Evening star., 1941-01-11
First Aid
For the
AiingHouse
By ROGER b. WHITMAN.

by kOGEk b. WHITMAN.
One of my correspondents is PLAN
ming to buy house, and says that
with no experience, he will not be
able to tell whether or not it has
weak points. He asks If there is a
publication that would help him.
This is a usual state of affairs, espe-
cially for young couples just start
Ing out, for few people know enough
about houses to recognize lurking
defects and weaknesses. I told my
correspondent of an excellent Gov
arnment pamphlet called How to
Judge a House" that can be had for
10 cents In coin from the Super
htendent of Documents, Washing
ton. In addition to the title. he
should ask for Report No. II of the
National Committee of Wood Utili-
Dation.
But considering the money in
voaved, I believe that q prospective
buyer should not trust entirely to
his own judgment. The safe thing
10 do Is to have the house examined
by an unbiased builder, architect, or
some one else experienced in house
construction, who will report on its
condition and the possible need for
future repairs. He would charge a
fee, of course, but 1t would be
trifling percentage of the purchase
price, and could be considered as in
surance against making a poor bar
gain.
Weatherstrips.
Question-What Is the best way
10 apply weatherstripping to drafty
windows; on the sashes, on the sills,
on the inside or on the outside of
the sashes?
Auswer-The best and most per-
manent form of weatherstripping is
either zinc or bronze, and works in
grooves cut into the edges of the
sashes. This is a job for specialist,
but it is we'll worth doing, for it will
last far longer than other forms. If
you cannot budget for this, attach
Misunderstanding to the window
frame, bearing against the outside
OF the SaSheS.
OOlQ HOUSE.
Question-My frame bungalow has
hot-Water heat. The house is cold,
even though the radiators are hot.
I have storm windows Should also
put on Misunderstanding? Should
the house be overcoated?
Answer-Cold air seems to be leak
ing into the house faster than the
radiators can warm it. Leaks around
the window sasheS can be stopped
by Misunderstanding, which is advis-
able, even with storm windows. Air
may also be leaking in through open
joints between the window frames
and the outside walls. These should
be closed with caulking compound.
Carpenters and painters have the
equipment and will do the job at so
much per window. Somewhere in
the house walls there should be a
layer Of alright building paper. If
your walls are lightly built, and air
leaks through, the remedy is to put
on an overcoating, starting with
heavy building paper or roofing felt.
w
Question: am thinking of cover
Ing cracked plaster on ceiling and
walls with Wallboard three-siX-
teenths-inch thick Could this be
done without removing the trim?
Could it be made acceptable?
Answer-It would be best to take
off the strip of quarter-round or
other molding that covers the joint
between the plaster and the trim.
II there is no such molding, you
could use that for a finish. The
only other difficulty would be in
filling the joints between the sheets
of wallboard. Wallboard manufac-
turers have their own recommended
tions for this; get the instruction
sheet covering the kind of wallboard
that you plan to use.
Cold Radiators.
Question: have a hot-water
house heating system with an oil
burner. The radiators in an up
stairs apartment we're turned off for
few weeks. Now, one radiator |
won't get hot, and there is no water
in any of them. What do you sug-
gest?
Answer-All of the radiators in |
that upstairs apartment are prob
ably filled with air. Open the air
valves on the radiators to free them. |
If the system is of kind that does
not provide air valves on the radi-
ators, you must find some other way |
Of getting rid of the air. A plumber
should be able to. help you.
Crumbling Plaster.
Question: have brick building
with concrete floors. Damp spots
show up on the concrete, especially
In damp weather, and spread up on
the walls, where the plaster crum-
bles to a height of about 3 feet.
Plasterers have not been able to
cure this. What can you suggest?
Answer-It is apparent that water
Is finding its way under your cellar
floor, which is not a good condition.
You can stop this by laying drain
tile around the outside of the walls
at the footings, discharging at some
lower point. While the excavation is
open, the parts of the foundation
walls below the surface of the earth
should be given coat or two of hot
tar or asphalt.
Storing Plant.
QueStion-Last summer bought
paint for my kitchen, but cold
weather came on before I could use
1t. The cans have not been opened.
How long will the paint stay good?
Answer-Ordinary paint will stay
good almost indefinitely in cans that