You`ve had a great summer. You`ve golfed, beached and fested or perhaps toured and trekked. You`re rested, refreshed and ready to gear up for fall.
What`s that you say? Your summer was rotten? You worked too much overtime, your air conditioner died, it rained on your parade? Too bad. Whether you`re ready or not, chances are that your home is ripe for repairs.
If you have cracks in your fireplace or roof, leaks in your basement or if you simply want to get a head start on winter by weatherproofing both interior and exterior surfaces, you may benefit from the following new repair and maintenance products. They include a mortar to seal cracks in fireplaces, several waterproofing and weatherproofing products, a new sealant for roof repairs and even a new exterior house ”coating” designed to compete with aluminum siding.
Some of these products have been recently introduced to the trade and may not yet be available in local stores. Unless specified otherwise, manufacturers do not sell direct to the public but may be contacted for the name of a retailer in your area. Suggested retail price reflects the highest price of the product.
If you`re contemplating painting or siding your home, you may want to consider a new ”coating,” Tex-Cote Classic, from Textured Coatings of America, 5950 S. Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90003 (phone:
213-233-3111). Suggested retail price: $2-$2.50 per square foot; overall price varies with preparation work required. This is not a do-it-yourself product because it must be bought and applied through a contractor. The manufacturer of Tex-Cote Classic says this exterior coating product is 15 times thicker than paint; prevents surfaces from chipping, flaking and peeling; and reflects damaging ultraviolet rays. The coating has a Class A fire rating and is available in 20 colors. Designed as an alternative to aluminum siding, this new product is guaranteed as long as you own your house.
Maintenance can add years to the life of your roof, siding, stucco and brick, and there are several new weatherproofing products designed for both specific and general maintenance and repair chores.
Roof repair and maintenance is the purpose of Seek & Seal, from Zircon International, Inc., 1580 Dell Ave., Campbell, Calif. 95008 (phone:
800-245-9265). Suggested retail price: $20 for a 1-gallon can; $100 for a 5-gallon can. Seek & Seal is a water-based asphalt emulsion that can be used for a quick fix for small roof leaks or a general seal-coat for maintenance on tar or latex-based roof surfaces. To repair leaks, the product is most effective in standing water, because when poured full-strength into the water, it follows the water`s natural course under the sheathing. As it is denser than water, it settles into any holes or cracks and when exposed to air, hardens into a flexible black filler. It can be used alone to fill cracks up to a quarter-inch wide. Wider separations may require additional filler material, such as roof cement or gravel. For general maintenance, Seek & Seal can be poured, brushed, mopped or sprayed on the surface. It sticks to metal flashing and wood to seal joints and edges. The product is nontoxic and does not require special equipment for application.
For both interior and exterior weatherproofing, Super Thoroseal Redi-Mix Liquid from Thoro System Products, 7800 Northwest 38th St., Miami, Fla. 33166 (phone: 305-592-2081), has many uses. Suggested retail price: $53 for 2 gallons; $127 for 5 gallons. The product bonds to various surfaces and dries as a white finish that does not chip, peel or crack; tolerates alkaline surfaces; and does not support mildew growth. It can be used to protect exterior concrete, masonry and stucco walls, and provides a waterproof coating for boat docks, retaining walls and foundations. It also is recommended for waterproofing basement walls.
To protect dry, porous surfaces from the elements, there`s United Coatings Waterproofing Sealer, from United Coatings Inc., 3050 N. Rockwell St., Chicago, Ill. 60618 (phone: 583-3700). Suggested retail price: $15 for a 1-gallon container; $60 for a 5-gallon container. A two-year warranty accompanies this sealer, which is designed to protect materials such as wood, masonry, brick, leather and fabric against moisture damage. The new formula of the sealer reportedly allows it to penetrate the surface and form a protective barrier against even extreme weather conditions. The sealer is brushed on to the surface, and its nonsilicon formula allows it to be painted with an oil-base paint.
