Spring Home Improvement by The Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company

SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT

Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement | Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Renovations on a budget can add value to a home BY BONNIE N. DAVIS Correspondent

For property owners seeking to refinance their homes or renters wanting to spruce up their living space, inexpensive renovations are in demand this spring. Local professionals have great tips for a variety of those projects and the budgets on which to do them. “I actually grew up learning a lot of this stuff from my dad growing up in Portland,” said Steve Aucoin, a local contractor and unit director of the North End Boys & Girls Club. “I’ve moved between doing this and desk jobs for around 30 years.” When Aucoin met Harvey Klugman, a skilled contractor from Brooklyn and master of drywall installation, he perfected his craft, including hanging drywall in horizontal rather than vertical planes. “I must have been in my 30s when I ran into Harvey,” Aucoin said. “He was all about renovations and how to do them with little money.” Aucoin learned the technique of applying drywall tape and feathering thin layers of mud — joint compound, still known as the Klugman Method. “It’s so minimal in the amount of dust it creates — it’s more efficient and there’s less clean up,” he said. “Bumps come from too much mud — most people use too much. Klugman was meticulous about edges and using wide feathering — 12 to 16 inches on both sides of the seam — saving time and materials. Your savings are all in little bits, but when you add them up, it becomes larger.” Aucoin often is called in when do-it-yourself projects go wrong. “We’re trapped in a world of manufactured goods. There aren’t many carpenters anymore, but

we have a lot of building material installers used to 4-by-8-foot products,” he said. “When renovating older homes, it’s hard to hit the studs. If you’re used to new construction, you may not know how to make those adaptations.” According to Aucoin, consumers are misled by builders who say they are licensed — Maine requires licensing for plumbers and electricians, but not contractors. He advises homeowners to ask if contractors carry insurance, look at previous work and find out if they are problem solvers who can think their way through difficulties. “There are very few repairs or renovations that most homeowners can do adequately,” he said. “Of course, if you have no money, you have to try. If you are good at reading the written word and translating it into an effectively-done job and have some handson experience, give it a try or work alongside a qualified contractor and learn.” Joe Roy, with Campbell’s Building Supply in Madison, works with contractors as well as with people wanting to do their own work. When a homeowner comes in, he starts his process. “Well, first I would show options on what’s available — I don’t want to show my hand on what to spend. For a bathroom, I show faucets, toilets, light fixtures and tubs,” he said. “I show options and that leads into what they can spend — I don’t want to insult anybody about their budget.” Roy uses a five-step process with customers: • Show options. • Learn their vision or dream. • Help design what they want. • Figure out the budget.

Bonnie Davis photos

Above, Steve Aucoin demonstrates the Klugman technique of feathering mud to create a smooth painting surface. At left, since amateur installation and mudding left severe ridges on new drywall, an easy fix was textured sea sponge painting with a painted chair rail. Installing inexpensive molding fixed the nontaped gap between wall and ceiling.

More on RENOVATE, Page 4

Index to Advertisers All Season Home Improvement Co.. . . . . . . 4, 7, 11, 19 Audette's Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Bob's Cash Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Bolster's Rubbish & Recycling . . . . 19 Boucher's Construction Services. . . . 5 Brad Hendrickson General Contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Budget Blinds of Augusta . . . . . . . . . 5 Canty Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Central Maine Equipment . . . . . . . . . 7 Central Maine Hydroseeding. . . . . . . 9 Century Pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 D.H. Pinnette & Sons, Inc. . . . . . . . 13

Dead River Company . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Furlongs Home & Yard Care. . . . . . 19 Gagne & Sons Concrete. . . . . . . . . . 17 Gerald MacKenzie, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 16 Gosline's Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Hammond Lumber Company . . . 9, 18 Houle's Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 18 Jason Brothers Painting Co. . . . . . . 19 Kennebec Savings Bank. . . . . . . . . . 19 Kitchen Encounters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 KSW Federal Credit Union . . . . . 6, 19 LaPointe Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Longfellow's Cedar Shingles & Shakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Longfellow's Greenhouse . . . . . . . . . 3 Longfellow's Hydroseeding, Inc. . . . . 5 MacKenzie Landscaping, Inc. . . 18, 19 Maine Energy Pros, Inc. . . . . . . . . . 10 Mason's Lawnmower & Power Equipment Service . . . . . . . . . . 8, 13 McKenney Tree & Landscaping . . . 19 Murray's Pools & Spas . . . . . . . . . . . 9 North Country Power Sports . . . . . . 14 NuImage Awnings of Maine . . . . . . . 6 Power Equipment Plus . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Quinn True Value Hardware . . . . . . 16 Rocky's Stove Shop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Selco Plumbing & Heating . . . . . . . . 5

