fall
home improvement
Fall-Friendly Projects Home improvement projects perfect for fall and preparing for the winter
OCTOBER 29, 2014 | SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE
HAMPTON CHRONICLE
Smart Use of Small Spaces Make the most of your living & storage space
Update your home today 7 inexpensive ways to modernize your home
Green Belt Bank & Trust • Hampton Home Store • Affordable Tree Service • First Bank Hampton • Craighton Electric, Inc. • Jerry Koch, Ceramic Tile Dumont Harken Lumber • Mort’s Water Company • Mort’s Plumbing & Heating • Hampton State Bank • Pro-Build • Jones Appliance & TV Hampton Heating/AC/Plumbing • Evans Furniture & Floor Covering, Inc. • Iowa Falls State Bank • Franklin County Lumber • Olberding Floors Dorenkamp Custom Construction • Schrock Concrete • United Bank & Trust • Seamless Gutterworks Co. • Ackley Painting Company Eric Craighton Construction Co. • Mort's Inc. • First Citizens National Bank • M-G Floor Decor • Servpro
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Hampton Chronicle
inexpensive ways to update a home now
Oftentimes, buying a home opens up a bottomless pit of opportunities for projects and improve-ments. What many homeowners may not realize is that there are many ways to make updates and changes to a home that do not require a major overhaul or a large price tag. The fol-lowing are seven projects that won’t break the bank.
Move around furniture. You may be able to change the look of a room without spending any money. Interior designers know how to arrange furniture for maximum appeal, but the average homeowner can do it, too. Find a focal point in the room and angle the furniture toward it. Don’t make the focal point the television, however. Try changing the placement of chairs and sofas. Simply moving a curio cabinet from one corner to another may also make a difference.
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FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Add lighting. Lighting at different levels in the room can create a vibrant impact. Many homeowners mistakenly put in a couple of table lamps and think that will be adequate. However, properly illuminating a room means varying the lighting to create different moods at different times. Plus, more light can make a room feel more welcoming.
Change knobs or small accents. Give a room a new look by focusing on the small details. Switch out cabinet knobs for something updated and modern. Take inventory of wall outlets and light switches and think about selecting new ones that coordinate with your home decor.
Hang new wall art. It may be time to look at your photos and artwork and make a few adjustments. Finding new prints to hang could instantly change a room’s ambience. Grab your camera and take a few close-up shots of flowers or take in a landscape scenery. Many of today’s home printers can produce professional-quality prints in minutes.
Add new pillows or drapes. Changing a few aspects of a room can give it an entirely new look. If you want to add a splash of color but don’t know what to do, think about incorporating some new throw pillows or change the curtains. An accessory here and there in a bright color also can incorporate a new hue without it being overwhelming.
Use plants. Empty corners or spots you’re not certain how to fill may benefit from a plant. Plants are inexpensive ways to add instant color and visual appeal to a room. Plus, having live plants can help improve indoor air by filtering out contaminants. A home with plants also feels more cozy.
Try a new coat of paint. After you’ve exhausted other avenues, choosing a new paint color may be the new look you desire. Painting is one of the least expensive yet most dramatic methods of changing a home’s interior. With dozens of hues to choose from, and new apps that enable you to take snapshots of things in nature or in your life and match them up to a paint color.
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NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO MAKE UPDATES TO YOUR HOME! Whether your home improvement project is large or small, Green Belt Bank & Trust offers the tools to help finance it.
