Shi 041318 12 pages

Your Home No walls needed Designing the perfect outdoor room

Y

ou’ve seen it on HGTV home remodels: the transformation of a basic backyard into a jaw-dropping outdoor room with an arched-roof pergola housing a flame-flickering fire pit table, fabulous couches and tables, a state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen and magical lighting illuminating the cozy and chic space for gathering family and friends. Now, more homeowners are designing their own outdoor rooms to give themselves a fabulous open-air space in top design style.

According to the experts at The Outdoor Greatroom Co., “the wonderful thing about adding an outdoor great room is that the cost per square foot is much less than any other inside-the-home remodel job.”

To begin your process of designing an outdoor room, browse Pinterest to gather enticing images, from the ultra-exorbitant to the most simple. Show these to your professional designer or outdoor room company stylist. (It is advisable to hire an Outdoor room page 11

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Community Advocate April 13, 2018

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2 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018

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hen selling a condominium, you are selling two things – your unit and your percentage of ownership of common area usually called “common interest.” Buyers will be asking about the budget, special assessments, repairs to common area, and how much money is in reserve to cover these repairs.

They will be asking about rules and regulations, the management company and the board of trustees. Here are some important things to remember: Vicki Aubry REALTOR®, ABR, SRES

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Marketing your property Your agent should determine what types of buyers are most likely to buy in your complex by learning who the current unit owners are that already live there. No sense trying to market to downsizing buyers in a complex whose floor plans have four full levels of living, for example.

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tions. Most are written in a language only an attorney can understand, so the buyer will be relying on their attorney to “translate” who is responsible for what as well as who actually owns what (association or unit owner).

Also, an Association summary sheet (or condo questionnaire) should also be available quickly to send to the lender to be sure the condominium passes muster from an underwriting standpoint. Lenders need to know the number of rentals as this will influence the buyer’s mortgage rate and whether the condominium is an FHA- or Fannie Mae-approved complex. Understanding the underwriting process for condominiums is key to the transaction in the new world of mortgage lending and only an experienced condominium agent will have the right tools to get the job done as it is far more complicated than a single family-home.

Home inspection At home inspection, the agent must know which repairs the unit owner is responsible for and which must be requested from the management company. This is an often complicated task as it can be quite technical in nature and each complex’s documents can be different with respect to who owns what.

Closing Finally, your agent must remember to request your 6D Certificate (showing you have no monies owed to the association) on a timely basis for closing. This is usually produced by the management company and each has specific requirements as far as timing, necessity for a bank check, and the associated fees necessary to obtain it.

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Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018 • 3

M Carthy’s Landscaping c

Customer service is their top priority

By Melanie Petrucci Senior Community Reporter

PHOTO/SUBMITTED

West Boylston – Who is ready for spring to finally arrive? Sue and Roger McCarthy of McCarthy’s Landscaping & Irrigation, Inc. are, no doubt. Located in West Boylston at 133 Hartwell St., they have been serving Worcester County since 1995.

The family-owned business is now in its 23rd year.

“We are a full-serve landscaping company; we do everything from the weekly maintenance to patios and irrigation, outdoor kitchens, lighting, and hydroseeding,” Roger explained. “Anything to do with landscaping, we do.”

They also do pergolas, pond installations and commercial snow removal - but hopefully that won’t be needed until next winter.

McCarthy pointed out that they do not do decks, but they use a contractor should a new deck be a part of the client’s overall design.

McCarthy recently purchased equipment so they no longer need to outsource hydroseeding. All of their services are now done “in-house.”

With the exception of decks, they no longer “sub-out” any of their services. This enables McCarthy’s greater quality control and less wait time between phases of landscaping, making for a seamless process.

“All of our employees are attuned to the customers’ needs and wants and are very respectful of them,” Roger said.

“They all are in the McCarthy maroon shirts at all times. We are also fully insured.”

Sue added that the employees receive training, so that they all are on the same page.

Training also includes safety protocols.

McCarthy started the business from the ground up. What began as a one-man operation is now staffed with anywhere between 15 and 20 employees.

Sue manages the office, books the appointments, and is the first point of contact for their customers. She keeps the business running smoothly so her husband can focus on managing the projects. They are a great team.

