Fall home improvement

Page 1

Special Publication of the Rensselaer Republican and KV Post News, September 2015


2: Fall Home Improvement • September, 2015

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Photo by Sherri Morrison Debbie Brown, of Browns Garden & Floral Shoppe, moves some pumpkins and gourds over to another fall display in front of the store. “People think spring is the best time to plant, but really, fall is the best time,” Brown said. “Most perennials and trees do best when planted in the fall. Even if the perennials don't look so good now, they will look great in the spring.”

Fall: the perfect time to plant By SHERRI MORRISON smorrison@rensselaerrepublican.com While most people think that spring is the best time for planting, according to Debbie Brown, of Brown's Garden & Floral Shoppe, fall is the best time for a majority of plants and trees. “Fall is one of the best times for planting trees, shrubs, perennials and spring bulbs,” Brown said. “It is a good time to develop good root growth in cooler temperatures. There are a few plant exceptions, such as birch trees, dogwoods and red bud trees; those particular trees are best planted in the spring.” Many times fall is when custom-

ers can get their best deals on heavily discounted plants, trees and shrubs. “We discount the merchandise because we don't want to have so much stock to over-winter and because our customers expect it,” Brown said. “We usually discount our perennials, trees and shrubs up to 50 percent off during the fall.” When it comes to planting bulbs in the fall, Brown said many people are mistaken about when spring flowers should be planted. “Daffodils, tulips and crocus are bulbs that should be planted in the fall. Many times people think they

See PLANT, page 6

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Fall Home Improvement • September, 2015: 3

Generators keep the power going during blackouts By CHERI SHELHART editor@kvpost.net

Homeowners looking at home improvements may want to consider a standby generator to keep the power on when the lights go out. Standby generators come in many sizes and capabilities from portable to permanent. Many of us take electricity for granted until it goes out and all the electronics we've come to depend on are useless. Portable generators have to be plugged into a homes main power box and run on gasoline. Standby generators are installed much like an outside air conditioning unit and run off of a home's natural or LP gas. They are installed permanently on a concrete pad and can provide uninterrupted power to a home in the case of long power outages. Mike Anderson of Penninga Sales and Service said purchasing generators is not seasonal since storms can happen year round. The DeMotte

business sells and installs the Generac brand of standby generators. He said the price varies depending on the capacity of the generator. A 7 kilowatt generator is for emergency power only, keeping the refrigerator and freezer going, the furnace and a well pump, if it's not a deep well and a few lights. A 22 kilowatt generator will keep everything running. "You can't tell the power's out," he said. They are installed on a precast cement pad outside the home. He said the more modern the electrical system, the easier it is to install. Older homes where the electricity is "spread all over" cost a little more. The advantage in installing a permanent generator, Anderson said, is a person does not have to be home for it to turn on. It comes on automatically within seconds after a power outage. He said a homeowner could be in Florida over the winter and not worry about the house if the

power is out for a long period of time. With a portable gas generator, a person has to hook it up to the home's power supply and have gas handy to keep it running. Anderson said when the power goes out, gas stations aren't able to pump gas and the portable generator owner would have to travel beyond the outage to fill up. Installation of a standby generator can take a day to a day and a half depending on the situation he said, and do have to be professionally installed. Some insurance companies will give a homeowner credit for installing one of the permanent generators. The generators run on a four cycle motor similar to a lawn mower

but enhanced to withstand running hour after hour during a power outage. They require yearly servicing for oil change and filter and to check the air filter. The permanent generator will do a self test once a week. Anderson said it is usually scheduled during a time when the residents are home so they can hear it come on. The generator is programmed to do a self diagnostic test which takes about 10 minutes and doesn't affect the power inside the home during that time. Homeowners should decide how much power they need during an emergency situation. Do they need enough electricity to power every

See POWER, page 7

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4: Fall Home Improvement • September, 2015

Jordan's in Rensselaer has a variety of fall decorations and flower arrangements.

