Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-14
Fast-Setting Material
Repairs Cracks
In Concrete Floors
Attic Godeet Taking
Place Of Roof Single
Insures Cool Air
By LAWRENCE CROLIUS.

BY LAWRENCE CROLIUS.
Repairing holes and cracks In
concrete floors, porches and side
walks has been greatly simplitled
by new quick-Setting material.
A self-hardening substance SIM
liar to concrete, it is not tar or an
asphalt composition. but comes in
powder form all ready to be mixed
with water and spread into place at
once. When mixed it has the con-
sistenCy of heavy mortar, and is
placed in the holes and cracks with
gentle spreading action with an
ordinary trowel The new material
Is said to harden over night, or, say,
II hours, and may be walked on the
next morning if you care to use 1t.
After it has really hardened. how
ever, they say that it is harder than
thu concrete which it is patching
ard clings to it without shrinking.
Another offshoot from air condi-
tioning has come along which we
think is a pretty clever idea to help
keep the house cool during the long,
hard summer which is close upon
us. 1t has to do with keeping the
attic we'll ventilated and cleared OF
excess heat. Of course, it is COM
mon practice nowadays to place
large ventilating fans up there to
take the hot air and toss 1t out
doors by force, but here is a device
which does a nice little job at very
minimum expense.
1t is a small welded metal louvre
ARRANGEMENT installed in place OF
shingle or two on the roof. 1t pro-
vides an efficient outlet for any hot
air which may be up there. 1t is
preferably placed near the roof
peak on a hip or other slant roof,
and can be put in place with only
q small amount of installation labor.
You merely fit it in under the ada
cent shingles. and cut out small
section of subrooing for the open
ing into the attic space.
Flies and insects are prevented
from coming in by sturdy 16-mesh
bronze fly screen which is provided
over the semi-concealed air duct
opening. This outside opening is
2 by 10 inches in size and is placed
so that it is partially out of the
direct drive of rain and wind. To
insure complete protection against
the weather it is also equipped with
a small battle on the inside. The
whole unit is made of 26-gauge cop
per-bearing galvanized steel, so we
see no reason why it shouldn't last
for many year.
Speaking of wind and rain, can
anything be much more irritating
than the ceaseless rafting of loose
windows in their frames? Peace
and quiet are yours, however, if you
install a set of new window springs
which hold the sash in a sturdy
grasp. Furthermore, these springs
can be made to take the place of
weights and pulleys if you have been
having weight and pulley trouble,
and with a flick of the wrist they
may be installed and put into oper-
alton.
These clever new devices are made |
of annealed hard spring bronze,
curved slightly to place little pres
sure between the window sash and .
the jambs They are Ia inches |
wide by 6 inches long, and four are
required to fit out a complete win
dow, with one on each side of both
upper and lower sashes. You don't .
have to worry about lot of installa-
ton work with these gadgets, either,
because 1t is merely necessary to
slip them into place so that only
about an inch of each spring shows
when the window is fully raised.
They are held in place with two
small brads driven in at the middle
of the strip.
The pressure exerted is just |
enough to hold the window in any |
desired position without your hav-
ing to strain yourself to open or |
close it. Obviously, the springs pre- |
vent the window from slamming |
from side to side in the wind, CIV
ing you quiet along with trouble
free operation.
Note: For further information
about any of the products de-
scribed here, write Mr.. Crolius,
The Evening Star, and inclose a
stamped, elf-addressed envelope.