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Tangerine Tango color for 2012
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Beauty of metal roofs
Get your pond ready
MIDLAND DAILY NEWS SPRING 2012
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inside Country meets contemporary decor | page 4 Planning your new kitchen | page 7 Tangerine Tango a hot color | page 8 Modern botanicals feel like spring | page 12 The beauty of a metal roof | page 18 Time to wake up the pond | page 22 HomeStyle is produced by Midland Daily www.ourmidland.com
News
Painting projects to update decor in one week (ARA) - Updating the decor in your home doesn’t have to be a long, laborious or expensive process. Instead, get a little instant gratification by using paint to easily refresh areas and items throughout the house. With a little cash and a free weekend, you can makeover your house right now.
Furniture facelift
Whether it’s an old pair of chairs in the attic or a desk that’s seen better days, it’s easy to breathe new life into pieces of forgotten furniture with a fresh coat of paint. You can add interest and a pop of color to any room. A semi-gloss finish works best when painting furniture because it’s easy to clean and hides any imperfections. How to: * Make sure the surface is clean, dull and dry. * Prime with a stain blocking primer to ensure the surface is properly sealed. This will help the paint go on evenly and uniformly. * With a high-quality mini-roller, like those from Purdy, apply the paint of your choice to achieve the best finish. These tools are versatile, lightweight, and can quickly and easily deliver a perfect finish
with smooth rolling action. * For extra protection, brush on two thin, even coats of water-based polyurethane.
Door do-over
Changing the color of an interior door can make a big impact in any room. The key to getting this update right: color selection. Choose color similar to your walls for the door, because you don’t want the contrast to be jarring. Be sure to paint the frame too, so the door doesn’t seem to float in space, and use a gloss or semi-gloss finish. How to: * Remove door and hinges from the wall. * Make sure the door is clean dull and dry. * Prime bare, sanded woodwork; there’s no need to prime previously painted surfaces if they’re in good condition. However, if you are going over an existing oil-based paint with a latex paint, follow the instructions on the paint can on how to prime. * When applying paint or primer, work from the center of the door outwards in the following order: molding, inside
panels, rails, stiles * Once paint is completely dry, re-hang door using existing hinges.
Step to it
For an unexpected update, paint an area of the house that doesn’t usually receive a lot of love - your stair risers. They can get nicked and scuffed easily, so a fresh finish - and color - can really perk up the staircase. If you’re unsure of which shade to choose, cut and paint cardboard pieces the same size of the risers and position them on the steps to get an idea of the effect. How to: * Dust risers with a broom and cover steps with masking paper; secure with painter’s tape. * Apply latex primer to wooden risers or metal etching primer to metallic ones. Brush horizontally and let dry for at least two hours. Mini rollers are another tool to consider especially over metal. * Apply gloss, latex paint with a clean brush or mini roller. Let first coat dry two hours, then apply second coat. * Wait a day for the paint to cure and then add a third coat for the most durable finish. PAGE 3
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Country meets contemporary decor BY KIM COOK For The Associated Press
Above, placemats of weatherworn wood on woven vinyl are shown in a style described as modern country or farmhouse chic. AP Photo | Chilewich Sultan LLC, Victor A Schrager.
