r PAGE 26, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1980, WHITBY FREE PRESS Accidents and children go together naturally in the home Accidents are one of the greatest threats to children today and many accidents involving youngsters occur in what they think is the safest place of all - the home. Hazards to children can be found in every type of dwelling from the urban highrise to the detached home in a residential area to farm houses in rural areas to the townhouse on busy city streets. They all present cer- tain dangers especially to famlies with small children. It is important that parents are aware of these'hazards and take the proper precau- tions. Ontario Housing Corpo- ration would like to share some of its safety precau- tions for the home. The fol- lowing might save your chil- dren from serious injuries. Smoke Detectors: OHC has installed detectors in all its housing units, an initia- tive that has paid dividends in terms of lives saved and reduced property losses. According to reports of fire incidents in OIC dwellings, the smoke detectors have proven their value not only by saving lives but giving the initial alarm in 85 per cent of fires. In any home today, the installation of smoke detectors is a wise invest- ment. lonization-type smoke detectors wired to the dwell- ing unit's electric service panel or photoelectric types are the most popular. Window Safety: As chil- dren can easily open win- dows making the possibility of a dangerous fall quite like- GARDENERS DELIGHT Asking 58,500. 2-bedroom home In west Whitby. Gas furnace & fireplace, ex- cellent mortgage. A pleasure to show. Call HAROLD HAY 579-0228. W. FRANK REAL ESTATE LTD. REALTOR ly, it is advisable to install safety devices on windows, particularly in highrise apart- ments above the first floor. In 1974 OH1C introduced a program of installing free of charge, a window locking device which permits sliding windows to open only up to four inches. Furniture should not be placed near windows as young people could use it to climb up the window. Win- dow screens are not intend- ed to prevent accidents which could easily occur if pressure were applied to them. Balconies: Children should not be left unatteüd- ed on balconies due to their potential danger. An un- locked balcony door is an open invitation to small chil- dren. As children are natural climbers, their sense of ad- venture should not be chal- lenged by leaving anything on the balcony that could help them reach over the railing. Balconies should not be used for storage purposes, objects could fall off and in- jure people below. Fires: Matches should be stored beyond the reach of children and smokers should use large ashtrays. Smoking in bed should be avoided because your children could be innocent victims of a fire. Upholstered furniture should be checked for cigarette butts. Combustible materi- als should not be used near stoves or while smoking. If a fire starts in a cook- ing utensil, it should be cov- ered with a large saucepan lid. Natural Christmas trees should be kept in a container with water and non-flamma- ble decorations should be used. Christmas lighting should be unplugged before occupants leave the house or go to bed. Electrical Outlets: They should not be overloaded and damaged plugs or sock- ets should be discarded. All electrical wiring should be in good repair and not have exposed areas. Children have been severely- injured by electrical shocks. Elevators: Tenants should make sure that young chil- dren are not allowed to op- erate the elevators alone and every precaution should be taken to prevent children from tampering with the operating mechanism. Ele- vators are not play areas for children. Underground Car Parks: Children should not be al- lowed to use these heavily travelled areas as a play- -ground because drivers do not always notice children who inay dart out from among parked cars. As well, many children have beconie victims of child molesters in underground parking areas. As such assaults can cone from a stranger or a person familiar to the child, children should never be permitted on their own in underground areas. Pills: All medication and pills as well as cleaning fluids should be kept securely bot- tled and kept well out of the reach of children. The best way to install siding come spring Every spring, many a home- owner's fancy turns to thoughts of installing siding. As well as giving homessa facelift, siding cuts down maintenance and can reduce heat loss. But it's a major invest- ment, so you should know exactly what you want done, how to choose a contractor and what to look for in a contract before you sign. Most, siding companies op- erate honestly, but it's up to the consumer to recognize the few unscrupulous dealers who leave a trail of dissatis- fied customers behind theni each season. Know what you want Before contacting siding companies, have an idea of what you want done. AI- though aluminum is popular, siding is also available in steel, vinyl and wood. If you're unsure of what to use, examine your reasons for wanting siding. If, for example, you want to spend less time on maintenance, don't choose a material that requires regular washing, painting or staining. You should also consider case of application, attrac- tiveness, cost and insulation value. Contrary to many sales claims, most siding provides only minimal in- sulation. Even the variety with insulation backing isn't as effective as insulating your walls. But siding may provide an opportunity to have added insulation put into wood-frame or brick-veneer walls, a heat-saving benefit that will partly offset the cost of siding. Many manufacturers pub- lish pamphlets describing their products. Write to the companies or pick up copies at your local hardware or building supply store. Do-it- yourselfers can pick up extra' tips at the public library. Choose a reliable contractor Selecting a company that charges reasonable prices and provides good workmanship can be difficult. That's why it's important to shop around. Make sure you get at least three written esti- mates that include a price breakdown for everything: cost of siding, installation, after-sales service and any additional work such as in- stalling new eavestroughing. Keep in mind that the con- tractor giving the cheapest estimate