Spring home improvement

Spring Home Improvement • 1D

www.crossville-chronicle.com • Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Dress up and differentiate a kitchen while adding style and flair with fresh air skylights and designer blinds in colors and patterns. Powered by the sun and operated by remote control, Energy-Star-qualified solar powered skylights and blinds, plus installation costs, are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit.

5 upgrades for under $5,000 (BPT) - It’s a sobering truth of real estate that sellers often have to spend money to make money. Even if your home is relatively new, you still face costs associated with getting it ready to show, such as repainting interior rooms or hiring professional cleaners and stagers. If your home could use some TLC and updating, spending as little as $5,000 on key upgrades could improve its appeal for buyers - and ensure a speedier sale at a better price.

Here are five upgrades you can make for under than $5,000 to help put your home at the top of every buyer’s must-see list this spring.

1. Upgrade your entryway - Replacing an old, dated or worn entry door can be a cost-effective way to ensure buyers get a good first impression when they walk in your house. Whether you choose a fiberglass, wooden or steel model, installing a new entry door can cost a few thousand dollars, yet the return on investment at the time of resale can be significant.

A fiberglass entry door returns about 72 percent of

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its investment, while a steel door recoups more than 100 percent of its value, according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report.

Enhance your new door with attractive plantings, fresh paint and clean windows around the entryway to create a memorable, attractive entry for just a few thousand dollars.

2. Increase natural light - More buyers are becoming aware of the mood- and productivity-en hancing benefits of natural light, and homes with big, bright windows have always been in demand. Adding windows to a room can be a costly, time-consuming affair. Not so with adding a skylight. For well under $5,000 and in just a day or two, a professional can install an Energy Star qualified, solar powered no-leak fresh-air skylight, like those from Velux America.

Professional installation costs nationally ranges from around $900

to $2,325, with an average of $1,400, according to HomeAdvisor.com.

The low installation cost will leave you plenty of budget to enhance the skylight upgrade even further with energy efficiency-boosting solar-powered blinds.

The skylight and blinds are operated by remote control and the blinds are available in designer colors and patterns to enhance your décor. The products, as well as installation costs, are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit to further reduce the cost of the improvement.

The most popular rooms in the home for fresh air skylights are baths, where they provide privacy in addition to natural light, and kitchens, where they vent cooking odors and humidity naturally while brightening this much-used workspace. Visit www. veluxusa.com to learn more.

3. Beautify a master bathroom - Bathrooms and

kitchens sell homes. Making a few cosmetic upgrades to even a small master bath can help increase a home’s appeal and value. For less than $5,000 you can easily repaint, upgrade faucets, replace old cabinet hardware and add decorative touches like designer towels.

If you’ve already done all that, take a look at the floor or countertops - two cost-effective upgrades that can wow buyers. Since counters don’t make up that much square footage in most bathrooms, replacing them with granite can cost just a couple thousand dollars. Tile flooring is also a relatively inexpensive way to improve a bathroom’s look and usability.

4. Heat things up in the kitchen - Kitchen remodels can offer high ROI for sellers, but a full remodel may be outside your budget. If you’ve already done the obvious - like repainting See upgrades page 3D

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2D • Spring Home Improvement

www.crossville-chronicle.com • Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Uncover the cause of lawn disease, damage

Add a touch of classic style with a carriage-house-style garage door.

Carriage house garage door trend keeps gaining momentum (BPT) - The carriage house garage door is to your house what the little black dress and strand of pearls are to your wardrobe — classic style elements that never go out of fashion.

At the dawn of the automobile age, those who were affluent enough to own a car kept it in the carriage house, where the horses and buggy would have been stored. But this cohabitation became a little, well, smelly, and the need for separate storing structures was soon realized.

Enter, the garage. Built in the style of the original carriage house, the garage’s sole intent was to store the car away from the animals and elements. The word garage actually comes from the French word, garer, which means to shelter and protect.

Naturally, the garage needed a door to offer protection to the automobile.

The ensuing “carriage house door” was a hinged, double door that swung outwards, and can be considered the

original garage door.

