WNC Homeowner's Guide Fall/Winter 2023-2024

HOME MAINTENANCE REQUIRES MORE THAN A STANDARD CHECKLIST

the home three years before, and Dr. Larsen and his wife trusted me. Little did they know, I had no clue how to build the three simple walls needed for the small new bathroom.

By Tim Carter

I’ve seen standardized home checklists over the years, and I sort of chuckle at many of them. I realize the authors have good intentions, but I often wonder if they’ve ever done any hands-on repair work for paying customers. If they had, then they’d probably add a few other items to their lists.

Do you want to build a new wall inside your home?

Perhaps you're trying to create a new small space for a home office or hobby room, or maybe you have a bigger appetite and are transforming a dank basement into a finished living space. But you have no idea where to start. I've been there. I've experienced your anxiety.

Here’s the normal things I see listed: Check the roof for shingle damage. Caulk cracks around windows and doors. Repair chipped paint. Check windows and doors. Check chimneys

I survived with the help of a few phone calls to my boss. It was a humbling experience as I discovered you don't know what

You can't always do this in an existing home, especially if the ceilings in the room are finished with drywall or plaster. As you tilt the wall up, it binds against the ceiling. If you're challenged by a finished ceiling, you'll most likely have to install your top and bottom plates, making sure the plates are

Often the lists lack detail as to what to really look for. For that reason, I feel they are of not much value.

Water and ultraviolet (UV) light are the two big things that cause problems to homes, so I suggest we focus on these. I suggest we start at the top and work our way to the bottom.

Every now and then it's interesting to go back in time. I clearly remember having to build my first partition wall inside a house. I was a soaking wet-behind-theears carpenter working for a small remodeling company. One of my college professors, Dr. Larsen, had asked me to install a half bathroom in his home. I had no idea what to do, so I told him that my boss could do the job.

pipes. The black rubber boot tends to crack over time where it touches the vent pipe, allowing water to leak into your home. The best plumbing vent flashings I’ve seen are the ones

Look at your roofing materials and pay close attention to the flashings. Look for excessive shingle granule loss in small patches, cracks in shingles and any slight curling at the shingle tips.

you don't know. Keep in mind this was decades before the Internet and YouTube. You have no idea what an advantage you now have when you have to educate yourself about how to repair and build things around your home. Count your blessings!

around windows and doors willy-nilly. Your home may have vinyl siding and the j-channel around doors and windows shouldn’t be caulked. It needs to expand and contract.

plumb in the same plane. You'll then cut each wall stud to fit snugly between the plates and toenail them in place. Drill angled pilot holes in the ends of the wall studs for the nails. Use no less than 3-inch-long 16d sinker nails to connect the wall studs to the plates.

Once the simple plans were drawn and the contract signed, I was sent to my professor's house to start the job. I had painted the outside of

Chimneys are very important. If you can’t safely get on your roof to inspect it, hire a pro. The most important thing to look at is the chimney crown or cap. It’s the roof of your chimney. Most of the ones I’ve seen have been installed incorrectly and they crack. You don’t want water getting into a crack in the crown. There are special mastics that can coat the crown, and they perform quite well. Check for missing mortar and replace as necessary using hydrated lime and volcanic ash with sand for the strongest and longestlasting mortar.

Look at your roofing materials and pay close attention to the flashings. Look for excessive shingle granule loss in small patches, cracks in shingles and any slight curling at the shingle tips. Replace these damaged shingles as necessary.

Some common trouble spots are the cheap aluminum and rubber flashings around plumbing vent

Building a new interior wall in an existing house can be much different from doing it on a new home job site. When we carpenters build a wall for a new home, we typically build it flat on the floor. Once all the studs are nailed to the bottom and top plates, we tilt the wall up and secure it so it doesn't fall over.

that have a special siliconized-rubber compound that stands up against the harsh UV light from the sun.

