Season Signals Start' ffere's Checklist Heating Bills Cut TJ TT For Exteriors By Storm-Screen Ul Home Lille an-Lip, „S?c£il1SS..^fs„^ic? Combinations Fix-Up Operations Spring may turn a young man's fancy in certain directions, but the advent of the vernal season just naturally turns the homeowner's thoughts in the direction o£"Clean-Up, Paint-Up, Light-Up and Fix-Up" needs. ThisJd the time to check the home, repair the damage inflicted by-time and Old Man Winter, and plan "Fix-Up" projects to improve home beauty and comfort. In the "Clean-Up" sector, Mom traditionally takes charge of the room-to-room cleaning job. Dad and the kids can assist in special projects such as cellar, . attic and garage clean-up campaigns. Now is a good time, too; to call in specialized help for big projects from rug cleaning to furnace cleaning. Check draperies and slipcovers for "spring cleaning" or replacement. Outdoors, Dad can supervise the "Clean-Up" of lawn and garden, including removal and/or replacement of plants and trees. Here again, the youngsters can help. Dad will probably w a n t t o a s s i g n s o m e o u t d o o r ^ ; chores on a permanent basis Paint-Up The "Paint-Up" phase demands a thorough check-up both indoors and out. Perhaps paint touch-ups will do in some areas, but others will require a complete repainting, perhaps on a do-it-yourself bulges, floors for needed repairs or refinishing. Inspect doors and windows for ai^ leakage, and make them weather- tight. Repairaneeds may suggest a "Fix-Up" remodeling project. For instance, if a furnace check-up reveals that a rebasis. For the bigger jobs, it's placement will be necessary in lwrrii sPAe ft oA cAaalIlI i4nm aa pVMroinff essiona1l. . « _ * "Paint-Up" really means "brighten-up and protect" -- so it involves more than paint. Indoors, wallpaper and paneling, flooring and floor coverings are part of the picture. Outdoors, the home exterior may need refurbishing, and If so, the possibilities are many, from a new paint job to residing with one of the wealth of new sidings available. Light-Up The "Light-Up" side of the spring home overhaul demands both family effort and, probably, professional help'. Increasing use of appliances and entertainment equipment means that an electric wiring check-up is in order, in most homes. Be sure to let a professional do this job. In some cases, new lighting fixtures can be installed on a do-it-yourself basis. Such projects can be planned now, along with the addition of new lamps for good lighting and decoration. Fix-Up Both repairs and remodeling come under the heading of "Fix-Up" jobs. First, check home exterior for needed repairs in potential trouble areas. Examine foundations for cracked masonry and ground holes; inspect roof for warped, loose or missing shingles; check gutters and downspouts for clogged passages, weather-worn parts; and check chimney area for loose bricks or stones, missing mortar. , Indoors, heating and plumbing systems may need professional check-ups. Check walls and ceilings for cracks and the near future, now may be the time to consider Installing a central heating-air conditioning system. Since siding does much more than beautify a home, building experts advise that the best time to consider new siding is well before exterior appearance makes . it all too obvious that a "face lifting" is needed. Nowadays, the exterior can be examined, and new siding installed, at any season of the year, but the annual spring home check-up makes an opportunity to look for danger signals that indicate a deterioration of or potential damage to surface or siding. Some points to check are: 1. Moisture. This can lead to termites and rotting wood. Fungus and mildew are two signs that moisture is present. 2. Condition of Surface. Blistering, chalking or peeling signal a need for repainting or replacement. Dents, cracks, breaks or splits in the home's present siding mean that it's time to think about replacement. 3. Openings around Windows and Doors. If siding no longer provides a snug fit in these areas, heating or cooling losses can occur. Conditions can usually be corrected by direct application of new siding over old. What can be done to lessen heating bills -- build a bonfire on the living room floor, use heated rocks to warm the beds, move to the tropics? Most homeowners wouldn't contemplate such drastic action, and fortunately, it isn't really necessary. One of the largest areas for home heat loss is through glass and cracks around windows and doors. Plugging these exits can be a giant step toward making home less costly to ' operate" in cold weather, and more comfortable all year. Combination windows and doors added to a home provide this protection as well as offering several other advantages. The possible annual savings on heating bills alone will go a long way to recover the cost of the combination storm and screen windows and doors. Calculations from Manual "J" of the National Warm Air and Air Conditioning Association Illustrate the potential savings. For a one-story house with 1,500 square feet of floor space and 192 square feet of window space, in the northern part of the United States (Zone A), the annual fuel bill without storm windows is estimated at liol. ff combination sioVm windows were added to this house, estimated fuel cost . would decrease to approxi- • mately @50 annually a-- a savings off S53 a year. Comparable savings are.projected for other areas of the country. Based on the same size house, fuel cost without storm windows is estimated at $74.42, in Zone B, the middle portion of the country. With storrh windows, estimated heating ci»st declines to $36.34, a savings of $38.08. Even in Zone C, the southern part of the country, there areestimated savings of @15.24, with estimated heating costs of $29.98, without storm windows, and $14.74, with storm windows. Besides saving cash on fuel costs, combination stormscreen windows and doors.add to year-round comfort. Easier maintenance is an appreciated advantage, too. Combination windows eliminate "sweating" and peeling, thereby reducing need for painting and repairs around windows. And, as seasons change, there's no more taking down and putting up of screens or storm windows. For additional ease in maintenance, the homeowner might consider combination windows and doors with Fiberglas screening. This screening material is guaranteed not to rust, dent, stretch or shrink. 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