In the early 1920s, the kickout door was invented and progress continued from there, bringing homeowners the modern convenience of today’s overhead garage doors. Today’s carriage house sectional garage doors open overhead and continue to gain in popularity, constituting 35 percent of the volume in the garage door industry with projections to remain a huge trend.

When it comes to the style of garage door chosen, most homeowners want something classic, that won’t fade in popularity over the years and will also enhance curb appeal. This is especially true if home resale is a factor.

The carriage house door also offers a myriad of design elements.

For example, some styles provide the realistic look of wood with the practicality and low-maintenance upkeep of steel. With a three-section design

and the option of larger windows, this door offers a more authentic carriage house look with the benefit of additional natural light flow into your garage. Two-tone looks are also available with many color combinations and panel designs, and hardware and window choices are plentiful.

These different design options can be tailored specifically to your home’s facade and will further enhance curb appeal.

If you’re thinking of replacing a tired garage door in an effort to boost your home’s curb appeal, consider the classic carriage house door whose popularity has only continued to grow over the last century. With a timeless design that can be specifically tailored to your house, it’s a choice that both you - and future owners of your home - can happily live with for a long time.

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Damage to a lawn may be indicative of various problems. Everything from insects to rodents to the family pet may be responsible for causing burnt patches, holes and other eyesores.

Getting to the bottom of the problem is the first step in remediation. Burning and discoloration of the lawn is often a result of high concentrations of dog urine in one area. Diluting the urine by hosing down areas of the lawn can clear up many problems. Birds, raccoons, skunks, moles, and other rodents may feed on grubs that reside just under the thatch of the lawn. Treating the grub problem usually alleviates damage caused by animals. Mole crickets are another common lawn destroyer. These insects resemble crickets, but they burrow beneath the turf to feed on plant roots. The mole crickets can push up channels of turf as they bur-

row, exposing roots to the elements and causing the grass to die. Getting rid of the insects can revitalize the lawn.

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Don’t neglect regular home inspections for termite damage (BPT) - It’s a cruel coincidence that the spring’s real-estate buying season corresponds with another far less pleasant one - termite swarming season. When eager homebuyers emerge from winter hibernation to look for their dream homes, winged termites emerge, too, and swarms of them go in search of new places to establish their colonies.

“Termites cause about $5 billion in property damage every year damage that typically isn’t covered by homeowners’ insurance policies,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). “In spring, swarms emerge in every state except Alaska. Potential homebuyers need to be aware of the risks associated with termite damage, and of the importance of having any home they’re considering inspected for termites and other wooddestroying organisms.”

More than half of Americans (52 percent) have never had their homes inspected for termites, according to an NPMA survey. Yet 38 per-

cent worry about discovering termites in their homes and 33 percent have had termite damage or know someone who has, the survey found.

If you’ll be buying (or selling) a home this spring, the NPMA offers some valuable termite information: • The average homebuyer and homeowner might have difficulty spotting the evidence of a termite infestation. Termites chew through wood, flooring and other materials behind-the-scenes, so it can take years before the signs of an infestation are visible to the untrained eye. An inspection by a licensed pest professional is the best way to detect an infestation of wooddestroying organisms (WDOs) - especially if you live in a termite-prone

area of the country.

• A WDO inspection is different from a simple structural inspection. Buyers may assume that the person who does the prepurchase home inspection will look for termites while assessing the condition of the home’s physical structure and systems. While some inspectors might spot signs of termite damage, others will not. Buyers should be sure to have their prospective home inspected by a licensed pest professional. The inspection will last about an hour, and the specialist will probe the home from top to bottom to look for telltale signs of

termite damage. After the inspection is over, the specialist will report to the buyers what he or she has found, and an estimate of how much it might cost to remediate any termite damage he or she has discovered.

• Different states have varying laws about termite inspections. Some may require one before a home can be sold, while others do not. Check with your real estate professional about the laws in your state, and keep in mind that many lenders will require a pest inspection be done in addition to a structural inspection especially if the home you are buying is in a termiteprone area.

