Friday, April 5, 2013
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Building, Home & Garden
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
10 rules for a home improvement contract By ANGIE HICKS Creators.com Having a contract that clearly spells out the details of the job is crucial for both the homeowner and contractor doing the work for any major home improvement project. “It’s protection for both the consumer and the contractor,” said Becky Watson, co-owner of Agape Home Services. “If you don’t have a contract, either party can be unprotected.” A solid contract will spell out the goals, responsibilities, payment terms and penalties if the contract details are not met. Contracts should include the job description, start and completion dates, payment terms, licensing, insurance and permit requirements, details on material and labor costs, change order procedures, penalties for missed completion dates and a termination clause, which spells out reasons the homeowner
PRO TIP “The more information that is in the contract, the more the homeowner understands what’s to be expected of them and what’s to be expected of the contractors,” said G. Paternostro, owner of GianFranco Contracting Service.
or the contractor can end the job without penalty. “The more information that is in the contract, the more the homeowner understands what’s to be expected of them and what’s to be expected of the contractors,” said G. Paternostro, owner of GianFranco Contracting Service. “It’s a clear outline stating the scope of work, the materials to be used, the amount of manpower, the number of days. It’s just giving a general idea of what the homeowner should expect from hiring that particular
contractor. There’s no gray area. Everybody knows their responsibility.” A contract can offer a homeowner protection if fully read and understood, but it also can contain clauses that could lock unsuspecting homeowners in to an agreement they didn’t plan for. According to a nationwide Angie’s List poll, nearly one-third of the respondents admitted they don’t read contracts thoroughly. Walker said her company requires customers to initial each page, showing they’ve read it, and encourages them to ask questions if there are provisions they don’t understand. Homeowners are not at the mercy of the contractor when it comes to what is or isn’t included in the contract. Both parties should discuss and agree upon the terms before beginning any project. “The more details in the contract the better,” Walker said. “If there’s any doubt or anything they don’t under-
stand in their contract, I think it’s really important they be able to call their contractor and go over it with them.” Here are 10 rules for a home improvement contract: 1) Job description. It spells out the project and who is responsible for what. 2) Start and completion dates. They set dates to give a framework of time the project should take and outline how and when contractors can access your home. Be prepared to amend completion for good cause, but don’t accept unreasonable, unnecessary delays. 3) Payment terms. Tie payment dates to job completion. Most contractors will ask for at least 30 percent down. Some state laws establish down payment limits, so determine your state requirements. Hold back at least 10 percent until the job is completed to your satisfaction. 4) Local authorization. Specify that your contractor
is responsible for securing necessary regulatory permits for your project. Walk away from a contractor who can’t or won’t approach local licensing or permitting agencies. 5) Penalties for missed completion dates. Give yourself options to deduct or delay payment if completion dates are missed to encourage the contractor to meet your time frame. Be specific about amounts, and clearly define terms. 6) Procedure for work orders/changes to initial agreement. Outline a process to follow for project changes or additions. Large-scale projects often uncover hidden problems that must be addressed before work can continue, so change orders are not uncommon; but a welldefined project should not have several of them. Be wary if your contractor routinely seeks changes. Please see CONTRACT, Page 3
Real Estate Marketing Consultant
A NEW CAREER! The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner has an opening for a full-time Real Estate Marketing Consultant. This position works with some of the best Real Estate professionals in Alaska. The Daily News-Miner offers a number of platforms for these experts to reach their targeted audience, including print, online, mobile, app and social media. ␣We will train the right person. Previous real estate experience helpful, but not required.
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The successful applicant will possess excellent communication and customer service skills, have the ability to interact with the public in a polite and professional manner, have a flair for creativity, be able to complete multiple tasks efficiently, and be able to excel in a fast-paced environment. Superior organizational skills and attention to detail are a must for this position. Previous sales experience preferred. Must have and maintain a current Alaska driver’s license and reliable transportation.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
Building, Home & Garden
Choosing the appropriate fence to install
3
CONTRACT Continued from Page 2
By MARK J. DONOVAN Creators.com So you’re thinking about installing a fence in your backyard. There are several fence types to choose from today. When choosing a fence to install, you need to consider what the main reason is for the fence. For example, is it for enclosing a pool, or is it for privacy? Is it for aesthetics or for simply keeping the children or pets confined to an area in the backyard? By first understanding the purpose of the fence, you can then choose the most appropriate style fence for your situation.
