Don’t Move - ImproveMAY 2011

Thinking About Buying, Selling, Remodeling, Adding On To Your Home Or Splitting Up Property?

Consider a property survey to protect your major fi -nancial investment. A property survey describes, maps and locates land ownership boundaries and corners, land features and man made improvements. A property survey must be performed by a Professional Land Sur-veyor who has been licensed by the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design.

The legal description of your property and related records will be evaluated. The property survey will locate, measure and monument the property boundar-ies and corners so they can be easily identifi ed. This survey will be completed in compliance with applicable state, county and other local government laws, codes and regulations. As a property owner, it is important to be informed of any property description, boundary loca-

tion, trespass, encroachment or other related problems that are present prior to purchasing, selling or mak-ing any costly improvements. Upon completion of the property survey, it is recommended that the boundary corner monuments be protected and preserved by the property owner.

A survey can assist with the planning of your pro-posed improvements. The survey will provide a clear un-derstanding of the site’s opportunities and constraints to assist with providing an economical design when de-veloping your overall plan. When applying for construc-tion or land use permits, documentation may need to be provided that illustrates the amount of impervious coverage that exists on a lot prior to development and post development, what the required setbacks are and compliance with these standards, how is the property to

be used or divided and how will any potential impacts be minimized as a result of the proposed improvements. A survey can assist with providing this information and put the compliance responsibility on the appropriate professionals.

Depending on the proposed improvements, many lo-cal jurisdictions may require a property survey. Aware-ness of your local jurisdiction is essential in ensuring compliance with the appropriate regulations. Complet-ing a property survey can be considered an inexpensive insurance policy on protecting your most valuable in-vestment.

Information provided by Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

1. Check and clean mechanical ventilation system (HRV/ERV). Check your manual and follow manufacturer’s recommendations.

2. Clear air intakes, exhaust and meters of debris, nests, etc.

3. Check gutters and downspouts and clean if needed.

4. Be sure to check settling after spring thaw.

5. Open outside hose connection.

6. Check and clean central air conditioning system.

7. Check landscaping sprinklers to ensure proper alignment (do not let them soak your siding or foundation).

8. Replace air conditioning or furnace fi lters monthly or as recommended by the manufacturer.

9. Clean A/C condenser.

10. Inspect pressure and temperature valve on water heater.

11. Maintain proper grades for drainage throughout the property.

12. Inspect roof for damage and make repairs when necessary.

Basic Home Care

May/June

Green Is Good for the Home: Choosing the Best Eco-Friendly Options

From paints to fl ooring to carpeting, the options in green building materials have expanded by leaps and bounds. With so many environmentally friendly options available, homeowners may have diffi culty determining what are the best and most cost-effective buys.

Eco-friendly options to choose may differ based on geographic region and what installation procedures are well known by local carpenters and builders. For exam-ple, a person in a drought-stricken region may want to look for items that conserve water. However, there are certain items that are “green” across the board.

InsulationOne of the most environmentally friendly things a

homeowner can do is to improve the insulation in his or her home. Adequate insulation reduces the amount of heat and cooling loss, which then reduces the amount of energy needed to cool or heat a house. There are many materials from which insulation can be made; many are recycled materials, such as glass or even cotton. How-ever, cellulose -- a plant material -- is one of the more cost-effective and greener options available. Look for the highest “R” factor on the insulation. The higher the number, the greater the resistance to heat fl ow.

FramingThinking about adding on another room or remodel-

ing an existing one? Then consider using sustainable harvested wood products. They may be more costly, but they’re certainly a greener option. Some construction materials are made from salvaged wood or items made from composite materials. Wood that bears the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo means it was grown and harvested without depleting or destroying natural surroundings.

WindowsJust like insulation, windows are essential to pro-

tecting against heating and cooling loss. Inadequate windows could be costing homeowners hundreds of dol-lars in energy waste from drafts or air leakage. New windows are generally rated on a number of factors: air leakage, condensation resistance, U-factor or level of insulation, and solar heat gain, or the window’s ability to block heat from the sun. Homeowners can talk with a window professional to determine the right windows for the climate and direction the windows face.

FlooringOne of the most eco-friendly options in fl ooring is us-

ing a sustainable product, such as bamboo or salvaged or FSC wood. It is milled using less energy than many other fl ooring materials, such as stone or tile. When choosing bamboo, however, work with a reputable retail-er. Much of the bamboo used comes from China, where toxic chemicals or poor manufacturing procedures can reduce the environmental benefi ts of the product. Wood looks good in any room, but in rooms where moisture may be an issue, such as kitchens and bathrooms, con-sider cost-effective materials like tinted concrete. Con-crete enhanced with added recycled industrial ash, re-cycled glass and other materials decreases the amount of cement that has to be mixed and used.