At right, a headboard made from old wood from a barn is shown in a style described as modern country or farmhouse chic. AP Photo | Becky Cunningham
Browse through old Country-oriented shelter magazines and you’ll see a lot of what designers used to call “duck and basket� decor: calico-print-filled rooms, Colonial furnishings, walls stenciled with flowers and ducks. It was a homey, well-loved style. Now a new generation of home decorators and stylemakers is updating the look. Country Living magazine fills pages with bright colors, crisp graphic prints, tag-sale side tables and smart mid-century sofas. There are still great baskets, but nowadays the duck’s more likely to be part of a hip new wallpaper. Call it Modern Country or Farmhouse Chic — it’s sparer and
less cluttered than the old Country, but no less welcoming. It honors Country’s homespun roots without sending us too literally back to the past. Well-worn, often utilitarian elements from the farm house, barn and small-town store blend with contemporary furnishings and finishes, making it all look fresh and interesting. Becky Cunningham, a home decorator near Shreveport, La., fell in love with vintage stuff during her first visit to a flea market in Canton, Texas. That’s where she found an old cowboy’s bathtub that now holds extra blankets in her bedroom. CONTINUED| PAGE 6
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Country meets contemporary The room’s transformation, which includes snowy white paint, a chandelier and luxurious white bed linens, is chronicled on her blog, “Buckets and Burlap.” An unusual focal point is a gray, weather-beaten headboard. “We used 100-year-old lumber taken from an old shack on my husband’s aunt’s farm,” says Cunningham. Redoing a bathroom in Ojai, Calif., Kelley Davis-Motschenbacher used a timeworn pine table as a vanity, but dropped in a sleek modern washbowl and tap. She fronted a new closet with a scraped-up vintage door, embellishing it with a cast-iron bird knocker. Glossy white subway tiles and marble flooring blend with harvest baskets and vintage artwork to make a luxurious yet homey bathroom that was mostly sourced from garage sales, Home Depot and the Internet. Rie Sterling of Apex, N.C., is another Modern Country blogger. “One of the things I love about this style is how unpretentious it is,” she says. “Nothing’s too precious, which is ideal if you have children. It’s hard to mess up something that’s already chipped or faded.” She adds: “There’s a certain restfulness about it that appeals to so many, and it’s refreshingly attainable.” Garage sales, flea markets and online sites are good sources for Country items, but you can also find newly made pieces that evoke the vibe. Dustin Glasscoe’s furniture studio, Vermont Farm Table, is filled with bar stools, benches, dining tables and bookcases made of reclaimed pine. The patina of the wood, coupled with Glasscoe’s craftsmanship, makes for furniture that’s warm and approachable. “We’re really celebrating the true character and qualities of the wood,” he says. Urbanites may not have ready access to vintage goods, but the look’s easy to replicate with stuff from stores — Wisteria’s iron cabinet bins and World Market’s woven reed baskets make great storage; IKEA’s got flat-woven, striped cotton rugs; Pottery Barn has antique glass pickling jars, wooden dough bowls and grain-sack throw pillows.
A bathroom vanity and storage cabinet, made from made of a repurposed table and door is shown in a design by Kelley Motschenbacher. AP Photo | Kelley & Company Home Design
Sandy Chilewich’s Faux Bois placemats have a digital image of a real wood plank printed on Plynyl. Schoolhouse Electric recreates early 20th century light fixtures and iron bedsteads. Repurposing is the watchword here: Put bath items in jars; magazines, towels or toys in tubs or wooden crates; and turn that great jam cupboard into a compact home office. Add modern
touches like Lucite chairs, a tailored pendant fixture, a lacquered Parsons table, or an accent wall painted in a bold hue. If you’re looking for additional inspiration, check out Houzz.com. It’s a kind of home-design-centric Pinterest, where homeowners and professionals post photographs, articles and advice; you’ll find great examples of Modern Country style here, as well as design help.
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Planning your new kitchen Faucet has lots of influence in overall style (ARA) — Whether you’re in it for the investment, or just to freshen up the space in your home where people spend the most time, a new kitchen look could be a fun, impactful improvement to your house. Some may start with a weekend project and a $40 can of paint, while others will jump into a $50,000-plus remodel. Either way, one thing is for sure - you can’t go wrong with a beautiful, highly functional kitchen.
