All About Shopping

Dormers, or upright windows in a sloping roof, most often exist or are added to add daylight to spaces inside the roof, whether used for storage, added bedrooms or other modern space needs. These units must have their own separate roofs and thus are treated in the same way as the overall house roofing to provide uniform appearance. Generally speaking, to handle a dormer in other fashion is courting design disaster.

A dormer roof may be flat or curved (as is popu tar in mansard roofs); it may have one slope in the same direction as the main roof but at a lower pitch; or, it may be a span roof with a ridge, the front being either hipped or gabled, as typically found in Cape Cod architecture.

Depending upon the house styling, the dormer “cheeks” or sidewalls may be treated in several ways. If the home is roofed with slate, the cheeks are usually of the same material. If the roofing is asphalt shingles the sidewalls are finished with this exterior siding material. If the main roof is wood shake or shingle, use of this same material will provide a pleasing appearance to the sidewalls.

Adequate flashing, of course, is absolutely necessary to prevent leaks in the roof. Still another successful method of providing the cheek triangle is to use glass, which increases the natural light reaching the interior.

Few windows or doors today are equipped shutters for their original purpose closing opening for light control and weather protection but millions of shutters are being used for decorative purposes.

You may now choose from wood or plastic shutters in louver or raised panel designs to complement almost any window or door. Depending upon manufacturer, these units come in widths of 12,14,1 5,18,19 and 20 in. and in heights 23 through 80 in. A general rule is that 14 in. shutters are used with windows up to 2 ft. 8 in. wide; greater widths are used for windows wider than 2 ft. 8 in.

 shutters  may be purchased unfinished as standard wood millwork or may be obtained pre finished from several manufacturers. Andersen Corporation, for example, offers 14 and 18 in. widths in either black or white Perma-Shield, a rigid vinyl sheath with pine grain appearance that gives a real wood look but won’t chip, flake, peel, blister or need painting. Benson Mfg. Corporation makes exterior plastic shutters in 1 2,1 5 and 1 9 in. widths in a choice of black, white, Virginia green, Dominion brown and sunset red (rust).

Shutter installation has been greatly refined in recent years, in most instances eliminating the need for templates which previously were used to align the units accurately with adjoining windows and doors. Now you need only nail simple clips to any wall surface and snap the shutters on the clips. The total job can be accomplished in five to ten minutes.

An even newer style shutter now finding favor on the West Coast is called the Roll-A-Matic, which is custom fitted to the exterior of the window with controls located inside the home. In these applications, the shutters are used to filter air flow, protect the room from sun, insure privacy and seal out traffic noise. Made by Continental Customs, they can be opened fully, closed partially or completely, as you desire.Another variation of the popular European-type rolling shutter made by Pease Co. can be used with new construction or remodeling. The units are installed on the outside of the window, yet operated manually from inside the home to control light, protect privacy, and provide weather protection. The manufacturer reports that these rolling shutters, even used on a window with a storm window, will act as a heat saver, gaining 2650 btu’s per window when the outdoor temperature is at 15′.
 

Porch balustrades (or railings) are fabricated in any number of designs usually with one or two railings with balusters between them. They are designed both for appearance and protection. A closed balustrade may be used with screens or combination windows above, a frequent mid western approach to producing a year round sitting area.

All balustrade members that are exposed to water and snow should be designed to shed water, with the bottom rail not in contact with the concrete unless the rail has been constructed of pressure treated wood. It’s also important to connect the railing to the post in such a way that prevents moisture from being trapped. One method uses galvanized angle iron attached to both rail and post, leaving a small space between the end of the rail and the post.

It’s also recommended in building new balustrades or replacing existing ones that all exposed members, such as posts, balusters, and railings, be of all-heart, decay-resistant, or treated wood to minimize decay

Outdoor Stairs and Steps

Porch stairs, like balustrades, exist in many different designs and have been constructed of various materials including brick, sandstone and wood. Whatever type, choose treads a minimum of 11 in wide, and risers not higher than 7 in or lower than 4 in. Proportioning of risers and treads in laying out porch steps should be as carefully considered as the design of interior stairways.

Normally, the porch riser is between 6 and 7 in. in height, with stringers used wherever there are two or more steps with a single step, a simple inverted box can be used effectively.

