2012 Fall Home Improvement by ECM Publishers

Improvement Guide

September 2012

Information on the newest products to clean up, fix, decorate and landscape with, along with do-it yourself ideas.

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Fall is here! Yes, it is September and no, I do not know where summer went. If you are like me, there are still a few items left on the “honey do” list that need to get done before the snow starts to fall. Or maybe you have some spare time and are looking for a fall project to take up a day or a couple weekends. We are here to help! This 2012 Fall Home Improvement section is full of ideas and tips on things anyone from a novice do-it-yourselfer to a pro can use this fall. Sometimes it is just a matter of finding the right tool for the job. Other times, you get in over your head and need a professional to take over. Whatever the case, there are many advertisers featured that are ready to help you with any project large or small. Ask them lots of questions- they like to help make your project a success. Hiring a professional allows you to spend more time with your family and friends. These advertisers have made this section possible so please support them with your patronage.

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hometownsource.com

Fall

Improvement

September 2012

The 2012 Fall Home Improvement Information Guide is produced by the Scotsman and St. Croix Valley Peach with assistance from reporters at the Isanti County News, ECM Post Review and Forest Lake Times. For more information contact us at (763) 689-1981. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced in any way without permission from ECM Publishers, Inc.

2012 ECM Publishers, Inc.

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List of advertisers Abbey Carpet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Above All Exteriors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 All Seasons Renovations, LLC. . . . . . . . . 11 Cambridge Enterprises, LLC - Sears. . . . . 15 Carlson Heating & Sheetmetal. . . . . . . . 15 Caswell Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Caswell Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Cathy Carchedi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Century 21 - Moline Realty . . . . . . . . . . 11 Classic Plumbing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Custom Woodworks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Dahl’s Decorating & Restoration. . . . . . . 12 Dean’s Heating & Air Conditioning. . . . . . 8 East Central Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Engstrom’s ABC Seamless. . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Federated Co-op - Cambridge . . . . . . . . . 9 Grampa Joe’s Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Great Garage Door Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Gregory Contracting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Hassel Free Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Hayford Ford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Isanti Ready Mix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Isanti Rental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Jaren Enterprises. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Lamperts - North Branch. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 LeRoux’s All Season. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Midwest Electric & Generator. . . . . . . . . 14 Minnco Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

MN Equipment Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 MN Equipment Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 National Recycling Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Nick Swenson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Northland Landscaping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Olson Power & Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Olson Sewer Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Osceola Interiors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Peoples National Bank - North Branch. . 15 Petal Pushers Garden Center. . . . . . . . . 10 Peterson’s North Branch Mill . . . . . . . . . 14 Quality Restoration Services. . . . . . . . . . . 8 R & M Septic Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 R & S Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Remax Associates Plus/Lundeen. . . . . . . 16 RIC Property Management. . . . . . . . . . . 16 Security State Bank of Marine . . . . . . . . . 3 Sherman Pole Building. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Stacy Do It Best Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . 12 Sigstad’s Mill-Direct Flooring . . . . . . . . . 13 Strandlund Refrigeration. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Strandlund Refrigeration. . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The Pool Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Tradewinds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Tradewinds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Urban’s Isanti Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Wise Guy Plumbing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Wolcyn Tree Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

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All about

Raised bed garden kits

Helping to make gardening easier. By Mary Bailey

Residents of Meadows on Fairview enjoy time on the garden patio where food and flowers grow in Gronomics elevated planters.

Forest Lake Times

The Rivard Companies business card coming home from military service at age Have you given up gardening because reads “Finding a Better Way,” and owner 20, Rivard moved into a trailer park in of the bending and squatting? Hugo and started a tree trimming service. Maybe it’s time to bring in some help: Mike Rivard’s title is “Chief Imagineer.” Now, 23 years later, Rivard Contracting After growing up in Lino Lakes and Many vegetables will grow in elevated gardens. Raised garden beds can eliminate kneeling and bending. They can also solve the problems of poor soil, poor drainage, and a short growing season. Used in a rooftop garden or on a patio, they can even overcome a lack of garden space. An elaborate raised bed garden might require a contractor to build stone retaining walls. On the other extreme, a simple rectangle built from untreated pine 2 x 12 lumber, nailed at the corners and filled with soil, will raise the planting area a few inches and will last a few years. In between these two extremes, gardeners can invest in attractive manufactured kits made of rot-resistant wood. Choose the size, shape, and height that fits your space, assemble the kit, and add a lightweight growing medium. And you can buy the kits from a local “We never buy lettuce,” Bill Rivard said, as the raised bed garden is ideal for company. growing greens. An added benefit: “No rabbits.”