A simple refresh
If time or budget constraints limit you to changing just a few basic elements of the kitchen, focus on things that make the most impact. Even novice do-ityourself homeowners can complete many of these items on their own: ■ Paint the walls. Painting always tops the to-do list when a mini makeover is in order. It’s an affordable, high-impact way to change the decor of a kitchen. If you’re not changing out cabinets or countertops, be sure to select a color that complements those major elements. ■ Add new accessories. Switching out the small decor details in a kitchen can make the room feel entirely new. Maybe it’s replacing bar stools at the island, reupholstering pillows or a bench cushion, or even hanging a few new pieces of art or photos on the wall. ■ Change the faucet. Often underestimated, the kitchen faucet has a lot of influence in the overall style of the room. Choosing a more upto-date pull-down or pullout faucet not only improves the look of the room, but can add significant convenience and functionality. “Faucets in the kitchen are much more than what
Choosing a more up-to-date pull-down or pull-out faucet not only improves the look of the room, but can add significant convenience and functionality. (ARA photos)
they used to be,” says Kevin McJoynt of Danze, a manufacturer of decorative plumbing faucets and fixtures. “They play an important role in setting the decor and focal points of any kitchen.”
A full remodel
Homeowners throughout the country are staying in their homes longer than they once did. Because of that, significant remodeling projects tend to rise to the top of
the priority list. If you’re in it for the long haul (or even to ensure you get that return on investment), a complete kitchen remodel could be for you. When the entire room footprint is your canvas, the possibilities are exciting. While a contractor is recommended for most of these projects, make sure you’re involved in exploring the options that will help you use this space as wisely as possible (yet provide beautiful decor in
the process): ■ Install display shelves. This hot kitchen trend is an eye-catching alternative to hanging wall cabinets. Taking down cabinets is a pretty simple task for two and hanging the shelves is even easier. ■ Evaluate the flow of the workspaces. Adding more water sources to your room could improve efficiency and ease. Consider a simple, yet beautiful faucet on the island for prep, a pot filler by the stove to help while cooking, and a hard-working faucet at the main sink for clean-up. ■ Mix and match your surfaces. Replacing countertops is one of the most noticeable changes to any kitchen venue. Quartz surfaces are a popular choice, providing a unique combination of quality, hygiene and a look of natural stone. Selecting a lighter color surface for the perimeter and a darker, bolder color for the island is a great way to add another design element to the room. “With today’s growing popularity in cooking and a rise in the number of athome chefs, kitchen flow and workspace needs are critical aspects to consider when completely remodeling your kitchen,” adds McJoynt. “The sink and faucet choices for each of these areas can play a big role in the functionality and enjoyment of the space.” Manufacturers such as Danze offer a wide range of faucet styles in various functional designs, according to McJoynt. So, whether you’re looking to enhance a traditional decor, add sleekness to a contemporary professional-grade room, or something in between, leveraging faucets and other elements can help set the tone for the entire room. PAGE 7
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Orange adds spice to neutral surroundings
Tangerin is this ye
BY LORI QUALLS lqualls@mdn.net
Add some spice to your home decor this year with the spirited Tangerine Tango, a reddish orange that colorists say will provide a lift for drab surroundings. Tangerine Tango is the 2012 color of the year named so by the Pantone Color Institute, which developed a standardized color system used by designers, manufacturers, printers and publishers. “Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.” Those words pack a lot of punch and promise for a color swatch. Claudia TenBarge, of Stanley’s Furniture, 118 E. Hines St., agrees that color is important and orange is just one of many colors that can flair and excitement to home decor. Popular accent colors continue to be greens, blues, oranges and reds, which always is a classic, she said. “You see a lot of accents in all different colors,” TenBarge said. “We do sell quite a bit of color. We always encourage people to accent with color if you want to get a few pieces in neutral.” She suggests people who are afraid of color invest in a staple neutral piece for the room, and accent with colorful rugs, wall art and other pieces. TenBarge and her father, the buyers for Stanley’s, were at The Las Vegas Furniture Market in January. She said the color trend is moving toward gray tones, replacing the popular brown.
A colorful chair and accent pillow in shades of oranges, browns and yellows add a On the cover, a lamp with a bright orange base would fit into almost any decor. T
Need a color boost? Fresh color r Color Institute include Tangerine T Cabaret. Try adding a splash of these and boost vitality and enthusiasm.
