Spring Home Improvement 2014

Thursday April 17th // Spring Home Improvement // Big Sky Publishing

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2014 Spring Home

Improvement Inside Ten home improvement projects to tackle this spring . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Kick off landscaping projects with a good plan and quality soil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Create an indoor change of scenery with a fresh coat of paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Refresh your home after winter with spring cleaning . . . . . . . . 10

A publication of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle

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Big Sky Publishing // Spring Home Improvement // Thursday April 17th

Ten home improvement projects to tackle this spring

By Tiffany Jerry

D

espite recent chilly temperatures and intermittent rain and snow showers, spring is here. For some, it’s time to pack up the snow boots and skis and pull out the hiking books and garden

tools. For others, it’s time to spruce up the house and start on those home improvement projects that you’ve been adding to the “to-do” list all winter.

Clark Sprague, a construction builder consultant and owner

of Montana Home Construction, offered his advice for 10 home improvement projects to tackle this spring: 1. Clean out your rain gutters Rain gutters play an essential

role in protecting the home by channeling the flow of water from the roof to the ground.

However, rain gutters are also subject to dirt and debris build-up that prevent the water from flowing through them

Thursday April 17th // Spring Home Improvement // Big Sky Publishing

properly. Sprague said spring is a good time to get up on the roof and get those gutters cleaned out so that they can continue to drain properly.

In addition to cleaning the gutters, Sprague suggests checking them for any maintenance issues, such as pieces that are loose or broken, and repairing them. He said it is important to make sure everything is intact so that the gutters will function correctly.

2. Air out your crawl spaces After being closed up all winter, Sprague said spring is a good time to remove the insulated blocks that close up the crawl space and let some air flow in.

“You want to remove those so that the crawl space can get air flow and breathe,” Sprague

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Big Sky Publishing // Spring Home Improvement // Thursday April 17th

Projects/ from pg. 3 said. “Otherwise, it gets really hot and moist and can cause mold.”

Some crawl spaces have screens, Sprague said. If that is the case, he said leave the screen portion in and let the air flow through it.

system is attached to for leaks and all of the sprinkler heads.

“You want to check to make sure it’s not leaking once it’s turned on,” Sprague said.

“Wait for a minute or two to be sure and then go out and check all the heads.”

3. Check your sprinklers Before your turn your sprinkler system on for the first time, Sprague recommends checking its various parts to ensure they are working properly.

Once you turn it on for the first time, he suggests checking the water source that the sprinkler

4. Change your furnace filter and replace smoke detector batteries Throughout the winter, the furnace has heated your home and by now, the filter is likely full of dust and ready to be replaced. Sprague said

spring is a good time to replace or clean furnace filters and also to hose off the fresh air exchange unit if you have one.

Sprague also recommends changing the batteries in all of the smoke detectors in your home and checking to make sure each one is functioning properly.

5. Clean out the chimney “This is one thing that a lot of people will do in the spring,” Sprague said. “Especially if you burn a lot of pine. There’s a lot of sap that comes out of

that wood and creates a pine tar lining in the chimney. Get that cleaned.”

Whether you do it yourself or call in a professional, Sprague said it’s good to get into the habit of doing this task each spring to help prevent a fire.

6. Inspect your windows When spring arrives, many people head outside to clean their windows. Sprague said this is also a good time to check them for any maintenance issues that may need to be addressed. In addition to cleaning the window glass

Thursday April 17th // Spring Home Improvement // Big Sky Publishing

and putting the screens back in, Sprague recommends opening the windows and making sure they still latch and are not leaking.

Kelly Tompers, a salesman at Pella Windows said it is also a good idea to check your screens for tears and to “make sure that your caulk is good all the way around on the outside.”

Tompers said now is also a good time to think about any window replacements that need to be done.

“Some wait until fall and then it’s too late because the contractors get booked,” he said. “Start earlier rather than later because it’s looking to be a pretty busy summer around the Gallatin Valley.”

Tompers also recommends inspecting entry doors to ensure the weather stripping and door bottoms are all in good condition.