If your home has gutters and downspouts, be sure they’re clean. Spring is the worst time of year for gutters, as the flowers from deciduous trees and the winter buildup of bark, twigs and other debris can choke gutters with an organic smorgasbord. After the gutters are clean, do a water test with a garden hose. Test to see if there are any leaks in the system. There are special caulks meant to seal the seams in aluminum gutters; they’re available online.

Be sure the water from downspouts is piped to the lowest part of your yard or, in urban areas, connected to approved storm drains. Water dumping out on the ground next to your foundation on splash blocks is a very bad thing, as the water simply enters the soil next to your home. If you have a basement or crawlspace, this water will almost always cause nightmares.

Don’t just go around caulking cracks

Decks are big problem spots. Many people ignore their decks. You need to inspect the railings closely to ensure they’re sturdy and will not fail if lots of outward pressure is applied. Get under the deck and look at all the galvanized metal connectors. Look for corrosion. If the corrosion is severe with lots of rust, you may have to replace a connector.

If there is no ceiling, you can tilt the wall up so long as you orient the wall in the same direction as the floor joists above. You simply make sure the top of the wall rises up in between two parallel floor joists. Once the wall is vertical, you can then slide it into position under

Look at the fasteners used to install the metal connectors. Are they corroded, or have they pulled out? Each time water enters a crack in treated wood, it has the tendency to make the crack bigger because the water gets deeper into the wood, causing it to swell. Important structural nails can pull out. Consider replacing all nails with special exterior screws meant for the newer treated lumber that contain lots of copper.

I’d also take a good look at the soil around your home. Be sure you have excellent, positive drainage. You want the soil to slope away from your foundation. It’s best to have at least 6 inches of foundation exposed above the soil line. Don’t add mulch to garden beds, which creates a moat around your foundation. Don’t allow water to be trapped between the foundation and the mulch.

©2022 Tim Carter. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Building a new interior wall in an existing house can be much different from doing it on a new home job site. When we carpenters build a wall for a new home, we typically build it flat on the floor.

Spruce Up Your Laundry Room

When you’re stuck inside the house this winter with not much to do, you might be wishing that there was a home improvement project that you could complete – but what? Work on the exterior is probably not going to happen, and tasks like painting might require some windows open. But one area of your home that could probably use some sprucing up is your laundry room. And the great thing is, many of these practical tasks can be easily knocked out this winter!

Consider the following tips:

Add a countertop.

If you have a front-loading washer or dryer, you can add a countertop above them to create the look of a larger space. At the same time, you’ll have a smooth flat surface for folding your laundry or pretreating stains.

Set aside drying space.

Provide space for drying by installing a tension rod – just like you would use to hang a curtain or shower curtain. When you pull clothes from the wash or dryer, place them on hangers, and hang on your rod to air dry, or prepare to put away. Once everything is dry, you can easily transfer them back to your closet. Then take down the rod and tuck it away.

You can further expand your drying space by attaching drying racks to your walls that fold out when needed.

Add shelving.

Avoid shelving that can make an already cramped laundry room feel claustrophobic. If you’re small on space, don’t add a cabinet or something that will take up even more. If you need shelving, consider the thin, wired variety. Alternatively, try hooks to hang your ironing board, or a pegboard if you need space to hang clothes. Save even more space by mounting a fold-out ironing board with an upper shelf to store your iron higher up on the wall. Just make sure the iron has room to cool down.

Another potential storage option is to install pedestal drawers directly underneath your washer and dryer to place cleaning supplies, extra towels or anything that can stand to get a little warm from the dryer.

Other quick ways to spruce up your laundry room are to add storage bins or baskets for detergents, dryer sheets and the like; swap out cabinet door handles and knobs for new; and if you have a window, add new drapes. There’s lots of possibility!

PROS AND CONS OF BUYING A HOUSE WITH A FIREPLACE

Many people love the idea of relaxing in front of a fireplace on a cold winter night. The sight, smell and sound of a fire can create a relaxing ambience. While the idea of having a home with a fireplace may be appealing, the reality does not always live up to people’s expectations. The amount of heat given off, the amount of work required and the cost depends on the type of fireplace.