“We pride ourselves on the customers. The customers

Sue and Roger McCarthy stand beside their hydro-seeder.

McCarthy’s Landscaping & Irrigation, Inc. has been serving Worcester County since 1995.

are our main concern, making sure they are happy and making sure that services are performed to their liking.

Without the customers we don’t have a business,” Roger said.

Bill from Shrewsbury shared the following in a testimonial:

“Roger, I would like to personally thank you for a job well done. I found you and your crew to be professional, and your work to be exceptional.

Also, I appreciate all the advice you’ve given and I was impressed with your prompt service. I will look forward to

working with you on my final phase of the landscape.”

“I enjoy our customers and I’m there for them,” Roger said.

While Roger and Sue are gearing up for what will surely be a busy season, people are starting to think about their landscape projects. Now is the

time to start booking your appointments.

McCarthy’s now has a newly redesigned website that was recently launched. For further information, visit them at mccarthyslandscaping.com or call 508-842-7110 or 508835-2020.

4 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018

The perks of permaculture

Reduce maintenance, preserve resources and boost curb appeal

I

f you’re looking to start a garden in the near future, why not create one that will require very little maintenance and resources, including time? It may sound too good to be true, but the explanation is simple. Permaculture is a practice of agriculture that takes advantage of the natural ecosystems and habits of nature. Because using this method allows plants to use resources more efficiently, you can save precious resources while creating a garden or landscape that is long-lasting and abundant.

One of the best approaches to take when establishing a system of permaculture in your home is to choose to grow perennial flowers and other perennial plants.

Perennial plants return year after year with little to no maintenance. This means that you only have to plant them once to reap the ben-

Perennial plantings reap the maximum amount of benefit with the minimum amount of work.

efits for a lifetime.

There are lots of perennial flowers available to choose from. Hydrangeas, lavender and peonies are all examples of flowers that will continue to bloom each year.

For homeowners, perennial

flowers can prove especially enticing, as they help to establish a beautiful landscape that will accentuate a home for many years to come.

Many potential buyers see landscaping as a large expense, so having a garden full

of perennial flowers would be a great added feature to calculate into the value of any home.

For those who choose to utilize their outdoor space as a vegetable garden instead, there are many vegetable perennials to take advantage of, as well. Artichokes and asparagus are two common perennial favorites.

Although they make take a few years to get established, they will indeed produce every year once they are mature enough. There are several hardy herbs such as rosemary and sage that also require very little maintenance. They can be easily harvested and used to add variety and flavor to many different dishes.

The moringa is a tree popular among health-nuts and is another example of a perennial plant. It is praised for its nutritional content, as it produces highly nutritious leaves that are packed with

protein. The blog How to Grow Perennial Vegetables, which focuses on teaching readers about perennial vegetables, explains that most perennial vegetables are very nutritionally dense, considering that they “have some of the highest protein content, lowest sugar, and tons of minerals. Tuber crops from Groundnuts have over 17 percent protein.”

Jerusalem artichokes “produce inulin which is a prebiotic that maintains healthy gut flora, and the spinach/kale crops are high in iron and calcium.” So if you’re looking for plants that are both healthful and easy to maintain, perennials are the answer.

W h e n i t c om e s t o preparing the gardening space for your perennial plants, sheet mulching is a useful permacultural practice to consider. Sami Grover,

*Some restrcitions apply

*Some restrcitions apply

*Some restrcitions apply

*Some restrcitions apply

Permaculture page 5

Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018 • 5

The perks of permaculture

Reduce maintenance, preserve resources and boost curb appeal resources to create healthy soil that requires very little maintenance.

Deciding to plant low-maintenance vegetables and flowers in a natural environment is one of the wisest decisions that any gardener can make. Less time and money spent on

Permaculture Continued from page 4

a writer for TreeHugger, explains the usefulness of mulch: “Mulch is a central tool for keeping weeds down, keeping water where it’s needed, and keeping work to a minimum.”

This environment is similar to the natural ecosystem of many forests.

Sheet mulching (also called lasagna composting) consists of se ver al layers of organic materials. It ’s a process that is best done in advance of any planting so that the materials have time to adequately break down.