Fall decorating made easy By CAITLIN SIEVERS csievers@rensselaerrepublican.com As the leaves begin to turn and there's a chill in the air, it's time to bring out the sweatshirts, put away the tank tops and to bring a touch of fall into your living space. Some easy options for getting your home ready for the fall season could include a simple flower arrangement on a side table or a new place settings on your dining room table. Usually fall flower arrangements include standard flowers like carnations or lilies in orang-

es or other fall colors, with some cattails or wheat for accents. Although some might prefer arrangements of fresh flowers in fall colors, silk arrangements that can be stored during other seasons and brought out when fall begins are another option, said Suzi Jordan, coowner of Jordan's Floral in Rensselaer. "It's nice when fall comes, it's a change," she said. Some simple options to make your dining room fit the season

See DECORATING, page 7

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Fall Home Improvement • September, 2015: 5

Switching gears: Summer's end doesn't mean end of lawn care DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) — The sound of lawn mower blades turning in the early summer mornings and late afternoons is on the verge of slowing down for a while, but that doesn't mean yearround lawn care businesses will be any less busy. They'll just be switching gears. Several of the year-round lawn care and landscaping businesses will be mowing less and working more on fall cleanup, such as transitioning seasonal flowers and flower beds, adding and replacing sod and mulch, and maintaining grass that can suffer under the falling leaves. "We're not bears so we don't hibernate. We're here to serve our customers all year long," said Jessica Hollerman, who owns The Grounds Guys of Dothan with her husband Matt. "Normally the leaves take over in the end of October, but you still don't neglect your grass or

your flowers because they still need care for their root systems. The leaves that fall work as an awesome fertilizer if they are mulched." Cannon Lawn Care owner Wellington Cannon said managing fall weeds is one lawn issue that is better handled when a yard is maintained yearround. Cannon said contracts with a company for annual lawn care are often more reasonable than paying someone for seasonal yard work. "You can cut off lawn work during the late fall and not worry about it, but once you do that, in the spring there's more work on you and more wear on your equipment," Cannon said. "Believe it or not your grass is still going to grow in the fall - just more of an even growth and some fall weeds are coming in. You want to have regular maintenance throughout the year." According to Sibley Lawn Care owner Josh

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Sibley, fall cleanups include trimming bushes, hedges and trees, changing out mulch and putting in new pine straw. "Fall's not really fall until Sept. 23, but we started some of our trimming after Labor Day, which is kinda the unofficial start of fall," he said. "You don't want to have half-sun plants where there's shade or shade plants where there's sun. You don't want your grass covered with leaves, because it's like putting your hand over your mouth and telling you to breathe good. Then when spring comes, you don't want to just let your grass grow out of hand, and you want to put your weed and feed down. There's something to do in your yard every season." In addition to typical yard work, Sibley said

See LAWN, page 7

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6: Fall Home Improvement • September, 2015

PLANT continued from page 2 are planted in the spring but that's not the case. Those bulbs can be planted in the cooler months of fall before the ground freezes. “It's best to wait for cooler days to avoid the bulbs starting to grow prematurely,” Brown said. "Bone meal or bulb food also helps with root growth and produces bigger blooms and roots.” For those who have trouble with squirrels eating their tulip bulbs, Brown advises using

squirrel repellent and chicken wire when planting the bulbs. Fall is also an ideal time to divide perennials to move into different parts of the landscape. “The best way to do this is by digging up the whole plant and dividing into fourths with a spade,” Brown said. “Once replanted, use a starter fertilizer and water regularly for the best results.” For those who work

with roses, Thanksgiving is the best time to think about covering them. “The key is to plant hardy roses for the best results,” Brown said. “Speciality hybrid tea roses need to be covered, along with some other varieties. You can trim roses back in the fall or the spring. In the fall, you want to mound up the soil 12 inches above the union graft, which is the bottom of the plant, and then I would suggest putting mulch or straw

down to protect the rose bush. If using cones to cover the rose bush, it is best to wait until colder fall months to avoid covering the roses while they are still growing.” Clean up of perennial beds and vegetable beds is also important during the fall to reduce disease carryover. That is also the time to clear out annual plants. Some collect seeds from annual plants to use for next years garden. To do so, simply shake the plants

into a paper bag to release the seeds and mark for next year's use. Keep in a cool, dry place for spring and summer planting. Those who enjoy the winter interest of tall perennial grasses can wait until spring to cut them back or cut the grasses in the fall. It is a personal preference. If cutting back grasses in the spring, it is advised to do so before the shoots begin to sprout. For fruit trees, shade trees and ornamental

trees, to prevent cracking, sun scald or damage from deer and rabbits, Brown advises using tree wrap. There are many different types available on the market, made of different materials. “People think spring is the best time to plant, but really, fall is the best time,” Brown said. “Most perennials and trees do best when planted in the fall. Even if the perennials don't look so good now, they will look great in the spring.”