Wood Fireplace

A wood fireplace can create a cozy atmosphere. If the power goes out, a wood fireplace can continue to heat your home. It can also provide light and a way to cook during a power outage.

Since most of the heat produced by burning wood escapes through the chimney, a wood fireplace is not very energy efficient. A fireplace insert can increase the amount of heat that stays in the house. If the damper doesn’t close enough, the house may have drafts, which can result in high utility bills.

Embers from a fire can spread and cause nearby objects to catch fire. Curious children and pets can be seriously injured if they get too close. If you buy a house with a wood fireplace, you will need to stay close by to prevent accidents.

Smoke from a wood fireplace can release pollutants into the atmosphere. A fireplace can also release carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases inside the house.

Because of the risks and the amount of work involved, many people who buy a house with a wood fireplace only use it occasionally. The costs of cleaning, maintenance and wood may not make owning a house with a wood fireplace cost effective.

Gas Fireplace

With a gas fireplace, you can simply press a button and instantly enjoy a cozy fire. If the house has more than one gas fireplace, you can heat only the room where you are, rather than the entire house, to save money. The fireplace can provide heat even if you lose power.

A gas fireplace won’t produce the aroma and crackling sounds of a wood fire. On the other hand, gas fireplaces are easier to maintain than woodburning ones. There is no ash or soot to clean, but the fireplace should still be inspected every year.

Electric Fireplace

An electric fireplace can provide heat and light and can be used even in a small space. It can be expensive to use, however, and it won’t work during a power outage. An electric fireplace also does not look realistic.

Should You Buy a House With a Fireplace?

Many people search for a new home with a fireplace, then find that they don’t use it as much as they thought they would and realize that they spent a lot more than they expected to maintain it. If you’re thinking about buying a house with a fireplace, be realistic about how much you would use it and consider the costs and safety issues to decide whether it would be worth it.

SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT FROZEN PIPES THIS WINTER

Before the temperatures outside dip below freezing, it’s important to understand how to prevent frozen pipes and take the necessary steps to winterize your home. Read on to learn a few simple tricks to protect your pipes from freezing and keep the water running in cold weather. We’ll also walk you through what to do if you think your pipes might be frozen and how to thaw them to ward off a bigger home disaster.

Disconnect garden hoses. After you finish tending to your garden for the season, disconnect, drain and store your hoses. Close any shut-off valves that supply outdoor hose bibs and open the faucet outside to drain the line. Keep it open throughout the winter to allow space for any water that remains in the pipe to expand. Consider using faucet covers throughout the colder months for extra protection against frozen pipes. Additionally, drain water from any sprinkler supply lines following the manufacturer’s directions.

Insulate your pipes. Pipe insulation is fairly inexpensive and widely available at home improvement stores. Consider insulating any pipes located in unheated areas, such as in the attic, basement, crawl spaces or garage. In extreme cold, pipes underneath kitchen and bathroom sinks are also vulnerable to freezing. Apply

foam insulation liberally to provide a buffer against frigid temperatures. Wrapping your pipes in heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables can also keep them warm enough to prevent freezing.

Seal any air leaks. Inspect your home for any cracks or openings that could let in cold air. Seal any holes around the piping in interior or exterior walls and the sill plates, where your home rests on its foundation. Additionally, since leaving your garage open is like creating a giant air leak, always keep the door closed unless you’re going in or out.

Open doors and cabinets. Ensure warm air can circulate evenly throughout your home during cold snaps. Leave interior doors ajar and open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to distribute heat consistently around rooms. Remove any household chemicals or potentially harmful cleaners from open cabinets if you have small children or pets at home.

5. Let faucets drip. Even a small trickle of water can prevent ice from forming inside your pipes. When it’s bitter cold outside, start a drip of water from all faucets served by exposed pipes. Leaving a few faucets running slightly will also relieve pressure inside the pipes and help prevent a rupture in the event that the water inside freezes.

By Jessica Bennett, BHG.com ©2022 Meredith Corporation.

