Tristate Thrifty Nickel Fall Home Improvement 9-22-22

Innovations Save Money, Energy

In today’s real estate market, more Americans are choosing to stay in their homes and focus on renovations and improvements rather than moving. Home im_provement expert Jodi Marks notes that many homeowners are looking for meaningful fixes, such as decorative enhancements and space-saving strategies, that can make a home feel fresh again. “People are also focused on saving money and energy by looking for building products that offer both current and long-term benefits,” said Marks. “Like many architects and designers, homeowners are turning to plastics to help reduce energy and maintenance costs.”According to Marks, innovations in plastic building and construction products have made it even easier for homeowners to save money, make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint. Some of these innovations can be made of recycled plastics. All types of plastic bottles and containers, when properly recycled, can go on to lead a “second life” as new products for homeowners, such as decking and furniture. Here’s a look at the ways:• Windows: Applying plastic-based caulks and sealants is a quick, easy fix for drafty windows. If replacement windows are needed, vinyl plastic windows provide excellent insulation to help maintain an even temperature in the home. This cuts down on heating and air-conditioning, saving homeowners money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.• Decking and fencing: Lumber made with plastics is durable, doesn’t require painting or staining, and is easy to maintain. It’s also resistant to fad ing, mold and mildew. Some plastic lumber is even made with recycled plastic grocery bags.• Flooring: Plastic-composite laminate flooring is readily in_stalled over almost any existing, hard-floor surface. Each piece simply locks into another, so even a large room can be installed in an afternoon. Because of plastics, composite flooring is durable and both stain and moisture resistant, which means it requires little maintenance and works well in just about any room of the home. Luxury vinyl tile—a tough, durable tile that’s already proved itself for many years in commercial settings—is thicker and made entirely of plastics, with a beautiful finished look to rival traditional materials. It also locks into place over existing flooring for a do-it-yourself project.• Roofing: Plastic roofing can look like slate or wood shakes and it’s long lasting and tough enough to withstand extreme weather.

Manufacturers often offer a 50-year warranty; some even offer a lifetime warranty when the product is installed by a professional. It can also help provide additional insulation protection as part of the roofing system, as well as reflect heat, so it helps reduce heating and cooling costs and energy use.

• Insulation: Adding foam and other plastic insulation when renovating or re-siding a home can help homeowners save on heating and cooling bills. For example, plastic house wrap can reduce infiltration of outside air by up to 50 percent.

To learn more, check out Plastics Make it Possible web site.

Innovations in plastics can help you save time, money and energy at homemakeitpossible.com.

Recycle Your Rain To Go Green And Save Green!

rain, go away” when you have a solar-powered rain barrel pump.

Homeowners today are looking for ways to protect the environment and be more eco-conscious. Better utilizing one of our most precious resources, water, is at the top of the list. Fortunately, there are new and easy ways to save on water usage by recycling rain. Agrowing number of homeowners are realizing that it doesn’t make sense to pay for water to care for your garden when you can simply collect water in a rain barrel. Consider this: One inch of rain over 1,000 square feet of area yields 623 gallons. One inch per hour of rainfall yields about 10 gallons per minute per 1,000 square feet. So it doesn’t take long to fill a few rain barrels with water. But once you’ve captured all that rain, how do you get it out so you can use it? With an ecofriendly pump system, you can easily run a hose or sprinkler from your rain barrel and power the water out. Systems like the RainPerfect™pump from Rule®help in two ways—by harvesting rain and using the power of the sun. Since solar energy powers the rechargeable NiMH battery, there’s no need for an electrical outlet. The pump and solar panel install _easily and provide enough pressure through an ordinary garden hose to run most low pressure sprinklers, for keeping the garden green, washing a car or watering just about anything around the house. Since water usage can increase during warm weather by as much as 30 percent from lawn, flower and vegetable garden watering, it’s a perfect way to go green and save green at the same time! Increasingly, these environmentally friendly efforts are being rewarded. Since many states now mandate rainwater usage, your rain barrel purchase may qualify you for a rebate from your utility company or government. Rebate amounts and qualifications vary, so be sure to contact your utility company or government for re_demption instructions. The RainPerfect pump is available online and through select retailers. For a free tips booklet and more information, visit www.rainperfectpump.com/freegift.

DIY Made Easier

A stylish way to maximize closet storage can include new shoe racks and shelves.

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably spent time wandering the aisles of home improvement stores pining over pending projects and then, feeling overwhelmed, left empty-handed. Do-it-yourself projects, while cost effective, can be a little scary—especially for those who aren’t creatively inclined or ex_tremely handy. Luckily, there are many value-boosting projects that can be completed with little home improvement knowledge. With a small budget of no more than $100 and a little sweat equity, these DIYprojects can spruce up your home and make it a cozier place to live. Curb Appeal Paint Your Front Door: Costing approximately $50 to $100, a fresh pop of color on your door can be a great way to help your home stand out and look appealing.Landscape: You can freshen up your yard with flowering plants available at home improvement stores for only a few dollars a plant. New mulch also makes a big statement for a small price. Interior Details Refresh Your Bathroom: If a big remodel isn’t in the budget, consider updating the faucet hardware. It can be a great way to add personal style to your powder room. Whether the new addition is traditional or modern, this eye-catching update will likely run under $100.

Investing a little time and effort in monitoring the condition of your roof can pay big dividends when it comes to your home and your family’s well-being.Industry professionals believe it’s a good idea to inspect your roof regularly, particularly if you live in areas of the country that experience extreme weather. You can inspect your roof yourself, either by climbing on your roof or by using binoculars from the ground. Another sound option is to have a professional do it for you. If you do go up on the roof yourself, remember to always use proper safety equipment to prevent falls or injury. Learn to Read the Signs Look carefully for the following signs your roof may be in need of repair or replacement:• Leaks in the attic after a wind-driven rain or ice buildup;• Blistering and peeling of interior and/or exterior pain ;• Stains, mold or mildew on interior ceilings and walls;• Exterior decay of sheathing and/or siding. When it comes to examining the roof itself, start by looking at the shingles for any that are missing, cracked, curled, torn or warped. Also, look for any open seams or joints that could lead to leaking. Popped or rusted nails, or stains around nails, are also signs that your roof is in need of repair or replacement.ARoof Is More Than Shingles Many homeowners are surprised to learn that a roof is more than just the shingles. Aroof is actually a system that, in addition to the shingles, includes other components, such as leak barriers and ventilation components. While each element has a particular job to do, they are also designed to work together to cover a house.Designed to OfferPeace of Mind

There is good news for homeowners who want to cover their financial investment as well as their house. One manufacturer of roofing products has a program that offers what it calls “limited lifetime coverage” when a homeowner installs any of its Lifetime Shingles, as well as three or more qualifying accessories made by the same company. The Lifetime Roofing System from GAF is designed to provide homeowners with peace of mind and support contractors who are selling and installing complete roofing systems. The company’s roofing products have been specifically designed to work together for superior, long-term protection and have been proven to be effective on millions of homes nationwide. To learn more, visit www.gaf.com. Leaks in the attic after a wind-driven rain or ice buildup may be signs that your home needs a new roof.