SOONER OR later, every home-
owner faces the problem of hiring
somedody to do repair or im-
Provement work around the
house. Even a homeowner experi-
enced in home repairs may have
to call on the services of a profes-
sional once in a while because of
the nature or size of the job.

Too often the experience is an
unhappy one. The work may not
start when it’s supposed to, or
takes much longer than expected.
Instructions may be
misunderstood or not followed
correctly. Occasionally the wrong
materials are used, or the work-is
done badly. The final price may
turn out to be much higher than
the original estimate. Sometimes
‘there is a problem getting the con-
tractor to come back and finish
the last few ‘‘minor” details. Or
worse, the coniractor gets into fi-
nancial. difficulties. and leaves a
partly finished job that the home-
owner ends up paying for twice.

Many of the problems that
owners have in their dealings with
contractors are due to a misun-
derstanding of the rights, respon-
sibilities and function of the
various people. who are invloved
in the work.

The homeowner is responsible
for deciding what is to be done;
. Selecting the contractor; making
sure the contract describes the job
completely and correctly; obtain-

Try visualizing

HOME & GARDEN
Home repair problems often
result of misunderstanding

ing zoning approval and building
permits, if required; providing the
space and freedom the workers
need to do their work; informing
the contractor about deficiencies
or mistakes as quickly as possible;
paying for the job as required by
the contract, and making the final
decisicn on whether or not the job
has been done satisfactorily. ~

The contractor is responsible
for carrying out ali the work
described in the contract (unless
given written authorization for
changes); maintaining public lia-
bility and property damage in-
surance and workers’ compensa-
tion; paying workers, suppliers
and subcontractors, and supervis-
ing the quality of all the work that
is done.

Don’t choose contractors
because you like their face or the
friendly way they talk. A pleasant
manner is no assurance of
reliability, unfortunately.

If you contact a firm you don’t
know, or no one has recommend-
ed, ask for its business licence
number and how long it has had
it. Check this with the local licens-
ing office. Find out whether the
firm carries public liability and
property-damage insurance. Ask
for the name of the insurance
company and call to verify that
the policies are in force.

Ask for the names of customers

the elegant

function of path. |i

From page 43

. Outcropping.. For these reasons,
plan the movement of your path
in conjunction with an” overall
planting plan and the topography
of the site,

What about materials? Do not
be. bound by. anyone else's
preconceived notions as to what
the. surface of a garden path
should be composed of; there are
many.options to choose from.
¥amiliarize yourself with several
‘and try to visualize how they will
look and function in your garden
before making any permanent
decisions.

-.High traffic areas such as the ©

one leading to your main entrance
‘are'best suited to solid materials
Such as concrete, exposed ag-
’ gregate, paving stones, tiles, etc.
These will provide the safety that
the less sure foot would require as
well as the long wear that areas
such as these command.
Contenders for the less travelled
“areas are flagstones, patio slabs,
Himestone (careful here, it tracks),
crushed gravel, bark mulch, nee-
dies from conifers and more. You
should also not forget grass. A
well-defined swath of grass, six to
eight feet wide can be made to
appear as a very inviting route in-
to the garden.

ENCLOSURES
_SOLARIUMS

in your area, then cali and see
them. Most people will be glad to
help you. But make sure they’re
not relatives or business associates
of the contractor. Reputable firms
will not be offended by your
questions.

Phone your local office of the
Better Business Bureau. They keep
a record of all complaints received
against contractors working in the
area, and will be happy to tell you
if any have been lodged against
the firms you name.

Finally, beware of contractors:
«who knock on the door to tell
you they just happen to be doing
some work in the area and can
give you a ‘‘special price.’
ewho promise a discount if you
allow them to use your home ‘‘to
advertise our work.’’ The same
offer will have beer made to
everyone.
ewho quote a price without see-
ing the job.

e who demand a large down pay-
ment ‘to buy materials.’? All
reputable contractors maintain
charge accounts with their sup-
pliers.

¢ who refuse to give you a written
contract specifying exactly what
they say they will do.

® whose only address is a post of-
fice box, a telephone number, or
the address of their answering
service.

patio cover

| SAVE YOUR
SUNDECK
FROM
WEATHER
DAMAGE

FROPICA WA “Inductries Le Lid.

403 Riverside Drive, North Van.

929-6361

Tree-mendous compost sale

EVER WONDERED what
happens to the leaves the city
trucks collect from Van-
couver’s tree-lined streets?

The beautiful, black result of
year-old composted leaves is
ready for use as a wonderful
mulch under the shrubs in your
garden.

Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9
am. to 2 p.m. this compost
will be on sale at VanDusen
Gardens for $3 a bag. This
event is sponsored by the vol-
unteers of the VanDusen
Botanical Garden, the Van-
couver Park Board and the
Vancouver Engineering
Depaitment who prepare the
compost.

Mulching prevents weeds
from growing readily, reduces
the frequency of watering and

gives a rich natural look to the
soil surface.

Proceeds will benefit the
Vancouver Botanical Gardens
Association which supports
VanDusen Gardens ‘at the cor-
ner of 37th and Oak Street.

Also of interest is the Van-
Dusen Garden lecture series.
Tom Burr, officer fer the Na- -
tional Trust in. England, will
speak on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 8
p.m. The Trust operates to
protect and preserve 200
heritage sites, 100 beautiful
gardens and 600,000 acres of:
varied countryside.

Phone 266-7194 for tickets,
$5 members, $10 for non-
members of VanDusen
Gardens, corner of 37th
Avenue and Oak Street.

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