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PAGE 2-HOME IMPROVEMENT SUPPLEMENT, APRIL 20, 1973 Simple to install, this leak-proof, burglar-proof steel basement door provides easy access and also increases the value of your home. The door shown above, which is manufactured by the Bilco Company, New Haven, Connecticut, offers an additional good feature. When a particularly bulky item must be moved in or out of the house, the step treads can be quickly removed so the object can be passed through easily. Basement doors open wide to greet seasonal moving NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Re­ member all that outdoor furniture and backyard equipment you hauled down to your basement last fall? And how you kept scraping the inside walls and track­ ing through the house? Well, it's time to move it all outdoors again. This year, however, you can simplify that chore by installing a direct basement entranceway in your home. It's a project that any han­ dyman can tackle and it adds far more than its cost to the value of your base­ ment for recreation, hob­ bies and storage. The hobbyist will find it convenient for hauling lumber to the basement workshop or for easy stor­ age of seasonal items such as storm windows and patio furniture. Mother will enjoy the fact that it improves the livabil- ,ity of the first floor rooms since outside traffic, service people and muddy feet can enter directly through the basement rather than tracking through the house to reach the inside stairs. The whole family will benefit from the way in which a basement door con­ verts a basement into prac­ tical useful areas like work­ shop, game room or laun­ dry. Furniture, tools, games and play equipment can be carried out from the base­ ment without going through the house ... and also with­ out cluttering what is usu­ ally an already-crowded garage. But perhaps the most im­ portant benefit to your family is the safety it af­ fords them in providing a fast route of escape in case of fire or other emergency. It's always easier, of course, to install a base­ ment accessway when you are building a new home. But if you want to add this convenience to your present home, the Bilco Company of New Haven offers a pre­ fabricated all-steel door kit especially made for do-it- yourselfers. The doors and the steel stringers come in several sizes and are complete with insulation instructions and all hardware needed. The Bilco Company provides a guide for computing the size and depth of the con­ crete block stairwell de­ pending on the height of the basement and on the height of the exterior grade level. For additional informa­ tion on new installation contact your local lumber and building materials dealer or write directly to the Bilco Company, Depart­ ment 62, New Haven, Con­ necticut 06505. Exterior home re-decoration starts with new breed of shingles You're redecorating the house. You want the results to be beautiful. Would you: • Paint the walls and leave the ceiling dirty? • Place the new furniture on worn carpeting? • Put battered old shades on new lamps? Of course not.. Anyone who has ever done interior remodeling knows that ne­ glecting one design element can ruin the whole effect. Yet these same people -- when remodeling the out­ side of a house -- often do only half the job. They'll re-side exterior walls, paint the trim -- and overlook the advisability of rerooflng. When roofs are overlooked in this fashion, it's generally because: • They're regarded solely as protective rather than decorative house features. • Rerooflng is thought to cost more than it actually does. Good exterior decorating starts with the roof. The decorative potential has been greatly increased with the introduction of modern roofing materials. The new breed of premium asphalt shingles, for example, makes rerooflng an opportunity to update and beautify the entire house exterior. These shingles offer the basic elements of good de­ sign: texture and color. They also emphasize the "natural look," one of the strongest trends in modern architectural styling. The shingles come in new rustic colors called "earth- Because of their wide expanse, roofs are essential to a home's architectural decor. Modern roofing materials offer a decora­ tive bonus. Here, premium-quality asphalt shingles with a bold "textured look" blend beautifully with the rugged house de­ sign. The shingles are designed to last up to 25 years and carry a UL label for fire-resistance. tones" -- deep browns, mut­ ed greens and slate grays that reflect a home's natural environment and seem to tie together house and home- site. The bold new "textured look" is achieved with vari­ ous rugged designs: double or triple laminating, stag­ gered buttlines and random embossing. The new shingles main­ tain all the protective ele­ ments that have made heavyweight asphalt shin­ gles popular for new homes and remodeling. They are designed to last up to 25 years, and carry an Under­ writers' Laboratories label for fire-resistance. The self- sealing variety also bear a UL wind-resistance label. In most Instances, as­ phalt shingles can be in­ stalled right over the old roof. This saves the time and cost of removing old materials. Labor installation costs are generally the same for standard and premium grades; and the higher ma­ terials cost of the top-grade shingles can usually be amortized over their longer design life. Such an investment can pay off in upgraded home appearance -- and higher resale value. That's the most successful remodeling result possible. Adding comfortable year-round sunlight and air BEFORE (left): The house looked old-fashioned; interior lacked sunlight, views were ham­ pered by awnings. AFTER (right): A modern version of an old-fashioned sun porch was created with a scries of large sliding windows of ponderosa pine with insulating glass. The spacious new addition is comfortable year-round, has an abundance of sunlight and air, and enjoys expansive views of the yard and garden. An old-fashioned sun porch up-dates home for one family The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute safety rules stress that children and pets not be permitted to play in areas where power mowers are being used. Many outdoor lawn care re­ tailers are offering copies of "A Guide for The Mowing Man (and his family)" free to customers. There's something to be said for the good old days, even when you're modern­ izing. One family, for example, decided to update its home by adding an old-fashioned sun porch. The decision wasn't based on nostalgia, but on the need for a bright, sunny room with multiple year-round uses. First step was to find the right place for expansion. The answer lay right around the corner -- of the dining room. An L-shaped con­ crete block foundation was laid adjoining the dining area. It added 150 square feet of space to the house. Next came creation of an attractively - updated ver­ sion of a sun parlor. Here, a series of large, sliding, wood sash windows gave just the right effect. Eight 6-foot-high stock units of ponderosa pine were used to surround the newly- formed "ell." The window choice was based on a number of prac­ tical reasons. The wide ex­ panse of sliding windows provides maximum sunlight, views and excellent ventila­ tion. The natural insulation of wood sash, combined with insulating glass and tight weatherstripping, cut heat loss and help keep the room comfortable in all seasons. Use of insulating glass also eliminates the need for bothersome storm sash. Existing windows in the original exterior wall were replaced with a double door entrance to the new addi­ tion. Finally, a new pitched roof was designed to tie in with the existing roof. Finishing touches were added inside. Walls feature vertical moulding strips, and the floor is "done" in mat­ ting squares. The total im­ pression is soft, natural and sunny. Closed against the winter cold, or open to fresh air and sunshine, the new porch is used for dining, enter­ taining, reading, studying, and watching TV. Not such an old-fashioned idea after all. PURE PLANT Plants in a home do more than just look pretty. They also help purify the air.