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ne Tango year’s hot color
Color reel: 20th century palette explained BY KIM COOK for The Associated Press
dd a brilliance of color to the neutral couch at Stanley’s Furniture in Midland. r. The lamp is available at Stanley’s Furniture. (Neil Blake | Midland Daily News)
r recommendations from the Pantone e Tango, Solar Power, Bellflower and ese vivid hues to help alter your mood m.
Why was Parrish blue the “in” color of the 1910s? What was with those 1950s pink bathrooms? Remember the 1970s’ “Harvest Gold” kitchen appliances? A new book, “Pantone: The 20th Century in Color” (Chronicle Books), looks at how color and cultural history affect each other, and find their way into our homes. Authors Leatrice Eiseman and Keith Recker are consultants for Pantone, the New Jerseybased company that developed a standardized color system used by designers, manufacturers, printers and publishers. It’s an unusual lens on the last century: What was happening in society literally colored our lives, through upholstery, wall paint, rugs, and other textiles and accessories. The authors begin with the 1900s and the Edwardian era, what they call “the last good time of the upper classes.” Coronations in several European countries were celebrated by craftsmen like Cartier, Faberge, Lalique and Tiffany with beautiful objects, whose colors — violet, emerald and gold — were embraced by the public. The Arts & Crafts movement was the counterpoint to all that, with simpler patterns and more restrained yet complex colors: deep Brittany blue, antique white, leather and loden. Artist Maxfield Parrish, known for fanciful magazine, book and advertising illustrations, popularized an intense cobalt hue. And when Les Ballets Russes debuted to rave reviews, it inspired a craze for Eastern pattern and color — deep turquoise, navy, claret and amber. Picasso and the Cubists used charcoal, chocolate and pops of vermillion. But when fashion designer and Orientalist Paul Poiret started dressing women in shell pink and soft gray kimonos, that airier palette, anchored with black and metallics, became the hallmark of Art Nouveau decor. After the turmoil of World War I, strong, comforting and familiar colors like cashew, cream, true blue and lichen were favorites for CONTINUED| PAGE 10
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20th century color palette explained exterior and interior of homes. “The vibrancy of the colors of 1920s fabrics surprised me — I was amazed at the intensity,” Eiseman said in an interview. During that decade of exuberance and experimentation, Art Deco featured black and white, the seductive Jazz Age berry and grape hues, and the gold, henna and Nile blue that came in vogue after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb ignited a craze for Egypt. During the Depression, films offered escapist glamour; French designers such as Chanel and Lanvin dressed the stars in luxurious fabrics, furs and jewels, so colors like pearl, ebony and copper were the rage. But there was also the Parks and Recreation movement, spearheaded by President Roosevelt. Artists created posters, sculpture and other
works to help promote new parks and public buildings. It’s Eiseman’s favorite decade. “Ultimately the careers of many impoverished artists, Rothko and Pollock among them, were literally nourished during that period,” she said. The palette? Naturalistic tones like olive, amber and azure. And then came plastic. With the invention of synthetic resins, wonderfully vivid shades of yellow, reddish orange, emerald and purple were used in all sorts of household goods from radios to utensils. The notion that color affects our moods and energy took off in the 1940s. Pittsburgh Paints put out “color dynamic” brochures and ads espousing the uplifting effects of hues like apricot, meadow, vanilla and smoky rose. When the war ended, people were ready to party,
and filled their lives with the upbeat colors of Frisbees and Hawaiian shirts: bright blue, lava and yellow. These hues drifted into the early 1950s — think Fiesta ware, Revlon red lipstick, a turquoise Studebaker. The era brings to mind youthful optimism, and color reflected that. Mamie Eisenhower’s favorite hue was pink; she filled rooms in the White House with the color, and soon homes across America followed suit. But cute wasn’t the only dynamic in play. The sophisticated, organic hues of Eames’ midcentury design — mustard, eggplant, melon — also found an audience. In the 1960s, psychedelic fuchsia, lime and taxi yellow, as well as pepper green, saffron and soft peach, reflected both pop culture and the influence of The Beatles’ India trip.