7. Replace shingles in the spring According to Sprague, shingles “last a pretty long time” and unless there has been a substantial hail or ice storm “generally people don’t need to check them.” However, for anyone who needs to have their shingles replaced, he said spring is a good time to do so.

8. Check your hoses “One thing you might want to do is check the outside hose bib (tap),” Sprague said.

He suggests turning it on slowly and making sure everything is flowing ok.

Sprague also recommends checking the source in the house if you know where it

is located.

9. Get your asphalt resealed As warm temperatures set in, you may find that the harsh winter weather left your driveway with unwanted cracks in it.

Sprague said if the cracks remain, moisture could get down into the base and crack the asphalt below.

“If water leaks down in there, it could cause a trench and could cause the asphalt to sink down in certain spots, or during the winter, if moisture got in, it could freeze and heave or push up,” he said.

Sprague said spring is an ideal time to get these cracks taken care of.

“A lot of people like to get those cracks sealed and then get a new surface coat over the whole thing,” he said.

“Sealing up the cracks is good preventative maintenance.”

10. Start your home renovation projects According to Sprague,

spring is an ideal time to start any home renovation projects that you have been planning.

Although this can include a number of projects - really

anything you have been wanting to do - Sprague said a recent building trend he has seen during the past few springs are outdoor living areas.

“Sometimes it’s just putting in a new patio or fire pit,” Sprague said. “Or some kind of extended porch to be able to get out of the sun and rain. I’ve been seeing a lot of that over the past couple of springs.”

Sprague said when the economy was bad, “people weren’t doing much,” but as things have picked up, “people are starting to do more things like that.”

“Just little things to make an improvement to the exterior,” he said.

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Big Sky Publishing // Spring Home Improvement // Thursday April 17th

Kick off landscaping projects with a good plan and quality soil By Tiffany Jerry

S

pringtime in Montana is filled with a variety of weather - warm sunny days, mixed in between days filled with rain, sleet, wind and even snow. Despite the ever-changing environment, spring is the time to get outside - as weather permits - and start working on the landscape to create a beautiful yard for summer.

Jan Cashman, who owns Cashman Nursery in Bozeman with her husband, said the best way to begin landscaping is with a plan.

“Make sure you have a good plan,” she said. “Even if it’s just a pencil sketch.”

She suggests talking with a landscape architect or designer, and reading books, magazines or online articles to help generate some ideas.

Another good resource, she

said, is your neighbor.

“You might have a neighbor who knows a lot more about plants and where to plant them,” she said.

The next step in successful Landscaping is creating quality soil. No matter what the project may be, Cashman said it is important to have good soil. She recommends having your soil tested to determine what amendments - peat moss, compost - may need to be added.

“A lot of places around here have heavy, clay soils,” Cashman said. “No matter what kind of soil you have, adding organic matter is going to improve it.”

Once you have a solid plan and quality soil, your landscape work can begin.

During this time of year, Cashman said projects

may include “removing things that are overgrown,” planting and pruning. She said spring is the perfect time to plant both trees and shrubs.

“You have all summer for it to develop a good root system, so it’s a safer bet that it will make it through winter,” Cashman said.

If a garden is part of your landscaping plan, Cashman said spring is a good time to get seeds planted, once the danger of frost has passed.

For first-time gardeners, Cashman recommends starting small.

“Smaller is more manageable while you learn how to do it,” she said.

Cashman suggests adding a raised bed garden to the landscape, which she said are becoming more popular

because they are smaller in size and more manageable.

“They are a bit higher so you don’t have to bend over to work on them,” she said.

“You can mix in a better and improved soil in a raised bed and they tend to drain better.”

Another feature of the raised bed garden, Cashman said, is that it isn’t too late to start creating one now.

In addition to planting and pruning, Cashman said another spring landscaping project to tackle is tending to the lawn.

“Once you get out there and look at the grass, you might notice a white, webby, substance on it,” she said.

“That’s snow mold. You should get rid of that. The best thing is to get a good leaf rake and rake it up.”

Cashman said raking is also beneficial for areas of the yard where voles have left grass behind.

