Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 40, Decatur, Adams County, 17 February 1959 — Page 2

PAGE TWO

Many Basements and Attics Become Attractive 46 Family Rooms”

Idle Areas Can Often Be Put To New Uses At Very Modest Cost

With the growth in families and the trend toward informal living tnd entertaining, the so-c ailed “family room” is bcoqming increasingly popular. Especially (where there are children, it is considered almost a “must" to have a place where they can play and entertain their friends without disturbing the grownups and minus wear-and-tear on the living room. • The problem of many families, thoroughly sold on the advantages bf such a room, is where to locate ‘the new “addition.” In an old house, the basement of attic may be ideal. Either choice is fine if space can be found for those things that “just can’t be thrown out.” But. whatever the location, home owners must carefully judge how ■ much space they will need for the family’s use, and just how much storage area can be sacrificed to this end. . Very often, where the attic has already been finished off into extra sleeping quarters or—is being rerserved for that use in the future, 'the basement may well be the aniswer to the question of location. id Great improvement in the ap--pearance and function of a basement can be accomplished with a relatively modest expenditure. If .'the owners are do-it-yourself en“lhusiasts, they can do much of the " work themselves. " Smart owners, with a “family .■“■room” in mind, will check over ■ published articles and books and ‘ then make their decisions with this background and their own require- ‘ ments in a happy merger. They ! can ask advice of informed friends • especially if these include a buildt er or architect. They should pre--1 pare sketches to put their dreams . on paper and then have them • checked by someone who knows ;■ something about remodeling. Selecting Materials ■ Materials used in basement

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“face-lifting" are a major, consideration. They should be selected for their appearance, wearing qualities, economy and function. The wall treatment usually gives the family room its basic personality. and paneling is a popular choice because' it is handsome, sturdy ana easy to maintain. Woods from the western pine region are particularly suitable because of the wide range of types (there are ten varieties in all), and these may be treated or finished in infinite variety. If a clear finish is to be used, the color of thqwood is an important consideration. For a room with limited natural light, it is wise to choose a paneling that is light in tone, such as Idaho white pine, ponderosa pine or sugar pine. For a well-lighted room a darker-wood is a good choice, such as inlaid red cedar or incense cedar. Furthermore, the range of finishes Is so great that no one need be limited. Dark woods can be made almost white with wipe-on. wipe-off pigmented stains, and paneling can be finished in any color tone by the same method. The color remains but the grain shows through. Other materials suitable for a “family room” project are the various hardboards (such as Masonite). These arc especially popular with home owners planning to do most of the work themselves. Available at lumber dealers in various patterns and styles, they are easily worked with common woodworking tools and have great stamina against abuses. They are excellent, too, for sliding doors, soffits and various built-ins. Asphalt Floor Tiles For a gay but rugged surface underfoot, asphalt floor tiles can

DESIGN C-484. The location / . of the front room, opening ' from the vestibule, is ideal T for its use as an office, den rfcd — or study as well as a bed- ~jLi, In addition, two bedrooms, dinette, living room and full A smaU HOUSE NANNINO BUREAU DESIGN NO. C-404 basement. Circulation is excellent, with all , rooms opening into the central hall. The large kitchen has corner sink, ioat closet IKf I rn . _._ naoA I and dinette with double windows. Doors lead | fiy©®’"© Fj? ■| a I from kitchen to bedroom hall, side entry and |_|J . aX< , living room. Exterior features include cover- |ci ' ed entrance, picture window, shutters, shingle p r * “[STfflTffrt jq. X siding, asphalt shingles and plywood gable in 8 JSSSftUi L— «. I atonoom front. Floor area is 1260 square feet, cubage I • | ,3 '-ox' J, O 23,562 cubic feet. I * I For further information about DESIGN C-404, . HSx 12 0 ' * faval T 1 write the Small House Planning Bureau, St. I Cloud, Minn. In Canada, the Small House * -.1 1 m»— La—>4 aeonoom U Planning Bureau of Canada, St. John, New I I Brunswick. . II -fc OE/IGn C-4O* Ml RBBBSMMa WO I