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Improve your indoor air quality with plants
ndoor air quality is not often an issue in the warmer months, when many homeowners open their windows to let the fresh air of the great outdoors enter their homes in abundance. But once the temperatures begin to dip and windows start to close, indoor air quality can suffer. Musty air is not only uncomfortable, it’s also unhealthy. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, can build up inside a home, especially when windows are kept shut for long stretches of time, which is often the case in winter. Indoor plants can counter such stale air, in some cases ¿ltering out VOCs to make the air inside a home more breathable and healthy. The following are a handful of houseplants that can improve indoor air quality. • Aloe: Many of us know aloe for its restorative properties with regard to treating burns and cuts, but aloe also improves indoor air quality by helping to clear a home of the byproducts, including formaldehyde, of chemical-based household cleaners. Aloe loves the sun, so if you hope to keep an aloe plant healthy through the winter, be sure to place the plant in a window that gets lots of sun exposure throughout the day. • Gerber daisy: Like aloe, a gerber daisy needs ample sunlight, and tends to only withstand winters in warmer climates. But homeowners who live in such climates may still keep their windows closed in winter, and those that do can use these colorful, low-maintenance Àowers to remove trichlo-
roethylene, a chemical that clothes may be exposed to during the dry cleaning process. • Golden pothos: The golden pothos can survive a winter, but homeowners should be careful not to let the plant dry out, which can happen if they are directly exposed to sunlight. A golden pothos vine will grow quickly, so a hanging basket is a great way to keep one inside a home, where the plant can help ¿ght formaldehyde. • Ficus benjamina: Also known as a weeping ¿g, the ¿cus benjamina can be dif¿cult to overwinter. But that does not mean your ¿cus benjamina, which can ¿lter pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from a home, won’t make it through the winter. You just need to ¿gure out the right watering and light conditions for the plant. Such conditions can be discussed with a gardening professional. • Warneck dracaena: The warneck dracaena, or dracaena deremensis, fights pollutants created by varnishes and oils. The warneck dracaena is a sturdy houseplant that is dif¿cult to kill, but it still thrives in temperatures that are between 70°F and 80°F.
Aloe improves indoor air quality by helping to clear a home of chemical-based household cleaners.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Space heater safety
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pace heaters can be an effective method of supplemental heat when the weather outside gets cold, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that space heaters can cause ¿res and lead to burns and, when using electrical heaters, may cause electrocution from faulty wiring. When operating a space heater, it is important to follow some safety guidelines.
☑ Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from any drapery, bedding and Àammable material. ☑ Turn off the heater when you leave the room. ☑ Keep the heater on a level surface that is hard and non-Àammable. ☑ Don’t leave the space heater on all night while you are sleeping. ☑ Never use a portable propane space heater designed for camping outdoors inside a home. ☑ Make sure smoke alarms in a home have been tested and batteries have been replaced to protect yourself in the event of a space heater-related ¿re.
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FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Hampton Chronicle
Home improvement tips to make the most of small spaces STATEPOINT o matter where you live, you want to make the most of your available living and storage space. This is especially true for residents in urban areas who typically have smaller living spaces. And urban living is on the rise. As of 2010, more than half of all people lived in an urban area, and by 2030 it is anticipated that six out of every 10 people will be living in a city, according to the World Health Organization. But less space doesn’t mean that you have to go without, say experts. “A few simple adjustments can help you maintain your comfort in a small home,” says Robin Wilson, celebrity interior designer with expertise in creating healthy spaces. There are plenty of ways to “open up” your living spaces to create more room.
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STORAGE Living simply can go a long way toward making your home feel larger. Every season, go through your closet and toss aside items that are worn out, no longer ¿t, or are out of style. Use creative storage solutions to make more space. For example, an ottoman that doubles as a trunk is a great place to store old photos and keepsakes. A bike rack that mounts to the wall can clear valuable Àoor space in your foyer. THROUGHOUT THE HOME Ensure that you have lighting at Àoor, table and eye level to help limit shadows. Another trick is to use a tall lamp to draw eyes upwards and add height to the room. A small home is no excuse for feeling cramped. With a few interior design strategies in place, you can make even the smallest space feel larger in size.
THE BATHROOM Give the illusion of space by decorating with pale or pastel colors on the walls and Àoor. Avoid using bolder colors, except on towels and ornamental pieces.
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THE LIVING ROOM Choose furniture for a small living room that is appropriate for the space. For example, avoid sofas with skirts and select couches which are raised off the Àoor to create a more open look. A large, strategically placed mirror can also help create the illusion that your living room is actually much larger than it is. The same goes for lack of clutter. Be sure to keep a small space organized with a daily once-over.
THE KITCHEN The kitchen is often the heart of the home, particularly if you like entertaining or love to cook. Unfortunately, kitchens can get overcrowded quickly by excessive gadgetry. “If counter space is at a premium, consider highly functional appliances that have multiple uses,” says Wilson. For example, the Panasonic Genius NN-SD681S microwave is equipped with inverter technology, which gives this kitchen essential the ability to function like an oven and ensures every dish is cooked evenly throughout. Though it is compact in size, it still maintains a spacious interior and comes with an optional trim kit that easily converts this microwave to a builtin, freeing up counter space while giving a stylish accent to cabinetry. More information can be found at www.Panasonic.com.
