Evening star., 1928-02-07

Recent consideration in this column
| of exterior decoration" OF home
grounds has put us into the mood for
writing on the subject of the general
upkeep of homes
The reader ofThand might think this
Is a plain matter Of property pride and
personal economy. but brief inspec-
ton of properties will suffice to con-
vince him that much yet remains TO be
done.
Too many home owners expect that
nothing will ever 60 wrong with gut.
tiers, doWnspouts, back porchcs ana
SO on.
When repairs become necessary they
raise a clamor that they have been de-
frauded and feel that their children
are being robbed of bread.
Yet depreciation Is not merely the
orctical thing. but a very actual cntlty.
The moment purchase Is made. elthcr
of home or automobile. It. becomes Sec
ond- hand for the next purchaser.
The car Is new when 1t leaves the
hands of the dealer. but the moment
YOU sign on the dotted line. alas, IT. au-
tomatiCally goes into the secondhand
classification!
You might run around the block
merely but If you tried to dispose OF
the car upon that basis probably you
would find that the trip had cost you
couple Of hundred dollars.
* X u
There is nothing surer than that a
house begins to detcrioratc from the
moment construction starts.
This is not the builders fault In any
sense, provided that hc has built hon
estly. with good materials and crafts
manshp, but is simply an inherent
quality in everything that enters INTO
home construction.
The drag of gravity. the shaking OF
trucks and busses. the elemcnts--thcsc
are some of the important factors which
tend to wear out u house for house
wears out the same rs suit OF clOtNrS,
even il 1t is properly taken care or
How much sooner therefore. VIII IL
show decay If II is not adequately cared
for? This is where the inevitable repair
bills come in 1t Is probably not pos
sible TO construct a house where some
thing will not go wrong. now ana tncn:
vet too many persons seem to feel that
come necessary. .
Well, perhaps they should-but 1t Is
common experience that they do not!
And the surest way to make certain
that they shall be held of AS long as
possible Is to keep a property right up
to-the- minute ali the time, from the
day one moves In.
This presupposes that the home owner
shall have at least enough surplus funds
TO paint up~~clean up even before the
need becomes apparent. II there Is any
secret OF home maintenance, this PROP
ably Is 1t. ..o..
Such an inspection service as they
emplov on railroads. TO find slight faults
and to repair them before they become
serious. is exactly what the home owner
needs. He must become his own track
walker. He can tap his own wheels. as
1t were.
Paint Is the first necessity Tor tne
average house, particularly the sort
called "a moderate price home Thefe
is likely to be more exterior WOODWORK
about such house. Maybe there Is
tin roof. ,,..
Some owners wait until wood splits.
or roofs leak. before they paint. In
ycstigation will prove to any one that
there is less wood deterioration and far
fewer leaks as the result OF early paint
ing. ,
A good rule would be for the home
purchaser TO paint the first Spring after
moving into new house. AT any rate.
he should not wait until the house