Practice home heating maintenance before turning on the furnace The maintenance of a home heating system varies according to what type of fuel is used: oil, electricity, or gas. An oil furnace and electric baseboard heaters should have annual checkups, while a gas furnace need only be checked every two years. Because of their complexity, the maintenance of oil and natural gas heating systems should be left to professionals. Many people believe that electric baseboards need very little maintenance, probably because electricity is often described as “clean” energy. Late in the fall, however, when the baseboards are used for the first time, you may notice a burning smell emanating from them. That smell is the result of an accumulation of dust over the

summer; it burns, right there on the heating elements. Little attention is given to the smell, as people consider it to be a minor problem and think that there is no need for alarm. Unfortunately, that dust becomes carcinogenic when it burns - perhaps we’d spend more time cleaning baseboard heaters if we knew that! Simply vacuuming the inside and outside of the baseboards is all that’s necessary in order to solve this problem. If the windows in your home tend to fog up, you should be aware that it is not caused by a problem with your heating system. It happens because the heat in your house fails to reach the windows.

Bug screens should be removed to allow warm air to circulate more freely. It’s also important to air out the home, even during the winter. Don’t worry about losing heat; if you let humidity build up in an extremely airtight home, it becomes very difficult to heat anyway. As often as possible, leave the fans working in the bathroom and in the kitchen stove hood to evacuate surplus humidity.

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DECORATING continued from page 4 include fall-theme table runners and place-mats. Most people probably don't want to reinvent their entire decorating scheme for every season, Jordan said, but a piece here or there can make a home feel more seasonal. "It doesn't take a lot to switch a centerpiece and a door decoration," Jordan said. For those who want a decoration that last longer than a few weeks, ceramic pumpkins are a great option for indoor fall style. Fresh gourds are another simple option to add a festive, fall touch

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to one's home, Jordan said. Other fall decorations might include preserved leaves and lotus pods. Another fun decorating idea is painting strips or a chevron pattern on pumpkins using acrylic paint and painters tape. HGTV recommends adding a woodsy touch to any room by using pine cones, gourds and feathers. Better Homes and Gardens recommends making a bouquet of autumn leaves instead of flowers. An alternative to the traditional jack-o-lantern is to use a

smaller pumpkin or gourd and simply cutting a hole in the top of the pumpkin, scooping out the inside, and putting a candle in it. Countryliving.com recommends keeping blankets and throws of different colors and textures in stacks around the house to spice up rooms and make sure you and your guests stay warm as the weather cools. Fall decorating can be quite simple or more extravagant depending or your own preferences and decorating budget. "It's a lot of fun," Jordan said.

LAWN continued from page 5 now is the time residents start getting their roofs and gutters cleaned to prepare for their holiday yard presentations. "October is a great time to get the green slime

and buildup that's on the house, vinyl siding or bricks off," she said. Derrick Davis, who owns Davis Lawn Care, said the mowing portion of his business is seasonal but that he usually helps people with fall cleanup, which opens the door to maintaining his customers for when it's time to cut grass again next year. "Even if all you can do is pick up leaves until February rolls around again and you start cutting grass, it's good that you have some of the same customers that have been with you for years," Davis said.

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An automatic transfer switch disconnects the home from the utility after detecting a power outage. Once the home is safely off the grid, the switch starts up the generator before transferring its power to the home's electrical panel. A combustion engine fueled by natural gas, LP or diesel can be used. The transfer switch works as a safety mechanism as well. It prevents back-feeding electricity to the grid, a potentially lethal practice that can cause fires and harm utility workers attempting to restore power. When the power resumes, the switch shuts down the generator and reconnects the home to the grid. The nearly seamless operation makes a standby generator ideal for families with small children or those using electric powered medical equipment. A drawback to a generator is the noise. Some municipalities have noise ordinances. Building codes may require generators be installed 5 feet from the residence and 5 feet from flammable materials, such as a fuel tank.

POWER continued from page 3

appliance in the home, or just the essentials? A fully loaded 7-kw unit consumes about 140 cubic feet of natural gas per hour. The larger the unit, the more costly it is to operate. However, large, whole-house systems can add significant value to a home. Anderson said businesses are starting to use the permanent generators as well. He said gas stations and convenience stores have been installing them. He has recently installed some in local pharmacies as well. "Businesses can lose more money than they invest in a generator," he said. He recalled when the tornado struck town in June of 2013, leaving many without power due to damaged power lines. Residents and businesses began looking at the standby generators. Anderson said it is a good idea to buy one from someone you know. "If it doesn't work on the day you need it, you want to have someone close by you can call," he said.

