Don ’t M ov e - I mprov e
MAY 2011
Thinking About Buying, Selling, Remodeling, Adding On To Your Home Or Splitting Up Property? Consider a property survey to protect your major financial investment. A property survey describes, maps and locates land ownership boundaries and corners, land features and man made improvements. A property survey must be performed by a Professional Land Surveyor who has been licensed by the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design. The legal description of your property and related records will be evaluated. The property survey will locate, measure and monument the property boundaries and corners so they can be easily identified. This survey will be completed in compliance with applicable state, county and other local government laws, codes and regulations. As a property owner, it is important to be informed of any property description, boundary loca-
tion, trespass, encroachment or other related problems that are present prior to purchasing, selling or making any costly improvements. Upon completion of the property survey, it is recommended that the boundary corner monuments be protected and preserved by the property owner. A survey can assist with the planning of your proposed improvements. The survey will provide a clear understanding of the site’s opportunities and constraints to assist with providing an economical design when developing your overall plan. When applying for construction or land use permits, documentation may need to be provided that illustrates the amount of impervious coverage that exists on a lot prior to development and post development, what the required setbacks are and compliance with these standards, how is the property to
Green Is Good for the Home: Choosing the Best Eco-Friendly Options
be used or divided and how will any potential impacts be minimized as a result of the proposed improvements. A survey can assist with providing this information and put the compliance responsibility on the appropriate professionals. Depending on the proposed improvements, many local jurisdictions may require a property survey. Awareness of your local jurisdiction is essential in ensuring compliance with the appropriate regulations. Completing a property survey can be considered an inexpensive insurance policy on protecting your most valuable investment. Information provided by Westwood Professional Services, Inc.
Basic Home Care May/June 1. Check and clean mechanical ventilation system (HRV/ERV). Check your manual and follow manufacturer’s recommendations. 2. Clear air intakes, exhaust and meters of debris, nests, etc. 3. Check gutters and downspouts and clean if needed. 4. Be sure to check settling after spring thaw. 5. Open outside hose connection. 6. Check and clean central air conditioning system. 7. Check landscaping sprinklers to ensure proper alignment (do not let them soak your siding or foundation). 8. Replace air conditioning or furnace filters monthly or as recommended by the manufacturer. 9. Clean A/C condenser.
When making renovations to the interior or exterior of the home, consider green building materials.
From paints to flooring to carpeting, the options in green building materials have expanded by leaps and bounds. With so many environmentally friendly options available, homeowners may have difficulty determining what are the best and most cost-effective buys. Eco-friendly options to choose may differ based on geographic region and what installation procedures are well known by local carpenters and builders. For example, a person in a drought-stricken region may want to look for items that conserve water. However, there are certain items that are “green” across the board. Insulation One of the most environmentally friendly things a homeowner can do is to improve the insulation in his or her home. Adequate insulation reduces the amount of heat and cooling loss, which then reduces the amount of energy needed to cool or heat a house. There are many materials from which insulation can be made; many are recycled materials, such as glass or even cotton. However, cellulose -- a plant material -- is one of the more cost-effective and greener options available. Look for the highest “R” factor on the insulation. The higher the number, the greater the resistance to heat flow.
Framing Thinking about adding on another room or remodeling an existing one? Then consider using sustainable harvested wood products. They may be more costly, but they’re certainly a greener option. Some construction materials are made from salvaged wood or items made from composite materials. Wood that bears the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo means it was grown and harvested without depleting or destroying natural surroundings. Windows Just like insulation, windows are essential to protecting against heating and cooling loss. Inadequate windows could be costing homeowners hundreds of dollars in energy waste from drafts or air leakage. New windows are generally rated on a number of factors: air leakage, condensation resistance, U-factor or level of insulation, and solar heat gain, or the window’s ability to block heat from the sun. Homeowners can talk with a window professional to determine the right windows for the climate and direction the windows face.
10. Inspect pressure and temperature valve on water heater. 11. Maintain proper grades throughout the property.
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drainage
12. Inspect roof for damage and make repairs when necessary. Flooring One of the most eco-friendly options in flooring is using a sustainable product, such as bamboo or salvaged or FSC wood. It is milled using less energy than many other flooring materials, such as stone or tile. When choosing bamboo, however, work with a reputable retailer. Much of the bamboo used comes from China, where toxic chemicals or poor manufacturing procedures can reduce the environmental benefits of the product. Wood looks good in any room, but in rooms where moisture may be an issue, such as kitchens and bathrooms, consider cost-effective materials like tinted concrete. Concrete enhanced with added recycled industrial ash, recycled glass and other materials decreases the amount of cement that has to be mixed and used.