“Voles move in to people’s grass areas underneath the snow,” she said. “They do a lot of damage to the grass because they eat it, but they don’t eat the roots. The leaf rake will help. You rake up the grass the voles have left, which will allow sunlight to get into these areas and it will start coming back.”

When it comes to landscaping, particularly projects that involve a garden, Cashman said you must be willing to invest some time into it. She recommends educating yourself, being mindful of the growing season in Montana and keeping up with weeding and watering.

Thursday April 17th // Spring Home Improvement // Big Sky Publishing

Edibles & natives popular choices for landscape

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hen creating a landscaping plan, one of the major decisions you will be faced with is determining what to plant in your yard. With a number of plants, trees, flowers, vegetables and more available, it may seem that the choices are endless.

According to Jan Cashman, who owns Cashman Nursery in Bozeman with her husband, “gardening in general has become trendy over the years,” particularly gardening with edibles.

“A lot of people, when

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designing a landscape, want to include a lot of edible plants, like an apple tree, instead of a tree that is ornamental,” Cashman said.

She said popular choices include elderberry and blueberry shrubs.

In addition to including

edible elements in the landscape, she said another popular choice is native plants.

“Some are purists and want strictly native gardens and some just want to put a few natives in,” Cashman said. “A lot of these natives take less water and the philosophy is

that you plant native, they take less water and help the environment. That’s the most important reason that natives are trendy. Others just like them. They look more natural and some people might want to replicate what they saw in nature. That’s a trend that’s been going on for years and it’s not losing steam. It’s gaining steam.”

Cashman said other current landscape trends include incorporating a rain barrel into the landscape to collect rain for watering, and planting flowering or fruiting plants that encourage bees.

“Bees are essential for a garden because they pollinate the plants,” Cashman said. “We want to encourage them, not discourage them.”

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Big Sky Publishing // Spring Home Improvement // Thursday April 17th

Create an indoor change of scenery with a fresh coat of paint

By Tiffany Jerry

A

fter a long, cold dreary winter, springtime is often welcomed as the time for change and new beginnings. As the colors of the outside world shift with the blooming of flowers and the first few sprouts of green grass, the desire for a change of scenery indoors may become more prominent.

According to Heaven’s Peak Painting owner Toby Hall, painting is great way to alter the mood and look of a room and create the desired change of scenery. A fresh, light color can brighten up a room, while darker colors may add a dramatic effect.

“There are a lot of different things you can do,” Hall said.

“You can do sponge techniques and glazing, you can imprint leaf patterns and feathers, adding an accent wall will draw attention to a specific photo or to a window and will give the whole room a different look; the options are endless.

There are a lot of ways to make your room look trendy.”

While there are many colors, designs and techniques to consider for indoor painting projects, Hall said it is also important to think about exterior paint maintenance as well. Although interior paint jobs often serve aesthetic purposes, Hall said exterior paint is important for protection.

Jeff Keller, owner of The Paint Factory, said paint helps protect wood so it does not succumb to the elements and rot. He said the same is true of wood stains.

“These products are meant to sacrifice themselves,” Keller said.

Keller suggests taking a proactive approach and re-painting or re-staining before any serious issues arise.

“You will save time and money if things don’t get too far,” Keller said.

Hall recommends updating exterior paint every 7-10 years to achieve the best level of protection as well as the best look.

“Paint oxidizes and it will

actually discolor over time from weatherization,” Hall said. “Repainting is good for the overall upkeep of your home and it’s going to make your siding last longer.”

When it comes to selecting paint types for both interior and exterior projects, Keller said the first step is to define the priorities and expectations.

For someone who does not want to re-paint a room multiple times, he suggests following through with the necessary preparation, adding the extra coat and not going with the cheapest product.

Hall said paints are categorized as good, better and best and he recommends selecting “nothing less than a mid-grade.”

“When you get premium paint, that’s always better,” Hall said. “The coverage is better and it usually holds color better.”

Both Hall and Keller recommend seeking out a consultation with a paint expert to determine the best

type and best colors of paint for the job.

Whatever the project may be, Hall said it is important to keep in mind that in addition to creating a change of scenery or mood and protecting the home, a fresh coat of paint also serves to add value.