Aluminum fences If you want a rugged highquality fence, an aluminum fence is your ticket. Aluminum fences are attractive, are highly corrosion-resistant and are functional. Please see FENCES, Page 4
Creators.com photo
When choosing a fence to install, you need to consider the main reason for the fence.
7) Detailed outline of costs and materials. Require an itemized list of materials, labor and any other costs you will incur. Spell out whether you want specific materials, brands, colors, etc. 8) Proof of licensure, insurance and bonding. Ask for proof of licensure if applicable, worker’s compensation insurance, liability insurance and bonding to protect you from liability for property or job-related injuries. 9) Termination clause. Spell out reasons you or the contractor can leave the job without penalty (e.g., failure to pay the contractor, no reasonable explanation for delay, poor work quality or failure to adequately communicate). 10) Other protection. Ask the contractor to provide a lien release, which protects you from liability should the contractor fail to pay his or her subcontractors who worked on your project.
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Building, Home & Garden
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
FENCES: Other options
Fire pits
Continued from Page 3
Enjoying the outdoors with a little warmth By ANICA WONG Creators.com There were many things Erin Lang Norris and her husband were looking forward to when they moved out of an apartment and into their own house in south central Wisconsin. Top on that list was having a yard for building big fires to enjoy during the summer and winter months. The property they purchased didn’t have a fire pit, so Lang Norris had to take things into her own hands, literally. “I don’t know how many bottles of ibuprofen I went through,” she said, noting that building the 5-foot-wide fire pit was a feat of will and physical strength. Lang Norris couldn’t afford a landscape designer,
They won’t rust and are virtually maintenance-free. Because of how the paint color is applied to aluminum fencing, there is never a concern of chipping or peeling paint. Aluminum fences are ideal for enclosing pools and for keeping in pets. They come in numerous styles and designs, so there is a fence type for even the most finicky of fence shoppers. They are a bit pricey, so plan to dish out a little more money than other fence types.
side with wrought-iron fences, other than the fact that they are expensive, is that they can rust in time.
Vinyl fences
Vinyl fences are the most commonly installed fences today. They can provide both security and privacy, and they come in various sizes, styles and colors. They often are used for enclosing pools, patios and backyards. One of the main attributes of vinyl fencing is that it is maintenancefree. It will not weather, rust or fade, though it can crack if hit hard, particularly if it is hit hard in colder weather. Vinyl These days, new wroughtfencing is the most economical iron fences often are used to of fencing materials, relative enclose pools. They’re also more commonly found encom- to the other two fence types listed in this article. passing yards of high-end Before buying and installresidential property. Besides providing a classic and sophis- ing a new fence, first make sure you know its main purticated look, wrought-iron pose. After you’ve come to a fences are considered heavyconclusion on its purpose, you duty fences. Consequently, can then better choose the they are ideal for security appropriate fence to install. reasons. The only real down-
Wrought-iron fences
Creators.com photo courtesy of Glass Photography
Whether building your own or bringing in a professional to build one, a fire pit allows you to relax and enjoy your outdoor space. so she went to the first place most people do to get more information on any do-ityourself project: the Internet. She was disappointed at the
lack of concise and helpful material and instead decided to give it a go herself. Please see FIRE PITS, Page 5
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Building, Home & Garden
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
the stone cylinder will sit on. After this area is dug out, cement is poured in and rebar Continued from Page 4 stuck into the cement to add stability and strength. The first step was mapping Lang Norris spent many out the space for her fire pit. hours chiseling pieces of stone It ended up having a 5-foot to fit into the puzzle of the diameter, a typical size, said expansive fire pit walls. She Tim Lindgren, president of carefully placed each piece Lindgren Landscape & Irriexactly where she wanted it, gation. However, you need a which oftentimes required her lot more space than that to to shift the stones from one accommodate the structure. space to another, trying to “You’ll have the fire pit get all of the pieces just right. itself — 5-foot outside diamShe then built a top cap of eter — and then you have thicker stones that went all three feet of seating all the way around the cylinder, around it. All of a sudden you giving the structure a nice have an 11-foot space to fit a Creators.com photo courtesy of Erin Lang Norris round fire pit,” Lindgren said. Building your own fire pit can require a large space, heavy finished look. While Lang Norris’ fire pit This size was perfect for Lang lifting and a lot of painkillers. is wood-burning, Lindgren Norris’ 2-acre plot; the fire pit gets many requests for gas Once the size is sketched didn’t get lost in the area but of the pit with firebrick she fire pits. In these cases, his picked up at the hardware out and the stone bought, also wasn’t overwhelming. company would install a valve store. the heavy lifting and digging Lang Norris’ biggest chalLindgren suggests that any begins; this is where the pain- that runs through the exterilenge, she said, was deciding or of the wall, into the bottom what kind of stone she should fire pit be made with masonry killers come in handy. How blocks veneered with bricks, deep you dig your foundation of the pit and capped by a use. She wanted something burner system. Lava rocks or fake stones or real stones on will depend on the type of durable enough for high the outside. This gives the pit soil in which you are digging. glass would cover the burner temperatures, which can system but allow the flames the strong structure it needs Lindgren, based in Colorado, foster brush fires, and cold to come up. Wisconsin winters. After pric- to withstand the heat of a fire has to accommodate expan“The pros to doing a and leaves an aesthetically sive soils that tend to shift ing options at the local stone pleasing view for the homstructures. The foundation is wood-burning fire pit is a real yard, she picked sandstone flame, the smell and crackling eowner. the area of the ground that and then layered the inside
FIRE PITS
Are you thinking about home remodeling?