• Termite detection, remediation and control are not do-it-yourself tasks. If an inspector finds signs of a termite infestation and damage, you’ll need professionals to remedy the problem. Buyers See TERMITES page 5D

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Spring Home Improvement • 3D

www.crossville-chronicle.com • Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Seeding and fertilizing schedule Restoring lawns and gardens back to their pre-winter glory is high on many a homeowner’s landscaping to-do list. In much of the country, the best times to tackle lawn projects are when temperatures are moderate, like in spring and fall. These seasons also mark the best time to seed and fertilize.

Planting and fertilizing new grass seed should be done when frost is no longer a concern and before frost arrives if you are planting in autumn. According to Roger Cook, a landscape contractor and contributor to This Old House magazine, sowing lawn seed should be done when the soil is warm, the daytime temperatures are moderate and you can keep the new seeds quite moist at all times.

While grass seed can be applied in the summer, it is more challenging to get the seeds to take root and thrive at this time, as water is more likely to evaporate under the hot sun. Also, many weeds germinate in the heat of summer. As a result, the weeds can infiltrate areas of the lawn where you planted, compromising the look of your lawn.

The process of reseeding and fertilizing your lawn is relatively similar if you decide to do so in late spring or early fall.

• Rake the parts of the lawn you plan to seed and remove any debris or rocks.

• Apply fertilizer to the cleared planting area. Use a rake or tiller to break up the soil and distribute the fertilizer to a depth of roughly two to four inch-

Seed and fertilize when temperatures are moderate and soil is warm. Remember to keep new grass seed moist with frequent watering. es. Speak with a landscaper about which type of fertilizer you will need depending on where you live. Many fertilizers contain extra phosphorous to stimulate root growth in the lawn.

• Moisten the prepared area and let the soil settle.

You want the soil damp but not so wet that it causes the newly applied fertilizer to run off.

• Begin to sow the grass seed according to the rate indicated on the seed bag for the type of grass you will be growing. Choose a grass seed that will thrive

in your climate. Certain seeds are more tolerant of drought and sunlight, while other species are better for shady areas or damper climates. Again, if you have any questions, consult with a lawn and garden center.

• Spread the seed with a broadcast spreader. Some lawn experts recommend spreading the seed in parallel rows and then repeating the process again in rows set at a right angle to the first series of rows for the best chances of seed coverage. The seeds then can be raked into the soil, covered with a little more soil and

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patted down.

• Water to keep the seeds damp. This may require watering twice or more per day until the seeds begin to germinate. Covering the seeds with about 1⁄4 inch of straw also can help keep the seeds moist, deter seed scavengers and prevent soil erosion. Remove the straw once the grass begins to grow.

• Roughly four weeks after the seeds have started to grow, apply another round of fertilizer to replenish the top layer of soil with nutrients that may have washed away from the constant watering.

Homeowners can employ a similar process to overseed a lawn in the hopes of producing a thicker, more attractive landscape. Any thatch and debris should be raked away, and the top layer of the lawn surface can be gently aerated. Top dress the lawn with a very thin layer of new soil and compost.

Broadcast the seed over the prepared lawn and lightly rake the new seeds to help them settle into the soil. Apply fertilizer and water the lawn frequently to keep the new seeds moist.

Once the seed has established itself, you can water the lawn for longer periods and less frequently to help develop strong roots.

Wait for the lawn to reach a height of three to four inches before the first cut of the season.

Many homeowners like to take on the challenge of seeding and preparing their lawns. But some may find the task is best left to the professionals.

• Continued from 1D and decluttering - it’s time to look for a few more costeffective improvements that will appeal to buyers.

Just as in the bathroom, swapping old faucets and cabinet hardware with new designer options can enhance the appeal of a kitchen. Shabby, outdated appliances can hinder a speedy sale, so consider replacing them with new ones. You don’t necessarily need to install top-of-theline, high-priced appliances to make a good impression, either. Newer, Energy Star qualified appliances represent savings for buyers down the road.

