Fall Home & Garden special section by Jason Sethre

Fall Home & Garden

September 2012

A special section of the Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal

Tackling tile, loving a new look By Wendy Wilson

wendy@olmstedcountyjournal.com

Scheevel & Sons, Inc. levels off some dirt in a new housing development underway in Fountain, MN. Photo by Jason Sethre

New construction or remodeling? By Jade Sexton jsexton@fillmorecountyjournal.com

In Fillmore County, the number of new houses being built has gone down a little in 2012. There are still people getting building permits for additions, garages, sheds, or farm buildings, but those numbers are also down slightly in 2012. In 2010, there were 294 building permits issued in Fillmore County, and 54 of those were for brand new homes. In 2011, 335 building permits were issued, and 49 were for brand new homes. So far in 2012, there have been 181 building permits issued. At this

time last year, the number was 240. There have been 20 new homes built in Fillmore County so far this year. The trend seems to be that more and more people are remodeling or adding on instead of constructing a new home. Many garages were put up, both attached and detached, and there are new sheds and farm buildings being built. The struggles with the economy have affected everyone, even the smaller communities, and people are being more cautious with their money. The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development report

that new home construction was up in July about 15 percent from July of 2011. Many reports say this is a sign that the economy is stabilizing, and things are looking up. Property costs have gone down, and record-low interest rates are helping to stimulate the economy in all areas of the country. Although things may have slowed down some this year for Minnesota, and other parts of the country, the hope is that next year there is some improvement, and that things will pick up in the construction industry, which will affect many other areas economically as well.

R&R Construction, LLC prepares to pour the foundation of a new home under construction in Fountain, MN. Photo by Jason Sethre

The pride and satisfaction derived from completing a home improvement project is realized each day - just by looking across the room. With a little sweat, hard work and some good design advice, an individual can save 30 to 40 percent of the cost of installing a tile floor if they do it themselves, according to tiling expert Jim Korsmo. Korsmo co-owns the Tile Superstore & More in Rochester with Lorrie Swancutt and Travis Prigge. “Now that summer’s over, I think everybody’s starting to look at the projects they left behind,” Korsmo says. “I think a lot of people are trying to get projects done before the holidays.” One such project is installing bathroom floor tile. Kor-

smo shared the relatively simple instructions to get the job done. The project takes two days. Estimated labor time is about 12 to 16 hours for a 40 to 50 squarefoot bathroom. Installing bathroom floor tile is “well within the realm of a do-it-yourselfer” he says, but he recommends assistance for updating other areas of the bath such as installing a shower. A professional is usually needed in the shower region because a rubber liner must be employed with careful attention to pitch and water-proofing. So, let’s get started. Installing the underlayment Thoroughly clean the area to be tiled. Next, trowel an underlayment thinset mortar to adhere fiberock to the plywood floor. Different adhesive methods may be See TILE Page 6 

Heat up Minnesota helping people stay warm this winter By Jade Sexton jsexton@fillmorecountyjournal.com

Lennox Industries is teaming together with the businesses that sell their products to give away 100 free furnaces throughout Minnesota. VIS Plumbing and Heating in Lanesboro and Harmony is part of that giveaway. Mike Willford, son of owner John Willford, explained the dealerships are donating the materials to install the furnaces, and the installers are donating their time to put them in. “They are looking for somebody less fortunate, someone who has had a bad break, a military family, something that will pick them up and put them on the right track,” said Willford. This is the first year of the Heat up Minnesota program. According to Willford, the program was started in Wisconsin, where it was very successful. VIS Plumbing and Heating services heating and air conditioning in homes throughout

Fillmore and Houston counties. Willford said they would be putting one furnace in Fillmore County for sure. “The entry fees are due by September 15, and then on Heat up Minnesota day, all of the furnaces will be installed on October 6,” said Willford. “I talked to Lennox, and as of right now, there are 160 people that have entered in Minnesota,” said Willford. The new furnace is a really good deal for someone who needs proper and efficient heating this winter. The cost of the furnace depends on the size and the efficiency, but the more efficient furnaces will also decrease energy bills, as the cold Minnesota winters can also be a financial burden on homeowners. To nominate someone you feel is deserving of a new furnace for his or her home, go to www.heatupmn.org and fill out an entry form. A committee from Lennox will be going over the entries and picking 100 deserving people.

Page 2

FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL • OLMSTED COUNTY JOURNAL

September 2012

Fall Home & Garden

September 2012

A special section of the Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal

High design with kids in mind For many years, creating family-friendly spaces meant sacrificing your design aesthetic. Thankfully, gone are the days when having children meant succumbing to a house full of bright-yellow bins and sofas wrapped in plastic. Today, new materials and technologies make it easy to create a beautiful, well-designed home that meets the needs of adults and children alike. The following tips may help you design a living space that satisfies your design goals and meets the demands of your youngest family members.

Invest in good furniture. It may seem counterintuitive, but Erica Islas, interior designer and founder of EMI Interior Design, encourages clients with young children to buy high-quality furniture. “Some people are afraid to invest in living rooms and family rooms because they think kids will ruin everything,” Islas says. “But the truth is that you have to get things that will hold up to children.” Children are notoriously tough on furniture; and the cheaper furniture you may be tempted to #8223

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buy will likely break more easily and need to be replaced frequently. Instead, look for pieces that are built to withstand years of abuse and can be reupholstered or refinished once your children have grown. Furthermore, many furniture manufacturers and stores offer warranties. Consider those carefully and decide if the extra protection would be of value to your family. Use color, pattern and texture. Instead of creating a neutral, never-used formal area, use bold, textured fabrics throughout the rooms in which you spend the most time. Pieces incorporating color, a bit of pattern and touchable textures will not only create interesting focal points throughout your home, but will help camouflage spills. If complex pat-

terns aren’t your thing, consider materials such as leather or vinyl that can be wiped clean. No matter your design aesthetic, make sure to protect your upholstered pieces with a stain guard.