Keep a consistent temperature. Set your thermostat to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the day and night. In normal weather, bumping down your thermostat at night or when you’re not at home can help save on heating costs, but in extreme cold, maintaining a steady temperature is key to keeping your pipes free of ice. And if you’ll be away from home during cold weather, ensure your thermostat is set to at least 55 F. The few extra dollars you’ll spend on your utility bill will be well worth the thousands you’ll save by avoiding a burst pipe.

What to do if your pipes freeze. If you suspect you have a frozen pipe, start by turning on the faucet. If only a drip or trickle of water flows out, you likely have an ice blockage. Next, carefully inspect the exposed pipe for any cracks or breaks. If any pipes have burst, turn off the main water supply for the house and immediately call a plumber for assistance.

If the pipe is still intact, turn on the faucet to allow water to flow through as the ice melts. Gently apply heat to the frozen section of pipe, using a heating pad, hairdryer, space heater or warm, damp towels. If you are unable to access or safely thaw the frozen pipe, call a licensed plumber right away.

by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Our home’s electric system and the safety of it is often something we take for granted. From just hitting a switch to light a room, to plugging in electronics and charging devices, we don’t really think of the electrical current coursing through the house. However, it’s important to consider whether or not your homes electrical system is safe. The following tips will help you keep you and your house safe from the dangers of electricity.

Know your electrical system better. Look at your circuit breaker and see what runs on each current. Learn the limit for electrical overloads as well. An overload can cause an electrical fire, which spread quickly.

Use generators responsibly. If a storm knocks out your power a generator is great for keeping important appliances like refrigerators and hot water heaters running. However, they can quickly turn dangerous if overloaded. Also, give them ventilation, as they can introduce poisonous carbon monoxide.

Practice extra care around water. Swimming pools and hot tubs are great, but keep electronics and electricity away from them. Keep the stereo speakers at a distance and dry off before using any electrical items. Also, be mindful in the bathroom, and keep hair dryers or curlers away from the sink or tub.

Go easy on the extension cords and plugs in outlets. Extension cords are great for reaching a little further, but remember to use them safely. Don’t chain multiple cords together, and don’t use items that pull more electricity than the cord can handle. Same goes for an electrical outlet socket splitter. Making these items handle too much can cause them to overheat, short or even cause a fire.

Follow these tips for safety, and always err on the side of caution when it comes to electricity. Always contact your local electrician when electrical problems or concerns arise. It may also be beneficial to call one out to your home so that they can assess the safety of your electrical system.

HE’S AN EXPERT

• Complete plumbing repairs

• Clogged drains/Sewer cleaning

• High Speed Drain Cleaning

• All Plumbing Fixtures & Devices

• Hydroscrubbing

• Relining & Pipe Coating

• Trenchless sewer & water line replacement

• Electronic video camera

HE’S PROFESSIONAL

• Fast service 24/7

• There’s a reason they call us Mr.*

• Know the price before we start

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• Clean service professionals

• Scheduled appointment times

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WAYS TO UPDATE A BASIC BATHROOM

Sure, the ever-functional bathroom is sometimes swept aside in favor of decorating more grandiose rooms. But your bathroom doesn’t have to be boring! It’s the little details that count, so we’ve rounded up seven easy DIY updates for every part of the room, from the walls down to the bottom of your vanity. They’re also inexpensive and quick -- you can complete some of these projects in a day. Dust off your tools this weekend and make your bathroom look its best.

1 Pick out new paint. A new color scheme instantly changes the mood of a room. It’s important to use color carefully in a bathroom, since a color choice can easily overwhelm what is often one of the smallest rooms in a house. Pale blues, greens and grays are popular picks for their calming, spa-like qualities.

altogether for one with a unique shape. For a funky, casual vibe, you could even hang up an assortment of smaller mirrors like the room above.

4 Switch out hardware. An easy way to change your bathroom’s look is to switch out the faucet and cabinet pulls. You can go from rustic to sleek (and vice versa) in a matter of minutes. Hardware installation kits make it easy. If you’re feeling more ambitious, experienced DIYers can also change out the sink to match.