be easily installed by the man of the house in striking color combinations and patterns to add decorative interest to the room. Built-in benches provide extra seating space and also serve to conceal the unsightly pipes that are a perennial problem in basement remodelling. A snack bar, duplicate cooking and serving equipment for food preparation (and plenty of wall cabinets in which to store them when not in use) will double the utility of the room and save trips to the kitchen when a party is in progress. It is the imagination shown in fitting a family room to personal tastes and needs that will bring it alive anp make it headquarters for pleasure. The room may follow a nautical motif if the family sails. Port holes may be substituted for windows, a stair rail may be a rope strung between posts. Lovers of the South Seas may follow a tropical bent with louvered pine doors, a murdb wallpaper view.

Toughen Walls Os ‘Rec’ Room With This Siding Hardboara siding has become a popular exterior covering for frame homes because it is -durable, economical and easy to paint. And those are reasons why it comes in handy for improvement projects inside the home as well. Hardboard siding used on the walls of a basement recreation room, for example, can become part of an outdoor-like decorative scheme. This material is sturdy enough to withstand the pounding it is likely to receive in a “rec” room that would become a “wreck" room if softer surfaces were the rule. Hardboard will take a lot of abuse, and won’t crack or You can'hide the ductwork often found on basement ceilings with a brightly painted* canopy of standard hardboard, which, if properly designed, can creat an additional touch of the ~ outdoors inside yotir house. Enjoy Barbecues , During Winter Many modern families are continuing to enjoy tasty barbecues throughout the winter by installing grills in their recreation room fireplaces. They find the tangy charcoal flavor a real taste treat during the winter months. When using charcoal indoors, it should be kept in a galvanized steel pail or coal hod. These containers are fire-proof and are easy to carry. They can be painted or decorated with decals to blend with the room’s decor.

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THE DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT, DECATUR, INDIANA

How To Organize Painting Job To Get The Best Results

“Do the headwork before the handwork" may be an old saying but it’s especially applicable to painting projects. Often when the do-it-your-selfer’s enthusiasm fails to survive until the end of a job. it’s because the task was tackled without a definite plan. So it's wise to figure out all the angles before a brush is dipped in a can of paint. You’ll save time, money and energy by planning ahead: make lists calculate the tools you will need, how you will use them to solve the problems you encounter as you progress. lx Then, when you’ve got all the required supplies and equipment on hand, you’ll find the following step-by-step rules helpful in proceeding successfully with your painting project. .1 Push furniture to center of room and cover. - 2. Remove pictures, wall hangings, etc. 3. Place newspapers around edge of floor.

Falls Kill 14,000 Each Year!

Your home can be a dangerous place unless you take the necessary precautions to prevent accidents. Every seven seconds someone is injured in a home accident and every 16 minutes someone dies as a result of one of these accidents, according to statistics compiled by safety experts 7 They state that the only way to reduce these figures is to be more careful and place more emphasis on safety in the home. The greatest single hazard proximately 14,000 persons die each year as the result of. falls in and around the home. Many of these deaths can be avoided by correcting such dangerous conditions as loose throw rugs at the top and bottom of stairs, slippery shower stall floors, makeshift ladders and littered stairways. All litter should be disposed of at regular intervals or burned in safe galvanized steel burners, safety officials add. These burners have perforated sides and covers that permit the trash to bum quickly with no danger of wind blowing flaming particles around to ignite nearby buildings and material. Burns are ranked second among causes of home injuries and deaths. Since children are involved in the majority of burn cases, all cigarette lighters and matches should be kept out of reach. The

4. Dust walls. (Washing is seldom necessary, except In kitchen. ) 5. Fill In cracks. Using spackling material for small ones, patching plaster for others. 6. Read directions for brand of paint you are using. Stir well. 7. Dampen brush or roller. Shake out excess water. 8. Do the hard work first. Use round one-inch brush for window sash; two-inch brush for edges and trim. 9. Wipe up drips and spatters with a damp cloth before they dry. 10. With brush, do ceiling line about two feet wide then go down all wall joinings ’ 11. Do. balance of walls With large brush or roller. Insure coverage by using vertical strokes first then horizontal strokes. 12. Check for spots missed. 13. Wash brushes, roller and pan in soapy water. 14. Pick up newspapers, checking for any missed spatters.

