Home and Garden 02/11/17

HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2017

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Look inside for these specials and many others.

CRE ATE GAR AGE

STEPS TO A MORE ORGANIZED & FUNCTIONAL GARAGE INTRODUCING A NEW SERIES OF GARAGE DOOR OVERLAYS KEN MOON: OPTIMIZING WALLS FROM THE INSIDE OUT

envy W CRE ATE GAR AGE

BY GINA CRONIN, GINA.CRONIN@GAZETTE.COM

hile the basic principles of the garage have remained the same throughout the years, the aesthetic details have changed quite a bit. Garages have evolved as much as homes themselves, and while they may have been an afterthought in the past, they are an integral part of a home’s overall appeal today.

BIGGER IS BETTER

Garages are getting bigger. Once upon a time a one-car garage was sufficient,

then it was two-car garages and now many homes are opting for oversized three-car garages in order to accommodate multiple cars — whether for that extra summer ride or a teenager’s automobile. Ceilings have also gained height — while sevenfoot ceilings used to be the norm, ceilings today are at least nine feet tall, often taller.

The extra space also provides flexibility for extra storage for outdoor gear, gardening supplies, household tools and even workshop space.

BOLD DOORS

Garage doors have taken on a major role in terms of the look and feel of a home. They present a prime opportunity to add a pop of color or stylistic flair. Many homeowners are opting for vibrant, bold

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colors on their garage doors, like blues and reds. Others are choosing wooden garage doors, for a natural touch; but they do prove to be costly and require upkeep.

Faux wood accents allow for a natural wood look and feel without the hassle, as they are made from durable steel or fiberglass. Another emerging trend that makes a bold statement is frosted glass garage doors.

NATURAL LIGHT AND INSULATION

Windows in the garage — whether on the door or elsewhere — increase the usefulness of the space. The ample natural light allows the homeowner to utilize the garage in whatever way they choose in safety and comfort. Windows

add a nice stylistic touch as well. Home sustainability is also a hot topic for many homeowners, so garage door insulation is becoming increasingly popular. Garage door insulation provides climate control year-round and can help lower home energy costs.

GARAGE DOOR OPENERS

Opening the garage is getting easier and easier. While it was already near-effortless with the garage remote, smart technology has made it even more convenient. A smart technology professional can install capabilities for your garage door and light to be turned on right from your smart phone. You can even set a timer so it’s already opening for you as you drive down the block.

garage STEPS TO A MORE ORGANIZED, FUNCTIONAL

METRO SERVICES

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rganization can help homeowners transform their homes into less cramped, more spacious oases without forcing them to finance potentially expensive expansion projects.

Homeowners who park in their driveways may find that their garages have become crowded, cluttered spaces in which searching for tools can feel like scouring a haystack in search of a needle.

Organizing a garage can create extra room in a home while affording homeowners the chance to protect their vehicles from the elements. Homeowners who want to turn their garages into something more

than cluttered storage units can employ the following strategies to transform these largely overlooked areas into more valuable spaces.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT DAY

Garages tend to be separate from the rest of the homes they’re a part of, meaning the only way to organize a garage is to first remove all items from the garage and into the driveway. Because items removed from the garage will be exposed to the elements, homeowners should choose a day that’s temperate and sunny to clean their garages. If possible, homeowners should opt to organize their garages in late spring, summer or early fall when there are additional hours of daylight. This protects homeowners from CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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LP Building products debuts the new LP PurposeBuilt garage door overlays NEWSWIRE

LP Building Products has announced the launch of LP PurposeBuilt, a series of garage door overlays that create a premium look for homeowners while offering supreme workability and ease of use for garage door manufacturers. Made with LP’s premium engineered wood, LP PurposeBuilt provides the same product strength and beauty LP customers have relied on for years.

“Garage door manufacturers and dealers will now have a valuable new

solution to offer home owners who are looking for high-quality garage doors at an affordable price,” says Adina Barnes, LP business development manager. “We are very excited to be expanding our line of products that combine beauty, durability and ease of installment.”