Shop from Home Flooring . . . . . . . 19 Skowhegan Savings Bank . . . . . . . . 15 Somerset Stone Center & Excavation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Stebra Roofing Systems . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Stevens Siding & Window . . . . . . . . 11 Sunset Flowerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Taconnet Federal Credit Union . . . . 12 Teague Distributors . . . . . . . . . . 4, 5, 8 Trailside Performance . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ware-Butler, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Waterman Farm Machinery Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Wish - Home & Garden Décor . . . . 16

The cover was designed by Denise Vear, Creative Services Manager. Questions or comments? Call Bridget Campbell, Business Development Manager at 861-9155 or 1-800-537-5508 - ext. 9155

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement

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Renovate Continued from Page 2

• Design or spruce up a room within that budget. As is the case with many building supply companies, Campbell’s has outside salespeople who go to homes to measure and take material samples. “If a customer comes in and wants to do-it-yourself, we help them through the process just as we would work with a contractor,” Roy said. “There are a lot of upgrades people can do with a wrench, screwdriver and paint brush. If your budget is under $200, new paint, faucets, toilet paper holders, towel racks, light switch covers and decorations make a big difference in appearance. You can add molding or update by repainting; to remove and install tubs, toilets, etc., you need a contractor.” With locations in Waterville, Skowhegan and Livermore Falls, Ware-Butler Inc. also offers a variety of services. “Basically, I’m an outside salesperson,” said Bill Veilleux, from the Waterville store. “I take rough drawings — sometimes on paper napkins — to full scale drawings; I figure out materials for a project and the cost of materials. Then, when it’s settled and approved, we start the tedious process of ordering; 28 years ago, people would just come in and take things off the shelf.” According to Veilleux, product lines are enormous, with many special products available. “We come to a job site, figure out materials, order and ship to the house at no cost,” he said. “We have three stores with trucks going in different directions — the last time we had to charge, was way up in Millinocket.” During the summer, vendors offer barbecue demonstrations at Ware-Butler’s. Invitations are sent to contractors and individuals in their customer base to introduce new products and methods. “We’ve build a deck out here 6-feet-by-6-feet or 8-feet-by-8feet; we’ve done replacement windows,” Veilleux said. “We have a good relationship with local vendors; we’re here all day. If we don’t have an answer, they send a rep over and help measure or whatever.”

For some jobs, Veilleux recommends contractors. “If you need a contractor, we give you two or three names of people who match your budget and personality. It costs money to get an education, whether you go to the school of hard knocks or hire a professional,” he said. “If homeowners need assistance, we help. Most manufacturers have manuals on line, or you can watch YouTube demos. I have years of experience on what not to do — drywall and garage doors are almost a trade of their own. I work with people who just build stairs or just build million-dollar homes.” “I think planning is important,” said Judy Higgins, the kitchen and bath wizard at McCormack Building Supply in Winslow. “I’ve been doing cabinets for over 25 years — 15 years here. We offer the service of going to a client’s home and measuring. I do a design on my computer; it gives the customer a visual.” With her software, Higgins offers a few design options to help customers make decisions. Aided by knowledge of promotions and sales, clients often find renovations affordable. Higgins, who recently renovated her own kitchen, said she spent about $1,200 removing wallpaper, repainting walls and installing a new Formica countertop, quartz sink and high-arch, brushed-nickel faucet. “The floor and appliances were fine,” she said. “My husband and I did the work — it helps to be married to a talented guy. We had someone come in and do the plumbing —that made the total cost come up to $1,500.” Supplying customers with the

Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement | Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Bonnie N. Davis photo

Bob Van Gordon and Jerry Saint Amand of Ware-Butler in Waterville discuss flooring options.

names of qualified tradespeople is another part of the services, according to Higgins. “I can recommend people with different abilities,” she said. “I trust giving their names so clients will be comfortable with them and with me. Planning, I think, gives you a good start, so you don’t rip something out and find it’s not in stock. Some people can’t see beyond what they have; you can move the fridge and open up the space.” She said clients have come in wanting total renovations with a budget of just $400, which is not realistic for major renovations; $2,000 is more realistic. “But you can repaint cabinets, change hardware or install a new countertop for a fresh look,” Higgins said.