“If the ‘60s were a party, the ‘70s were a therapy session,” write Eiseman and Recker. Earthy, contemplative colors reflected a new interest in ecology and nature. That explains the Avocado Green stove and Harvest Gold fridge. Prep style and Miami Vice made pink, green, khaki and aqua hot in the ‘80s. Yves Saint Laurent’s Moroccan-themed collection used saffron and violet. But the decade also flirted with Japanese style, and its palette of gray, carmine and chartreuse. Artist Keith Haring’s spirited graffiti art, in his three favorite colors — black, white and red — became a trend. The ‘90s, to Eiseman and Recker, evoke grunge — muddy graphite, hazy purple, faded denim — as well as spa culture, blingy metallics a la Versace and Gucci, and Latin American colors.
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SHADES OF A DECADE: A look back at 10 years of Pantone’s Color of the Year
From the Pantone newsletter Tones
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Modern botanicals feel like spring
BY KIM COOK for The Associated Press
If you followed the spring fashion shows, you noticed floral motifs blooming all over the place. Diane Von Furstenberg used feminine pastels. Peter Som used digital florals in over-saturated, intense pigments. Timo Weiland created watery digital prints that floated down the catwalk. And inspiration from the runway often finds its way into our rooms. So it’s no surprise that in home decor this spring, botanicals are big. You’ll find everything from restrained nature motifs to saucy florals, executed in painterly hues, photo prints and pop art graphics. And while soft goods — bedding, pillows and so on — are where some of the best examples can be found, watch too for upholstered furniture, wallcoverings and tabletop items featuring botanical prints. San Francisco interior designer Jennifer Bishop loves incorporating botanical patterns, and likes all the modern options. “This isn’t like the past where a botanical garden exploded on your bedspread, drapery and wallpaper,” she laughs. “Used as accents, botanicals can become so striking.” Bishop often uses a multicolored print as a launch point for a room’s palette. She’s a fan of needlework, mentioning Anthropolo-
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gie’s line of sewn lampshades. She also likes the work of Florida artist Mindy Lighthipe, who makes watercolor, pencil, and pen and ink illustrations of unusual flora, such as exotic plants, insect-nibbled oak leaves and flowering kale. Lighthipe sells on Etsy.com. Shrewsbury, Mass., designers Mitali Seth and Lovisa Shergill showed several interesting botanical print pillows at the recent New York International Gift Fair, including an evocative tree graphic. “Before going to design school, my college major was botany, so nature always creeps into our collection,� says Shergill. The “Trees� pillow was inspired by a scene outside their studio window. “The starkness of the branches against gray skies looked almost poetic,� Shergill says. There’s a bolster in the line with a pretty oak leaf repeat, and several other pieces with unusual stylized prints. Pottery Barn offers several feminine options in a spring bedding collection that’s marked by restful patterns and calming hues. Cherry blossoms bloom on a set by British artist Rosamund James. The Ravenna line is an Art Nouveau-inspired pattern, Giselle draws from an 18th century English print, and Alessandra was inspired by a 250-yearold, hand-blocked French textile.