Creo-Tech Wood Weatherizer, from Gibraltar National Corp., 8951 Schaefer Highway, Building No. 4, Detroit, Mich. 48228-2515 (phone: 313-491-3500), is designed as a safe alternative to creosote, a toxic wood preservative whose use is now restricted by the Environmental Protection Agency. Suggested retail price: $3.50 for a quart; $9 for a gallon; $35 for 5 gallons. The product can be applied with a brush, roller or spray, and when dry stays pliable and prevents water absorption. It is available in a high-gloss, jet-black finish. It is not recommended for surfaces such as decks but for the underside of decks or posts and fences, railroad ties, docks and other surfaces where creosote formerly would have been used.
Fall fixup in the Chicago area includes filling and repairing the gaps that keep out rain and snow, as well as cold weather.
For interior and exterior caulking, a clear alternative is offered by Lexel, from Sashco Sealants, 3900 E. 68th Ave., Commerce City, Colo. 80022
(phone: 303-286-7674). Suggested retail price: $7 for a 10 1/2-ounce cartridge. Lexel is a clear, paintable caulk that binds to most surfaces, such as plastic laminate, acrylic sheet, wood, concrete, tile, glass and aluminum. It can be used for tubs, showers, counters, duct work, windows, doors, sidewalks, driveways, roof flashing, gutters, brick and siding. It can be applied in cold weather above 10 degrees Fahrenheit and is cleaned from tools and hands with mineral spirits or paint thinner. Unlike other caulks, Lexel is packaged in a clear cartridge, which allows the user to monitor use of the product. The product also is available in white.
For wide cracks, holes in gutters and drain pipes, leaky flashings and other items needing repair, there are two new caulks from 3M Home Products, Building 223-4S, 3M Center, St. Paul, Minn. 55144 (phone: 612-733-1110). Suggested retail price: Less than $4 per roll. Press-In-Place Roof & Gutter Caulk is a continuous strip of caulk in roll form that can easily be used to repair roof cracks. The caulk is simply rolled out to the required length, cut with a sharp knife or scissors and pressed into place. The roll of caulk is 7/ 16 inch wide by 15 feet long and also may be used for an effective seal on new installations such as vents, skylights, attic fans and flashing. For sealing wide cracks or gaps around door and window frames, Press-In-Place Caulk is available in half-inch, wedge-shaped rolls that provide better seals than ribbon-type caulk. This caulk comes in 12-foot rolls and is available in white. Both caulks withstand expansion and settling and are effective in severe temperatures. They are backed by a 20-year guarantee against cracking, peeling or separating.
Repairing cracks in a fireplace is the purpose of Fireplace Mortar, from Macklanburg-Duncan, P.O. Box 25188, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73125 (phone:
800-654-8454). Suggested retail price: $2. This new product can be applied with a caulking gun and dries to a black, hard finish to form a permanent patch. It can be applied to vertical or overhead surfaces and is cleaned with soap and water. When dry, the mortar withstands a temperature range up to 1,750 degrees.
If your fall fixup campaign includes minor repair jobs, you may want to consider Duro Stick With It, from Loctite Corp., 4450 Cranwood Ct., Cleveland, Ohio 44128 (phone: 216-475-3600). Suggested retail price: $2. This multipurpose adhesive is a one-step fixative that promises not to stick your fingers together. The product has special additives that allow for permanent- but not instant-bonding, which allows the user more time to position broken parts and remove any of the adhesive from hands and surrounding surfaces. It can be used on porous and nonporous surfaces, such as brick, ceramics, glass, metal, plastic, rubber and wood.
For lubricating jobs in the kitchen, such as cabinets and drawers, a safe alternative is offered with Freeway, from Freeway Inc., 2 Greenwich Plaza, Greenwich, Conn. 06830 (phone: 203-622-1308). Suggested retail price: $3-$3.50. Freeway is a jet-spray lubricant originally designed for lubricating the sliding doors of beer and soft-drink delivery trucks. Its nontoxic mineral oil base makes it safe to use in the kitchen, as well as in areas where it would be exposed to children and pets. It is clear, odorless and nonstaining.
