DECEMBER 21, 2016 Volume 11 • Issue 51
Story County Sun • Wednesday, December 21, 2016 • Page 7
RE WEEKLY STORY COUNTY
RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM • COMMERCIAL • AREA DEVELOPMENT 515-233-3299 • 317 5th Street, Ames All REALTOR® ads within are REALTORS® licensed in the State of Iowa
Online at www.AmesTrib.com/realestateweekly
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TIPS OF THE WEEK Revitalize worn woodwork Nothing ages a home’s appearance faster than tired, weathered woodwork on the front porch or back deck. These structures are typically major focal points of a home’s exterior, so sprucing them up can go a long way toward transforming the overall aesthetic. A fresh coat of stain or paint is a minimal investment to bring fresh life back into your entryway or backyard living space.
Mix patterns for fall table decor
Save seeds for future planting
“There’s an exciting mix of texture and color in fall fashion that’s extending into home decorating,” says designer Julie Robbins. “As for tabletop, a big trend this season is blending patterns you wouldn’t ordinarily put on the same table. For example, pairing a very exotic or modern pattern, like an animal print or an architectural design with a mainstream vintage Americana pattern such as Fiesta, or maybe mixing a polka dot pattern with fine china. It’s unexpected, but it really works.”
Seed-saving is a good task for the end of every growing season. Want to save some seeds from your favorite garden flowers? Use a pair of garden scissors to snip the pods or seed heads from your plants and place them in a paper bag. (You’ll want to have a separate bag for each seed type, and don’t forget to label the bags as you go, so you know what you’re working with.) Once you get all your seeds sorted, spread them out on a piece of newspaper to let them dry for about a week.
— Brandpoint
— More Content Now
— Family Features
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Question of safety Outdoor grills built under patio roofs are a potential fire hazard
PHOTOPIN
By Jim Weiker More Content Now
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hose big, stylish outdoor kitchens are generating a different sort of heat.
Manufacturers, along with building and fire officials, are warning consumers to avoid installing the grills under roofs or next to ordinary wood decks or walls. At least one agency, the Delaware (Ohio) County Building Department, has started prohibiting built-in grills under patio roofs or next to walls without protections such as vents and fire blocks. “We’ve had multiple fires within our jurisdiction area caused by grills that were improperly installed. They were put in a porch, under a combustible roof, or have combustible framing material around them,” said Duane Matlack, the chief building official in Delaware County. “We’re not saying ‘No.’ We’re saying they need to be installed per the manufacturers’ specifications. Some will specify a hood
and require clearances to combustibles.” One of the homes flagged by Delaware officials is a model home built by Bob Webb at its new Ravines at McCammon Chase in Lewis Center, Ohio. The builder had installed an exhaust over the grill but was told to also build a fire wall behind the grill. Workers spent several days adding the fire protection. “We’ve always had exhausts, but the fire wall was a first,” said Scott Shively, chief operating officer with the homebuilder. As Shively noted, built-in grills under roofs are common in new high-end homes, as owners want big outdoor kitchens protected from rain and sun. Shively estimated that 90 percent of homes in a new Kentucky community he visited recently had grills under patio overhangs or in gazebos. Several of the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio’s recent Parade of Homes models also featured such built-in grills under roofs. But fire officials aren’t fond of them because sparks from the grill or grease fires can ignite overhead and
Outdoor grills were responsible for an average of
8,900 fires each year from 2009 to 2013, according to a National Fire Protection Association report released this year. The fires resulted in an average of
10 deaths and 160 injuries a year.
surrounding material. “We never recommend grilling under outdoor roofs,” said Nancy Schwartz, spokeswoman for the National Fire Protection Association. Outdoor grills were responsible for an average of 8,900 fires each year from 2009 to 2013, according to an association report released this year. The fires resulted in an average of 10 deaths and 160 injuries a year. “The leading causes of grill fires were a failure to clean, having the grill too close to something that could catch fire and leaving the grill unattended,” stated the report. A separate 2010 report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency concluded that 28 percent of all grillrelated fires were caused by flames from the grill. Other causes include heat radiating from the grill or spilled coals or a dropped match. Grill manufacturers also strongly advise against putting a grill under a roof or next to an unprotected surface. “No outdoor grill should ever be used below an overhead combustible structure,” cautioned Russ Faulk, chief designer and head of product for Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, which makes high-end built-in outdoor grills. Kalamazoo recommends using a grill under a roof only with a hood vent or with a ceiling made of fireproof material. Grill-maker Weber offers similar advice: “Always keep your grill at least 5 feet from any combustible materials, including your house, garage, deck rails and car. Never use a grill indoors or under a covered patio.” Matlack knows that some builders and homeowners might object to being told they can’t install an unprotected grill under a patio roof, but he expects that other departments will start prohibiting such installations as built-in grills become more common in central Ohio. “It’s something that hasn’t been really addressed before. It’s fairly new with grills being installed this way.” — Jim Weiker is the real-estate and home writer for The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. jweiker@dispatch.com
Story County Sun • Wednesday, December 21, 2016 • Page 13
{SMALL HOME}
STORAGE HACKS: What works, what doesn’t By Laura Firszt More Content Now
A
s someone who recently downsized from 750 to a slim ‘n’ trim 651 square feet, I’m becoming an expert at small home living. The secret, I find, is organization — making the most of the space at hand, and coming up with ingenious storage solutions. Here are eight organization options, with my personal ratings for each.
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— Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.
Under-Bed and Under-Sofa Storage Containers: GENIUS Just follow a few simple guidelines: 1. Cover up your container to keep dust bunnies at bay. 2. Let it roll – add casters for convenient access. 3. Measure the available space with care to make sure storage boxes will fit.
PHOTOPIN
Closet Organizing Systems: YES, YES, YES
Open Shelves: MEH In my opinion, open shelves are fine for showing off beautiful possessions. But take into account the need to “curate” your collection, as well as to keep off grime and even grease, in the kitchen.
TARGET
For the first time ever, I have walk-in bedroom storage with a custom-built closet organization system – hanging rods at several heights, tons of sturdy shelving, and best of all, a door to close when I … let’s say … temporarily choose to live with my closet in a state of disorganization.
Suitcases and Trunks: BIG YES and A SMALL NO
Multi-Taskers: ABSOLUTELY Maximize storage when you put your furniture to work at multitasking. EXAMPLES: 1. My coffee table has a top that does what you’d expect … serves as a surface for serving coffee and displaying plants. Underneath, though, there’s a second shelf, utilized to keep our beloved board games close at hand. 2. In the entrance, I don’t have a hall table; I have a hall dresser. The top holds keys, mail, a penholder, etc. while the body offers handy-dandy drawer space.
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TAIN CON
When you’ve got a minimal amount of square footage, it’s important to make the most of every inch. Pack off-season clothing in unused luggage. If you’re the type that frequently has to make a fast getaway, this may not suit your lifestyle, although you could stash the clothes first in a garbage bag or wrap them in an old sheet, to simplify temporary removal.
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