A floral needlework lampshade is from Anthropologie, following the trend for botanical designs for the home. (AP photos)
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the beauty of a
Metal
Roof PAGE 15
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Metal roof, an investment for a lifetime BY PATTI BRANDT for the Daily News
For Walt and Susanne Kapke, putting a metal roof on their Bay County home about seven years ago was a no-brainer. The couple lives on Fraser Road, where high winds were tearing the roof off their house once or twice a year. “It’s so windy out here,� Susanne Kapke said. “It looked terrible with our shingles falling off all the time and nails all over the place.� A metal roof costs more up front — about two or three times as much as an asphalt roof — but will last for many years, with some of them able to withstand wind gusts of up to 180 miles per hour. The Kapkes have lived in their home for about 24 years and plan to stay there for many more. The high cost of the roof was scary, Kapke said, but not having to call in a contractor every few months has given her peace of mind, as well as having recouped some of the roof’s cost. “To me it’s something that’s going to last a lifetime,� Kapke said. And she’s right. Metal roofs are given
A metal roof can outlive the homeowner, says one local contractor. an average life expectancy of about 60 years by those who manufacture, sell and install them. But Walter Schuhmacher, a contractor who has been roofing houses with metal for more than 15 years, says that a metal roof can last until the homeowner is in the ground. Schuhmacher installed the Kapkes’ roof. “A properly installed metal roof has over 100 years of service,� said Schuhmacher, owner of Glenwood Builders in West Branch. In days gone by metal roofs may have
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had a stark or utilitarian look to them. Not so today. Sheets of stainless steel, aluminum, zinc and copper — the most expensive — are made to look like shingles, shakes, slate or clay tiles and come in a variety of colors. “You’ve seen them before,� Schuhmacher said. “You just didn’t realize they were metal.� Kapke’s roof — a blue slate design — is a beauty that has inspired passersby to comment and at least one neighbor to also have a metal roof installed. “His shingles kept blowing off,� she said. “He got tired of it.� Today’s roofing metals are coated to prevent rusting, and are painted with products that resist fading and chalking. For those who are thinking about a metal roof, Schuhmacher has some good advice. “Don’t hire an asphalt contractor to put a metal roof on your house,� Schuhmacher said. “They’re two different things.� Schuhmacher, who has been in business for 30 years, began installing metal
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roofs because he was tired of competing with contractors who were using asphalt. He now caters to a niche market of people who he says know the value of a metal roof. “It’s not just wealthy people,” he said. “It’s people who want to get a bang for their buck.” Those who intend to sell their houses in a few years should probably not install a metal roof, Schuhmacher said. But for those who plan to raise a family and remain in the home for many years, a metal roof that will never have to be replaced is a great investment, he said. In addition to being able to withstand high winds, some metal roofs are hail and fire resistant, with homeowners getting significant discounts on insurance policies for qualifying roofs. Moss, mold, mildew and algae will not attach to a metal roof. In the winter snow just slides off it, and in summer it reflects the sun’s heat, keeping a home cooler and saving a homeowner money in energy costs. And unlike asphalt shingles, metal can be recycled, making it an environmentally friendly product that won’t take up space in a landfill.
Above, not all metal roofs look the same. They can be made to look like shingles, shakes, slate or clay tiles and come in a variety of colors. Previous page, Susanne Kapke and her husband Wayne of Bay City opted for a metal roof on their home. Photos |Thomas Simonetti of the Midand Daily News
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Pros for metal roofing: Metal roofing is lightweight, from about 50 pounds per square for aluminum to 100-250 pounds per square for steel. Life expectancy is about 60 years, though some have lasted well over 100 years. Warranties may last up to 50 years. Perform well in extreme weather, are wind resistant and fireproof, with some insurance companies reducing premiums up to 30 percent for home with metal roofs. Environmentally friendly, as they are both energy-efficient and highly recyclable.
Cons for metal roofing: Expensive, costing two to three times more than asphalt. Extreme expansion and contraction can compromise their ability to remain watertight if not properly installed. Corrugated metal roofs in the past became rusty in less than 10 years, giving them a bad name, though today’s products are made with alloys and treated to resist heavy rain, sea spray and high heat. Some roofers may use low grade metals that are thinner, less expensive and meant for pole barns; they are not durable enough for homes.
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Pros for asphalt shingles: Asphalt is a proven material that homebuyers are comfortable with and that builders trust . Economical, costing about $100-$200 per square.* Easy to work with, easy to install. Comes in several colors and styles that look like wood shakes or slate. Some come with 20- to 30-year warranties, are fire resistant and energy efficient.
Cons for asphalt shingles: Do not withstand severe weather such as hail and high winds; may be susceptible to moss, mildew and algae. Warranties may be high, but are tied to maintenance and adequate roof ventilation. May be heavy, with some shingles weighing as much as 500 pounds per square. Eleven tons of shingles are thrown away each year in the U.S., with few uses for recycled asphalt. * Square - an area of the roof measuring 10-by-10 feet. Source: Builder Magazine at builderonline.com
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Pond guy Time for wake-up call
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Gabe Paquet of Randi’s Green Thumb is the aquatic expert at the family owned business on Poseyville Road.