You want to begin with a layer of cardboard or newspaper, which helps to keep weeds from penetrating into your garden. Then you will need to cover this layer with about an inch of nitrogen material. This can include vegetable scraps, used coffee grounds and fresh grass clippings. Next, add an inch of carbon material, which could be leaves, wood chips or more newspaper or cardboard. Continue to layer an inch of the nitrogen and carbon material one on top of another until the desired height is reached.

Chop ‘n’ drop is another form of permacultural mulching. Similar to sheet mulching, chop ‘n’ drop helps to keep soil healthy by conserving water, preventing weeds and providing it with beneficial nutrients.

Fortunately, it is a very easy process, consisting of simply letting the pruned leaves of

plants fall to the ground. This creates the layer of natural mulch. It ’s important to choose only specific plants when using this method.

Some of the best choices include species that will regrow several times during the year.

Nitrogen-fixing legumes, such as alfalfa and soybeans,

are another good choice, as they help to fertilize soil especially well. The only important consideration is to keep the droppings away from the roots of trees so that they don’t attempt to compete with each other. Beyond this, chop ‘n’ drop is a simple and effective way of reusing

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6 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018

Time for a pro?

To do or not to do your own gardening

G

ardening is relaxing and therapeutic for many, and that green thumb is a pride and honor once you achieve it. Most projects need little more than patience and common household tools. However, there are times when even the most talented do-it-yourself gardener wants or needs professional help.

What can a professional landscaper do for you?

Professional landscapers offer a variety of services from lawn mowing to fertilizing and design. Depending on your needs and budget, you can find the right service to complement your green thumb. If you choose, you can have the enjoyment of planting and cultivating your prize flowers while having a service do the tedious task of mowing and raking the rest of the lawn. You can also always hire someone to give you a prize-winningworthy garden.

A complete professional landscape maintenance program is more than mowing, edging and blowing leaves away. You will often find a staff of horticultural experts, designers, pest control specialists, weed control and general lawn maintenance. Since a professional landscape maintenance program requires more time and visits from specialists in their fields, the price tag is higher than basic maintenance.

Professional landscape companies are commonly hired to maintain the yards around large corporate enterprises.

If you are a homeowner who is simply interested in keeping your yard neat and manicured while you are busy with other pursuits, then a basic lawn maintenance program may be the right fit. Your grass will be kept trimmed and cut grass and other debris will be removed. Periodic fertilizer applications and pest control can be scheduled to keep your lawn Gardening page 7

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Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018 • 7

Time for a pro?

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Gardening Continued from page 6

looking green and healthy.

Your neighbors will appreciate your efforts to support property values. This is also ideal if you travel frequently, and will help to keep your property looking inhabited and serve as a deterrent to would-be thieves.

The consideration of a professional company to care for your yard should go beyond just the very basic services you now require. Some mowing companies, while they can do the job well, will offer only those simple services, and you may have to hire different companies for that unexpected need such as pest or weed control. Full-service landscape maintenance companies will often offer varying packages based on your needs and the flexibility to upgrade, or downgrade, components to keep your yard in tip-top shape.

When you are selecting professionals for individual projects or regular maintenance ask to see jobs they have already worked on, ask neighbors for references, and interview the person responsible for service contracts; ask to see package deals and specific terms about any changes made to your plan.

Be sure to define your expectations; set a realistic budget; and communicate any changes to your landscape goals to the provider so they can tweak the service.

When to go pro Even if you are adept at maintaining your own yard and you have the time and knowledge, some jobs are still more than you want to tackle. You probably could use help for tasks such as digging, contour sloping of the land, if underground wiring or plumbing needs to be laid, or depending on your local regulations if special permits and certifications are required. If your yard is prone to flooding or is too dry or rocky, a horticulturist can help plan and maintain the right types of plants that will flourish in that setting.

If you want to install permanent outdoor lighting for nighttime backyard entertaining, a professional landscaper can design the placement for attractive effectiveness and subcontract the job to an

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8 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018

outdoor gatherings Extend your season with a fire pit

T

here were many things that Erin Lang Norris and her husband were looking forward to when they moved out of an apartment and into their own house in Massachusetts. Top on that list was having a yard for building big fires to enjoy during the summer and winter months.

But the property they purchased didn’t have a fire pit, so Lang Norris had to take things into her own hands, literally.

