Autumn busy time for renovations

Press, 10 March 1984, Page 12

Autumn busy time for renovations

Home Line with

Bill Harrison

Spring and autumn are traditionally the times of greatest activity for home maintenance and improvement, and indications are that the autumn of 'B4 will be busier than most.

The “Indian Summer” we have been experiencing with such warm weather gives us ideal conditions for out-door jobs like painting, reroofing, or landscaping projects. Builders will be very busy over the next few weeks, and even as you are enjoying this morning’s paper a builder’s team is representing Canterbury at the Hamilton Industrial Field Days Carpentry Competitions, at Mystery Creek. Next week, delegates assemble in Christchurch for the International Conference of the Australian Institute of Building in association with the recently formed New Zealand Institute of Building. The following week the New Zealand Master Builders’ Federation holds its annual conference in Greymouth. So if you have difficulty contacting a builder during the next few weeks, perhaps you will now have a clue as to where he may be. Queries: Q: I have an old wooden house which I painted about 10 years ago with four coats of paint, starting with a red lead primer. The white finish is still in good condition but we now wish to change the colour to a cream. Can I use a water-based paint over the previous surface as we wish to avoid the fumes of turps and oils as my wife and I both have asthma. Can I just sand down and apply these new paints or should I use a special type? “R. T. Darfield”

A: I am in sympathy with your concern over the correct type of paint to use. With so many formulations with so many names one needs a good knowledge of chemistry or clear instructions from the manufacturer before proceeding with any sort of confidence. Paint manufacturers today speak of Paint Systems. That means that each coat of paint from, the first primer to the last

finish coat must be compatible and correctly applied over a properly prepared surface. When sanding down your house be sure to wear a respirator or dust mask to protect against the lead content of the old paint. My advisers inform me that you can confidently use an acrylic finish for your job. I am sure you will follow the manufacturers’ instructions and remove any chalky areas and spot prime any bare timber. Time spent in preparation is seldom wasted.

If you do choose to use an acrylic paint, do not paint your opening doors and windows with the acrylic — use an enamel to avoid the doors and sashes sticking in the frames. ,

Q: We have a 15-year-old house that we want to alter to suit our changing family needs and wish to consider various options before proceeding. Can you suggest any person, company or organisation who specialises in going into houses giving advice and/or options for us to consider on house alterations? I would tackle most .of the simple work myself using a builder for the more difficult work. Also, finances would probably only allow us to tackle one area at a time in working to an over-all plan.

“Changes” A: Sorry, but the only organisation that I know of that specialises in “giving” building advice is the Building Centre and they do not go out and visit homes, you have to visit the centre. Your idea of establishing an over-all plan for your alterations is an excellent one. Your first move is to find a designer who shows an understanding of your requirements and has a

design style that you like.

It is most essential that you have confidence in your designer and can communicate well with him or her to avoid wasted effort through lack of team work. You may have to speak to several designers before you find one whose ideas are compatible with yours. Where to look for a designer?

The Institute of Architects, or the Federation of Architectural Draughtsmen, will have members who do this type of work. Or, an interior designer could be employed to provide an over-all scheme on which to base your alteration plans.

Some builders provide a design and build service and will arrange a contract that allows for the owner to do certain specified parts of the work. Planning can be fun — paying can be painful. Be sure to budget for the work carefully. To proceed with a major home alteration programme without first accurately determining the cost of the work is at the very least imprudent and at the worst financially crippling with the embarrassment of an uncompleted job. Q: Should we consider using solar water heaters for our new home that we intend building south of Timaru? “Retiring”

A: There could be two questions here, (a) should we consider using solar water-heating? and (b) is the sunshine south of Timaru sufficient to heat water with solar collectors?

To answer (b) first, there are few areas in New Zealand where the sun will be inadequate to operate properly designed and positioned solar collectors. The real problem

will be the amount of frost. Freezing temperatures can damage some types of collectors. To answer (a) yes, you should consider solar water-heating as part of an energy plan for your new home. Solar collectors coupled to an adequately sized storage cylinder backed up with an electric element on a night storage rate will provide hot water at a minimum cost.

Four square metres of solar collectors should produce about 200 litres of hot water a day. Even before the energy shock of the 70’s people were working to make homes more energy efficient. Much has been achieved and the work goes on.

This year, seminars on “Energy in Residential Buildings” will be held

around the country. The two-day seminars ’ which are part of the Ministry of Energy’s programme to demonstrate low energy housing are mainly for housing design professionals, architects, draughtsmen, and builders.

Q: I am having trouble keeping paint on a “big 7” asbestos roof. Recently I answered the enclosed advertisement and received a quote to resurface the roof with a painting process that includes a final coat of gloss sealer. Have you any information about this particular paint process, and would you consider it value? “Roofer”

A: My information for you about this particular paint

process or (system) is that it is manufactured by a major building products company and is only available through approved applicators. This ensures quality control and you should have no problem having any guarantee or warranty honoured should the need arise.

Your first sentence says it all — “I am having trouble keeping paint on a ‘big 7’ asbestos roof.” There are some building materials that were never intended to be painted, but, because of our heritage of corrugated iron and weather boards New Zealanders have a great desire to paint everything sooner or later.

The roofing manufacturers’ representative suggests that this roofing be

chemically cleaned every few years and it will retain its original, almost white appearance. Water-blasting is NOT recommended as it can damage the surface of the roofing material. Unfortunately, you are probably committed to repainting the roof so be sure that any painting is

preceded by a chemical cleaning treatment that x will prevent moss growth from again lifting the paint. There are at least two other companies offering a similar process of roof resurfacing so check their quotes before proceeding. If you have a question relating to home ownership or maintenance write to “Home Line,” C/o The Building Centre, P.O; Box 22-143, Christchurch.