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All of the professionals suggested being realistic about limitations and calling a professional prior to getting in too deeply. “Don’t bite off more than you

can chew — people underestimate the task. Stop before you get too far — these are not skillless tasks,” Aucoin said. “Start small and have fun.”

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement

SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT

Maine gardeners need to apply practical fashion sense BY J.P. DEVINE Correspondent

And so it is with those in Maine who would journey out in the noonday, or any other time of day, to sow the seeds of summer gardens. It is madness of course. We are all driven by the mediainspired myth of fresh veggies, herbs and gorgeous flowers filling our vases. Madness. But go we will, with spade and rake, seeds and pesticides, knee pads and sensible shoes. So here are a few things one must consider before heeding the call of Mother Nature. First, apparel. You’ve scanned the magazines, visited L.L. Bean and succumbed to all those fashion pamphlets about what is trendy to wear in the garden. Discard them. Those are aimed at wealthy folks who live in Connecticut, the Carolinas and California. This is Maine. There are precautions to be taken here that transcend fashion. First thing to do is discard the Bermuda and khaki shorts. There are monsters out there in the new spring grass, creepy, crawly, slimy, infectious monsters. There are ticks and fleas, gnats and mosquitoes that have been busy laying eggs all winter to provide issue that will infect you and bring pain and discomfort. Any medical journal dealing with these issues will warn you of bacteria that can cause leptospirosis, Legionnaires’ disease, asthma, tetanus and conniption fits. You will need to wear strong pants tied at the ankles, longsleeved upper garments with a high collar to protect the neck, and gloves, certainly, not those ladylike white things, but strong work gloves, the kind that have reinforced palms so thick that they make it almost impossible to pick up any stray coins you might have lost there in the fall. For protection against the deadly rays of the sun, you will need good sunglasses, not those “glammy” things you wore on the beach in Bermuda, but good ones with proper ultraviolet ray protection. Those rays can cause photokerati-

“Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun,” BRITISH WRITER NOEL COWARD

J.P. Devine photo

tis, pingueculae and permanent retinal damage. Are you writing any of this down? I know the big ones with rhinestones and lacy side plates are glamorous, but you want to be able to see in October when you plant the garlic. Oh! You thought garlic grew in the market? In addition, the Maine gardener needs a sensible hat — a pith hel-

met is a good idea. You can pick up authentic ones online, the kind Dr. Livingstone wore when he was lost in the jungle. They also sell them in trendy pastel colors. Peach is nice this time of year. Check out the upscale garden catalogs. They’re lighter, like the kind the mailmen and women wear. Don’t forget to slather on the

right skin creams. The sun is an unfriendly companion. It may make the blossoms bloom in May, but it’s very good at producing skin cancers, blotches and wrinkles. As for shoes, forget the popular Crocs. They’re fun to wear on the deck when having lunch, but the dewy spring grass is full of water and bacteria that will seep through the cute holes and give you a fungus infection. Instead, wear good boots, preferably knee-high rubber jobs. But in a pinch, those snow boots you have been wearing since Christmas will do. I think it’s equally smart to include the cotton face mask you often see on Asian faces. They know what they’re doing. It will keep a lot

of those pesticide fumes from your lungs. Bright colors and colognes are fine for summer weddings, but they seem to attract insects that have yet to be identified by medical science. If you must smell nice, try your husband’s aftershave. Gnats are annoyed by it. Yes, it’s healthy and fun to venture into the wilderness of your garden, to spy the early crocuses 'neath the trees. And of course you will want the neighbors to wave, talk about you in the market and copy you. But fashion is for the brave, who are very often, stupid. Take care. Perhaps a photographer will stray by and snap you. You could be setting your own trends for next season.