at 19801 Highway 65 in East Bethel clears land for home builders and road construction projects up to 100 miles away. A second Rivard company, Central Wood Products, sells mulch to contractors and garden centers. And his third company, Gronomics, makes elevated garden beds.

Gronomics

Bottomless planters that sit on the ground come in several sizes and are 10 or 15 inches deep. Plant roots grow in the improved soil in the box, and also reach into the ground below the box. Other planters are boxes with a bottom to contain the soil, and legs to raise the structure up off the ground. These can be placed on a deck or patio, as the soil is entirely contained. They are 19 inches high and hold soil 10 inches deep. For even higher gardening, elevated garden beds use taller legs to stand 30 or 32 inches high, with 8- or 10-inch soil depth.

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Inside the lobby at the Rivard Companies building are other ideas for wooden planter boxes. This one holds a fairy garden. But that’s not all. Benches, pergolas, trellis kits for vertical growing, and modular configurations add many other choices. Gronomics uses only Western Red Cedar, either rough-sawn or treated with a food-safe finish. There are no weight restrictions, so any soil can be used. “We stood 5 adults in one, and it didn’t break,” Mike said. The kits are designed to be assembled in a few minutes, with no tools required. Mike Rivard gives a lifetime guarantee on the planters. He said if a customer calls to say a board is cracked, the company ships a new board out the same day, no questions asked. The company also sells a drip irrigation system. Raised bed gardens tend to warm up earlier in the spring, but they also dry out faster in the summer. Daily watering is necessary in hot weather. And while shallow-rooted vegetables and fruits can thrive in elevated planter boxes, you probably would not use them for corn. Mike Rivard says lettuce can be successfully grown in six inches of soil, and 11 inches is enough for beans, peas,

carrots, and strawberries. Herbs, potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes are often very successful in container gardens. To see Gronomics raised bed gardens in Forest Lake, check out the high school: Two elevated planter boxes stand outside the agriculture department greenhouse on the southeast corner of the building. Or you can drive by Bill Rivard’s house on 11th Ave. SW (CR-83). Mike’s brother, Bill is a remodeling contractor who raises vegetables in Gronomics planters between his house and the street. You can also see many examples at the Rivard Companies location in East Bethel. All types of raised gardens are on display, interspersed with giant hibiscus flowers. And across the highway, on the parking lot of the Marathon River Country Coop gas station at ST-65 and 187th Lane, is a community garden made of 15 Gronomics planters, each four feet wide and eight feet long. Plants and soil were donated by nearby businesses. A local bank provides the water. The gardening is done by volunteers. And the food is donated to the

North Anoka County Emergency Food Shelf. For another inspiring story, visit Ebenezer Meadows on Fairview, the assisted living and memory care facility located by the Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming. At Ebenezer, Mike said, residents who hadn’t been outside for years now spend time in the garden. Three years ago Tim Sether, a Rivard Companies employee whose daughter works at the Meadows, suggested that elevated gardens would be ideal for the elderly residents. The result is a well-cared-for circle of planter boxes, filled with blooming flowers and productive food plants. The gardens are just the right height and spacing for someone who might be wheel-chair bound. And sure enough, Germaine Martinson

Landscaping mulch is pressed into ECO Bales to take less space and use less packaging.

