER BOONES FERRY RD.. 1st EXIT (291) SOUTH OF 1-5/217 INTERCHANGE - AT OREGON BUSINESS PARK II. Smart consumers avoid rip-off Consumer rip-offs involving home improvements continue to plague the industry’s responsible majority by lumping them with the small percentage o f con-’ riists and “ operators.” But, there is a group working to help consumers avoid being swindled and improve the overall image o f contractors. That group is the National Home Improvement Council (N H IC ), a non profit trade association whose members are pledged to observe the highest standards o f integrity, responsibility and professionalism. N H IC , which has 53 chapters throughout the nation, is working to teach consumers how to choose reliable contractors. " W e ’re putting out the message that a deal that’s too-good-to-be-true" is usually just that— untrue," states Council President Jack Anderson. Yet every year people are taken in by such pitches just because they don’t know or aren't inclined to check a few simple facts. N H IC suggests follow ing these basic rules when selecting someone to » on your home: Employ a contractor with an established place o f business, preferably in / our locality. 2. Be sure he has adequate financial references. 3. Ask for references o f satisfied customers in the area for whom he has done remodeling work and check on them personally by phone. 4. I f your area has a Better Business Bureau, check to see if there is an adverse file on the contractor you’ re considering. Otherwise, check with your local Chamber o f Commerce. 5. Observe carefully how precisely he “ sizes u p " your proposed project, take note o f his suggestions and discuss them thoroughly with him. D o n ’t be rushed. Avoid snap judgements, either pro or con. 6. Be sure to have a written agreement on plans and specifications for major projects. 7. D o n 't hesitate to talk w ith and get estimates from more than one contractor. CO N STR U C TIO N BY MAKE A NEW HOME AT THE OLD ADDRESS W ITH A NEIGHBORHOOD PROFESSIONAL Wm. D. Herboth Remodeling C A LL: 289-1600 In te rio r * E xterior A d d itio n s • W e e th e rize tio n s I S.e«XS< l < H I I M I l < >1 H I M IM Old World Craftsmanship For A Modern Day Society. Ceramic Tile Sale TILE SOLD AT COST & BELOW C O ST!!! JUNE 18th thru JUNE 20th (CASH & CARRY ONLY) Try our tasty house dressing. • \ I. .f ! 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