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Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement | Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Spraying of the green spreads modern-day magic BY NANCY GALLAGHER Correspondent

If the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence — or if there is no grass — it’s time to contact Norman “Norm” Vigue at Central Maine Hydroseeding. The business shares quarters with Vigue’s Furniture Restoration at 99 Church Street in Oakland. Vigue has operated his wood furniture restoration business at that location for the past 19 years. Four years ago his yearning to work outdoors inspired the addition of Central Maine Hydroseeding. Hydroseeding involves spraying a mixture of wood fiber mulch, grass seed, fertilizer, and water onto prepared ground, using a hydroseeding machine. The mix will have a lumpy, green, wet, appearance. Wildflower seed may also be in the mix, if desired. You’ve probably seen it alongside new and recently resurfaced roadways. Why hydroseed instead of other grass planting methods? Because it eliminates the drawbacks or challenges. The traditional do-it-yourself method of broadcasting seed, adding fertilizer and covering it with hay is an invitation to every bird in the area to a grass seed buffet. Weeds from the hay can also sprout along with your new

Contributed photo

BEFORE: Central Maine Hydroseeding owner Norman Vigue hydroseeds a new residential lawn.

grass. Spreading the seed evenly is another challenge, and raking up all that hay later is a nuisance. Laying sod is expensive, may not always take and consumes a great deal of water.

Hydroseeding provides even coverage and speedy results at a fraction of the cost of sod. Water in the mixing tank initiates seed germination. When the mix is sprayed, the wood fiber mulch

sits atop the seeds, retaining vital moisture while shielding the germinating seeds from birds. Growth is visible in three to four days and the lawn will be fully established in three weeks.

“During the summer when the dew is early in the morning, it holds the moisture and releases More on HYDROSEEDING, Page 7

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement

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Hydroseeding involves spraying a mixture of wood fiber mulch, grass seed, fertilizer and water onto prepared ground, using a hydroseeding machine.

Contributed photo

AFTER: Lush new grass surrounds this residence following hydroseeding.

Hydroseeding Continued from Page 6

it throughout the day,” says Vigue. This helps roadside applications succeed. He emphasizes that “moisture is the biggest thing about growing grass.” For the first two weeks after hydroseeding, the lawn should be watered two to three times daily, making sure the seed mixture remains thoroughly moist. For the following two weeks, a once-daily watering is recommended until the first mowing. The lawn should be fully established and be about 3 inches tall in most areas before that first mowing. Central Maine Hydroseeding guarantees its work 100 percent to every one of its customers following these

guidelines. One month after the application, Central Maine Hydroseeding returns and fertilizes the new lawn at no additional cost. This replenishes nutrients drawn from the soil at the beginning of the growing process. The hydroseeding season usually begins when the earth’s temperature is 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It continues until the snow flies. A late fall application will go dormant and germinate in the spring. Vigue hydroseeds large commercial and educational facilities, as well as smaller residential properties. Square footage will determine pricing. Estimates are free. For more information or to schedule an appointment, telephone Central Maine Hydroseeding at (207) 465-2250 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.

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Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement | Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Color adds punch and pizzazz for spring do overs BY VALERIE TUCKER Correspondent

ture, and I always suggest bringing a sample of the color they want to match or accent,” he said. Making plans to paint anything Planning to sell your house? A inside or outside the place one fresh coat of paint can work woncalls home can be an emotional ders in the kitchen, bathroom, or process. entryway. Cooler colors, especialDecisions abound. What colors ly blue, can make a home seem work well together? Should it fresh and clean during the summatch the furniture or the drapes? mer. A person’s real estate broHow does one get rid of peeling ker, who probably has seen the paint, mildew or grime on the old best and worst home decorating clapboards? Is a primer coat ideas, can give advice. Paint required? What is the difference manufacturers can offer samples between linen and eggshell, or of complex colors, but endless matte and pearl? choices of off-whites can be Garnett Johnston, Hammond daunting for those who just want Lumber’s 28-year veteran of the a light color, Johnston said. subtle art and science of painting, Painting a light earth tone over a soothes the worries of anxious maroon wall could require fewer customers in his Auburn store. coats than repainting that same Four key questions get them on wall with a yellow or red. track. “I ask whether they are Photo contributed by Hammond Lumber repainting or starting from More on PAINT, Page 9 Garnett Johnston of Hammond Lumber is ready to show all that is available. scratch, what condition the surface is in, what tools they have or might need and what preparation options they are planning,” Johnston said. The best time, money and Mantis Mantis Tiller energy savings start with the right Electric with Free Kickstand tools, according to the pro. and Border Edger! Log Splitter “You can rent a power washer ONLY ONLY to get flakes and grime off the 1 YEAR FREE $ $ HOME TRIAL exterior,” he said. “Spend a little extra to get a scraper that stays sharp longer and a brush that doesn’t leave its bristles or 350 Upper Main Street, Fairfield • 453-9363 clumps and drips behind.” Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-5, Sat. 8-Noon Good paint rarely fails, so if www.teaguedistributorsinc.com exterior house paint starts peeling within two years, the preparation steps may have been the culprit, Johnston suggested. Quality paint lasts much longer OWER QUIPMENT ERVICE than the bargain brands, but it is a waste of money and time if a LX Series person has painted over a poor surface. Painting wood, clapToro LX lawn boards, shakes, shingles, stucco, tractors combine masonry, primed metal, asbestos power, shingles and masonry block and performance, brick all require proper preparaand value to tion, he said. Painting inside the help you create your home provides a chance to be ideal yard creative with walls and trim. The right colors can inspire, soothe, Deluxe create the illusion of space, or set Features: the mood and atmosphere for any • Cruise Control particular room. • Hourmeter “I ask customers if they want • 3 Gal. Fuel Capacity to bring out the tones and colors of the flooring, cabinets, upholstery, or a special piece of furni-

