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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 8, 1957)
TWO MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE Wednesday, May 8, 1937 Operation Home Improvement ontinues in 'Better Your Living' Industry Working Together fo Help Owners in Homes Operation Home Improve - merit," which in 1956 became a "national by-word, is being con tinued into 1957 under the slo gan, "Better Your Living." Manufacturers of all types of equipment are again teaming up with .their dealers, with con-'ttactors-and lenders in an effort torjielp 'American home owners halt the deterioration of the na tion's 50.000.000 homes. Twin , Objectives The twin objectives of the gigantic campaign remain: 1. To convince homeowners , that better living through home improvement is a desir able goal and sound investment. 2. To help dealers and con tractors to make it easier for homeowners to buy the mater ials and services that go into home improvement. As in last year's campaign, these dealers, contractors and lenders who are sincerely inter ested in helping homeowners bring their home up-to-date will display the now-familiar Oper ation Home Improvement seal. In addition, all elements of the industry in cities and towns all over the country will join forces in community-wide home improvement campaigns. In announcing plans to con tinue OHI into 1957, Executive Director John R. Doscher. com mented that the '56 effort had produced these results: 1. A nation-wide 25 per cent increase in home improvement ' activity, making the industry's total volume approximately $15 billion for the year. For the first time in a decade, home im provement outstripped the new home building in total dollar volume. Local OHI campaigns in i.OOO cities and towns. In these f communities, increases in remod . ! eling. activity were particularly 'dramatic ranging up to 156 ! per cent,' as indicated by the .! number "of building permits is ; sued for remodeling purposes. ; 3. Record sales for participa ; ting manufacturers and retail ; ing organizations despite the slump in new home building. 4. Increase in home improve ment lending of 20 to 200 per . cent reported by banks, savings land loan associations and other j institutions in all parts of the j country. i DURABILITY Workmen razing old struc tures often find the original asbestos-cement roofing in such i excellent condition that it is "suitable for installation on a new building. - fo) LI ZJ Hair 32 West 6th St. i - ' ' ' 1 --WBIBg- ersrTr. mi yuf: 'States Cr AFTER REMODELING 8 f rrrs " mm Lighting May Be Decorating Aid Lighting is an important home decorating aid. The dol lars invested in smart, new fur- ( nishings and decorating are j wasted unless tney re properly lighted. Good lighting can make even budget decorating look far more glamorous than its cost would indicate. By controlling shad ows, areas of light and color rendition, fixture lighting can make the most of a room's tex ture, color and design. Fixtures are necessary, since they provide a flexibility and range of lighting effects beyond the reach of portable lambs. Today, a fixture is a graceful, decorative accessory that is plaeed anywhere that light is needed on walls and even in corners. You'll find new fixtures to enhance the beauty of your home and give correct light. There are many types to choose from to suit .your needs. A popular type is the pull-down fixture, that goes up and down by reel or spring action to pro vide the level of light needed. Some fixtures are mounded on swivels or goose-necks, and can be turned in every direc tion. Get the most out of your new furnishings by accenting their beauty with new light. Plastic Hardwood Makes Good Liner for Shelves An excellent liner for linen closet shelves is plastic finished hardboard! Pre - decorated in bright colors, this paneling ma terial provides a smooth, hard surface on which .linen slides easily without snagging. When door space permits, these liners can be taken out to serve as trays for carrying freshly ironed linen to the closet.joint. r , i is- From SOUT SEPE o LITTLE CHANGES Many of of the homes that will be mod ernized in the current home im provement program require little architectual changes to give them a more modern appearance. Shown here are "before"' and "after'. The principal change made was in the roof line. A narow ledge stone facing whs combined with wider stone de signs for. this pleasing effect which accents the long, low lines of the "new"' old house. Insula tion is built into this stone fac ing, reducing heating and cool ing costs. By Perma-Stone Co. Asbestos Shingles Have Common Things Asbestos shingles of all types have this in common . . . they will not rot, rust, decay or burn. They make safe, substantial, rich - looking and permanent roofs! One of the foremost of these identifying marks is rigidity. Asbestos roofing shingles are made by combining asbestos fib ers with Portland cement. This produces a strong, rigid, shingle that has the ruggedness and per manence of stone itself. Permanence is an outstanding feature of asbestos roofing shin gles. No asbestos shingle has yet worn out, although the material has been in widespread use for more than 