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It's Time for Checking Up, In, Out and Around Home Spring, summer, fall, winter -- any time is a good time to check up, clean up and fix up the home, and at least twice a year a thorough check for needed repairs and improvements is advisable. Since it is important to inspect the entire home, both inside and out, this 10-step plan might be employed to insure a thorough job. STEP ONE -- Start on the outside and at the top. Look to the chimney for loose bricks, stones, missing mortar or corrosion of metal flashings. The roof may have loose or warped shingles to be renailed, cemented or replaced. Guttering and downspouts always seem to need some work, if it's just to remove the leaves, or to repair, replace damaged parts. STEP TWO -- Check exterior walls for chalking and peeling. Basement Takes On New Look From basement "black eye" to handsome, functional recreation area--that's the history of many eye-catching home improvements, particularly for families with a flare for the dramatic. Even the worst eyesore can often be converted into a striking room. Several stages are involved in a basement modernization: Planning, financing, selection of materials, installation and finally, furnishing. Every step complements the other, and none should be ignored if the change is to be dramatic and the new room a joy to have. A dry basement is a prerequisite. Waterproofing compounds are available. Paneled walls should be backed by a vapor barrier, as well, and a dehumldifler may be needed to keep the room fairly dry. "What to do first" is the question that must be answered by the family head, who should lead the family planning sessions to determine for what purposes the space will be used, and then steer the project through its successive stages. Allocating space and making a rough sketch are ways of crystallizing ideas. Available finances will determine, perhaps, whether this is to be a do-it-yourself project or a professional undertaking. If the family members are to participate, jobs should be allocated and the work directed. Otherwise, a contractor should be hired on the basis of bids made on the family's specifications, including materials, layout, basis of payments, completion date and guarantee. An important key to a successful basement transformation is the selection of materials for walls, ceilings and floors. These and the furnishings should be coordinated for the best effect. Lumber and building materials dealers often are helpful in selecting materials for walls, ceilings and floors. Many handle complete lines of decorative, preflnished hardboard panels, which come in a variety of textures and finishes to meet any decorating requirements. Touch-ups or total repainting might be needed. Maybe this will be the year to install new siding. Doors and windows must pass inspection, too. Look for cracks and rotting in wooden frames, broken panes to be replaced and loose panes to be secured. STEP THREE--Still on the outside, but now at the bottom, check the foundation and basement. Small cracks here are easily repaired with water proofing cement that can be applied with pointing tool or trowel. STEP FOUR -- Now for a look around the home grounds. A bit of trimming and planting might be just the thing to make the lawn and garden take shape. Holes should be filled with gravel or sand, then covered with turf. STEP FIVE -- Now to the interior! Check the plumbing, heating and air conditioning. Pipes should be checked for rust, corrosion; furnaces, air conditioning units cleaned and tested. In all these areas professional assistance is a must. STEP SIX -- Check walls, ceilings and floors. Warping, cracking, peeling or just plain drabness are what to look for here. Today's easily applied wallpapers, paints, paneling and flooring can give home interiors a real face lift. STEP SEVEN -- Check kitchen, bath, laundry and utility areas. In addition to general refurbishing, new cabinets, fixtures and/or appliances may be needed STEP EIGHT -- Check living space to see how it can be expanded or used more effectively. Unfinished basements are now easily transformed into family or game rooms, with the help of modern building materials. Attics can be expanded and finished for added bedroom space, or perhaps a new addition to the home is in order. Get estimates now. STEP NINE -- Wiring should be inspected inside and out for its adequacy. Professional help i§ needed here. STEP TEN -- Step into action. Decide what work is to be done by "do-it-yourself" method, and what work is to be dofre with the help of home improvement special-^ i§ts. Shop, compare, get estimates-- and get the job done. Rewards will result in terms of family living comfort and convenience. ABOUT HARDBOARDS Modern hardboards are durable, easy to maintain by occasional damp-wiping. They may be installed quickly with a time and work saving cartridge-type adhesive. PLANTING LILIES Lilies usually thrive in soil with some acidity, and in locations that combine ample sunshine with protection from wind. New Bathrooms, Most Wanted, Get New Ideas As homes get older and families grow larger, the ba;throom continues to lead the lists of most-Wanted home improvements. For homeowners planning to remodel or add a bathroom this year, here are some points to keep in mind. The trend is to larger bathrooms. A 5x7 size was standard a few years ago. Today it's more likely to be 7x8 or 7x10 feet. Another trend is to "more color. Popular are yellow, pink and blue, but bolder colors such as red and orange are gaining in favor. New products make the idea of bathroom remodeling even more appealing. Among them are off-thefloor water closets, for yood appearance and easier cleaning, and vanity lavatories, with countertops, shelves or drawers. Tubs come extra-long, extra- low or extra deep to suit preferences. OZITE Carpeting 12"xl2" 69< Vinyl Adhesive Floor Tile i2"*12' 17< Sakrete Sand Mix, Concrete Mix, Motor Mix, Blacktop Full Service Lumber Yard with Consistant Quality at Competitive Prices Plan service and expert help available for your building and remodel - ing problems. '/I EASY-CARE TOP QUALITY PANELING A Phone 385-1424 4'x8' See our wide selection of pre-finished wood and Masonite Royalcote and Vinyl Coated Paneling AQUA SHIELD WATER PROOF CEMENT COATING. HYDRO-PLUG for plugging holes and cracks in cement. !. ALEXANDER LUMBER CO. THE BEST OF EVERYTHING FOR THE BUILDER On Highway 31 South o! Main Street - McHenry, Illinois