WHITBY FREE PRESS, HOME IMPROV'EM Buy Furniture to- Fit Family Needs Yo.Il gm0 more for your fur- alUre dollar Ify« sknow "how to shop". Semsible shop- ping beginset home. In buying furniture, your flrst consideration should be the needa of the people who will be living with it. When a picce of furniture does flot suit your way of life, it's pot a good buy at any price. Once you have decided your room needs sprucing up, try to look objectively -at the way you live. Decide what mood you want to create. This will *help ýuide you in the selection of a furniture style that fits your familly. Do you want the coun- try/casual look, the stark con- temporary lookc or the more formai traditional style? Are muddy puppy paws and chlldren's jeily sandwiches part of your home scene? Or are your childre6n grown Up and your life style more formai? How frequently do you enter- tain - and how many? Ail of these factors should bc part of your furniture shopping consi- deration. Once you have an idea of what kind of furniture you want, take a long look at where you're golng to put it. It's a good idea to make a floor plan Lack of measurements or inaccurate measurements lead to buying mistakes. When shop- ping take along your measuring tape and a list of minimum and maximum measurements for each piece you're considering. ln furniture arrangement to- day the important considera- tions are comfort and conveéni- ence. There aren't any rigid rules to inhibit you. Just rememn- ber things like windows, beat ducts and radiators which set certain limitations. Direct sun- light can lead to color fading on upholstered furniture or blcach- ing and drying out of wooden furniture. Just about any piece of furni- ture in any style you choose will bc available in most price ranges. It's Up to you to deter- mine the price that's right for your budget. The next step is to compare the qu ality of'the mer- chandise available at that price and select what offers the most in relation to your needs. l'he next step is to decide wherc to shop. Decide what kind of service you expect from the store you choose. Will you want help from a staff interior designer? Will youwant the fur- niture delivercd? Will you want to be assured that the store wiil stand behind what it seils? Make a check list of what you expect from the store where you do business.and then begin reading the ads of ail the stores ln your arts. Shopping by advertising 18 a good beginning as you can get an idea of the store's prices compared to your budget. Whea a store Whose reputation you know andrespect bas a sale, it generally means you will get. better value. DO-IT-YOURSELF You can eliminate m ost floor board squcaks with just a hammrrer and9nails or small shingle wcdges. or with a screw and a washer. jSqueaks arc caused k' two hboards ruhbingagainst each other. Il* thc squeak cornes from a loose board in the f'inished floor, screw or nail it tight agains! thc subfloor. Use pairs of* screw-nails or cerient- coatcd finishing nails driven at opposing angles to each other l'or maximum gripping strength. Countersink thte screws or nails and l'i the holes with a matching putty stick or filler. On f'inished hard- w<)od loors, drill the nail holes to prevent spîitting. f'you can get under the floor. therc are several al- ternative'repai r methods availa hie. With someone 'waîking on the'floor to locate the Isqueak. start Fby driving small wedges of' roof* shîngles hetwecn thejoists and'subfloor. lifthe sq.ueak stili persists between the joists. nail a supporting hlock in there. Force the block up against the subfloor hy toenaîiling (naiîing at an angle). A n o t h c r effIect ive method is to drill up just' into the finish floor and pull the board down with a wood screw. Use a washer on the screw head and dorît scrcw through to the surface of the finish floor. lIf ou have specific ques- tions about home repairs or remodcling projects. send them to -Yes You Can." c oCanadian i)o-It- Yourself' Magazine. 2000) Ellesmere Rd..' Unit 3.' Scarborough. Ont. M IH 2 W4.@ Study Shows Windbreaks Reduce Fuel Use Planting trees on the windward side of homes can be an investment in future energy savings. Preiiminary resuits from Penrîsyvania tests, con- ducted by the Consoiiium for Environmental For- estry Studies, indicate a 13-percent reduction in fuel use frorn a single row of conifers around town- homes. Windbreaks, the re- searchers say, are most effective for poorly-in- sulated buildings or those in open areas. t Vour lifestyle and,-the atmosphere you wishi to crate in your home are key considerations when deciding to buy furniture. If a piece of furniture does not suit your way of life, it's flot a good bey nt any price. ELECTRICENTRE 233 Brock St. S. Whltby 666-2350 Weatherproof receptaclo kit reg. 813'*o speclal $895"c G.F.I. receptacie & horizontal clear cover. $3 achut Sale ends May 28M8 OPEN Mon.-Fri. 8-5 Set. 8-4 NMW-10 1412 reg. .99e m. spec. .84e m. 12J2 reg. 11.23 M. SpeC. 11.05 M. SPRING INTO SUMMER SALEW ADD A TOUCH 0F ELEGANCE Custom.Cultured.Marbie >TUBS &TOPS ORNERSTONE MARLEPROOUCTS At Wontworth & Thlckson Rd. S. MANUFACTURERS *Vanity tops with bowl. 10 Bath & sh ower & enclosures. 0 ýWhirlpool bathtubs. 0 Wall panels. ESTIMATES & INSTALLATIONS Renovators - Buildors ' Tradosmen CALL TODAY! 579u61 59 GaMcnficadquarttccrpss 7- ý- 7- - - - - - - - - - - - - l 1 ML