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or airflow, test. A large fan is used to pull air out of the house and create negative pressure inside. The higher air pressure outside the home then flows into the home through the unsealed cracks and openings. To detect where these air leaks are located, the auditor will use a smoke pencil. A wellsealed home should have no air leaks. The auditor may also complete a comprehensive infrared scan of your home using an infrared camera. These scans provide a clear image of where the inefficiencies in your home are.

One of the easiest ways to dramatically improve the overall performance of your home following an energy audit is to assess your home’s existing insulation. Insulation and a tight air seal are vital to keeping the temperature inside your home comfortable and consistent all year round.

Another effective solution that offers immediate and long-term cost savings is replacing your home’s traditional fibrous insulation with high-performance spray

foam insulation. Spray foam insulation is a wise investment for homeowners who want to make significant improvements to their home that have a long-term, positive impact. Able to perform in all climates, spray foam insulation allows homeowners to utilize air-conditioning systems more efficiently throughout the summer and their furnaces during winter.

Spray foam insulation expands rapidly to completely seal a home’s walls, floors and ceilings and prevent air leakage. Insulation experts from Icynene note that quality spray foam insulation can noticeably reduce monthly cooling and heating costs, in some cases by up to 50 percent. Additionally, spray foam insulation helps minimize random airborne moisture and pollutants from entering the home.

This is ideal for anyone suffering from seasonal allergies, an important consideration as spring arrives. For more information on how spray foam insulation can help homeowners optimize the efficiency of their home, visit www.icynene.com.

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(BPT) - A home that wastes energy can put significant strain on your budget. Extremely cold winter temperatures and scorching summers, together with a poorly performing thermal system will drive monthly heating and cooling costs higher than expected.

So what can you do to cut the waste and the expense?

For starters, clean all the filters in your heating and cooling equipment. This helps to improve the efficiency of your home; however, the best way to tackle your home’s energy inefficiencies head on is to understand your home’s overall performance with an energy audit.

To perform the audit, a certified Home Energy Rater will conduct a series of tests to provide an overall efficiency rating in much the same way that household appliances are rated. Armed with this information, you can make home improvement decisions that further boost your home’s energy efficiency.

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the tone for the rest of the home, appealing to buyers on a number of levels, including beauty, practicality and savings.

With $5,000, you can accomplish a lot in terms of landscaping. You can sod a small front yard, add decorative planting beds to a lush lawn, or even install shade trees that will both beautify the yard and enhance the home’s energy efficiency in summer. Decorative concrete stamping of walkways and driveways is another cost-effective way to improve a home’s curb appeal.

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4D • Spring Home Improvement

www.crossville-chronicle.com • Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Spot an unhealthy tree

Setting a budget and sticking to it helps ensure you can sit back after the work is done and admire the finished project, instead of regretting choices made that have caused the project to cost more than anticipated.

Common mistakes made on home renovation projects Home improvement projects can turn a house into a home. Homeowners plan scores of renovations to transform living spaces into rooms that reflect their personal tastes and comforts.

Homeowners going it alone may find things do not always go as planned.

In fact, a Harris Interactive study found that 85 percent of homeowners say remodeling is a more stressful undertaking than buying a home. But homeowners about to embark on home improvement projects can make the process go more smoothly by avoiding these common pitfalls.

Failing to understand the scope of the project

Some homeowners don’t realize just how big a commitment they have made until they get their hands dirty. But understanding the scope of the project, including how much demolition and reconstruction is involved and how much time a project will take can help homeowners avoid some of the stress that comes with renovation projects. For example, a bathroom renovation may require the removal of drywall, reinforcement of flooring to accommodate a new bathtub or shower enclosure and the installation of new plumbing and wiring behind walls.

So such a renovation is far more detailed than simply replacing faucets.

Not establishing a budget

Homeowners must develop a project budget to ensure their projects do not drain their finances. If your budget is so inflexible that you can’t afford the materials you prefer, you may want to postpone the project and save more money so you can eventually afford to do it right.

Without a budget in place, it is easy to overspend, and that can put you in financial peril down the line. Worrying about coming up with money to pay for materials and labor also can induce stress. Avoid the anxiety by setting a firm budget.

