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
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I M I l < >1 H I M
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Raleigh H ill Plaza
297-7611
EASTSIDE
1536 SE Powell
17th Bound
238-0530
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