Home improvement 2013 web

HOME IMPROVEMENT 20132 The Daily NewsSEPTEMBER 29, 2013

(BPT) - It’s the do-it-yourself dream: decid-ing on the perfect DIYproject just as the week-end finally arrives. Allthe supplies have beenpurchased and you’reready to dive right in.However, the enthusias-tic start of the projectdoesn’t always end incompletion.

“Knocking out a bighome improvement ordo-it-yourself project inone weekend can be arewarding task, but it isalso challenging andcan be taxing on yourknees, feet and backwhen standing in thesame position for sever-al hours,” says MarkClement, home im-provement expert andco-host of the nationalradio show MyFixit-

UpLife.Whether you are

woodworking at yourworkbench or staininga piece of furniture inthe garage, Clementoffers these tips to

make the most of yourDIY weekend projectswhile also feeling com-fortable enough to suc-cessfully finish them:

Focus on form andtechnique. When

learning a new tech-nique, go slowly, step bystep, until you’ve mas-tered it. Allow yourbody to become accus-tomed to the variousmotions required. Mov-ing efficiently is one ofthe best ways to avoidinjury.

Stay hydrated. Makeit a priority to drink atleast 125 ounces of coldwater each day. Stayinghydrated is importantwhen exerting DIYenergy, especially inthe summer heat. Sowhether you’re diggingup the garden, roofingthe shed, or wrenchingin a no-AC garage, keepa water bottle or sportsdrink close by.

Create a comfort-able workspace. Beconscious of how long

you are standing in thesame spot working onyour project and howyour back feels. Torelieve pressure andsoreness on feet, kneesand back, use a durablemat that is engineeredwith an optimal bal-ance of cushion andsupport.

Dress appropriate-ly. Flip-flops and san-dals do not offer the bal-ance, protection andsupport that a sturdyclosed-toe shoe or workboot does while tack-ling home improve-ment projects.

Even if you have thegrace of a ballerina inthe workshop or yard, itis remarkably easy todrop things on your feetand it only takes asmall distraction to cre-

ate a big problem.Know your limits.

When you only have aweekend to finish a bigproject, you might befeeling the pressure.Before the project evenstarts, accept that itmay not all go accord-ing to plan. Plan for afew different scenariosand remember that youcan always ask for help.

Have a first aid kit.Even if you are beingextremely cautious,accidents can happenand it’s best to be pre-pared.

Keep a first aid kitwith all the essentials(antibiotic ointment,bandages, burn cream,etc.) near you at alltimes and seek profes-sional medical help ifnecessary.

Do-it-yourself weekend warrior survival guide

HOME IMPROVEMENT 2013 3The Daily News SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

(BPT) - As coolerweather descends,homes heat up and sodoes the risk your fam-ily could experience ahome fire or carbonmonoxide (CO) poison-ing. According to theNational Fire Protec-tion Association, mosthome fires and CO poi-sonings occur in thewinter. Besides heatingappliances, seasonalactivities such as in-creased cooking, can-dle usage and holidaydecorations all add tothe risk. In fact, theU.S. FireAdministration reportsthat each year winterfires claim an averageof 945 lives, injure3,825 people and causemore than $1.7 billion

in property loss.To help keep your

home worry free fromfire and CO this winter,the experts at KiddeFire Safety have devel-oped a quick check list.Answer these ques-tions to customize yourwinter home improve-ment projects withtasks that save money,reduce a commonhousehold annoyanceand increase safety.

One in four olderhomes needs to updatefire safety equipment.How old are your al-arms?

• Replace smoke al-arms every 10 yearsand CO alarms everyfive to 10 years, basedon the alarm model.

• Purchase an alarm

with a 10-year sealedlithium battery to re-ceive hassle-free pro-tection for a decade —no need to change abattery or hear a low-battery chirp.

Seventy-five percent ofhomeowners don’t knowwhere to install smokealarms. Do you haveenough?

• Fire experts recom-mend placing smokealarms on every floorand inside/outside allbedrooms. Choose al-arms with room-specif-ic features, such as anLED light in the hall-way, or a voice notifica-tion for the bedroom.

• Place a CO alarmnear sleeping areasand on each floor. Keepthem 10 feet away from

fuel-burning appli-ances.

Do your alarms incor-porate the newest fea-tures and technology?