handles of all cooking utensils should be turned to the back of the range and away from curious children. Flammable fluids should be handled and stored with extreme caution to prevent flash fires in the home. Such liquids should be stored in durable steel fuel cans which are plainly labeled and equipped with convenient pouring spouts that insure safe transfer of the Th# home workshop is also a potentially dangerous spot unless all tools, knives, saws and other equipment are locked up or kept out of the reach of the childrenAll power tool equipment should be disconnected and the safety latches applied after»each use. Simple precautions and alertness can cut the home accident rate substantially, according to safety experts.

Small Trash Gan Near Back Door Handy In Winter A small galvanized steel garbage can outside the kitchen door will eliminate frequent trips to the larger garbage cans during cold, winter weather. The small can may also be used as an auxiliary garbage can‘if the larger cans are filled. Both types of galvanized steel garbage cans are made of durable steel and coated with zinc to give them a high degree of rust resistance. They are fire-proof and have close-fitting covers to make them fly and rodent proof. Garbage cans on the back porch or outside the back door can be painted to match the house, and the house numbers added to prevent loss of either the cans or lids. New cans should be wiped with a cloth dipped in a vinegar and water solution to help the paint adhere to the surface. Keep Overshoes In One Place One of the easiest ways to keep track of the family’s overshoes and ice skates is to place a sturdy galvanized steel basket in the basement or near the back door. Then these items which are so easily misplaced, can be put in the container. It is always easy to find the items when they are needed because the basket is kept in a central location. Smooth Finish When wording open-grained woods, remember that to achieve a smooth finish, you must first close the pores with a wood filler.

Caution: Keep All Gas, Oil In Fuel Cais Gasoline, oil, kerosene, turpentine and other flammable fluids should be stored in leak-nroof metal containers, such as galvanized steel fuel cans, and kept away from heating pipes or electricallyoperated appliances and‘tools. Particular carp should be taken when stroing these fuels and cleaning agepts during the winter because a cigarette, heating unit or short circuit can easily ignite combustible fumes. Properly designed steel fuel cans, equipped with a screw type cap and convenient pouring spout, confine dangerous fumes. If possible, fuel cans should be kept ia a tool shed or garage. Power mowers and outboard motors should be.drained of all gasoline and oil during the winter for two reasons. The fuels present a definite fire hazard if left in the motors, and harmful gum reposits will form in the motor if the gasoline is allowed to settle. Although many persons are cautious with gasoline and kerosene, they are careless with turpentine and other flammable cleaning and painting fluids. These items should also be stored in closed containers to prevent Combustible fumes from escaping. Fires often start in the vicinity of the basement workbench, where paint and turpentine sometimes are kept in glass bottles. Sawdust, wood scrapes and other materials give impetus to any blaze that starts in his area. Since steel fuel cans come in various sizes, a suitable container can be acquired for the fuels and flammable liquids that must be stored around the home. Safety officials condemn large oil drums because they are seldom covered properly and create a fire hazard in the cummunity. Investigations have revealed that many, blazes have been “fed” by flammable materials kept in oil drums, while galvanized steel garbage cans with close-fitting covers have resisted fire.

