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4 How to pick a new door for your home Real Estate
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With so many choices abounding in home improvement stores and online, how do you know which is the right choice for you when selecting a new entry door for your home? These days, homeowners will likely be steered toward fiberglass or steel. While traditional wood is beautiful, newer materials are lower maintenance, and provide more durability, security and energy efficiency. When various factors are considered, here’s how each stacks up: Beauty Fiberglass most closely mimics the defined grain of authentic wood doors and comes in a number of textures like oak, cherry, mahogany and fir, as well as a variety of stain and paint colors. Options include decorative door glass and sidelites to improve curb appeal. Steel entry doors are available in smooth or wood grain textures in multiple stains and paint finishes, and come in a variety of styles, including some with glass. Durability Unlike wood doors, fiberglass doors do not shrink, warp, split, crack or delaminate, making them ideal for harsh or humid climates. Because they last so long, many come with long warranties. For instance, ProVia doors come with a Lifetime Limited Warranty that guarantees doors through the entirety of the ownership of the home by the door purchaser, plus one subsequent homeowner. Steel doors, particularly those made of 20-gauge steel
like ProVia’s Legacy Steel line, won’t crack or warp and are the most durable on the market. Maintenance Fiberglass offers the lowest maintenance, resisting denting and scratching, and can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Although generally low maintenance, if scratched through the galvanization layer, steel doors can rust if not properly primed and painted. Dents and dings can be pulled and puttied with an auto-body repair kit. Security The solid construction of fiberglass entry doors provides significant security over wood doors. However, if you’re particularly concerned with home security, the strength of steel entry doors offer the best solution. Energy Efficiency Both fiberglass and steel door systems are engineered to be highly energy efficient. For example, the polyurethane core, Q-Lon weatherstripping and ComforTech Warm Edge Glazing System in ProVia entry door systems work together to keep cold out in winter and heat out in summer. Most of their doors are ENERGY STAR certified. In fact, the company is the only door manufacturer to have ever received any ENERGY STAR award for door manufacturing, winning the prestigious ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award for Door Manufacturing four times and the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award four times.
Cost Fiberglass doors can be comparable in cost to wood doors, depending on the model, glass options and hardware selected. However, fiberglass is a better financial bet in the long-term, of-
fering longer durability and less maintenance. While total cost can vary widely depending on style and options chosen, steel entry doors typically cost less than fiberglass, offering significant long-term
value. Before buying, consider your priorities -- whether its beauty, endurance or energy efficiency, opt for a door that best fits your needs. -StatePoint
Smart ways to spruce up a small space 5 Giving a design facelift to small spaces may seem challenging. But you can make more of every square inch with creative solutions. Light Small spaces need natural light. Try hanging curtains beyond the window frame and near the ceiling to let in more. This drapery placement makes windows look larger and adds to the perceived height of the room. Add a large decorative mirror on an adjacent wall to reflect every sliver of available light. While conventional decorating wisdom doesn’t recommend placing furniture in front of windows, in a small room such as a bedroom, it makes sense to use windows as the focal point and center furniture in front of them. In tiny bedrooms, options can be limited, and it's often better to create a strong focal point with a bed than to awkwardly push it to one side.
Focal Wall Light walls make small rooms feel larger, but there can be exceptions to this rule. An accent wall can bring definition and scale to a tiny space. The first step is to choose the right wall to paint. Depending on the room, it’s typically a fireplace wall, one that anchors a key piece of furniture, an interesting nook or a bookcase wall. Achieve sharp lines and professional paint results easily with a high quality painter’s tape, such as FrogTape brand painter’s tape, which is treated with patented PaintBlock Technology that forms a micro-barrier against paint bleed. For drama, use darker shades to add depth to the room. However, keep furniture and adjacent walls lighter to prevent the room from feeling cluttered. For medium color walls, a bright color or fun pattern on an accent wall will help enliven the space. Also, consider repainting trim a bright white to make the accent
wall stand out. Smart Shelving Shelves, cabinets and pegboard racks can promote organization without exhausting limited floor and counter space. Bring cozy kitchens to the next level with shelving that reaches the ceiling. Install electrical outlets within shelving so you don't have to move appliances to use them. Floating shelves allow you to show off favorite accessories, like cookbooks, vases and baskets, while boosting storage capacity. Repurpose old barn wood for a rustic look or utilize plumbing pipe for an industrial and modern design. Creative Storage Choosing pieces with multiple functions is a must. Storage can also serve as décor. Visit garage sales and flea markets to find special pieces that you can repurpose. An old trunk or suitcase can be a fashionable and functional side table or coffee table, while
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hiding odds and ends. Customize these gems to coordinate with your décor by adding a unique painted design using painter’s tape. For ideas, visit www.FrogTape.com. If you’re looking to preserve the item’s vintage appeal, make sure you
tape off any latches or distinctive details to prevent paint bleed. Often the best design solutions are born of necessity; and with a little imagination you can create eye-catching, functional rooms throughout your house. -StatePoint
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Steps to get outdoor spaces summer-ready You may not think a lot about your home’s outdoor spaces during the off-season, but in warm weather, your porch, deck, yard and patio are extensions of your living space -- and it’s important to maintain these areas to be in tip-top shape. Here are some helpful tips to get these spaces summer-ready. Organize Set yourself up for a season of better gardening, yardwork, tinkering and auto repair by organizing your shed or garage. You’ll be more inclined to do these necessary tasks when you know exactly where your tools are and you don’t have to search around in order to get started. Do an inventory of your tools. Throw out rusty or broken items that are irreparable. Perform routine maintenance on equipment and tools. Then organize your equipment in a systematic way that makes the most sense for you, making use of vertical storage systems that take the best advantage of the space you