“I don’t know how many bottles of ibuprofen I went through,” she says, noting that building the 5-foot-wide fire pit was a feat of will and physical strength.

Lang Norris couldn’t afford a landscape designer, so she went to the first place most people do to get more information on any do-it-yourself project: the Internet. She was sorely disappointed at the lack of concise and helpful material and instead decided to give it a go herself.

The first step was mapping out the space for her fire pit. It ended up having a 5-foot diameter, a typical size, says Tim Lindgren, president of Lindgren Landscape & Irrigation.

But you need a lot more space than that to accommodate the

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“You’ll have the fire pit itself - 5-foot outside diameter - and then you have three feet of seating all around it. All of a sudden, you have an 11-foot space to fit a round fire pit,” calculates Lindgren. This size

was perfect for Lang Norris’ 2-acre plot; the fire pit didn’t get lost in the area, but also wasn’t overwhelming.

Lang Norris’ biggest challenge, she says, was deciding what kind of stone she should use. She wanted something

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Gatherings page 9

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durable enough for high temperatures, which can foster brush fires, and cold winters.

After pricing options at the local stone yard, she picked sandstone and then layered the inside of the pit with firebrick she picked up at the hardware store.

Lindgren suggests that any fire pit be made with masonry blocks veneered with bricks, fake stones or real stones on the outside. This gives the pit the strong structure it needs to withstand the heat of a fire and leaves an aesthetically pleasing view for the homeowner.

Once the size is sketched out and the stone bought, the heavy lifting and digging begins; this is where the painkillers come in handy. How deep you dig your foundation will depend on the type of soil in which you are digging. The foundation is the area of the ground that the stone cylinder will sit on. After this area is dug out, cement is poured in and

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hen a house goes up for sale, if it’s priced well for the market and shows like a charm, offers will begin to come in. Choosing an offer isn’t (or, shouldn’t be, rather) an off-the-cuff decision. Careful consideration of multiple facets need to be looked at; sometimes what appears to be a great offer at first glance may not be the right one.

Having an experienced REALTOR® on your side will help you understand the process. Making sure the details are aligned is imperative.

Price: Typically the most focused on item in an offer. Does the price after selling expenses meet your needs, even if the final negotiated price is lower than list? Have your agent run you an estimated net proceeds form. Also, will the house appraise at that price if it is much higher than asking?

Dates: How does the proposed closing date work for you? Remember to look for Monday holidays or Friday closings before a long weekend.

If anything were to go awry, a closing could possibly be delayed that much longer if an eye isn’t kept on the calendar.

Conditions: Are any inspections requested? Is there a home sale contingency for a house not yet listed? Look closely at the terms.

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Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018 • 9

outdoor gatherings Extend your season with a fire pit Gatherings Continued from page 8

rebar stuck into the cement to add stability and strength.

Lang Norris spent many hours chiseling pieces of stone to fit into the puzzle of the expansive fire pit walls. She carefully placed each piece exactly where she wanted it, which oftentimes required her to shift the stones from one space to another, trying to get all of the pieces just right. She then built a top cap of thicker stones that went all the way around the cylinder, giving the structure a nice finished look.

While Lang Norris’ fire pit is wood-burning, Lindgren gets many requests for gas fire pits.

In these cases, his company would install a valve that runs through the exterior of the wall, into the bottom of the pit and capped by a burner system.

Lava rocks or glass would cover the burner system, but allow the flames to come up.

“The pros to doing a woodburning fire pit is a real flame,

must also be in hand. Messing around with a gas line is no simple undertaking, Lindgren says.

All in all, Lang Norris spent about $450 on her fire pit, while Lindgren’s company, which primarily caters to high-end residential locations, charges between $3,500

and $4,500 for a fire pit. Both options are viable and in the end, people are going to gather around the finished project.

“In the north, we are trying to take advantage of the outdoor living. What can we put outside that will prolong our season?” Lindgren asks. Lang Norris knows just the thing.

POOL REMOVAL the smell and crackling of a campfire,” Lindgren says. A gas pit is easy to manage and maintain. Lindgren even installed a fire pit that the owner can light using an iPad app.