5
of a campfire,” Lindgren said. A gas pit is easy to manage and maintain. Lindgren even installed a fire pit that the owner can light using an iPad app. Lindgren suggests homeowners check the local fire codes before they start making decisions on the type of fire pit they want. Some areas don’t allow burning firewood in city limits, and if there is a gas line involved, permits must be in hand. Messing around with a gas line is no simple undertaking, Lindgren said. All in all, Lang Norris spent about $450 on her fire pit while Lindgren’s company, which primarily caters to high-end residential locations, charges between $3,500 and $4,500 for a fire pit. Both options are viable and in the end, people are going to gather around it the finished project. “In Colorado, we are trying to take advantage of the outdoor living. What can we put outside that will prolong our season?” Lindgren said. Lang Norris knows just the thing.
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Building, Home & Garden
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
Sealing your own driveway to keep it nice By MARK J. DONOVAN Creators.com Sealing your driveway is an important part in maintaining an asphalt driveway and extending the life of it. Sealing prevents water from working its way into surface cracks and underneath the asphalt. Once water gets underneath an asphalt driveway, it can quickly begin to undermine the integrity of it. The water can cause erosion, which eventually will lead to sinkholes in the asphalt. In addition, during winter months, melting snow and ice water can work its way into the asphalt driveway cracks during the day and then freeze underneath the driveway when the temperatures drop. This situation leads to heaving, settling and eventual crumbling of the driveway. Sealing your driveway also prevents weeds growth and protects it from
Make sure when applying the driveway sealer that you do not put it on too thick. Otherwise, it might take much longer to cure, and it would be susceptible to peeling.
oil spills. It also protects the asphalt from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which break down the binding material in the asphalt. Though you can pay someone hundreds of dollars to seal your driveway, you can easily seal your own driveway for a fraction of the cost with as little as a halfday’s worth of work. That said, a newly poured asphalt driveway needs three to six months to fully cure before sealing it. This allows time for the hydrocarbon oils in the asphalt to evaporate and
the asphalt to fully harden. Before sealing your driveway, make sure to repair any cracks or holes in it by using either a cold patch or an asphalt driveway crack sealer. Asphalt driveway crack fillers are made from a synthetic rubber and come in either a tube that you apply with a caulking gun or in jugs where you simply pour the filler into the crack or hole. Once you’ve applied the crack filler, allow several weeks for it to fully cure before sealing your driveway.