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Tuesday, May 24, 2011
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Brainerd Dispatch | www.brainerddispatch.com
Top Tips for the Best First Impression It’s called “curb appeal,” that good impression people get of your home when they pull up in a car, or when walking by. Real estate agents can be as pleased with exterior curb appeal as they are with a well-maintained house on the inside. When it comes to residential property value, this book is indeed judged by its cover. Exterior trouble areas include peeling paint; rotting wood on window frames; buckled roof shingles; overgrown shrubs; ignored lawns; and weeds growing through interlock paths, steps and the driveway. “The lawns and landscaping that frame our home are as important as the quality inside,” says Reinie Drygala, lawncare products manager for Clear Choice, a leading name in innovative garden products. “And the good news is: when it comes to first impressions just a few little tips and tricks can make a big difference quickly. “If you’re frustrated about overgrown weeds, for example, the newest herbicide technology is tackling that,” Drygala continued. “Now there are alternatives to traditional herbicides that effectively kill weeds, but also provide the homeowner with options if they are looking for ways to have less impact on the environment. The formulation for our Clear Choice selective herbicide, for example, contains up to 85 percent less active ingredients as compared to other products using the same ingredients. As importantly, microtechnology built into the formulation creates much smaller droplets that more efficiently deliver the herbicide to the plant. Clear Choice is effective on over 60 varieties of broadleaf weeds, killing them quickly while being friendly to your lawn.” In addition to beautifying your lawn, try these quick tricks to give your home instant curb appeal: • Scrape and spot-paint problem areas. This might be a temporary fix, but even a touch up is better than peeling paint. • Add colour by planting some annuals in the front yard flowerbeds. • Replace or paint rusty fixtures like the mailbox, railings, house number, and more.
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Tackle pesky weeds on interlock paths and driveway. Use hand sprays for targeted jobs, or larger jugs for a big surface area. Install lighting along your walkways and steps, or to spotlight the shape and architecture.
How to Build a Laundry Shelf Laundry rooms are essential spaces in the house these days. While many are equipped with an area for the washer and dryer, some do not have room for a folding station, where you can fold all of that cleaned laundry. In this case, build a removeable laundry-folding shelf that can make your laundry time easier. Here’s how. 1. If you have a front-loading dryer or washer, you can create the shelf so a portion rests on the appliance and then can be attached to a wall or free-standing supports. 2. Measure the space you have and cut a piece of plywood or particle board to those specifications. A hardware store or home center can even cut the wood on premises if you don’t have the tools or the space to do so. 3. Attach 2x4 wood to the wall with screws to serve as a shelf support in the area where the shelf won’t rest on the washer or dryer. If you don’t have a wall nearby, you can erect a wood frame that will support the shelf and attach the frame to the floor for stability. 4. Paint any exposed wood, if desired. 5. Cover your plywood shelf with a decorative vinyl fabric or tablecloth by using a staple gun. 6. Place the shelf on the supports and the appliance and test for stability. 7. Use the shelf as needed for folding clothes. 8. If you need to remove the shelf for any reason, it’s easily taken down and stored. 9. While you’re building shelving, place a small shelf above the laundry station to hold detergent, dryer sheets, etc.
Brainerd Dispatch | www.brainerddispatch.com
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
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Make Roofing Color Choices With Confidence Advice from Color Expert Kate Smith Standard slate gray or bold terracotta? Solid brown or a blend of three warm brown tones? For some homeowners, the question of what color to cap off their homes is more challenging than the decision of what roofing product to use. “Our research clearly pointed us toward DaVinci’s polymer slate roofing tiles for their durability and resistance to severe weather,” says Tim Wahl of Kansas City, Kansas. “But I was surprised that the decision of what color or blend to select sort of paralyzed me. I was afraid of making the wrong decision and then having to live with my choice for decades.” According to color expert Kate Smith, CMG, Wahl’s experience is not unusual. “Selecting exterior building product colors can be daunting for some people specifically because of the long lifespan of those products,” says Smith. “A DaVinci roof has a 50-year warranty. That’s a long-term color investment. So, while it’s fairly easy and inexpensive to repaint the interior of a room, you want to maximize your roofing investment by selecting a color you can live with for many years. Many people need some support and guidance when making those larger color decisions.” Smith, a nationally-known color expert and the owner of Sensational Color, offers these tips for homeowners determining what roofing colors to select. Tip #1 -- Take time and do your homework. Don’t rush a decision. Try to envision a home exterior that you will like next year, five years from now, and then 20 years from now. Tip #2 -- Consider your options. While a solid color roof may work for some home styles, a blend of several colors may offer a “softer” look with more accent options. Pre-bundled roofing color blends can be made with two, three, four or five different color blends that complement each other. Tip #3 -- Investigate the different roofing color options available to you online.