LP is dedicated to supporting the unique needs that garage door manufacturers possess, including: Superior Durability — LP PurposeBuilt overlays are manufactured with our

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proprietary SmartGuard process to help resist fungal decay and termites, and to withstand harsh environments. These engineered wood products are fortified for total protection.

Premium Aesthetic — LP PurposeBuilt overlays come with an authentic cedar grain texture providing a superior wood look that homeowners demand or a smooth product for a sleek, timeless design. Whatever aesthetic is preferred, LP is here to assist garage door

manufacturers in providing affordable, quality options.

Ease of Fabrication — LP PurposeBuilt overlays offer superior workability so manufacturers can easily cut and secure to garage doors while not detracting from its functionality. LP is the garage door industry’s dedicated resource, providing quality products that help deliver value to your customers.

To learn more about LP PurposeBuilt, visit LPPurposeBuilt.com.

FEB 10 / 11 / 12

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denniS The menaCe

The Family CirCuS

by hank ketcham

Sherman’S lagoon

PiCkleS

by Brian Crane

mr BoFFo

by Joe martin

by J. P. Toomey

by Bil keane

rhymeS wiTh orange by hilary Price

marmaduke

by Brad and Paul anderson

Baldo

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by hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos

Blondie

by dean young and John marshall

muTTS

by Patrick mcdonnell

Funky winkerBean

luann

by greg evans

PeanuTS

by Charles Schulz

by Tom Batiuk

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loS angeleS TimeS CroSSword

non SequiTur

by wiley

edited by rich norris and Joyce lewis

lola

by Todd Clark

BeeTle Bailey across 1 Bar line 11 They’re sometimes black 14 Question at an alumni gathering 15 Word with leg or elbow 17 “Looking at all sides ...”

18 Real estate unit 19 Tijuana addr.

20 Nada : Nogales :: __ : Reims 21 Phone user 23 County in Ulster 25 Some broken pegs, or where they’re found 27 Multi-purpose shortening 28 Cooler tenant 29 Crew tools 30 4-Down in France 31 Cooler tenant 34 Pot addition 35 Patriot target 36 Went berserk 38 Sushi bar appetizer 40 “... crafty seer, with __ wand”: Pope 41 “__ Yankees” 43 Feet in a meter?

44 Title of respect, in Tokyo 45 Bug zappers?

46 Ed. basics 47 “Major Crimes” network 48 Green Smoke product 49 Misbehaves 53 Take back 55 Mark for good 57 Old televangelism letters 58 Second-largest Middle East country 59 Wipe out 62 Scrapple ingredient 63 “That’ll never work!”

64 Waves home 65 Cell notice

6 “The Barefoot Contessa” Oscar winner Edmond 7 Island goose 8 1776 battleground 9 Morning hrs.

10 Bugged 11 Like some wills 12 Poker telecast equipment 13 Metaphor for obvious protrusion 16 Car in a King title 22 Biblical beast 24 Waves home 26 All gone 31 Busy Las Vegas area 32 They’re high on the Scoville scale 33 “Whatever” 34 Arcade giant 35 Sting 37 “Well, well!”

39 Carrier to Beijing 42 Fuchsia cousin 45 Pommes frites seasoning 46 Weisz of “The Constant Gardener” 50 Soil mover 51 Absolute 52 Kilt fold 54 “My Way” lyricist 56 Arboreal Amazon monkey 60 Georges, par exemple 61 Tiny, in a tiny way

by mort, greg, and Brian walker

hagar The horriBle

moTher gooSe

by mike Peters

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

down 1 Slap spot 2 Edsel’s father 3 “Making AIDS History” org.

