Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1928-10-12
SAVING MONEY WITH PAINT
By Jane Stewart.


ed to make them look attractive.
Some of us think that we cannot af-
ford to. A luxury, we say-justifi-
able, perhaps, if any luxury is be-
cause of the recognized effect of
surroundings on home life. But
still a luxury.
And so, we decide, painting must
wait another season. Our budget is
limited. We have an improvement
to make here, repair to make
there. Thus it goes on from year to
year. Little by little the house be-
comes run down. A change quite
imperceptible in the progress, then
suddenly we awake to a semi-dilapi-
dated home, all the charm of trim
ness vanished.
Meanwhile, we have spent money
on the roof, mending a leak, of
course could not be put off. Gutter
spouts, too, needed attention. Little
repairs here and there seemed to run
up the bills. And we come to the
conclusion that an old house is as
bad as an old car with its inevitable
repair bills (whOse size seems to
progress in geometric ratio;) or, if
the house be comparatively new.
that cheap construction NAV be
cheap in the beginning but it is all
too costly in the end.
If you have ever reasoned this
way, stop and consider. If YOUR
house is old-yes, it may be costly
to run. But a house is only as old
as it looks. And paint can keep it
young. AS for cheap construction,
1t is indeed false economy. But in
many cases, it is the owner and not
the builder who is at fault. The
may be of the best. but
there is no roof which in time will
not spring leaks, if it's protective
coating is allowed to wear away. no
nail that will not rust, no siding
that will not weather.
When wood is left exposed to the
weather, moisture penetrates. and
dries out. with re-
sulting swelling and shrinking of
the wood fibres. The surface LAYERS
swell and shrink more quickly than
nose within, because they receive
more moisture and dry out more
rapidly. AS a result, little cracks
develop, making moisture penetra-
ton even easier. The surface
'oughens and in time the wood be-
comes badly weathered. Similarly.
metal, if unprotected, corrodes. The
'oofs and gutter spouts, in need of
paint, will rust and leak.
Quite aside from this physical de-
.erloratiOn is the depreciation of
property which comes with a run
Town condition. Once house loses
is touch of freshness, it becomes
Undesirable property. The differ
'nce in price which it will bring is
lmazing, and the prospective seller
nay well consider the fact that
ew hundred dollars for paint. in
lde and out, may mean the differ
nee OF a few thousand dollars in
ale price.
While interiors do not weather as
xteriors do, they, too, are subject
o a certain amount of physical de-
'reclatlon if unprotected. But of
'reater Importance, by far, is the
act That keeping house in perfect {
ondition is so easy if you do il
egularly a little at a time. When
he woodwork begins to look soiled.
i've it new coat of enamel When [
he floors start to show signs of !
year, give them new coat of var /
ish. Troublesome redecoration is I
if you never allow a {
ouse to fall into poor condition. s
incidentally, you enjoy at all times. f
aVlng your home at perfection. If 7
II the other hand, you allow vour i
oors and woodwork to become :
racked and Clipped paint removing ?
Ill be necessary before YOU can +
gain get a new finish, and three y
ew coats-mOre work than in \
alntlng a place that is new.
The thrifty and wise home owner
ANTS often, for he has learned
lat it costs less to paint than NOT
paint. Paint saves money because
is surface protector, which nre-
ents surface deterioration and
ards off repairs; and saves money i
ecause it maintains the appearance u
I'D hence the value of your pron- a :,
'ty. - W X