Making trendy or overpersonal improvements

Homeowners who plan to stay in their homes for the long run have more free reign when it comes to renovating their homes. Such homeowners can create a billiards room or paint a room hot pink if they so prefer. However, if the goal is to make improvements in order to sell a property, overly personal touches may make a property less appealing to prospective buyers. Trends come and go, and improvements can be expensive. If your ultimate goal is to sell your home, opt for renovations that will look beautiful through the ages and avoid bold choices that may only appeal to a select few buyers.

Forgetting to properly vet all workers

It is important to vet your contractor, but don’t forget to vet potential subcontractors as well. Failing to do so can prove a costly mistake. Contractors often look to subcontractors to perform certain parts of a job, and it is the responsibility of homeowners to vet these workers.

Expecting everything to go as planned

Optimism is great, but you also should be a realist.

Knowing what potentially could go wrong puts you in a better position to handle any problems should they arise. The project might go off without a hitch, but plan for a few hiccups along the way.

Overestimating DIY abilities

Overzealous homeowners may see a renovation project in a magazine or on television and immediately think they can do the work themselves. Unless you have the tools and the skills necessary to do the work, tackling too much can be problematic. In the long run, leaving the work to a professional may save you money.

Home improvements can be stressful, but homeowners can lessen that stress by avoiding common renovation mistakes.

Perhaps because they can live for so many years, trees have a way of falling down homeowners’ landscaping priority lists.

Trees also tend to be big and strong, so it’s no surprise that they often are overlooked in favor or other areas of a lawn and garden that don’t seem so strong in the face of Mother Nature.

But trees are susceptible to damage and disease, and homeowners who learn to recognize symptoms of such problems can prevent them from escalating and reduce the risk that the trees will cause damage to their properties. The following are just some of the ways homeowners can determine if their trees are unhealthy.

Homeowners who suspect they have a tree that poses a safety risk should contact a professional tree service for an immediate inspection and steer clear of the tree until an inspection has been performed.

• Check around the base of the tree. The base of a tree may offer some telltale signs that the tree is unhealthy. Soil that is cracked or raised at the base of the tree may be indicative of a tree that has started to uproot. If you recognize any cracking or if the soil is raised, look at the tree to see if it is leaning. If the soil is cracked or raised because it is uprooting, then the tree might have already started to lean in the opposite direction of the cracking or raised soil.

• Examine for fungus.

The growth of fungus on the tree trunk or close to it may be a sign that the tree is rotting or decaying. Fungal growth, such as a sudden population of mushrooms, around the base of the tree is another sign of decay. If the wood behind fungal growth crumbles easily, then homeowners should call a professional tree service, as the fungal problem on the tree has likely already been festering for quite some time.

• Look for cavities on the trunk. Cracks and cavities on a tree may not be an emergency, but especially deep cracks and cavities may be indicative of a structural problem.

Multiple cracks and cavities also serve as red flags.

• Look for dead wood.

It may sound simple, but dead wood poses a threat to the tree and anyone who happens to spend time in its vicinity. Dead wood snaps easily, and falling dead wood can harm any-

Break ground with the right tools The right tools for the job can be the difference between an interminable landscaping project and one that goes smoothly and efficiently. Aspiring landscapers probably have a few shovels and rakes hanging in their garages and sheds for basic landscaping work. But while such tools are effective for certain projects, when it comes to churning soil for garden beds or digging holes for outdoor structures, additional tools come in handy.

It may be well worth a trip to a nearby home center to purchase or rent one of these tools ideal for breaking ground.

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Rototillers will break through tough soil and any plant roots. They come in a variety of sizes, and it’s best to match the tool to the size of the job. Many

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one unlucky enough to be beneath the tree when the dead wood snaps. Dead wood branches won’t bend in the wind, and such branches frequently fall off of trees when strong gusts of wind come along.

Dead branches either won’t have leaves or the leaves will be brown (dead pine branches will have brown needles).

• Weak connections.