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Deck the walls with art. Just because a bathroom is functional doesn’t mean it can’t have personality. Hang some art prints on your bathroom walls to personalize the space. For a vintage look, decorate with repurposed flea market finds. Wallpaper an accent wall in a fun water-resistant design, or use colorful tiles as decor. For any artwork you hang up in bathrooms, make sure it has some kind of covering to protect from moisture.

5 Dress up your doors. Take boring cabinet fronts up a notch by covering the doors with selfadhesive paper. You can cover the entire surface or cut out a pattern, like circles or a chevron print, that allows the base color to peek through. The options for pretty paper are endless, so you can find one that fits your design style.

6 Kick up your (furniture) feet. It’s the little details that make any room look polished and put-together. Make your bathroom vanity stand out by adding furniture feet or a toe kick to the corners.

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Max out your mirror. Say goodbye to plain, store-bought plastic mirror panels. Or rather, dress them up. Paint a mirror frame to match your cabinets for a cohesive look, or swap out a blah square mirror

7 Get creative with cardboard or other materials. Cut up large cardboard tubes or PVC pipes and mount them on the wall in a cluster for a stylish storage display. Use them to store toilet paper, rolled-up towels, lotions and more for a fun DIY project that won’t break the bank.

TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR YARD THIS Winter

As many extend the amount of time they’re spending at home, they’re extending the use of their outdoor living space as well, despite a drop in temperatures. Getting outside, and breathing in fresh air, even when it’s chilly, is good for our mental and physical well-being. That’s why features like fire pits, outdoor heaters and enhanced lighting are on the rise as homeowners look to add warmth and ambience in winter.

In addition to crafting a cold-weather friendly outdoor space, it’s important to tend to your yard this winter as well. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute offers these tips to keep your yard in top shape for winter use:

Stop trimming your lawn once it freezes. Cutting your grass too short can leave it dry and exposes it to the elements, as well as insects and disease. Trim your grass to the height recommended for your lawn variety before it freezes.

Add a thin layer of mulch to your lawn. A thin layer of mulch can protect your grass roots from snow and frost. It can even prevent deeper layers of soil from freezing, making it easier for your lawn to bounce back in the spring.

Check your trees for dead or damaged limbs. Removing dead or damaged limbs before inclement weather arrives, is one way to protect your shrubs and yard from damage (not to mention people and pets!). Snow and ice can weigh heavily on dead branches and make them snap and fall. Remove any dead branches carefully with clippers, a chainsaw or pole pruner, following safety precautions. Consult an arborist for problematic trees.

Mark pathways to clear and beds to avoid. Mark the areas that you will need to clear of snow and ice, as well as areas you want to avoid, like flower beds, with stakes or sticks. This way, when it’s time to run your snow thrower, you won’t accidentally cut a path through the lawn. Always follow manufacturer’s safety procedures and never put your hand inside the snow thrower. Always use a clean out tool or stick to clear a clog.

Keep new (and old) plantings well-hydrated. Many people enhance their yard with trees and shrubs during the pandemic. Caring for them in the winter is important, as plants and trees that are well-hydrated are more likely to survive a hard freeze. Newly planted trees can only survive about two weeks in the winter without water, so be sure to water any new trees you’ve added to your landscape if they aren’t getting water naturally from rain or snow. If your outside hose is already shut off for the winter, then use a bucket and add five gallons to the area around the tree.

Continue watering plants and trees. Older plants and trees should enter winter well-hydrated, so continue watering even after the leaves have dropped. Even in the wintertime, hardy evergreen plants continue to lose moisture through their needles and if it’s a dry winter they need supplemental water too.

A GUIDE TO SELLING YOUR HOME IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET

Selling a home can be an exciting yet challenging endeavor, especially in a competitive real estate market. To maximize your chances of success and secure the best possible sale price, it’s crucial to approach the process strategically. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with valuable tips and insights to help navigate the competitive market and sell your home successfully.