Keep in mind when building safe exterior steps the need for a good support or foundation. Where wood steps are used, the bottom step should be concrete or supported by treated wood members. Where the steps are located over backfill or disturbed ground, the foundation should be carried down to undisturbed ground.

Stringers should be anchored at the top to the porch framing and at the bottom anchored to the concrete pad or wood base. Stair treads can be set inside boxed stringers (stringers enclosing the ends of the treads), either on cleats or on notched stringers nailed to the inside of the boxed stringers. If the stairs a re wider than 3 ft. 6 in., a third (center) stringer is required.

The outside of a home can readily be compared to a woman’s dress or man’s suit it either fits well and enhances the wearer’s appearance, or it’s ill suited for one or many reasons and does little beyond providing the required outer covering. Thus, it’s important that every item of the house exterior be considered on its own merits and for its compatibility to all other elements.

Later chapters of this book will deal specifically with roofing and siding and the many options of feted today’s homeowner. This chapter is more concerned with what could be called the trimmings the windows, shutters, dormers, over hangs, chimney, and garage doors.

Restyling or updating can bring about dramatic changes: all the proof one needs of this is a quick tour of an inner-city redevelopment program where old and ugly houses have been made new and attractive In some instances, a world of change has been made by chopping off an old porch, while another house has been improved with an addition.

Windows

Most people look through windows, not at them as they should. Beyond the primary functions of providing light, air and protection, windows play a major role in the appearance of a home. Window designs should suit the architecture of the house, and each window should be chosen carefully for insularities quality and good design.

Most new and replacement windows being used today are of wood or aluminum construction. There are pros and cons for both types, including the basic facts that: wood acts as an insulator while metal conducts heat; wood windows require painting but metal windows do not; wood does not corrode or pit and metal does, etc. The architectural style of your home, and your design preferences, and cash availability will help you to sort this out and make a decision.

In choosing windows it’s well to keep in mind that the least expensive is not always the best solution. Select units that are best for your climate and give consideration to using double glazing or insulating glass that eliminates the need for storm windows in colder climates.

There are six basic types of window styles used in bay, bow, box and picture windows:

· Double hung units have two sashes, one above the other, that move up and down. These windows have long been used for traditional homes.

· Casement windows are sash hinged at the side to swing out. They are opened and closed by rotary operators, providing maximum ventilation when opened to a 90′ angle Casements are ideal for awkward locations, such as above sinks and counter tops

· Gliding windows, or sliders, have sash that slide in tracks. This design is popular with contemporary architecture, yet is also compatible with Colonial and Traditional homes.

· Awning windows have sash hinged at the top to open out, providing a shield from the rain even when open. This window is sometimes used stacked, one above the other, or can be located below a fixed window to provide natural ventilation.

· Hopper windows are similar to the awning style, except sash are hinged at the bottom so the window will open inward. This style is frequently used in basements but should be avoided in other walls where it would interfere with furniture placement.

· Fixed windows have glazed glass that does not move, such as the typical picture window that provides light and a view where ventilation is supplied by other means.

Most existing homes have two or more of these window types in use. Newer models available from retail lumber dealers are design-engineered to open easily and close tightly, and are equipped with precision-made hardware and built-in weather stripping. And some wood windows are preservative-treated or plastic-encased for minimum maintenance.

Cutting of wall and installation of most new windows should be left to an experienced contractor. The damage possible to your home if you cut inaccurately into a load-bearing stud wall can be considerable.

Window installations can be used to provide extra space and more light in a living room or dining room. Replacing a double-hung or fixed window with a stock bay window will give a room a more spacious feeling. With windows angled to catch the light from three directions, a bay brightens the room all day long and widens the view to 180 degree.

The center section of a bay window is usually a fixed window, one that doesn’t open. Ventilation is provided by the two side windows, which can be casements or double-hung. Further customizing is provided by a choice of removable grilles in rectangular or diamond shapes for a traditional small paned look.

Bow windows are simile r to the bay, but curved instead of angled out from the wall. Casements or fixed units may be used, combined with a few awning sections for ventilation.