Unhealthy trees often have weak connections between their branches and their trunks. If branches don’t appear to be strongly connected to the tree bark, call a tree service to determine a solution. The tree might not be on its way out, but you may have to take steps to strengthen the connections so branches are not at risk of falling.

Unhealthy trees can pose a significant safety hazard on a property.

Homeowners who learn to recognize the signs

of unhealthy trees can do something to prevent dying trees from damaging their homes.

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Spring Home Improvement • 5D

www.crossville-chronicle.com • Tuesday, April 14, 2015

TERMITES

from termites going forward, including having the home inspected for termites at least once every three years, and every year if you live in an area prone to termite infestations. To learn more about termite prevention or to find a licensed pest professional in your area, visit www. pestworld.org, the education website of the NPMA.

• Continued from 2D who discover problems before the sale is final will be better able to negotiate with the seller to take care of the problem. In some states, the law may not allow the sale to be finalized until the damage is addressed, and lenders may refuse to finalize a mortgage for a home with unresolved termite issues.

If the termite inspection shows your new home is pest-free, congratulations! After the sale is finalized, be sure to take steps to protect your home

Homeowners have many options with regard to landscaping the areas surrounding their pools.

Read to know!

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Ideas for pool perimeter landscaping With the rise of the “staycation,” more and more homeowners are turning their backyards into their own private oases. The centerpiece of many such retreats is a refreshing and inviting pool.

Whether above-ground or inground models, pools make for welcoming spots to enjoy warm days and nights. A new pool can quickly turn a yard into the “it” spot to spend vacations or cool off at the end hot summer days. While pools are often the focal point of a backyard, many homeowners want their pools to blend seamlessly with the rest of their yards. When transforming a backyard that includes a pool, homeowners should consider a few factors to ensure each afternoon spent poolside is as safe as it is fun.

Safety first

Although the goal may be to soften the lines of the pool and/or create sight barriers that will provide some measure of privacy for swimmers, homeowners must put safety above all else. Before any decorative touches are added, it is important to surround a pool with a slip-resistant surface and fencing (many

TOOLS

• Continued from 4D posts or other structures.

Augers come in a variety of sizes, and homeowners can choose how much power they prefer. Augers can be heavy and cumbersome, and many do-it-yourselfers will find that one-person augers are more than adequate for their projects.

Augers dig deep holes, so it is always smart to have the property surveyed prior to use. This way pipes, gas lines, buried electrical lines, and any other obstructions are clearly identified prior to drilling.

Cultivator Cultivators are similar to tillers in that they loosen soil. Cultivators are effective during the growth period of plants, when they can be used to aerate the soil and remove weeds. Culti-

communities require fences be erected around pools).

Consult with a landscaping contractor, who should be knowledgeable about safety codes, or speak to the permit-issuing department at town hall. There should be a list of requirements to ensure pool placement as well as any surrounding touches are legal and within code.

Nonslip surfaces

Concrete, brick and pavers and decking are popular materials used to surround a pool. Installers can make recommendations on materials and finishes, but one suggestion is to choose a rough finish. Pool water can make surfaces slippery.

Concrete that is stamped or scarred provides extra traction than a smooth surface. The same can be said for brick patios and pavers. Avoid smooth stones or pavers with shiny surfaces, as these may only increase the risk of falls.

Homeowners who have chosen wood or composite decking to surround a pool should talk to their contractor about nonslip protective coatings. Such coatings typically are acrylic-based liquids applied like a paint or sealer. Some composite vators come in hand-held versions and push models, and some are even motorized. Cultivators get close to plants to remove weeds without disturbing the plant. They also are used to stir in compost or fertilizer.

While many people think cultivators and tillers are the same, that is not the case. The former is less powerful and will mix the soil or stir up the top layer, while the latter can break up moderately hard ground and loosen firm soil.

When using any tools around the garden, wear the proper protection. This includes devices to protect hearing when power tools are in use as well as gloves and safety goggles. Tillers, augers and cultivators have the potential to toss soil and rocks into the air, so make sure others keep their distance while work is in progress.

decks may be crafted with texture or a built-in coating to reduce slipping. In addition, use nonstick mats on decks and patios to provide a little extra footing where people enter and exit the pool.