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement

Paint Continued from Page 8

“I try to help customers understand that some colors which look great in their dreams might not be what they see when they are finished painting,” he said. Do the homeowners expect tp

buy some new furniture or appliances after they paint? Plan ahead, Johnston advised. “Occasionally, a customer will come in with a complex fabric swatch with lots of colors and shades, hoping I can pick the perfect paint to match,” he said. “If they want an accent color for woodwork, that’s probably a better choice that trying to match

the wall color.” What’s trendy? Forty years ago, Harvest Gold and Avocado Green were popular appliance colors, but today’s stoves, washers, dryers, and even fixtures can be boldly-colored focal points. “The great feature of paint, though, is that you can always paint again if you decide you hate it,” he said.

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CALIFORNIA PAINTS Hammond Lumber stores carry California Paints (www.californiapaints.com) and colors are grouped to complement each other, Johnston said. The Historic Colors of America collection, for example, includes interior and exterior colors replicated from Colonial, Federal, Tudor, and Craftsmen periods to those more popular later in the late 20th century. For people with youngsters in the house, the line offers a collection of “Super-Scrubbability” choices in matte, satin/matte, semi-gloss, and eggshell finishes that have low-emission and environmentally-friendly finishes.

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Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement | Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Small vegetable gardens can be easy and practical use chemicals — that was about 30 years ago and I’ve never used chemicals since.” Whether the weekend gardenAccording to Ames, raised er is concerned with rising probeds for home gardens can be as duce costs, contaminants in the small as 4-feet-by-4-feet or 4commercial food supply or just feet-by-6-feet and produce a lot wants to dabble in gardening, of yield. He suggests buying starting a small vegetable garden inexpensive landscape ties or can be easy and inexpensive non-pressure treated boards. when following tips from sea“Use old boards to make a soned professionals. container,” he said, “but if you “You need to pick out one have to buy them, don’t get presspot in your yard that gets a sure treated — the chemicals can minimum of six hours of direct leach into the soil.” sunlight per day,” said Oakland Placing fabric, cloth, old farmer Ernie Ames. boards or layers of cardboard Although his 100 Acre Farm (without ink) on the ground on 10 Lots Road in Oakland is before setting up the frame, cuts not certified organic, Ames start- down on weed control and saves ed organic practices long ago. time as well as labor, he said. “When my daughter was little, Ames suggests using old-fashshe’d walk right into the garden ioned Yankee initiative by recyto eat,” he said. “I didn’t want to cling old bathtubs or a plastic BY BONNIE N. DAVIS Correspondent

children’s swimming pool for container gardening. “Make sure you punch holes in the bottom of the pool for drainage,” he said. “You can put it in your driveway and move it out of the way. You can line the bottom with pea stones, but that adds weight.” Izzy McKay, proprietor of Half Moon Gardens in Thorndike, said moisture is important. “Whenever you plant anything in a container, you have to watch the water requirements,” said McKay, whose business is located at the intersection of Routes 139 and 220. “They tend to dry out more, and don’t assume the soil in a container from last year is good — replace or amend.” Bonnie N. Davis photo

More on D.R. Struck, Page 15

Spring has sprung inside D.R. Struck Landscape Nursery.

What will you encounter in your new kitchen?

