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The Sentinel at www.cumberlink.com
Tuesday • March 20, 2012 — A7
Spring Home
inside & out
Home Improvements
Changes that pay off in a big way It’s beautiful outside and the last thing you want to do is spend all of your spare time working on your home when you could be playing or spending time with loved ones. So what home improvement projects offer the biggest bang for your buck, saving you both time and money down the road? As a homeowner, it’s difficult resisting the temptation of a new kitchen or bathroom. But rule No. 1 in the manual of Homeownership 101 clearly states: Invest first in the structure of your home. “The reason is simple,� says John Gardner of APEX Siding System, a company that makes low-maintenance, high-curb appeal fiberglass siding. “Taking care of your home will prevent major, unexpected repairs and will pay dividends over time.� The second rule of thumb of home improvements is to invest in curb appeal. Whether you are selling, renting or staying for the long haul, it pays to add charm and distinction on the exterior. The exterior of a home is the basis for the first buying decision; this is why investments in curb appeal typically provide a higher payback than other home improvements. Finally, more and more homeowners want homes that are easier to maintain. If you want to spend
your home.
Repair the roof Severe weather over the years can take its toll on your roof. Inspect your roof for loose, damaged or missing shingles, especially around chimneys and vents, where water can leak into your home.
Install energy efficient windows Replace old, out-of-date windows with new energyefficient, Integrity windows made with Ultrex, a fiberglass product.
Re-seal your driveway Look for cracks and movement in your concrete and asphalt driveway. Fill cracks with a crack filler or sealer to prevent water from getting underneath your driveway. Re-seal your driveway to give it a fresh, new look. For more information about creating lasting beauty for your home’s exterior, visit apexsidingsystem.com. — ARA Content Photo illustration
Whether you are selling, renting or staying for the long haul, it pays to add charm and distinction on the exterior of your home. more time enjoying life and less time working on your home, invest in products such as pultruded fiberglass siding and windows that are nearly maintenance free and can dramatically reduce the time you spend cleaning or maintaining your home. Based on these three crit-
ical rules of homeownerUpdate your siding ship, here’s a list of the top New siding can instantly five spring home improve- give the appearance of a toments with big pay offs: tal home makeover, while also reducing your mainteReplace gutters nance costs by choosing fiReplacing old gutters berglass products, such as is an easy way to spruce APEX siding and trim. Reup a home and reduce the moving old siding also prochance of water draining vides the opportunity to inspect your home for any into your basement.
Spring Home
Improvements that will put your room redesign over the top You repainted last year, replaced all the furniture in the fall and just finished recarpeting in that room that needed a little design TLC. But you still haven’t found that final touch to put your room transformation over the top. There’s one more thing you can do, and it’s an improvement that not only makes a big visual impact, but can save energy in your home too: install skylights. “Skylights speak of drama, yet they’re a surprisingly cost-effective home improvement,� says Ross Vandermark, national product manager of Velux, manufacturers of the “No-Leak Skylight.� “In many instances, installing a skylight will cost you less than buying designer furniture or putting in new carpet. And if natural light is the touch you need to raise your room design to the next level, placing a skylight overhead is more practical and cost effective than trying to add a window to a wall.� Energy-efficient skylights are appealing home improvements on several levels. First, they create a dramatic impact by opening a room to the sky and admitting ample, healthful natural light. Second, they can impact your home’s energy efficiency by reducing dependency on artificial light sources and providing passive ventilation (if you opt for a venting skylight, which can be a great way to passively move moist air and vapors from inside a kitchen or bath). Add accessories like manual or solar powered remoteoperated blinds, and your skylights further underscore the overall design theme of
• See Home improvement, A8
Energy-efficient skylights are appealing home improvements. They create a dramatic impact by opening a room to the sky and can impact your home’s energy efficiency by reducing dependency on artificial light sources. Photo illustration
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