Germaine Martinson pulled a carrot from a vegetable growing box at Meadows on Fairview on Sept. 7. is there every day. Germaine plans the garden, keeping a notebook of the results so that she will know what to plan next year. Carol Priesler keeps the bird feeders filled. “If I don’t,” she said, “the birds come and get me.” Sparrows fly under her chair when she is sitting on the patio, reminding her of her dereliction of duty. The concrete patio that holds the planter boxes was already in place when the decision was made to create a garden, and the $5,000 to buy the raised beds came from a Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant through Chisago County. The apartments and the memory care unit at Meadows on Fairview also have raised bed gardens. Mike Rivard said Gronomics planters are in use at other Ebenezer locations, including the one in Rochester. Rivard started building the wooden planter boxes in 2008, he said, when the economy was hurting his other businesses. Now over 600 garden centers carry the planters, he added, including Home Depot, Amazon, True Value, United, and Do It Best hardware stores.

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Something was missing. I just didn’t know how much until Sissy made walking in the front door the best part of my day. Marketplace Classifieds led to a better life for both of us.

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To place an ad online marketplaceminnesota.com

or call 763-241-3650

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Continued from page 5 And the businesses mesh: the planter boxes and land clearing businesses peak at different months, so Rivard’s 20 employees keep busy all year. Gronomics plant components are shipped in a cardboard box. There is no plastic in the packaging. For information about buying wooden planter boxes, call 763-753-7888 or visit Gronomics.com.

ECO Bales

If you’ve ever bought plastic bags of mulch for your landscaping, and then felt guilty about throwing away so much plastic, you’ll love this part of the Rivard story. To supplement the land clearing business, in 2004 Rivard started selling colored mulch. Trucks can’t deliver bulk mulch to ev-

ery site. Sometimes even a skid loader would cause too much destruction in someone’s backyard. So Rivard started packaging smaller quantities of the colored mulch. But his Western Red Cedar professional grade landscape mulch is not packaged in plastic bags. Instead, he compresses into compact cubes. Each cube has 4.5 cubic feet of mulch, enough to cover 54 square feet at one inch deep or 13.5 square feet at four inches deep. The cube is held together with two plastic straps. There is a paper label on one end. And that’s it: no other packaging. The cubes are called Eco Bales: “products for today, packaged for tomorrow.” One Eco Bale holds the equivalent of three plastic bags of mulch.

Rivard tried biodegradable baling twine, but it wasn’t strong enough to contain the compressed wood chips. “We weighed the amount of plastic compared to three bags,” he said, and the result was the two straps he uses weigh 30 percent as much as three empty plastic bags. “We use 70 percent less petroleum-based packaging,” he concluded. Rivard built the baler, and has patents on the bales and the baling process. Getting patents took two years, he said. Originally the bales were 6.75 cubic feet, but they too heavy for most people to handle. That size is still made for contractors. The smaller bales are sold wholesale to garden centers and contractors. Doit-yourselfers can buy them at Rock Gardens in Lino Lakes, Hoffman Brothers Sod in East Bethel, and Welch’s Landscaping Rock and Forestland Nurseries in Forest Lake. For prime mulch, Central Wood Products chops whole trees, such as cottonThe red cedar boxes aren’t just for planting. This one holds a cooler for outdoor woods, using a 100 horsepower grinder dining.

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that weighs 100,000 pounds. Most of the mulches are local, he said, but not cypress or cedar. The pine bark is a sawmill product from Grand Marais, and the white cedar comes from northern Minnesota. Some of the same lumber mills in British Columbia that sell him wood for the elevated garden beds also ship in red cedar for mulch. Cedar is the only quality wood available, he said; redwood is in limited supply. He called cedar from British Columbia an abundant and very renewable resource. Central Wood Products also bales colored mulch. The yellow and red powders come from China, he explained, where they are derived from iron oxide, or rust. “We ship scrap iron to China, and they sell us iron oxide,” he said. The most popular colored mulch sold in Eastern states, he said, is black, colored with carbon (pencil lead). But in Minnesota, black is less than 2 percent of the market. We prefer dark brown, then red or gold, Rivard said.

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September 23, 2012

Energy saving tips for the fall season

Simple steps will allow you to save on heating costs this fall and winter season.