When making renovations to the interior or exterior of the home, consider green building materials.

Brainerd Dispatch | www.brainerddispatch.com 2S Tuesday, May 24, 2011 HOME IMPROVEMENT

Top Tips for the Best First ImpressionIt’s called “curb appeal,” that good impression people get of your home when they

pull up in a car, or when walking by. Real estate agents can be as pleased with ex-terior curb appeal as they are with a well-maintained house on the inside. When it comes to residential property value, this book is indeed judged by its cover.

Exterior trouble areas include peeling paint; rotting wood on window frames; buckled roof shingles; overgrown shrubs; ignored lawns; and weeds growing through interlock paths, steps and the driveway.

“The lawns and landscaping that frame our home are as important as the quality inside,” says Reinie Drygala, lawncare products manager for Clear Choice, a leading name in innovative garden products. “And the good news is: when it comes to fi rst impressions just a few little tips and tricks can make a big difference quickly.

“If you’re frustrated about overgrown weeds, for example, the newest herbicide technology is tackling that,” Drygala continued. “Now there are alternatives to tra-ditional herbicides that effectively kill weeds, but also provide the homeowner with options if they are looking for ways to have less impact on the environment. The formulation for our Clear Choice selective herbicide, for example, contains up to 85 percent less active ingredients as compared to other products using the same in-gredients. As importantly, microtechnology built into the formulation creates much smaller droplets that more effi ciently deliver the herbicide to the plant. Clear Choice is effective on over 60 varieties of broadleaf weeds, killing them quickly while being friendly to your lawn.”

In addition to beautifying your lawn, try these quick tricks to give your home in-stant curb appeal:

• Scrape and spot-paint problem areas. This might be a temporary fi x, but even a touch up is better than peeling paint.

• Add colour by planting some annuals in the front yard fl owerbeds.• Replace or paint rusty fi xtures like the mailbox, railings, house number, and

more.

• Tackle pesky weeds on interlock paths and driveway. Use hand sprays for tar-geted jobs, or larger jugs for a big surface area.

• Install lighting along your walkways and steps, or to spotlight the shape and architecture.

How to Build a Laundry ShelfLaundry rooms are essential spaces in the house these days. While many are

equipped with an area for the washer and dryer, some do not have room for a folding station, where you can fold all of that cleaned laundry.

In this case, build a removeable laundry-folding shelf that can make your laundry time easier. Here’s how.

1. If you have a front-loading dryer or washer, you can create the shelf so a por-tion rests on the appliance and then can be attached to a wall or free-standing supports.

2. Measure the space you have and cut a piece of plywood or particle board to those specifi cations. A hardware store or home center can even cut the wood on premises if you don’t have the tools or the space to do so.

3. Attach 2x4 wood to the wall with screws to serve as a shelf support in the area where the shelf won’t rest on the washer or dryer. If you don’t have a wall nearby, you can erect a wood frame that will support the shelf and attach the frame to the fl oor for stability.

4. Paint any exposed wood, if desired.5. Cover your plywood shelf with a decorative vinyl fabric or tablecloth by using

a staple gun.6. Place the shelf on the supports and the appliance and test for stability.7. Use the shelf as needed for folding clothes.8. If you need to remove the shelf for any reason, it’s easily taken down and

stored.9. While you’re building shelving, place a small shelf above the laundry station

to hold detergent, dryer sheets, etc.

Brainerd Dispatch | www.brainerddispatch.com Tuesday, May 24, 2011 3SHOME IMPROVEMENT

Make Roofi ng Color Choices With Confi denceAdvice from Color Expert Kate Smith

Standard slate gray or bold terracot-ta? Solid brown or a blend of three warm brown tones? For some homeowners, the question of what color to cap off their homes is more challenging than the de-cision of what roofi ng product to use.

“Our research clearly pointed us to-ward DaVinci’s polymer slate roofi ng tiles for their durability and resistance to severe weather,” says Tim Wahl of Kansas City, Kansas. “But I was sur-prised that the decision of what color or blend to select sort of paralyzed me. I was afraid of making the wrong decision and then having to live with my choice for decades.”

According to color expert Kate Smith, CMG, Wahl’s experience is not unusual. “Selecting exterior building product col-ors can be daunting for some people spe-cifi cally because of the long lifespan of those products,” says Smith. “A DaVinci roof has a 50-year warranty. That’s a long-term color investment. So, while it’s fairly easy and inexpensive to repaint the interior of a room, you want to maxi-mize your roofi ng investment by select-ing a color you can live with for many years. Many people need some support and guidance when making those larger color decisions.”