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Don’t be afraid to clean your pond STORY LORI QUALLS | PHOTOS NEIL BLAKE
Ponds in mid Michigan might wake up a little earlier than usual this year because of the mild winter. And when they do wake up — when water temperatures reach 65 degrees — they will come alive with bacteria, algae, parasites and all the other things pond owners don’t like to think about. But don’t rest, waiting for the water to heat up. Pond keepers can get busy when the water temperature rises to about 50, said Gabe Paquet of Randi’s Green Thumb, 899 Poseyville Road in Midland. Paquet knows his stuff. He has created a lovely pond in front of his family’s business on Poseyville Road. A waterfall built into an outside corner of the building splashes to a 12-foot stream that
carries water under a walkway to the main pond, an 11 by 14-foot basin that is full of Canadian buff flagstone, fieldstone, boulders, fish, plants and a large stone that once was part of a break wall at a dock in Mackinaw City. The pond has been three years in the making, and Paquet still is working on it. He said it takes him three days to clean it every spring. For pond owners who want to tackle the cleaning part themselves, Paquet has some advice. First, remove by hand as much CONTINUED| PAGE 24
MIDLAND DAILY NEWS Right, ice clings to the edge of the pond at Randi’s Green Thumb on Poseyville Road.
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debris (leaf litter, dead plant material, string algae, sticks) and muck (the stuff at the bottom of the pond) from the pond as possible, he said Once this is done, he recommends changing out all of the pond’s water (or at least 20 percent.) Use the pump to remove the water, and lower the water level considerably before attempting to get any fish out. Once the pond is emptied, power wash the cavity and anything inside of it and vacuum up the muck (fish waste, leaf decay) from the bottom. Sometimes this takes three or four washings and subsequent drainings to get everything clean. This is the time to clean and check the filters and pumps and make sure everything is in working order. Waterfall and pump filters should be cleaned and rinsed well. During the pond season, waterfall filters should be cleaned simply by hand removing whatever
is clogging them, whether it be dirt or debris, to keep as much beneficial bacteria intact. The area around the pond should be cleaned so debris doesn’t drift back into the pond. If city water is used to fill the pond, Paquet said a dechlorinator should be added for the safety of the fish. And, he said, don’t be distressed when the pond becomes green shortly after cleaning it. It just needs time to balance itself. Without any beneficial bacteria built up, algae can take over. Pond owners should notice a natural clearing of the pond within two weeks after a complete change of water, and about one week after a 20 percent change. It is OK to have some algae, he said. “Algae is a natural part of a pond,” Paquet said. “If you’re a pond owner, you will have scum and scuzz in your pond.”
If the water continues to be green, or look like spilt pea soup, a U-V filter (long-term solution) can help or a bacteria- or enzyme-based product (short-term fix) can be used. Most products become most active when the water temperature is 65 degrees and higher. After algae is killed, it has to be removed from the pond or it will become food for a next algae bloom, Paquet said. If the water is more cloudy because of dirt and debris, a clarifier (barley or a coagulating product) might be in order. “Water quality is more important than being completely debris-free,” Paquet said. “Being able to see to the bottom of the pond is my season-long goal.” To test for water quality, he recommends using inexpensive test kits that check for salt, pH, ammonia and nitrate levels.
Fish and pots containing water lilies winter over in a pond at Randi’s Green Thumb. When the temperatures start climbing, the lilies will be prepared to sell. PAGE 24
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A creeping Jenny plant is dormant during the winter months at the pond at Randi’s Green Thumb. It will come alive once temperatures begin to climb.