New townhouse construction with mansard roof styling is doing much to popularize box style windows, flat units set out from the wall in a box-like frame. The shadow-box frames or surrounds provide dramatic architectural treatment. The window or windows can be casements, fixed, double-hung or a combination. A pair of casements provides look of French doors.

Most stock windows can be washed from the inside. Casements open wide enough to reach both sides of the panes, and some double-hung and gliding window sash can be lifted out or tilted. TV makes washing them safe and easier.

With growing concern being expressed about fuel saving, many cities are adopting resolution that new construction and remodeling must incorporate insulating glass when new windows are stalled. Long in use, this type of glass is the mode method of providing double window pane protection against the weather.

Insulating glass is actually two panes of glass sealed together at the edges to form an insulating layer of air between. The glass can be plain or color tinted to reduce glare, and comes in many stand sizes. A key feature of this type of glass is its ability to keep window temperatures stable, thus prevent log condensation from forming on the glass.

Open porches frequently have decorative job built or mill-made columns of a minimum 4 x 4 dimension. A formal design of a large house entrance, for example, often includes the use of round built-up columns topped by Doric or ionic capitals. These As an alternative to digging a hole. Putting in a post and adding cement or to utilize already poured and hardened foundation slab you can use an adjust able two-piece clip from Panel Clip Co It will position and anchor4×4 posts to concrete even when bolts are out of line. It resists termites and moisture rot the base cover has weep holes to allow moisture to escape. The base clip can be coordinated with the beam clip, as when adding porch or deck roots. The beam clip is used to anchor the top of a post ore column to the header or beam two beams are recommended per post available at lumber yards. Call or write to Panel-Clip for nearest distributor. columns are factory made and ready for installation at the building site The base of posts or columns in open porches should be designed so that no pockets are formed to retain moisture and encourage decay. In single posts, a steel pin may be used to locate the post and a large galvanized washer or similar spacer used to keep the bottom of the post above the concrete or wood floor. Commercially available metal post anchors and caps also may be used.

Decorative Treatments Treatment of the entryway (stoop, deck, and porch) and entry walkway add distinction to the house, and can set it apart from identical or similar houses in a tract development. Successful utilization of this approach to remodeling can be far less expensive than trying to redo the house facade itself. It’s also well to keep in mind that appearance is just one consideration, and other effects of redesigning an entrance may offer even greater advantages such as privacy, protection against sun, wind or passing showers, and the new relationship of a house to its surroundings. Closing off the house from the street by means of a decorative fence, landscaping, or a trellised garden entrance can be a lasting asset, especially if the residence is on a route heavily traveled by noisy cars and boisterous children. The result is immediate privacy and peace, whatever the size of your front yard. Depending upon orientation to the sun and the quirks of climate, a wide selection of plants can be grown on fences or in containers. Bougainvillaea or in cold areas, hardy ivy planted in hanging pots and cascading over a trellis is lovely and requires minimal attention.Lighting the entry for safety and for emphasis offers creative possibilities. Many kinds of fixtures in wood, aluminum or glass are available with the source of light supplied by gas, electricity, kerosene or even candle. Porches Enclosed Porches Many older homes have a wealth of added living area that is wasted most of the year an out dated front porch. This space so common to the 1910-1940 era of homebuilding can be put to year round use of simply enclosing the openings with non load bearing partitions or windows. The attached porch in most instances will have been constructed with a roof slope continuous with the roof of the house itself, or with a roof that ties into the wall of the house, pitched just enough to provide drainage. The floor construction will be a concrete slab on grade or a wood assembly above a crawl space, built in much the same way as interior wood floors with joists and decking. Wood species used for your finished porch floor should have decay-and-wear resistance, be none splintering and free from warping. Species commonly used are cypress, douglas fir, western larch, southern pine and redwood. Where moisture conditions are serious, only treated material should be used. If a fully enclosed crawl space exists below the porch, it should be adequately vented or have an opening into the basement. Lack of same is one of the principal destructive elements that cause rot and force frequent repair projects. On an open porch, it’s also a good practice to slope the floor slightly for drainage purposes, snow removal and the like. The slope, of course, should be downward from the house. Supports for enclosed porches usually consist of fully framed stud walls, with studs doubled at openings and corners. If both interior and exterior finish coverings are used, the walls are constructed in similar manner to other walls of the house. They are attached with nails or a power stud driver, similar to placement of a wall on a new concrete slab. If insulated glass is used, you will have to call a con tractor for installation.