To actually seal your own driveway, you’ll need 5-gallon containers of coal tar driveway sealer. I recommend buying coal tar driveway sealer over asphalt based sealers because of the fact that coal tar driveway sealer does a better job of protecting the asphalt from oil and gasoline spills. The amount of driveway sealer containers required will depend upon the size of your driveway and the amount of square area each container covers. Typically, a 5-gallon container will cover 350 to 400 square feet. Calculate the area of your driveway and then divide it by the amount of area each container can cover. This will determine how many containers of driveway seal you’ll need. Apply the driveway sealer to your asphalt driveway on a warm day so it spreads easily. To spread the driveway sealer, use a long-handle
squeegee or broom that is specifically made for sealing driveways. Before pouring the driveway sealer onto your driveway, make sure to thoroughly stir each container well. Make sure when applying the driveway sealer that you do not put it on too thick. Otherwise, it might take much longer to cure, and it would be susceptible to peeling. After sealing your driveway, make sure not to walk or drive on it for a few days. Typically, a driveway sealer needs a couple of warm dry days before driving a vehicle on it. If the weather is less than perfect, you may need several more days to allow it to properly dry and harden. Finally, keep in mind that sealing a driveway is not a once-in-a-lifetime event. To ensure a long asphalt driveway life, you should plan on sealing your driveway every two to four years.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
Building, Home & Garden
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Building, Home & Garden
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
Tidy children’s rooms: 5 organization tips By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com Kids’ rooms are often a chaos of clothing, colors and craft items. Parents strive to keep some sense of order in their little ones’ rooms, often experiencing aggravation when youngsters don’t follow cleanup directions. One way to reduce the struggle, and give kids an organized, clean living space where they can play in peace, is to create a new organizing plan for the room’s biggest opportunity for order: the closet. Robert Guerin, owner of the professional closet design company Hang It Up Closets, said “when a child grows up in an organized, neat room, good skills are developed for later in life.” As kids learn their new organizing system, they’re also learning their colors, matching items and thinking
about item function — lessons that might help them in school and stick with them to create a foundation of order in their adult lives. Right now, their belongings will find easily accessed storage spots and bins in that closet, getting all of the clutter off the floor, desks and dressers. Kids also will get pride of accomplishment when they clean their rooms more easily — and enjoy the perk of praise from you. A key to organizing kids’ closets is formulating a plan that can be easily and inexpensively adjusted as they grow. “There’s a big difference between baby hangers, kids’ toys and a teenager’s more grown-up collections,” Guerin said. You need “closets designed to grow and adjust for your child’s changing needs.”
Creators.com photo courtesy of Hang It Up Closets
A key to organizing kids’ closets is formulating a plan that can be easily and inexpensively adjusted as they grow. “There’s a big difference between baby hangers, kids’ toys and a teenager’s more grown-up collections,” said Robert Guerin, owner of the professional closet design company Hang It Up Closets.
Please see TIDY, Page 9
BUILDING THIS SUMMER?
CAUTION
Weʼve noticed an increase in the number of people who have difficulty selling their properties. These properties may have public health and safety problems and do not meet local zoning standards. Financial institutions are reluctant to loan to potential buyers of these properties.
You have the power to use less. Plug your computer into a Smart Strip. Receive up to two Smart Strips with your Home$ense audit. Sign up at www. gvea.com/save.
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT– GET A ZONING PERMIT By obtaining a Borough zoning permit before construction, you can help ensure your development is marketable in the future. The Borough Planning Department issues zoning permits for projects both inside and outside city limits.
ITʼS FREE! There is no charge for a zoning permit. Usually we can have your zoning permit completed and back to you within 24 hours.
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The Planning Department is located on the second floor of the Borough Administrative Building, 809 Pioneer Road. If you have any questions, please call us at 459-1260.
Building, Home & Garden
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013 back bar, while your smaller child gets the front bar. Spring tension rods can be used for narrow closets, so you don’t need to drill holes and screw in the bars. As kids age, the tension bars can be raised to the heights needed. Make hanging up clothing easier and more fun for kids by investing in colorful plastic hangers. As a rainy day project, kids can affix small stickers of their choice to the center point of the hanger just below the hook. This gives kids ownership of their hanger collection, which may inspire better use of them. 3) Set colorful fabric bins on the closet floor, such as bright pinks or apple greens, with pictures on the front for pre-readers or large letter identification labels for older kids. These labels identify what’s to be placed in these lidless bins. Laundry is more easily deposited, especially when you teach kids to stand a few feet away and score “baskets” with their dirty socks and shirts. Another bin might be for stuffed animals, giving