4 30-Across in America 5 Brand in many a Moscow mule HG 8 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, FEB 11, 2017

Tundra

by Chris Browne

by Chad Carpenter

Bizarro

by dan Piraro

argyle SweaTer

by Scott hilburn

CeleBriTy CiPher by luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

B.C.

by hart

ziTS

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

JumP STarT

Frazz

by robb armstrong

by Jef mallett

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dilBerT

by Scott adams

Sally ForTh

by Francesco marciuliano and Jim keefe

BaBy BlueS

by Jerry Scott and rick kirkman

PearlS BeFore Swine by Stephan Pastis

PooCh CaFe

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by Paul gilligan

TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE

ADVICE

Dear Saddened: Your brother-in-law has a very weak point, in that immediate family members (who are presumably grieving, themselves), might not feel the need to reach out to you in sympathy with a note or call. This theory only works, however, if you have all seen one another after your loved one’s death and expressed your mutual condolences personally.

In this case, of course, they should contact you, and the fact that they haven’t makes it sound as if they wrote off their brother many years ago.

You and your husband seem to have tried to maintain a relationship with these faraway family members over the years. The family’s collective behavior now illustrates why he left his home 50 years ago to live on the other side of the country, and why he was so lucky to have you.

Answer: First, tell your grandmother to continue walking, because that decreases overall health risks including those from high blood pressure, and that she may have hit the golden age goodhealth jackpot. A recent study out of U.C. Irvine found that among adults 80 to 89, the onset (that means they did not have it before) of hypertension is associated with a lower risk of dementia.

And those who developed hypertension after age 90 have the lowest dementia risk of all the groups studied! The operating hypothesis is that for the elderly, the increased blood pressure allows for sufficient blood and oxygen flow to the brain, which keeps it functioning well. Tell her to ask her doctor about that.

While middle-age folks who develop high blood pressure are making their RealAge older and increasing their risk for heart disease, cognitive decline and stroke — and need to lower it — it’s not known if treatment for a minor degree of new onset HBP over age 90 is harmful or not.

Also, walking regularly like she does helps keep heart and blood vessels healthy, strengthens her muscles and improves balance. A recent study from the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System has shown that exercise and the resulting cardio fitness promotes “positive memory performance” in aging adults. If she sits around, she may shorten her telomere length (they’re proteins on the end of your DNA that protect it from damage). And that, according to yet another new study, translates to an older RealAge by up to eight years. So tell your Gram to keep walking, check with her doc and in the meantime not to worry too much about her new-onset HBP.

Send questions to askamy@tribune.com or to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

Email your health and wellness questions to youdocsdaily@ sharecare.com.

Dear Amy: My husband and partner (we were a same-sex couple) of 39 years recently died.

We live on the West Coast and his entire family (mother, brother, sisters, nieces, nephews, aunt, uncles) lives on the East Coast. I AMY have no family. He left his childDICKINSON hood home more than 50 years ago, so he hardly lived with his younger brother and sister.

For all these years we flew back for weddings and other family gatherings, sent money for graduations, birthdays, etc. Everyone acted friendly toward us.

His brother and sister flew to our home one month before his passing and claim I was cold, distant and rude to them. I didn’t see it that way, but I apologized.

It has been a month since his passing, and not one family member has reached out to me via text, card or phone call. My brother-in-law suggested that the immediate family does not need to send condolences or thank me for taking care of their brother. He further said that other family members would not know what to say. He even said that I was simply “out of sight ... out of mind.”

Am I missing something here? I am trying to understand their behavior. — Saddened on the Left Coast

—

Question: My grandmother is 92 and as sharp as ever, but she’s worried because her blood pressure has become a bit high. She’s DR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN talking about cutting back on her daily walks, but I am not sure if she should.

What do you advise? — Carmen D., Springfield, Ill.

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ADVICE

Dear readers: Traveling in the car with the dog — lots of us love to do it, but there are some factors to consider. Planning is key, and safety always is the priority.

Here are some hints to help: • Keep a copy of the animal’s HINTS medical history and veterinarian FROM contact information with you.

HELOISE • NEVER allow the dog to ride with its head out the window.

The dangers? Flying debris and inhaling smog.

• Pets need to be restrained: Smaller dogs should be in a carrier on the floor in the back seat, and larger animals in a harness and seat belt. Train the dog from the beginning to use the harness and seat belt, and it will become second nature!