An open redwood trellis protects the large glass windows from sun glare a: the entry of this home, yet still admits light and warmth in the winter Designed by Architect David Leaf, the trellis entry ties the house into the land scaping. The long, narrow entryway of this home, designed by Architect Fred Langhorst is protected from the elements by a solid roof open on the sides for sunlight and air. The effect of the entry is quite formal, and the solid overhang is massive enough to tit the scale of the larger redwood house. A quick change of glass panel to screen adjusts the door to the season. All-extruded aluminum combination doors manufactured by several firms provide a self storing feature which permits a quick switch from glass to screen, or vice versa. These doors are pre hung and merely set in place and fastened to the door frame. Acrylic finishes in a choice of colors have been electro statically bonded, eliminating periodic repainting.

Now, how do you find out when and where the auctions are, so that you can start learning how to use them and get in on this bargain bonanza? For some types of auctions, the information is as close as your daily paper. Many, many auctions are advertised in newspapers. There’s usually a section back near the classified ads where public notices are published, and you’ll often find auction notices there, too. Another source for finding out about auction sales is your local legal publication. This is a newspaper that publishes all the notices of legal proceedings filed in your community. If you don’t know the name of this paper, look in your Yellow Pages ask your local bar association, a librarian, an attorney, or someone who works for an attorney. When you read these papers, you’ll find out about many government auctions.

There are also special mailing lists you can get on for particular types of auctions. In fact, you should make an effort to get on as many lists as you can. Even if you’re not interested in the types of merchandise they offer, or you can’t afford to bid on higher-priced items just yet, you should start getting acquainted with these sources. The day may come when you’ll want this information. It’s free or available for the cost of a stamped, preaddressed envelope, so you might as well sign up for it before you become preoccupied with other matters and forget whom to contact.

There are enough auction information sources to fill an entire directory. I know that for a fact, because I’ve compiled such a directory, and it’s more than 230 pages long. But whatever source you use, I guarantee that there are many auction opportunities out there, just waiting for you.

You could even find yourself in the same position as my friend Don. He started going to auctions simply because he wanted to save money on purchases for his family. He did so well that soon friends were asking him to pick up bargains for them, too. Then Don realized there were probably a lot more people who would like to buy the kinds of articles he was finding at auctions.

He started buying large lots containing several hundred items. Typical buys were gross lots of baseballs and golf balls, backpacks, and athletic socks. Whenever Don made purchases like these, he’d put together a little flier and mail it to groups he thought would be interested: community baseball leagues for the baseballs, country clubs and driving ranges for the golf balls, hiking clubs for the backpacks. (He included the athletic socks in every flier.)

From this small beginning, working nights and weekends, Don built his little mail-order business into a national sales catalog. He became well known to certain large manufacturers as a man who buys sports-related merchandise the company can’t dispose of through normal sales channels. Now, when these companies are faced with inventory they can’t sell, they often call Don and ask him to take it off their hands. Don decides whether he can sell it, and at what price, and then makes them an offer that provides him with a profit.

Sometimes, too, if Don doesn’t think the merchandise is suitable for his catalog but knows someone else in his network of contacts who could profit from it, he’ll act as a broker, or middleman, to put the right buyer and seller together. He takes a commission on these transactions. Result: the company cuts its losses, someone who can profit from it gets needed merchandise, and Don collects a nice fee for his knowledge and time.

That all came later, of course; but it started with auctions and knowing how to profit from them.

Like the entry door, today’s combination storm and screen doors come in both wood and metal models for combined beauty and functionalism. Wood models are available at lumber dealers in stock sizes and a variety of styles that require virtually no maintenance.

During installation of a new entry door is an excellent time to update your home’s security with a new lockset-deadbolt combination or separate units that provide complete protection. Hundreds of lockset-knob-rose-escutcheon design possibilities permit a wide selection of “just the right hardware” to trim a new entry door. The choice, of course, should again reflect the architectural styling of the home.