beloved teddy bear collections hanging fabric shoe rack can a cozy home “where they can be used for shoes and also for all be together.” When storage kids’ little purses and dress-up bins have lids, kids are less items like tiaras. A hanging likely to take the extra step of travel organizer intended for pulling out the bin, opening a toiletries can hold jewelry, snap top and closing it again. craft items, small toys and The open-top of a fabric bin other tiny things. inspires more use. When organizing bins and 4) Plan tall enough shelves items are colorful and inviting, in built-ins. Meryl Starr, profes- offering easy access, kids will sional organizer and author of use them. On those days when “The Organizing Workbook,” kids are resistant to stowing suggests shelving heights that the teddy bears in their bin, allow for a 6- to 12-inch pile it’s easy for you to deposit of folded clothes to still have them there and call it a day. room on top for airier storage that cuts down Early Bug Special! on any mold or mildew. When WITH THIS AD cubbies or shelves have room on top, it’s easier for HEY RE kids to retrieve ERE the shirt they want without NEW & REPLACEMENT the entire pile SCREENS BUILT FOR YOUR of shirts falling WINDOWS, DOORS, & PATIO to the floor (and Ask about our staying there). DOORS disappearing screens. 5) Use hanging organizers for Call 457-BUGS (2847) smaller items. A
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Me-Downs” is for outgrown items that can be offered to siblings or friends’ children. Of course, trash is for ripped, Continued from Page 8 stained and otherwise unwearAt the start, decide whether able items, broken toys, and you want to hire a professional other discardables. If items can be recycled, have a bin for closet organizer to construct those, as well. the ideal layout of bars for With an entirely empty hanging clothes, floor-to-ceilspace before you, and items in ing cubbies and higher shelving features. An expert knows their bins, thoroughly clean the closet walls, ceilings and exactly how to take a small floor, and consider painting closet and maximize the storthe closet interior. Kids can age space within, using perhelp choose their desired color, fectly measured shelves, bins and other features. When two and stencils and wall clings can add a fun, decorative flair or more children are sharing to parts of the wall visible one closet, the expert can crebeneath hanging clothes or on ate sectors for each. Or you might wish to tackle the side walls. 2) Install double bars for your closet organizing plan on your own, using these five top kids’ clothes, set low enough for your child to be able to suggestions: hang his or her own clothing. 1) Start by pulling everySince kids’ clothing is short thing out. Have four bins and thin, hang one rod higher nearby, marked “Current,” and further back in the closet, “Donate,” “Hand-Me-Downs” with the second rod lower and and “Trash.” toward the front. Kids can “Current” is for clothing, then hang up their clothes shoes, accessories, toys and other items the child uses now. with more space between each item, for easier viewing — or “Donate” is for items to be your older child can claim the donated to a charity. “Hand-
TIDY
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
The top trends in shelving and ledges BY SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com
set high to run above the windows, for the purpose of displaying artwork and collectibles the full length of the room. When An easy and inexpensive way to trans- painted the same color as the wall, the form a room is to install new and stylish shelf becomes an “invisible” architectural shelving features. You don’t need to build detail that eliminates the “stuck to the a bookcase that extends the entire length wall” effect of a contrasting color. of a wall. That kind of big, heavy feature » Rustic wood ledges. Rustic is in lessens the floor space of your room and this season, adding a more natural look can make the space look smaller. What and feel to a room. Unique woods such is trendy for interior design right now as bayur are found in Pottery Barn colis the addition of individual shelf pieces lections and others, and they offer that and ledges measuring 2 feet, 3 feet or 4 telltale aged look of rustic charm. One feet in length. A single attractive shelving top trend for rustic shelves and ledges is piece gives framed artwork a chic place to displaying not just one piece, but two or rest and a small grouping of collectibles a three in different sizes, such as a 4-footer tasteful home. on the bottom, a 3-footer above that and Here are the top trends in shelf and a 2-footer above that. The stacked effect ledge features this year, any of which maintains rustic comfort while providing would serve you well in an easy, get-ita unique visual flair that’s far more en done-in-no-time home decor project: vogue now than a trio of matching shelf » Ultra-narrow shelving. A ledge that lengths. extends just 2 inches to 4 inches from the » Rattan. For an island-style effect, wall maintains the open and airy space choose a wood shelf that gives the effect of a room, especially if it’s a small room. of woven rattan. Pottery Barn features The new class of ultra-narrow shelving an extra-thick mango wood shelf with a features a groove or a front lip that keeps chunkier appearance, giving the look and frames, artwork and smaller items secure- feel of a fireplace mantle because it is ly in place. Consider installing a narrow single shelf the entire length of the wall, Please see SHELVES, Page 11
Creators.com photo courtesy of Pottery Barn