Set the Stage: Preparing Your Home for Sale

Declutter and depersonalize: Remove personal items and excess clutter to create a clean and neutral canvas that allows potential buyers to envision themselves in the space. Enhance curb appeal: Make a strong first impression by sprucing up your home’s exterior with fresh paint, landscaping, and a well-maintained front yard.

Complete necessary repairs: Address any noticeable issues or repairs to ensure your home is in optimal condition and appeals to buyers.

Price it Right: Setting the Right Asking Price

Research market conditions: Understand the local real estate market by analyzing recent sales data and current market trends.

Consult a real estate agent: Work with an experienced agent who can provide a comparative market analysis to help you determine an appropriate and competitive asking price.

Market Effectively: Promoting Your Home

Professional photography and staging: Invest in high-quality photography and consider staging your home to showcase its best features and make it visually appealing to potential buyers.

Online listing presence: Ensure your home is listed on popular real estate websites and utilize professional descriptions and compelling visuals to attract attention.

Social media marketing: Leverage social media platforms to showcase your home’s unique selling points and reach a wider audience.

Make a Lasting Impression: Showings and Open Houses

Prepare for showings: Keep your home clean, well-lit, and properly staged. Consider providing informative brochures or digital materials highlighting key features.

Offer flexible viewing times: Accommodate potential buyers’ schedules by being flexible with showing appointments and hosting open houses on weekends or evenings.

Create an inviting atmosphere: Play soft background music, add pleasant scents, and allow natural light to fill the rooms to create a warm and welcoming ambiance.

Evaluate and Negotiate Offers

Analyze offers carefully: Review each offer’s terms, contingencies, and financing options. Consider seeking advice from your real estate agent or attorney to help you understand the details.

Negotiate effectively: Work with your agent to navigate negotiations and strategically respond to counteroffers to achieve a favorable outcome.

Close the Deal: The Final Steps

Coordinate inspections and appraisals: Facilitate the necessary inspections and appraisals to ensure a smooth transaction process.

Address contingencies: Address any contingencies within the specified timelines, such as repairs, obtaining financing, or securing homeowner’s insurance.

Collaborate with professionals: Work closely with your real estate agent, attorney, and other professionals to complete the required paperwork, coordinate closing logistics, and finalize the sale.

Fall Home Considerations to Make Before Winter

While the spring is the standard time to clean and declutter your home, fall is also a great opportunity to examine areas you may have overlooked, refresh any spaces that feel dull, and consider safety measures.

Get softer lights. Shorter days and colder weather mean we’ll be spending a lot more time indoors. Switch to light bulbs that have softer light that is easier on the eyes. Poor quality or bright light can cause unneeded eye strain. Use this time to make the switch to LED bulbs if you haven’t already – they last longer and are cheaper than ever.

Refresh. Give rooms a facelift by switching out the old carpeting or area rugs. Opt for a hypoallergenic option to help you enjoy the comfort of the carpet, while not worrying about its allergens, microbes and odors. Give your bedroom linens a refresh as well, by making the switch to warmer flannel sheets and blankets that will keep you warm and cozy in the night.

Safety first. October is Fire Prevention Month, and it is the perfect time to take stock of your home’s fire safety by testing alarms to ensure that the devices and batteries are functioning properly. Replace any alarms that are outdated and install new alarms in your home. One should be located on every level and in every bedroom of the home. Fire deaths are often caused by dead or missing batteries or no alarms at all – so keep your family safe. And if you don’t have any, it is now the time to install carbon monoxide detectors as well.

Speaking of cozy – keep that way during the long, cold months ahead with a basket in the living room and den filled with comfy throws and blankets. You’ll want to reach for one on those colder nights when all you want to do is curl up with a book or a movie.

How To Select Exterior House Paint Colors

As the weather warms up, winter’s effects can sometimes show their toll on a home’s paint. Giving your home a new coat of paint can make it look refreshed and renewed, but the problem is never deciding to paint, it’s usually around trying to decide which colors to go with. Following a few guidelines will help you select an exterior paint color that looks terrific for your home.

