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Whltby Free Pres, Wednesdy, SePtember,30, 1992. Page 17 HOME DESIGN ANDIPROVEMENT FEATURE rGîvehome. the. draft test PROM PAGE 16 dooir sweep. Easy to instail and relatively inexpensive, a deorsweep can be cut to the appropra"te size and attached r rght te the bottom of the door. You xnay want 1o *instail'a self-adjusting sweep 'that is automaticall raised when yen open the door. You' can aise install ful or- partial threshold weatherstripping which is attached tothedoorsill. Caulking >Like weatherstripping, caul- lIdng is used te stop air leakage. However, caulkcing is used to seal guap beteendifferent types of building materials,- such as wood and plaster. It can be used both indoors and out. Befoee chooeing the caulldIng compound you want to use,4make sure. it's appropriate for the surfaces yen- want te caulk.-. You sihould aise keep in mind that caulking doesn't Iast forever and'will eventually have te, be replaced, but most last. for 10 te 20 -years. (Bathtub caulkIng, on the éther hand, is exposed te constant wear and tear and muet be rïeplaced' at more regular intervalp.) (NC) Wood stoves add charm and warmth te any home, If youre planning te purchase one,, make sure You're aware of potential safety hazards before DuL&3ing Proper installation of wood stoves is critical. Stoves that are installed tee close te walls, floor and furniture can be like atirne inb.' Over a long period, heat radiating from the steve can' graduaily dry out the wood around it, causing cheniical changes that'make the woed. more flammable. Eventually the saine amount -of heat that custemarily radiates from the steve-is enough te set the wood on fire. There are inanys types of caulking materials te choosè from and each differs in termes of its durability, compatibility with other materials and the turne it takes te cure. You can choose froni many diffrent idnds, including synthetic rubber, urethane feazn, .polysu.Ifide seaant, acrylic latex and silicone. Each type is unique and moat are quite durable. Seme are aise available in different clours and* can be painted. Urethane .foamn is ideal for large ýgaps because it expands during alpplication. This type of sealant hias goed durability and works well with moet types of surfaces. Unlike other types eof caullding that ceme in a tube, urethane foam is available in if yen have any questions about the type of caulking you should use for your particular project and how much yen need, talk te, the experts at the nea rest building supply centre or hardware stere. When -purchasing caulIng materiai,* make sure te buy a caulking gun as well (unless youre using urethane feai). Try te, get one with an autematic thumb release butten, se ,yen can quickly stop the flow ef caulk witheut blobbing. Aise make sure that the, caulking' gun fits comfortably in your hand and is easy te use.' Before. yen tackle the project,, practise drawing a, bead. of caulking, on a spread-eut newspaper.. Reniember te take your turne and use both hands te steady the caulking gun if neoessary. .Experts advise that you hold the gun at either a 45-degree or right angle te the gap -you are filling.- They aise recommend that you, p e h g awayfrom yo while applying caulk rather than pu]ling it towards yen, because this filse the gap more effectively. Once yeu've finished practising and feel fairly comfortable using the caulldng gun, Wes turne te prepare the surfaces you're geing te seal. les very important te make sure they are dlean, dry MARGOT 6MCTAVISH INTERIOR DECORATOR Full design services, colour co-o rdination for'interior or exterior, wall coverings, draperies, accessories, etc. A design showreom of traditional furnishings in a historical home setting. Fer that added care and attention te detail give mes ala! 1-416-686-4737 541 Bayly St. East Ajax, Ont. South of 401, East of Harwood and *free of any loose paint or old caulking. A screwdriver can be used te remove old caulk.' You may aise, want te mask the edges of the area te .be caulked with maskcing tape, te ensure that you end up. with a nice, even lime with ne smears or blobs. If yeu are caulking.a gap wider than. a quarter-inch, apply compatible packing material firat. When caulking, take your time; dont rush the job. Aise keep in mind that most caulks reqire adequate ventilation drn application and curing. Once you!re finished, yen can smooth the surface of the caullIdng by dipping your finger or a sponge in water and running it along the caulking. If you have any leftover caulk, insert a good-sized nail inte the nozzle of the tube te keep the material from cfying up. This helpa the niaterial remain pliant and keeps the nozzle clog-free. T"i article is prouided by local realt ors- ahd' t/w Ontario Real Estate Association (ORRA) for the benefit of consumers in the real estate market. Nursery Rhyjmes Harwood Place Mail 427-1663 Harwood,ijax 435.0808 Mon.-Fri. 9am-9pm Sat. 9am-6pm Sun. 11lam-4pm 1916 DUNDAS'STe.E. WHIýTB3Y Sais ends October 6W9. t Saeed prodLJcts c Col Your Wodd 0