• A sealed-in 10-yearlithium battery notonly continuously pow-ers the alarm, it’s alsotamper-proof and can’tbe removed.

• A digital displayshows the level of COin the air and updatesthe reading every 15seconds.

• An intelligentmulti-sensor respondsfaster to real fires andCO, while reducingnuisance alarms likethose commonlycaused by cooking.

• An end-of-life appli-ance warning lets youknow when to replace

your alarms.Do you need other

safety products?• Fire extinguisher -

place one within reachin rooms where firesoften begin: kitchen,garage, bedroom, livingarea

• Escape ladder -place in second- andthird-floor rooms as analternative escaperoute

Have you developed afamily escape plan?

• Create a plan andpractice regularly.Know two ways out ofevery room and whowill assist children andloved ones with mobili-ty/health issues.

Do your childrenknow their address andhow to dial 911?

• Post your homeaddress and emergencyphone numbers on therefrigerator.

Are your appliancesand chimney winter-ready?

• Have a professionalinspect fuel-burningappliances to ensurethey function properlyand that they vent out-side.

• Have a professionalclean or inspect fire-places annually. Birdsand small animals cancause leaves to buildup on top of the chim-ney, preventing carbonmonoxide from ventingproperly.

• Create a 3-foot clut-ter free zone aroundfireplaces, spaceheaters or wood stoves.

Winter home safety tips to help protect family


(BPT) - Fall means col-orful leaves, apple ciderand cooler tempera-tures. It also meanswinter’s on its way, sonow is the time to win-terize your home.

Improve your home’scomfort and energy effi-ciency with a homeenergy audit. Makingenergy efficiency up-grades identified in ahome energy audit cansave 5 to 30 percent onyour monthly energybill, according to En-ergy.gov.

If you would ratherperform your ownwalk-through, thischecklist can help youprepare your home forcolder weather:

Exterior home maintenance tips

• Clean those gutters.Remove leaves and de-bris, then flush yourgutters with water. Thiswill help preventclogged drains andreduce the potential for-mation of ice dams,which can cause excesswater to get backed upand seep back into thehouse.

• Clean your windowand patio door screensand put them into stor-age. Better yet, considerinvesting in productsthat roll out of sightwhen not in use, keep-ing them cleaner andeliminating the need forseasonal storage.

• Install storm doors.Storm doors help insu-late your home against

drafts and strongwinds.

• Clean the tracks ofpatio doors and win-dows. Use a dry paint-brush to loosen dirt anddebris and then vacu-um to remove.

• Wash windows.• Touch up exterior

paint where needed.• If you live in a

coastal region, hose offexterior windows anddoors to remove damag-ing salt from oceanspray. If you live in ahurricane-prone area,consider installing win-dows and patio doorswith impact-resistantglass, to help provideyear-round protection.

Indoor home maintenance tips

• Schedule a furnacecheck-up by a profes-sional to prepare it forthe season. Also checkto see if the filter needschanging.

• Add insulation. Theamount of money you’llend up saving in heat-ing costs is likely wellworth the investment ofadding additional insu-

lation to the attic.• Check with your

utility company to see ifthey offer rebates forenergy-efficient homeimprovements includ-ing replacing windowsor adding insulation.

• Clean and repair airducts.

• Wrap pipes. Freezingtemperatures can causepipes to freeze andburst. To help preventthis, insulate pipes witha pre-molded, foam rub-ber sleeve, available atmost local home im-provement or hardwarestores.

• Reverse fans. Adjustyour ceiling fan to ro-tate clockwise to pushrising warm air down.

• Check for leaks anddrafts. Stand next towindow and door open-ings to feel if cool air isblowing through. Leakywindows or draftydoors may need to bereplaced. If you find asmall leak around awindow, seal it from theoutside with weather-resistant caulk. Alsoapply weather strippingto exterior doors asneeded.

Replace energy-inefficient windowsFor a more long-term

fix, replace old, draftywindows with a moreenergy-efficient option.Upgrading from single-pane to double-panewindows can also re-duce energy costs,according to EnergyStar.

Stay warm and saveenergy this winter


(BPT) - Falling tem-peratures and shorterdays don’t mean youcan retire from lawncare for the year. Infact, the fall season is acritical time to nourishlawns and care forplants so they can sur-vive winter and emergeeven more vibrantwhen next spring ar-rives.