COORDINATED

When selecting colors, it’s always best to try to find colors that will work well with your home using the home as your guide. Starting points will include colors that are already in the house, such as from the brick or stone if you have any on your house, or from the roof. A home’s roof color, especially if it’s a composite type roof, it will have a variety of colors that make it read like one solid color, such as taupe, but you may be able to draw off of the variations in the roofing to help you define your color palette.

HOUSE STYLE

Yet another option for selecting colors is to choose based on the style of home. There are certain color standards for various styles of homes, such as a Colonial or Craftsman. Victorian and modern homes also have their own color styles, so looking online at homes that are similar to your home’s style is a helpful way for choosing a paint palette.

You may also want to select your house color using regional influences. If your home is located near the shore or the coast, colors that reflect a seaside feel will look appropriate. A house in the desert Southwest will always look better with a color palette that looks right for the region versus the palette for a house on Cape Cod. Most paint manufacturers have paint color palettes that can be used by region or by style of home that help with your color selection.

WHICH COLORS?

Start your color search by determining your main house color, which is called the field color. If you want your home to draw you in, or if you feel the house sits too close to the street, try a field color that is darker so that the house recedes. If the house feels too far away or it’s surrounded by trees, a lighter shade will help brighten it up and keeping it from fading into the background.

By the same token, small houses will look smaller with dark colors and will seem larger and have more presence with a lighter shade. A large home can handle dark colors more easily than a small one. Once the field color is chosen, then the trim and accent colors come next.

COLOR COMMITMENT

Before making your color selections, be sure to check color palettes from your local paint dealer. They often have a variety of options, and some have smartphone apps that will let you see how your house would look with various colors.

If you can’t leave your home, check your local store’s website for paint samples and supplies. Places such as Lowe’s and Home Depot even have painting tutorial videos for novice painters.

Once you’ve done all the research and narrowed down your choices, it’s still a good idea to order those samples and paint a small section of your home first to ensure that the colors are exactly right before making the investment in paint.

DON’T GIVE UP HOPE

If you’ve been denied a mortgage, find out why the lender turned you down and take action to address the issue. You’ll have a better chance of qualifying if you work on improving your financial circumstances. You can also submit another application to a different lender that has more lenient terms or that offers mortgages for people in circumstances like yours.

©2021 Kathryn Weber. Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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The Grounds Guys is a professional landscape management company— a dedicated group of horticulture enthusiasts, skilled landscape technicians and results-driven account managers committed to providing you with timely, reliable and thorough landscape solutions.

Whether you want to have the most beautiful landscape in the neighborhood or a safe place for kids and pets to play, our lawn maintenance services can offer the solutions you need. Our team is recognized for putting customers first and caring for their lawns as if they were our own. As one of Lawn&Landscape’s Top 100 lawn care service companies, we take pride in what we do and truly enjoy it. We care about what we do, and it shows in the quality services we provide.

EYE-CATCHING WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME

Your home is a reflection of you, and your decor should match your tastes. With some simple home upgrades, you can create the perfect space for you and your family, even if your design preferences change over time.

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Consider these ideas to get started:

ADD A FRESH COAT OF PAINT

One of the easiest home improvement projects, a fresh coat of paint can change the entire look of a room. Whether you choose to paint the entire space one new color, opt for an accent wall in a vibrant shade or simply freshen up the trim, paint can go a long way toward adding visual appeal and reflecting your personality. Patterned wallpaper, board and batten, stone and tile can also be added to create textured accents.

BRING WARMTH AND AMBIENCE WITH A FIREPLACE

More than 3 in 5 homeowners have a fireplace or other hearth product in their homes, according to the HPBA, and including a fireplace in your construction or renovation plans is a gift of warmth, comfort and ambiance you can give yourself. Whether it’s a centerpiece for your living room or family room, or an accent to your bedroom, bathroom or study, a fireplace can provide an artful design element for your home and a safe, reliable heat source in the event of unexpected weather.