shutters and siding, so we can change our palate over the years as the home ages.” Wahl’s home renovation was so impressive that it received the Remodel of the Year project award from Kansas City Homes & Gardens magazine. “One hundred percent of the interior and exterior of this home was renovated, and the results are awesome,” says Wahl, president with Develop KC, a company that remodels homes and apartment complexes throughout Kansas City. “The roofline really attracts attention. I’m glad we took the time to consider a color blend because the resulting look is truly outstanding.” The warm mosaic of tan and gray colors on this synthetic slate roof is accentuated by striking purples reminiscent of provincial Tuscan hillsides.
Use the Color Design tool at www.davinciroofscapes.com to create your own custom color blends from 49 colors or to see the company’s standard 28 color blends. Tip #4 -- Request life-sized samples of your favorite color roofing tiles to hold up against your current roof to see the change that a new color will make for your home. Tip #5 -- Look at the other homes in your neighborhood. Your home should blend in or stand out from other homes, but never clash with the rest of the homes in your community. A roofing color can help achieve a harmonious look. Tip #6 -- Get assistance from a professional. Just as selecting the roofing product is a big decision requiring assistance of a professional, so is the choice of the roof color. Consult a color expert and use the color tools offered by experts and product manufacturers to gain a strong comfort level for your color choice. After considering his options, Wahl selected the Aberdeen blend from DaVinci Roofscapes. “I felt like the color blend offered me so many more long-term options than a single color,” says Wahl. “This blend has rich, warm grays, stone, green and purples that combine to create
a striking roof. I can choose several complementary colors for our home’s trim,
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Tuesday, May 24, 2011
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Brainerd Dispatch | www.brainerddispatch.com
Simple Ways to Make the Home Safer Homeowners are often on the lookout for ways to improve their homes. Many times those improvements concern aesthetic appeal, such as a new coat of paint, or more practical appeal, such as new furniture. However, one of the best and most effective ways to improve a home is to make it safer. While it might not be as exciting as choosing a new color scheme or getting a new couch, making a home safer is certainly a practical improvement that can pay dividends for everyone. Homeowners looking to make their homes safer can do so throughout the
house, with a few minor adjustments here and there. The Basement Basements have grown increasingly popular over the years. Thanks to advancements in home theater technology many homeowners have turned their basements into their own private movie theaters. For parents, the basement might have morphed into a child’s playroom, while those who work from home might have turned their basements into their very own home offices. Whatever function a basement is serving, chances are it can be safer than it is.
One of the more common safety concerns with basements is lighting. When attempting to improve a basement’s safety, homeowners should make sure the staircase leading down to the basement has adequate lighting to avoid trips and falls. Consider installing a shelf at the top of the staircase to store a flashlight, batteries and light bulbs. This way, should the power go out or the basement bulbs die out, no one will risk injury walking down a poorly lit staircase. The Bedroom A common misconception is that families spend more time in the kitchen than
Adequate lighting on both sides of the bed makes a bedroom safer, reducing the risk of injury when getting up at night to use the restroom or get a drink.
any other room in the house. However, when considering time spent asleep, the bedroom reigns supreme. But just because residents might be asleep the majority of the time they’re in the bedroom doesn’t mean a bedroom cannot present a safety threat. When furnishing a bedroom, be sure to have adequate lighting on each side of the bed. This helps reduce the risk of injury should someone wake up in the middle of the night to visit the restroom or get a glass of water. It’s also best to be sure a telephone is within reach of the bed. Should an injury occur or an ailment present itself while a person is lying in bed and they cannot move, it’s important to have a telephone within reach so a call for help can be made. Another easy and often overlooked way to make the bedroom more safe is to leave the door unlocked when going to sleep. In case of a fire or another medical emergency, it’s important that other residents or emergency response professionals like first aide personnel or firefighters and police can easily access the bedroom. The Bathroom Many injuries occur in the bathroom each and every year. Fortunately, many of those injuries are entirely preventable with a few easy modifications. For homes with elderly residents, install grab bars to make getting in and out of the shower easier. It’s also possible to install a grab bar near the toilet if need be. Just be sure to attach the bar to something like a wall or cabinet that can support a person’s body weight. Routinely check any grab bars for strength and stability. When furnishing the bathroom, look for non-skid bath mats and floor coverings. Such non-skid mats often have plastic bottoms and won’t move when stepped on regardless of how wet the floor might be. It also helps to install a light switch just inside the bathroom door if there isn’t one there already. This makes it easy to turn the light on in the middle of the night.