Before you store yourlawn and garden sup-plies, consider thesefall lawn tips that keepyour yard lookinggreat year-round:

FertilizeYour lawn may not

look like it’s doingmuch above groundduring cool months,

but below ground rootsystems continue togrow. That’s why mostlawn care professionalsrecommend fertilizingonce or twice in the fall- grass will store anduse the extra boost ofnutrients throughoutwinter.

Fertilizers high innitrogen are ideal forfall feedings.

SweepLeaves and other fol-

iage left on the groundcan rot and deprivegrass and other plantsof moisture and sun-light. If you dread rak-ing, a blower/vac is theideal tool.Water

Watering during fall

is important to fosterroot growth and giveplants a healthy drinkbefore winter arrives.

If you’re not experi-encing at least 1 inch ofrainfall a week, supple-ment with a sprinkler.

Continue the sameeco-friendly wateringstrategies you usedthroughout summer,such as watering in themornings to reduceevaporation.

SeedHave a few sparse

areas in your yard?Fall is a great seasonfor grass seed to germi-nate due to the cool,moist weather.

Plus, because mostseasonal birds have

left, the seed is less vul-nerable to being eaten.

Over-seeding nownot only fills in openareas, but it increasesgrass density to helpprevent weeds nextyear.

Loosen and preparethe soil, choose a highquality grass seed andwater the area plentyso seeds reach maturi-ty before winter.

AerateAerating your lawn

in the fall helps to opencompacted soil andbreak down thatch thatbuilt up over the sum-mer.

The small soil plugsremoved by the aeratorloosen the ground so

oxygen and water canbetter reach the grassroots.

Aerators are avail-able for rent at mostrental stores and thejob can typically bedone in a few hours,depending on yard size.

TrimFall is a good time to

trim trees and shrub-bery before winterhits. Save money withthe DIY approach.Don’t be intimidated bychainsaws.

MowAs the weather cools,

grass slowly goes dor-mant. Before winterhits, continue to mowas needed.

When your lawnseems to have almostcompletely slowed itsgrowth rate, mow onefinal time for the year,but set your mower at ahigher height. Thishelps keep grasshealthy until warmweather returns.

Recommendedmower heights for afinal mow are 2 to 2.5inches.

Rather than retreat-ing from the crisp fallair, use the time toenjoy the beauty ofMother Nature whilehelping keep your yardlooking its best.

A few simple stepsnow will help yourlawn look great todayand into next year.

Fall lawn tips to keep your yard looking good


(BPT) - Whether youare buying, selling orsimply remodeling, youare looking to invest inupdates that willincrease the value andappeal of your home.It's natural to want itall, but before you over-personalize or breakthe bank, there aremany simple, budget-friendly changes thatcan increase the valueof your home withoutthe risk.

Cassandra LaValle,interior designer andeditor of the acclaimedlifestyle and designsite, Coco+Kelley,

offers these tried andtrue tips for uppingyour home value with-out overdoing it.

• Refresh withpaint. You may not beable to replace largeappliances or counter-tops, but in the kitchenadding a fresh coat ofneutral paint to outdat-ed cabinets and swap-ping out hardware cango a long way in mak-ing the space feelrefreshed.

• Little luxuries inthe bathroom.Replace your currentshower head with arain shower, giving a

spa-like experiencewith multiple high-per-formance spray set-tings.

The same goes forlighting - brighteningup this space in partic-ular can be a big sell-ing point.

• Don't forget aboutthe outside. Everyhome needs curb ap-peal.

If you can't affordmajor landscaping, fo-cus on the entrance tothe home.

Again, updating withpaint and hardware onthe front door will be awelcoming touch,

while a couple of reallygreat potted plants atthe entryway add tothat focal point.

• It's in the details.Consider adding smalldetails to rooms thatwill elevate the style.

Framing out win-dows, or adding base-boards, molding orwainscoting to a spacewill leave it feeling abit more polished.

No matter how big orsmall your projects,remember it doesn'ttake a lot of money tomake a big impact toany space in yourhome.

Give your home a quick refreshwith these budget saving tips


(BPT) - Considering aroof replacement? Fol-low these tips for out-standing performance,increased curb appealand enhanced comfortfor your family.

