Evening star., 1941-06-28
New Type Insulation
Combines Air Blanket
And Metal Reflector
Cellulose Fiber Moss
Is Backed by Foil
Of Aluminium
BY LAWRENCE CROLIUS.

by LAWhENCE CROLlUS.
There has been no little contro-
versy between the makers of home
insulation as to which is the more
efficient type of material for this
important job. Exponents of the air
cell or blonket type of insulation
have looked down their noses at the
rejecting type of metal insulation
and said that it did only a mediocre
job. Obviously, the metal people
have had lot to say in criticism of
their competitors. They have sug-
gested that the air cell blankets
tended to slip down between the
studding as time went on, particu-
larly if the blanket had been blown
in; that the metal type was perma-
nent and Steadfast.
Now, however a new insulation is
on the market which is said to
combine the advantages of both
these schools of thought. Not only
does it provide cellular insulation,
but it also is equipped with a metal
backing which gives efficient re1ec-
tive insulation as well.
CelIulose Fiber Used.
This new material consists of a
thick blanket of heat-retarding dead
air cells in the form of myriads of
minute and hollow ceiluloSe fiberS.
These fiberS are entWined and in
terlocked into a flexible, resilient
mass which is light in weight and
clean. 1t has been treated so that
it is both water-repellent and fame
proof, and is said to be, in itself, one
of the most efficient barriers to the
passage of heat.
Add to this blanket a foil backing, |
or envelope, of lightweight alumni
mum for the reflection of heat and |
you can see what a formidable pro- |
tector this product must be. This |
metal backing is said to reflect 95 |
per cent of the radiant heat which |
strikes its shiny surface, whether it |
is the heat of the summer sun strik-
ing on the walls and roof or the |
heat inside your house trying to |
get outside on a cold day in winter.
The sturdy envelope of metal also |
acts as fine Wind-proofng and .
vapor barrier.
Williamsburg Paints.
If you have visited the magnif-
cent restoration at Williamsburg you
have more than likely been greatly
impressed by the subtle colors which
we're used in the paints of those
distant days. They seem to be ut
terly unlike any colorS that you have
seen before. but if you try to pin
yourself down and describe the rea-
son for the difference you find it
almost impossible. They seem to
fit in with the handsome woodwork,
the silver and decorations in a very
special way.
You will also find your work cut
out for you if you take ordinary
paints and coloring and try to mix
a color which looks like the stuff you
saw on the walls of the Governors
Palace, for instance. In the can it |
may look reasonably all right, but
get it up on the wall dried out, and
1t has lost the required tones unless
you, too, hit upon the secret COM
bination.
This experimentation can be
eliminated now, because one of the
big paint manufacturers has re-
Gently brought out line of Colonial
Williamsburg colorS which authen-
tlcaly reproduces all of the subtlety
of coloring which you have searched
for. They have brought out these
colors in 16 different shades and
white, and according to the makers
they are basically strong colors, but
have been grayed down a bit.
Catch That Catches.
A cabinet catch which isn't catch
ing can be a pretty irritating
thing. Not only irritating, but
downright dangerous if the door
should swing open when you are
leaning over picking something up,
and with a strenuous upward mo-
ton apply the back of the heard
to the corner of the door.
This unpleasant procedure can be
if you put new type of
"self-energizing" spring catch on the
door which will hold it closed with
no trouble at all. These new catches
are so arranged that the moment the
strike on the door hits the catch a
severe grasping action occurs which
holds the door tightly closed. This
Is all done by a clever system of
paWls inside the catch which also
enables the device to work even
If 1t happens to be off center.
Both the catches and strikes are
finished in attractive cadmium
plated finish as a standard situa-
ton, and if you want a special
finish this can be had on special
order.
X
Note: For further information
about any of the products de-
scribed here, write Mr.. CroIius,
The Evening Star, and inclose a