LNT_Spring Resource Guide_030924

Chainsaws

Lumber

Paint

Doors

Drain

404 W.

McNabb, IL 61335

815-882-2111

grassersplumbingheating.com

CHAINSAWS

Smith’s Sales and Service

1604 Peoria St.

Peru, IL 61354

815-223-0132

CONCRETE

B&M Concrete

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St. Peru, IL 61354

815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

2758 Columbus St.

Ottawa, IL 61350

815- 431-0711

600 8th St.

Mendota, IL 61342

815- 539-1088

1315 N Main St.

Princeton, IL 61356

815- 875-1141

220 5th St.

Lacon, IL 61540

309- 246-2485

2515 N Bloomington St. Streator, IL 61364

815- 673-2822

www.rplumber.com

CABINETS

Builders Choice Inc.

2215 Chartres St.

La Salle, IL 61301 (815) 223-6438

www.builderschoiceil.com

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St. Peru, IL 61354

815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

Starved Rock Wood Products

1501 Washington St. Mendota, IL 61342

(815) 538-7797

www.starvedrockwood products.com

Magnolia, IL 61336 815-488-7210

NJ Concrete

Serving La Salle County NJConcrete1@gmail.com 815-764-5073 CONTRACTORS/

Judd Construction

Hennepin, IL 61327 815-925-7333

Mauch Carpentry

705 Illinois Ave. Mendota, IL 61342 (815) 539-5142

Pinter General Contracting

418 W. Devlin St. Spring Valley, IL (815) 663-0201

Spelich General Contracting

835 Clark St. Oglesby, IL 61348 815-883-8681 815-488-9830

DOORS & WINDOWS

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St. Peru, IL 61354 815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

CHRIS HOLDENRID

CORY BIERS

NMLS #477892

ROBERT (BOB) SUAREZ Community President Peru NMLS #477891

MELISSA MAURICE Branch Manager/Loan Officer Peru NMLS #1014484

FLOORING

Carpet Weavers

224

kettmanheating.com

Mendota 815-538-2265

McNabb 815-882-2146

Peru 815-224-4484

Ottawa 815-433-3727

Princeton 815-872-0002

LaMoille 815 638-2398

www.firststatebank.biz

FIREPLACES

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St.

Peru, IL 61354

815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

4250 Mahoney Dr.

Peru, IL 61354

(815) 410-4999

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St.

Peru, IL 61354

815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

FOOD

McDonald’s

Spring Valley, Mendota and Princeton

www.mcdonalds.com

FURNITURE

Meyers Furniture

1901 N State Highway 251 Mendota, IL 61342 (815) 539-6263

www.meyersfurnitureandbed ding.com

HARDWARE

Debo Ace Hardware 1713 4th St.

Peru, IL 61354 815-223-0461

www.acehardware.com/ store-details/12081

HEATING & COOLING

Energy Specialists

224 N. Main St.

Toluca, IL 61369 815-452-2332

Grassers Plumbing & Heating Inc.

404 W. Main St.

McNabb, IL 61335

815-882-2111

grassersplumbingheating.com

Kettman Heating & Plumbing, Inc.

107 E Harrison St.

Granville, IL 61326

815-339-6124

kettmanheating.com

HOME

Mark Lucas

Remodeling

2704 5th St.

Peru, IL 61354

815-223-4805

R.P. Lumber

2758 Columbus St. Ottawa, IL 61350

815- 431-0711

600 8th St.

Mendota, IL 61342

815- 539-1088

1315 N Main St. Princeton, IL 61356

815- 875-1141

220 5th St. Lacon, IL 61540

309- 246-2485

2515 N Bloomington St. Streator, IL 61364 815- 673-2822

www.rplumber.com

KITCHEN & BATH

Builders Choice Inc.

2215 Chartres St.

La Salle, IL 61301 (815) 223-6438

www.builderschoiceil.com

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St. Peru, IL 61354

815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

Starved Rock Wood Products

1501 Washington St. Mendota, IL 61342 (815) 538-7797

www.starvedrockwood products.com

Start at the Planning home improvements in 2024? top

(BPT) - At first glance, the value of some home improvements can be hard to see - particularly when the improvements are in the attic. While a gleaming kitchen backsplash, an expansive patio deck or luxury spa bath are all pleasing to the eye, the value of other home improvements may best be appreciated through improved indoor comfort. Installed in the attic area, insulation and ductwork are two examples of often overlooked upgrades that can impact comfort as well as energy savings. Case in point: EPA estimates that homeowners can save up to 15% on heating and cooling costs (or an average of 11%

on total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joists.1

Installing adequate levels of attic insulation and repairing or replacing attic ductwork can help address the root cause of problems such as increased dust, hot/cold rooms or high energy bills. But as the attic area is infrequently accessed, how do you know if a problem exists? Let’s start with insulation. Simply confirming its presence in the attic is not enough. Following are some signs that your home’s attic may need additional insulation:

◆ Hot or cold ceilings, walls or rooms

◆ Uneven temperatures in a home that cause HVAC systems to run more frequently

◆ High heating or cooling bills compared to similarly sized homes in the area

A sufficient amount of attic insulation, typically measured in inches, is necessary to help protect against warm air moving into colder parts of the building envelope. A qualified HVAC technician should be able to evaluate your attic and help you understand how much energy you could conserve by insulating to a spec-

ified thickness. For example, contractors designated as AirCare ® Professionals are trained by Owens Corning and equipped with tools to assess insulation levels and explain how your home’s attic insulation compares to recommended standards.

Leaks and poor connections in attic ductwork can also lead to problems in other parts of the home. According to ENERGY STAR about 20% of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts.2 ENERGY STAR also notes that tightly sealed and well-insulated ducts found in

qualified homes can reduce annual utility bills by $120 or more.2 Following are some indicators of a problem with a home’s attic ductwork:

◆ Spikes in energy bills

◆ Rooms that are too hot or too cold

◆ Rooms that have a musty odor

◆ Heating or cooling equipment that cycles on/off more frequently as the system works harder to heat/cool spaces due to lost air

◆ Increased levels of dust

An AirCare® Professional is trained to evaluate the pressure of air running through your home’s ductwork and may use special thermal technology tools that allow you to “see” where air is escaping. He or she also will evaluate the system for loose connections or areas where air may be leaking out of the system. Joints and connections will be evaluated to ensure the ductwork is properly sealed

to keep conditioned air inside and help prevent particulates in the attic from entering ducts. To find an AirCare ® Professional please visit the online locator at HVAC Contractor Locator | Insulation | Owens Corning.

Ready to get a start on your 2024 home improvements? Don’t lose sight of opportunities in the attic to boost comfort and energy savings.

Savings may vary. Find out why at EnergyStar.gov.

1 Energy Star. (n.d.) Methodology for estimated energy savings from cost-effective air sealing and insulating. U.S. EPA. Methodology for Estimated Energy Savings from Cost-Effective Air Sealing and Insulating | ENERGY STAR

2 Energy Star. (n.d.) Efficient Duct Systems. U.S. EPA. Microsoft Word - Duct Systems_072307.doc (energystar. gov)

©2024. Owens Corning. All rights reserved.

WOBBLY

RUST HOLES IN THE WOOD FADED PAINT

Spring is a season of rejuvenation that compels millions across the globe to quit hibernating and get back to enjoying the great outdoors. Spring also marks a great time to assess a home’s exterior, namely those areas like a deck where people will spend a lot of time in the warmer months to come.

Assessing a deck after winter can be eye-opening. Harsh winter weather can take its toll on a deck, and the following are some telltale signs that a deck could be in need of repair or replacement.

• Wobbly underfoot and in hand: Wobbly planks and railings are one sign of a deteriorating deck homeowners won’t recognize as they hide from winter weather indoors. But these tend to reveal themselves rather quickly when examining a deck after winter. Wobbly planks in the middle of the deck can be inconvenient, but wobbly steps and railings can be dangerous. According to the home improvement resource Angi, wobbly railings can be a byproduct of rot. A local decking professional can assess the extent of the rot in railings and elsewhere and determine the best course of action. If the rot is isolated to an area or two, a simple repair may be all that’s necessary. Extensive rot may require a full replacement of the existing deck.

• Faded paint: Many homeowners paint their wood decks, and that paint will not

SIGNS IT’S

TIME TO REPAIR OR REPLACE

YOUR DECK

last forever. Faded paint can turn an otherwise lovely deck into an eyesore, and paint can fade over the winter. Thankfully, a local painter can address a faded deck and may recommend some additional strategies to safeguard the deck against fading next winter and beyond.

• Holes in the wood: Many a homeowner has encountered curious-looking holes in their deck. This could be a sign of insect infestation. Termites, carpenter ants and carpenter bees are among the various types of insects that can

bore holes through wood. Homeowners who notice holes throughout their deck are urged to call a deck professional and/or pest control firm to assess the holes and offer a solution. Though small issues may be addressed with repairs, a deck littered with holes caused by insects may need a full replacement.

• Rust: Wood decks may be made of wood, but they can still exhibit signs of rust, namely in the nails and metal connectors that hold the deck together. If screws have rusted to the point where

they are no longer holding the deck together, a full-scale replacement could be in the cards, as the deck could have substantial structural damage. Like other issues that can reveal themselves during a springtime inspection of the deck, rust necessitates a thorough examination by an experienced decking professional.

