WHO TO CALL:

Community Editor

Home and Garden Editor

Andrew McCredie Layne Christensen

985-2131 (147) 985-2131

HOUSE is the .most

expensive investment

most Canadians will
make.

To keep it from becoming even
more expensive means giving it 4
regular checkup.

It's a lot easier to spend 50 cents
now on’a new washer to fix that
leaky shower head — before water
soaks into the framework and turns
into a torrent of repair bills.

This little guide will help you
discover the symptoms and causes
of common house problems.

Although you may need a pro-
fessional to help you uncover some
of the hidden problems, anyone can
inake a thorough and quick exami-
nation.

So roll up your sleeves, grab a
flashlight and head for the base-
ment.

You can usually learn more
about the condition of a house from
the basement. A lot of problems
start here and ripple their way up.

Foundation walls

® Cracks in the wall are serious

only if they are large and leak water.

Small cracks are okay; they appear
. because concrete shrinks as it cures.
@ Water stains are one of the telltale
"signs that water is seeping through
_ the foundation.

+

(178)

Damp spots, crumbling mortar,
and white powdery deposits also
betray the presence of water.

Structural framework

® Twisted or sagging beams along
the basement ceiling change the
house's structure — and that means
cracks in the walls, warped floors
and even windows that stick.

The most important part of your
framework is the beam that runs
down the centre of the basement
ceiling.

Use a builder's level to see if it is
straight and level.
® Mold, fungus or rotted timbers
weaken the house's foundation. If
you suspect problems. poke the
wood with a knife or screwdriver to
see if there are any soft spots.

Rotting wood is usually the
result of leaking water or poor ven-
tilation.

Electrical wiring

_® Exposed or bare wire in the base-

ment will give you an idea of how
good the wiring is in the rest of the
house.

If the insulation around the
wiring is crumbling, the wires are
exposed or bare, or wires have been
connected by simply twisting them
together, it’s time to call an electri-
cian. ,

Hora

iA

a

NEWS photo Terry

A THOROUGH and quick examination should help home owners uncover symptoms and causes
of common house problems. Exposed or bare wire in the basement can be an indication of how

© Blown fuses or circuit breaker
shut-offs require an electrician. The
house is using too much electricity
for the wiring to handle.

If a fuse blows as soon as you
replace it, there’s a short some-

where. Unplug all the appliances
and put in 2 new fuse. If the fuse
blows, call an electrician. If it
doesn’t, try plugging in one appli-
ance at a time to see which causes
the problem.

_good the wiring is in the rest of the house. It may be time to call an electrician.

Plumbing
® Leaks require immediate repair.

See Sidestep page 16

Sealy Posturepedic

84 23%
5] 4G

per
piece

‘Fwin Size
‘Double Size
(Queen Size | S15
Sold in sets only

Twin Size $7 piece
Double Size *223 pice
Queen Size $V piece

Sold in sets only

a

$203 fine

Twi n Size
Double Size °

Queen Size:
Sold in sets only

S280".

527 Alice