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8: Fall Home Improvement • September, 2015

Spruce up your home office this fall (AP) — Maybe you dash off work e-mails while making dinner, or you squeeze in a half-hour of work on a spreadsheet before bedtime. The line between "at work" and "at home" has become a blurry one for many people, and for others it has disappeared entirely. That makes a home workspace more necessary than ever. Not every home includes a spare room available for use as an office, but design experts say that's not a problem: Today's streamlined technology means that just about any space can be transformed into an appealing and organized area for working. "Walk into any creative corporation and you'll find the CEO sitting right smack in the middle of a large, open space along with almost every other key player," says designer Brian Patrick Flynn of Flynnside Out Productions. "This relaxed, informal atmosphere has become the norm, not just in corporate settings but also in the home." Here, Flynn and two other interior designers — New York City-based Young Huh and Danielle Colding — offer advice on creating a home work area that's both practical and inspiring. PART OF A ROOM IS PERFECT With today's smaller computers and wireless connections, there's less need for a boxy desktop and

connecting cables. A desk built into a wall of shelving and cabinets can often serve as a fully functioning home office. So unless your work requires total concentration and silence, don't give up an entire room even if you have one available. And built-in pieces don't have to be expensive. "I turned dead space into a minihome office by configuring Ikea kitchen cabinets and a laminate countertop as a tall workstation," Flynn says. "You can assemble it all yourself and have the counter cut to size at a local home improvement store." Once the pieces are installed, "it looks architectural, almost like it's always been part of the home." Or installing these items in a bedroom closet creates a mini-office that can easily be closed off for privacy. In a New York City apartment, Colding opened up the wall between the living room and a small bedroom that had been used as an office. She filled one wall with builtin shelving, cabinetry and a desktop, so the now-larger living room still offered a complete workspace. And she added a Murphy bed along that wall so the room could still accommodate an overnight visitor. Another option: Buy a "secretary," a large piece of furniture with doors that conceal shelves and drawers. "I love using secretaries because

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GO BOLD Offices outside the home are often decorated in neutral or drab colors. But Flynn recommends bold or bright hues and fun patterns for home workspaces. "There's something inviting that draws you in and even excites you about getting some work done if the overall look is fun," he says. In a small space, white walls can help. "All white can make any cramped 'bonus room' instantly feel like a light and bright home workspace," says Flynn. Huh says dark or intense colors also work in small rooms because they can make it feel like the walls

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Start with a main space in a living room or family room where you keep files and items like a printer and landline phone. Then create convenient mini-spaces elsewhere in your home with just a small work surface, a chair and charging capability. For example, Huh suggests replacing your nightstand with a tiny desk and chair next to your bed. Include a power strip and extra charger. And don't forget the analog option: Keep a paper and pen for scribbling down brilliant ideas that strike you during downtime or when you wake up. In the kitchen, add a family workstation for e-mails, schedules, bills, etc.: "It ends up being the most-used area in the whole house," Huh says.

See OFFICE, page 9

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Fall Home Improvement • September, 2015: 9

Clear clutter for easier fall and winter cleaning SUBMITTED There’s no doubt about it: not only can clutter accumulate in your home, but it can seem to build up in your brain too. The more “stuff” that accumulates, the more daunting it can be to clean around it. And what’s more, the idea of purging your possessions can sometimes feel insurmountable. But reducing clutter can be liberating and bring a breath of fresh air wafting through your living space. Start by taking just one hour at a time to take a close look at your piles – and keep these tips in mind. Reduce • Ask yourself if you really need multiple version of the same item.