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FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Hampton Chronicle
Is your home ready for winter? STATEPOINT t’s time to start preparing your home to make sure it can ef¿ciently handle colder weather. “There are many small, low-hassle items you can complete to ‘winterize’ your home,” says David Andreozzi, principal of Andreozzi Architects and the American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) National Chair of CRAN, the AIA’s Custom Residential Architects Network. “Prepping your home for the season ensures you aren’t dealing with major issues when they are harder to tackle, and can prevent costly repairs come springtime.” To help homeowners prepare, Andreozzi offers the following advice.
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Clean your gutters when it’s warm to prevent ice clogs and costly replacements.
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CHECK GUTTERS............................... Regular checks of your gutters is both safety-smart and wallet-friendly. Ice is a danger. It can build up in gutters quickly if there is debris there from previous seasons. In order for ice to melt and drain properly, drains must be clear. Clean your gutters when it’s warm to prevent clogs and costly replacements. REMEMBER WATER SYSTEMS ......... This is especially important for new home buyers who may not think to look for this. Water trapped in an outdoor faucet, spigot or irrigation system can cause a pipe to burst if ice settles inside. Make it part of your winterizing routine to ensure that outdoor plumbing and pipes are clear before temperatures drop. DESIGNING FOR WEATHER .............. In the design process of your home, it is important that your home is sealed correctly to account for local weather. An architect
can advise on how to prevent unwanted drafts. If you have an older home or apartment, use self-adhesive weather stripping to seal cracks in windows and doors, too. CREATE A TIMETABLE....................... The change of seasons means maintenance. Create a checklist of tasks with a timetable so you are never scrambling at the last minute. Small items that often slip between the cracks can be taken care of in a timely fashion - like changing batteries in smoke detectors or cleaning the pilots of the heating system. Andreozzi recommends using a professional twice a year to help tick off some of the trickier items, such as sealing windows. To ensure that you’re hitting all of the pain points, an architect can help you formulate a full checklist to make the most out of your prep work. To ¿nd an architect in your area, visit http://architect¿nder.aia.org/.By preparing now, you can save time and money later.
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What to know when redoing your home’s Àooring STATEPOINT hether you’re purchasing a home or remodeling your current one, Àoors are perhaps the biggest piece of your home investment puzzle. They’re also the literal base from which all other design choices are made. You may think you know exactly what you’re looking for, but innovations in home Àooring have expanded and improved options. Before making a major home improvement decision, do your research.
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CARPETING Carpets are cozy, but can be dif¿cult to maintain if used in areas subject to stains and moisture. If you have pets or children, consider avoiding carpet entirely. If you do carpet your home, use dark colors to create a cozier feel and lighter colors to make spaces feel larger. Planning ahead? Strong, bold colors may limit your future options when repainting walls or changing furniture. ENGINEERED FLOORING Wood-based engineered flooring has come a long way from its mid-1990s introduction to the United States. As recently as ¿ve years ago, faux wood Àooring looked just that -- fake. Now they’ve actually become a preferred look for many homeown-
ers, thanks to design improvements. “Today’s engineered floors have the beauty and durability of solid wood, and are available in every color and style you can walk upon,” says Tom Wood, president of Atlanta-based franchisor Floor Coverings International. “For the budget-conscious, they can provide a solid long-term investment and resale value.” Engineered flooring is comprised of wood layers stacked cross-grain and bonded together under heat and pressure. This process makes them stain resistant and more durable where pets’ claws and children’s toys are concerned. Additionally, they’re built to resist humidity and can be installed on any level of your home -- even a basement. “There is also a big eco-friendly aspect to newly engineered Àoors. Wood veneer uses far less wood than solid hardwood Àoors,” says Sandy Stratton, the franchisee for Floor Coverings International servicing the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis. Stratton has a background in architectural engineering and interior design. Eco-friendly options on the market include laminate made from recycled wood ¿ber, bamboo, cork, natural linoleum, sisal ¿ber area rugs, seagrass and coir mats (made from coconut husks) -- along with stones, tiles, carpeting and natural wood.