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement

D.R. Struck Continued from Page 14

often has customers who are looking for teachers’ gifts and the mugs, lotions and other new additions are perfectly suited for giving as a little token of appreciation. Stonewall Kitchen is celebrating its 20th anniversary and has expanded its line of specialty foods to include things such as champagne blueberry jam. Bridgewater Candle has jar candles, votives and melting wafers in several new scents, including peachy Paradise Punch and baby blue Water Lily. The store continues to carry its line of Pretty Tools, which are small hand tools, desk accessories and other items designed for women and featuring floral designs and animal prints. Struck said she added to that line a manicure set, which has been a popular choice in the store for several years now. The store is open seven days a week. The nursery greenhouse is filling up fast with more than 30 kinds of Hostas, loads of daylilies, bleeding hearts, and lupine and other varieties for a total of 3,800 perennials that have been divided and potted on site,

Struck said. Soon, they will be joined by colorful annuals, hanging baskets, herbs, roses, ornamental trees, shade trees and evergreens, she said. “Growers bring varieties in all season,” she said, noting that lilacs and rhododendron bushes are especially popular around Mother’s Day. In addition to the gift shop and garden center, which offers more than 700 varieties of plants, the business includes a design-build landscape company. Several teams of landscape contractors build decks, patios and greenhouses. Struck’s business partner and former husband, David Struck, oversees the landscape business, supervising landscaping crews and doing design work for customers. “His passion all his life was to own his own landscape business,” she said. “He knew it in junior high.” There are two or three crews of landscapers with three or four employees on each crew, she said. They build decks, patios, greenhouses, rock walls, walkways and other outdoor designs for both commercial and residential customers. While there are no major celebrations planned for the anniversary season, the company’s

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Contributed photos

Flowering trees make a colorful addition to backyard ambiance.

Spring Open House is scheduled for later in May. To mark the company’s 25th anniversary, customers will be able to select one plant of their choice and receive 25 percent off on the 25th day of

each month all year long. The season will end Christmas Eve, as usual, but not before the company’s annual Holiday Open House, held the first weekend in December, and Candlelight

Night, held the following Friday. For more about D.R. Struck Landscape Nursery, call 3954112 or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com and search for D.R. Struck Landscape.

SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT

Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement | Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Heating systems provide warmth and ambiance BY KRIS FERRAZZA Correspondent

WINTHROP — Keeping a home warm is getting cleaner and more convenient all the time, and customers need not skimp on ambiance or efficiency in the process. Kaplan Electric may be best known for the teams of licensed electricians who work out in the field, but back at the home office there is a showroom is filled with a wide range of heating systems designed to make staying warm clean and easy. Whether a homeowner wants to heat with wood, gas or pellets, the company’s new “Home and Hearth” division has options ranging from stoves and fireplaces to inserts. Product lines include Kozy Heat, Regency, Archgard, Vistaflame and Supreme. “Right now, gas is pretty popular because it’s clean and easy,” said Kristen Frost, business manager for the company. “It’s like turning on your TV. You hit the remote control and they light right up.” Even on the coldest mornings last winter, Frost reported she could count on the fireplaces and other heating units in the showroom to warm the place up in no time. “It’s clean, it’s pretty and it heats up quick,” she said of the new heating products. “They act like a furnace” but without the expense of oil or having to carry wood or build a fire. “There are lots of styles, and even if you want to use them yearround for ambiance, some of them come with what is called a ‘dump’ so you can dump the heat,” she said. Many of the heating units do not require electricity, so if the power goes out, the units still work. For those looking to avoid loss of power entirely, Kaplan Electric sells Kohler generators. The standby units come on automatically when the power goes out, so the owner does not even have to go out and get it started. Fireplace inserts are heating units that can be set into a traditional fireplace to provide the efficiency of a wood stove without the inefficiency of a fireplace. With nearly 20 licensed electri-

cians on staff at any given time, Kaplan Electric serves the region and beyond, doing residential and commercial projects. The contractors do new construction, remodels and service. In addition to installing electrical service, they also sell and install generators, solar panels, lightning rods, fireplaces and stoves. Purchasing Agent Dick Morin is familiar with Efficiency Maine programs and can assist customers interested in filling out applications for rebates and other programs. The company’s solar program is put into practice right at Kaplan Electric, where one building is equipped with solar panels that make the company electric meter run backward as the system generates energy independently. “It’s pretty fascinating,” Frost said. “I notice it when the electric bill comes in and there is a zero balance on one of our energy bills.” She said that, in addition to energy savings, using solar power has other benefits. “It’s an excellent way to use the sun, it’s obviously green, and it’s turned out to have entertainment value,” she said, noting that Mon - Fri. 7:30 - 5:30 Sat. 8-5 - Sun. 9-3

