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Check On Repairs Even though a homeowner dutifully cares for his house, he may often neglect inspecting the roof until it is too late. A driving rain, combined with wind and a prior beating of the sun and elements, can bring a number of serious leaks during just one overnight rainstorm, with resulting damage to walls, floors and furnishings. Responsible roofers will check a roof free of charge and give estimates for any needed repairs or replacements. If reroofing is necessary, the homeowner can select from a variety of heavyweight fire-rated asphalt roofing materials. If the home has a shingle roof, check the following trouble spots. 1. Damaged or Missing Shingles-- If patches of shingles or single shingles are missing or loose, the roof is in an advance stage of deterioration. It takes a careful inspection to determine if portions of many shingles have broken off and blown away or if shingles have cupped or split. If so, a good rain and wind storm may start the bucket brigade. 2. Flashing -- Anything that projects through the roof is a danger source for leaks. Metal flanges and collars around chimneys, pipes and vents are not only subject to rust, but the cement caulking eventually dries out and falls away, exposing openings to rain and moisture. Rusty spots should be painted to prevent further damage, and where rust has penetrated all the way through the metal, it must be replaced. 3. Popped Nails. If too-short nails have been used, wind may have loosened roofing nails so that heads are no longer in contact with the shingles. 4. Gutters and Gutter Hangers. Leaves and debris' should be cleared from gutters, for better inspection of rust spots and rusted-out areas. Where gutter hangers have been nailed atop shingles, leaks can develop. Deterioration at this point may require replacement of the entire "starting" area of the roof shingles, even though the remainder of the roof may be in good condition. 5. Skylights. Check all flanges and flashings to make sure they are secure and unbroken and the seal around the glass (whether putty or a synthetic caulking material) is tight. 6. Bare Spots. A serviceable roof can eventually wear out. Look for patches of dark gray or black, which are more noticeable with light than with dark colored roofing. 7. Torn Hip and Ridge Shingles. Top edges of gables, hips and ridges are covered with special shingles. Check for broken or deteriorated roofing at these points. Leakage here can emerge inside at almost any point all the way down to the eaves. Most often, re-roofing is a simple job. However, sometimes an older wood roof should be removed if it does not have proper nail holding power or shows evidence of dry rot. A new plywood rooi deck would then be applied over the joists to provide greater strength. With the many modern building materials available, a homeowner now can select prefinished fire-rated asphalt roofing in a a variety of colors, textures and ^ patterns, with the assurance of A the Underwriters' Laboratories ^ "UL" seal for fire resistance. 'How They're Grass Greener Now you see it, now you don't, include sprays and bubblers for It pops up mysteriously, does" plantings and shrubbery as well a man-size job, disappears out of as pop-up or wave sprinklers. sight. What is it? An underThe installation of a basic ground sprinkler, and it's making the grass greener on both sides of fences all across the country. Once limited -- by cost -- to golf courses, institutions and mansions, underground lawn sprinkling systems are, thanks to the advent of plastic pipe, available to fit the budget of virtually every homeowner. Whal does "fit the budget" actually mean in terms of cost? Here are figures from one manufacturer: Materials for covering a lawn of approximately 5,000 square feet with a fully automated system cost about $170. This includes pipe, valves, sprinkler heads and automatic control unit. To cover an area of about 8,000 square feet, cost is approximately $200. Improved design of systems and efficient, low-cost components even make it possible for the homeowner to install his own system. The budget-minded homeowner can start with a wave sprink sprinkler system can be done with only the simplest of tools: screwdriver, pliers, knife and square-tipped spade. Because the plastic pipe used in hooking up the sprinkling systems is fireproof, it need only be buried a few inches below the sod, out of the way of mowing equipment. Since it is flexible, it will easily bend around obstructions and curves. It can be quickly buried by simply slitting moistened soil with a square-tipped spade, then forcing the pipe down into the v-shaped groove with the edge of a board. The installation of the sprinkler head will vary with the type of head used. Usually, it is placed in a hole deep enough to accommodate several inches of coarse gravel for drainage. If he wishes, the homeowner can install the underground 4 STATION AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER OARAGE RESIDENCE * YARD PLAN FOR A COMPLETE SPRINKLER SYSTEM, illustrated here, uses pop-up sprinklers and provides for sprinkling under low \r€es and overhanging shrubbery. Plan reflects an actual surveyed yard, 4,725 square feet, with underground sprinkler system at a materials cost of $159.95. It's one of more than 40 plans set forth in the Yard Planning Guide prepared by Toro, marketers of Moist O'Matic sprinkler systems. ler and a manual control. Then, sprinkler heads, and then conat his convenience, he may add nect them directly to an existing Clean water at adequate pressure is important to the satisfactory performance of any automatic sprinkler system. Before beginning installation, the homeowner should check with the water department to determine what water pressure and gallons per minute are available at the home. Check size of meter and line, too. Five gallons per minute at 55 a controller that completely auto- house faucet, so they can be pounds per square inch will in mates the system and runs up turned on and off manually. sure good performance and cov to four watering stations The completed system Later, the system can be autocould mated, if desired. erage with the least amount of sprinklers and equipment. To simplify the job of planning a home sprinkling system, a handy "Yard Planning Guide" has been published by Toro. It contains over 40 different plot plans and suggests a system for each. The plans include a list of materials required, as well as the total cost of all parts needed. "Yard Planning Guide" may be obtained through local Toro dealers or by sending 25 cents to: Yard Planning Guide, Toro Manufacturing Corporation, 8111 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minn. 55420. Planning To Build Or lentsdel We will design a kitchen to fit your house plans and your budget. We have the largest selection of Kitchen Cabinets in McHenry County. Whether planning to build or remodel, See us first. KEYLINE KITCHENS • • • • i • • • • • • • t • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • t • • •4 4 4 W. Rt. 120 385-1720 McHenry J J.M.W