• Don’t leave the dog in the car unattended.

Temperatures can get extreme inside the vehicle.

• If the dog is especially anxious, you might consider boarding him. — Heloise Dear Heloise: I make a care package for each of our children when they move to their own apartment. I take a cardboard box with an attached lid and buy an array of first-aid and medical remedies, analgesics, bandages, ointment, etc.

On paper, I write when and how to use each item. The kids get a convenient and organized initial supply of things it’s good to have on hand; I get peace of mind. — C.M.M., Albany, N.Y. Dear Heloise: When paying a compliment to someone, be sincere and genuine. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “Wow, you look beautiful today!” But here’s the scoop: Asking someone “Have you lost weight?” can be problematic. Chronic illness, stress and the flu, among other maladies, can cause weight loss; it’s not just dieting. — Becca in Arizona Dear Heloise: I broke a bone in my foot and had to wear a boot for six weeks. I found that tying a small pillowcase over the boot made moving my leg in bed much easier. No sticking to the sheets with the hook-and-loop closures on the boot. A bad situation made easier! — Patti W., Thousand Oaks, Calif.

—

Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com or via post to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPES BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS ARIES (March 21-April 19) You have the right to show off when you have the right stuff. Find ways to demonstrate an abundance of attractive qualities.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You might receive proof that there is a mutual attraction if you set your sights on someone who attracts you. Launch plans now to achieve worthy goals in your career or business.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Stamp out trouble spots before they spread. Take charge of situations that are smoldering and put the fire out by being straightforward and honest.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Soar to the heights on the wings of high spirits. You can juggle several tasks at the same time without tiring and ask for more. The love of your life may be enthralled by your charms.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Let the forces of good work through you. This might be the time to stand up for a good cause or join with others to pursue a common goal.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You can’t take a wrong step when you stick with trusted companions. This is an excellent time to embrace a passing opportunity to make more money.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) “He loves me, he loves me not.” Flower petals might fly through the air as you make a crucial decision about a love interest or business matter.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) The home is your castle, but don’t expect everyone to treat you like royalty. It is fun to relax with friends or loved ones, but be sure to chip in your fair share on expenses.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Value your well-being first and foremost. The more you love yourself, the easier it will be to alter behaviors that interfere with your overall serenity.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) True generosity isn’t necessarily about free meals.

You can give a man a fish to feed him once. It may be better to demonstrate how to bait a hook and cast a rod so he can become self-sufficient.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Perform a good deed or make good on promises.

The time may be ripe for social activities or to visit with friends and neighbors.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Turn up the air conditioning or open a window. You might seem like very hot stuff to a loving someone.

You may be able to tap into good advice, so put key initiatives into motion under these amiable stars.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Feb. 11 Take advantage of lucky breaks and helpful advice in the upcoming two to three weeks while it seems as though a guardian angel is watching over everything you do. If something doesn’t work out as planned, it probably wasn’t good for you. In April, you may be filled with ambition but should stick to routines and gather experience. You are most talented at handling money as well as your business affairs in June.

SATURDAY, FEB 11, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 11

AROUND THE HOUSE Optimizing walls from the inside out

BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

KEN MOON

Dear Ken: I have panels of three rocker switches everywhere in my new home. I’m having a hard time figuring out what they are all for.

– Helen

Some of them may control switched outlets. The easiest way to check on this is to buy a polarity tester. This is a small gizmo — less than eight dollars — with orange and red lights that tells you whether or not an outlet is energized and if it is wired correctly. In newer homes, several outlets can be controlled by one switch; if that isn’t complicated enough, you’ll find that sometimes the top half of the outlet is switched, while the bottom portion is always on.

Dear Ken: I’m finishing a room in my house, taping and sanding the drywall and getting ready to texture. I tried one small area with a rented gun, and it was very messy and didn’t get much texture on the wall.

– Rich This is one of those jobs that is more of an art than a science. You probably didn’t dilute the mixture enough when you mixed it up. Also, the nozzle on the gun may be dirty, defective or the wrong type. Did you practice on a piece of cardboard or some plywood? That’s the best way to learn how far away to hold the gun and how briskly to move it back and forth.