Mulch and stone

Homeowners often prefer some combination of mulch or stone to serve as a transition between the pool, concrete or paver hardscape and the lawn. Stone may be more practical for those with inground pools because it will not easily blow onto the water surface. With an above-ground pool, mulch or stone can do the trick, serving as a barrier so that pool water does not overly drench the surrounding lawn or damage grass after exposure to pool chemicals. Mulch and stone also will provide drainage from water runoff from the pool and rain.

Another advantage of having an additional barrier between the pool and lawn is that lawn clippings will not be shot into the pool when mowing. Stone and mulch can be dressed up with statues, lawn ornaments and tolerant plants.

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Finishing touches

Plants can provide the finishing touches for a poolside landscape. Homeowners should keep in mind that pools are not often shaded from the sun, so plants placed around the pool will need to be sunand drought-tolerant. Succulents, such as aloe and jade, may work, as can the perennial shrub yucca.

Moderately growing grasses will offer a privacy barrier.

Keep trees and flowering plants far enough away from the pool’s edge so they do not contribute to debris that falls into the pool, which can complicate maintenance. Also, flowering plants may attract insects and other wildlife that may interfere with your enjoyment of the pool.

It’s better to create a friendly environment for wildlife further away from the pool.

Homeowners who need some advice planning the landscaping around their pools can rely on the expertise of landscape architects as well as employees at lawn and garden centers.

Pool companies may work with landscapers and offer recommendations to people unaccustomed to working around pools.

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For a healthy lawn, keep blades high While it might be tempting to lower mower blades when summer temperatures reach their hottest, it is possible to cut grass too short. Homeowners who want to cut back on the time they spend mowing their lawns under the hot summer sun should avoid lowering their mower blades too low, as doing so can cause significant damage to the lawn.

Lawns that have been cut too low are less capable of surviving drought and are unlikely to thrive. When grass is cut too short, the stem tissue from the grass is exposed, and that exposure can lead to unsightly grass that turns yellow or brown. Grass that is cut too short also may

suffer from weaker roots, which in turn makes the grass weaker and less likely to grow in strong. In addition, weaker grass is more susceptible to weed growth, which can be both a nuisance and an eyesore. When mowing, homeowners should remove no more than one-third of the grass blade. Mowing at this height will promote strong roots and protect the grass when the weather gets especially hot in the summer.

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6D • Spring Home Improvement

www.crossville-chronicle.com • Tuesday, April 14, 2015

MG Flower and Garden Show set

The Master Gardener Flower and Garden Show will be held April 24 to April 26, at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds, 1398 Livingston Rd. Fifty-plus landscape and garden vendors, will be selling lots of flowers, plants, shrubs and garden decor. This is the one fundraiser done to raise money to support community projects and take care of the Gardens at the Plateau Research Center (Plateau Discovery Gardens, one of three state-designated Botanical Gardens). Cost is $3 for entry all three days.

Granite, solid wood, marble, soapstone, quartz, glass and concrete are all options for dazzling countertops. Explore the pros and cons to determine which will be best for your home.

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Explore the alternatives to granite countertops Granite has long been a popular countertop material for homeowners looking to combine functionality with aesthetic appeal in their kitchens. But granite is no small investment, and homeowners looking to refurbish their kitchens should know there are a multitude of countertop materials available to those working on a budget or those who simply want to give their kitchens a different look.

• Solid wood: Wood countertops create a warm, homey interior. Butcher block counters are less expensive than granite and do not necessarily need to be ordered from a speciality retailer. But wood can stain and dent and can even burn when hot kitchenware is placed atop it. Regular application of oil can help homeowners maintain the appearance

of their wood counters for years to come.

• Marble: Marble tends to be less expensive than granite without sacrificing aesthetic appeal. However, marble is softer and more porous than granite, so it can stain and be etched.

Diligence in wiping away spills, routine sealing and a gentle touch is necessary for those who choose marble countertops.

