Fall Home Improvement 2018 by Bangor Daily News

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 5, 2018

REFRESH YOUR HOME’S APPEAL WITH FURNITURE PAINT F

urniture, bookcases, cabinets, and doors present opportunities to add or change color throughout a home. Woodcraft offers an extensive line of furniture paint, tools and supplies necessary for successful painting projects. In addition, Woodcraft retail store associates are always ready to help customers, and extensive how-to material is a click away at woodcraft.com. Lori Harper, Woodcraft public relations manager and blogger, offers some advice about updating a kitchen: “Painting kitchen cabinets is a big job, but it can transform the look of your kitchen at a fraction of the cost of new cabinets. It may sound daunting, but breaking it down into bite-size steps can take away the fear factor.” To read her project blog, visit Woodworking Adventures on Woodcraft.com and search for “Kitchen Cabinet Conundrum.”

PAINT & COLOR SELECTION

Three easy-to-use and easy-to-mix paints are: • Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint is a waterbased, low-VOC, matte finish paint for indoor use that requires only cleanup before painting, except in the case of chips and scratches, and adheres to wood, metal, glass, ceramics, and plastic. • General Finishes Milk Paints are premixed waterbased acrylic paints suitable for a variety of interior or exterior applications from furniture to crafts. • General Finishes Gel Stains are heavy-bodied gels formulated to flow evenly for consistent color control. Before you pick up a paint brush, consider which colors are best for the area you plan to refresh. Choices will need to complement wall color and colors of other pieces or accents in a room. Two handy color guides are the 36-page General Finishes Milk Paint Fan Deck and the Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint Color Recipes (available for download as a free PDF on Woodcraft.com). For more than just a change of color, consider creating decorative effects, such as distressing, antiquing, faux marble, or rag rolling. Choose General Finishes Pearl Effects to make it easier to create specialty finishes.

REPAIR

If furniture, cabinets and other surfaces need repair prior to painting, the Mohawk PermaFill Wood Touch-Up and Repair System is an easy answer. Just pop in a color cartridge (six color families available), power on the battery-operated dispenser, aim, fill and level this durable repair. Briwax ChaiRX is perfect to fix loose parts in chairs. Drill a small hole, inject ChaiRX, and in 12 hours the thin unique formulation will penetrate the wood cells and permanently swell the

joints and bond them together. Visit https://youtu.be/ iWMu6OKyOUE to watch a video that demonstrates these products. For more extensive repairs, use the Kreg Jig R3 Kit to reinforce weak parts with pocket holes and avoid complete disassembly of your project.

CLEAN AND PREP

Use Krud Kutter TSP Substitute to remove dirt, grease, smoke, mildew, food stains, crayon, wax, and more from surfaces to be painted so paint will adhere better. For sanding chores associated with painting, consider the Porter-Cable Restorer Handheld Drum Sander with attachments, which is designed to remove paint and finish from wood, brick and fiberglass, as well as remove rust and polish metal. The Porter-Cable 382 5” Random Orbital Sander and the Norton 5” Random Orbital Sander are other good choices. For sanding with hand power, the Preppin’ Weapon Sanding Block Kit and Norton 41⁄2” x 51⁄2” SoftTouch Sanding Sponges are handy helpers.

APPLICATION & TOPCOAT

If spraying is your preference, HOMERIGHT Finish Max Fine Finish and HOMERIGHT Super Finish Max HVLP Sprayers are easy to use on everything from furniture to fences with oil- and water-based products such as chalk-style paint, latex paint, milk paint, enamels, primers, polyurethanes, stains, and varnishes. Large and Small Spray Shelters make painting furniture easier. For painting by hand, Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint Round Brushes, made from both natural and synthetic bristles, and Redtree Matey Synthetic Bristle Brushes work well. Give paint extra protection with Black Dog Salvage Guard Dog and Show Dog Topcoats and General Finishes Gel and High Performance Polyurethane Topcoats. To learn more about these and other products, visit your local Woodcraft store, call (800) 535-4482 or visit www.Woodcraft.com.