Lindgren suggests that

homeowners check the local fire codes before they start making decisions on the type of fire pit they want. Some areas don’t allow burning firewood in city limits, and if there is a gas line involved, permits

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10 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018

Bathroom redux

Add value and comfort to your home with a bathroom remodel

N

othing embodies a sense of luxury more than nicely appointed bathrooms. This is one of the best improvements that can be done to any home, as it adds both perceived and actual value.

Today’s bathrooms are not just functional rooms of the house, but also extensions of one’s living space, and they are no longer clinical in design. Designs for these spaces have gone in many directions, often including saunas, hot tubs, massage tables and even exercise areas. Gone are many of the materials one used to expect in bathrooms: ceramic tile, traditional fixtures, tones of mint green, cherry pink and sky blue (unless you are involved in a historical restoration). These materials have been replaced with warmer tiles, slates and marbles in a variety of incredible colors.

Some have textures; others are laser-cut for intricate designs.

Stones are mixed with glass

and mirrors, and tiles and fixtures that glow in the dark are available.

Some of the newer bathrooms rival the size of their en suite bedrooms. Larger spaces are favored over the typical 5-by-7-foot bathrooms of yesteryear. Most homeowners are even willing to eliminate a spare room so that the square footage can be used for their new bathroom. Lounging areas are de rigueur, and this provides space for a chaise or a pair of club chairs and an ottoman.

Fixtures such as toilets, lavs and tubs are available in traditional styles to fit in with most conventional architectural styles. But some are also available in sleek versions that look as if they have been designed by aeronautical engineers. Materials for fixtures have evolved to include the traditional porcelains and enameled irons, as well as newer materials, such as resins and polyesters that can easily

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A whirlpool tub was the must-have 10 or 20 years ago.

Today high-end plumbing fixtures are all the rage. Most whirlpool tubs are being removed for lack of use and are being replaced with larger showers - sometimes large enough for two. These sybaritic showers feature multiple massage sprays, rain showerheads and spa-like steam options. These features, once found only at therapeutic clinics and spas, now are commonplace as people search for antidotes to their hectic lives.

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Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018 • 11

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Designing the perfect outdoor room Outdoor room Continued from front page

expert to assess and measure your property’s grading and anchoring needs, advise on township codes and suggest the most durable, weatherresistant materials for your outdoor room.) Completing this project alone presents serious risk to the amateur home remodeler, as there are so many details and codes to consider.

A professional team also makes easy work of installing the room’s pergola and support beams, which can be easily installed in less than a day with two people. However, the flooring may take longer depending on your need and choice of flooring materials.

It is also necessary to do the planning for the electrical and gas lines if these are to be utilized for gas fire pits, outdoor kitchens and outdoor fireplaces. Licensed and insured professionals know how and where lines may be run and can handle permit acquisitions tasks for you.

A pergola is the most popular design, with thick support legs holding up the lofty beamed roof, in either flat or arched design. The legs may be simple beams with decorative bases, or you can give your outdoor room a feel of Tuscany through pedestalround legs. Overhead, choose from an open beam design or add a latticework layer to increase visual interest while allowing for wind and rain to pass through harmlessly. You also need to decide if your structure will be anchored into the ground or raised on a deck.

Choose furniture for comfort and style in materials specifically designed for outdoor use. New trends in outdoor furniture include love seats, gliders, coffee tables and end tables in addition to the traditional table and chairs set.

Materials for stylish outdoor furniture sets are resistant to mildew and mold and are often UV-ray resistant to prevent fading. Furniture may be accessorized with cushions and pillows in complementary colors to coordinate with colors existing in your landscaping or pool areas.

Outdoor lighting is an important element for creating the perfect outdoor living space. French colonial lanterns

add elegance to an outdoor room. Grouping several different sizes of metal lanterns will add extra visual appeal.

Other lighting effects include lights strung throughout the latticework ceiling or wrapped

around pergola beams, LED or solar lights in pillar candle form, and lanterns hung from S-hooks on tree branches around the structure.

Portable light-andh e a t e r fi x tures add to the lighting effect while warming up the space on cool evenings.

Speaking of heat, the top trend in outdoor rooms is the gas fire pit table, which is often a low-set round, square or rectangular table with a clean-burning gas fuel feature in the center, creating a fireplace flame effect emerging from center-placed clear or colored stones.

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12 • Community Advocate • YOUR HOME • Friday, April 13, 2018

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