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<br />to costly mistakes. It may take <br />several weeks for the surface to <br />dry out enough. <br />To get an idea if a wall or <br />floor is dry enough to paint, dry <br />an area approximately 18 inches <br />square with a blow dryer. (When <br />checking a wall, select an area <br />on the lower part of the wall <br />near the floor, where it will be <br />most damp.) Cover the area <br />with a piece of clear plastic <br />sheeting. Carefully seal all the <br />edges with tape. Check the plas- <br />tic 24 hours later. If there are <br />beads of condensation on the <br />side of the plastic that faced the <br />wall or floor, it's still too damp <br />to paint. <br />You can cover concrete sur- <br />faces with a clear coating of <br />penetrating sealer to make <br />cleanup easier next time. Don't <br />paint over water stains-they <br />will bleed through several coats <br />of paint. Coat the stained area <br />with shellac or a commercial <br />stain killer before painting. <br />If you are going to dry flood- <br />proof your walls, don't rely on <br />, waterproofing paints; they can- <br />not keep floodwaters out. Such <br />paints may protect a deck from <br />rain, but they cannot protect <br />walls and floors against the pres- <br />s~re of standing water. (Thick <br />plastic or rubberized sheeting <br />provides the most secure water- <br />proofing seal.) <br /> <br />Windows <br />If you live near the coast, your <br />house is likely to suffer damage <br />from the high winds and flood- <br />waters of a hurricane or <br />northeaster. Boarding up all <br />your windows and doors or <br /> <br />installing permanent hurricane <br />shutters are the best ways to <br />protect them from breaking and <br />letting in the heavy rains that a <br />coastal storm brings. Taping win- <br />dows will not prevent them <br />from breaking during a storm. <br />Cut plywood to fit each of <br />your windows and doors before <br />a storm threatens. Label each <br />piece so you'll know which win- <br />dow or door it covers. Store the <br />plywood pieces with the nails or <br />other fasteners you will need to <br />attach them. That way, you will <br />be able to put the plywood up <br />quickly when a storm threatens. <br /> <br />(on'ractors <br />You may need a contractor to <br />help you rebuild, especially to <br />handle the difficult jobs such as <br />foundation repair and electrical <br />work. If you have been satisfied <br />with work done by licensed <br />local contractors, try them first. <br />If they cannot help you, ask <br />them for recommendations. <br />If you must hire a contractor <br />you do not know, talk to several <br />contractors before you sign any- <br />thing. A good contractor would <br />agree that you should take the <br />following steps: <br />[[ Check on the rtrm's reputa- <br />tion. The local Better <br />Business Bureau, home <br />builders association, or build- <br />ing trades council are <br />excellent sources. Ask if the <br />firm has had unanswered <br />complaints filed against it. <br />o Ask for proof of insurance. <br />Be sure that the contractor <br />has disability and workers' <br />compensation insurance. If <br />the contractor is not insured, <br /> <br /> <br />5 <br />Rebuild and Floodproof <br /> <br />P <br /> <br />Products to Avoid <br /> <br />Avoid using or storing these prod- <br />ucts in areas likely to flood. <br />. Fiberglass or cellulose insulation <br />Cork, corkboard <br />Gasoline, motor oil, weed killer, <br />pesticide, lye, drain cleaner, <br />swimming pool and other chemi- <br />cals . <br />Linoleum <br />. Particle board, plywood, chip- <br />board, fiberboard, paperboard, <br />strawboard, Masonite paneling <br />Wallboard, Sheetrock, drywall, <br />gypsum <br />Wallpaper <br /> <br />41 <br />