For example: how many flower vases or pairs of rain boots do you use at once? Keep the one or two that you love, and donate, sell or give the rest to a friend. • Enlist your kids to help purge outgrown clothes and toys for donation. It’s a great teachable moment to help kids visualize those items they used to play with or wear in the hands of someone who will look at them through new eyes. • Don’t buy new containers or storage bins until you’ve measured the space they’ll occupy and the contents to go within them. Take your measurements (and a tape measure) with you when you’re ready to shop! • Give yourself a break! It’s easier if you set reasonable goals—such as

one Saturday morning session for cleaning, sorting, and discarding of non-essential items in just one room (or perhaps just one jam-packed drawer) at a time. Make three piles: “relocate”, “donate”, and “toss.” You’ll be amazed at how much clutter you can cruise through if you do it in short, focused spurts. Plan a treat afterward to reward yourself and your participating family members! Reuse • Another great option is to give a new purpose to an old item. Are glass jars piling up because you think you might make 20 gallons of marinara sauce one of these days? Assign new rolls to them, such as storing desktop office supplies, spare buttons, or even using them as “retro” water glasses at dinner time! • Take old storage solutions – like large closet bins you used at a previous home, or a laundry basket that’s too small for your typical load – and assign them new jobs in your organizational system. Spray paint the bin to match your entryway décor and use it near the front door to collect incoming boots and shoes; place the laundry basket in the garage to lasso

sports gear. A giant unused vase can be repurposed as an umbrella stand, too! • Kids can take part in your “reusing” efforts, too. Challenge them to invent fun new purposes for old “stuff.” For example: craft paint and decoupage can transform old shoe boxes into colorful, jazzy storage containers for CDs and extra device chargers; an outgrown boot with a glass jar tucked inside can have a whole new life as a conversationstarting front stoop planter! • Consider a “favorite collections day” for the family. Have each person do a show-and-tell of their favorite saved items – such as school art projects, baseball caps, or cookbooks. Then, rank them by favorites and brainstorm together to think of new “homes” for ones that are lower on the list. Perhaps cookbooks could find a new home at a local school or baseball caps would be welcomed by a youth organization in town. Framed or laminated school art can be a fun gift for long-distance family members, too.

See CLEANING, page 10

OFFICE continued from page 8 "I usually install a bulletin board or magnetic board above the work space, and a drawer to hide papers, pens and an emergency Band-Aid or two." Be sure each space has ample lighting, especially if you'll be working at night. "Layered lighting is extremely important in a work space," Colding says. "You want a combination of overhead and task lighting." And, she adds, "late at night, a great desk lamp is invaluable." DON'T USE OFFICE FURNITURE For a desk that will be integrated into a living room or bedroom, look for pieces "that don't look like they belong in an office," says Huh. "Nothing from Staples or Office Depot. For a bedroom, consider a Parsons desk

or a mirrored desk, because it's simple, and clean lines look like a vanity table." A streamlined desk will look great in a modern living room, but Colding says contrast can be striking: "I do veer more modern with my selections," she says, but "there is also something to be said for mixing in a really lovely antique desk into a more modern setting." All three designers recommend choosing items that express your personality and delight you. "The key to creating a good home workspace is to make that space feel as though it's not really even meant for working," Flynn says. "Keep it decorative and fun and practical, and you'll never really feel like you're 'working' when you're working from home."


10: Fall Home Improvement • September, 2015

Prepare your lawnmower for winter storage

CLEANING continued from page 9

Your faithful friend, the lawnmower: your trusty steed once or twice a week all summer long, helping you to keep your lawn impeccable. After showing such loyalty, the least you can do is to give it a bit of TLC before putting it away for the winter. Late in October, after the lawn has been cut for the last time, remove any remaining gas and store it in a suitable container. Next, empty the gas tank, flexible rubber feed hoses, and carburetor by letting the mower’s engine run until there is no fuel left. This is a particularly important step, as the additives in unleaded gas tend to settle over long periods of disuse. This sediment can obstruct the carburetor jets when you fire up the mower next spring. The oil from the crankcase of the motor should be emptied into a storage container. This job is best done when the oil is still warm and liquidy. Clean the crankcase with some gasoline and fill it with new oil up to the recommended level; this will prevent condensation and rusting from occurring inside. Don’t forget that oil with a viscosity grading of 20-40 is the best one for your lawn mower. If the exterior of the lawn mower is made of steel, you could coat it with some non-polluting cooking oil. The wheel axels should be greased, the blades sharpened and greased as well, the air filter cleaned or changed if necessary, and the spark plug cleaned. A metal lawnmower should also be inspected for any rust spots and, if necessary, touched up with a suitable paint. The inside of the chassis might benefit from being coated with oil in order to protect it, and the bearings and the cables should be lubricated. After thoroughly hosing down the lawnmower, including the underneath of course, be sure to store it in a dry place for the winter. After all this care, it will be sure to give you another season of faithful service next year!