have. Deep Clean It’s a tough world out there. Things get dirty, messy and stained, and sometimes a garden hose, soap and elbow grease just aren’t enough -- especially after months of neglect. Enter the pressure washer, which can aggressively blast things clean with water jets pressurized up to75 times that of a garden hose; or gently spray with lower pressures for delicate cleaning. Step up your cleaning of patio furniture, sidewalks and fencing with a light-duty pressure washer. For decks, patios, garage floors, siding and driveways, a medium-duty pressure washer can help save you time and energy on clean-up jobs. Just be sure to wear googles and closed-toed shoes when using a pressure washer, and never operate the machine in an enclosed area. If you don’t already own a pressure washer and you’re looking to purchase one, be sure
to get the right machine for your needs. Factors like how often you plan to use it and the type of
projects you will use it for are key elements in the decision making process. Briggs & Stratton, a
pressure washer manufacturer known for machines that start easily, run quietly and offer fuel efficiency, makes the selection process easy with a buying guide selector tool available online at www.briggsandstratton.com. Friendly Spaces Reduce mosquitos by eliminating standing water from the yard. For more comfortable cookouts, you may also want to add plants to your yard that repel these pests, such as citronella and marigolds. Plant trees so you can look forward to shady spaces for future seasons. However, for the current season, use awnings or shade arbors to create a place where you can safely and happily spend the sunniest portion of your afternoons. By performing a few key tasks, you can prime home’s outdoor spaces for a season of gardening, entertaining, relaxing and summer living. -StatePoint
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Which home upgrades matter most? 9 Whether you’re preparing to sell, or just looking to increase your home’s value, it’s important to think about strategic upgrades -- and not just how; but where to remodel. Here are a few ideas to help you prioritize home remodeling endeavors. Create Curb Appeal Imagine walking up your driveway as a potential buyer.
Does the exterior leave a lasting impression? Begin the process of preparing your home for sale at the front door by creating an inviting entryway that will entice potential buyers even before they step foot inside. Adding a pop of color to your front door will make a statement, and changing out the hardware fixtures will update the look instantly.
Cleaning up your lawn, power washing siding, and planting trees, bushes and flowers are simple ways to invest in your home’s curb appeal. Lining the walkway with solar-powered lights is also a nice touch. Update the Bath Bathrooms and kitchens are the most popular renovation projects, with the greatest number of consumers concentrating
their attention on the bath, according to a recent Houzz and Home survey of homeowners. When remodeling, focus on details that can quickly update the space, such as installing quality fixtures. As you begin the selection process for new bath fixtures, consider those with a timeless style that will be appreciated by you and a wide variety of home buyers.
Increasing storage, along with a few other fixes, can add thousands of dollars to your home’s value, according to a Bankrate.com report. Key updates improve both the look and functionality of the bathroom. Try installing a new shower curtain rod. A curved shower rod can add up to an additional seven inches of space in the shower. -StatePoint
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Tips to set up a great home theater room 11 These days, home theaters are particularly popular rooms in many houses, and are even viewed as selling points. In fact, this trend has become so popular that eight in ten builders now offer home theater pre-wire, according to a study from the Consumer Electronics Association. By following some tricks of the trade, you can add excitement to your living room or create a superior home theater space. Immersive Visuals To capture the stunning visuals you see in the theater, consider a projector that can create a more immersive experience for gaming, movies, concerts, and sports. Be sure to select one with a fully connectable interface, including three types of video and audio inputs, as well as HDMI, RGB and RS-232C terminals. A projector lets you replace an ordinary TV with a larger screen, and if you choose a light
one, it can even be moved around from room to room. For example, weighing in at just five pounds, Casio’s SLIM projectors are thin and compact, require little setup time and provide maximum brightness in as few as five seconds to put you into the action in no time. The SLIM series of LampFree projectors offers an estimated 20,000hour lifespan with minimal brightness degradation and continuous operation, outshining conventional projectors requiring mercury lamp replacements. More information is available at www.CasioProjector.com. And experts also stress that projectors can be economical, as the cost per image area is less than with traditional televisions. Powerful Sound You want powerful sound that can move you, but not so loud it moves your home’s foundation. Most experts agree surround sound is best. You will need at least four speakers and a sub-
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woofer. And don’t just place speakers on either side of your screen. Create an equilateral triangle, with the right and left front speakers as two points and your primary seat as the third point. Meaning, if you are seated seven feet away from the screen, your speakers should be seven feet apart from each other and angled toward you. Place them at the same height as ear level.
Easy Comfort Seating is just as important as incredible visuals and powerful sound to create the perfect home theater atmosphere. Think of seats as primary and secondary. Primary seating is for family or friends who use the space regularly. Secondary seating is used when you have that huge party for the big game, a new movie or an awards show.
Some prefer dramatic theater-style seating with classic flip-up chairs and built-in cup holders. Others like recliners or sofas on which they can lean. Just make sure every seat has an unobstructed view and no seat is too close to speakers. Above all, when the remodeling is done, remember to take time to enjoy your set-up! -StatePoint
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