Alternative House Siding – Composite Material
Dear Shell,
A month or two ago, you had a siding product which was mostly concrete or cement with a small percent of it being of wood shavings or powder. There was no expansion and it was very durable and able to be prepainted. What is the name of this product and where can I find it?
Thank you, Phil
Dear Phil,
The product is called James Hardie Plank Siding and is available from most building supply stores. You can call 1-888-JHARDIE for a dealer in your area or check their website at www.jameshardie.com. Thanks for listening in from New York.
It’s just that easy.
Shell Busey
Note: This product has a fifty year warranty, it won’t chip/dent even if a golf ball hit it. It comes in a wood look and available in a wide range of stains as well as solid colours.
Definetly a product you should look into if changing your existing siding or building a new home.
Repair an old record player.
Q. I have an older 1940’s record player that I would like to get repaired. Do you know who would do this type of job.
A. If you’re looking to repair a 1930’s or 40’s record player – Contact SPARC (The Society for the Preservation of Antique Radio in Canada) a registered non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration of Canadian historical radio. Call 604-777-1885.
Tips to Prepare Your Home for Extended Holidays
If you’re one of the lucky few going away this winter for an extended vacation, you will need take care of a few things around the home before taking off.
- Have someone check in.
- Shut off water system by turning off the pump or shutting the valve if on city water. Drain the pressure tank.
- Add 1 tbs. of vegetable oil in toilet and cover with saran wrap. Evaporation in toilets and drains can result in sewer smell.
- Force as much water as possible out of traps with a plunger. Check for traps in these locations: Kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, bathtub and/or shower drains, toilets, floor drains and maybe sump pump.
- Pour 1 tsp oil into drains. Drain in basement: punch small hole in large juice tin and let drip over drain.
- Turn hot water tank to vacation setting.
- Shut off water supply to clothes washer. Disconnect electrical supply.
- Put a litre of water in dishwasher and clothes washer.
- Shut off any outdoor faucets. Drain them by closing the inside valve and opening the outside faucet.
- Drain humidifier, which is located in the furnace.
- Leave the thermostat set at not less than 16 degrees Celsius.
- Defrost fridge, remove meats and dairy products.
Coping With Moisture Problems in the Home
The most often talked about problem in the home is moisture control and how to get rid of it. Moisture usually becomes a problem as soon as the weather turns cold and we close up our windows and doors. The moisture looks for places to vent and if there isn’t sufficient ventilation, you may begin to find excess moisture showing up on windows or as stains on the ceiling.
Anywhere that water enters your home, you have the potential for damage, such as musty odours, wallboard staining near windows or plaster or drywall that crumbles. Moisture causes odours to linger in crawl spaces and basement rooms allowing fungus and mildew to grow.
There are several ways to reduce indoor humidity such as increasing ventilation using exhaust fans when cooking, washing and cleaning. Using HRV’s (heat recovery ventilators) and venting bathrooms, laundry rooms and other areas that exhaust moisture to the outside.
Solutions:
1. Bathroom exhaust fans should be controlled by a DEHUMIDISTAT moving air at an average rate of 105 feet per minute.
2. If a forced air furnace has only a single speed blower motor, have a conversion made to a two speed motor allowing air to be circulated 24 hours a day 365 days a year throughout your home. If after installing a two-speed motor, you start to feel drafts at some of your floor registers, you should consider installing a HOYME DAMPER. This is installed in the inflow cold air duct on your furnace and prevents cold air from coming in the home through your heating system.
3. Electric or Hot Water Heated Homes Radiant or Convection. With those types of heating systems it is important to have the best exhaust ventilation system you can afford. You should install a HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATOR SYSTEM-HRV. This will recover up to 70% of the heat within the moist stale air being exhausted from your home.Check out the Lifebreath website at www.lifebreath.com for more information on HRV’s.
4. Bathing & Showers.
Bathroom fans should be left on one hour after bath or shower use. Also, wipe or squeegee excess water after each shower.
5. Condensation on Windows.
This is the first sign of too much moisture (relative humidity) in the home. When this happens, venting must begin.
6. Damp basements and crawl spaces.
High moisture in a crawlspace will eventually work its way up into your living area. To rectify this problem, consider insulating the perimeter walls in the crawlspace and between the joists overtop of the concrete walls with rigid foam insulation and sealing with accoustic caulking. For more information on controlling moisture in basements and crawl spaces, check out Basement Systems website @ www.basementsystems.com. Their dealers across Canada specialize in waterproofing products and services that are specifically engineered for crawl space encapsulation and basement waterproofing.
Also, installing a HUMIDEX crawlspace ventilation device will expel damp, cold air to the outside and replace it with dry air from the higher levels of your home. Since the Humidex eliminates only the damp air at the lowest level of your home (the basement), the potential for losing heat is low.
Why Control Moisture Flow?
Control of moisture in all its forms is important in order to make our homes durable and comfortable. Building components and practices such as flashing, roofing and basement damp-proofing successfully protect the home from liquid water.
It is equally important to control the movement of water vapour, providing added protection for the house structure and helping to maintain indoor humidity at a comfortable level.
Controlling moisture involves the following three strategies:
1. Construction techniques that keep moisture away from the structure
2. Producing less moisture
3. Exhausting excess moisture
Where does all the moisture come from? There are a number of major sources that are not always obvious:
- occupants and their activities
- wind-blown rain in walls
- damp basements and crawl spaces
- moisture that is stored in building materials and furnishings
An average family of four will generate about 63 litres (20 gallons) of water a week through normal household activities. Where basement damp-proofing is inadequate, ground water in the soil can migrate through the foundation by capillary action and evaporate on the surface of the wall or floor. Finally, during damp, humid weather, the building materials and furnishings will absorb moisture from the air, and then expel it during the heating season.
To find out more valuable information about moisture control in the home visit
Natural Resources Canada website or contact the HouseSmart Referral Network for more information on where to purchase any of the above mentioned products at 1-888-266-8806.
