The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
FIR S TAD :
to the
AILING HOUSE
Canvas Decking.
BY ROGER .. WHITMAN
o Roger B. whitman-wNU Service,

nix 1WCINC~OQA1CC GdllV CS COoto ~
cents a yard, and 24-ounce canvas
costs rs cents. Will the difference in
cost be justified? How should the
canvas be laid?
Answer: Get heavy canvas, and
buy kind that is intended for the
purpose. The best qualities will not
shrink, and they have waterproof
ing treatment. You should start with
a fiat deck of closely fitted boards,
with no uneven places. On this put
a fairly thick bed of white lead made
into soft paste by adding linseed
oil. Stretch the first strip of cam
vas at the edge of the roof, rolling
it into the paste and securing it
with long copper tacks put in an inch
apart all around. Lay the second
strip with its edge overlapping the
edge of the first one by two inches.
Put paste under the overlap and Sc
cure by tacks. Continue in this way.
When the roof is covered, put on a
printing coat of deck paint, and
when it is dry, two more coats OF
the same, used as it comes in the
can.
Silverfish and Crickets.
Question: How can / get rid of
silverfish and crickets?
Answer: For both of these insects
use pyrethrum powder, which is the
common yellow insect powder. Put
it in a powder puffer and for the
silverfish blow it into cracks in the
woodwork, such as the crack be-
tween flooring and Dashboard; blow
it on shelves, behind books, and in
similar places. For crickets blow it
into the air behind pieces of furni-
ture, boxes and radiators, and other
places where crickets conceal them
selves. Pyrethrum powder loses its
strength on exposure to the air. It
should be bought in sealed pack
ages, and blowing should be repeat
ed every three days.
Building a Cottage.
Question: Being handy with tools,
am undertaking to build sum-
mer cottage. What book that is fairly
up-to-date will give me details and
explanations of small house con-
struction?
Answer: The National Lumber
Manufacturers association, WASH
ington, D. c., issues pamphlets on
construction details, which would be
well worth sending for. You will
also find several pamphlets in Price
List 70, Publications of Interest to
Suburbanites and Home Owners"
to be. had for the asking from the
Superintendent of Documents, Wash
ington.
Problem of Dampness.
Question: We live on the street
level in an apartment house built on
slight rise, and 100 yards or SO
from tidewater. Parquet floors show
no sign of warping or unevenness,
except in one spot where boards
creak and sink little. Do you
think the apartment may be too
damp in spring and summer?
Answer: With the ventilation that
you describe, ! see no reason why
the apartment should be especially
damp. The creaking boards should
be investigated, however, to learn
if the supports underneath have rot
ted or otherwise given way.
Plywood Walls.
Question: The kitchen walls of my
new country cottage are finished
with plywood. Can I use spar
varnish finish on the walls? Is it
advisable to first coat the walls with
Inseed oil?
Answer: Spar varnish will be all
right. I would advise two coats.
Dull the gloss of the first coat OF
varnish by rubbing down with fine
sandpaper, then wipe off the dust
before applying the second coat. Lin
seed oil is not necessary.
Refinishing Station Wagon.
Question: The woodwork of my
station wagon has weathered dull.
Would like your advice on refinish-
ing.
Answer: If the vanished finish is
not peeling, wash the surface with
soap and warm water, rinse with
clear water; then wipe dry. Allow
the moisture to dry out for few
hours. Refinish with one or two
coats of top quality spar varnish.
Be sure the surface is dull before
applying the varnish.
White Paint on Screens.
Question: My house is somewhat
shaded by trees, but when put
on the screens the house is notice
ably darker. Would white paint on
the screen wire help? Would it make
the house look crazy? It is now
painted cream.
Answer: It would not be objec-
tionable, and would help brighten
the interior. Make sure the paint
is thin enough SO it will not clog
the openings in the screen.
Cleaning Reed Chairs.
Question: Is there good way to
clean chairs made of bamboo peel
cane? They are decorated with
small black design.
Answer: Those chairs can be
scrubbed. Use any cleaning pow
der in weak solution, applied with