June 1999
Newsletter
- What's new at Home-Work
- June's $$ Saving
Tip- Your Fridge!
- Roofing Problems-
Signs & Causes
- Healthier Homes-
Construction Techniques
1. WHAT'S NEW
AT HOME-WORK
Customers are very pleased with
our new system of matching their projects up with screened contractors
and having the contractors contact them directly. This process
happens within 48 hours of the customer registering their project.
It's simply a matter of registering your project on line or
calling us at 247-1387. We do the calling
for you, send you out the companies' profiles that will be contacting
you, and you sit back and wait for the calls! It's so easy and
there is no obligation. Best of all - it's FREE!!
We picked a winner for our free
draw in May. Congratulations to Sharon Thomas of Calgary! Check
out the free draw site - You could be the next to win $100!
An article was written on Home-Work
in the Calgary Sun in mid May! Thanks to Leanne at the Sun for
a great description of what Home- Work is all about.
You can read our published article
about hiring contractors, in Rising Women Magazine - a free
Alberta published woman's magazine available at many stores
and all public libraries.
Home-Work became a member of
the Better Business Bureau in May! To hear our company report,
please call 531- 8780.
2. JUNE'S $$
SAVING TIP- YOUR FRIDGE!
You should have listened to your
mother when she told you to quickly close the fridge door! Your
refrigerator/freezer is one of the major electricity consumers
in the typical home. Over one half of the electricity is
used to re-cool the air that is lost and to remove moisture
when the door is opened. The longer the door is held open,
the greater the electricity usage. Moisture in the room air
that enters, condenses on the cooling coils. This condensation
process requires addition cooling making the compressor run
longer.
It is important to have some general
organization inside your refrigerator. Instruct your family
to keep certain frequently-used foods and drinks in particular
areas inside the refrigerator. You will be able to find foods
faster, so the door will not be held open as long. Also, with
better organization, foods will not get "lost" in
there and spoil before your find them again.
(Provided by Jim Dulley)
3. ROOFING
PROBLEMS- SIGNS & CAUSES
Roofing problems can develop at
any time. Most asphalt/fiberglass shingles are made to last
about 15 years but you should begin to expect some problems
when your roof reaches the age of 8 to 10 years. Roof leaks
are often difficult to find and can be the cause of significant
structural damage that may appear sometime later.
SIGNS OF ATTIC LEAKS/MOISTURE:
- structural sagging; wavy roof
frame and sheathing
- damaged, worn or missing shingles;
moss growth
- corroded flashing (around chimney,
dormer, vents and in valley)
- raised shingles along the bottom
of the roof
- icicles hanging from gutter
in the winter (evidence of potential ice dams)
- stained/discolored or delaminating
sheathing
- rusted nails and rust stains
on sheathing
- damp or discolored insulation
- water spots or black marks on
the ceiling or at the junction between ceiling and wall
- water marks around ceiling fixtures
SOURCES OF ROOF LEAKS / MOISTURE:
Rain/Wind - Some roof problems
occur when wind forces the rain under the edges of the roof
or shingles. Two factors contributing to this phenomenon is
an improperly sloped roof or failure to adhere, using roofing
cement, the asphalt/fiberglass shingle tabs in high wind areas.
Ice dam - is an accumulation
of ice at the lower edge of a sloped roof. They form when there
is a layer of snow on the roof, which melts due to heat loss
from the house into the attic The water refreezes at the eave
because it extends past the warm interior of the house and the
backup of water seeps underneath the roof covering.
Moss - Wood and built-up
roofs are vulnerable to the deterioration by moss for its ability
to retain moisture and its root system penetrating the roof
surface.
Water vapor - Until the
late 1970s residential construction codes did not require thermal
or vapor barriers that are now standard practice. Exfiltration
of warm moist air to drier colder air results in condensation
(frost in the winter), mold and mildew and wood decay. It causes
curling; cupping and shrinkage in asphalt/fiberglass shingles,
corrosion of metal roofing and rotting of wood shakes and shingles.
Adding insulation doesn't seal the leak; it merely filters the
air going through it. Seal well around ceiling fixtures, plumbing
pipes, exhaust pipes and other obstructions running through
the ceiling
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO LEAKS/MOISTURE:
4. HEALTHIER
HOMES- CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
When you're building a new house,
that's the best time to educate yourself on healthy home issues
and make sure your builder incorporates as many of the new techniques
as possible.
It could add up to $5,000 in extra costs, but for anyone susceptible
to Sick House symptoms, it's usually worth it. More builders
are becoming aware of such techniques, and some of the leading
companies are making "heathier building" a central
part of their sales efforts.
A comprehensive set of criteria
and suggestions for healthier home construction have been developed.
Here are some of the main points:
- Use a foundation waterproofing
system, sealed ductwork-Install a continuous vapor barrier
- Install an energy recovery ventilator
to provide fresh air supply
- Use flooring other than carpet
(wood, vinyl, tile) to avoid dust build up, cleans easier
- Use solid materials for countertops
and cabinets that don't emit toxins.- Use paint with low levels
of volatile organic compounds (VOC's)
- Use wood I-joists instead of solid
wood joists to save a tree
- Install Metal roofing for low
maintenance and longevity
- Clean up construction area often
to prevent dust build up, buried wood scraps attract termites
- Use low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Maximize insulation R-values
- Incorporate radon control