50 years! Asbestos shingles also have substantial thickness and good weight. This rigidity and" weight make them resistant to storm damage. The most important characteristic of asbestos shin gles, is their incombustibility. Asbestos-cement roofing shin gles, long favored for their in combustibility and permanence, have individual characteristics which make them easily distin guishable from other roofing ma terials. LOW-COST STORM DOOR A screen door can be quickly converted into a storm door at a low cost by covering the wire screening with translucent wire cloth. Tack the wire cloth to the door frame, using enough tacks so that it will not be torn off in a high wind. Apply mask ing tape around the edge of the wire cloth to make a tight With COMPLETE LINE of Building VBNG ON 1908 Planning Work is Important Thing In Remodeling There are many home im provement projects that may be done by the homeowner, if he has the right materials and in structions. The important thing is plan ning the work first . . . then de cide whether it is best to call for professional help or to do it yourself. But there are certain jobs which call for licensed contrac tors; both from a legal and per sonal safety standpoint. Electrical Work Electrical installations and re pairs must be handled by a li censed electrician. Plumbing work is on a similar basis. Anything which involves tampering with existing lines or sewer or replacing of fixtures must be done : by a licensed plumber. Homeowners may modernize bathrooms by enclosing a tub or basin, tiling showers, back boards or cabinets. Flooring Projects Laying composition tiles is one of the easiest jobs for the home owner. Your local tile store can advise you as to the type of tile to use and how to apply it. Almost anyone can lay a con crete slab, or add an aluminum roof for a lanai, with proper in struction. Almost any amateur, properly instructed, can re-do a composi tion roof, but re-shingling re quires a professional man. Safety Rules Before tackling any do-it-yourself project, there are cer tain safety rules which must be followed! In climbing ladders, be sure to 1- ave the top two rungs, of a step-ladder, and the top 'three rungs of a straight ladder free.' If a job requires free use of both hands, don't use-a ladder use scaffolding. Never store paints or oily rags in a place not adequately venti lated. All power tools should be grounded. Never work with power tools in bare feet on con crete or in a wet area. ALCOHOL STAINS Mahogany or leather topped tables are often marred by al cohol stains. To remove these stains, try rubbing with cam phorated oil, or with very fine rottenstone and a light oil on a piece of felt. Saturate the felt with oil, dip it into the powder and shake off the excess. Always rub lightly and with the grain of the wood. Wipe with an oil saturated cloth and finally with a soft, dry cloth. A Material Phone SP 2-6251 FAMILIAR SIGHT A familiar sight in small towns across the country is this prim and proper little house constructed in the 1920's. Built solidly enough," it is however out-dated, formal and unattractive with the old-fash-ioned porch shutting out light and air. Its owners, like thous ands of others, would like to modernize it inside and out. Remodeling ideas for the 1923 home call for a modern "face lifting" of the drab exterior without basic structual change. Dark brick is faced with bright stucco, old front porch removed and living room extends out to new open eaves. Main entrance is moved to side of the house. A second side door replaces old back door, eliminating tracking ir. through front. New garage and sheltered walk are added. And, big new windows let in more light and air and add to modern appearance. By Arms strong Cork Company. Homeowners Are Apt To Forget to Check Light During Night "Don't be in the dark make your your home is ade quately lighted. Before you buy that new home, or plan to modernize your present home, check it after dark. In daylight, most home owners forget to check on light ing. An after-dark check is a sure way to find out if the house is well lighted. To help homeowners and buy ers to judge their home for good lighting, it is suggested that this rdom-by-room check be made. Liring Room' There should be at least one ceiling fixture.. Score a plus if it has corner fixtures and light ing above windows. There should be a fixture pro vided above the space where the table will be. Insist on a ceiling' fixture in each bedroom. Don't be tooled by a wall switch which controls a baseboard outlet. A center ceiling fixture is a must to throw light into cabinets and drawers. Fixtures should be provided over the stove, sink, and work counters. The Bathroom Minimum good lighting calls for a fixture over the top and on both sides of the mirror, plus a ceiling light. A ceiling or" wall fixture in each closet is necessary, prefer ably controlled by a switch that turns on the light when the door is opened. Each hall needs a ceiling fix ture and there should be a fix ture at the foot and head of all stairways. Laundry, furnace, storage and workbench areas each require separate fixtures. Exterior and Garage Make sure there's a light by all doors. The garage should have a ceiling