Floors are a foundation and a focal point in every room. From hardwood and tile to durable engineered wood Àoors to luxury vinyl planks, there is a beautiful and sturdy Àoor out there for every home.
HARDWOOD Regular sweeping is generally all that’s needed to keep hardwood Àooring looking great in the short-term. However, periodic re¿nishing and repairing may be required. Additionally, footsteps and ambient echoes can cause rooms with hardwood Àooring to be noisy. In general, wood Àooring is not recommended for rooms subject to moisture exposure. If you do plan to use hardwood, consider sustainable options. For example, Floor Coverings International offers hardwood Àooring that’s certi¿ed by the non-pro¿t Cradle-toCradle Silver, is eligible for green building Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design credits, and meets Greenguard Environmental Institute’s indoor air quality requirements.
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Home improvement projects perfect for fall
FIXING THE FLOORS Wood flooring is a hot commodity for many homeowners. But not all Àooring can be added to a home at any time of year. That’s because certain types of Àooring employ adhesives that need temperatures inside the home to be within a certain range, and that range is often within 70° to 80°F, which makes fall a great time to install such Àoors. Colder temperatures can make it dif¿cult for the Àooring to dry and bond, which will prove problematic down the road. What’s more, many people entertain friends and family come late fall and into the holiday season, and it can be dif¿cult to do so if you are busy installing new Àooring.
ROOF REPAIR Whether you’re repairing or replacing the roof, fall is a great time of year to dust off the ladder and get some work done on your roof for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, fall is ideal for roof work because you won’t have to be up on the roof with the summer heat bearing down on you. This can make the project move along more quickly, which is especially bene¿cial if you are paying laborers to work on the roof. The fewer hours workers are ¿xing your roof, the less you will be paying in labor costs. In addition, ¿xing up the roof in the fall ensures those winter storms, be it rain or snow, won’t ¿nd their way into your home via leaks. A leaky roof in winter is hard to ¿x, as the roof surface could be treacherous in the winter and winter winds can make it dangerous to be up on the roof at all. Addressing leaks in the fall can prevent damage to your home’s interior, which can mount up if a leaky roof is not addressed until the following spring.
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Painting is another home improvement project that PAINTING seems tailor-made for fall. A fresh coat of paint or a new PROJECTS color scheme around the house can give a home an entirely new look and feel. But paint can be pungent and the aromas may last if it’s applied at a time of year when it can’t dry while the windows are wide open. Paint fumes inside a home can make the home uninhabitable, but painting at a time of year like the fall, when you can keep the windows open during and after the project, can help air the home out. But interior painting isn’t the only painting project homeowners can tackle in the fall. Many exterior paints are temperature-sensitive and need the temperature outside to be above 40o F. Paint that freezes won’t dry properly, and homeowners might be left with a costly and unsightly mistake on their hands. Fall temperatures tend to be amenable to both interior and exterior painting projects, just be sure to check the weather forecast before making your ¿rst brush stroke.
WINDOW WORK
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ome improvement projects can add value to a home and do-ityourselfers know the sweat-equity that goes into such projects can give homeowners a greater sense of pride in their homes. But no two home improvement projects are the same, and homeowners should know that certain projects are best tackled during certain times of the year. Fall is a great season to work on your house, as the weather is often at its most agreeable once the summer heat has gone and before winter weather arrives. The following are a handful of fall-friendly home improvement projects for homeowners looking to improve their homes.
When the weather outside gets frightful, poorly insulated windows can allow cold air into the home. That often has a trickle-down effect on ¿nances, forcing you to turn up the thermostat in an attempt to offset the cold air pouring into the home. Whether you need your windows replaced or simply need to patch up any leaks, a proactive approach to leaky or older windows in the fall can save you from unnecessarily high heating bills come the winter. Addressing leaky windows also makes a home more comfortable for its inhabitants. Fall is the ideal time to address a home’s windows because the temperature outside tends to be pleasant. This means you likely won’t have to make much of an effort to offset the elements, and open windows in the fall won’t make your home’s interior very hot or cold like they might if you were to tackle the project during the summer or winter.
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FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Hampton Chronicle
Quick, easy ways to add warmth to your home décor for fall STATEPOINT e all get bored from time to time and want to change things up. While it’s easy to add items to your wardrobe or try a new hairstyle, it may not always feel as easy to change the look and feel of your home. You may not realize small, quick updates to your home can make a big impact -- and changing things seasonally can keep things fresh. With that in mind, here are a few ways to give your home a fall makeover without a complete overhaul.