BaiM Rack To Protect Garbage Cans One of the easiest ways for homeowners to protect their galvanized steel garbage cans during" the winter is to build a sturdy rack for the cans. The garbage can lids, which sometimes are lost in the snow or blown away, may be attached to the rack with light chains. City sanitation officials, who state that galvanized steel cans are the only approved container for garbage and refuse, note that the lids must be in place at all times for adequate protection The rack may. be made from lumber or pipe. and should be at least 18 inches off the ground to keep the cans away from dogs and rodents. It should be large enough to accommodate at ,’least three standard cans. Handy racks also simplify collection methods because the garbage cans are in a central location and easy to maneuver. An extra can for ashes or sand can be stored on the rack during the winter. Bathroom Vanity Is Easy To Make With Hardboard A hinged shelf that serves as a bathroom vanity table can be made or durable hardboard. You’ll find it’s easy to build inexpensive and attractive. What’s more, it wori’t take up extra space because it can be hooked to the wall beside the lavatory when not in use and lowered onto the top of the sing when it’s needed. You can make this vanity shelf by covering a wood frame on both sides with smooth-surfaced, easy-to-paint hardboard. If you prefer, one or both surfaces can be one of the many eye-appealing hardboards with a baked-on plastic finish that can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. When you nail and glue the panels* to the wood frame, use hardboard of the same thickness on the top and bottom of the vanity to achieve satisfactory, well-engineer-ed construction. Yard Requires Continuous Work Regardless of the weather, the yard requites continuous attention. Most yards can be kept neat and orderly during the winter by merely picking up debris and placing it in a galvanized steel basket. The collected trash can either be Set out for the refuse collector or burred. In burning debris, use a perforated galvanized steel turner -with a cover that contains dangerous sparks. Color Tag A dab of its paint oir the outside of a closed can of used paint will identify its contents by color at a glance.

Acoustical Tiles Effective li Reducing Noises In Homes

One of the best ways to improve t the home is to make it quiet and restful. Acoustical materials, which can be installed in any room afford an effective mOans of reducing noise. Placed on the celling toward which most noise ia reflected these materials which are soft, porous tiles (in home sizes, usually 12" x 12”) can absorb up to 85 per cent of the noise that strikes them. A room treated with acoustical materials will thus have a noticeably quieter atmosphere. A bonus value, in keeping with home improvement and modernization trends, is the strikingly attractive effect an acoustical ceiling will have on the appearance of g room. The tiles are available in about 20 different surface designs. Some have colored plastic surfaces, others look like veined marble or stone and still others seem to change patterns when lighting angles in a room are altered. The installation of an acoustical ceiling constitutes a minor remodeling job. Anyone a little handy with tools can make it a do-it-your-self project or an acoustical contractor can do the job in a day or so. The main methods involve cementing directly to the ceiling surface and nailing or stapling to wood furrings. Explicit instructions are provided by acoustical materials dealers. The use of draperies, soft cushion furniture and resilient floor materials will also help absorb noise. Placing pads or casters under chair and table legs will eliminate scraping noises, and mounting refrigerators, washers and other such appliances on rubber or cork pads will absorb the noise caused by machine vibrations. Buffers of resilient material on doors will prevent slamming. As for dealing with noise emanating from outside the home, it is advisable to weather strip doors and windows and to use double glass windows where possible. Reduction erf street noise is a by-pro-duct of air conditioning which requires Closed doors and windows during the warm weafhei months when . outdoor noises are usually most ndticable. The planting of bushes and the building of fences around the home will aid in absorbing or deflecting noise before it reaches indoors.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY If, IMA

>.:T~ T ~ —r— Most of these suggestions can,be undertaken with little trouble and expense. If as many as possible are followed, there* should be a noticeable reduction of noise in the home. It should be remembered that the lowering of the general noise level just a few decibles will result in an environment subatantilly more comfortable. Hera’s What Yoa Can Do With Attic Your attic is a good place for an extra bedroom or two, a sewing room, den or study, and perhaps also an extra bathroom. A recreation room of the kind where activities will not be disturbing to other members of the household also could be located there. Attic rooms can be just as livable as any other rooms in the house, and they can be constructed economically with use of attractive, long-lasting materials like hardboard. Hard-to-get-at space under eaves can be reserved for storage by building knee walls that have sliding doors of tempered hardboard for easy access. Perforated hardboard panels will provide extra storage space if used to line the walls of closets. Removable fixtures Inserted in the perforations-can be used as hangers. You’ll find this versatile material useful in making room dividers, built-ins, counter tops and table tops. It can be used to cover attic walls and ceilings. The large, smooth panels take paint and enamels easily. Hardboard won’t split, splinter or crack, and is so sturdy it will stay new-looking for years. Pail Useful , In Workshop Home handymen have found ordinary galvanized steel pails a gootL “c qt c h-all” for carrying nails, screws, • and small tools when working on a small repair job around the house. Steel palls .can also be used to mix cement, putty and paint. The convenient handle enables the handyman to hang the pail on a ladder.