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
The Heart of Your Backyard:
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
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Hot Product #1:
Real Backyard Decks Deserve Real Wood The Breezy Living Screen Garage Door
The deck is the heart of a backyard. It’s where the family gathers for dinner, the perfect spot for grilling, a great place to hang out with friends and the ideal location for relaxing after a long day. Whether you’re thinking of building a new deck or your old one needs resurfacing, be sure and choose the right decking product: choose real wood. Building a Deck. Thinking of building a brand new deck? What a great way to enhance your backyard! According to the 2010-2011 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine, homeowners can expect to recoup 72.8 percent (on average) of the cost of building a wood deck vs. only 66.2 percent if building with composites. Deck substructures are built using pressure-treated wood anyway; if it’s strong and durable enough to hold up your deck, it’s strong enough to actually be your decking surface. Pressure-treated wood is a builder favorite and has been the number one decking material for decades. It’s natural, real -- and it looks fantastic. Resurfacing a deck. If you already have a wood deck but it’s more than 20 years old, consider a resurfacing project. This is where the decking surface is replaced, while the substructure remains. (It’s always a good idea to have a decking professional check the entire deck for soundness.) Resurfacing is easy, and it’s a great way to refresh your outdoor living areas without blowing your budget. Maintaining a deck. Every building
material designed for outdoor use requires maintenance; luckily, real wood decks are very easy to maintain. Once a year, check your deck to see if it needs cleaning or perhaps another coat of sealant. Perform the cup of water test: if a cup of water poured on the deck boards immediately soaks into the wood, it’s time to apply water repellant. Why choose wood? Your deck should mesh with your backyard -- be sure your decking material is an extension of nature, with all the beauty, strength and durability you’d expect. Pressure-treated wood is your most natural decking option: it’s easy to find, easy to use, requires no special tools, and it’s affordable. Wood doesn’t conduct heat like other decking materials can, meaning no burned feet in the summertime. Treated wood is impervious to rot and pests and it’s proven to be people- and pet-safe. Concerned about our forests? Choosing wood for any home improvement project is a very wise environmental decision. Thriving, sustainably managed forests create a healthier environment for all of us. Choosing forest products -- wood -- encourages US landowners to keep replanting trees; the forest industry plants more trees than they harvest every single year, ensuring wood will be around for generations to come. Wood is one of the only naturally renewable building products available, and the only energy required to manufacture it comes from the sun. You can’t get much more green than that.
Far and away, the top vote-getter in the 2010 Hottest New Products Survey was the Breezy Living Screen Garage Door at Arrow-Tru-Line’s exhibit. Ken Wise of Arrow Tru-Line says the exhibit was constantly surrounded by a crowd at Expo and generated a lot of inquiries from dealers. The product features a unique sliding pass door that lets people enter or leave the garage without opening the entire door. Wise says the door avoids the high cost of electric retractable doors and eliminates the problems of the floor track on sliding doors. He adds that the Breezy Living product is affordable, easy to install, and simple to use. Plus, the door should be acceptable to many HOAs (Home Owner Associations). Expected options include different types of screening, frame colors, and imaging on screens. Behind the Screen The door’s primary inventors are Brian Hughes and Brian Jones of Advanced Screen Works, a small Florida company that does screen installations. Like many entrepreneurs, the two Brians do not have college degrees. They simply saw a need in the market and devised a way to meet the need. Several months ago, Advanced Screen Works approached Arrow Tru-Line for assistance in designing the track assembly. Patent applications have been submitted, and Arrow Tru-Line is now the exclusive worldwide licensee to manufacture, market, and sell the product.
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Tuesday, May 24, 2011
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Brainerd Dispatch | www.brainerddispatch.com