Milford chronicle., 1930-10-03
PREPARING FOR WIN
TER WITH PAINT
Dorothy J. Miller

Dorothy J. Miller
Before freezing temperatures O
protracted damp spells come along
the house should be made ready fo
winter. Indoors, the slip covers ar,
removed, winter draperies are re
hung and thorough house eleanini
takes place, but what should bt
done to the exterior of the house
Screens come down and storm win
dows or doors are put in place, OF
course, but there is more than that
to be done. Are the building ma
terials themselves ready to face
another winter?
If the house is constructed prin-
+ cipally of wood, or even if it's trim
only is made of wood, exposure to
repeated changes in moisture con-
tent causes the wood to swell and
shrink. This process, known as
''weatheTing" opens cracks in the
wood and gungous spores lodge and
/ germinate there. Eventually rot sets
in because the Notwithstanding fun
gi send their threads throughout
the wood.
Protection is necessary to pre-
vent the wood from cracking, warp
ing, roughening and becoming dirty
and unattractive. Paint affords this
protection. Deterioration can be
prevented not alone by the proper
printing and initial cOatings, but by
repainting at reasonable intervals
as the old coatings wear out The
question of how often rePainting is
necessary must be determined pIin-
cipally by climatic conditions. The
paint coating of a frame house, for
instance, should protect the surface
adequately for from three to five
years or longer.
When autumn arrives, the house
that has long been unpainted ap-
pears especially shabby. AS each
day finds the foliage growing thin
ner, the neglected condition of the
exterior becomes more and more ap-
parent. Later, when snow covers the
ground, it's fresh whiteness will al
so put to shame the house that ap-
pears discolored and dingy.
If repainting is planned, one of
the first steps is to determine if
the house could be made more at
tractive by changing the color
scheme. A new color effect may en-
able the house to fit more grace
fully into its surroundings or to
harmonic better with the neighbOr-
ing houses. Little touches of color
may rejuVenate the old, drab house
in a surprising fashion. For examr
pie, buff colored house that COM
pletely lacked distinction in its mo-
notonOus cOloring may appear en-
tirely different if the suhtters are
painted a blue-green. Or the shade
of the roof may be changed to give /
a more interesting result.
A house that is out-of-date or ill |
architecturally appears |
at its worst without the aid of foli-
age. Correct coloring may also over
come these faults. If unattractive
and overly elaborate carvings an
lounce the Victorian origin of
house, the ornateness will not be so
evident if those unnecessary apend-
lges are painted in an unobtrusive
that blends with the body
If the house.
Where no painting has been done
or some time, the exterior should
)e examined carefully before real
winter weather settles down. Roofs
need protection from
leavy SHOWS and their subsequent
having. Tin roofs generally require
enewed protection every two years.
Places greatly exposed to the wealth
r, such as steps and porches,
hould be carefully inspected even
hOugh the entire house is not to be
ainted. Z
One point in favor of painting at
his time of year is that the spring I
ush will be avoided. Painters will
e able to give more of their time
D each job that is done in the fall
han they will in the spring when
majority of home owners will be
usying themselves with paint plans.