New shelving trends include rustic, marble and multi-piece shelves and ledges.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013 your room) say, “Use them in rows or with staggered shelves to showcase frames, books and keepsakes.” Continued from Page 10 » Moulded-base shelves. six inches high, as opposed Shelving pieces with decorative to those 4-inch-high display moulding on the bottom can shelves. coordinate with the design of » Marble top. A white moulding encircling the tops of marble embedded with natural your walls, for a polished look. crystalline sparkles and col» A-frame bookcases with ored veining provides a Euromatching shelves above. Bed pean elegance for a bathroom, Bath & Beyond showcases a kitchen or white-decor living four-shelf A-frame bookcase room. With a decorative black in a trendy espresso color metal brace beneath, the effect made from solid hardwood and is opulent, yet still soft enough veneer for a contemporary, for modern decor. geometric pattern. Matching » Beveled-edge shelves. small ledges above or posiThe slight angles of a beveled tioned on either side extend edge add a more formal look the wood shelving effect in to a shelving piece and may an eye-pleasing upward direccoordinate with other furnition to continue the display of ture pieces in the room. A style similar items, such as books, to check out is Pottery Barn’s collectibles and artwork. corbel decorative shelf with » Gallery-style display. The beveled edges, cutout corners popular home decor site Casa and curved supports that, with Sugar listed the gallery wall its classic profile, adds to the as one of the top design trends architecture of a space. Pottery for this year, encouraging the Barn style consultants (whom artistic collection of different you can contact via www.pot colors and sizes of framed art terybarn.com for your own arranged randomly on a wall. personal decor consultations, Narrow-edged shelving pieces and even send them photos of or ledges can be used to create
SHELVES
this same effect, and it may be your choice to display matching frame colors and styles — in different sizes for visual effect — to show off your kids’ artwork and other prints or creations. » Mix shelving units with shelves and ledges. Individual shelf and ledge pieces can be hung between two built-in bookcases, such as above a bed and situated in the middle, or small ledges could be hung next to a bookshelf to make use of staircase space and other awkward empty wall areas. » Eco-friendly woods. Since green living is a top trend in interior design, choose ecofriendly bamboo, or borrow from prized designers who use reclaimed wood such as railroad ties and pine lengths to customize inventive shelves. » Natural colors. The top hues of shelving pieces include mahogany, cherry wood, espresso and lighter shades such as natural, white and silver. Brights may be used in children’s rooms, nurseries and now even in kitchens for a pop of color in an all-white or tan space.
Sprucing up the fireplace Install a concrete fireplace surround By PAT LOGAN Creators.com Dear Pat: I was at a recent home show, and I saw a beautiful concrete fireplace surround. Is this something I could install on a new fireplace I am having added to my living room, and is it good? — Debbie G. Dear Debbie: A concrete surround can be installed on any fireplace. Concrete is one of the best materials to use for a fireplace surround. It is very durable, attractive and nonflammable. The design flexibility is virtually unlimited because it is poured into a handmade mold that can be any shape you desire. People often think of concrete as the dull gray stuff used for sidewalks and
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BEWARE
Please see FIREPLACE, Page 12
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CHECK THE FLOOD POTENTIAL
ng
ood • Loggi rew Fi
WHERE?
a nd C l
• Hydro-a ing xe
ITʼS FREE! It costs you nothing to check the flood potential. If your lot is in a flood hazard area you are required to obtain a floodplain permit. Damages will be minimized if a flood occurs, and any required flood insurance payments will be minimized. There is no Borough charge for the floodplain permit.
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r ea
It may seem that your property is unlikely to flood. But just because it hasnʼt flooded the last 10 years doesnʼt mean it wonʼt flood next year. Before building, check to see if your property is in a flood hazard area. The Borough Planning Department has a copy of the Federal Insurance Rate Maps that identify the areas susceptible to flooding. Knowing the flood potential of your property could save you thousands of dollars in the future.
Jeff Ward 907-388-8605 907-488-4049
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The Planning Department is located on the second floor of the Borough Administrative Building, 809 Pioneer Road. If you have any questions, please call us at 459-1260. http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/communityplanning/floodplain
driveways, but nothing could be further from the truth. Today concrete often is used for kitchen countertops and other indoor surfaces in a home where durability is a consideration. Concrete is made basically of cement, aggregate (stones, gravel, sand, etc.) and water. By using a relatively fine aggregate, instead of gravel, which is commonly used for outdoor sidewalks, the finished concrete surface can be smooth and uniform. Concrete also can be colored. The colorant is combined with the water when all of the concrete components are mixed together. By using this method, the color goes through the concrete.
16408770-4-5-13BHG
There are numerous areas throughout the Borough identified as flood hazard areas. People building in these areas without proper guidance are risking their investment. Every year many people in our community spend hundreds or thousands of extra dollars for required flood insurance. These extra expenses can be avoided.