fixture. Modernization can be achieved by replacing old and inefficient fixtures with new ones. New fixtures can be installed in the capped-up outlets where fixtures once hung. New fixture outlets Danger Points in Cracks Are Listed Check your home now for these daneer Doints in cracks; ends of siding and lap joints of siding; window frames, storm sash, wood doors and window frames where they .meet . mas onry, openings for outside water faucets and where pipes pass through walls, flashings and corner joints. Cracks in masonry, foundation joints and concrete step risers call for special mea sures and materials. Every new house, no matter how well built, is quite likely to develop a variety of cracks and crevices at. the construction joints over a period of time. Failure to fill these cracks can be costly in the long run. Moisture seeping in cracks can cause rotting and heat will escape. Dirt and insects can get in through cracks. The caulking job itself can be done easily and inexpensively by the average homeowner us ing one' of the compounds that come in large-size foldup metal tubes. Crocus, Scilla Among Bulbs That Are Early Four handy little bulbs that beat the first robin for spring color are the crocus, scilla, snow drop and grape hyacinth. These bulbs thrive in any gar den, endure the coldest weather and' burst into bloom with the first warm days. jgi' jl $P? r-r 3T &:ss uj-. run ' rr , C t Ti i-f j'lT'iiiiii' it nullum u."' i lMU,5ISmmKfs& VK ,.,, l mm'"rinl1 " ; 7klfiCti:V(l can be wired in where needed. Fixture styles have radically changed in the past ten years. By replacing an old-fashioned fixture with a new one, the en tire appearance of a room can be changed for the better. Decorating with light is often cheaper than most people think. It many cases, tne necessary wiring is already installed, so all that is left to do is add the new fixtures. Walls and windows can be lighted by fluorescent cornices and valances to push back the edges of the rooms, and to en hance the color, texture and de sign of draperies. L--Wliy Suffer """ V from the Heat Again This Year? Improve your home and your comfort with an AIR CONDITIONER! sAej-Qtilf . Never interferes with sleep because Amana's exclusive "Wall. of .Silence" make it the quietest air conditioner of all I ft I,,- ... nU'Jfl'J TERMS TO SUIT! 225 'Octopus' Plugs Can Be Dangerous in Home Most homes never have quite enough convenience outlets in tlje spots where they're needed! The unsigthly "octopus" plugs can also be dangerous. Plan now to have adequate wiring and outlets installed. Special types of outlets are available for specialized use, as in the electric range outlet. Con venience outlets, through which lamps and plug in appliances are connected in the living, din ing and cooking areas come in several forms. There are the standard du plex outlet, the multi-outlet as sembly for locations where sev eral lamps and appliances are to be grouped; and the triplex outlet for locations where three electrical devices are used together. FABULOUS 1 H.P. "PLUG-IN" AIR CONDITIONER Don't suffer through any more sizzling, soggy, sleepless nights! , With a flick of the finger, the Amona Deluxe Room Air Conditioner gives you the weather you want when you want it. Clean, odorless, germ-free, mountain-cool air . . . automatically controlled. Just plug in 1 h.p. unit into regular 115 volt outlet, if present wiring is adequate and local codes permit. BUY NOW - Low down Months to pay See the wonderful selection of sizes and E. 6th St. Medford Ph. SP 3 Selecting Right Floor Covering is Important in Home Selecting the right floor cover ing is extremely important to anyone who is about to buy -or build a home. There are many products available today and homemakers can find floor cov erings to solve every flooring problem. For homes built on concrete slab, asphalt tile is recommend ed. . - No part of your hotfie gets more wear, and tear than your floors; especially those in the kitchen. It is wise to consider all suitable flooring products to be sure that you are choosing the ' best possible . product, in budget range. . Good floor covering is a good investment and for only a few cents more per square foot you can have the finest products for permanent attractiveness,' ease of maintenance, recovery from indentation and wearability. Inlaid linoleum tile provides a resilient, long-wearing and easy to clean floor covering. Tough and durable vinyl tile is. excellent for installation on concrete. Moderately priced plas tic tile is flexible and easy-to-handle. The non-porous surface of this tile seals out dirt, greas and grime. Protect your children pott flowers with cyclo::e nt:cE NO DOWN PAYMENT EASY MONTHLY PAYMENTS Mika vni awn yard l mfa play ground lm- grm your property protect your lawn and nowora. xport arootmi oarvtco or r tall you how to put it up youraoll and aava annoy. Sond tor illuon tod booklet Just phono and aay -neaaa aond no tho h-oo booklet that Mia an how I can fenoa my home." . Phone SP 2-54S 131 N. Bartlett St Medford, Ortv ONLY VKITES STITES STEEL COtfflMTItH aUNUFACTOUS OOMI FEKCf ' o Your Silent Sleepy Time Pal . PAY LATER payment Order Yours Today! styles now at OPEN Wednesdays Till 9 p.m. - 5433 n