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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL • OLMSTED COUNTY JOURNAL

Fall Home & Garden

September 2012

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Page 3

A special section of the Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal

KIDS DESIGN

Continued from Page 2

go into storage. Instead, teach your family to appreciate beautiful objects by living among them and elevate the more fragile accessories so they are out of reach. Shadow boxes and enclosed shelves make stunning display cases for your most delicate decorative pieces. Prevent a mess before it happens. Kids learn and explore through hands-on activities, but too often their adventures translate to extra work for you in wiping away mess and grime from household items. To reinforce the importance of washing hands after play time, consider investing in a hands-free or touch-activated faucet, such as the Delta Addison lavatory faucet with Touch2O.xt Technology. The faucet turns on when tapped See KIDS DESIGN Page 4 

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Page 4

September 2012

Fall Home & Garden

September 2012

KIDS DESIGN

Continued from Page 2

or when hands are within a 4-inch sensing field. This helps kids reach the water, even if the handles are too far away, and makes it easy for anyone to turn on the flow of water without transferring messes. Best of all, the faucet has graceful curves and multiple finish options that bring an added sense of style

A special section of the Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal

to the bath. Make surfaces easier to clean. When selecting paint for high traffic areas, consider semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes, which are easy to clean. A damp sponge is all you need to clean fingerprints and smudges from your walls. Behr Premium Plus Ultra Semi-Gloss Enamel paint, for example, forms a protective shell to protect walls against scuffs and marks.

Encourage togetherness with savvy storage. Many parents designate separate play areas to keep clutter out of communal areas. Instead, encourage togetherness by creating storage options in every room of the house. “Clutter is part of family life,” Islas says. “The key thing to remember is to have a place for everything; this means coat hooks for jackets, storage baskets, designated drawers for toys, shelving for books, etc.” Providing these spaces within children’s reach and close to where they play will encourage children to clean up after themselves. Look for multitasking furniture such as a coffee table with a large surface for playing games together and ample storage underneath to stow toys and remotes when they aren’t needed. Following these easy steps will ensure each room in your home meets your design aesthetic, while still offering maximum functionality fit for the whole family.

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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL • OLMSTED COUNTY JOURNAL

Fall Home & Garden

September 2012

Page 5

A special section of the Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal

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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL • OLMSTED COUNTY JOURNAL

September 2012

Fall Home & Garden

September 2012

TILE

Continued from Page 1

employed if the floor is concrete. Nail the fiberock down to the floor. Laying it out After installing the fiberock, lay out the pieces of tile and make cuts for the room edges. “You lay that all out so you know where you want to start,” says Korsmo. “You try to design where you will have the largest cuts possible. You don’t want little tile slivers.” A wet saw is used to make the cuts. Other equipment may be

used to score and snap the tile. “Spacers can aid in getting the proper spacing in the tile,” Korsmo says. Another layer of thinset is applied over the fiberock. “You comb that on with one of those notched trowels,” he says. Installing the grout Let the floor sit overnight. The next day, the grout is applied. “You mix it to kind of a mayonnaise consistency or a real creamy peanut butter,” Korsmo says. Spread the grout between the tiles with a grout float and wipe it smoothly with a sponge.

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A special section of the Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal

“You’re done,” he says. Let the area dry for about a day before walking on it. Design trends After the tile installation, more choices are often encountered, says Korsmo. “What are you going to do on the walls?” he asks. “Update the vanity? We do cabinetry - or use a remnant of granite for your vanity top? One thing kind of leads to another.” The choices are endless. The latest trends in tile are using larger-bodied tiles such as 12-inch-by-24-inch pieces and plank tiles that can be as large as two feet by 12 inches. “A larger-bodied tile will simplify the look of the floor and will actually make the room feel larger because it’s not busy small tiles,” Korsmo says. Another new trend is using plank porcelain that has a wood look.

“It’s virtually indestructible. that they would need to do [the It won’t scratch. It won’t chip. project],” Korsmo says. Wet saws It never needs refinishing and rent for about $30 a day. For those who prefer not to it’s very sanitary,” he says. “We have all the products and tools See TILE Page 7 

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FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL • OLMSTED COUNTY JOURNAL

Fall Home & Garden

September 2012

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A special section of the Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal

TILE

Continued from Page 6

tackle the installation themselves, the store has professionals available to install it for them. “We are able to offer some very up to date design looks at lower prices,” Korsmo says. “We stand behind everything.” The store also provides individual classes directly to customers to help them through the design project. “How we differentiate ourselves is the uniqueness of our product and the design element that we can bring to the project,” he says, explaining that the Tile Superstore has two decorators on its staff who offer design advice free of charge to customers. More information may be Brandon Brotzel sets tile for a bathroom display at the Tile Suobtained from the Tile Super- perstore & More in Rochester. Photo by Wendy Wilson store & More at 507-285-1109, 2411 7th Street Northwest, Rochester.

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