11
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Building, Home & Garden
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
Bathroom redux: Add value and comfort to your home BY JOSEPH PUBILLONES Creators.com Nothing embodies a sense of luxury more than nicely appointed bathrooms and powder rooms. This is one of the best improvements that can be done to any home, townhouse or condominium, as it adds both perceived and actual value. Since the times of ancient Rome, baths have been a great place for cleanliness and also for establishing a connection among body, mind and spirit. Baths were a refuge for one to go and think clearly and even, in some cultures, to negotiate the finer points of a business deal. In our world today, bathrooms are more private but, nonetheless, just as important. Today’s bathrooms are not just functional rooms of the house but also an extension of one’s living space, and they are no longer clinical in design. Designs for these spaces have gone in many directions, often including saunas, hot tubs, massage tables and even exercise areas. Gone are many of the materials one used to expect in bathrooms: ceramic
Creators.com
A new bathroom adds both perceived and Please see BATHROOM, Page 13 actual value to your home.
FIREPLACE Continued from Page 11
If its surface does get marred or damaged in some way, it will be less apparent. Installing a concrete fireplace surround is not usually a do-it-yourself job, but if you design a simple one, give it a try. The materials are inexpensive, so if you end up having to call for professional help, you will not have spent much. Installing a concrete surround sounds as though it takes a lot of strength to handle and install the heavy materials. But a concrete surround is made in several smaller sections that are mounted separately against the wall around the fireplace opening. By installing it in several sections, each section can be made with a different colorant for a unique appearance. The first step in making a concrete surround is to design it and make a full-scale template. A simple rectangular shape that is all on the same plane gives it a contemporary
look. A mantel, made from a smoothly finished wood beam, can be placed between the upper two sections. Once you have the template completed, place it against the fireplace to make sure it fits perfectly. The concrete used for the surround will be only about 3 inches thick. Note on the back of the template any protrusions from the wall that will interfere with the placement of the concrete sections. The final forms, into which the concrete is poured, can be made from 3/4-inch-thick melamine. Melamine is strong enough to hold its shape when filled with concrete, and it has a very smooth surface. Use a dry concrete mixture to fill the molds. For larger pieces, install reinforcing steel rods or mesh in the mold so the concrete is forced through it. If you use mesh, make sure the holes are larger than the aggregate in the concrete. Steel ties, which attach the sections to the wall, should also be placed along the edge. Allow the concrete to set up for several days before attempting to hang the sections on the wall.
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Building, Home & Garden
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
Wake up your oasis By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com Your shower is your oasis. It may be where you begin your day, waking up with the scents of your shampoo and body cleanser, but it’s also where you go after a tough workout or a day of grueling yardwork to soothe your muscles and get squeakyclean again. It’s where you might sing and scrub, so make your shower a place of pure relaxation and rejuvenation with a few easy refurbishing projects that don’t take a pricey remodeling project. The goal is to create a de-stressing place, not create stress with the hassle, noise and a mess of contractors, nor the scary codes and budget-killing plumbing upgrades to be sure your pipes and water heater can handle multiple shower stream jets and the addition of a steam bath.
Here are a few easy additions to spruce up your shower into a place you love to be.
cases.
Showerhead
It sounds space-age, but some top shower supply companies now offer showerheads that project relaxing colors of light, such as purple, blue or green in a relaxing pattern meant to stimulate the de-stressing sensors of the brain. HGTV recently showcased this holistic feature via the Ondine Electric Light Shower, or ELS, which “pours light and water” from each of its large number of nozzles, “in a combination of fiber optics and halogen lights.” Also in the holistic realm — and pricey — is the “healing power of crystals via Ondine’s Krystal ELS, boasting Swarovski crystals around the perimeter.” If you don’t have the budget for crystals in your showerhead, think about colored light options in your overhead shower light fixture.
A new showerhead is easy to install, using manufacturer instructions and the installation videos found on some manufacturer websites. You can change your oldfashioned spray showerhead into an indulgent waterfall showerhead, and with a twist of the wide circular disk, choose from gentle rainfalltype spray to a more massaging shiatsu-style stream.
