Renovation projects Builders/Homeowners; SAVE-DO-IT-NOW Units burning on display Mon.-Sat. 10-4 p.m. Complete line of log sets, cusiom — doors and mantels. Ask us about our new 10 YEAR WARRANTY — | Covering parts & labour on insta-Flame Fireplaces A & A GAS FIREPLACES im.tans FREE ESTIMATES - (We instal! and service what we sell) _Licensed.Gas Contractor. 120 Mees Tips and advice for home repairs SPRING MARKS the start of home project season, But unless you're the next Bob Vila, you probably will. encounter your share of questions as you tackle your project list. Here are some tips and advice. INSTA-FLAME| FM The Leader in Gas Fireplace Technology Fireplace insert Circular saw blades Question: This summer I'm planning a number of building projects that will give my circular saw a good workout. My problem is that | will be doing a variety of cutting chores, including rippings, crosscutting and cutting (tough materials, . : Can I buy one blade that will handle most of my cutting jobs? Answer: A growing number of circular saw blades that offer high performance and great value are available. Thinner kerf (blade thickness) means a faster, cleaner, more precise cut. Tests show a car- bide-tipped blade will cut faster and last up to six times longer than other circular saw blades. Wood heating Question: We're planning to remodel an unfinished attic space and would like to include a fireplace or woodstove for cozy warmth. We have two concerns: limited space, and the additional cost a fireplace and chimney will add to the total cost of the project. Do we have any options? Answer: Check out the lineup ‘of pellet-fired appliances (PFAs) now available. PFAs [ook like woodstoves on the outside, but burn pellets made from renewable wastes such as sawdust, wood scraps or recycled cardboard. PFAs require only.a couple in- ches of clearance from walls, and many models use a simple vent to discharge exhaust gases. Painting new drywall Question: We just painted a new room. addition and find that the seams. where the drywall panels come together are visible. What did we do wrong? Answer: The problem. is a dif- ference in texture and porosity be- tween the face paper and the tap- ing compound used over the seams. The two different surfaces ab- sorb paint. at slightly different rates. That fact, along with the differences in texture, can result in. treated joints after the walls are painted, To avoid this phenomenon again, called joint banding or photo-graphing, replace your or- _dinary wall primers or sealers with special primers, which balance the differences for an cven surface to paint over, These primers, available at home centres, can be applied by brush, roller or with spray equip- ment. Installing bathroom fixtures Question: 1 plan to install a new toilet paper holder and towel bars on a ceramic-tile bathroom wall, but |} don't want to drill: screw holes in the ceramic tiles to hold the fixtures. Is there any alter- native fastening method for in- stalling the bath fixtures? Aaswer: You can use a’ con- struction adhesive, rather - than mechanical fasteners such as screws, to install, flush-mounted bathroom fixtures on ceramic tile walls. a Just clean the tile with alcohol to remove any soap, scum. Then. apply the adhesive to the fixture - according. to product label direc- tions, and press the fixture. firmly in place against the tile. we Use duct tape or masking tape to hold fixtures in place until the adhesive cures, usually overnight. - Wash up-any adhesive spills im- mediately, using warm water. Storm doors Question: [ want'to repiace my. screen door. but I’m reluctant to do so: because my son wrecks the screens as. quickly as I repair: them. Any ideas on: how I can save my screens yet stiil let spring breezes through the front door?’ : Answer: One kid- and pet-. proof. solution to your ‘problem. might be a solid-core storm door... Unlike ordinary storm. doors with limited ventilation flexibility, -. a three-track system permits a+: full-length screen plus two win- dow panels that move in-, dependently. an : To solve the damaged screen problem, you can easily move. window panels to.the lowest posi- - SPECIAL 1 bag of Green Leaf Mosskiller & _2 bags of Rapid. Line a noticeable sheen variation be- tion and keep ventilation through tween the drywall surface and the the top.: ; @ BRUSH ON THE COLOUR, BRUSH ON THE SAVINGS, . a : during our | 63rd. ANNIVERSARY | PAINT & PAPER SALE CareFree-. | © Saveon INTERIOR LATEX Millis NON-SPATTER 3.78 LITRES In-stock Wallcovering msinle $4 B98 asi oO REG. PRICE 5 * | Propasted, Textured $2698 | SALE Cesignor Vinyl Wallcovering. Velvet o7 SALE HW Eggshell - SINGLE ROLL, 7 Scrubbable $4 898 REG. BOOK | REG. PRICE 5 $22.98 SALE PRICE TO $21.95 Semi-Gloss Huge Savings - H The pertect $ 93 | onin-stock $ 98 finish for high Walloovering 4 . q tratfic areas. SALE ‘ Excailont SALE REG. BOOK Ri Adhesion Serubbable PRICE TO $16.98 B] REG PRICE $36.98 ° $9408 toe 8,99 Eggshell or SALE PER SPOOL Semi-Gloss Enamel REG. PRICE $36.98 . Deep and Accent Tints Sightly More When Avalable ornai SUPERIOR QUAL “NORTH VANCOUVE 460 Mountain Hwy.. d ¥ Lonsdale Avenue ~. | 985-6354 ’ North Vancouver