UPDATE LIGHTING FIXTURES

Proper lighting can bring rooms to life and make spaces look larger and more welcoming. You can brighten up your home in a variety of ways, from strategically placing table and floor lamps that fit your design style to replacing older ceiling and wall-mounted fixtures with more modern styles.

GIVE CABINETS A FRESH LOOK

There are numerous easy ways to update your kitchen and bathroom cabinets to create a more updated look. One of the easiest is swapping out older cabinet pulls and knobs for more modern options. With a variety of finishes – stainless, bronze, brushed nickel, black, copper and more – and styles available, you can match your cabinets to nearly any design style in a matter of minutes. Adding a coat of stain or paint is also a relatively quick and easy way to update some of the most-used spaces in your home without completely replacing the cabinets.

UPCYCLE FURNITURE

You can breathe new life into your current furniture by making simple changes. The easiest would be simply rearranging your pieces and moving some to different rooms to create an updated look. You can also add decorative covers to sofas, chairs, throw pillows and more, or take your upcycling a step further and refinish a bookshelf, table or other wooden furniture with a fresh coat of paint or stain, or give it a more weathered look with some sandpaper.

COMMON CAUSES OF HOUSEHOLD LEAKS

Running water and sanitary sewer systems are key household advancements that have improved quality of life. However, if a problem occurs with pipes, drain lines, plumbing fixtures, or any water-using appliance, leaks can develop, leading to significant household damage, including rot, mold growth, wall and ceiling discoloration, sagging floors and ceilings, peeling paint, increased water bills, and a decrease in the water pressure.

Use this guide to learn more about common causes of household leaks and how to prevent them.

SIGNS OF A HOUSEHOLD LEAK

• Inexplicable water bill increase.

• Sudden decrease in water pressure when no other fixtures are being used.

• The sound of running water, rattling, or hissing when the plumbing fixtures are turned off.

• Mold and mildew accumulation.

• Peeling or blistering paint or wallpaper.

• Warped, stained, or sagging floors and ceilings.

1. Faulty faucets and toilets

If they don’t create rot or water damage, leaks can go completely unnoticed if you aren’t paying attention to your water bills. Instead, the water

runs directly into the drain, such as when a toilet continues to run or when leaking faucets constantly drip.

Fixing a running toilet can be as simple as shortening the flapper chain or replacing the flapper. Replacing the washer in the faucet may prevent it from dripping, but if the water keeps leaking into the sink, it’s a good idea to invest in a new faucet.

2.

Loose or broken hose connections

Leaks can occur outside the home as well, so if you notice any wet spots or areas in the yard that appear to be sunken down, it can indicate an underground leak. Loose or broken hose and irrigation system connections can cause puddles, soil erosion around the foundation of the home, and sink holes if left unresolved.

Fix this problem by locating the leak, then tightening the connection to stop the leak. If the issue is due to a cracked, split, or otherwise damaged connection, the connector and any other damaged parts of the system will need to be replaced.

3.

Cracked sink or tub

Tubs, sinks, and basins are used to catch and redirect the flow of water into an open drain, but if the body is cracked, water can leak out, causing mold, mildew, and rot. Cracks can occur as a result of frequent

use, general wear and tear, impact damage, or corrosion.

If you see a crack forming in the bathtub or notice a small crack spreading across the sink, it’s necessary to stop using the damaged item.

4. Worn out seals

Sinks, toilets, and tubs aren’t the only items that can lead to a leak. Dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines frequently use water during regular operation. If the seals or washers on these appliances become old, worn, or misshapen, it can cause the appliance to leak. Fixing this problem isn’t necessarily difficult, as long as you can find a replacement seal.

5. Clogged drain lines

When a drain line clogs, the water that would usually drain into the sewer or septic system has nowhere to go. Instead, the drain line fills up as more and more water is poured into the drain, until it completely backs up into the sink, tub, appliance, or laundry basin. In some cases, a clog can even lead to a burst pipe.

You may be able to clear a clogged drain with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, but if this chemical reaction is not enough to break up the clog, a plumber’s snake or a drain auger may be required.