Smith, a nationally-known color ex-pert and the owner of Sensational Color, offers these tips for homeowners deter-mining what roofi ng colors to select.

Tip #1 -- Take time and do your home-work. Don’t rush a decision. Try to envi-sion a home exterior that you will like next year, fi ve years from now, and then 20 years from now.

Tip #2 -- Consider your options. While a solid color roof may work for some home styles, a blend of several colors may offer a “softer” look with more ac-cent options. Pre-bundled roofi ng color blends can be made with two, three, four or fi ve different color blends that comple-ment each other.

Tip #3 -- Investigate the different roof-ing color options available to you online.

Use the Color Design tool at www.davin-ciroofscapes.com to create your own cus-tom color blends from 49 colors or to see the company’s standard 28 color blends.

Tip #4 -- Request life-sized samples of your favorite color roofi ng tiles to hold up against your current roof to see the change that a new color will make for your home.

Tip #5 -- Look at the other homes in your neighborhood. Your home should blend in or stand out from other homes, but never clash with the rest of the homes in your community. A roofi ng col-or can help achieve a harmonious look.

Tip #6 -- Get assistance from a pro-fessional. Just as selecting the roofi ng product is a big decision requiring assis-tance of a professional, so is the choice of the roof color. Consult a color expert and use the color tools offered by experts and product manufacturers to gain a strong comfort level for your color choice.

After considering his options, Wahl se-lected the Aberdeen blend from DaVinci Roofscapes. “I felt like the color blend offered me so many more long-term op-tions than a single color,” says Wahl. “This blend has rich, warm grays, stone, green and purples that combine to create

a striking roof. I can choose several com-plementary colors for our home’s trim,

shutters and siding, so we can change our palate over the years as the home ages.”

Wahl’s home renovation was so im-pressive that it received the Remodel of the Year project award from Kansas City Homes & Gardens magazine.

“One hundred percent of the interior and exterior of this home was renovated, and the results are awesome,” says Wahl, president with Develop KC, a company that remodels homes and apartment complexes throughout Kansas City. “The roofl ine really attracts attention. I’m glad we took the time to consider a color blend because the resulting look is truly outstanding.”

The warm mosaic of tan and gray colors on this synthetic slate roof is accentuated by striking purples reminiscent of provincial Tuscan hillsides.

Brainerd Dispatch | www.brainerddispatch.com 4S Tuesday, May 24, 2011 HOME IMPROVEMENT

Simple Ways to Make the Home SaferHomeowners are often on the lookout

for ways to improve their homes. Many times those improvements concern aesthetic appeal, such as a new coat of paint, or more practical appeal, such as new furniture.

However, one of the best and most effective ways to improve a home is to make it safer. While it might not be as exciting as choosing a new color scheme or getting a new couch, making a home safer is certainly a practical improve-ment that can pay dividends for every-one. Homeowners looking to make their homes safer can do so throughout the

house, with a few minor adjustments here and there.

The BasementBasements have grown increasingly

popular over the years. Thanks to ad-vancements in home theater technology many homeowners have turned their basements into their own private mov-ie theaters. For parents, the basement might have morphed into a child’s play-room, while those who work from home might have turned their basements into their very own home offi ces.

Whatever function a basement is serv-ing, chances are it can be safer than it is.

One of the more common safety concerns with basements is lighting. When at-tempting to improve a basement’s safety, homeowners should make sure the stair-case leading down to the basement has adequate lighting to avoid trips and falls. Consider installing a shelf at the top of the staircase to store a fl ashlight, batter-ies and light bulbs. This way, should the power go out or the basement bulbs die out, no one will risk injury walking down a poorly lit staircase.

The BedroomA common misconception is that fami-

lies spend more time in the kitchen than

any other room in the house. However, when considering time spent asleep, the bedroom reigns supreme. But just be-cause residents might be asleep the ma-jority of the time they’re in the bedroom doesn’t mean a bedroom cannot present a safety threat.

When furnishing a bedroom, be sure to have adequate lighting on each side of the bed. This helps reduce the risk of injury should someone wake up in the middle of the night to visit the restroom or get a glass of water.

It’s also best to be sure a telephone is within reach of the bed. Should an injury occur or an ailment present itself while a person is lying in bed and they cannot move, it’s important to have a telephone within reach so a call for help can be made.

Another easy and often overlooked way to make the bedroom more safe is to leave the door unlocked when going to sleep. In case of a fi re or another medi-cal emergency, it’s important that other residents or emergency response profes-sionals like fi rst aide personnel or fi re-fi ghters and police can easily access the bedroom.

The BathroomMany injuries occur in the bathroom

each and every year. Fortunately, many of those injuries are entirely preventable with a few easy modifi cations.