If you can’t get it right with the gun, then, yes, you can roll on some material — although this, too, requires mixing up the stuff just right. Look for texturizing rollers at the paint store Dear Ken: I have a room with wall paneling covered with wallpaper. Can I paint over it? Or cover it with new paper?

– Eric Sometimes when you paint wallpaper it can “relax” the glue

GOREN BRIDGE

WITH BOB JONES ©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

weekly bridge quiz q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ 10 9 5 3 2 ♥ k J ♦ k q 4 ♣ A q 10

enough to release parts of it from the wall. As you know interior latex paint is water-based and so is the glue. These days, most wallpaper is strippable — that is, meant to peel off in sections when you want to get rid of it. So see if you can pull it off and start over.

Once the paper is gone, wash the walls with a dilute solution of wallpaper paste remover a couple of times. Then you can paint or repaper, as you wish.

Dear Ken: You recommended in a previous article to stuff insulation batts in the floor joists in a crawl space and cover the ground with plastic. Is the plastic for both moisture and radon, or both?

– Peter Plastic sheeting — I recommend the black, six-mil variety — does indeed help keep the crawl space dryer and a little warmer. Air in these areas doesn’t move around much because of the limited ventilation available. So the underlying floor joists and plywood are less susceptible to dry rot fungus if you limit the moisture that transpires from the earth. Stuff you store down there stays in better shape, too, but I always recommend elevating boxes on spacer boards, plastic or no plastic.

Many vendors in the city will let you have wooden pallets just for the asking. These include the large home centers and landscaping companies.

Since plastic retards evaporation, it can have a harmful effect on wet crawl spaces. In fact, the first thing we do in a home with water troubles is to roll back the plastic in a crawl space. So, don’t apply it until your crawl space dirt is dry to the touch.

We do use this same stuff to seal away radon. But it additionally requires an elaborate sealing system around the perimeter and a mechanical, fandriven evacuation system underneath.

Ken Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 9 a.m. Saturday and is carried on KRDO, AM 1240 and FM 105.5. Visit AroundTheHouse.com.

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What call would you make? q 3 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ A q ♥ k 10 ♦ k q J 9 6 ♣ k q 10 5 As dealer, what call would you make? q 4 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠2♥Aq87♦kJ62♣8652

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What call would you make? q 6 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠AqJ7♥J4♦A♣Aq976 3 SOuTH weST NOrTH eAST 1♣ Pass 1NT Pass ?

What call would you make?

Look for answers on Monday.

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001.)

GARAGE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

having to work in the dark should the job take longer than they initially anticipated.

DISCARD OR DONATE DUPLICATE ITEMS

Duplicate items are some of the main culprits behind cluttered garages. As garages gradually become more cluttered, homeowners may buy tools they already have simply because they cannot find their original tools. When organizing the garage, create separate piles for duplicate tools, placing still-useful items in a pile that can be donated to neighbors, local charities or organizations and another pile for old tools that are no longer useful.

HOST A GARAGE SALE

Homeowners who want to organize their garages and make a buck at the same time can host garage sales. Make only those items that are still functional available for purchase, and let neighbors and bargain hunters do the bulk of your organization work for you.

DESIGNATE AREAS OF THE GARAGE FOR CERTAIN ITEMS

Once the items that won’t be going back into the garage have been sold, donated or discarded, organize the garage by designating areas for certain items, making sure to separate items that can pose safety risks. For example, store kids’ bicycles and outdoor toys in a corner of the garage that is opposite the corner where potentially dangerous items such as power tools and gas cans will be stored. Keep the center of the garage open for vehicles.

PERIODICALLY PARK CARS IN THE GARAGE

Homeowners who are comfortable parking their vehicles in their driveways can improve their chances of maintaining organized garages over the long haul by periodically parking in the garage. Doing so not only prevents the gradual buildup of clutter that can slowly take over a garage, but also protects homeowners’ automotive investments.