“Painting can be an inexpensive option to get your home appraised at a higher value,” Hall said.

“Upgrades can mean thousands of dollars difference. People are often more interested in fresh and new rather than something that looks run down.”

“Really, painting should just be an upkeep that you do,” Hall added. “You want to make sure that your dwelling is going to hold up to the harsh weather conditions that Montana sees and ensure that it is a home you can live in for years to come.”

Thursday April 17th // Spring Home Improvement // Big Sky Publishing

Paint color trends Turning Oakleaf named the ‘hot’ color for 2014

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ust like the clothing industry, the painting industry has changes in trends each year and features a particular color or colors that are “in” or “hot” for the season. In fact, according to Jeff Keller, owner of The Paint Factory, trends in paint colors are often based on what is happening in the clothing world.

“The textiles and clothing industry is a big driving force in color trends as they change,” Keller said. “The colors in the paint world are definitely influenced heavily by the textile industry.”

Keller said this year, the trend in paint colors are “brighter, energetic, optimistic colors.” He said PPG Pittsburgh Paints named Turning Oakleaf - a pale yellow - the color of the year for 2014.

Despite what is trending or “hot” in the paint color world, Keller said color trends “do get modified” and are “influenced by what part of the country you are in.”

“Montana does tend to gravitate toward a lot of earth tones, as opposed to bright tones,” Keller said.

“Down in Florida, the colors that are popular tend to have a cleaner look. There are different preferences in different parts of the country.”

Toby Hall, owner of Heaven’s Peak Painting, said locally he has seen “reds fading out” and “grays coming back in.”

Although the color of the year is yellow and homes in Montana may feature earth, or muted tones, Hall said when it comes to painting, the color should be based on “the look you want to achieve.”

“Make the interior of your house a unique feature to your home,” Hall said.

However, “if you are bored with the status quo, check these (trending) colors out,” Keller said.

“These colors are hot.”

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Big Sky Publishing // Spring Home Improvement // Thursday April 17th

Refresh your home after winter with spring cleaning

By Tiffany Jerry

S

pring is officially here.

The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer and for many, the time has come to freshen up the house with spring cleaning.

Although spring cleaning may seem like a daunting task and one that is met with feelings of dread, Nicki Janik, who owns Mister Green Clean LLC with her husband, Matt, said a good way to get motivated is to open up the windows and let in some fresh air. After being closed up all winter, spring is the perfect time to start airing out the house as the warmer temperatures set in.

“As for inspiration, opening windows is a big one for us,” Nicki said. “The first warm days let us air out our home and it motivates us to get it clean.”

“Another big motivator for me comes when we get to hang our sheets outside to dry,” Nicki added. “I love the way they smell when we bring them in, so I’m always eager to strip them off the bed and wash them.”

In addition to opening the windows, Nicki said it is also a good idea to clean them.

She recommends hosing off the screens and wiping out the window tracks, in addition to cleaning the window glass.

“This is really the first time you can do windows because if you spray anything on them during the winter, it freezes,” she said.

According to Matt, dusting is another good task to add to the spring cleaning project list. He recommends damp dusting with a microfiber

cloth to trap dust, rather than push it around.

“Just get it (microfiber cloth) wet, wring it out and damp dust the tops of door frames, the tops of doors and ceiling fans,” he said. “That’s a good way to damp dust everything in the house. If you use a duster, that tends to just push stuff around. We do a lot of damp dusting because it picks it up. Those microfiber cloths are kind of essential to that for trapping dust.”

Other spring cleaning tasks may include wiping down baseboards, washing the curtains, airing out or vacuuming rugs, and cleaning out the dryer vent. Matt suggests removing the dryer duct and rinsing it out. Nicki said it is also important to clean away any debris from

the vent on the outside of the house and wipe it down.

For many, spring projects also may involve cleaning out the garage and shed.

After driving in and out of the garage all winter with muddy tires, Nicki said dirt tends to build up and spring is a good time to sweep it out. Matt advises wearing a bandana or dust mask for this job because the dust that gets stirred up while sweeping gets “pretty bad pretty quick.”