For homes with elderly residents, in-stall grab bars to make getting in and out of the shower easier. It’s also pos-sible to install a grab bar near the toilet if need be. Just be sure to attach the bar to something like a wall or cabinet that can support a person’s body weight. Rou-tinely check any grab bars for strength and stability.

When furnishing the bathroom, look for non-skid bath mats and fl oor cover-ings. Such non-skid mats often have plastic bottoms and won’t move when stepped on regardless of how wet the fl oor might be.

It also helps to install a light switch just inside the bathroom door if there isn’t one there already. This makes it easy to turn the light on in the middle of the night.

Adequate lighting on both sides of the bed makes a bedroom safer, reducing the risk of injury when getting up at night to use the restroom or get a drink.

Brainerd Dispatch | www.brainerddispatch.com Tuesday, May 24, 2011 5SHOME IMPROVEMENT

The Heart of Your Backyard: Real Backyard Decks Deserve Real Wood

The deck is the heart of a backyard. It’s where the family gathers for dinner, the perfect spot for grilling, a great place to hang out with friends and the ideal location for relaxing after a long day. Whether you’re thinking of building a new deck or your old one needs resurfac-ing, be sure and choose the right decking product: choose real wood.

Building a Deck. Thinking of building a brand new deck? What a great way to enhance your backyard! According to the 2010-2011 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine, homeowners can expect to recoup 72.8 percent (on aver-age) of the cost of building a wood deck vs. only 66.2 percent if building with composites. Deck substructures are built using pressure-treated wood anyway; if it’s strong and durable enough to hold up your deck, it’s strong enough to actually be your decking surface.

Pressure-treated wood is a builder favorite and has been the number one decking material for decades. It’s natu-ral, real -- and it looks fantastic.

Resurfacing a deck. If you already have a wood deck but it’s more than 20 years old, consider a resurfacing project. This is where the decking surface is re-placed, while the substructure remains. (It’s always a good idea to have a deck-ing professional check the entire deck for soundness.) Resurfacing is easy, and it’s a great way to refresh your outdoor living areas without blowing your budget.

Maintaining a deck. Every building

material designed for outdoor use re-quires maintenance; luckily, real wood decks are very easy to maintain. Once a year, check your deck to see if it needs cleaning or perhaps another coat of seal-ant. Perform the cup of water test: if a cup of water poured on the deck boards immediately soaks into the wood, it’s time to apply water repellant.

Why choose wood? Your deck should mesh with your backyard -- be sure your decking material is an extension of na-ture, with all the beauty, strength and durability you’d expect. Pressure-treated wood is your most natural decking op-tion: it’s easy to fi nd, easy to use, requires no special tools, and it’s affordable. Wood doesn’t conduct heat like other decking materials can, meaning no burned feet in the summertime. Treated wood is imper-vious to rot and pests and it’s proven to be people- and pet-safe.

Concerned about our forests? Choos-ing wood for any home improvement proj-ect is a very wise environmental decision. Thriving, sustainably managed forests create a healthier environment for all of us. Choosing forest products -- wood -- en-courages US landowners to keep replant-ing trees; the forest industry plants more trees than they harvest every single year, ensuring wood will be around for gener-ations to come. Wood is one of the only naturally renewable building products available, and the only energy required to manufacture it comes from the sun. You can’t get much more green than that.

Far and away, the top vote-getter in the 2010 Hottest New Products Survey was the Breezy Living Screen Garage Door at Ar-row-Tru-Line’s exhibit. Ken Wise of Arrow Tru-Line says the exhibit was constantly surrounded by a crowd at Expo and gener-ated a lot of inquiries from dealers.

The product features a unique sliding pass door that lets people enter or leave the garage without opening the entire door. Wise says the door avoids the high cost of electric retractable doors and eliminates the problems of the fl oor track on sliding doors.

He adds that the Breezy Living product is affordable, easy to install, and simple to use. Plus, the door should be acceptable to many HOAs (Home Owner Associations). Expected options include different types of screening, frame colors, and imaging on screens.

Behind the ScreenThe door’s primary inventors are Brian Hughes and Brian Jones of Advanced

Screen Works, a small Florida company that does screen installations. Like many entrepreneurs, the two Brians do not have college degrees. They simply saw a need in the market and devised a way to meet the need.

Several months ago, Advanced Screen Works approached Arrow Tru-Line for as-sistance in designing the track assembly. Patent applications have been submitted, and Arrow Tru-Line is now the exclusive worldwide licensee to manufacture, market, and sell the product.

Hot Product #1:The Breezy Living Screen Garage Door

Brainerd Dispatch | www.brainerddispatch.com 6H Tuesday, May 24, 2011 HOME IMPROVEMENT