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 5, 2018

HEAT PUMPS A SMART, AFFORDABLE CHOICE FOR MANY

onsidering a heat pump? Already own one? You can set it and forget it. Many Maine residents who use heat pumps may tell you they are a clean, comfortable, and convenient choice for your home heating and cooling needs. Choosing a heat pump can help you save money while using less energy and decreasing your carbon footprint due to reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Heat pumps also offer a remarkably quiet way to keep your home comfortable and use filtration systems that can improve interior air quality. To get the most out of your heat pump, you just need to determine the setting that feels most comfortable to you, then set it and forget it. Resist the temptation to turn it down at night or when you’re away. Studies have suggested that users save money when the unit is kept at a constant temperature and therefore can run evenly and at maximum efficiency. Spend some time experimenting with

your heat pump’s thermostat to find out what temperature works best. Here’s a hint: It may be a higher number than you are accustomed to seeing on your thermostat – as high as 74 to 76 F. But because of the heat pump’s efficiency, it’s affordable to be comfortable. Here’s another money-saving tip that will keep you comfortable: Efficiency Maine recommends not relying on the “Auto” setting on your heat pump. “Set your heat pump mode to ‘Heat’ in the winter and ‘Cool’ in the summer,” the agency states. This will ensure your heat pump doesn’t start heating your home on a cool summer night or cooling your home on a sunny winter afternoon. Once you’ve found the heat pump thermostat setting that works best for you (and kept it there!), Efficiency Maine recommends you set your older heating system’s thermostat at least 10 degrees

COURTESY OF EMERA MAINE

below what you are using for your heat pump. Is your heat pump set on 72? Set your oil furnace thermostat at 62. This will ensure the other heating system is only used as a backup to your energy-efficient heat pump. To maximize the benefits of your heat pump and ensure it runs smoothly, you’ll also want to follow manufacturer instructions to keep the dust filters and any allergen cartridges in your heat pump clean. Make sure to keep your outdoor unit clear of debris and ice buildup to maintain proper air flow. So find the temperature that’s right for you, choose “Heat” or “Cool,” set it and forget it. It’s that easy to save money and enjoy your quiet, comfortable home all year long. For information about rebates and loans available for Maine residents who purchase

and install heat pumps, visit efficiencymaine. com. You can also find a list of dealers there. A $500 rebate is being offered now for a highefficiency cold climate heat pump. Emera Maine customers who use heat pumps also may be eligible for a lower electric heat delivery rate during the heating season. Visit emeramaine.com or call 1-855-EMERA11 for more information.

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 5, 2018

PREPARING YOUR FIREPLACE OR STOVE FOR THE SEASON

ireplaces and wood-burning stoves not only can be beautiful focal points within a home, but they also provide an additional source of heat and can be used to keep rooms or entire homes comfortable without the need for additional and potentially costly heating sources. Just like more modern home heating systems, stoves and fireplaces need to be maintained, and that maintenance includes readying them before winter when they are used more heavily. Ensuring a fireplace or stove is in good working order helps to guarantee efficiency of use and safety during the winter months. Open-flame heating sources carry with them certain risks. The National Fire Protection Association states that, between 2009-2013, American fire departments responded to 56,000 home structure fires that involved heating equipment. The NFPA notes that the leading factor contributing to home-heating fires is a failure to keep things clean, principally from solid-fueled heating equipment. The following are a handful of ways to stay safe as you get ready for another cozy season around the fire. • Start with the chimney. Begin by having your chimney thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Creosote can build up inside of the chimney. Creosote is highly flammable and becomes more difficult and expensive to clean the longer it builds up inside your flue lining. In addition, animals may have created nest inside of the chimney since the last time the fireplace was used. A professional chimney sweep should be hired in this situation. He or she will be able to effectively clean the chimney in a manner that is the least messy and disruptive to residents. • Install or check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Operational alarms are essential to preventing injury or death resulting from smoke or carbon monoxide inhalation. Such detectors are inexpensive safeguards that should be installed on every floor of the house. Batteries should be replaced every six months, and the alarms themselves should be changed every five to 10 years. • Inspect the chimney from outdoors as well. Inspect the mortar around any bricks in the chimney and surrounding areas for cracks. If left unaddressed, these can cause dangerous fires. If there are serious cracks, a professional may need to make repairs or the chimney may need to be replaced. You also can have the chimney capped with a screen to keep animals and debris from entering. • Inspect the damper. A damper is a valve or plate that stops or regulates the flow of air inside a chimney. It should be checked prior to the first use of a stove or fireplace so homeowners can be certain it opens and closes smoothly. • Clear out flammable items. Move flammable items away from the front of a fireplace or stove. Be sure curtains or other home furnishings are far enough away that they will not catch fire from any errant sparks or flames. • Order wood now. Be sure there is plenty of wood for the season. Ask a wood supplier to estimate just how much will be needed, and doublecheck that the wood will arrive in time for the start of the season. By preparing for fireplace and wood stove use now, homeowners can ensure their winters are comfortable and safe.