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SWAP OUT ART Who says you have to keep the same things hanging on the walls all year round? By swapping out extra pieces of art and family photographs, you can give your walls a new look without much time or effort. Need inspiration? Think about using warm fall colors like reds and gold. ADD SOME WARMTH You can add some warmth to any room with a few touches. Toss a woolen throw blanket over the couch or armchair den. To quickly add some soft lighting and fragrance to your home, try a wax melt, which has a strong fragrance throw. For example, Yankee Candle’s new Scenterpiece collection of over 35 different fragrances is unlike conventional candles, as they are cool to the touch, making it easy to quickly swap the fragrance by lifting one cup out and dropping another one in -- no cooling, scraping, pouring or touching wax required. Additionally, the brand offers a variety of more than 20 candle warmers that match every type of décor. More information about how to warm up your home with fragrance can be found at www.YankeeCandle.com.
To quickly add some soft lighting and fragrance to your home, try a wax melt, which has a strong fragrance throw.
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SPRUCE UP THE OUTDOORS Seasonal décor on the outside of your home can lend the exterior festive flair. Whether it’s an autumnal wreath on the front door or a planter of mums near the front porch, additions such as these will give your home’s entryway an inviting feel. As the weather cools, make your home cozier by taking the time to add warmth, fragrance and seasonal touches to your home.
Fall chimney cleaning tips
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omeowners whose homes have ¿replaces understand that a little more maintenance goes into autumn prep work for their homes than for those homeowners without ¿replaces. Readying the ¿replace for another season of use requires some upkeep. A clean ¿replace and chimney is the best defense against hazardous conditions that can cause a chimney or home ¿re. For those who did not clean their chimneys in the spring after extensive winter use, it is imperative to handle cleaning prior to lighting your ¿rst ¿re in the coming winter. Chimney cleaning can be a do-it-yourself job. Rods and brushes can cost as much as $150, depending on where you live. That is roughly equivalent to the cost of hiring a professional chimney sweep once. But if you have a fear of heights or prefer not to climb up on the roof to inspect the chimney, you may just want to hire a professional. When cleaning your chimney, ¿rst place plastic sheeting in the ¿replace and around the opening to the ¿replace inside the home. Then climb up on the roof and remove the chimney cap inspecting the chimney for soot and creosote, which tends to be thickest at the mouth of the chimney where it will cool and stick to the inside of the masonry. Use the correct size brush for your chimney to make adequate surface contact to sweep out the debris. Go inside and clean up the residual mess, then reach up into the chimney from the ¿replace side and remove any other soot before moving into the basement (or wherever the chimney reaches the bottom) to remove any soot that has dropped from that area as well. Cleaning a chimney is a messy task that will take some work, but it is a task that needs to be done to safeguard a home before the arrival of winter.
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Wednesday, October 29, 2014
FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Hampton Chronicle
Prevent your heating bills from going through the roof STATEPOINT eating your home can be a costly endeavor. But you don’t have to make your family suffer in shivering silence to save some money. There are plenty of steps you can take to optimize your heating efforts, as well as prep your home for several months of cool weather. • Check and maintain your insulation. Improperly insulated walls, Àoors, attics, basements and crawl spaces drain away heat and can encourage mold and mildew. • Add weather stripping and caulk around windows and doors to prevent drafts which waste energy and money. • Install a programmable thermostat that shuts itself off during the day when you’re away and at night when you’re asleep. This will keep you comfortable when you’re home and save you money when you’re not. • Keep vents and returns free of obstructions. Don’t lay carpet over vents, place furniture over or in front of them or obstruct the Àow of air. • Keep your air filters clean. Check them every couple of weeks and change them as directed by the manufacturer. • Let the sun shine in by opening curtains on cold days. Get heavy drapes to keep things cozy at night. • Review last year’s energy bills. If your heating costs are drastically higher this year, a quali¿ed HVAC/R technician may be able to diagnose the problem. Schedule such inspections twice annually, even if you aren’t experiencing any detectable issues.