• Soapstone: This is a natural stone composed mainly of mineral talc that gives the stone its smooth feel. Soapstone ranges from black to gray but can sometimes have a green shade to it. Other materials in the stone can produce veining. Although softer than granite, soapstone is still high-density and will hold up well. It’s impervious to stains and bacteria, and exposure to chemicals will not dam-

age it.

• Quartz: Quartz is a manufactured product made of stone aggregate and polymers compressed under high pressure. It has the look of natural stone but requires less work to maintain. Quartz has consistent colors and patterns and is a nonporous material, so it will not need routine sealing and resealing.

• Glass: Glass countertops are back-painted, so homeowners can order just about any color they want. Glass will be tempered, so it is safe and heat-resistant. Glass can scratch, though, so it is not as impervious as other materials.

• Concrete: Concrete is another material that can be colored to match homeowners’ whims. Concrete is relatively inexpensive compared to other countertop materials, but it can

Most often forgotten spring cleaning steps (BPT) - Spring is a great time to clear out the old, bring in the new and welcome a fresh start.

From coast to coast, consumers are eager to usher in new home decor and air out spring attire; however, the areas of one’s home that are the hardest hit during the winter months - floors and carpets - are often overlooked.

If you’re thinking of skipping your carpet cleaning for a vacuum session, think again.

According to the homecare experts at BISSELL, vacuums, even the best ones, simply can’t reach the deeply imbedded dirt within carpet fibers. The carpet cleaning process is engineered to reach the dirt and allergens vacuums leave behind. Incidentally, although carpet cleaning does so much more than vacuuming, the actual process itself is about as easy as vacuuming.

“Deep cleaning is a must for washing the winter out during spring cleaning. After cleaning their carpets, people are often amazed by what they’ve pulled out of their carpets and how different their carpets look - it can be a very eye-opening, yet satisfying experience,” said Eric Hansen, chief chemist at BISSELL. Get out the serious

cleaning supplies, stretch your scrubbing muscles and tackle those hard-toreach places you ignore most of the year so you can be the envy of all your houseguests. Be sure to review the top 10 spring cleaning steps that often fall to the wayside: 1. Safety first: Don’t forget to change batteries in all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; and inspect all light fixtures for damaged wires or faulty connections. Remove and wash light fixtures if necessary.

2. Wash the washing machine: Run an empty load, one cycle filled with 4 cups of bleach, the other with 4 cups of distilled white vinegar.

3. Dust refrigerator coils: Want to lower your energy bill and extend the life of your fridge? Always unplug your refrigerator before dusting the refrigerator’s coils.

4. Clean out your cabinets: Wipe down the inside and outside of medicine and linen cabinets.

Throw away expired products, including medicine, makeup and hair products.

Update your first aid kit.

5. Deep clean carpets and rugs: Vacuum, spot treat and deep clean your carpets and rugs. Liquid solutions may contain Scotchgard protection that works by placing a bar-

rier on the surface of carpet fibers to not only deep clean and freshen, but also protect against future stains.

6. Sanitize children’s and pets’ toys: Toys can carry harmful bacteria on their surfaces. After cleaning toys with warm water and a mild detergent, sanitize plastic toys by soaking them in a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Donate or discard toys where needed.

7. Breathe easy: Clean your air vents and change your furnace filters if necessary.

8. Let in more light: Cleaning blinds can seem like a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be. Mix equal parts of warm water and distilled white vinegar in a bowl. Slip a sock on your hand and dip the sock into the water and vinegar mixture. Wipe down each individual slat and rinse sock after every few slats.

9. Dust from high to low: Dust the ceiling, corners of walls, ceiling fan and light fixtures. Use a lint roller to easily clean dust off your lampshade.

10. Wash your windows: After the direct sunlight has subsided, remove your window’s screens and dust with a soft-bristle brush.

Spray on your favorite window cleaning solution and wipe down with a lintfree cloth.

crack or chip.

While granite is a popular countertop material, homeowners who want something new have many additional options at their disposal.

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