Photos courtesy kaplanelectric.com

Kaplan Electric serves the region and beyond. The contractors do new construction, remodels and service. In addition to installing electrical service, they also sell and install generators, solar panels, lightning rods (photo above,) fireplaces and stoves. At left is a fireplace insert which can be set into a traditional fireplace.

employees enjoy tracking how many kilowatt hours the system is generating and seeing the meter run in reverse. The business, owned by brothers Dan and Steve Kaplan, has teams of electricians on various jobs all the time, offers emergency service and does an equal amount of electrical work on commercial and residential jobs, she said.

Tel: (207) 474-3449 Fax: (207) 474-0207

www.quinnhardware.com 125 Waterville Rd. Skowhegan, Maine

“We have a really good crew, with top-notch guys,” she said. “We do a lot of cross training, so we have a lot of informed people.” The company also sells lightning rods. It installs them locally, but more often on barns and buildings nearer the coast. Designed to give lightning a direct line to the ground, the rods protect property and prevent injury, she said.

Located on U.S. Route 202, Kaplan Electric also sells accessories and supplies for the home and hearth, including fireplace tools, firewood storage racks, fire starters, grills, fans, thermometers, hearth rugs and chimneys. For more information, call Kaplan Electric at 377-3066 or visit the Web site at www.kaplanelectric.com.

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement

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Lyme disease reported in every Maine county phocytic meningitis, Bell’s palsy, cranial neuritis, encephalitis, and atrioventricular heart block. May is National Lyme Disease The disease has been reported Prevention Month. The disease is in every county in Maine, accordnamed after Lyme, Connecticut, ing to the Maine CDC’s 2009 where it was first diagnosed. Lyme Disease Surveillance According to the web site for Report. More than 55 percent of Maine’s Center for Disease Control the 2009 cases occurred in and Prevention, a woman in that Cumberland and York counties. small coastal town in Connecticut The majority of cases are reportnotified Yale researchers in 1975 ed during the summer months regarding a cluster of mostly pedibetween May and August, however, atric arthritis cases. That led to the Lyme-infected ticks have been ideneventual discovery and naming of tified earlier than that. the physical disorder now referred Maine CDC officials make the to as Lyme disease. following recommendations for According to the Center’s 2009 the prevention of Lyme disease. annual report, 970 probable and • Pregnant women should avoid confirmed cases of Lyme disease grassy and wooded areas that ticks were reported in Maine during inhabit because Lyme disease can that year. Fifty-five percent of cause serious complications durthose cases were reported among ing pregnancy and can be transmales with a median age of 45 mitted from a mother to her years. However, the ages ranged unborn child. from 1 to 94 years. • Dress in light-colored clothLyme disease is one of several ing so that ticks can be seen diseases that may be transmitted more easily. through the bite of an infected • Wear long pants and sleeves deer tick. when walking in woods, brush One of the first manifestations or grassy areas. Tuck pant legs of the disease is often a bull’s-eye into socks and tuck shirt into the rash at the site of the tick bite, pants. Deer ticks attach themaccording to Maine’s Center for selves to clothing and then move Disease Control. That rash, upward. referred to as erythrema migrans, • Use a repellent containing reportedly shows up within 3 to DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) 30 days in 70 to 80 percent of following label directions. Avoid people with Lyme disease. Fever, high concentrations on the skin, headache, fatigue, and muscle and especially on children. joint pains are also common dur• Pretreat clothing with a permeing the first weeks of the disease. thrin-containing product that repels When diagnosed early, Lyme and kills ticks. Follow directions. disease usually can be treated with Don’t apply this to the skin. antibiotics. If left untreated, Lyme • Ask a veterinarian about tick disease can lead to arthritis, lymrepellents or Lyme vaccines for BY WANDA CURTIS Correspondent

TICK REMOVAL Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick. Consult a physician if the tick is engorged with blood or if a person develops a rash, fever, muscle or joint pains. • Grab the tick as close to its mouth (the part that is stuck in the skin) as possible. The body of the tick will be above the skin. • Do not grab the tick around its bloated belly. It might push infected fluid from the tick into the body if a person squeezes it. • Pull the tick straight out until its mouth lets go of the skin. Do not twist or "unscrew" the tick. This may separate the head from the body. — Courtesy WebMD.com