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• When choosing a contractor for installation or maintenance, important factors must be taken into consideration. A quali¿ed HVAC/R technician is a skilled professional with proven knowledge who has passed specialized tests. So look for a technician certi¿ed by North American Technician Excellence (NATE), the nation’s largest independent non-pro¿t certi¿cation body for HVAC/R technicians. • Even the most eco-friendly, high-ef¿ciency products and appliances can waste money and energy if they’re not installed, serviced, and maintained properly. Work with certi¿ed technicians to ensure your HVAC/R equipment is delivering on its promised energy ef¿ciency. • Consider alternatives to conventional heating. For example, geothermal heating systems use the earth’s natural heat and are among the most ef¿cient and energyconserving heating technologies currently available. • Replacing your system? Purchase energy storage equipment with an ENERGY STAR label. High-ef¿ciency systems reduce your impact on the environment and can also save you money. You may also be eligible for a Federal Tax Credit. Check with your local NATE contractor to determine qualifying models. Also, for optimal performance be sure to select the proper size system for your home.
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FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Hampton Chronicle
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
5
Prepping your home for cold weather pays off STATEPOINT reparing your home for colder weather can help ensure your family stays warm and safe, as well as save you money on energyrelated costs and potential damage to your home’s structure. “I recommend homeowners do a thorough home inspection at least every five years,� says Tom Capuano, a franchisee of Pillar To Post Home Inspectors, North America’s largest home inspection franchise. The experts at Pillar To Post recommend homeowners take the following steps to cover their bases.
moisture intrusion. Seal decks and fences to prevent the wood from rotting. The roof takes the brunt of the cold weather, so repair leaks, however minor, and replace loose shingles. Winterize pipes with insulation, especially those that are exposed to the elements or located in unheated areas. Know where your water shut-off valves are located so they can be turned off in case of a pipe leak. Trim tree branches that could potentially fall onto your home or driveway. Check with your local municipality about regulations.
DOORS AND WINDOWS If you can feel cool air coming through the bottom of the door, replace the weather stripping and door sweeps to save about one-third of your average annual heating and cooling costs. Next, caulk drafty windows and replace old single-pane windows with thicker, more modern versions. Install storm windows and insulate walls and attics.
THERMOSTATS Programmable thermostats can cut energy bills by $100 or more each year. For every degree your thermostat is adjusted, you can save up to one percent on energy bills.
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CHIMNEY AND FLUE Annual inspections of the chimney and Àue minimize the threat of chimney ¿res. Additionally, add a chimney cap to keep out moisture and ensure your chimney has an appropriate liner to separate system emissions from the home’s structure. Inspect and maintain chimney Àashing. OUTDOOR AREAS Ensure gutters and downspouts are Àowing freely. Clogs can cause water to make contact with the foundation walls of your home and creep under your roo¿ng. Seal cracks in your home’s foundation to prevent
IN-HOME LEAKS Repair leaking faucets and toilets, which can add up to 20 gallons of water per person per day. Also consider low-Àush toilets and showerheads. LowÀush toilets use less than 1.6 gallons of water per Àush and low-Àow showerheads use up to 36 percent less water. Some local water department offer rebates for making the upgrade. If you don’t have the time or knowledge to inspect your home for problem areas, certi¿ed home inspectors can quickly check all areas of your home and will give you a report of your home’s condition. For example, Pillar To Post offers home inspection reports detailing up to 1,600 key components of a home’s condition so you can take a preventative approach to problems.
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FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Did you know
B
efore saying “so long” to yard work at the end of autumn, homeowners should remove thatch from their lawns. Thatch is dead grass that’s often identi¿able by its yellowish tint, and this dead grass, if left to loom in the lawn over the winter, can block air and moisture from making its way into the soil. That can make it dif¿cult for a lawn to recover come the spring and may even cost homeowners a substantial amount of money to address when winter ¿nally skips town. When removing thatch, resist the temptation to rake with lots of physical force, as raking too hard can harm the lawn. Instead, commit to three or four easy passes with the rake, as this will collect the thatch without damaging the lawn. Many people rent a dethatcher from a nearby lawn and garden supply store, and such a device can make the process of removing thatch much easier. However, be sure to clean the machine before using it on your lawn, as there is no way of telling what condition the previous renter’s lawn was in when he or she used the device. Failing to clean the dethatcher can spread disease from a previous renter’s lawn onto your own, and that can prove another costly mistake come the spring when your lawn is looking to rebound. If seeding the lawn in early fall, which can be a great time to reseed, remove the thatch before laying down any new seed. If you wait to remove thatch until after you have laid down new seed, then the lawn likely won’t bene¿t from the seed and you will likely just rake the new seed away when it comes time to remove thatch.