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he seasons can change quickly here in the Midwest. The winds of winter may roar into town on the heels of a nice autumn day. Before they do, make sure you’re ready to stay warm without breaking your energy budget. “Heating and cooling costs account for nearly half of the utility bill in the average household,” said Greg Kvasnicka, energy services manager at East Central Energy (ECE). “When it comes to home improvements that will help keep those costs in line, there are easy, inexpensive things we can do, and there are more expensive options that pay for themselves in energy savings over time.” ECE suggests the following simple steps to save energy and money as we head into the heating season: • Seal air leaks. You can find them easily on a windy day by holding a lit incense stick next to your windows, doors, electrical outlets and anywhere air can come in from the outside. Place child safety plugs in unused outlets to stop air flow through the outlet holes. Doors and windows need tight weather stripping and caulking. Apply foam sealant or caulking to wires, pipes and ducts that enter the attic. Air leaks there can cut the effectiveness of insulation by 30 to 70 percent. • Install a programmable thermostat so the temperature in your home can be automatically adjusted according to your schedule. If you turn your thermostat down one degree in the winter for 16 hours a day, you can save 2 percent on your fuel bill. • Install water flow restrictors and aerators on faucets in the kitchen and bathroom.

Page 7 • Replace furnace filters regularly and follow maintenance schedules for heating equipment. Dust and dirt can quickly clog vital parts, making your furnace run harder than it should. • Look for ENERGY STAR labeled products when shopping for new heating equipment or household appliances. They can cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent. • Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). They use up to 75 percent less energy, and each CFL you install may save you up to $30 on your electric bill over the bulb’s lifetime. CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. They come in different shapes and sizes and are available in a variety of lighting tones. Remember that they must be recycled. “Homeowners who are thinking about a bigger home improvement that will bring them significant savings for years to come might want to consider a heat pump,” Kvasnicka said. “A ground source heat pump can trim over 50 percent from your heating bill, and it’s a very economical air conditioner, too. Air source heat pumps are less expensive and easier to install. They can provide up to half of your home heating and all of your cooling needs at ECE’s low off-peak price of 7.4 cents per kilowatt hour.” Financing may be available to help make heat pumps and other electric heating options affordable. Visit eastcentralenergy.com or call 1-800-254-7944 for information.

—Article submitted by East Central Energy

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September 23, 2012

Affordable quality cabinetry

Due to the current economic times, homeowners are looking now more than ever for affordable options to upgrade their homes. Custom Woodworks, which opened its current location in Grandy in 1991, continues to stay updated on the current trends while giving homeowners different options to fit their budgets. Owner Steve Beckman has been in the cabinetry business since 1976. He and his son, Brian Beckman, continue to look at how to best meet the needs of their clients. “One service we have been offering a lot the past couple of years is called refacing,” Steve explained. “We make new cabinet doors and drawers, but then go over the older cabinetry with a quarterinch wood skin. This is a nice option for those who want a new look, but without the cost of entire new cabinetry.” Brian explained they have done refacing projects in homes area homes, with the homeowners always happy with the results. “Refacing is a nice option for those

Custom Woodworks celebrates over 35 years in business By Rachel Kytonen

Isanti County News

who have older cabinetry that is still in good condition,” Brian said. “By installing new doors and drawers, refacing gives you a new look and is a nice upgrade to the home.”

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Brian and Steve are always willing to meet with homeowners in their homes to discuss projects. “Most of the time, homeowners have

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An undermount kitchen sink gives the appearance of a solid surface top, but is a more affordable option for homeowners.

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Custom Woodworks takes great pride in their craftsmanship.

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pictures and ideas of what they would like to do, otherwise we can always offer suggestions,” Steve said. “If homeowners have a budget in mind, we can provide them with different options based on what they can afford.” As far as new cabinetry, Custom Woodworks is seeing more homeowners going with a flat panel look, compared to a raised look. The flat panel gives homeowners a wide variety of differed colored granite options. Custom Woodworks also offers HD-type laminate which gives the appearance of a marble top or granite top, but is less expensive. Brian noted glazing has also become more common which involves an antique looking glazed finish with a darker tone

around the edges. Another trend Steve is noticing more is the installation of undermount kitchen sinks. Steve explained using an undermount kitchen sink, most commonly Wilsonart HD, gives the appearance of a solid surface top, but is also a more affordable option for homeowners. “When first looking at projects, I ask the homeowner how long they plan on being in their home and if they’ve thought about a budget,” Steve said. “We want our clients to have a nice home for themselves. If we feel they should upgrade with all new cabinetry, we will suggest that. But if their existing cabinetry is still