Deer ticks are one of two types of ticks in the United States that carry Lyme disease bacteria. One of the first manifestations of the disease is often a bull’s-eye rash at the site of the tick bite, as shown on right.

dogs and other outdoor pets. • Inspect oneself, the family, clothing, and pets for ticks immediately after leaving a wooded or grassy area. Check body folds, behind the ears and in the hair and scalp. • Shower, using a wash cloth, as soon as possible. Heat drying helps to kill ticks. • Mow grass and cut back brush frequently to prevent tick habitats in the yard. Keep woodpiles in

sunny areas. Remember, that just because a person had Lyme Disease once, does not mean he or she is immune. They can get it again. Remove ticks promptly and carefully. The Lyme disease spirochete bacteria are rarely transmitted before the ticks have been attached 36 hours. Don’t handle ticks with bare hands. Avoid crushing the tick on the skin because its bodily fluids can

be harmful. Consult a physician for instructions on how to safely remove ticks. Save the tick in 70 percent alcohol. Ticks can be mailed to the Vector Borne Disease Lab at Maine Medical Center for inspection. Consult a physician if the tick is engorged with blood or if a person develops a rash, fever, muscle or joint pains or other symptoms of Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick.

SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT

Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement | Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Paint can add pop to spring decorating BY NANCY GALLAGHER Correspondent

Spring is finally here and many people are looking around the house, thinking how tired it looks. If they are ready to perk up the nest without breaking the bank they can consider David Mathieu Company. No, really. If, when the name David Mathieu Company comes up and it brings up thoughts of vehicle collision repair, it’s time to broaden one’s thinking — vastly. In their 83 years in business they’ve painted a lot of items other than cars and trucks. In the 1940s, founder David Mathieu painted Army helmets as part of a government work project. They have painted airplanes, motorcycles and boats. But more to the point, they also paint household furniture and fixtures. “We’ve got a facility (in which) to paint, so we can paint in a safe environment,” says third-generation owner Jim Mathieu. Just pick a room in the house and they can probably help add a wow factor with paint while extending the useful life of a wide range of pieces. How about the kitchen? If there is a dated refrigerator or dishwasher color silently begging for an update, David Mathieu Company can do it. Cabinets looking a bit tired? Don’t even think of doing them yourself. Painting cabinet doors and even cabinet bases can redefine your kitchen. If a claw foot tub has seen its better days, one can restore its original elegance or give it a 21st century twist with new paint. The company will sandblast off the rust and old paint, epoxy prime it and apply the color of a customer’s choice. Even bath fixtures can be painted to create a historical match. After the paint is applied, they will keep the item for the threeday period during which 90 percent of curing occurs. If a person finds a vintage iron bedstead that would be perfect for the guest room, it can be aged stylishly with new paint.

Just pick a room in the house and they can probably help add a wow factor with paint while extending the useful life of a wide range of pieces.

Even wooden toys can be refinished. David Mathieu Company paints a wide variety of surface materials, including plastic, metal, and fiberglass. Outdoors, a homeowner may want to examine fiberglass or metal exterior doors, too. A refinish by David Mathieu Company can create a new first impression. A person also may want to consider extending the impact with repainted aluminum or vinyl shutters. Looking out into the yard, the homeowner may find that the metal lawn furniture needs some jazzing up. Mathieu’s can give it a new lease on life. They can even paint the wicker furniture. A peek into the storage shed may make a person think about painting the lawn tractor.

All paint is lead-free industrial or automotive paint, according to the people at Mathieu’s. It is waterborne paint, as opposed to oil-based paint, as a further nod to respecting the environment. No special care or treatment is necessary after the item has been retrieved. Call for an appointment for more information or to schedule painting. Pickup and delivery is available. A delivery charge may apply for heavy items, such as bathtubs. David Mathieu Co. Inc. is located at 6 Allen Street, Waterville, Maine 04903. Telephone: (207) 872-5518. Fax: (207) 873-0880. Website: www.DavidMathieuCompany.com. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

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Contributed photo

A stately bronze finish applied to this faucet coordinates with the period look of a clawfoot tub.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement

SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT

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SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT

Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement | Wednesday, April 27, 2011