Evening star., 1942-02-14
New Coating Keeps
Basement Walls Free
From Moisture
Automatic Valve
Controls Temperature
Of Shower Buths
By LAWRENCE CROLIUS.

by LAWhENCE ChOLlUS.
How dry Is your basement when
the big spring thaw sets in? Do you
have small freshets here and there
IN the masonry which flood the
lower part Of the house, or an ooze
of moisture which ruins paint on
the walls, not to mention valuable
materials stored down there? This
is q standard situation in many
homes, and oddly enough many
owners do very little about II.
Your basement is probably built
of concrete, or some sort of masonry
which is inherently porous. There
fore, If 1t is to be made waterproof
these pores must be sealed up. A
new sealing compound which is now
available does just that and may
be applied ON your damp masonry
walls at once with excellent results.
In fact, II you should want to, 1t
can be put on new concrete or
cement right after the forms have
been removed. 1t can also be put on
brick. all types of cinder block,
plaster surfaces and even new wood
surfaces before any other paint has
been put on.
Covering Remains Elastic.
After being put on with either an
ordinary brush or spray gun this new
compound dries very hard and yet,
We are advised, the protective film
remains elastic and will not chip or
scale on account Of temperature
changes. It also anchors itself by
penetrating into the porous surface
and any small cracks that might be
present. With a sturdy coating of
this material on your formerly
vulnerable walls you can now assure
yourself Of = fine dry basement
which will stay that way for many
years to come.
You don't have to limit yourself
10 using this new waterproofer in
the lower part OF your house, either.
because 1t will work when applied
over ordinary plaster which used to
cause wallpaper to stain, peal and
look generally unsightly. In fact,
II you have just had some new
plaster put on your walls you can
have your painter follow the plas-
terer at once and waterproof the
walls Immediately. On the follow
ing day the walls may be papered
or otherwise decorated.
Do you practically cook yourself
every time you step into your shower
bath and try to regulate the hot and
cold water supplies? 1t isn't at all
dimcult to scald yourself badly If
the hot water supply is particularly
potent, and the cold water is sud-
denly shut OF for some reason.
Even II you suffer no real injury, it
is certainly far from pleasant, and
you have to put up with that uncom-
Portable period when you are busily
twirling knobs and trying to secure
the proper bathing temperature.
Automatic Shower Control.
There Is new mixing valve being
made now for installation on all
types Of shower baths which auto
matically controls the water temper
ature after you have set the single
control handle. 1t Is q self con-
tained unit which can be easily
fitted on either exposed or concealed
piping. Made of chromium plated
bronze, 1t is sturdily made with parts
which are not only finely made, but
are easily accessible, removable and
replaceable. There are no springs
or other complicated mechanisms,
since the temperature of the water
Is controlled by a simple shuttle
which is operated by the pressure
Of both the hot and cold water
supplies. Thus, If the cold water
were to be cut of, the hot water
automatically cuts itself of in
stantly.
When the control knob is first
turned, the cold water is delivered,
then As 1t Is turned further, the
temperature is increased. In this
way no hot water can get into the
shower head unless cold water is
mixed with 1t.