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Continued from page 9 in good condition and just needs some upgrades, we will offer some ideas for that. We want the homeowners to make a decision they are comfortable with.” Brian recommends homeowners hire a professional when looking at cabinetry work. “Most people don’t realize what they are getting into when starting a cabinetry remodeling project,” Brian said. “Even though they feel they are saving some money when buying cabinetry at a big-box store, they will soon realize the quality isn’t just the same as hiring a professional. Also, there is a lot of work that goes into the installation. With custommade cabinetry, you know it’s going to fit when you install it.” Like with most small businesses, Custom Woodworks remains hopeful the economy will improve. “We’ve had our share of tough times like everyone else, but we are seeing more new homes being built this year than last year,” Steve said. “When the economy picks up, we are hoping to still be here. The last few weeks have been busy which is a good sign.”

Custom Woodworks continues to focus on quality service. “When I got out of the service, the GI Bill was coming to an end but it would still pay for education,” Steve explained. “So I enrolled in a custom cabinet making program at North Hennepin Technical College. I finished there in 1976 and have been making cabinets ever since. I started working as a home-based business and then rented a space at Stanchfield corners. We built the shop here in Grandy in 1991. I’ve always liked working with wood and doing projects people enjoy.” Brian has been around his father’s business since he was young. “I grew up in the business and remember going with my father to his job sites on Saturday morning,” Steve said. “I like being in the cabinetry business and enjoy what I do. The best part is being able to look at the final project and see the smiles on our customers’ faces.” Custom Woodworks, located at 37164 Hwy. 65 NE, Grandy, can be reached at 763-689-6569. Custom Woodworks pays attention to details with all their cabinetry projects.

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Strategies for growing edibles later into the season

By Melinda Myers

Gardening Expert

on’t let fall or potentially frosty temperatures stop you from enjoying garden- fresh produce. Extend the nutritional value and homegrown flavor into your fall and early winter meals with the help of short season crops and season extending strategies. Lettuce, spinach, radishes, turnips, and beets are quick to mature from seed to harvest. Plus, the cooler temperatures enhance their flavor. Simply count the number of frost-free days left in your growing season and compare it with the number of days from planting to harvest listed on the seed packet. Protect these late plantings and other Increase the ease of season-extending fabrics with low vegetables from chilly fall temperatures and tall frost pop-up covers and plant protection frost with cloches, coldframes, and floating

covers.

row covers. Many of these devices have long been used by gardeners to jump start the season in spring and extend it much later into fall. These devices trap heat around the plants, protecting them from frosty temperatures. Convert gallon milk jugs into garden cloches for individual plants. Remove the bottom of the jug and slide it over the plant. Use the cap to capture heat or remove to ventilate your homemade cloche on sunny days. Or purchase reusable cloches with built in ventilation. You can make your own coldframes. Many gardeners convert discarded windows, a bit of lumber and nails into a homemade shelter for their plants. The window size usually determines the size

of your coldframe. Just make sure you can reach all the plants inside. For best results your frame should be higher in the back then the front so water and melting snow can drain off. And if possible, facing south for better warming. I prefer the construction-free, all-purpose garden fabrics. Simply drape these floating row covers (season-extending fabrics) over your crops. Increase the ease of season-extending fabrics with low and tall frost pop-up covers and plant protection frost covers from Gardener’s Supply. The frames are fitted with all-purpose garden fabric to create protective tents. For more gardening tips visit www. melindamyers.com