Nicki said it is also important to be aware of what is being swept up.

“You don’t ever want to sweep rodent feces,” she said. “You want to wet it down. It’s better to wipe it up with a wet rag or mop it up.

You don’t want to breathe dry rodent feces.”

Thursday April 17th // Spring Home Improvement // Big Sky Publishing

As far as curtains, Nicki and Matt recommend washing them, whenever possible. If they are unable to be washed, Nicki said the next best thing is to hang them out in the sunlight.

“The sunlight is good for sanitizing,” she said. “If you’ve got mats or curtains that have been inside all winter, you want to take them out and hang them in the sun. That will kill a lot of things. It will bleach things too, so you want to be careful.”

“They just give off so much dust and if you do that in your home, you’re just letting that stuff right back into your environment,” he said.

To keep from feeling overwhelmed when it comes to your spring cleaning project list, Nicki suggests breaking up the cleaning time “into

small bites” or bringing in a cleaning service.

“There’s no timeline for when spring cleaning has to be done, but it definitely feels nice to walk in the front door after everything is clean and sanitized and smells fresh,” she said.

Going green Create natural products at home for spring cleaning projects

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One item that Matt said is commonly overlooked during spring cleaning is the trash can – especially the trash can under the kitchen sink. He said it is a good idea to take any indoor trash cans outside, spray them off and sanitize them, especially if they have gone all winter without a good cleaning.

He also recommends properly cleaning the vacuum cleaner.

“People need to check their vacuum filters,” he said.

He suggests cleaning the filter, replacing the bag in vacuums that require bags, or rinsing and detail-cleaning bagless vacuums. He also advises always emptying the vacuum outdoors after a vacuuming job.

hen it comes to spring cleaning, or any cleaning project, both Nicki and Matt Janik of Mister Green Clean LLC said it is important to consider what type of cleaning products are being used. Matt said many cleaning products on the market have toxins in them that, over time, build up inside the body. He said some people also have allergies to the ingredients in cleaning products.

To help avoid an allergic reaction or toxin build up, the Janiks recommend going green and using natural products that they said are “better all around for the environment.” Matt said these products can be created at home with ingredients such as water, vinegar and essential oils, and are not only inexpensive, but also healthier for both the human body and the environment.

According to Nicki, a solution of vodka and an essential oil (any scent that appeals) may be used as an air freshener,

or to eliminate carpet or furniture odors. She said the vodka works to kill bacteria and is especially good for cat litter box areas. For carpet and furniture use, she suggests testing a small area first to ensure it does not change the color of the fabric or carpet.

For those who do not want to use vodka, Nicki said water could be used instead.

For sanitizing, the Janiks recommend a mixture of 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil and 2 cups of water. Matt said this solution may be used to sanitize items in the home such as trash cans, door knobs and light switches and is especially good to use after flu season.

“You don’t want to use it if you have pets,” Nicki said. “You

don’t want to spray it around them. It can cause respiratory problems in dogs.”

For mold that may have built up in the shower during the winter months, Matt recommends using hydrogen peroxide.

“It’s a less toxic way to help kill that mold,” he said.

“You’ve got to use a little elbow grease, but it’s safer than using straight bleach.”

He suggests pouring the peroxide on the mold, letting it sit for about 10 minutes and then scrubbing it.

The Janiks recommend vinegar and water, with a little bit of cornstarch – to prevent streaking – for window cleaning and suggest adding an essential oil to the water for damp dusting.

“Different essential oils have different effects on the body so you can kind of pick and choose,” Matt said. Just get creative with it and have fun.”

Matt and Nicki recommend the following homemade multipurpose cleanser. Matt said it is good for just about anything around the home – toilets, sinks, light switches – but should be used on quartz or granite countertops only when prepared without the vinegar.

Homemade multi-purpose cleanser: >> 2 cups water >> 5-10 drops essential >> oil (pick your favorite) >> 1/8 cup vinegar >> 1 tsp. natural dish soap

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Big Sky Publishing // Spring Home Improvement // Thursday April 17th

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