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 5, 2018

FALL LAWN CARE TIPS S

pring and summer may be the seasons most often associated with landscaping and lawn care, but tending to lawns and gardens is a year-round job. If lawn and garden responsibilities dip considerably in winter, then fall is the last significant chance before the new year that homeowners will have to address the landscaping around their homes. Fall lawn care differs from spring and summer lawn care, even if the warm temperatures of summer linger into autumn. Homeowners who want their lawns to thrive year-round can take advantage of the welcoming weather of fall to address any existing or potential issues. • Keep mowing, but adjust how you mow. It’s important that homeowners continue to mow their lawns so long as grass is growing. But as fall transitions into winter, lower the blades so the grass is cut shorter while remaining mindful that no blade of grass should ever be trimmed by more than one-third. Lowering the blades will allow more sunlight to reach the grass in the months ahead. • Remove leaves as they fall. Much like apple-picking and foliage, raking leaves is synonymous with fall. Some homeowners may wait to pick up a rake until all of the trees on their properties are bare. However, allowing fallen leaves to sit on the ground for extended periods of time can have an adverse effect on grass. Leaves left to sit on the lawn may ultimately suffocate the grass by forming an impenetrable wall that deprives the lawn of sunlight and oxygen. The result

is dead grass and possibly even fungal disease. Leaves may not need to be raked every day, but homeowners should periodically rake and remove leaves from their grass, even if there are plenty left to fall still hanging on the trees. • Repair bald spots. Summer exacts a toll on lawns in various ways, and even homeowners with green thumbs may end up with a lawn filled with bald spots come September. Autumn is a great time to repair these bald spots. Lawn repair mixes like Scotts® PatchMaster contain mulch, seed and fertilizer to repair bald spots, which can begin to recover in as little as seven days. Before applying such products, remove dead grass and loosen the top few inches of soil. Follow any additional manufacturer instructions as well. • Aerate the turf. Aerating reduces soil compacting, facilitating the delivery of fertilizer and water to a lawn’s roots. While many homeowners, and particularly those who take pride in tending to their own lawns, can successfully aerate their own turf, it’s best to first have soil tested so you know which amendments to add after the ground has been aerated. Gardening centers and home improvement stores sell soil testing kits that measure the pH of soil, but homeowners who want to test for nutrients or heavy metals in their soil may need to send their samples to a lab for further testing. Fall lawn care provides a great reason to spend some time in the yard before the arrival of winter.

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 5, 2018

WHAT TO LOOK FOR DURING ROOF INSPECTIONS C

old weather can be tough on a home, and perhaps no part of a home is more vulnerable to harsh winter weather than its roof. Fallen snow can equate to several pounds of pressure placed on a residential roof. Roofs do not often collapse under heavy snowfall. But adverse winter weather conditions can compromise roofs in other ways. Water leakage and damage to the roof’s interior are just two of the potentially problematic issues that can arise when roofs are battered by cold, blustery weather. That’s why many home improvement specialists advise homeowners to conduct roof inspections prior to the start of winter. Many homeowners can conduct their own cursory roof inspections, but they may not know exactly what to look for. The National Roofing Contractors Association says that there are certain key areas to inspect that may reveal some telltale signs of roof damage. • Curled, cracked or missing shingles may prove troublesome. Inclement weather can test the

strength of even the most durable roofs. Even though many roofs are designed to last up to 30 years, some may need to be replaced early, particularly when they have been exposed to harsh weather over a period of years. Individual shingles can be replaced as spot treatments, but if the damage is widespread, a new roof may be necessary. • Attic leaks or water elsewhere might signal issues with the roof. Figure out if water inside the home is coming from the roof. Water stains do not always indicate problems with the roofing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. • Look for protective granules wearing off. If gutters are filled with the sandy granular material that coats roofing shingles, that may be a sign of an aging or damaged roof. • Inspect flashing. Professional roofers can recognize properly installed flashing, the material that connects the roof to other parts of the house that adjoin the roof, like skylights or a chimneys. Poorly installed flashing can cause leaks. Stains that appear

below chimneys or near attic windows may indicate new flashing, and not new shingles, is needed. • Gutters and downspouts should be in good condition. A roof is the sum of its parts, and that includes downspouts and gutters. If the gutters are clogged or damaged, they cannot direct water away from the house properly. Snow, leaves and other debris needs to be cleared from gutters to help them function at optimal capacity. • Animals and insects can cause damage, too. It’s not just poor weather that homeowners need to consider with regard to roof damage. Boring insects and animals may cause problems with roofs as well. A roof inspection may shed light on potential pest problems. Holes or nesting materials may indicate that an animal or animals are using the attic as a shelter from the elements. Get to the root of issues with your home’s roof before they become bigger problems once winter arrives. A thorough inspection can reveal problems that may prove costly if ignored.

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 5, 2018