doesn't necessarily do the best work. Ask around and talk to people who've had siding installed in their homes. You can also ask a contractor for the names and addresses of previous customers and get their opinions. Be wary of contractors who canvass neighborhoods offering bargains that sound too good to be true. It's im- portant that the company you're dealing with will still be around to handle any problems that might arise after the job is done. 1½ ACRES NORTH WHITBY $81,000 - Century home In need of T.L.C. 5 bedrooms , 1½ baths, family room with Franklin Fireplace and farm kitchen. For further Information cali Marlene Kerr 668-6171 or 666-1750. FRESH AS THE MORNING DEW - This newly listed twin is one of the fInest on today's market. Formal dlning room, rec room with wet bar and extra bedroom down, 11½ baths, fully fenced yard backing onto greenbelt. Large $41,000 mor- tgage at 111/4% due in 1984. To Inspect call Marlene Kerr 668-6171 or 666-1750. A NICE 3 BEDROOM SEMi- in good residential area, close to schools. Yard Is all fenced and it has central air and many 'more extras. Asking $51,900. Please call Herb Visser et 668- 6171 or 668-5718. FINANCINO CARRIES LIKE RENT-and goes till 851 Lovely 3 WHITBY-SPARKLING DEAUTY $72,9W - bifk your TetIl- bedroom semi, fenced and backIng onto parkland. You can to the piush broadloom ln this beautiful 3 bedroom, move in tomorrow. Bring the kids, school ls there. Caîl backspilt boasting main f loor famly room with corner Sheila McLaren 068.6171 or 668-1759. fireplace and walkout to cedar deck. Large kitchen and $54,000 mortgage at 10 % makes this a terrific buy. CallMerv Parchment 668-6171 or 579-0569. WHITBY BACKSPLIT $64,900. - Great value. This three bedroom home is In move-in shape. Parquet floors are gleaming for youll The unfinished basement can be designed for your family. For viewing please contact Garrett Dowker 668-6171 or 576-7384. WHITBY-SHOWS TO PERFECTION $72,900 This tastefully decorated 3 bedroom backsplit with plush carpeting throughout, family room with corner fireplace and walkout to deck, large kitchen, living, dining and more. It's a real doil. Cali soon Merv Parchment 666-6171 or 579-0569. 2.3 ACRES WITH SMALL HOUSE - $49,900. Just north of Myrtie. Train transportation to Toronto daily. Ideai location to build your dream home. Good Wuell and septic system. House has interesting past. Cali Garett Dowker 668-6171 or 576-7384. HURRY - JUST LISTEDI $66,900 charming 1½ storey older home in desirable area of Whitby. This graclous tastefully decorated 3 bedroom home features family room. Living room has lovely fireplace with built-In bookshelves, en- closed sunroom overlooking a big private well-treed yard with brick patio. To see call Merv Parchment 66816171 or 579-0569. The Canada-wide real estate service with 350 selected real estate offi- ces in 200 communities across Canada. A "FRANK"LISTING MEANS A GREAT DEAL LIST WITH "FRANK"PEOPLE' Read contracts carefully Before signing a contract, make sure you understand every word in it. Under The Consumer Protection Act, contracts must include: a the names and addresses of buyer and seller • a detailed description and itemized price list of goods and services • a detailed statement of how you will pay for the work • any guarantee or war- ranty on goods and services. Guarantees can be tricky business. Siding manufactur- ers generally guarantee their products against faulty man- ufacture. Although the length of time varies, most metal sidings carry a 20- year manufacturer's warran- ty. Some are pro-rated, which means the amount the manu- facturer will pay for the prod- uct replacement decreases each year. In either case, this warranty does not cover defects caused by physical damage or mistakes in appli- cation. What responsibility will the contractor take for workmanship? Be sure to get it in writing. You should also know what the guarantee on the finish covers. Some are not guaranteed against normal fading, chalking or pollution, the most frequent causes of problems. Other warranties require the owner to clean the siding regularly to main- tain warranty protection. Find out also if the warranty is transferrable to a subse- quent owner should you sell your home. In addition, make sure you know the starting and completion dates of the work. If you require financ- ing, shop around for credit by contacting banks, trust companies, credit unions or finance companies. When it's time to pay a deposit, don't put more than 10 percent down before the work begins. And when it's M. •I BRUME --EALmb: tinie to -ay, write a cheque. If you pay with cash you won't have a record of your transaction. Finally, you should hold back 15 per cent of the total for 37 days after completion plus any amount claimed in a written notice as owed to the subcontractor or em- ployees- by the contractor. Full payment should be made after this period only if no notices have been re- ceived. This requirement, under The Mechanics Lien Act, protects you against 'possible suits against you if the contractor fails to pay his workers or suppliers. Know your rights Under The Business Prac- tices Act of Ontario, no company is allowed to en- gage in unfair business prac- tices by making a false, misleading or deceptive rep- resentation. If you feel the contractor has violated the Act, you can send a letter requesting rescission of the contract within six months of signing the agreement. If this doesn't bring satisfac- tion, you can take the con- tractor to court under the Act. Under The Consumer Pro- tection Act, you can rescind a contract made with a door- to-door salesperson within two working days of receiv- ing your copy of it. Simply send a registered letter to the company or deliver it personally to the address on the contract. A telephone call won't do. The Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations can provide fur- ther information on these two acts as well as a free in- formation sheet titled. De- ciding on siding: how to get your noneys worth. Write The Consumer Information Centre, 555 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2H6. Collect calls will be accepted at (416) 963-1111 t, 225 Brock St. N. Whitby, Ontario 668-6171 0 GRAND OPENING •Lasagna *Pizza •Spaghetti MARIE'S PLACE Woolco Mail 576-2668 Eat In Take-Out Delivery m