ANY WEEKEND in the summer you can find Canadians outdoors, tool boxes in hand, performing routine repair and maintenance chores on their homes. Many are simply checking their homes for signs of wear and tear resulting from the constant ex- posure to winter extremes. Most Canadians recognize that their house is their most valuable asset, and must be protected, lest it turn into a financial burden. If unrecognized or ignored, maintenance problems and repairs can snowball into major rehabilitation projects costing thousands of dollars. Inspection Checklist for Maintenance and Repair, publish- ed by Canada Mortgage and Hous- ing Corporation, is a guide to assist homeowners and buyers make quick but extensive examina- tions of a home. The checklist also advises whether problems can be easily fixed or whether they need the expertise of a contractor. Canadians tackle most outdoor repair and. maintenance chores, such as those associated with ethe exterior walls, during the spring and summer. Early attention to the exterior walls not only preserves the aesthetic appeal of a house, it can save time and expense later on, If moisture is allowed to penetrate, the entire structure may become damaged. Exterior walls are usually covered with a siding material. The five types of siding currently seen on Canadian homes each have par- ticular maintenance characteristics. Paint failure is one of the most common maintenance problems associated with wood siding. This can occur if too many coats of paint have been applied over the years or if it has beer too many years since the last coat of paint. The longer a paint job goes unattended, the more chance water has to seep in and cause damage. Often, paint failure, wood decay and buckling of siding are caused by water getting into the un- protected ends of the siding. These areas should be sealed. ; Metal siding can trap water. Moss growth and water: stains under the lip will identify the pro- blem. Special care is needed when working near metal siding to avoid hitting or leaning anything heavy against it. Dents cannot be ham- mered out — the damaged section must be repaired with auto body filler or replaced entirely. Metal siding will buckle if it is nailed too tightly. It should be free to expand and contract with temperature changes. You'll know when this happens because of the loud noise it creates. If the siding has buckled, it must be remeved and replaced. Make sure nails are centred in slots and left slightly loose. 29 - Friday, July 15, 1988 - North Shore News LIFESTYLES revent costly repairs Guard against corrosion and pit- ting of metal siding by keeping it painted and clean. Vinyl siding is popular because it seldom needs to be painted and requires cleaning for appearances sake only. However, it,too, can buckle if not properly installed. Pollution and exposure to the elements can cause bricks to Increase closet capacity up to 100%! ¢ Affordable custom built interiors, © Solid or adjustable shelving * Organizers designed & built to suit space fequirements « Custom designed {for linen & clothes closets High impact plastic coated meta! hanging bars @ Installation avaitabla CANADIAN ER CLOSET » SHOPS cash & carry up to 5’ 986-4263 1093 Marine Dr., North Vancouver *1 LOCATION ONLY * OFF REGULAR PRICES ON FLOOR MODEL STOCK. “AS 1S” “WHERE IS” crumble, flake, crack, or become Crumbling mortar occurs first loose. Usually, these problems are around the chimney. Loose mortar symptoms of water penetration See Check and subsequent freezing. Page 30 “SALES ‘CENTRE : wvERVIHE FOR YOUR WA TERBED Pit us: | e TUBE BEDS — HYBRID SOFTSIDE ¢ OAK BEDROOMS, DINING ROOMS ¢ OVAL, ROUND OR RECTANGULAR SOLID OAK COFFEE & END TABLES © ENTERTAINMENT CENTRES, TV STANDS ° WALL BOOKCASES IN OAK SPECIAL: UP TO $40.00 TRADE IN VALUE ON YOUR OLD WATERBED a i y ay ies qh of TRY HAIDA GLASS e Glass enclosures * Sunrooms @ Mirrors e Glass conversions * Windows ¢ Patio doors © Heat Barrier Skylights Ask about Haida’s SPECIAL OFFER on Low “E” double-glazed glass Call Wayne to view the Haida catalogue of design ideas for beautifying your home with glass WAYNE VEALE CUSTOMER SERVICE ANAGER