STATEPOINT efore you turn off your AC system for the season, consider having it checked out by a certi¿ed contractor. If it’s older or has been giving you problems, you might want to replace it. “It may not be top of mind, but fall is actually the ideal time to think about your home’s cooling system,” says Frank Landwehr, VP of Marketing at Emerson Climate Technologies. There are ¿ve reasons why consumers who consider this important home upgrade during the off-season often have much better outcomes, say the experts at AC & Heating Connect. • Contractor considerations: Give yourself plenty of time to identify the best AC contractor for your installation. Contractors in between cooling and heating seasons will be more available to help solve your speci¿c problems. • New features: Learn about the latest technology and features available for HVAC systems, as a lot has changed in the past 20 years. Consider systems with features ranging from superior humidity reduction to noise reduction to remote control systems and energy-ef¿cient programmable thermostats. “Dual fuel” heat pumps that can use either electricity or natural gas for heating are another recent innovation to consider. • Zombie heat pump: So-called “zombie” heat pumps appear to be alive and running, but in reality are not performing optimally, or at all. If your air conditioner doubles as a heat pump, fall is the time to have your system checked out for the heating season. Fall is also a good time to have a conventional furnace checked out by a contractor. If it’s older like the AC unit, you might be better
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Hampton Chronicle
Five good reasons to replace your old AC in the fall
off having them both replaced at once. • Recalculations: Have your contractor run new calculations on your home. Changes since that old AC system was installed can affect your needs. For example, if you added insulation, upgraded to more ef¿cient windows, knocked out walls or added a room, you might need a different system size than before -- and the wrong system can be problematic. A system that’s too small won’t keep up on the hottest days. A system that’s too large will cycle too much, causing wide swings in temperature -- and won’t necessarily remove all the humidity from your home. Further, if you plan to close the AC vents in seldom-used rooms, look for a system
with at least two steps of capacity modulation. Closing room vents and doors effectively makes your house appear smaller to your HVAC system, which could signi¿cantly damage the system or cause it to fail prematurely. • Regulations: Know the latest government regulations and rebates before you buy. New regulations going into effect January 1, 2015, might affect the minimum efficiency standard in your region. Give yourself time to consider whether you want to replace your system ahead of the change. Replacing HVAC systems in fall can be a smart maneuver. By planning ahead, you can make smarter choices for your home and your comfort.
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FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Hampton Chronicle
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Winterizing 101:
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How to prepare your yard for winter
hanging seasons can be tough on a lawn. Always exposed to the elements, lawns can fare especially poorly upon the arrival of winter, a season known for its harsh and unforgiving weather. Even the most perfectly manicured lawn can suffer at the hands of winter weather, causing homeowners to sit idly by and hope spring arrives that much sooner. But as punishing as winter weather can be on a lawn, homeowners are not without recourse. Much like homeowners can take steps to help their lawns survive sizzling summer heat waves during the warmer months of the year, they also can take steps to help their lawns make it through the often stormy weather synonymous with winter. • Don’t procrastinate. Putting off the process of winterizing a lawn can put that lawn in jeopardy. Lawns will turn dormant the closer you get to winter, and they may reject the nutrients found in fertilizer as a result. Those nutrients will prove valuable once spring weather returns, so start the winterization process in early fall so the lawn has suf¿cient time to absorb nutrients and strengthen itself for the seasons to come. • Treat trouble spots. Summer can be even harder on a lawn than winter, especially for those lawns located in regions where heat waves and drought are common. In such instances, certain spots on the lawn seem to be hit harder than others, and those spots should get special attention when winterizing the lawn. Check the soil’s pH levels before fertilizing or applying any treatments. Such a test will reveal which spots need the most attention, and treating trouble spots now will make spring lawn care that much easier. • Aerate the property. Aerating can help a lawn recover after a long summer and help it survive the potentially harsh months that lie ahead. Aerating, which involves puncturing the soil or removing cores of soil