Shower curtain rod You may have experienced the airy, roomier shower in a luxury hotel, with an arched curtain rod moving that curtain liner further away from your body so that you can move freely without bumping into that liner. It’s an easy installation project requiring just a screwdriver in most
Chromatherapy
in traditional styles to fit in with most conventional architectural styles. But some are also available in sleek Continued from Page 12 versions that look as if they tile, traditional fixtures, tones have been designed by aeroof mint green, cherry pink nautical engineers. Materials and sky blue (unless you are for fixtures have evolved to involved in a historical restoinclude the traditional porceration). These materials have lains and enameled irons, as been replaced with warmer well as newer materials, such tiles, slates and marbles in a as resins and polyesters, that variety of incredible colors. can easily be molded into any Some have textures; others shape while having the same are laser-cut for intricate sheen as earlier models. designs. Stones are mixed with Custom cabinetmakers can glass and mirrors, and tiles make bathroom furniture in and fixtures that glow in the any style to fit your decor and dark are available. lifestyle. The one caveat is Some of the newer bathto use materials that are not rooms rival the size of their en affected by direct contact with suite bedrooms. Larger spaces water or humidity. Today’s are in favor over the typistyles range from floating cal 5-by-7-foot bathrooms of wall-mounted cabinetry to yesteryear. Most homeowners furniture-like pieces that comare even willing to eliminate a pletely conceal the fixtures. spare room so that the square The whirlpool tub was footage can be used for their the must-have 10 or 20 years new bathroom. Lounging ago. Today high-end plumbareas are de rigueur, and this ing fixtures are all the rage. means space for a chaise or a Most whirlpool tubs are being pair of club chairs and an otto- removed for lack of use and man. are being replaced with larger Fixtures such as toilets, showers — sometimes large lavs and tubs are available enough for two.
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Building, Home & Garden
13
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
EF2000iS
BUILDING THIS SUMMER?
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KNOW THE LAW Local developers, engineers, surveyors, and contractors should be aware of the storm water plan review and permitting requirements in the urbanized area of Fairbanks.
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Building, Home & Garden
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
15
Paid Advertising Content
Fit Energy Efficiency and Air Quality into Your Remodeling Plans! A large portion of the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) was designated a “nonattainment” area for PM2.5 by the EPA because on several days each year there is more fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air than is healthy to breathe. Excessive levels of PM2.5 are produced through the inefficient combustion of fuels, such as wood, coal, home heating fuel, gas, and diesel. Here are some tips to help you save energy and money, and to help improve air quality in our community. • Weatherize your home to reduce heating costs and emissions by using less fuel. • Upgrade older heating appliances. If you burn wood or coal, check out the FNSB Air Quality Improvement Program. Anyone that owns property in the Borough that heats with wood or coal may be eligible. Participants in the replacement program are
reimbursed for expenses related to upgrading older, non-EPA certified devices to more efficient appliances. Participants are eligible for reimbursements of up to $3,000, depending on the type of device they put in. Contact FNSB Air Quality for more information. • Perform regular maintenance on your heating appliance for maximum efficiency and safest use. • Split, Stack, Store and Save! If heating with wood, split it at least once, stack to allow for good air flow, and store for at least six warm months to get wood that has moisture content of 20% or less. Burning dry wood saves you money because you need less of it to heat your home. • Plug in your vehicle when its 20 above or colder for at least one hour before starting the engine. This can reduce emissions, including fine particulates and
carbon monoxide, by up to 70% and minimizes vehicle wear and tear. Electric timers are inexpensive and can be set to turn on automatically an hour or two before the time you usually leave the house to further minimize the amount of energy used. • Idle vehicles for less than 10 minutes to avoid wasting gas and polluting the air. A vehicle in motion warms up faster and more completely. • Ride the bus or carpool to reduce the amount of gas you use and to save money on vehicle maintenance costs. There are currently 9 bus routes offered by MACS Transit, including one route to the Eielson and Salcha areas and another around Van Horn Road. By taking simple steps to save energy, you save money and you help keep our air clean and healthy to breathe!
FOR MORE INFORMATION AIR QUALITY Fairbanks North Star Borough www.AQFairbanks.com or 459-1005 Alaska Department of Conservation dec.alaska.gov/air Environmental Protection Agency airnow.gov
TRANSPORTATION www.fnsb.us/transportation MACS Transit – 459-1011 Van Tran – 459-1010
OTHER ENERGY SAVING TIPS UAF Cooperative Extension www.uaf.edu/ces/energy AHFC Home Energy Rebate www.ahfc.us/energy/ home_rebate.cfm
17408404-4-5-13BHG
16
Building, Home & Garden
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Friday, April 5, 2013
ALL KITCHEN & BATH REPAIR PARTS IN-STOCK!
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