Recycle • Recycle your glass, plastic, and paper on a weekly basis; keep bins in convenient places (such as the kitchen, garage and home office) to collect items between trips to the recycling center. • Gather up magazines and drop them off at a local hospital or nursing home on the way to work; donate extra pet supplies and old towels to a local animal shelter; and deliver outgrown or no longer used clothing or linens to a local organization in need of these items (search for “clothing donations [your city/state]” to find locations). Be sure to launder any clothing or bedding before donating. • Keep a bag or basket in or near your closet for donations. If you try it on and don’t like the way it looks or fits – put it in the basket rather than back in your closet. When the bin is full, donate! • Go through the mail every day, and discard the junk immediately (versus letting it gather dust). Sort what’s left into piles, and schedule at least one hour a week to address urgent matters like bills and insurance premium. If you have a scanner (or a device app), scan the paperwork and discard the originals. (First check with your accountant or www.irs.gov to see what records you should keep for tax purposes.)

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Fall Home Improvement • September, 2015: 11

Get your car ready for winter with these tips SUBMITTED

Harsh winter weather can be tough on vehicles, and the last thing any driver needs is to break down. Ensuring your vehicle is winterready now is a sensible approach to avoid the inconvenience of being stranded out in the cold. "An investment of an hour or two to have your vehicle checked is all it takes to have peace of mind and help avoid the cost and hassle of car trouble during severe weather," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. The experts at the Car Care Council recommend the following steps to winterize your vehicle: For good visibility, make sure that exterior and interior lights work and headlights are properly aimed. Also check to see that heaters, defrosters, lights and wipers work properly. Consider winter wiper blades and use cold weather washer fluid. Very cold temperatures reduce a vehicle's battery power so it's important to keep the connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. Batteries don't always give warning signs before they fail completely, so if your vehicle's battery is more than three years old, it's wise to replace it. Have the brakes inspected and check the tire tread depth and tire pressure. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly. Winter magnifies existing problems such as pings, hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling, so have the problems fixed before the temperatures drop. Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system as needed and have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed.

Choosing a Garage Door is an Open and Shut Case

Be diligent about changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals. Consider changing to "winter weight" oil if you live in a cold climate. Check the fuel, air and transmission filters at the same time. Keep the gas tank at least half full at all times

From Nuts & Bolts to the Kitchen Sink KEM’S has all you need for your Fall Home Improvement Needs

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to decrease the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. Check the tire pressure of the spare in the trunk and stock an emergency kit with an ice scraper and snowbrush, jumper cables, flashlight, blanket, extra clothes, bottled water, dry food snacks and medication. Store important telephone numbers in your cell phone or glove box in case of a breakdown or travel emergency. Also keep a car care resource, such as the Car Care Council's 80-page Car Care Guide, in the glove box as a handy reference tool.


12: Fall Home Improvement • September, 2015

We have the tools and products to get your home ready for fall

We offer the full line of Milwaukee brand power tools. Milwaukee offers corded and cordless options of tools so you have the power and versatility you need.

Fall is the time for home improvement projects If summer is made for relaxing, fall is the ideal time to undertake some renovations. If you’re still unsure about fall renovations, here are a few arguments to convince you. If dark and cloudy fall days give you the blues, the best remedy is to get busy. Take advantage of the fall to repaint walls and ceilings in warm, energizing colors. Has your family been asking for a second bathroom for ages? Give them this luxury as a Christmas gift. By starting the work in fall, it will be ready by the time you-know-

who climbs down your chimney. Fall is also an ideal time to do any necessary outdoor work, such as repairs to the roof or the siding. The weather is perfectly comfortable for working outside without being inconvenienced by the heat of summer or the cold of winter. If you realize that the work is urgent, do it now instead of putting if off until the spring. The best thing is to take the bull by the horns and replace everything as soon as possible. You

never know what Mother Nature has Fall is the ideal month to do work outside - the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. in store for you! Another advantage of fall renovations is that construction workers in the various trades are not nearly as busy at this time of year as they are in the spring and summer. They will likely be in a position to help you carry out the project you're ready to undertake. Convinced? Just make a plan, get your tools, and get to work!

We carry Cabot products to protect the beauty and integrity of your wood deck. Valspar paint can change or freshen up your walls and make a huge impact on your home.

Come check out our HARDWARE DEPARTMENT


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