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Late summer lawn care tips Despite the prolonged heat and humidity conditions, my lawn is actually doing pretty good. I think I can attribute that to the occasional, yet generous amounts of rain we’ve been getting and the fact that I do keep up on the watering when we don’t get those rains. Now into September there are a few things you can do to maintain a healthy and vigorous lawn so let’s start with mowing. Most Minnesota lawns are composed of cool season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and fineleaved fescues. These grass species grow best during cool weather. During the heat of summer, Kentucky bluegrass lawns should be mowed at a height of 3 to 3-1/2 inches. As temperatures drop in late summer, lower the mowing height to 2-1/2 to 3 inches. When mowing, remove no more than one-third of the total leaf surface at any one time. For example, if the mower is set at 3

inches, mow when the grass reaches 4-1/2 inches in height. Continue mowing until the lawn stops growing in late fall. September is a good time to aerify the lawn. Aerification is most beneficial when the core aerifier removes soil cores that are 2 to 3 inches long. For best results, aerify the lawn when the soil is moist. If the soil is dry, the tines may not be able to penetrate to the proper depth. However, the tines may clog in very wet soils. Aerifying services are available from professional lawn care companies and the machines are often available at rental companies. After aerification, break up the soil cores by raking or mowing. Thatch removal can be very beneficial for your lawn. Thatch is a layer of living and dead plant material that forms between the soil surface and the green foliage. A moderate amount of thatch development is normal, and even beneficial, in home lawns.

By Donna Tatting

Chisago Co. Master Gardener

Thatch is broken down by microbes in the soil. However, lawns with more than onehalf inch of thatch can have disease, water, and rooting problems. Excessive thatch formation occurs when the accumulation of organic materials exceeds microbial decomposition. Vertical mowers and power rakes remove excess thatch by lifting thatch to the soil surface. The debris can then be raked and discarded. These machines are commonly available from rental companies. Dethatching in September gives the turfgrass adequate time to recover before the onset of winter. If you need to re-seed any areas of your lawn, mid-August through September is the best time to seed new lawns and repair bare spots in established lawns. Grass

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Continued from page 12 seeds germinate quickly in the warm soils of late summer. After germination, the cool temperatures of late summer and early fall promote rapid seedling growth. Additionally, fewer weeds germinate in late summer, providing less competition for the new grass seedlings. Seeding should be completed by September 30 to give the lawn time to establish before going dormant in late fall. Select high quality grass seed suitable for the site conditions. Kentucky bluegrass is best adapted to sunny areas while fine fescues grow better in shaded conditions. Distribute seed uniformly over the area.

Small areas can be seeded by hand. A dropseeder should be used for large areas. After sowing, rake the area lightly to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. To promote germination, mulch the area with clean, weed-free straw to conserve soil moisture and prevent erosion. The ground should be visible through the straw. Water the area. Keep the seedbed moist with frequent, light applications of water until the grass has germinated. Then, begin to water more deeply, but less frequently. Mow at 2-1/2 to 3 inches when the grass is 3-1/2 to 4 inches tall and continue mowing throughout the fall. Acknowledgement to Iowa State University Extension

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Home renovations could increase property taxes Understanding property taxes is not very cut and dry. They are supposed to rise and fall with home values, but this isn’t always the case. There is roughly 80,000 pages of federal code on property taxes, and each state and town often has its own rules governing how property taxes are assessed. The two things that determine property taxes are the assessed value of your home and the property tax rate for where you live. In many cases, making improvements to the inside and outside of your home can result in higher taxes on your property. But it is important to consider that home repairs could lead to higher property taxes. Here is a look at some of the renovations that could raise your property taxes. Adding a room: Converting the garage into a bedroom or adding on a new bathroom will increase your home’s value and the property tax you’ll pay on the home. Although tax assessors don’t usually make surprise trips to your home to check for renovations indoors, they may peruse permits filed at the clerk’s office and then investigate. Permits are the primary way assessors learn about improvements, so much so that some homeowners look to circumvent permits when making renovations. But that can cause a number of problems down the line if and when you decide to sell.

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Pools and outdoor structures: Changes to a home’s exterior are some of the easiest to see and document. Permanent changes outdoors, such as the installation of a shed with a concrete floor, a deck or a pool can definitely increase property taxes. Landscaping: Hiring a professional to do your lawn and plants can result in higher taxes. It’s called “alteration of land improvement.” Repaving a driveway or adding a new cement walkway may also increase your home’s value and, subsequently, your property tax bill. Fireplaces: The installation of a fireplace can also increase a home’s value, leading to a higher tax bill as well. ��

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