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Q&A with Handyman Peter Hotton |The Boston Globe Q. What kind of drill would I need to go through a granite countertop? I would like to put some dispensers for ketchup, duck sauce, and mustard, and have always wanted a nice setup for our parties. A. Don’t forget the Chinese mustard and the Japanese wasabi, the green dragon’s fire. I suggest you leave the granite alone, and put the condiment contain-
ers on the top, where spills can be easily cleaned. If you really want to drill holes, buy a bit specifically for masonry and stone. It will take a long time to do this, and you do not want to use an impact drill. If it takes too long, have a pro do it. Q. I have a mauve Formica countertop that I would like to cover without tearing out the top. Is there
any such material for painting Formica laminated plastic? A. Rust-Oleum has a paint kit for Formica and other plastics. Check it out. Q. We have a concrete front porch and steps on our 1930 house. There are some cracks and holes that we’ve repaired repeatedly. Is it possible to lay stone such as granite over the concrete on the floor of the porch
and step treads? A. Yes, you can lay the granite tiles or similar stone material such as bluestone on treads and porch floor. Install them with thin-set mortar. One important caveat: Make sure all risers are of equal height. Uneven risers are a definite hazard; uneven risers can cause falls going both up and down.
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Q.I have wood wainscot paneling that is now stained. A painter said he wants to whitewash it. Should I do it? A. Whitewash (remember Tom Sawyer’s fence?) is an old-fashioned solid white paint that doesn’t stand up well to the weather, but in Sawyer’s day was the only thing available. Don’t do it. What your painter meant was not whitewash, but �pickling,� which is painting with thinned down paint, then rubbing some of it off, revealing the grain of the wood. Don’t do it; it will bring back memories of furniture in the ’50s and ’60s, best forgotten. Your best option is to leave it stained. Q. I am replacing the flue liner in my chimney, but how do I handle the smoke stack from the heater into the chimney? Now there is mortar around the pipe going into the brick chimney, but it is breaking up considerably. What is best to use? A. Regular mortar does not stand up to heat, so you can use furnace cement, which I think is related to fire clay, both of which stand up to heat like good soldiers. Q. My cast iron frying pan has a few colored stains on it. How can I get rid of them? Also, there’s a paper or plastic decal on the
bottom of the pan that won’t budge. A. Those stains are mostly rust, because you neglected to dry the pan completely before putting it away. Scrub them with Brillo or an abrasive such as Ajax or Comet, rinse, and dry immediately. You can cure cast iron to resist rust by wiping with olive or vegetable oil and heating it on the stove for just a few seconds, before it starts to smoke. Let it cool, rub with a paper towel, and store for future use. To remove the decal, submerge in soap and water overnight, then scrape it off. Rinse and dry before storing. Q. My house was remodeled six years ago, and now I notice the ceramic wall tiles along the floor in all three bathrooms are slowly falling off. Was it a bad job? Is my house twisting in the wind, popping them off? The tiles were put on drywall with mortar. Some of the tiles are glued to the wood of the kick plate of my vanities. Can I use an adhesive caulk to put them back, and do I have to take off the mortar left on the back of the tiles? A. I don’t think the house shook or twisted enough to pop the tiles, but if too little mortar was used, it might happen. Also, vigorous washing along the wall
might have done it. No matter, here’s how to fix the tiles: Scrape off the mortar with a cold chisel and light tapping with a hammer. Scrape off any grout from the edges of the tiles. Put the tiles back on with a thinset mortar. They will hold very well. For the tiles on wood, use an adhesive caulk (Phenoseal and Polyseamseal are two good kinds). Be careful with the adhesive caulk. It tends to sag, and you have to hold it for several minutes for it to take. Then put grout in all the joints. Q. I bought a house last year. This summer I power-washed the outside of my house including the windows. When I went inside there was water inside the house even though the windows were closed and locked. Is there any way to reseal the windows? A. Most windows, new and old, are not designed to withstand power washing, only regular rain and snow, not hurricane force winds. They don’t need resealing because they may not have been unsealed. Let them dry out. Install new weatherstripping if necessary and lay off the power washing. If the putty in old windows was knocked off, the windows should be reglazed.
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