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Show FIRST-AID to the AILING HOUSE By ROGER 8. WHITMAN . lt Roger B. Whitman WNU Service.) Magncsite Stucco. QUESTION: Some 17 years ago I stuccoed my house with mag-nesite mag-nesite stucco. The metal lath has started to show through And some cracks are appearing. I am trying to find a finish which will be nearly like the present gray to contrast with the red tile roof. Answer: Once magnesite stucco has begun to disintegrate, there is no permanent method of stopping this condition. The only remedy is to remove the present stucco and re-finish re-finish with a good Portland cement stucco. You can get the desired color from one of the makers of colored stucco. Renovating'. Question: In doing over an old farmhouse, I intend to strip walls and ceilings of all lath and plaster, and to run necessary pipes and conduits con-duits before replastering. Would it be better to use wood or metal lath? There is no heat, and I do not expect tn nut it in ot nnpft hut will install risers for steam or hot water while the plaster is off. Would you prefer steam or hot water? Why? Answer: For a house that is to be occupied only occasionally, I should prefer some form of circulating circulat-ing warm air. With both steam and hot water, all water would have to be drained off on leaving, and on opening up the house, H would be many hours before the system could be filled and the radiators heated. With warm air, all of this would be avoided. Do not overlook the need for putting good metal weatherstrips on all windows and outside doors. Vegetable Storeroom. Question Please give me the requirements re-quirements for building a cold room for the storage of fruit, vegetables, etc. Answer: Enclose the area to be used for the storage room with a rigid insulating board. Use four-Inch four-Inch studding, and cover both sides of the walls with the insulating ' board. A small window in the partition par-tition will help ventilate the storage room. The window should not be opened so wide as to permit the warm air of the cellar to get into the cold room. The walls and boards could be painted with afumi-num afumi-num paint to keep any possible dampness from damaging the insulating insu-lating board, as well as provide additional ad-ditional insulation. The door must fit snugly in the wall. , Soundproof Doors. Question: After I have insulated a wall to keep in the noise, how can I make the door soundproof? Answer: Reasonable sound resistance re-sistance may be obtained by applying apply-ing a felt stripping on the door frame, the felt strips to fit closely around the door when closed. The space between the door sill and the DOiiom oi uie aoor is ciosea up oy installing a special type of felt strip, which automatically closes down on the door saddle. Panel doors should have the panels taken out, and the spaces filled with a rigid insulating board. The entire door is then covered cov-ered with insulating board on both sides. Plastic Paint. Question: Is lime ever used for plastic paint walls? What is a good medium rough finish? Can plastic paint be put on over old plaster? Are ceilings given the same texture as the walls? Answer: Plastic paint contains glue or some other adhesive, and will stick to any surface, including old plaster. Gypsum plastic paint is inexpensive, and you will get better bet-ter results through buying it, than in attempting to mix your own. The dealer from whom you buy it should have instruction sheets describing the different plastic finishes. Ceilings' Ceil-ings' are usually finished smooth. Fireplace Hearth. Question: The specifications call for a fire brick floor in a fireplace. Instead, the builder has laid a concrete con-crete floor, claiming this is more heat resisting than the fire brick. We have our doubts about this and would like your opinion. Answer: Fire brick might be more satisfactory for the purpose. However, if the concrete was laid in sufficient thickness and proper proportions it should prove serviceable. service-able. Painting a House. Question: In painting a frame house, is it advisable to put on a coat of aluminum paint first? If so, why? Is it more costly than ordinary ordi-nary paint? Answer: Aluminum paint is most widely used for a priming coat on new wood surfaces. It makes an excellent base for the following coats of paint In repainting it is not necessary. Aluminum paint does not cost more than ordinary paints. |