Many people do not use their decks during winter, which only underscores the significance of a full deck inspection in spring.

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LANDSCAPING

MATERIAL & SUPPLIES

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St.

Peru, IL 61354

815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

LAWN MOWER

SALES & REPAIR

Smith’s Sales and Service

1604 Peoria St.

Peru, IL 61354

815-223-0132

LOANS

Eureka Savings Bank

LaSalle 815-223-0700

Mendota 815-539-5656

Oglesby 815-883-3354

Peru 815-223-9400

Wenona 815-853-4333

eurekasavings.com

Financial Plus Credit Union

2813 Plaza Dr. Peru, IL 61354

815-223-6602

www.financialplus.org

1905 13th Ave. Mendota IL 815- 539-3444

www.financialplus.org

Hometown National Bank

LaSalle, Joliet 815-220-2288

myhtnb.com

LUMBER YARD

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St. Peru, IL 61354

815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

OVERHEAD DOORS

Overhead Door Company of the Illinois Valley

617 Shooting Park Rd. Peru, IL 61354 (815) 223-8471

www.overheaddoorillinois valley.com

PAINT

Debo Ace Hardware

1713 4th St. Peru, IL 61354 815-223-0461

www.acehardware.com/ store-details/12081

PLUMBING Energy Specialists

224 N. Main St. Toluca, IL 61369 815-452-2332

Grassers Plumbing & Heating Inc.

404 W. Main St. McNabb, IL 61335 815-882-2111

grassersplumbingheating.com

Kettman Heating & Plumbing, Inc.

107 E Harrison St. Granville, IL 61326 815-339-6124

kettmanheating.com

Lenhausen Plumbing & Heating

422 South Locust St. Wenona, IL 61377 815-992-1818

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St. Peru, IL 61354 815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

2758

Ottawa,

815-

600

Mendota, IL 61342

815- 539-1088

1315

Princeton, IL 61356

815- 875-1141

220

Lacon, IL 61540

309- 246-2485

2515

Bloomington St. Streator, IL 61364

815- 673-2822

www.rplumber.com

STONE PRODUCTS

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St.

Peru, IL 61354

815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

WINDOWS

Maze Lumber

1100 Water St.

Peru, IL 61354

815-223-1742

www.mazelumber.com

Turn your bedroom into a relaxing re eat

Bedrooms are more than places to lay our heads at the end of the day. Bedrooms serve different functions, and not all are conducive to relaxation.

People who use their bedrooms as a work space may find they’re compromising their well-being by introducing activities into the bedroom. The Sleep Foundation says having an office in the bedroom blurs the lines between work and personal life, which can have serious effects on sleep. Rather, people should be looking to turn their bedrooms into relaxing retreats that offer a respite from the outside world.

• Remove blue-light emitting devices. Computers, tablets, smartphones, and other elec-

tronic devices emit blue light, which can compromise natural melatonin production in the body that contributes to sleep. Such devices should not be used at night in the bedroom.

• Use a neutral color palette. Neutral color palettes evoke a spa feeling. Walls can be painted white, beige or a light shade of gray. This can help the room feel calming and welcoming.

• Declutter the room. A sense of calm can be achieved simply by removing excess clutter. There is some evidence that the brain is more calm near an empty dresser, desk or clothes hamper. Therefore, removing excessive items from the room is a first step to making a nice retreat.

• Add soft lighting. Adjust the intensity and the color of the lighting in the bedroom. It should be subtle and warming. Dimmers enable homeowners to adjust lighting as needed.

• Install an electric replace. There is something to be said for the relaxing effects of gazing into the flames of a fire. A crackling (faux-wood) fire is an added layer of indulgence in a bedroom.

• Add an area rug. Even in rooms with carpeting, an area rug under the bed can further define the perimeter of the bed and add extra plushness underfoot.

preferred scents, homeowners can employ reed diffusers in their bedrooms to enjoy the aromas of natural oils.

• Used closed storage. Open shelves and visible closet interiors may not hide a mess. Exposure to clutter can contribute to feelings of anxiety. Store items that shouldn’t be on display behind closed doors or drawers.

• Invest in aromatherapy di users. Certain smells can create a relaxing mood. These may be sandalwood, lavender or jasmine. Utilizing their

• Bring in luxury linens. Homeowners should not skimp on comforters, sheets, duvet covers, and pillows for their beds. A cozy bed to dive right into can serve as the centerpiece of a bedroom retreat.

Turning a bedroom into a relaxing space can help individuals sleep better and reduce anxiety.

SH242658