1. Check the warn-ing signs. One of thebest ways to stay infront of a roof replace-ment is to look forsmall annoyances thatcould eventually turninto big problems. Lookfor discoloration,cracking, uneven sur-faces, curled and miss-ing shingles and stainson the underside of theroof deck when viewedfrom the attic and ex-cessive amounts ofgranules in the gutter,which fall from shin-gles and expose theasphalt underneath. Ifany warning signs are

evident, it’s time to getin touch with a contrac-tor to assess your roof ’scondition and discussreplacement.

2. Choose a com-plete roofing system.When most peoplethink about roof re-placements, they thinkshingles. While shin-gles add beauty andcharacter to a home’sexterior, it’s importantto understand thatthey’re only the firstline of defense in pro-tecting your home fromthe elements. For truepeace of mind, yourroof should consist ofhigh-quality shinglesand underlayment pro-ducts to help guard ag-ainst severe weatheroutside, as well as ven-tilation products thatbalance airflow to con-

trol temperature andhumidity inside.

3. Select your con-tractor wisely. Find-ing a skilled and rep-utable professional whowill be able to guide youthrough the roof re-placement process fromstart to finish is key. Itmay seem like a diffi-cult task, but it doesn’thave to be. Begin bylooking for preferredcontractors on roofingmanufacturers’ web-sites. Ask trustedfriends and neighborsfor recommendations.Then, obtain quotesfrom multiple contrac-tors and ask for refer-ences.

4. Plan for the fu-ture. Replacing a roofcan be a significantinvestment, so makesure it’s protected with

a strong warranty. Ifyou’ve installed a roof-ing system, ask yourcontractor about add-ing on a warranty thatcovers the system ofcomponents. Be sureyou review and under-stand the details, limi-tations and require-ments of the warrantybefore your roof isinstalled.

5. Don’t hesitate toinsulate. While yourroof is being replaced,consider adding anoth-er layer of protection tothe top of your home.Ask your contractor toassess your insulationlevels when he’s in theattic inspecting the un-derside of your roof.When installed in anattic, loosefill insula-tion contributes to en-ergy savings.

Tips for roof replacement projects


(BPT) - With tempera-tures dropping, oddsare your energy billswill be doing just theopposite. In fact, heat-ing (and cooling) ac-count for approximate-ly 54 percent of theenergy use in a typicalU.S. home, according tothe Department ofEnergy, representingthe largest energyexpense for most home-owners. One of themost effective ways tomanage a home’s cli-mate, comfort and ener-gy costs is by ensuringthat it is properly insu-lated.

“Insufficient insula-tion, particularly inbasements and attics,can allow heat to es-cape, resulting in high-er energy bills and aless comfortable indoorenvironment,” saysDon Kosanka, productprogram director forOwens Corning. “Thegreat thing about insu-lation is that it is aninvestment that returnsitself. It’s somethingthat homeowners caninstall themselves andit provides year-roundbenefits. Not only doesinsulation keep homeswarmer in winter andcooler in summer, itdelivers energy andcost savings all yearlong.”

In fact, sealing andinsulating - when doneby a knowledgeablehomeowner or skilledcontractor - can helpsave up to $200 a year inheating and coolingcosts, according to theU.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency. In

addition to cost savings,the experts at OwensCorning outline threeother key benefits ofinsulating your home:

• Energy efficiency.The primary purpose ofinsulation is to controlheat flow in a home tosave energy on heatingand cooling. It’s esti-mated that homeown-ers can typically saveup to 20 percent of heat-ing and cooling costs byair sealing the homeand adding insulation.For optimal energy effi-ciency, a home shouldbe insulated from theroof down to its founda-tion.

Information on homeinsulation is availableat www.energy.gov .

• Environmental im-pact. The energy savedby insulating a homealso benefits the envi-ronment, but it isimportant to note thatnot all insulation prod-

ucts have equal envi-ronmental impacts.

• Enjoyment. Simplyput, a well-insulatedhome is a more com-fortable home. In-sulation provides a pro-tective barrier betweenthe conditioned areas ofa home and the outsideelements helping tocontrol moisture andtemperature. Addition-ally, fiberglass insula-tion acts as a soundabsorber, reducing thetransmission of soundfrom one room to anoth-er or from the outside.

An added incentivefor homeowners toimprove their home’sinsulation this year isthe 2013 Federal TaxCredit for ConsumerEnergy Efficiency.Those who install quali-fying insulation prod-ucts before Dec. 31, canreceive a tax credit of10 percent of the cost,up to $500.

Cozy up to energy savingswith proper insulation

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Home improvement 2013 web