from the ground, can restore a lawn to health by improving its drainage and allowing more water and air to reach the roots of the grass. Aerating also makes it easier for nutrients to penetrate the soil, which encourages a healthier lawn over the long haul. Aerators can be purchased or rented, but homeowners uncomfortable with the process may want to enlist a professional to tackle the job. Parents of small children who spend lots of time in the yard may need to aerate their lawn more than most, as heavy lawn traf¿c compresses the soil, a potentially harmful process that can be reversed via aeration. • Take steps to strengthen the roots. Aerating promotes stronger roots, but homeowners might also want to ¿nd a winterizing product with potassium and phosphorous, both of which can strengthen roots. Different types of lawns will respond differently to certain winterizers, so discuss your options with a lawn care professional who can help you ¿nd the right ¿t for your property. • Remove debris from the lawn. Debris left on a lawn over the winter can prove very harmful. Piles of debris left scattered around a lawn can suffocate the blades of grass, leading to long-term damage and a potentially unsightly lawn come the spring. In addition, piles of debris might make good homes for organisms that can damage the lawn. As fall moves into winter, periodically remove all debris, including leaves and branches fallen from trees. • Make the lawn off-limits once the temperatures dip below freezing. A lawn should be off-limits once the ground freezes. Stepping on grass that has frozen will leave noticeable footprints, and walking on frozen grass can kill the turf. When winter arrives, people should avoid using the lawn as a shortcut into and out of your home and stick to driveways and sidewalks instead.
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FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Hampton Chronicle
Countertop options abound
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any things in a kitchen contribute to giving this popular room its personality. Appliances and choice of cabinets go a long way toward crafting that look, but perhaps nothing defines a kitchen more than a homeowner’s choice of countertops. Countertops are where the action takes place in a kitchen. It’s where meals are prepared and where hungry houseguests or curious kids watch the family chef whip up the night’s meal. The options with regard to countertop surfaces are numerous, and the following are just a few of the more popular options.
Quartz Quartz is among the most durable countertop surfaces available, as it is resistant to bacteria, heat, stains, and water. Though quartz is not available in as many shades as laminate, it is similarly easy to clean. Also like laminate countertops, quartz surfaces tend to have easily visible seams, which may irk homeowners who find such minor imperfections an eyesore. Quartz countertops can be expensive depending on the amount of surface area a kitchen has, so budget-conscious homeowners with especially large kitchens may find quartz countertops bust their budgets.
Laminate Laminate countertops are popular and affordable. Made of sheeting glued to plywood or particleboard substrate, laminate countertops are water-resistant but not very heat-resistant, so homeowners will want to place any hots pans, pots or baking sheets on trivets to maintain the laminate. Many homeowners prefer laminate countertops because they are available in so many colors, meaning they can match any homeowner’s preferences, no matter how colorful those preferences are. Cutting on laminate countertops is not recommended, but such surfaces are easy to clean and maintain.
Granite The natural beauty of granite is what draws many homeowners to install this popular surface material in their kitchens. Thanks to their unique shading and tone, granite countertops are never the same from one home to the next, and granite complements many different cabinet colors. Granite also is resistant to heat, scarring and, when sealed properly, stains. Granite is naturally porous, so if it is not sealed properly, it can harbor bacteria. Some granite countertops must be sealed annually, while some pretreated countertops can go as long as 15 years without a need for resealing. Unlike oth-
er countertop surface materials, granite, which is among the most expensive countertop materials, does not come in a vast array of colors, so homeowners should expect to choose from just 20 or so color options.
Recycled glass Homeowners who want to give their kitchens a modern and eco-friendly feel may want to consider recycled glass countertops. Recycled glass countertops, the majority of which are now produced with 80 to 90 percent post-consumer glass, are made of pieces of glass that are held together with cement binders. Some might be concerned that countertops made of recycled glass are not very strong, but the cement binders are very hard, making the countertops durable, strong and unlikely to chip or crack. Recycled glass countertops come in various colors and are resistant to both heat and stains. Installation of recycled glass countertops can be tricky, as improper installation can lead to stress points that make the glass susceptible to cracking. As a result, the installation of recycled glass countertops is best left to professionals. Recycled glass countertops can be quite expensive as well.
A homeowner’s choice of countertop surface material can go a long way toward defining the personality of his or her kitchen, so homeowners should consider their options before making a final decision.
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